Four Americans and one permanent U.S. resident were freed from Russian captivity in a major prisoner exchange involving several countries. The release followed months of diplomatic efforts amid strained relations between the U.S. and Russia over the war in Ukraine.
Key Points
Diplomatic efforts led to the release of four Americans and one U.S. resident from Russian captivity
Americans were detained on espionage-related charges
Prisoner exchange involved high-profile individuals and journalists
Pros
Successful prisoner exchange involving multiple countries
Journalists and citizens advocating for those detained
Cons
Americans held on flimsy charges as bargaining chips