HAPPENING NOW: President Biden speaking amid massive prisoner swap involving United States, Russia.

come from yeah don't take them White House important [Music] Fourth of July and Carina [Music] and we have little Det spe we know that Russ of Nam hey Sonia how far out foror plan is this like a 1015 thing or like few minutes that minutes but you can't tell us now I'll okay thanks they're just asking us which is like insan it's a thank you not get oh there it is this is so inter you guys joining [Music] is he going to fight the fans anything PR spe TR for it's care this for the markers are here hello everyone got everybody well good afternoon and this is a very good afternoon a very good afternoon today we're bringing home Paul Evan ALU Vladimir three American citizens one American green card holder all four have been imprisoned unjustly in Russia Paul for nearly six years Vladimir since 2022 Evans since March of 2023 and ALU since October of 2023 Russian authorities arrested them convicted them in show trials and sented them the long long prison terms with absolutely no legitimate reason whatsoever none Paul a former Marine was in Russia for a wedding Evan a journalist with a Russian in Russia was was in Russia signed by the Wall Street Journal alsu also a journalist was in Russia to see family all three falsely accused of being spies and Vladimir who was a Russian citizen by birth and holds an American green card pullit a prize winning journalist and was a Paul Bearer of my friend John McCain's funeral with me he spoke out against Putin's regime for that he was convicted of treason and now their brutal ordeal is over and they're free moments ago the families and I were able to speak to them on the telephone from the Oval Office they're out of Russia earlier today they're flown to Turkey and soon there'll be wheels up on on their way home to see their families this is an incredible relief for all the family members gathered here it's a relief to the friends and colleagues all across the country who've been praying for this day for a long time the deal that made this possible was a feat of diplomacy and friendship friendship multiple countries help get this done they joined to difficult complex negotiations at my request and I personally thank them all again and I thank them personally and I'll thank them again all told Russia has released 16 prisoners eight Russians who being held in the west will be sent home as well these 16 prisoners from Russia that Russia has released include four Americans five Germans seven Russian citizens who are political prisoners in their own country one of those Russians runs a human rights organization mamorial which won a Nobel Prize in 2022 Putin threw him in prison for voicing opposition to the war in Ukraine four others work with Alexi Naval political opposition either who died in Russia prison this year now they can live safely abroad and continue their work of advocating for democracy if they so choose this still would not have been made possible without our allies Germany Poland Slovenia Norway and turkey they all stepped up and they stood with us they stood with with us and they made bold and brave decisions release prisoners being held in their countries are justifiably being held and provid a logistical support to get the Americans home so for anyone who questions whether allies matter they do they matter today is a powerful example of why it's vital to have friends in this world friends you can trust work with and depend upon especially on matters of great consequence and sensitivity like this our alliances make our people safer and we began to see that again today let me say this it says a lot about the United States that we work relentlessly to free Americans who are unjustly held around the world It also says a lot about us that this deal includes the release of Russian political prisoners they stood up for democracy and human rights their own leaders threw them in prison the United States helped secure their release as well that's who we are in the United States we stand for freedom for liberty for justice not only for our own people but for others as well and that's why all Americans can take pride in what we've achieved today I want to thank everyone in my Administration help make this happen our work did not start just on day one it started before day one during the transition I instructed our national security team to dig into all the cases of hostages being wrongfully detained which were inherently well we inherit them from the private the private Administration I wanted to make sure we did the ground running and we did as of today my Administration brought home over 70 Americans were wrongfully detained and held hostage abroad many since before I took office addition I issued an executive order in 2022 authorizing penalties like sanctions and travel banss on those who hold Americans against their will and my state department has introduced new warnings for Americans about the risk of being wrongfully detained by a foreign government deals like this one come with tough calls and there never any guarantees that there's nothing that matters more to me than protecting Americans at home and abroad and so we'll continue to work for the release of all wrongfully detained Americans around the world let me end where I began with Paul Evan and Alo Vladimir and their families they never gave up hope we can't imagine what they've been through all of you matter of fact this lady right here I think was living in the Oval Office with us for a while all kid aside can't imagine their Joy right now they home tomorrow is a big day the 13th birthday of Mar maram where are you come here you all know we have a tradition in the Biden family we sing Happy Birthday on a new birthday you ready all of you happy birthday to you happy birthday to you happy birthday dear Happy Birthday to you remember no serious guys to you're 30 God love you she's Al's daughter da now she gets to celebrate with her mom that's what this is all about families able to be together again like they should have been all along so I want to thank you again to everyone who did their part and just a few hours we'll welcome home our fellow Americans we're looking forward to that God willing we're going to be out at Andrews and get that done so thank you thank you thank you and uh this a good day what did you say to them on the phone sir what did you say when they answered the phone on the other side I said welcome almost home how how do you keep countries these so-called abductor States from Simply taking more Americans in order to get more of their prisoners home how do you end these perverse incentives sir by advising people not to go certain places tell them what risk what a stake these negotiations and can you speak to the complexity of working with six countries to to secure these reles well look um I'm not going to take the time now but I'll do this later in the week I particularly own a great sense of gratitude to the chancellor the demands they making to me required me to get some significant concessions from Germany which they originally concluded they could not do because of the person question but everybody stepped up Poland stepped up Slovenia stepped up turkey stepped up and it matters to have relationships it really does these things matter pardon me could this improve relations with Russia is there any Avenue for that after this prisoner exchange deal as my sister might say your lips to God's ears man did you speak directly with Vladimir Putin about this would you be willing to speak with Putin now directly I don't need to speak [Music] with I got home innocent people thanks all [Music] right leers about this say that again are you speaking with President the leaders about this I've spoken to all the leaders about this what you say and by the way as a father look you heard me say this before I mean it my dad had a simple proposition family is the beginning the middle and the end Blood of My Blood bone of my bone I can think of nothing more consequential I mean that sincerely and having lost family not a different way and not knowing what's happening circumstance when they're accident help it uh it matters Mr President what did Germany ask for in response for their cooperation nothing president a president Trump has said repeatedly that he could have gotten the hostages out without giving anything in exchange what do you say to that what do you say to president Trump now former president why didn't he do he president sir what [Applause] thank you very much than for e