How the Russia swap happened: secret talks, a hitman, and Biden’s fateful call

Then in February this 12 months, the tense diplomatic to-and-fro took one other dark turn when Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny – who Sullivan revealed Thursday had additionally been on the US want listing for launch — died in a Russian jail.

“The staff felt just like the wind had been taken out of our sails,” the senior US official added.

By coincidence, Gershkovich’s mom and father had been assembly with Sullivan on the White Home that very same day. It is “going to be somewhat bit extra of a rocky path,” he informed them.

The breakthrough got here throughout Oval Workplace talks between German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Biden in April.

“Chancellor Scholz responded to the president saying, ‘For you, I’ll do that,'” added the US official.

Biden on Thursday thanked Scholz, praising the “daring and courageous” choices by allies.

And as soon as the deal was outlined, a cautious choreography ensued.

Russia fast-tracked a trial for Gershkovich, which ended with him receiving a 16-year jail sentence – however which behind the scenes indicated that Russia was getting ready for the swap.

Lastly, the White Home ceremony on Thursday introduced this diplomatic – and intensely private journey — to a head.

Noting that it was the thirteenth birthday of Kurmasheva’s daughter, Biden requested the assembled relations and journalists to sing “joyful birthday” – maybe the happiest doable.