Kate Leinbaugh

By the end of the month, the world learns of another arrest, this time in Russia, one that ends up becoming much more personal to Joe and Drew.

Delicate negotiations between Washington and Moscow for a complex prisoner swap went on for the rest of 2023 and into the next year. By the summer of 2024, a deal was coming together. It would be the biggest prisoner swap with Russia since the Cold War. And it was all set to take place on August 1st.

Delicate negotiations between Washington and Moscow for a complex prisoner swap went on for the rest of 2023 and into the next year. By the summer of 2024, a deal was coming together. It would be the biggest prisoner swap with Russia since the Cold War. And it was all set to take place on August 1st.

Delicate negotiations between Washington and Moscow for a complex prisoner swap went on for the rest of 2023 and into the next year. By the summer of 2024, a deal was coming together. It would be the biggest prisoner swap with Russia since the Cold War. And it was all set to take place on August 1st.

As Russian state TV captured the homecoming of the Doltsevs, the children had one question for their parents, according to the Kremlin. Who was the man with flowers who greeted them in Spanish on the tarmac? They'd never heard of Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, another VIP jet was also being received, this one carrying freed Americans.

As Russian state TV captured the homecoming of the Doltsevs, the children had one question for their parents, according to the Kremlin. Who was the man with flowers who greeted them in Spanish on the tarmac? They'd never heard of Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, another VIP jet was also being received, this one carrying freed Americans.

As Russian state TV captured the homecoming of the Doltsevs, the children had one question for their parents, according to the Kremlin. Who was the man with flowers who greeted them in Spanish on the tarmac? They'd never heard of Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, another VIP jet was also being received, this one carrying freed Americans.

Among the prisoners released by Russia were former Marine Paul Whelan, American journalist Alsu Kermesheva, and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. Joe and Drew raced to Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, D.C., to greet their friend and colleague.

Among the prisoners released by Russia were former Marine Paul Whelan, American journalist Alsu Kermesheva, and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. Joe and Drew raced to Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, D.C., to greet their friend and colleague.

Among the prisoners released by Russia were former Marine Paul Whelan, American journalist Alsu Kermesheva, and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. Joe and Drew raced to Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, D.C., to greet their friend and colleague.

Evan Gershkovich was held in Russia for more than 16 months. Anna and Artem Doltsev were detained for about 20 months on charges of spying and falsifying documents. All told, Russia freed 16 people in the swap. The West released eight.

Evan Gershkovich was held in Russia for more than 16 months. Anna and Artem Doltsev were detained for about 20 months on charges of spying and falsifying documents. All told, Russia freed 16 people in the swap. The West released eight.

Evan Gershkovich was held in Russia for more than 16 months. Anna and Artem Doltsev were detained for about 20 months on charges of spying and falsifying documents. All told, Russia freed 16 people in the swap. The West released eight.

And knowing what you know now, do you think we will see more prisoner swaps like this one that we saw on August 1st?

And knowing what you know now, do you think we will see more prisoner swaps like this one that we saw on August 1st?

And knowing what you know now, do you think we will see more prisoner swaps like this one that we saw on August 1st?

As for the Doltsevs, they're now living openly as Russians. After years of laying low, they've become celebrities, the toast of Russia's intelligence community.

As for the Doltsevs, they're now living openly as Russians. After years of laying low, they've become celebrities, the toast of Russia's intelligence community.

As for the Doltsevs, they're now living openly as Russians. After years of laying low, they've become celebrities, the toast of Russia's intelligence community.

In a TV special, the children, Sophie and Daniel, are shown playing near a statue of Stirlitz, Putin's boyhood hero, the fictional super spy. The brother and sister are slowly learning a new language, the one their parents grew up with.