Quotes
There is no more singular or concrete demonstration that the alliances that the president has reinvigorated around the world matter to Americans, to the individual safety of Americans, and to the collective security of Americans. And we're deeply grateful to our allies who supported us in these complex negotiations to achieve this outcome,
It is difficult to send back a convicted criminal to secure the release of an innocent American. And yet, sometimes the choice is between doing that and consigning that person basically to live out their days in prison in a hostile foreign country, or in the hands of a hostile power,
How many people do we get versus them? Are we also paying them cash? Are they giving us cash (Please withdraw that question, because I’m sure the answer is NO)? Are we releasing murderers, killers, or thugs?"
Today's exchange is a feat of diplomacy that, honestly, could only be achieved by a leader like Joe Biden and his direction,
His goal has always been to put the families first, the families who are enduring an unimaginable ordeal,
This was vintage Joe Biden, rallying American allies to save American citizens and Russian freedom fighters, and doing it with intricate statecraft, pulling his whole team together to drive this across the finish line,
Sullivan said, noting the president maintained regular contact with the families of those detained as he worked for their release Just curious because we never make good deals, at anything, but especially hostage swaps,
the Republican nominee for president continued It’s a tremendous diplomatic achievement, and we’re grateful that they’ll be back home with their families where they belong,
After over a year of separation and more than nine months of brutal detention, Alsu will finally be free. Thanks to the unwavering efforts of the U.S. government and our tireless advocacy work, she will soon reunite with her family.”
Her husband, Pavel Butorin, said on Thursday Paul was held hostage for 2,043 days. His case was that of an American in peril, held by the Russian Federation as part of their blighted initiative to use humans as pawns to extract concessions,
the Whelan family said in a statement on Thursday All have endured unimaginable suffering and uncertainty. Today, their agony is over,
President Joe Biden said in an official statement announcing The deal that secured their freedom was a feat of diplomacy. All told, we’ve negotiated the release of 16 people from Russia — including five Germans and seven Russian citizens who were political prisoners in their own country. Some of these women and men have been unjustly held for years. All have endured unimaginable suffering and uncertainty. Today, their agony is over,
Today, we celebrate the return of Paul, Evan, Alsu, and Vladimir and rejoice with their families. We remember all those still wrongfully detained or held hostage around the world. And reaffirm our pledge to their families: We see you. We are with you. And we will never stop working to bring your loved ones home where they belong,
I will not stop working until every American wrongfully detained or held hostage around the world is reunited with their family. My Administration has now brought home over 70 such Americans, many of whom were in captivity since before I took office,
Biden wrote in the statement on Thursday Still, too many families are suffering and separated from their loved ones, and I have no higher priority as President than bringing those Americans home."
Negotiations for release of wrongful detainees are often very difficult. That's just a reality,
We are grateful to President Biden and his administration for working with persistence and determination to bring Evan home rather than see him shipped off to a Russian work camp for a crime he didn’t commit,
Now their brutal ordeal is over, and they’re free,
Biden said, flanked by 11 family members of the released prisoners The deal that made this possible was the feat of diplomacy and friendship,
Why didn't he do it as President?"
Asked what he would say to former President Donald Trump, who claimed he would have gotten the American prisoners released without anything in return, Biden said