President Joe Biden told reporters he told the three freed Americans who landed on U.S. soil on Thursday night, “welcome home.”
Biden, alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, greeted three prisoners––Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich and Alsu Kurmasheva–freed from Russia on Thursday after they landed at Andrews Air Force Base, capping a successful exchange that released 16 prisoners in all.
The president and vice president joined the families of some of the former captives, including Gershkovich’s parents and Kurmasheva’s daughters.
The plane carrying the prisoners touched down several minutes after 11:30 p.m. ET. Whalen was the first prisoner to step off onto American soil. Whalen embraced Biden and Harris, who were waiting on the tarmac.
Gershkovich quickly followed the former U.S. Marine and could be seen briefly chatting with the president and vice president after deplaning.
Kurmasheva, the Tatar language Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty editor, disembarked and was quickly met with an hug from her daughters.
Harris heaped praise on Biden, calling it an “extraordinary day.”
“This is just an extraordinary testament to the importance of having a president who understands the power of diplomacy and understands the strength that rests in understanding the significance of diplomacy and strengthening alliance,” the vice president said.
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