Multiple countries helped get this done, Biden said in remarks at the White House.
They joined a difficult, complex negotiation at my request.
He cited Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway and Turkey.
President Joe Biden embraces the 12-year-old daughter of Aslu Kurmasheva as he speaks about the prisoner exchange with Russia, in the State Dining Room of the White House.Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images
They all stepped up, he said.
Also freed were Alsu Kurmasheva, and columnist and dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza.
Anyone who questions whether allies matter they do.
Biden was flanked by the former prisoners family members.
At one point, he started a singing ofHappy Birthdayto mark the birthday of the daughter of Kurmasheva.
But everybody stepped up, Biden repeated.
Why didnt he do it when he was president?
But not today, he said.
Today was a very good day.
Sullivan said that Alexei Navalny was supposed to be part of the prisoner swap.
He died in Russian confinement in February.
The president also posted a photo of the released prisoners.
