Joe Biden has expressed satisfaction after welcoming newly freed American citizens from Russia at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on Friday, August 2.
According to NBC News, US President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris greeted newly freed American citizens, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, Marine veteran Paul Whelan, and Russian-American radio journalist Alsu Kurmasheva at the airbase after reaching back home.
After greeting prisoners from Russia, Biden told reporters that he felt ‘satisfaction’ after bringing them back home.
The president, while referring to extensive diplomatic efforts and parsing alliances, said, “It feels wonderful. Long time in coming. I was absolutely convinced we could get it done. I meant it when I said alliances make a difference. They stepped up and took a chance for us, and it mattered a lot.”
He further added, “The toughest call on this one was for other countries because I asked them to do some things that were against their immediate self-interests, and it was very difficult for them to do.”
When reporters asked what would be his message to Russian President Vladimir Putin, he responded with just one word, “STOP.”
The presumptive Democratic nominee for the presidency, Harris, thanked the president for bringing allies together for the return of American citizens, saying, “This is an example of the strength of American leadership in bringing nations together.”
