This image released by the White House shows Evan Gershkovich, left, Alsu Kurmasheva, right, and Paul Whelan, second from right, and others aboard a plane, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, following their release from Russian captivity. (White House via AP) 
FILE – Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich stands listening to the verdict in a glass cage of a courtroom inside the building of “Palace of justice,” in Yekaterinburg, Russia, July 19, 2024. (AP Photo, File) 
FILE – Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich stands in a glass defendant’s booth in a courtroom in Yekaterinburg, Russia, on June 26, 2024. (AP Photo, File) 
FILE – Russian opposition activist and former municipal deputy of the Krasnoselsky district Ilya Yashin stands inside a glass cubicle in a courtroom prior to a hearing in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Dec. 9, 2022. (Yury Kochetkov/Pool Photo via AP, File) 
FILE – Russian opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza gestures standing in a glass cage in a courtroom during announcement of the verdict on appeal at the Moscow City Court in Moscow, Russia, on July 31, 2023. Kara-Murza, a prominent opposition politician and a dual Russian-U.K. citizen, was convicted of treason and other charges in 2023 and sentenced to 25 years in prison. He has rejected the charges as politically motivated. (AP Photo, File) 
FILE – Alsu Kurmasheva, an editor for the U.S. government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Tatar-Bashkir service, attends a court hearing in Kazan, Russia on May 31, 2024. Kurmasheva, a dual Russia-U.S. national employed by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, was convicted July 19 of spreading false information about the Russian army and sentenced to 6½ years in prison. Her family and RFE/RL have rejected the charges. (AP Photo, File) 
Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to the head of the Republic of Mordovia Artem Zdunov during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) 
This photo combination shows Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, left, corporate security executive Paul Whelan, top right, and Russian opposition figure Ilya Yashin. (AP Photo) 
President Joe Biden delivers remarks on a prisoner swap with Russia from the State Dining Room of the White House, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Washington, as the family of hostage Evan Gershkovich, looks on. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) 
Bibi Butorin, Pavel Butorin, Miriam Butorin, Elizabeth Whelan, President Joe Biden, Danielle Gershkovich, Anthony Huczek, Mikhail Gershkovich, Ella Milman, Daniil Kara-Murza, Evgeniya Kara-Murz, and Ekaterina Kara-Murza, as Biden delivers remarks on a prisoner swap with Russia from the State Dining Room of the White House, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) 
A Russian Plane, believed to be carrying released Russian prisoners, leaves the Ankara Airport, Turkey, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo) 
This image released by the White House shows Evan Gershkovich, left, Alsu Kurmasheva, right, and Paul Whelan, second from right, and others aboard a plane, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, following their release from Russian captivity. (White House via AP) 
In this image made from video provided by Russian Federal Security Service via RTR on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, Paul Whelan, center, a former U.S. Marine who was arrested on espionage charges, is escorted by Russian Federal Security Service agents, left, as they arrive at an airport outside Moscow, Russia. (Russian Federal Security Service/RTR via AP) 
In this image made from video provided by Russian Federal Security Service via RTR on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, Germanys Rico Krieger, center, and a Russian Federal Security Service agent, left, leave a bus as they arrive at an airport outside Moscow, Russia. (Russian Federal Security Service/RTR via AP) 
In this image made from video provided by Russian Federal Security Service via RTR on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, Germany’s Patrick Schoebel, center, is escorted by a Russian Federal Security Service agent, left, as they arrive at an airport outside Moscow, Russia. (Russian Federal Security Service/RTR via AP) 
In this image taken from video, employees at the Wall Street Journal in New York applaud at the news that reporter Evan Gershkovich, pictured top left, has been released as part of a prisoner swap with Russia, the United States and several other countries, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (Vaughn Sterling/The Wall Street Journal via AP) 
Russian President Vladimir Putin, front, greets released Russian prisoners and relatives at the government terminal of the Vnukovo airport in Moscow, Russia, Aug. 1, 2024. (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) 
A plane carrying reporter Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva and Paul Whelan arrives at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., following their release as part of a 24-person prisoner swap between Russia and the United States, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) 
President Joe Biden speaks after greeting reporter Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva and Paul Whelan at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., following their release as part of a 24-person prisoner swap between Russia and the United States, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) 
President Joe Biden looks on as Alsu Kurmasheva hugs a family member on the tarmac after arriving at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., following their release as part of a 24-person prisoner swap between Russia and the United States, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) 
Elizabeth Whelan, left, greets her brother Paul Whelan at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., following his release as part of a 24-person prisoner swap between Russia and the United States, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) 
Elizabeth Whelan, right, hugs her brother Paul Whelan at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., following his release as part of a 24-person prisoner swap between Russia and the United States, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) 
President Joe Biden, from left, and Vice President Kamala Harris greet 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, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) 
Reporter Evan Gershkovich hugs his mother Ella Milman, left, at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., following his release as part of a 24-person prisoner swap between Russia and the United States, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. Looking on at right is Elizabeth Whelan, sister of released prisoner Paul Whelan. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) 
President Joe Biden, left, 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, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
WASHINGTON | The United States and Russia completed a 24-person prisoner swap on Thursday, the largest in post-Soviet history, with Moscow releasing Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and fellow American Paul Whelan in a multinational deal that set some two dozen people free, according to officials in Turkey, where the exchange took place.
Three freed Americans arrived at an Air Force Base outside Washington late at night to an emotional welcome from their families, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
It’s the latest exchange between Washington and Moscow in the past two years, following a December 2022 trade that brought WNBA star Brittney Griner back to the U.S. in exchange for notorious arms trafficker Viktor Bout.
Russia meanwhile secured the freedom of its own nationals convicted of serious crimes in the West.
Soaking up the moment
On a warm, steamy night, the freed Americans lingered on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews to soak up the moment of their return to the U.S.
They took selfies with family members and friends, shared hugs with Biden and Harris, patted loved ones on the back and smothered them with kisses.
At one point, Biden gave Paul Whelan the flag pin off his own lapel.
Biden: ‘Wonderful’ to greet freed Americans
President Joe Biden said it “feels wonderful” to welcome the freed Americans to U.S. soil.
And he gave giving special credit to the cooperation of nations including Germany and Slovenia for helping to make the global prisoner swap work, saying they agreed to difficult things that were “against their self-interests.”
Speaking on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews, Biden rejected the idea that such swaps could lead to other Americans being detained. “I don’t buy this idea of … let these people rot in jail because other people may be captured,” the president said.
Vice President Kamala Harris called the deal an “extraordinary testament to the importance of having a president who understands the power of diplomacy.”
American ex-prisoners freed from Russia are greeted by their families, Biden and Harris at US air base
Three Americans stepped off a plane and touched U.S. soil for the first time since they were freed in a complex 24-person prisoner exchange with Russia.
Journalists Evan Gershkovich and Alsu Kurmasheva, along with fellow American Paul Whelan, landed shortly before midnight at a U.S. air base outside Washington.
There were hugs and handshakes all around and even some squeals of joy as Biden, Harris and family members welcomed them.