17:30 Kremlin: Children of agents did not know about Russian origin
The two children of a pair of spies, who returned to Russia through a prisoner exchange between Moscow and Western states, were reportedly unaware of their Russian roots, according to the Kremlin. "The children of the secret agents who arrived yesterday learned that they are Russians only when their plane took off in Ankara," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov, according to Russian news agency Interfax. The children do not speak Russian. President Putin greeted the two children in Spanish with "Buenas Noches," as heard in a video on the Russian president's website. After the arrest of the spy couple in Slovenia in December 2022, reports also emerged about the children. At the time, it was reported that a child welfare service had taken over the children after the arrest of their parents. It was also reported that the mother was Argentine.
17:06 Esken: Exchange shows that negotiations with "Russian aggressor" are possibleSaskia Esken described the prisoner exchange with Russia as a great success. "It's a great success of diplomacy that it has now been possible to free many German and other Western European and Western citizens from Russian prisons," said the SPD federal chairwoman to ntv. That the Tiergarten murderer was exchanged 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 the result is that many people could be brought to freedom and safety. "The deal shows at least that it is possible to negotiate, to engage in negotiations, even with the Russian state, even with the Russian aggressor, on topics where they also have their own interests," says Esken. In the end, one wants to achieve peace, "but first a situation has to be created in which the Russian state is even willing to talk to us," says the SPD federal chairwoman in the interview.
16:33 Expert explains: What the F16s in Ukraine can doThe training of the 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 air force 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 hard to beat in terms of cynicism and tastelessness. She posted a photo on Telegram showing US President Joe Biden shaking hands with someone. Under the picture, it says: "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 labor camp, his team believes 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 ThreatThe easing of visa rules for Russians and Belarusians in Hungary is considered a "possible security threat" to the Union by EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson. She has sent a letter with questions to the government in Budapest, Johansson told X. "Given the potential security threat to the Schengen area from these unilateral measures," Johansson has asked Budapest to 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 home affairs commissioner explained. 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," Johansson said. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban had 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 Exchange with RussiaThe Polish government is facing criticism for its involvement in a prisoner exchange with Russia, as a Polish-speaking journalist detained in Belarus was not released. Former Polish Interior Minister Mariusz Kamiński of the right-wing nationalist PiS party accused the cabinet of Prime Minister Donald Tusk on X of having released a Russian-Spanish journalist accused of spying for Russia, but "getting nothing in return." The journalist Andrzej Poczobut, who was arrested in Belarus in 2021 and sentenced in 2023, was not released. However, Poland released Pablo González, who had been posing as a Spanish journalist in Europe and was serving time in a Polish prison since February 2022 on suspicion of spying for Russia, as part of the exchange.
13:56 Civilians Killed or Injured in Multiple AttacksMultiple Ukrainian cities have reported deaths and injuries from Russian attacks, according to authorities. A woman died and another civilian was injured in a strike on the city of Kupjansk, the governor of the Kharkiv region reported. In Derhachi, a bus filled with construction workers was attacked by a drone, with seven injured reported. In Kherson, pedestrians were attacked by a drone that dropped an explosive device, killing a 54-year-old and injuring a 75-year-old, authorities said.
13:34 ISW: Russians Slowly but Steadily Advancing in the EastIn the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, Russian forces appear to be making progress. West of Avdiivka, they continue to advance slowly and steadily towards Pokrovsk, according to an analysis by the U.S. think tank "Institute for the Study of War." This is likely due to personnel shortages on the Ukrainian side and the terrain. If Russian forces advance into an area with larger settlements, the advances are likely to slow further.
13:12 Russia Hands Over 250 Ukrainian Soldiers' BodiesUkraine has received the bodies of 250 of its soldiers from Russia. Among them are remains of fallen soldiers from the Donetsk region, including Bachmut, Marjinka, and Avdiivka, as well as from the port city of Mariupol, according to the Coordination Staff for War Prisoners' Issues on Telegram. The handover was facilitated by international organizations. Images show staff from the International 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 sees the release of the so-called Tiergarten murderer in the prisoner swap as ambiguous. He fears that "the propaganda effect for Putin is enormous," Hardt told ARD's "Morning Magazine." The Russian president could now tell any hired killer, "You see, I get you out." The policy must be clear that "we have come onto a slippery slope," says Hardt. All Germans currently in Russia or Belarus should 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 Was Russian SpyThe Kremlin has confirmed that Vadim Krasikov, released by Germany in a prisoner swap, was a member of the Russian FSB intelligence service. "Krasikov is a member of the FSB," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Krasikov, who was sentenced to life in prison in Berlin in 2021 for murder, belonged to an elite unit of the intelligence service.
11:55 Security Expert Umbach: Swap Strengthens Putin's Image of Weak WestThe prisoner swap strengthens Putin's course against the West, says security expert Frank Umbach. Russia had the upper hand in the deal and made the West look weak. For Russia's president, this is a win on multiple fronts, the expert explains.
11:22 Gershkovich Proposes Interview with PutinThe released US journalist Gershkovich reportedly asked Russian President Putin for an interview just before the prisoner swap. He had to fill out an official pardon application to Putin while in prison, the "Wall Street Journal" reports. The form also had a blank field for personal remarks, which Gershkovich did not leave empty, but filled in "in the formal High Russian he had acquired in 16 months of detention." In the last line, he proposed to Putin: Would he be ready to sit down for an interview after his release? No response from the Russian president is known. Read more here.
11:00 Russian Contract Soldier Numbers May Be ExaggeratedRussia is attempting to recruit volunteers for the war against Ukraine with cash incentives. However, the number of new recruits may be significantly lower than claimed by the Russian Ministry of Defense, according to the independent Russian-language online media outlet "Important Stories" based in Riga. An analysis by "Important Stories" and the "Conflict Intelligence Team," which specializes in open-source information, found that around 426,000 Russians received a lump sum for signing contracts between fall 2022 and April 2024, based on federal budget data. Meanwhile, the ministry has spoken of 640,000 contract soldiers by that point.
10:30 Baerbock Sees Dilemma in Tiergarten Murderer ExchangeForeign Minister Annalena Baerbock is relieved about the release of those imprisoned in Russia and Belarus but acknowledges that the exchange was a "highly sensitive dilemma." In an interview with Bayerischer Rundfunk, she admits that Germany had to release a "hitman" from Russia as well. The decision was not easy for anyone in the federal government, she says, but it also leads to much-needed discussion.
10:04 Jäger: "We're Back in a Time When Russia Holds Hostages"In the largest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West since the Cold War, Moscow releases a convicted murderer. Critics see this deal as an incentive for the Kremlin to make more arbitrary arrests, which the West must accept, says political scientist Thomas Jäger.
09:36 Röttgen Has Mixed Feelings About Deal: Major Sacrifice for Rule of LawCDU foreign policy expert Norbert Röttgen views the deal between Russia and the West with mixed feelings. "In the end, I support the decision," he says in an interview with Deutschlandfunk. "It's a significant sacrifice that the German state, the rule of law, is accepting here for a higher good—the humanity, freedom, health, and liberation from torture of 16 people. It's a give-and-take." He understands those who struggled with this decision, referring to the exchange of Tiergarten murderer Wadim Krasikow.
09:00 Munz Assesses Prisoner Exchange: "Everyone Has Seen: Germany Is Blackmailable"ntv Russia correspondent Rainer Munz sees a dangerous sign for Germans living abroad in the prisoner exchange between Moscow and Berlin. The Kremlin is increasing pressure on both domestic and foreign opposition figures, he says.
08:33 Biden Praises "Remarkable" ScholzAccording to US President Biden, the prisoner exchange was a "tough one" for the US's allies, particularly Germany and Slovenia, who had to make decisions against their immediate interests. He praises German Chancellor Scholz as "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. Read more about this here.
08:04 US Analyst Believes Putin Got What He WantedAnalyst Tom Nichols believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin has obtained what he wanted in the prisoner exchange. The US political scientist said 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 pieces of meat on a scale until they get the kind of deal they want," Nichols believes. The Russia expert also believes that 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 Long-Range Missiles Can Proceed Without Bundestag DecisionCriticism, particularly from the SPD, has been voiced over the planned relocation of far-reaching US weapons to Germany without the Bundestag's decision or announcement. However, this is not required, according to the Scientific Service of the Bundestag. The planned deployment is likely to take place "within the framework of the NATO alliance," the service's recent information states. The legal basis would likely include 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 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 said that such a decision should be discussed within the SPD and the Bundestag. Union parliamentary vice-president Johann Wadephul also called for a debate on the matter in the Bundestag.
06:36 Biden Visibly Moved: "It's a Wonderful Feeling"US President Joe Biden appears visibly moved upon the arrival of freed prisoners from Russia on US soil. "It's a wonderful feeling," he says after welcoming his fellow countrymen. "I was absolutely convinced that we could do this." His vice president, Kamala Harris, describes it as an "incredible day" – one that can be seen in the joyful tears of the families present. The prisoner exchange is an "extraordinary demonstration of the power of diplomacy," she says.
06:00 Harris Praises Courage of Freed 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 Freed AmericansThree Americans freed as part of a prisoner exchange were welcomed 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. For more on this story, click here.
05:50 Three Freed Americans Arrive in the USThree Americans released as part of a prisoner swap 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 early Friday morning (local time). The flight from Ankara reached Joint Base Andrews near the US capital Washington late Thursday night (local time) after over nine hours in the air, according to US media reports.
04:41 US Advisor: Prisoner Deal Has No Impact on Ukraine WarUS National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan says the large-scale prisoner swap between Russia and several Western countries has no impact on the situation in Ukraine. 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 said in Washington when asked if the successful negotiations could also promote talks with the Ukrainians about the war situation.
03:05 Russian-Appointed 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 said.
01:45 YouTube Functioning Limitedly in RussiaComplaints are mounting in Russia that the video platform YouTube is only functioning partially. Several media outlets reported outages and referred to 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. Russia had already blocked large social networks like X and Facebook, which can only be accessed via protected connections (VPN).
00:32 Scholz: Exchanged Prisoners Arrive SafelyGerman Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomed a large number of German and Russian citizens released in a prisoner swap between Russia and the West at Cologne-Bonn Airport. "All have arrived safely," the SPD politician said shortly after midnight at the airport. He had spoken at length with the arrivals. "That was very moving," said Scholz. "Many had not expected this to happen now." Many had feared for their health and even their lives. Two planes from Ankara landed in Cologne-Bonn late in the evening, carrying about a dozen of the 16 people released in Russia and Belarus.
23:59 Kremlin Spokesman: Putin Daily Involved in Ukraine WarRussian President Vladimir Putin spends many hours daily in contact with his military to discuss the progress of the war in Ukraine. "This is work that is not seen on camera every day, work that is not read about in newspapers," his spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a radio interview cited by the state agency TASS. Putin reportedly devotes time every day of the week to the progress of the special operation, as the attack on Ukraine is referred to in Kremlin terminology. He also frequently calls front commanders and ordinary soldiers at the front. This is "a constant practice."
23:38 Freed German Prisoners Arrive in CologneFollowing a prisoner exchange between Russia, Belarus, and Western countries, two planes carrying freed prisoners have landed at Cologne/Bonn Airport, according to dpa information. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had announced that he would meet with the former prisoners late in the evening. The SPD politician had also interrupted his vacation and landed at Cologne/Bonn Airport. Among those released are five Germans.
22:44 Federal Justice Minister on Prisoner Deal: "In Doubt, for Freedom"German Federal Justice Minister Marco Buschmann described the release of convicted Russian murderer Vadim Krasikov from German custody as a bitter concession in the context of the prisoner exchange. This was done to enable 16 people to start a new life in freedom, the FDP politician explained. "They faced a similar fate as Alexei Navalny, who died in inhumane arbitrariness." Buschmann was referring to the Russian opposition politician who died in Russian custody in mid-February. As justice minister, he said, the principle of "in doubt, for freedom" was decisive for him. Read more here.
22:13 Putin Personally Welcomes Freed RussiansVladimir Putin personally welcomed Russians freed from the West at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport. The Kremlin leader embraced at least one of the men on the tarmac where the presidential guard was standing, as shown in TV footage released by the Kremlin. Also present were Russian intelligence chiefs Alexander Bortnikov of the FSB and Sergei Naryshkin, as well as Defense Minister Andrei Belousov. "You are home, you are in your homeland," Putin greeted the freed prisoners and announced that they would be nominated for state awards. Tears of joy were visible on the faces of the freed prisoners. Among those released 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, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris called the widow of Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny. Harris spoke with Julia Navalnaya about the prisoner exchange and expressed her support, according to Navalnaya's spokeswoman, Kira Yarmish, on X. Harris highlighted the efforts of Navalnaya and her husband, who died in a Russian penal colony in February, for a "democratic Russia," Yarmish explained. Navalnaya described the release of Russian opposition figures on X as a "great joy." Each release of a political prisoner is "a huge victory and a reason to celebrate," she said. No one should be "hostage" to Putin and suffer and die from torture 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 remained silent about the arrival of F-16 fighter jets, a common practice to avoid helping the enemy.
Catch up on all previous developments here.
In light of the ongoing diplomatic efforts, there are concerns that Russia may use prisoner swaps as a tool to pressure Western nations, potentially leading to more arbitrary arrests of individuals in future.
Moreover, the approach of some nations, such as Hungary, in easing visa rules for Russians, has raised concerns within the EU about potential security threats and the possibility of granted visas being misused by Russian spies or saboteurs.
