Your Voice Your Vote 2024

Live results
Updated: Nov. 10, 9:03 AM ET

National Election Results: presidential

republicans icon Projection: Trump is President-elect
226
312
226
312
Harris
70,856,209
270 to win
Trump
74,532,708
Expected vote reporting: 94%

Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan greeted by President Biden, VP Harris after landing on US soil

The two men were on their way back to the U.S., officials said.

Former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and Alsu Kurmasheva, a Russian-American journalist, are back on U.S. soil.

As they stepped off the plane, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris greeted the three at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington.

The Americans were part of an extraordinary 24-prisoner exchange involving Russia, the United States and several other countries, the largest of its kind since the Cold War and one in which President Biden was directly involved, the White House said earlier Thursday.

Reporter Evan Gershkovich is greeted by his father, Mikhail Gershkovich as Paul Whelan watches at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., following his release as part of a 24-person prisoner swap between Russia and the United States, Aug. 1, 2024.
Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP
US-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva embraces her daughters Miriam Butorin and Bibi Butorinas as she arrives at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Aug. 1, 2024.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

The swap allowed wrongfully detained Americans Gershkovich and Whelan to return home from Russia.

Addressing the press after greeting the Americans, Biden gave special recognition to Germany and Slovenia.

"The toughest call on this one was for other countries because I asked them to do things that were against their self-interest, especially Germany and Slovenia," Biden said.

When asked if exchanges like these make it more likely for Americans to be taken abroad, Biden said, "That's been the case for all history. My job is to make sure, No. 1, they don't get them, and if they do, we get them back."

Reporters also asked Biden if he had a message for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Stop," Biden replied.

After their arrival at JBA, the returning Americans and their families were set to be offered a flight to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, to receive post-isolation support at San Antonio Brooke Army Medical Center, according to a senior administration official.

President Joe Biden embraces Paul Whelan, who was released from detention in Russia, upon his arrival at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, Aug. 1, 2024.
Nathan Howard/Reuters

Shortly before noon Thursday, Gershkovich and Whelan had been freed and were on their way back to the U.S., Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

The multipart deal is the product of months of detailed, painstaking negotiations, national security adviser Jake Sullivan said.

"Some of these women and men have been unjustly held for years. All have endured unimaginable suffering and uncertainty. Today, their agony is over," Biden said in a statement.

"This is a very good afternoon," Biden said not long after in remarks at the White House, surrounded by family members of those freed. "Moments ago, the families and I were able to speak to them on the telephone from the Oval Office. They're out of Russia."

Asked by a reporter what he told them, Biden responded, smiling, "I said, 'Welcome, almost home.'"

He said the deal was a "feat of diplomacy and friendship."

"This deal would not have been made possible without our allies. Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, and Turkey, they all stepped up and they stood with us. They stood with us, and they made bold and brave decisions, released prisoners being held in their countries who were justifiably being held and provided logistical support to get the Americans home. So, for anyone who questions whether allies matter, they do. They matter," he said.

Planes believed to be carrying the freed prisoners were seen on arrival at Turkey's Ankara Airport earlier Thursday, the AP reported.

President Joe Biden greets Evan Gershkovich, who was released from detention in Russia, upon his arrival at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, Aug. 1, 2024.
Nathan Howard/Reuters

The exchange also freed Alsu Kurmasheva, a Russian-American journalist, and Vladimir Kara-Muza, a legal permanent resident of the U.S.

"The president is gathering the families of Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva and Vladimir Kara-Murza at the White House to share with them the news that an exchange is underway to secure the release of their loved ones from Russia," Sullivan told reporters on Thursday morning.

According to a senior administration official, Biden had been monitoring the situation "in near real time" through updates from his national security team, and was set to stay plugged in throughout of the day.

Former prisoner held by Russia US-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva runs to her daughters Miriam Butorin and Bibi Butorinas as she arrives at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, Aug. 1, 2024.
Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images
President Joe Biden greets Paul Whelan, a prisoner freed by Russia, as he arrives on August 1, 2024, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Vice President Kamala Harris greets a reporter Evan Gershkovich at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., following his release as part of a 24-person prisoner swap between Russia and the United States, Aug. 1, 2024.
Alex Brandon/AP

Release 'uniquely challenging'

Sullivan said securing the release of the Americans was "uniquely challenging" due to the strained relationship between the countries and the war in Ukraine.

Another hurdle, he said, was Russia's unwillingness to agree to a swap that did not include Vadim Krasikov, a Russian operative and hitman who was serving a life sentence in Germany for gunning down an opponent to the Kremlin on the streets of Berlin.

"That required extensive diplomatic engagement with our German counterparts, starting at the top with the president himself, who worked this issue directly with Chancellor Schultz. We are deeply grateful to Germany for their partnership," Sullivan said.

Gershkovich, 32, was arrested by Russian authorities in March 2023 for espionage, a charge he and U.S. officials flatly deny, with President Biden saying Gershkovich was targeted for being a journalist and an American.

After an unusually hasty trial that played out behind closed doors, Gershkovich was found guilty and sentenced to 16 years in a high-security penal colony.

Whelan, who holds U.S., British, Irish and Canadian citizenship, was arrested in December 2018 while traveling on an American passport in Russia and also accused of espionage.

Both the Biden and Trump administrations denied the allegation against Whelan. He was convicted on the charges in June 2020 and sentenced to 16 years in prison, ultimately serving five.

Kurmasheva, a dual citizen of the U.S. and Russia, was arrested by Russian authorities in 2023 for failing to register as a foreign agent. Kara-Muza was serving a 25-year sentence for criticism of the war in Ukraine.

As part of the exchange, Russia had also agreed to release a dozen German nationals who were being held as political prisoners.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris watch as former prisoner held by Russia US-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva embraces her family as she arrives at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, Aug. 1, 2024.
Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images

Biden's role and US-Russia relations

A senior administration official said even on the day he announced he was no longer seeking reelection, President Biden was on the phone working to secure this deal.

"The hour before he released that statement – literally an hour before he released that statement – he was on the phone with his Slovenian counterpart urging them to make the final arrangements and get this deal over the finish line," the official said. "This exchange is not by accident. It really is the result of a heck of a lot of leadership by President Biden and by the strength of relationships," the senior administration official said.

A senior administration official says despite this significant agreement, there should be no expectation of improved U.S.-Russia relations going forward.

This official said the administration has shown it can hold Russia accountable for its aggression on the world stage while "compartmentalizing out" the work on securing the release of Americans that are wrongfully detained.

"I would be cautious and would counsel anyone to be cautious in surmising from this that it's some sort of break through in the relationship and it portends some detente with Russia or an easing of the tensions in our relationship."

This official said Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine, pressure on NATO allies and across Europe, and the "burgeoning defense relationship" Putin is forming with China, North Korea and Iran are "of significant concern," the official said.

"We will not see a policy change by President Biden and the administration when it comes to standing up to Putin's aggression," the official said.

Evan Gershkovich greets his mother Ella Milman after he arrived back in the United States as President Joe Biden looks on, Aug. 1, 2024, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Prisoners handed over by US

The three prisoners handed over from the U.S. are Roman Seleznev, Vladislav Klyushin and Vadim Konoshchenock.

The son of a Russian lawmaker, Seleznev was found guilty by a U.S. federal court in Washington State for running a cyber scheme targeting thousands of U.S. businesses, resulting in $169 million in losses. He was sentenced to 27 years in prison in 2017.

That same year, Seleznev pleaded guilty to participating in a racketeering scheme in Nevada and conspiracy to commit bank fraud in Georgia, receiving a 14-year jail term for each to run concurrently with the Washington sentence.

Klyushin, a Russian businessman linked to the Kremlin, was sentenced to nine years in prison in September 2023 after he was convicted of playing a key role in a stock market cheating scheme that relied on insider information obtained by hacking U.S. computer systems.

Konoshchenko was accused of smuggling American-made military equipment into Russia and laundering money for Moscow. He was awaiting trial and facing a maximum sentence of 30 years behind bars.

Apart from Krasikov, prisoners returning to Russia from other countries include two from Slovenia, one from Norway, and one from Poland.

Despite the groundbreaking nature of the deal, White House officials cautioned against seeing the agreement as a watershed moment for U.S.-Russia relations at large.

President Joe Biden, hugs Alsu Kurmasheva at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., following her release as part of a 24-person prisoner swap between Russia and the United States, Aug. 1, 2024.
Alex Brandon/AP

"We will not see a policy change by President Biden and the administration when it comes to standing up to Putin's aggression," one official said.

The deal comes as a surprise to Kremlin observers and some U.S. officials, who believed Vladimir Putin would be reticent to strike a deal that could be perceived as a win for the Biden administration.

The State Department revealed in December that the U.S. had put forward a "substantial proposal" to free Gershkovich and Whelan but said Russia had rejected it—although administration officials said negotiations between the countries pressed forward.

Former President Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for the White House, previously promised that he would free Gershkovich "as soon as I win the election."

Gershkovich and Whelan were the only two Americans imprisoned in Russia considered by the U.S. government to be wrongfully detained, but at least ten other U.S. citizens are jailed in the country under dubious circumstances, according to officials familiar with the matter.

Former prisoner held by Russia US journalist Evan Gershkovich waves as he arrives at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, Aug. 1, 2024.
Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images

One official said that the U.S. regretted it could not include Marc Fogel, an American school teacher arrested in Russia for trying to carry a small amount of medical marijuana into the country, as part of the swap.

In recent years, the U.S. and Russia have completed two straightforward one-for-one prisoner exchanges to free wrongfully detained Americans.

The countries swapped U.S. Marine Corps veteran Trevor Reed for Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko, who was serving out a sentence for drug smuggling, in April 2022.

Reporter Evan Gershkovich is greeted by his mother, Ella Milman, as President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris look on at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., following their release, Aug. 1, 2024.
Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

In December of the same year, Russia freed Brittney Griner, a WNBA basketball player, in exchange for the release of Viktor Bout, an arms dealer known as the "merchant of death."

The Wall Street Journal, in a statement, said, "We are overwhelmed with relief and elated for Evan and his family, as well as for the others who were released."

It added, "Specifically, we would like to thank the U.S. government and numerous governments around the world, with particular gratitude to Germany; global news media organizations standing in solidarity with Evan; Evan's vast international network of friends; and our colleagues at The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones and News Corp who supported Evan from the first hour of his captivity."

On Thursday afternoon, Harris, the now presumptive Democratic Party nominee, as she left Houston, made a statement to cameras, notably mentioning her role in the prisoner release.

Vice President Kamala Harris reacts as she meets Evan Gershkovich, who was released from detention in Russia, upon his arrival at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, Aug. 1, 2024.
Nathan Howard/Reuters
In this photo posted to the @POTUS account, the freed Americans are shown on the plane with the American flag behind them, on Aug. 1, 2024.
@POTUS/X

"Over many years, President Biden and I, and our team have engaged in complex diplomatic negotiations to bring these wrongfully detained Americans home," Harris said. "We never stopped fighting for their release, and today, in spite of all of their suffering, it gives me great comfort to know that their horrible ordeal is finally over."

ABC News' Fritz Farrow contributed to this report.

Related Topics

Popular Reads

ABC News Live

ABC News Live

24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events

seductrice.net
universo-virtual.com
buytrendz.net
thisforall.net
benchpressgains.com
qthzb.com
mindhunter9.com
dwjqp1.com
secure-signup.net
ahaayy.com
tressesindia.com
puresybian.com
krpano-chs.com
cre8workshop.com
hdkino.org
peixun021.com
qz786.com
utahperformingartscenter.org
worldqrmconference.com
shangyuwh.com
eejssdfsdfdfjsd.com
playminecraftfreeonline.com
trekvietnamtour.com
your-business-articles.com
essaywritingservice10.com
hindusamaaj.com
joggingvideo.com
wandercoups.com
wormblaster.net
tongchengchuyange0004.com
internetknowing.com
breachurch.com
peachesnginburlesque.com
dataarchitectoo.com
clientfunnelformula.com
30pps.com
cherylroll.com
ks2252.com
prowp.net
webmanicura.com
sofietsshotel.com
facetorch.com
nylawyerreview.com
apapromotions.com
shareparelli.com
goeaglepointe.com
thegreenmanpubphuket.com
karotorossian.com
publicsensor.com
taiwandefence.com
epcsur.com
mfhoudan.com
southstills.com
tvtv98.com
thewellington-hotel.com
bccaipiao.com
colectoresindustrialesgs.com
shenanddcg.com
capriartfilmfestival.com
replicabreitlingsale.com
thaiamarinnewtoncorner.com
gkmcww.com
mbnkbj.com
andrewbrennandesign.com
cod54.com
luobinzhang.com
faithfirst.net
zjyc28.com
tongchengjinyeyouyue0004.com
nhuan6.com
kftz5k.com
oldgardensflowers.com
lightupthefloor.com
bahamamamas-stjohns.com
ly2818.com
905onthebay.com
fonemenu.com
notanothermovie.com
ukrainehighclassescort.com
meincmagazine.com
av-5858.com
yallerdawg.com
donkeythemovie.com
corporatehospitalitygroup.com
boboyy88.com
miteinander-lernen.com
dannayconsulting.com
officialtomsshoesoutletstore.com
forsale-amoxil-amoxicillin.net
generictadalafil-canada.net
guitarlessonseastlondon.com
lesliesrestaurants.com
mattyno9.com
nri-homeloans.com
rtgvisas-qatar.com
salbutamolventolinonline.net
sportsinjuries.info
wedsna.com
rgkntk.com
bkkmarketplace.com
zxqcwx.com
breakupprogram.com
boxcardc.com
unblockyoutubeindonesia.com
fabulousbookmark.com
beat-the.com
guatemala-sailfishing-vacations-charters.com
magie-marketing.com
kingstonliteracy.com
guitaraffinity.com
eurelookinggoodapparel.com
howtolosecheekfat.net
marioncma.org
oliviadavismusic.com
shantelcampbellrealestate.com
shopleborn13.com
topindiafree.com
v-visitors.net
djjky.com
053hh.com
originbluei.com
baucishotel.com
33kkn.com
intrinsiqresearch.com
mariaescort-kiev.com
mymaguk.com
sponsored4u.com
crimsonclass.com
bataillenavale.com
searchtile.com
ze-stribrnych-struh.com
zenithalhype.com
modalpkv.com
bouisset-lafforgue.com
useupload.com
37r.net
autoankauf-muenster.com
bantinbongda.net
bilgius.com
brabustermagazine.com
indigrow.org
miicrosofts.net
mysmiletravel.com
selinasims.com
spellcubesapp.com
usa-faction.com
hypoallergenicdogsnames.com
dailyupdatez.com
foodphotographyreviews.com
cricutcom-setup.com
chprowebdesign.com
katyrealty-kanepa.com
tasramar.com
bilgipinari.org
four-am.com
indiarepublicday.com
inquick-enbooks.com
iracmpi.com
kakaschoenen.com
lsm99flash.com
nana1255.com
ngen-niagara.com
technwzs.com
virtualonlinecasino1345.com
wallpapertop.net
casino-natali.com
iprofit-internet.com
denochemexicana.com
eventhalfkg.com
medcon-taiwan.com
life-himawari.com
myriamshomes.com
nightmarevue.com
healthandfitnesslives.com
androidnews-jp.com
allstarsru.com
bestofthebuckeyestate.com
bestofthefirststate.com
bestwireless7.com
britsmile.com
declarationintermittent.com
findhereall.com
jingyou888.com
lsm99deal.com
lsm99galaxy.com
moozatech.com
nuagh.com
patliyo.com
philomenamagikz.net
rckouba.net
saturnunipessoallda.com
tallahasseefrolics.com
thematurehardcore.net
totalenvironment-inthatquietearth.com
velislavakaymakanova.com
vermontenergetic.com
kakakpintar.com
jerusalemdispatch.com
begorgeouslady.com
1800birks4u.com
2wheelstogo.com
6strip4you.com
bigdata-world.net
emailandco.net
gacapal.com
jharpost.com
krishnaastro.com
lsm99credit.com
mascalzonicampani.com
sitemapxml.org
thecityslums.net
topagh.com
flairnetwebdesign.com
rajasthancarservices.com
bangkaeair.com
beneventocoupon.com
noternet.org
oqtive.com
smilebrightrx.com
decollage-etiquette.com
1millionbestdownloads.com
7658.info
bidbass.com
devlopworldtech.com
digitalmarketingrajkot.com
fluginfo.net
naqlafshk.com
passion-decouverte.com
playsirius.com
spacceleratorintl.com
stikyballs.com
top10way.com
yokidsyogurt.com
zszyhl.com
16firthcrescent.com
abogadolaboralistamd.com
apk2wap.com
aromacremeria.com
banparacard.com
bosmanraws.com
businessproviderblog.com
caltonosa.com
calvaryrevivalchurch.org
chastenedsoulwithabrokenheart.com
cheminotsgardcevennes.com
cooksspot.com
cqxzpt.com
deesywig.com
deltacartoonmaps.com
despixelsetdeshommes.com
duocoracaobrasileiro.com
fareshopbd.com
goodpainspills.com
hemendekor.com
kobisitecdn.com
makaigoods.com
mgs1454.com
piccadillyresidences.com
radiolaondafresca.com
rubendorf.com
searchengineimprov.com
sellmyhrvahome.com
shugahouseessentials.com
sonihullquad.com
subtractkilos.com
valeriekelmansky.com
vipasdigitalmarketing.com
voolivrerj.com
worldhealthstory.com
zeelonggroup.com
1015southrockhill.com
10x10b.com
111-online-casinos.com
191cb.com
3665arpentunitd.com
aitesonics.com
bag-shokunin.com
brightotech.com
communication-digitale-services.com
covoakland.org
dariaprimapack.com
freefortniteaccountss.com
gatebizglobal.com
global1entertainmentnews.com
greatytene.com
hiroshiwakita.com
iktodaypk.com
jahatsakong.com
meadowbrookgolfgroup.com
newsbharati.net
platinumstudiosdesign.com
slotxogamesplay.com
strikestaruk.com
techguroh.com
trucosdefortnite.com
ufabetrune.com
weddedtowhitmore.com
12940brycecanyonunitb.com
1311dietrichoaks.com
2monarchtraceunit303.com
601legendhill.com
850elaine.com
adieusolasomade.com
andora-ke.com
bestslotxogames.com
cannagomcallen.com
endlesslyhot.com
iestpjva.com
ouqprint.com
pwmaplefest.com
qtylmr.com
rb88betting.com
buscadogues.com
1007macfm.com
born-wild.com
growthinvests.com
promocode-casino.com
proyectogalgoargentina.com
wbthompson-art.com
whitemountainwheels.com
7thavehvl.com
developmethis.com
funkydogbowties.com
travelodgegrandjunction.com
gao-town.com
globalmarketsuite.com
blogshippo.com
hdbka.com
proboards67.com
outletonline-michaelkors.com
kalkis-research.com
thuthuatit.net
buckcash.com
hollistercanada.com
docterror.com
asadart.com
vmayke.org
erwincomputers.com
dirimart.org
okkii.com
loteriasdecehegin.com
mountanalog.com
healingtaobritain.com
ttxmonitor.com
nwordpress.com
11bolabonanza.com