LOS ANGELES.–Striking a deal that benefits Russia, 71-year-old President Vladimir Putin showed he can put aside the Ukraine War and strike a deal netting roughly 20 Russian spies in Western custody for four U.S. citizens, including 32-year-old Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkowich, 54-year-old former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan and 47-year-old Russian-American radio host Alsu Kurmasheva. Putin returned to Mother Russia an infamous FSB colonel hit-man Vadim Krasikov, imprisoned for life in Germany for the murder of Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, an alleged double agent working with the EU and NATO. Swapping for a known killer, shows the price the U.S. was willing to pay to release Gershowitz, the most high-profile prisoner, much like former WNBA start Brittney Griner, released Dec. 8. 2022 after spending 293 days in Russian jail. President Joe Biden was hounded by the press to return Griner.
Putin gladly released so-called Russian human rights advocates Vladimir Kara-Murza, a dual Russian-British citizen working with the late Alexi Navalny to undermine Putin’s Kremlin government. Russian opposition politician Ilya Yasshin and Oleg Orlov were also part of the imbalanced list largely swapped to get out FSB hit-man Vadim Krasikov. Getting Krasikov was like returning Viktor Bout in exchange for Brittney Griner, a notorious Russian arms dealer AKA “The Merchant of Death,” know for supplying terrorist groups with high power arms. Meeting Evan Gerskowich on the tarmac of Andrews Air Force base today, 81-year-old President Joe Biden and 59-year-old Vice President Kamala Harris hoped to get as much PR as possible. While the behind the scenes deal making took months, at least Gerskowich and, especially Paul Whelan, was finally returned home.
Like so many bad deals past prisoner swaps, it’s unknown if any U.S. cash was paid to win the release of Gershkowich and Whelan, something that may never be known. When it comes to the current political atmosphere between Moscow and Washington, things could not be worse other than out right war. Biden decided to trash decades of U.S. diplomacy, détente and arms control when he joined Ukraine’s war against the Kremlin. Funding a deadly proxy war with Moscow, Biden sacrificed U.S.-Russian relations, all to show support to Ukraine. Biden and Ukraine’s 46-year-old President Volodymyr Zelensky claim that Putin wants to reinstate the old Soviet Union or Russian Empire by taking more European territory. Instead of letting U.N. peacemakers work to resolve the Ukraine War, Biden and Zelensky have escalated the conflict dangerously close to WW III.
When it comes to prisoner swaps, whether in the Cold War or now, it always helps when there are favorable bilateral relations between Washington and Moscow. Putin asked Biden for months before the Feb. 24, 2022 Ukraine War to discuss new security arrangements for Ukraine. Putin told Biden on many occasions that it was a red line supply Ukraine with lethal weapons to go to war against the Kremlin. Biden ignored Putin’s request to resolve the issue peacefully, instead continued to supply lethal arms to Ukraine. When it comes to prisoner swaps or any other deal with the Kremlin, it helps for the U.S. to have cooperative, pragmatic relations. Putin could have been a big help the U.S. in dealing with Iran-backed Houthi attacks in the Red Sea that creates havoc for commercial shipping. Collaborating with Putin would be very helpful to the U.S. in China, Middle East, North Africa, Iran and North Korea. Biden has ended U.S.-Russian cooperation.
Whatever happened with the latest prisoner swap, the Biden administration has abysmal relations with the Russian Federation, all because of the Ukraine War. Biden sacrificed decades of U.S.-Russian relations, claiming he was defending European democracy. Yet Ukraine has never been a democracy and Zelensky continues to impose martial law, suspending all voting for Ukraine citizens. There’s plenty of frustration with how Zelensky has managed the Ukraine War, telling citizens that he intends to fight to the last drop of blood. Most Ukrainians, including Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko, isn’t happy at all with the ongoing war with Russia. Zelensky has led Ukraine down the garden path, promising the world in terms of beating Putin but delivering nothing other than more destruction to Ukraine’s infrastructure and more civilian deaths and loss of Ukraine’s sovereign territory.
Milking the PR value of the prisoner swap, Biden and Harris conveniently disguise the abysmal state of relations with the Russian Federation. Putin would not have let Gershkowich and Whelan out without a lopsided deal that favored the Kremlin. Putin got a convicted FSB hit-man out so he can be used again for some other hapless stooge in the future. Using Gershkowich and Whelan’s release to highlight how Biden and Harris still have leverage with the Kremlin is preposterous. Relations have never been worse, something, if not managed properly, could result in a shooting war in Europe requiring U.S. troops. Kamala has no plan to improve U.S.-Russian relations, only continue Biden’s policy of perpetual. What price did Biden have to pay to get out Gerskowich and Whelan? Apparently just as bad of a deal to get out Brittney Griner when they swapper her for Viktor Bout, the “Merchant of Death.” U.S.-Russian relations won’t improve under Kamala.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
