Americans freed by Russia arrived in the US after a landmark prisoner exchange.

That's where we're starting the seven from the Washington Post. I'm Hannah Jewel. It's Friday, August 2nd.

Let's get you caught up with today's seven stories.

It was the largest prisoner swap since the height of the Cold War.

Officials from the US, Russia, Germany, and other countries met on an airfield in Turkey yesterday to make the exchange.

The deal involved seven countries and took months of painstaking diplomacy.

Russia released 16 detainees in exchange for eight Russians held in other countries.

The Americans freed by Russia stepped onto US soil last night at joint base Andrews

in Maryland.

They were greeted by President Biden and Vice President Harris and their

waiting loved ones. Here's the moment Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gerschkevich

was reunited with his family. Gerskovic was accused of espionage and arrested last year in Russia without any known evidence.

Among those returned to Russia was Vadim Krasikov. He's a Russian assassin who was

convicted of murder in Germany. President Biden spoke about the exchange at the White House

yesterday.

Deals like this one come with tough calls,

and there's never any guarantees.

There's nothing that matters more to me

on protecting Americans at home and abroad.

And so we'll continue to work for the release of all wrongfully detained

Americans around the world.

To hear more about this historic exchange,

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