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Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan and Alsu Kurmasheva deplaned soon earlier 4:30 a.m. eastbound astatine Joint Base San Antonio, officially marking the opening of their adjacent chapter, escaped and backmost location successful the United States.
The 3 embraced 1 different for a photograph surrounded by their loved ones and held up the Hostages and Wrongful Detainees flag.
"This is america down here," Whelan said pointing to 3 slash marks connected the bottommost of the flag, "Those past three, that's us."
President Biden and Vice President Harris greeted Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan and 2 different prisoners released from Russia arrived backmost connected U.S. ungraded Thursday night.
Upon their arrival, they were greeted by officials who gave them instructions connected contiguous adjacent steps. Col. Davis explained that they would archetypal nonstop them for a aesculapian appraisal portion their families stayed overnight successful hotels disconnected base.
Whelan wore the American emblem pin fixed to him by President Biden astatine Joint Base Andrews -- "It's a keepsake."
Paul Whelan shows a pin helium received from President Joe Biden arsenic helium arrives astatine Kelly Field aft being released by Russia, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, successful San Antonio.
AP Photo/Eric Gay
Whelan criticized the "nonsense communicative [the Russian government] came up with" for his imprisonment.
"So, you know, this is however Putin runs his government. This is however Putin runs his country. Yeah, I'm gladsome I'm home. Yeah. I'm ne'er going backmost determination again," helium said, with a smile.
He besides said helium had received thousands of letters of support, truthful galore that the Russian Federal Security Service "stopped giving them to him."
"I conscionable accidental convey you to everybody. You know, convey you for each your prayers, your your, you know, bully wishes. Thanks for doing everything you did," helium said.
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris greeted the 3 Americans freed from Russian custody arsenic they arrived backmost connected American ungraded and reunited with their families.
Biden hugged Paul Whelan and the vice president greeted the erstwhile Marine arsenic helium arrived connected the tarmac. Whelan's sister, Elizabeth Whelan, besides connected the tarmac awaiting his accomplishment erstwhile helium landed.
When Wall Street Journal newsman Evan Gershkovich arrived connected the tarmac, a cheer erupted. He and Biden shook hands and spoke for immoderate clip earlier a agelong and affectional hug took spot betwixt the writer and his mother, Ella Milman, who was picked up during their clasp astatine 1 point.
RELATED: Why were Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan and others being held captive successful Russia?
Alsu Kurmasheva was besides welcomed by Biden and Harris. In an affectional moment, she was reunited with her daughters earlier Biden came implicit and talked to them arsenic they hugged.
Biden interacted precise freely with the press, taking the accidental to talk to reporters aggregate times connected the tarmac.
When asked by a newsman whether helium ever thought this infinitesimal would come, Biden's elemental reply was "yes." And erstwhile asked what made him truthful confident, helium said it was his relationships with the "other heads of state."
Biden was besides subsequently asked what his connection to Vladmir Putin aft the erstwhile prisoners were backmost connected American soil.
"Stop," Biden said.
Biden besides said that the country playing retired down him was the "essence" of America.
"To me, this is astir the essence of who we are arsenic a country. It truly is astir idiosyncratic relationships," Biden said. "It's astir family. It's astir being capable to person entree to the radical you love."
Paul Whelan's household said they were doubtful that they'd ever spot him again aft helium was held astir six years successful captivity successful a Russian prison, according to David Whelan, Paul's duplicate brother, who has pushed for his freedom.
One newsman asked him what the hardest portion of securing the woody was.
"The toughest telephone was for 1 of the different countries due to the fact that I asked them to bash immoderate things that were against their contiguous self-interest," said Biden. "It was truly precise hard for them do, peculiarly Germany. Slovenia truly came astatine the past infinitesimal and I archer you what, [the] chancellor was incredible."
Biden was besides asked astir whether helium was making calls to unafraid this woody wrong the hr that helium announced his determination to driblet retired of the 2024 statesmanlike race.
"I would get this done adjacent if I was seeking a 2nd term. You're stuck with maine arsenic president for a while, kid, there's nary mode out, okay," Biden said. "You got maine for astatine slightest different 100 -- 90 days oregon so. So it had to bash with that. It had to bash with the accidental trying to person 1 past state to accidental okay, they'll measurement up."
When asked astir whether this woody would beryllium portion of his legacy, Biden sidestepped, saying it's thing to speech astir "another time."
"This is conscionable an bonzer testament to the value of having a president who understands the powerfulness of diplomacy and understands the spot that rests successful knowing the value of diplomacy and strengthening alliances this criticism, unthinkable time redeeming families, successful their eyes and successful their cries," Harris said arsenic the Kurmasheva household could beryllium heard crying down her erstwhile they were reunited.
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