The United States and Russia exchanged prisoners on Thursday in Abu Dhabi in a sign of a rising alliance as both parties seek an agreement to end the war in Ukraine, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources and a statement given by CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
The US released Arthur Petrov, a German-Russian citizen, arrested in Cyprus under suspicion of exporting sensitive microelectronics. On its part, Russia released Ksenia Karelina, a dual US-Russian citizen sentenced to 12 years after being found guilty of treason for donating less than $100 to a US-based Ukrainian charity.
Ratcliffe and a senior Russian intelligence official administered the talks for the exchange that took place at the Abu Dhabi airport, as stated by a CIA official. This is the second swap of detainees between the two countries since US President Donald Trump took office in January. "Today, President Trump brought home another wrongfully detained American from Russia," Ratcliffe told WSJ.
