Details of the largest prisoner exchange between the US and Russia in post-Soviet history.

Among the eight individuals returned to Russia by the West, the most notorious prisoner is Vadim Krasikov, who was convicted in Germany in 2021 for assassinating a former Chechen rebel in a Berlin park two years prior. Russia also received two prisoners accused of espionage in Slovenia, three accused in the United States, and two each from Norway and Poland.

A breakthrough in US-Russia relations?

That's impossible. The U.S. and Russia have reached several prisoner exchange agreements before during the Russia-Ukraine conflict, including one in December 2022 when Moscow released WNBA star Brittney Griner in exchange for notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout.

But none of those exchanges eased tensions between the U.S. and Russia, especially at a time when the crisis in Ukraine continues and the U.S. continues to send significant military support to Kyiv.

The prisoner exchange was simply a rare compromise for the common good, nothing more. Even so, reaching an agreement amidst such tension is noteworthy.

The Americans remain detained.

Although the August 1st agreement released some of the most prominent American prisoners held in Russia, several others remain.

That group includes Travis Leake, a musician convicted of drug offenses; Gordon Black, a U.S. soldier convicted of theft and murder threats; Marc Fogel, a teacher also convicted of drug offenses; and Ksenia Khavana, who was arrested in Yekaterinburg in February on treason charges.

A senior official in President Joe Biden's administration said the administration will redouble its efforts to bring remaining Americans home.

Welcoming the prisoners back home.

President Joe Biden hailed the exchange as a diplomatic triumph while welcoming the families of the returning Americans back to the White House.

Biden said: "Dealings like these come with difficult decisions. Nothing is more important to me than protecting Americans at home and abroad."

President Biden placed securing the release of Americans detained abroad at the top of his foreign policy agenda before he left office.

In Russia, President Vladimir Putin greeted eight returning Russian citizens at Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow with hugs and handshakes, presenting some with bouquets of flowers as they disembarked from the plane and walked onto the red carpet, standing alongside the Kremlin's honor guard.

Inside the airport building, Putin told the returning citizens: "First of all, I want to congratulate everyone on returning to their homeland... I want to thank everyone for their loyalty to their oath and duty to their country, which has never forgotten them for even a minute."

"All of you will be awarded state prizes. I will meet with you all again, and we will talk about your future."

Alexander Bortnikov, Director of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), Sergei Naryshkin, Director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), and Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov were also present at the airport to welcome the group.

Hoai Phuong (according to AP, Reuters)