Published: February 14, 2025 8:43 am
Author: RT
The exchange itself is not a breakthrough in relations but may help gradually rebuild trust, Moscow has stated
Russian media have published footage showing the departure of American citizen Marc Fogel from Moscow and the return of Russian national Aleksandr Vinnik from the US. The two individuals were released by the respective nations in a prisoner swap this week.
Fogel, an American schoolteacher and former diplomat who was serving a prison term on drug trafficking charges, left Russia on Wednesday via Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport. Russian crypto businessman and computer programmer Vinnik arrived at the same location a day later, after the US suspended his prosecution on money laundering charges.
Fogel went from looking tired to visible excitement as his release progressed, the footage showed. The camera captured him kissing his returned passport and screeching with joy as he boarded a plane set to carry him home.
Vinnik said he was missing his mom’s soup as he waited for a transport to take him out of the airport.
US President Donald Trump has hailed the deal that secured the release of Fogel and Vinnik as showing goodwill between Moscow and Washington and an indicator that the two governments have a good chance of negotiating a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he wouldn’t characterize the swap as a breakthrough, but rather a sign that US-Russian relations can recover from a low point.
