BREAKING: State Department Spokesperson Praises Major US-Russia Prisoner Swap Deal

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During a State Department press briefing, Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel celebrated the release of US citizens held in Russia following a prisoner swap deal.

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00:00Thank you so much.

00:02Could you detail a little bit more Blinken's involvement in this deal, sort of what conversations

00:06he's had, and where did this idea of widening the deal to include more people to be released

00:12and get Germany involved come from?

00:15We've heard this idea was being kicked around state.

00:17Was it Blinken's idea, or where did it come from?

00:20So look, I'm not going to get into the specifics of the negotiating process beyond just saying

00:26that today's exchange is a feat of diplomacy that could have only been achieved with leaders

00:34like President Biden, like Secretary Blinken, like National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan

00:40that understand the vital importance of diplomacy and understand the vital importance that our

00:45alliances and partnerships can play in situations like this.

00:49It's the largest multi-country swap of its kind, resulted in the release of 16 individuals

00:55currently detained in Russia.

00:57That included, as I said, three American citizens, one U.S. lawful permanent resident, five U.S.

01:03German citizens, and seven Russian political prisoners.

01:11This is something that required extensive engagement with partner countries, and it

01:15started at the very top with President Biden and, of course, Secretary Blinken and National

01:20Security Advisor Sullivan and their respective teams as well.

01:25So this is something that we are very happy to see days like this when our tireless efforts

01:31come together and we're able to see American citizens reunited at home.

01:37And I know Jake Sullivan has said that you're sort of regarding this as separate issues,

01:40but in your mind, does this deal signal at all that Putin might be ready to talk peace

01:44with Ukraine or repair relations with the U.S. at all?

01:47That's certainly for the Russians and for President Putin to speak to.

01:51It's not something that we would ascertain.

01:55As the National Security Advisor said, these are separate and totally unique issues.

02:00While, of course, we welcome this news and welcome that four Americans are going to be

02:06reunited with their loved ones, Ukraine continues to be under attack, and the territorial integrity

02:13and sovereignty of Ukraine continues to be aggressed on by the Russian Federation.

02:19And in that regard, the United States will continue to support our partners in Ukraine.

02:24You saw us do so as recently at the beginning of this week with the announcement of another

02:28presidential drawdown authority.

BREAKING: State Department Spokesperson Praises Major US-Russia Prisoner Swap Deal

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