Biden: Scholz was "incredible" on the prisoner deal
Especially Germany had made sacrifices in the prisoner exchange between western states and Russia and Belarus, says US President Biden. Chancellor Scholz receives praise from Washington for the decision to release a convicted murderer among others.
The historic prisoner exchange between Russia, Belarus, and several western countries was, according to US President Joe Biden, a "hard pill to swallow" for the US's allies. Especially Germany and Slovenia had to make decisions that were "against their immediate interests," Biden said to journalists at Joint Base Andrews near the capital Washington. Especially Chancellor Olaf Scholz was "incredible."
A plane carrying released US citizens landed in the US overnight. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris welcomed their fellow countrymen as they disembarked from the plane. On board were the "Wall Street Journal" correspondent Evan Gershkovich, convicted of espionage, former US soldier Paul Whelan, and US journalist Alsu Kurmasheva.
Russia, Belarus, and several western countries had, in an unprecedented action involving the Turkish intelligence agency MIT, exchanged a total of 24 prisoners at Ankara airport. In exchange for the release of political prisoners and Kremlin critics, Germany, the US, and partner countries released the convicted Berlin Zoo murderer Wadim Krasikow and Russian prisoners suspected of espionage. 13 people landed in Cologne overnight.
Joe Biden commended Germany for its role in the prisoner exchange, highlighting Chancellor Scholz's decision to release a convicted murderer among others. Despite the difficult choice, Biden acknowledged that Germany and other nations, including Slovenia, made sacrifices that went against their immediate interests.
