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Americans released in prisoner swap with Russia are back on U.S. soil, welcomed by Biden and Harris

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan were freed Thursday as part of a massive prisoner swap that involved Russia, the U.S. and several European countries.At 11:37 p.m. Eastern time, a plane carrying Gershkovich, Whelan and radio journalist Alsu Kurmasheva touched down at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, where they were greeted by President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.Biden and Harris spoke briefly with members of the news media, with the president saying the experience felt “wonderful” and was a result of alliances with other world leaders who “stepped up” for the United States. Advertisement “This is an incredible day,” Harris said.Under the deal — one of the most significant prisoner exchanges between Russia and the West since the Cold War and negotiated by nations bitterly divided by Russia’s war in Ukraine — 16 prisoners sought by the West were freed in exchange for eight Russians held in the U.S., Germany, Norway, Slovenia and…