17:06 Esken: The exchange shows that negotiations with the "Russian aggressor" are possible
Saskia Esken describes the prisoner exchange with Russia as a major success. "It's a major diplomatic success that we've finally managed to free many German and other Western European and Western citizens from prisons in Russia," said the SPD federal chairwoman to ntv. Exchanging the Tiergarten murderer was a difficult decision. "This exchange also has painful aspects. That's often the case in diplomacy when you make a deal, you have to accept painful decisions," explains Esken. But in the end, many people were brought to freedom and security. "The deal shows that it's possible to negotiate, to engage in negotiations, even with the Russian state, even with the Russian aggressor on issues where they have their own interests," says Esken. Ultimately, the goal is to achieve peace, "but first, a situation must be created where the Russian state is willing to talk to us," says the SPD federal chairwoman in the interview.
16:33 Expert explains: What F16s in Ukraine can doThe training of pilots has been underway for months, and the first F16 combat jets from the West have now arrived in Ukraine. What can these machines do in the fight against Russian invaders? ntv asks aviation expert Walerij Romanenko.
15:49 Russian Foreign Ministry comments on exchange with tasteless jokeThe reaction of Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova to the prisoner exchange between Russia and the West is unmatched in cynicism and tastelessness. She posted a photo on Telegram showing US President Joe Biden shaking hands with someone. The caption reads: "Biden receives Alexei Navalny, whom he exchanged for Senator (John) McCain with the Vietnamese." The Russian government often makes fun of Biden's advanced age and slips of the tongue. Opposition leader Navalny died on February 16 in a penal colony, with his team believing he was killed on the Kremlin's orders. The White House confirmed yesterday that Washington had also sought Navalny's release as part of the prisoner exchange. John McCain spent more than five years in captivity during the Vietnam War from 1967 to 1973. He died in August 2018.
15:13 Hungary eases visa rules for Russians - EU sees 'possible security threat'EU Internal Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson considers Hungary's easing of visa rules for Russians and Belarusians a 'possible security threat' to the Union. She has sent a letter with questions to the government in Budapest, Johansson told X. "In light of the possible security threat to the Schengen area from these unilateral measures," Johansson demands that Budapest answer a series of questions by mid-August. "Granting potential Russian spies and saboteurs easy access to the EU would undermine the security of us all." The simplified visa procedures for Russian and Belarusian citizens in Hungary could lead to a "de facto circumvention of the restrictions imposed by the EU," explains the internal affairs commissioner. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban signed a decree at the beginning of July, expanding the fast-track procedure for issuing visas in Hungary to Russia and Belarus, as well as six other countries. Citizens of these countries can now apply for so-called national cards to work in Hungary.
14:37 Polish Government Criticized After Prisoner Swap with RussiaThe Polish government is facing criticism for its involvement in a prisoner swap with Russia, as a Polish-speaking journalist detained in Belarus was not released. Former Polish Interior Minister Mariusz Kamiński of the right-wing nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party accused the cabinet of Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Twitter of securing the release of a Russian-Spanish journalist accused of spying for Russia, but getting "nothing in return." Journalist Andrzej Poczobut, arrested in Belarus in 2021 and sentenced in 2023, was not released. Poland, however, released Pawel Rubzow, who posed as a Spanish journalist in Europe, from prison. Rubzow had been in a Polish prison since February 2022 on suspicion of spying for Russia.
13:56 Civilians Killed or Injured in Multiple AttacksSeveral Ukrainian cities have reported deaths and injuries from Russian attacks, according to authorities. A woman was killed and another civilian injured in an attack on the city of Kupjansk, the governor of the Kharkiv region reported. In Derhachi, a bus carrying construction workers was attacked by a drone, with seven injuries reported. In Kherson, a drone attack on pedestrians resulted in one death and one injury, authorities said.
13:34 ISW: Russians Slowly but Steadily Advancing in the EastRussian forces appear to be making progress in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk. West of Avdiivka, they continue to advance slowly and steadily towards Pokrovsk, according to an analysis by the U.S.-based think tank Institute for the Study of War. This is likely due to personnel shortages in the Ukrainian army and the terrain. If Russian forces advance into areas with larger settlements, the advances are likely to slow further.
13:12 Russia Hands Over 250 Soldier Bodies to UkraineUkraine has received the bodies of 250 of its soldiers from Russia. Among them are remains of fallen soldiers from the Donetsk region in Bachmut, Marinka, and Avdiivka, as well as from the port city of Mariupol, the Coordination Headquarters for War Prisoners' Issues announced on Telegram. The handover was facilitated by international organizations. Images show staff from the International Committee of the Red Cross. The bodies will be identified and handed over to their families for burial.
12:48 CDU Foreign Policy Expert Hardt: All Germans in Russia or Belarus Could Become VictimsCDU foreign policy expert Jürgen Hardt views the release of the so-called Tiergarten murderer as part of a prisoner swap as ambiguous. He fears that "the propaganda effect for Putin is enormous," Hardt said in the ARD "Morgenmagazin." The Russian president could now tell any hired killer: "You see, I get you out." Politics must be clear that "we have come onto a slippery slope," Hardt said. All Germans currently in Russia or Belarus must be warned that they could become victims, and "we must protect those who are with us." At the same time, he welcomes the release of the 16 people imprisoned in Russia and Belarus.
12:13 Kremlin confirms Tiergarten murderer is Russian secret agentAccording to the Kremlin, Wadim Krasikow, released by Germany in a prisoner swap, is an agent of the Russian secret service FSB. "Krasikow is a member of the FSB," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov. Krasikow, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in Berlin in 2021 for murder, belonged to an elite unit of the secret service.
11:55 Security expert Umbach: Exchange strengthens Putin's image of weak WestThe prisoner exchange strengthens Putin's course against the West, says security expert Frank Umbach. Russia has the upper hand in the deal and makes the West look weak. For Russia's president, this matter is a win in several ways, as the expert explains.
11:22 Gershkovich proposes interview with PutinThe released US journalist Gershkovich reportedly asked Russian President Putin for an interview shortly before the prisoner swap. He had to fill out an official pardon application to Putin while in prison, the "Wall Street Journal" reports, which he works for. The form also had a blank field for personal remarks, which Gershkovich did not leave empty, but filled in with "the formal Russian he had acquired in 16 months of detention." In the last line, he proposed to Putin: Would he be ready to meet for an interview after his release? There is no known response from the Russian president. Read more here.
11:00 Number of Russian contract soldiers could be exaggeratedRussia is trying to recruit volunteers for the war against Ukraine with cash bonuses. However, the number of new recruits could be significantly lower than claimed by the Russian Ministry of Defense, writes the independent Russian-language online media outlet "Important Stories" based in Riga. According to a joint analysis by "Important Stories" and the "Conflict Intelligence Team," which specializes in open-source information, about 426,000 Russians received a lump sum for signing a contract between fall 2022 and April 2024. This is evident from data on the federal budget. The ministry, however, has spoken of 640,000 contract soldiers by the same time.
10:30 Baerbock sees dilemma in exchange of Tiergarten murdererForeign Minister Annalena Baerbock is relieved about the release of those imprisoned in Russia and Belarus. However, she admits in the Bavarian Broadcasting Corporation that the exchange is a "highly sensitive dilemma," as Germany had to release a "hitman" from Russia. The decision on the exchange "was not easy for anyone in the federal government." It also "rightly leads to much, much discussion," the minister says.
10:04 Jäger: "We are back in a time when Russia takes hostages"In the largest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West since the Cold War, Moscow releases a convicted murderer. Critics see in this deal an incentive for the Kremlin to make further arbitrary arrests. The West must accept this, says political scientist Thomas Jäger.
09:36 Deal loosed at Röttgen: Mixed feelings; Huge sacrifice for the rule of lawCDU foreign policy expert Norbert Röttgen has mixed feelings about the deal between Russia and the West. "In the end, I support the decision," he says on Deutschlandfunk. "It's a massive sacrifice that the German state, the rule of law, has accepted for a higher good, that of humanity, freedom, health, and liberation from torture for 16 people, so it's a give and take." He understands those who struggled with this decision, referring to the exchange of the Tiergarten murderer Wadim Krasikow.
09:00 Munz evaluates prisoner exchange: "Everyone has seen: Germany is vulnerable"ntv 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 "incredible" ScholzThe prisoner exchange was a "hard nut to crack" for the US's allies, according to US President Biden. Particularly Germany and Slovenia had to make decisions that were "against their immediate interests," he says. Especially Chancellor Scholz was "incredible." A plane with 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. Read more here.
08:04 US analyst believes Putin got what he wantedUS political scientist Tom Nichols believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin got what he wanted in the prisoner exchange. In an interview with CNN, he says the Kremlin sent a clear warning to people in the West that anyone who sets foot in Russia could become the next bargaining chip in a deal. Putin's government is treating people "like meat on a scale until they get the kind of deal they want," Nichols believes. He also thinks Putin wanted to send a message to his supporters that he would rescue them if they were captured and that they are valuable to him.
07:26 Stationing of missiles can proceed without Bundestag decisionCritics, especially from the SPD, argue that the planned deployment of long-range US weapons in Germany was decided and announced without the Bundestag. However, this is not required, according to the Scientific Service of the Bundestag. The planned deployment is expected to take place "within the NATO alliance framework," with legal bases including the NATO treaty and the Status of Forces Agreement regulating the legal status of foreign military forces in Germany. In July, the US and German governments announced that the US would station weapons systems in Germany from 2026 that can reach far into Russia. Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed fears that this could lead to escalation with Russia. However, former SPD chairman Norbert Walter-Borjans and Union parliamentary vice-president Johann Wadephul both called for a debate on this decision 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 welcoming his fellow Americans 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 an air force base in the US. Journalist Evan Gershkovich, his colleague Alsu Kurmasheva, and former US soldier Paul Whelan had spent years in Russian captivity. Read more about this 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 in the early hours of Friday morning (local time). The flight from Ankara reached Joint Base Andrews near the US capital Washington late on Thursday evening (local time) after more than nine hours in the air, 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. "In our view, these are running on separate tracks," Sullivan says in Washington when asked if the 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 were no injuries. "The shot-down targets were equipped with destructive metal elements, according to our information," the governor said.
01:45 YouTube functioning in Russia only in a limited capacityComplaints 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 disruptions on websites. According to this service, complaints have been particularly prevalent 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 secure connections (VPN).
00:32 Scholz: Exchanged prisoners arrived safelyGerman Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomed a majority 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 total 16 released in Russia and Belarus.
23:59 Kremlin spokesman: Putin daily involved in war in UkraineKremlin leader Vladimir Putin spends many hours daily in contact with his military on the course of the war in Ukraine. "This is work that is not seen every day on camera, work that is not read about in newspapers," said his spokesman Dmitri Peskov in a radio interview cited by the state agency Tass. Putin reportedly deals with the course 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 ordinary soldiers at the front. This is "a constant practice."
23:38 Freed German prisoners land in CologneAfter the prisoner exchange between Russia, Belarus, and Western countries, two planes with released prisoners landed at Cologne/Bonn Airport, according to dpa information. German 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 are home, you are 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 WidowFollowing 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 Navalnaya's and her late husband's efforts for a "democratic Russia," Yarmysh explained. Navalnaya described the release of Russian opposition figures on X as "a great joy." Every release of a political prisoner, she said, is "a huge victory and a reason to celebrate." No one, she added, should be "hostage" to Putin and suffer torture and death in "Putin's prisons."
21:40 Report: Ukraine Already Deploying F-16sThe Ukrainian air force is reported to have already conducted its first combat missions with F-16 fighter jets, according to the "Telegraph." However, it is believed these were only for air defense purposes. A representative of the air force did not deny this. Ukraine has maintained silence on the arrival of F-16 fighter jets, a common practice to avoid aiding the enemy.
Catch up on earlier developments here.
The European Union could potentially consider easing visa rules for Russians as a diplomatic gesture, but this could be viewed as a potential security threat to the Union by some. The prisoner exchange between the European Union, Russia, and the United States demonstrates that it's possible to negotiate with Russia, even on contentious issues.
