٠٠:٠٣:٢٨Mandatory credit: The White House
US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were seen greeting released US citizens following the biggest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West in Washington DC, on Thursday.
"My job is to make sure, number one, they don't get them (American citizens). If they do, we get them back," claimed Biden, adding that Washington "will send out all the notifications to all the other countries, all our citizens, the countries not to go to, what to do, what not to do."
"I was absolutely convinced we could get it done. And then when I said, 'Alliances make a difference,' they stepped up and took a chance for us, and it mattered a lot," he shared, emphasising that it was the 'toughest call' on countries, especially Germany, whose Chancellor Olaf Scholz 'was incredible'.
The President emphasised that 'it's time to trust', because if "other leaders trust you, you trust them, you get things done, and that's how this got done. That's a lot of help."
"This is an extraordinary day, and I'm very thankful for our president and what he has done over his entire career, but in particular as it relates to these families and these individuals," expressed Kamala Harris, praising his contribution to cooperation with allies.
"This is just an extraordinary testament to the importance of having a president who understands the power of diplomacy and understands the strength that rests in understanding the significance of diplomacy and strengthening alliances," she continued, making Biden emotional.
Three American citizens arrived in the US after being sentenced to long terms by Moscow.
Twenty-six individuals were freed on Thursday, following the biggest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West since the Cold War. Sixteen prisoners held in Russia and ten people, including two minors, in the US, Norway, Germany, Poland and Slovenia were released from jails as a part of the exchange.
'Alliances make a difference' - Biden, Harris welcome US citizens released by Russia, praise allies for 'stepping up' to seal swap deal
US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were seen greeting released US citizens following the biggest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West in Washington DC, on Thursday.
"My job is to make sure, number one, they don't get them (American citizens). If they do, we get them back," claimed Biden, adding that Washington "will send out all the notifications to all the other countries, all our citizens, the countries not to go to, what to do, what not to do."
"I was absolutely convinced we could get it done. And then when I said, 'Alliances make a difference,' they stepped up and took a chance for us, and it mattered a lot," he shared, emphasising that it was the 'toughest call' on countries, especially Germany, whose Chancellor Olaf Scholz 'was incredible'.
The President emphasised that 'it's time to trust', because if "other leaders trust you, you trust them, you get things done, and that's how this got done. That's a lot of help."
"This is an extraordinary day, and I'm very thankful for our president and what he has done over his entire career, but in particular as it relates to these families and these individuals," expressed Kamala Harris, praising his contribution to cooperation with allies.
"This is just an extraordinary testament to the importance of having a president who understands the power of diplomacy and understands the strength that rests in understanding the significance of diplomacy and strengthening alliances," she continued, making Biden emotional.
Three American citizens arrived in the US after being sentenced to long terms by Moscow.
Twenty-six individuals were freed on Thursday, following the biggest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West since the Cold War. Sixteen prisoners held in Russia and ten people, including two minors, in the US, Norway, Germany, Poland and Slovenia were released from jails as a part of the exchange.
Mandatory credit: The White House
US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were seen greeting released US citizens following the biggest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West in Washington DC, on Thursday.
"My job is to make sure, number one, they don't get them (American citizens). If they do, we get them back," claimed Biden, adding that Washington "will send out all the notifications to all the other countries, all our citizens, the countries not to go to, what to do, what not to do."
"I was absolutely convinced we could get it done. And then when I said, 'Alliances make a difference,' they stepped up and took a chance for us, and it mattered a lot," he shared, emphasising that it was the 'toughest call' on countries, especially Germany, whose Chancellor Olaf Scholz 'was incredible'.
The President emphasised that 'it's time to trust', because if "other leaders trust you, you trust them, you get things done, and that's how this got done. That's a lot of help."
"This is an extraordinary day, and I'm very thankful for our president and what he has done over his entire career, but in particular as it relates to these families and these individuals," expressed Kamala Harris, praising his contribution to cooperation with allies.
"This is just an extraordinary testament to the importance of having a president who understands the power of diplomacy and understands the strength that rests in understanding the significance of diplomacy and strengthening alliances," she continued, making Biden emotional.
Three American citizens arrived in the US after being sentenced to long terms by Moscow.
Twenty-six individuals were freed on Thursday, following the biggest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West since the Cold War. Sixteen prisoners held in Russia and ten people, including two minors, in the US, Norway, Germany, Poland and Slovenia were released from jails as a part of the exchange.