live from london, this is bbc news. a massive prisoner swap involving the united states and russia has taken place. three us citizens imprisoned in russia, including wall streetjournal reporter evan gershkovich, have been freed. here are live pictures from the ankara airport. turkey said it was coordinating an extensive prisoner swap, adding 26 people have been exchanged. iran accuses israel of "crossing all redlines" after the assassination of ismail haniyeh. the funeral of the hamas political leader has taken place in iran, with tens of thousands attending. in the uk, the prime minister has announced new measures to tackle violent disorder, in the aftermath of unrest that has followed the southport stabbings.

uk becomes latest economy to cut interest rates. this is the first drop since the onset of the pandemic in march 2020. hello, i'm anita mcveigh. the biggest prisoner exchange since the end of the cold war has taken place between russia and the west, when as many as 26 prisoners from seven different countries have been freed. the biden administration says it has agreed to the exchange to secure the release of three american citizens imprisoned in russia, including wall streetjournal reporter evan gershkovich, marine veteran paul whelan, and russian—american radio journalist alsu kurmasheva. this is the airport in ankara

where the exchange is thought to have taken place. turkish intelligence says it's been mediating in the exchange. this is the scene in washington — we're expecting to hear from president biden shortly. sorry, we don't have those pictures from washington at the moment, but we are expecting to hear from president biden shortly, here you have that live shot of the whitehouse now. let me bringing you some breaking news, this is about one of those us hostages that has been exchanged, former marine paul whelen and a statement has just been issued by his family. they say paul was a russian hostage for 2043 days. they thank everyone who has covered his story and helped to share the message and advocacy for his release over that time. they say paul will be receiving us government support

as all freed hostages do, in the next few days and weeks, but they hope that he will be given some privacy as has happened with other released hostages. they say this is now paul's story to tell and they are sure he will in time communicate how he wants to tell it. that is just a part of the statement from paul whalen�*s family. but to bring you the latest from washington and berlin. we can cross to sarah rainsford and berlin, we'll talk to will grant and washington injust a moment. sarah, i know you've been looking at that statement from paul whalen�*s family, what can you tell us about it? it’s what can you tell us about it? it's “ust what can you tell us about it? it�*s just dropped into my inbox, i've obviously been getting a lot of statements from the family over the five or more years he has been imprisoned in washington, when i attended his first court hearing in moscow i've been following his case

extremely closely, communicating with him himself in prison over the years. i'mjust with him himself in prison over the years. i'm just going down the statement now, it's very long and it's including a huge amount of gratitude to everybody who has fought for paul whalen to be released, and saying paul has lost so much. —— paul whelan. released, and saying paul has lost so much. —— paulwhelan. more released, and saying paul has lost so much. —— paul whelan. more than five and a half years, he is not in a labour colony any more, his twin brother david whelan says he's not home yet, he was wrongfully imprisoned in russia, the statement says, and while he was there he lost hisjob, he lost his home. his brother is saying he's unsure how his brother will overcome these losses and rejoin society after being hostage for so long. you know, one thing i kind of share with you is i spoke to...— one thing i kind of share with you is i spoke to... sarah, sarah do we still have you? _

is i spoke to... sarah, sarah do we still have you? apologies, - is i spoke to... sarah, sarah do we still have you? apologies, we've i still have you? apologies, we've lost that line to sarah, let's see if we can hear from lost that line to sarah, let's see if we can hearfrom sarah again, sarah can you or us? i if we can hear from sarah again, sarah can you or us?— if we can hear from sarah again, sarah can you or us? i can hear you, can ou sarah can you or us? i can hear you, can you hear — sarah can you or us? i can hear you, can you hear me? — sarah can you or us? i can hear you, can you hear me? we _ sarah can you or us? i can hear you, can you hear me? we can, - sarah can you or us? i can hear you, can you hear me? we can, we - sarah can you or us? i can hear you, can you hear me? we can, we lost l can you hear me? we can, we lost comments — can you hear me? we can, we lost comments with _ can you hear me? we can, we lost comments with you _ can you hear me? we can, we lost comments with you for _ can you hear me? we can, we lost comments with you for a - can you hear me? we can, we lost comments with you for a moment| can you hear me? we can, we lost l comments with you for a moment as you are speaking. i comments with you for a moment as you are speaking-— you are speaking. i was 'ust saying over the you are speaking. i was 'ust saying the years * you are speaking. i was 'ust saying over the years of h you are speaking. i wasjust saying over the years of speaking - you are speaking. i wasjust saying over the years of speaking to - you are speaking. i wasjust saying over the years of speaking to paul| over the years of speaking to paul whelan he always struck me with his strength of spirit and his defiance. he told me stories like for example he's a man who has four nationalities. his parents british, who was born in canada, he lived in the us, he's also got irish roots, he's got four passports. right from the beginning of his imprisonment he would sing all four of his national anthems out loud as loud as he could to show his defiance to the prison guards and to keep his spirits up. he admitted that he didn't really know the irish anthem so he would sing songs by the poems, and he was doing that the entire time he was in prison. but i spoke to him if few months ago and his spirits were really low, he told me he felt abandoned by his own government.

there had been, there were two previous prisoner swaps between the us and russia, much smaller involving american citizens, and paul whelan was not involved and was not part of those swaps. he felt he had been seriously betrayed by the us government, that they had told him he was a priority but he wasn't returned home. so he was very despondent at that point. he said he felt like he'd been left in the dust, those were his words. and now months later, he is finally one of the list and he is finally we know for sure now, heading back his family, his life as he begins to rebuild it in the united states. he has always told me in all of my interviews with him in many long conversations, always insisted that he's innocent, that he's not a spy, he's innocent, that he's not a spy, he went to russia as a tourist, he went there many times, had many friends there. he met quite a lot of people online, he was friends with them. i spoke to a lot of those people, they all told me they

couldn't believe that paul whelan couldn't believe that paul whelan could be a spy. 0ne told me, if paul whelan is a spy, i'm michael jackson. theyjust would not accept it. he's always said he's innocent, the government has labelled him wrongfully detained and has been advocating for his release, but he has taken a very long time that it left paul whelan in a pretty dark place for many, many years. sarah, thank ou place for many, many years. sarah, thank you very _ place for many, many years. sarah, thank you very much, _ place for many, many years. sarah, thank you very much, sarah - place for many, many years. sarah, l thank you very much, sarah rainsford there in berlin. reflecting some of there in berlin. reflecting some of the detail for that story of paul whelan, he is one of those freed. just before i go to will in washington, will grant, let me tell you that vice president kamala harris has tweeted about the prisoner exchange, of course she's on the campaign trail for the presidency. she says today, we celebrate the release of paul, evan, vladimir and others who were unjustly held in russia, she said it gives me great comfort to know that their horrible ordeal is over and

they will soon be reunited with theirfamilies, the president and i will not stop working until every american wrongfully detained or held hostage is brought home. so that tweetjust hostage is brought home. so that tweet just appearing from hostage is brought home. so that tweetjust appearing from kamala harris. let's go to will grant in washington, and of course, will, we think we arejust washington, and of course, will, we think we are just not very far away, minutes away from a statement by president biden. we minutes away from a statement by president biden.— minutes away from a statement by president biden. we do. so we can exect president biden. we do. so we can exoect that — president biden. we do. so we can exoect that to _ president biden. we do. so we can expect that to come _ president biden. we do. so we can expect that to come at _ president biden. we do. so we can expect that to come at any - president biden. we do. so we can i expect that to come at any moment. i thought what was interesting about kamala harris�* statement is that sort of reflected not glory if you like, but ultimately shared celebration of what's been achieved. the president and i will not stop working until every american is wrongfully detained or held hostage is brought home. quite clearly she wants to be and will be part of this. because it is so politically important, the timing, we are in the lead up to the november vote and it

will be a surprise if she wasn't part of all of the moments with the come up with the hostages, sorry, with the prisoners when they actually make it back to us soil. so it is an extremely significant moment, politically as well as of course, diplomatically and personally for all the families and individuals involved. and it was interesting, too, wasn't it? the way president biden specifically spoke of the allies and their role in making this happen. he mentioned how those five other nations, between the us and russia included germany, poland, slovenia, norway, and turkey. all those nations and all of those agencies involved in the same goal is an extremely complex task. so to have actually carried it off, to have carried it off in a way that has included so many others, rather than just the four that were mentioned in his statement, 16 people on the us side and eight

returning to russia. so a massive achievement and one that quite, you know, we fully expect to be milked, if you like, politically by the biden administration. they're going to make the absolute most of this as you would expect. to make the absolute most of this as you would exam-— you would expect. interesting to get more insight — you would expect. interesting to get more insight as _ you would expect. interesting to get more insight as we _ you would expect. interesting to get more insight as we have _ you would expect. interesting to get more insight as we have been - you would expect. interesting to get more insight as we have been doing| more insight as we have been doing in the last hour or so about the circumstances around evan gershkovich's release, that family heard the early morning call to his mother, get to the whitehouse, tell no—one about this phone call. weill. no-one about this phone call. well, certainl , no-one about this phone call. well, certainly. the _ no-one about this phone call. well, certainly, the wall— no-one about this phone call. well, certainly, the wall street _ no—one about this phone call. -ii certainly, the wall street journal certainly, the wall streetjournal have the inside track on exactly how that played out. because they themselves as his employers and his editors and his colleagues have been pushing so hard. yes, his mother has been his greatest advocate, they said, and she was called to the whitehouse with her husband and her other, her daughter danielle, explained that he was now in his final hours in russian custody with

this very clear instruction from the whitehouse, tell no—one. these things will always go, i think this way, that they'll be a lot of talking between the back channels between the two governments and then briefing the families at the right moment. you're not going to obviously want to build hopes until you're thoroughly sure that you have something to say. and that feeds into, of course, what sarah was telling us. it's fascinating about paul whelan's well being and how he's doing in prison, because of course when you are essentially kept in the dark, sometimes quite literally, in solitary confinement, you feel abandoned, you feel that you feel abandoned, you feel that you of the diplomats aren't working to secure your release, in fact there may be all sorts of things going on behind the scenes that you are not privy to. cut off in a russian prison somewhere. but of course, all of those moments are

behind them now and he will have a story to tell, an extraordinary story to tell, an extraordinary story to tell, and those moments of despair will be a large part of it. well, thank you very much, will grant there in washington. we expect to be back there very shortly in fact to hear that statement from president biden that we are expecting from the whitehouse. now, we are just getting a close up image, or images from the tarmac at ankara airport of the prisoner exchange, just a few seconds of these pictures, but itjust captures a little bit of the drama unfolding on the tarmac there were planes from a number of nations are flying into ankara with those former prisoners on board. they were leaving those planes, and not getting straight back onto other plans to return in some cases to their home country. or

in some cases effectively to live in exile. but to undergo, we were told ijy exile. but to undergo, we were told by the turkish authorities, health checks and to go through other procedures but we didn't get any more detail at that point about what exactly would be happening, how long they might be spending at ankara before they get on planes to take them home or to a life potentially in exile. so those picturesjust coming into us from ankara. the prisoners being released there in ankara and taking part in the exchange, ankara, the hub for all this activity that is happening today. let's talk now to james nixie. let's speak to james nixey, director of chatham house's russia and eurasia programme. give us an assessment about everything is been happening over the last few hours, this intense

activity. the last few hours, this intense activi . ., ., �* the last few hours, this intense activi . ., ., , activity. you don't get many good da s in activity. you don't get many good days in russian _ activity. you don't get many good days in russian western - activity. you don't get many good days in russian western relations these days but this obviously has to be one of them. it is relatively unqualified good news, i only say relatively in that we have to release convicted criminals back to russia but that is a necessary evil if you really wish to put it that way. i think most people would view this as more than worth it on the basis of the west, the west values are to get its own people back one way or another.— are to get its own people back one way or another. more than worth it, and that certainly _ way or another. more than worth it, and that certainly been _ way or another. more than worth it, and that certainly been the - way or another. more than worth it, and that certainly been the reaction| and that certainly been the reaction from so many people. but it does present risks as well, doesn't it? it does, because if you are releasing convicted criminals, murderers even come back into russia, there is nothing to stop them from repeating their crimes at some date in the future, and of course the main point perhaps is this prisoner exchange takes place in a wider context, of a war. not just a russian war against ukraine but if you like it russian war against the west more broadly.

against its values and of the world order as we see it. so that in some ways makes it almost more surprising that this is happened at the scale in which it does happen. i would be hesitant to say that this is some form of new door, diametrically opposed positions over ukraine and more broadly over the european security orders still remain, so i think this is an isolated pockets of very good news. you think this is an isolated pockets of very good news-— think this is an isolated pockets of very good news. you anticipate my next question. _ very good news. you anticipate my next question, is _ very good news. you anticipate my next question, is this _ very good news. you anticipate my next question, is this entirely - next question, is this entirely isolated or should we take any slight encouragement from it that the two sides, russia and the us can do a deal on this, they can talk about other things as well. amazingly, difficult as this was, this is kind of a low hanging fruit. at the end of the day there is something in it for both sides, russia gets what they want, who they want, and also for the west. at the

moment, that is not the case for the war in ukraine where i'm afraid, both sides see no profits, no value and a cease—fire and they are going to continue this war of attrition come of this deadly war of attrition in the meantime because i'm afraid it is much more intractable, there is a fundamental difference in views, no convergence of interests as there is in this certain case. how much political capital do you think will be in this for president putin, we'rejust think will be in this for president putin, we're just hearing think will be in this for president putin, we'rejust hearing by think will be in this for president putin, we're just hearing by the way as you talk to us that a russian government plane has taken off from the airport in ankara after that prison swap. presumably, including the demographic —— —— whelan. demographic -- -- whelan. we're not talkin: demographic -- -- whelan. we're not talking about — demographic -- -- whelan. we're not talking about too _ demographic -- -- whelan. we're not talking about too equals _ demographic -- -- whelan. we're not talking about too equals in _ demographic -- -- whelan. we're not talking about too equals in any - demographic -- -- whelan. we're not talking about too equals in any real. talking about too equals in any real sense, so it will be spun as a

russian victory, it russian diplomatic victory but the west has been made to see sense and that its valued citizens are returning home as well. as you say, one shouldn't indulge in equivocation here, but i'm afraid moral compromises in orderfor the greater i'm afraid moral compromises in order for the greater good to win out, but of course this will be spun in russia by the russian state owned and directed media. find in russia by the russian state owned and directed media.— in russia by the russian state owned and directed media. and as we speak to ou, we and directed media. and as we speak to you. we are _ and directed media. and as we speak to you, we are also _ and directed media. and as we speak to you, we are also showing - and directed media. and as we speak to you, we are also showing our - to you, we are also showing our viewers the podium in the white housein viewers the podium in the white house in washington where we are expecting president biden to speak very soon. 0bviously political capital and das for the biden administration as well. just give you us your opinion.— administration as well. just give you us your opinion. there is such a black box, —

you us your opinion. there is such a black box, there _ you us your opinion. there is such a black box, there is _ you us your opinion. there is such a black box, there is so _ you us your opinion. there is such a black box, there is so little - black box, there is so little interaction, so few westerners are interaction, so few westerners are in russia being able to analyse the situation. the media or academics like myself. so it is very hard to ascertain their way of thinking. that said, the russian government does have interest, those interests often don't align with ours but it if it is getting to people that it wants for the purposes it needs, but it too will make concessions. and it may be the prisoners, the western prisoners it was holding were bargaining chips to be used at a future date, and it's taken time, in orderfor russia to future date, and it's taken time, in order for russia to extract some value from it, and that is exactly what is happened, so not suggesting the russians haven't made some concessions on their own values as well, that's why this has worked out, that's why it's worked. but i think we shouldn't indulge in some sort of moral equivalence. and. sort of moral equivalence. and, james, sort of moral equivalence. and, james. just _ sort of moral equivalence. and, james. just to _ sort of moral equivalence. and, james, just to explain - sort of moral equivalence. and, james, just to explain to our. james, just to explain to our viewers, we are showing on the screen at the moment, the plane

heading back to russia after that prisoner exchange, james, thank you, we are going to go to the white house because president biden is about to speak. he has called those prisoner exchange his start, so let's listen in. to what he has to say. let's listen in. to what he has to sa . , , let's listen in. to what he has to sa , , , ., let's listen in. to what he has to sa . , , . , let's listen in. to what he has to sa. , h, , ., say. this is a very good afternoon. very good — say. this is a very good afternoon. very good afternoon. _ say. this is a very good afternoon. very good afternoon. today - say. this is a very good afternoon. very good afternoon. today we'rel very good afternoon. today we're bringing home paul, evan, vladimir. three american citizens and one american green card holder, all four weren't imprisoned unjustly in russia, paulfor nearly weren't imprisoned unjustly in russia, paul for nearly six years, vladimir since 2022, evans since march of 2023, and allison since october 2023. march of 2023, and allison since 0ctober2023. russian march of 2023, and allison since october 2023. russian authorities arrested them, convicted them in show trials and sentence them to long prison terms. for absolutely no room for absolutely no real legitimate reason whatsoever, none. paul, a former marine was in russia for a wedding. paul, a former marine was in russia fora wedding. evan, a paul, a former marine was in russia for a wedding. evan, a journalist who was in russia, was in russia

assigned by the wall streetjournal. she was also a journalist in russia to see family. all three falsely accused of being spies. and vladimir was a russian citizen by birth, and holds an american green card. all it was a pallbearer at my friend john mccain's funeral with me. he spoke out against putin's regime, for that he was convicted of treason, and now they are brutal ordeal is over and they are brutal ordeal is over and they are brutal ordeal is over and they are free. moments ago, families and i were able to speak to them on the telephone. from the oval office. they are out of russia, earlier today they were flown to turkey and soon they will be wheels up on their way home to see their families. this is an incredible relief for all the family members gathered here. it's a relief to the friends and colleagues, all across the country, that have been praying for this day

for a long time. the deal that made this possible was a feat of diplomacy, and friendship, friendship. multiple countries helped get this done. theyjoined a difficult complex negotiation at my request. and i personally thank them all again, request. and i personally thank them allagain, and request. and i personally thank them all again, and i've thanked them personally and i'll thank them again. all told, russia's released 16 prisoners, eight russians were i6 prisoners, eight russians were being held in the west, will be sent home as well. these 16 prisoners from russia that russia has released include four americans, five germans, seven russian citizens who were political prisoners in their own country. one of those russians runs a human rights organisation memorial, which won a nobel prize in 2022. hood and threw him in prison for voicing opposition to the war in ukraine. forvoicing for voicing opposition to the war in ukraine. for voicing opposition to the war in ukraine. for others worked with alexei navalny come up political opposition reit leader who

died in russia this year. now they can move safely abroad and continue their work of advocating for democracy, if they so choose. this would not be made possible without our allies, would not be made possible without ourallies, germany, poland, our allies, germany, poland, slovenia, ourallies, germany, poland, slovenia, norway, 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 other countries who were justified maybe in being held and provided logistical support to get americans home. so anyone who questions with allies matter, they matter. and todayis allies matter, they matter. and today is a powerful example of why it is vital to have friends in this world, friends you can trust, work with and depend upon. especially on matters of great consequence and sensitivity like this. our alliances make our people safer. we begin to see that again today. let me say this — it says a lot about the

united states that we worked relentlessly to free americans who were unjustly held around the world. it also says a lot about us that this deal includes the release of russian political prisoners. they stood up for democracy and human rights, their own leaders fall through them in prison and the united states help secure their release as well. that's who we are in the united states. we stand for freedom, for liberty, forjustice. not only for our own people but for others as well. that's why all americans can take pride in what we can achieve today. i want to thank everyone in my administration who helped make this happen. 0ur everyone in my administration who helped make this happen. our work did not startjust on day one. it started before day one. during the transition i instructed our national security team to dig into all the cases of hostages being wrongfully detained. which were inherently, well, we inherited them from the prior administration. all i want to make sure we hit the ground running

and we did. as of today, my administration is brought home over 70 americans that were wrongfully detained and held hostage abroad. many since before i took office. additionally i issued an executive order in 2022, authorising penalties like sanctions and travel bands on those who hold americans against their will. my state department has introduced new warranties for americans about the risk of being wrongfully detained by a foreign government. deals like this one come with tough calls. there are never any guarantees. there's nothing that matters more to me than protecting americans. at home and abroad. and so we'll continue to work for the release of all wrongfully detained americans around the world. let me end where again. with paul, evan, alice and vladimirand end where again. with paul, evan, alice and vladimir and their families. they never gave up hope. we can't imagine what they've been

through, all of you. matter of fact this lady right here i think you said in the oval office with us for a while. i can't imagine herjoy right now. their home. tomorrow is a big day. the 13th birthday of miriam. come here. you all know we have a tradition in the biden family, we sing happy birthday, happy birthday, ready, all of you. they sing and remember, no serious... until 30. all now she gets to celebrate with her mum, that's what this is all about. with her mum, that's what this is allabout. families. able with her mum, that's what this is all about. families. able to be together again. all about. families. able to be togetheragain. like all about. families. able to be together again. like they should have been all along. so ijust want

to thank you again to everyone who did their part. injust a to thank you again to everyone who did their part. in just a few hours will welcome home our fellow americans. we're looking forward to god willing, we're going to be out at andrews and get that done. so thank you, thank you, thank you, and this is a good day.— this is a good day. what did you say when he answered _ this is a good day. what did you say when he answered the _ this is a good day. what did you say when he answered the phone - this is a good day. what did you say when he answered the phone on - when he answered the phone on the other_ when he answered the phone on the other side — when he answered the phone on the other side i— when he answered the phone on the other side. . ., when he answered the phone on the other side. _, ., other side. i said welcome almost home. other side. i said welcome almost home- taking _ other side. i said welcome almost home. taking more _ other side. i said welcome almost home. taking more americans . other side. i said welcome almost home. taking more americans in | other side. i said welcome almost - home. taking more americans in order to net home. taking more americans in order to get more — home. taking more americans in order to get more of— home. taking more americans in order to get more of a... _ home. taking more americans in order to get more of a... how— home. taking more americans in order to get more of a... how do _ home. taking more americans in order to get more of a... how do you - home. taking more americans in order to get more of a... how do you end - to get more of a... how do you end to get more of a... how do you end to these _ to get more of a... how do you end to these perverse incentives, sir? advising _ to these perverse incentives, sir? advising people not going to certain places. tell them what the risk is and what's at stake. if places. tell them what the risk is and what's at stake.— places. tell them what the risk is and what's at stake. if you speak to the complexity _ and what's at stake. if you speak to the complexity of— and what's at stake. if you speak to the complexity of working to - and what's at stake. if you speak to the complexity of working to six - the complexity of working to six countries — the complexity of working to six countries to secure the release? i�*m countries to secure the release? i'm not auoin countries to secure the release? not going to countries to secure the release? i“n not going to take the time now, i'll do this later in the week. i particularly owe a great sense of

gratitude to the chancellor. the demands they were making of me required me to get some significant concessions from germany which they originally concluded they could not do because the person in question. but everybody stepped up, the polls stepped up, slovenia stepped up, turkey stepped up, and it matters to have relationships, it really does. these things matter.— have relationships, it really does. these things matter. pardon me? could this improve _ these things matter. pardon me? could this improve relations - these things matter. pardon me? could this improve relations with l could this improve relations with russia _ could this improve relations with russia after the prisoner exchange? as my— russia after the prisoner exchange? as my sister might say, your lips to god �*s ears man. as my sister might say, your lips to god 's ears man.— god 's ears man. would you be willin: god 's ears man. would you be willing to speak— god 's ears man. would you be willing to speak with _ god 's ears man. would you be willing to speak with putin? - god 's ears man. would you be willing to speak with putin? i i god 's ears man. would you be - willing to speak with putin? i don't need to speak _ willing to speak with putin? i don't need to speak with _ willing to speak with putin? i don't need to speak with putin. - willing to speak with putin? i don't| need to speak with putin. crosstalk mac.

all right, thank you. so the question — all right, thank you. so the question is _ all right, thank you. so the question is still _ all right, thank you. so the question is still coming - all right, thank you. so the i question is still coming there all right, thank you. so the - question is still coming there for president biden. let's hear it easy going to answer another one. —— let's hear if he's going to answer another one. i let's hear if he's going to answer another one.— let's hear if he's going to answer another one. , , ., ., another one. i said this before, and i made another one. i said this before, and i made it- — another one. i said this before, and i made it. simple _ another one. i said this before, and i made it. simple proposition, - i made it. simple proposition, families at the beginning and middle and the end. blood of my blood, bone of my bones. i can thinking of nothing more consequential. having lost family in a different way, not knowing what's happened, the circumstances whether it's accidental or health. it's a... it matters. ~ ., accidental or health. it's a... it matters-— accidental or health. it's a... it matters. . , ., ., matters. what did germany ask for in resonse matters. what did germany ask for in response to — matters. what did germany ask for in response to their _ matters. what did germany ask for in response to their operation? - response to their operation?

nothing _ response to their operation? nothina. response to their operation? nothin.. , . , �* nothing. said repeatedly he could've cotten the nothing. said repeatedly he could've gotten the hostages _ nothing. said repeatedly he could've gotten the hostages out _ nothing. said repeatedly he could've gotten the hostages out without - gotten the hostages out without giving _ gotten the hostages out without giving anything in exchange. what do you say— giving anything in exchange. what do you say to _ giving anything in exchange. what do you say to former president trump? why didn't _ you say to former president trump? why didn't he do it as president? so, president biden there is saying that nothing is more consequential in family, that was why he made these efforts to bring home american citizens and indeed one american green card holder imprisoned in russia. he said that allies were incredibly important, he expressed gratitude for allies, perhaps a jibe at donald trump who has questioned some of the usa's international relationships. president biden saying anyone who questions if allies matter, well, they do. and he was also asked, wasn't he, about whether agreeing to this prisoner swap would only lead to more people being put in prison in russia and he

said, well, we're going to advise people not to go to certain places. so that was president biden, a brief summary of what he had to say there. let's hear more now from our washington correspondent will grant who was listening to all of that as well. right from the top, the tone was as we expected. he said good afternoon, this is— we expected. he said good afternoon, this is a _ we expected. he said good afternoon, this is a very— we expected. he said good afternoon, this is a very good afternoon. went onto obviously named the four they have been— onto obviously named the four they have been most focused on and said their brutal— have been most focused on and said their brutal ordeal is over and they are free _ their brutal ordeal is over and they are free he — their brutal ordeal is over and they are free. he said has spoken to them, — are free. he said has spoken to them, that— are free. he said has spoken to them, that this deal reflected diplomacy and friendship. that the other— diplomacy and friendship. that the other nations and come in on his request— other nations and come in on his request and _ other nations and come in on his request and he has thanked them personally and will do so again. 0bviously— personally and will do so again. obviously spoke about the way in which _ obviously spoke about the way in which the — obviously spoke about the way in which the people had been imprisoned for speaking out against the warm in ukraine, _ for speaking out against the warm in ukraine, said that the united states back to _

ukraine, said that the united states back to them, too, and help get them out.