Trump criticizes US administration after prisoner exchange with Russia
While some leaders expressed success in the prisoner exchange with Russia, Donald Trump criticized it.
According to RIA Novosti, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump criticized the US government after the large-scale prisoner exchange on August 1 between the US and Russia. Mr. Trump questioned its purpose and the possibility of “cash payment”.
"And when will we know the details of this prisoner exchange with Russia? How many people did we give to them and vice versa? Did we pay in cash? And did they pay us?..." – Mr. Donald Trump wrote on his social network Truth Social.
Mr. Donald Trump added that, in his opinion, American negotiators have always been “disgraceful people.”
“I have returned many hostages and never given the other side anything, never given money, doing this is setting a precedent for the future,” Mr. Trump added.
Meanwhile, the White House said US President Joe Biden called the leaders of Türkiye, Norway, Poland, Slovenia and Germany to thank them for participating in the prisoner exchange with Russia.
“This afternoon (August 1), the President spoke privately with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Polish President Andrzej Duda, Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to thank them for their cooperation,” the statement said.
Deputy Press Secretary for the German Cabinet Christiane Hofmann reported on the telephone conversation between US President Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in which the leaders highlighted the importance of the agreement reached, which in their opinion was possible thanks to close transatlantic relations.
US President Joe Biden announced that as part of the exchange, 16 people were released from prisons in Russia.
The FSB of the Russian Federation reported that eight Russian citizens who were detained and imprisoned in several NATO countries have returned to their homeland.
