No money exchanged in prisoner swap -White House

STORY: :: The White House says no money was

exchanged in East-West prisoner swap

:: August 1, 2024

:: Jake Sullivan

U.S. National Security Advisor

"Today, as you've seen and heard from the president and from Karine, we've completed one of the largest and certainly the most complex exchange in history."

"The president was himself personally engaged in the diplomacy that brought this about."

"Today was a very good day and we're going to build on it, drawing inspiration and continued courage from it for all of those who were held hostage or wrongfully detained around the world."

JOURNALIST ASKING (OFF CAMERA): "Can you just confirm that no money was exchanged, no sanctions were loosened to facilitate this deal?"

SULLIVAN: "Yes, I can confirm that."

U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich and ex-U.S. Marine Paul Whelan were released by Russia on Thursday as part of the biggest East-West prisoner exchange since the end of the Cold War, a complex deal negotiated in secrecy for more than a year.

The White House said the U.S. had negotiated the complex trade with Russia and other countries. It said eight prisoners held in the West were being sent back to Russia.