ADDS REMARKS FROM BIDEN, WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL ADVISER; BACKGROUND
By Diyar Guldogan
WASHINGTON (AA) - US President Joe Biden on Thursday thanked allies, including Türkiye, for a major prisoner swap between the US and Russia.
"I am grateful to our Allies who stood with us throughout tough, complex negotiations to achieve this outcome— including Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, and Turkey," Biden wrote on X.
His remarks were made soon after Türkiye announced that the country's National Intelligence Organization (MIT) led a successful prisoner exchange involving seven countries in "one of the most extensive" swap operations in recent years.
Twenty-six individuals from prisons in the US, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, Russia and Belarus were exchanged and transported to the Türkiye's capital of Ankara.
Seven aircraft, two from the US, and one each from Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway and Russia, transported the prisoners to Türkiye as part of the operation. Ten, including two children, were later transferred to Russia, 13 to Germany and three to the US.
"Today, three American citizens and one American green-card holder who were unjustly imprisoned in Russia are finally coming home: Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva and Vladimir Kara-Murza.
"The deal that secured their freedom was a feat of diplomacy," said Biden.
The president said in remarks at the White House, that the prisoners are out of Russia and flown to Türkiye.
"In just a few hours, we'll welcome home, our fellow Americans," he said.
"Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, and Turkey, they all stepped up and they stood with us.
"They made bold and brave decisions, released prisoners being held in their countries who were justifiably being held, and provided the logistical support to get the Americans home," said Biden.
Biden was asked whether he would be willing to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He responded: "I don't need to speak with Putin."
- US 'deeply grateful to Türkiye for providing critical logistic support'
White House National Security Council Adviser Jake Sullivan said that not since the Cold War has there been a similar number of individuals exchanged in this way.
"And there has never, so far as we know, been an exchange involving so many countries, so many close US partners and allies working together,” he told reporters.
He said nations were "critical" to securing the deal and the US is “deeply grateful to Turkey for providing the critical logistic support that has made this deal possible."
Secretary of State Antony Blinken praised the support from allies and said Washington appreciates the Turkish government.
"We are grateful for the support we had from a number of our allies who made this deal possible, in particular Germany, Poland, Norway, and Slovenia,” he said in a statement.
“We further appreciate the Turkish government providing a location for the safe return of these individuals to the United States and Germany," he added.
According to Turkish security sources, the MIT managed the entire process for the swap, from initial negotiations to the final exchange of prisoners in Ankara.
The agency was also responsible for security measures, logistical planning and coordination between the countries involved.
The exchange took place under the strict supervision of MIT personnel, who ensured that each individual was safely transferred from the aircraft to secure locations.
Following the completion of health checks and necessary formalities, the prisoners were handed to their respective nations' representatives, with their subsequent return flights also being authorized by the MIT.