Biden and Harris greet freed prisoners on US soil after Russian exchange

Also released was Paul Whelan, who has Irish and British citizenship, a Michigan corporate security executive jailed since 2018

Reporter Evan Gershkovich, centre, is greeted by his mother, Ella Milman, as President Joe Biden looks on at Andrews Air Force Base following his release from Russia (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)

The United States and Russia have completed their biggest prisoner swap in post-Soviet history, with Moscow releasing Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, security consultant Paul Whelan, who has Irish and British citizenship, and dissidents including Russian-British national Vladimir Kara-Murza, in a multinational deal that set two dozen people free.

Mr Gershkovich, Mr Whelan and Alsu Kurmasheva, a journalist with dual US-Russia citizenship, arrived on American soil shortly before midnight for a joyful reunion with their families.