Washington. Former US President Donald Trump has strongly criticized the long-standing prisoner exchange agreement between the US and Russia. While this agreement is expected to help reduce tensions between the two superpowers after the Ukraine war. After this agreement between Russia and Western countries, there is also hope that perhaps both countries can reach an agreement on the Ukraine issue in view of mutual interests. But Trump did not like this agreement and he said, are we releasing murderers and killers?
Trump is upset with the agreement
Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack on President Joe Biden over the historic prisoner swap by the US government. Under this, Wall Street Journal reporter Ivan Gershkovich and former Navy SEAL Paul Whelan were released from Russian custody. It is worth noting that on Thursday, Russia released Gershkovich and Whelan as part of the largest prisoner swap of its kind since the end of the Cold War. The White House said that the US had negotiated this deal with Russia, Germany and three other countries. At the same time, Trump accused Biden of mishandling this high-stakes conversation and appealed for the release of additional information about the prisoner swap.
‘Asked to release information’
Republican presidential candidate Trump said he did not have details of the swap. Trump asked if “murderers, killers or thugs were released.” Trump wrote on his Truth social account, “So when are they going to release details of the prisoner swap with Russia? How many people did we get compared to them? Are we giving them cash as well? Are they giving us cash (please take that question back, because I’m sure the answer is no)? Are we releasing killers, murderers or thugs?”
Trump called the deal extortion
While the deal, negotiated in secret for more than a year, involved 24 prisoners. Of which 16 were sent from Russia to Western countries and eight prisoners held in the West were sent back to Russia. Germany confirmed that they included Vadim Krasikov, convicted of killing an exiled dissident in Berlin. Biden called the deal an “achievement of diplomacy and friendship” and praised Washington’s allies for their “bold and brave decisions”. At the same time, Trump said that ‘Our negotiators always cause embarrassment for us! I brought back many hostages and gave nothing to the opposing country and never gave any cash. Doing this is a bad example for the future. This is what should happen, otherwise this situation will get worse. They are extorting money from America. They are calling the agreement complicated – so that no one can find out how bad it is.’
Putin honored the returnees
Russian President Vladimir Putin met the prisoners returning to Russia at the airport after landing in Moscow and said that they would be given state awards. While Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are also going to welcome those returning to America. Surrounded by relatives of the released prisoners at the White House, Biden said that today is a powerful example of why it is important to have friends in this world.
Tags: America News, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, US President Joe Biden
FIRST PUBLISHED : August 2, 2024, 09:04 IST