09:36 Deal elicits mixed feelings from Röttgen: huge renunciation of the rule of law
CDU Foreign Policy Expert Norbert Röttgen views the deal between Russia and the West with mixed feelings. "In conclusion, I support the decision." In an interview with Deutschlandfunk, Röttgen says: "This is indeed a significant concession that the German state, the rule of law, has accepted for a higher good, namely humanity, freedom, health, and liberation from torture for 16 people, so it's a give and take." He understands those who found it very difficult to accept this. He is referring to the exchange of the Tiergarten murderer Wadim Krasikow.
09:00 Munz evaluates prisoner exchange: "Everyone has seen: Germany is vulnerable" ntv's Russia correspondent Rainer Munz sees a fatal signal for Germans living abroad in the prisoner exchange between Moscow and Berlin. The Kremlin is also increasing pressure on opposition figures at home and abroad.
08:33 Biden praises "remarkable" Scholz According to US President Biden, the prisoner exchange was a "hard nut to crack" for the US's allies. Germany and Slovenia in particular had to make decisions that were "against their immediate interests," Biden says. Especially German Chancellor Scholz was "remarkable." A plane carrying released US citizens landed in the US overnight (local time). Another 13 people, including several Germans, landed in Cologne. In exchange for the release of political prisoners and Kremlin critics, Germany, the US, and partner countries released a convicted murderer and prisoners accused of espionage from Russia. For more on this, read here.
08:04 US Analyst believes Putin got what he wanted Analyst Tom Nichols believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin got what he wanted in the prisoner exchange. The US political scientist says on CNN that the Kremlin has sent a clear warning to people in the West that those who set foot in Russia could become the next bargaining chip in another deal. Putin's government is treating people "like meat on a scale until they get the kind of deal they want," Nichols believes. He thinks Putin wanted to send a message to his supporters that he would rescue them if they were caught and that they are valuable to him.
07:26 Stationing of missiles can proceed without Bundestag decision There is criticism, especially from the SPD, that the planned deployment of long-range US weapons in Germany was decided and announced without the Bundestag. However, this is not required. The Scientific Service of the Bundestag comes to this conclusion. The planned deployment is likely to take place "within the NATO alliance framework," it says in a current briefing. The legal basis would likely be the NATO treaty and the Status of Forces Agreement, which regulates the legal status of foreign military forces in Germany. In July, the US and German governments announced that the US would again station weapons systems in Germany from 2026 that can reach far into Russia. Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed concerns that this could lead to escalation with Russia. However, former SPD chairman Norbert Walter-Borjans said that such a decision should be discussed within the SPD and the Bundestag. Union faction deputy Johann Wadephul also called for a debate on this in the Bundestag.
06:36 Biden visibly moved: "It's a wonderful feeling"The US President appears visibly moved upon the arrival of released prisoners from Russia in their homeland. "It's a wonderful feeling," he says after greeting his fellow countrymen on US soil. "I was absolutely convinced that we could do this." His Vice President Kamala Harris explains, "it's an incredible day" - one can see that in the joyful tears of the families. The prisoner exchange is an "extraordinary testament" to the importance of having a President who understands the power of diplomacy.
06:00 Harris praises courage of released AmericansUS Vice President Kamala Harris praises the courage of the Americans released from Russian detention as part of a prisoner exchange. Paul Whelan, Alsu Kurmasheva, Evan Gershkovich, and US green card holder Vladimir Kara-Murza have shown "incredible courage" after being unjustly imprisoned in Russia.
05:55 Biden, Harris, and families welcome released AmericansThree Americans released as part of a prisoner exchange were greeted by their families, President Joe Biden, and Vice President Kamala Harris upon their arrival at a US air force base. Journalist Evan Gershkovich, his colleague Alsu Kurmasheva, and former US soldier Paul Whelan had spent years in Russian captivity. Read more here.
05:50 Three released Americans arrive in the USThree Americans released as part of a prisoner exchange between Russia, Belarus, and several Western countries have reportedly arrived in the US. The plane suspected of carrying journalist Evan Gershkovich, his colleague Alsu Kurmasheva, and former US soldier Paul Whelan landed at a US air force base late Thursday night (local time) after more than nine hours of flight, US media reported.
04:41 US advisor: Prisoner deal has no impact on Ukraine warThe large-scale prisoner exchange between Russia and several Western countries has no impact on the situation in Ukraine, according to US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. He sees no connection between the negotiations over the detainees and possible diplomatic efforts to end the war in the country attacked by Russia. "From our perspective, these are running on separate tracks," Sullivan says in Washington when asked if successful negotiations could also promote talks with the Ukrainians about the war situation.
03:05 Russian governor: Drone fragments hit CrimeaThe Russian-appointed governor of the occupied Crimea, Mikhail Razvozhayev, reports that fragments of at least four drones hit areas of the port of Sevastopol early Friday morning. The drones were previously shot down by Russian air defense. Razvozhayev writes on the Telegram platform that there are no casualties. "The shot-down targets were equipped with destructive metal elements, according to our information," the governor says.
01:45 YouTube functioning in Russia only in a limited capacity Complaints are mounting in Russia that the video platform YouTube is only functioning in a limited capacity. Several media outlets reported outages and cited the service "Sboj.RF", which records reports of disruptions on websites. According to this, complaints have been reported mainly in Moscow and St. Petersburg, but also from other parts of the country. Large social networks like X and Facebook have already been blocked in Russia and can only be accessed via protected connections (VPN).
00:32 Scholz: Exchanged prisoners arrived safely Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomed a large portion of the German and Russian citizens released in a prisoner exchange between Russia and the West at Cologne-Bonn Airport. "All have arrived safely," said the SPD politician shortly after midnight at the airport. He had extensive conversations with the arrivals. "That was very moving," said Scholz. "Many did not expect this to happen now." Many had feared for their health and even their lives. Two planes coming from Ankara landed late in the evening in Cologne-Bonn. On board were supposed to be about a dozen of the 16 people released in Russia and Belarus.
23:59 Kremlin spokesman: Putin daily involved in war in Ukraine Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin spends many hours daily in contact with his military to monitor the progress of the war in Ukraine. "This is work that is not seen every day on camera, work that is not written about in newspapers," said his spokesman Dmitri Peskov in a radio interview cited by the state agency Tass. Putin reportedly deals with the progress of the special operation, as the attack on Ukraine is called in Kremlin terminology, every day of the week. He also frequently telephones front commanders and simple soldiers at the front. This is "a constant practice".
23:38 Freed German prisoners land in Cologne After the prisoner exchange between Russia, Belarus, and Western countries, two planes with freed prisoners have landed at Cologne/Bonn Airport, according to dpa information. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz had announced that he would meet the former prisoners late in the evening. The SPD politician had previously interrupted his vacation and also landed at Cologne/Bonn Airport. Among the released are five Germans.
22:13 Putin Welcomes Freed Russians PersonallyVladimir Putin personally welcomed Russians freed from the West at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport. The Kremlin leader Putin embraced at least one of the men on the tarmac, where the presidential guard stood in formation, as shown in Kremlin-published TV footage. Russian intelligence chiefs Alexander Bortnikov of the FSB and Sergei Naryshkin, as well as Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, were also part of the welcoming committee. "You're home, you're in your homeland," Putin greeted the freed individuals, announcing that they would be nominated for state awards. Tears of joy were visible on the faces of the freed individuals. Among them was the so-called 'Tiergarten murderer' Vadim K., who was released early from German custody as part of the deal.
21:59 Kamala Harris Calls Nawalny's WidowAfter the historic prisoner exchange between the West and Russia, US Vice President Kamala Harris called the widow of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. Harris spoke with Julia Navalnaya about the prisoner exchange and expressed her support, according to Navalny's spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh on X. Harris highlighted Navalny's and his wife's efforts for a "democratic Russia," Yarmysh explained. Navalnaya described the release of Russian opposition figures on X as "great joy." Every release of a political prisoner is "a huge victory and a reason to celebrate," she said. No one should be "Putin's hostage" and suffer torture and die in "Putin's prisons."
21:40 Report: Ukraine Already Deploying F-16sUpon arrival in Ukraine, the Ukrainian air force is reported to have already conducted the first combat missions with F-16 fighter jets, according to the "Telegraph." However, it is assumed that these were only used for air defense. A representative of the air force did not deny this. Ukraine remains silent about the arrival of F-16 fighter jets, a usual practice to avoid helping the enemy.
Catch up on earlier developments here.
Despite the CDU Foreign Policy Expert Norbert Röttgen's support for the prisoner exchange in the Ukrainian conflict, ntv's Russia correspondent Rainer Munz expresses concern about the deal's potential impact on Germans living abroad and the Kremlin's escalating pressure on opposition figures.
The US President Joe Biden praises the "remarkable" German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for his role in the prisoner exchange, which involved Germany releasing a convicted murderer and prisoners accused of espionage in exchange for several political prisoners and Kremlin critics. This deal raised mixed feelings among Germans and sparked criticism from opposition parties.
