A Russian American ballerina, sentenced to 12 years in jail in Russia for donating to a charity supporting Ukraine, arrived in Washington on Thursday after being freed in a prisoner change for a person the U.S. accused of orchestrating a worldwide smuggling ring to provide Russia’s army with delicate electronics.
The swap, performed on the tarmac of an Abu Dhabi airport, indicators deep diplomatic channels between President Vladimir Putin’s Kremlin and the administration of President Donald Trump, who has expressed a want to dealer a peace deal to finish the battle in Ukraine.
Ksenia Karelina, a twin citizen, was convicted by a Russian court docket final 12 months on expenses of treason for contributing $51.80 to a U.S.-based charity aiding Ukraine.
When the airplane carrying Karelina landed in Washington late Thursday, she was met by her boyfriend, UFC fighter Chris van Heerden, who hugged and kissed her as others round them cheered.
During the change, Arthur Petrov, a twin German Russian citizen arrested in 2023 within the Greek Cypriot administration on the request of the United States after being accused of exporting delicate microelectronics, was proven by Russian state tv strolling previous Karelina towards a Russian airplane, the place he underwent medical check-ups.
“Petrov was exchanged for U.S. citizen Ksenia Karelina, who also holds Russian citizenship and was sentenced to 12 years in a penal colony for treason in the form of financial assistance to a foreign state,” mentioned Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), the primary successor to the Soviet-era KGB.
A U.S. official informed Reuters that U.S. particular envoy Steve Witkoff raised Karelina’s case with Putin throughout a name final week, and that Putin’s response was to “do something as a goodwill gesture because he wants to settle the war.”
U.S. talks with Russia and Ukraine about ending the battle have been to proceed, and Witkoff would journey to Russia quickly, mentioned the official, who spoke on situation of anonymity.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was additionally concerned within the negotiations, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe helped finalize the deal, a second U.S. official mentioned.
Trump publicly thanked Russia for the discharge of the ballerina. He mentioned he had obtained a name advocating for her launch from a buddy, UFC Chairperson Dana White.
“They released the young ballerina, and she is now out, and that was great. So we appreciate that. We hope that we’re going to be able to make a deal relatively soon with Russia and Ukraine to stop the fighting,” Trump informed reporters.
Two sources near the swap, who spoke on situation of anonymity, mentioned that Putin’s particular envoy for worldwide financial cooperation, Kirill Dmitriev, performed a task within the discussions.
Dmitriev, a Stanford University-educated former Goldman Sachs funding banker, is among the most U.S.-savvy members of Russia’s elite, with shut ties to some key members of the Trump group. He met Witkoff in Washington final week.
Americans nonetheless in jail
The United States lists a number of Americans – some twin residents – who’re in jail in Russia, together with Stephen Hubbard, an English instructor whom Washington has formally declared wrongfully detained.
U.S. instructor Marc Fogel was launched from a Russian jail in February throughout a go to by Witkoff to Moscow. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Dmitriev have been concerned in these negotiations.
In August 2024, the U.S. and Russia carried out their greatest prisoner swap because the Cold War, with 24 prisoners gaining their freedom, together with U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan.
The U.S. Justice Department mentioned final 12 months that Petrov had participated in a scheme to obtain U.S.-sourced microelectronics for producers supplying weaponry and different gear to the Russian army.
The division additionally mentioned that Petrov had fashioned an elaborate tech-smuggling syndicate that funneled delicate know-how to Russia’s military-industrial advanced by way of an online of shell corporations. Petrov was unavailable for remark.
Source: www.dailysabah.com