Russian American ballerina Ksenia Karelina has message for Trump after release from Russia

Russian American ballerina Ksenia Karelina said successful a video she was "so grateful" to President Donald Trump aft landing connected American ungraded pursuing a captive swap with Russia. 

Trump shared the video Friday greeting connected his Truth Social account, penning "Glad to person you backmost home." 

"Mr. Trump, I’m so, truthful grateful for you to bring maine location and for [the] American government. And I ne'er felt much blessed to beryllium American and I’m so, truthful blessed to get home. Thank you," Karelina said to a camera aft landing precocious Thursday nighttime astatine Joint Base Andrews successful Maryland. 

Karelina shared a agelong clasp with her fiancé, boxer Chris Van Deerden, aft stepping disconnected the plane. She has been offered Post Isolation Support Activities, which is simply a reacclimation programme for wrongful detainees, a U.S. authoritative said. 

RUSSIAN-AMERICAN BALLERINA KSENIA KARELINA RELEASED IN PRISONER SWAP WITH MOSCOW 

Ksenia Karelina walks with her fiancé, nonrecreational boxer Chris van Heerden, arsenic she arrives connected Thursday, April 10, 2025 astatine Joint Base Andrews successful Maryland. (AP/Alex Brandon)

Moscow released Karelina connected Thursday successful speech for German Russian national Arthur Petrov, who was arrested successful 2023 successful Cyprus astatine the petition of the U.S. connected charges of exporting delicate microelectronics, The Wall Street Journal reported. 

"American Ksenia Karelina is connected a level backmost location to the United States. She was wrongfully detained by Russia for implicit a twelvemonth and President Trump secured her release. POTUS volition proceed to enactment for the merchandise of ALL Americans," Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote connected X. 

US RELEASING RUSSIAN PRISONER ALEXANDER VINNIK IN MARC FOGEL EXCHANGE, OFFICIAL SAYS 

Ksenia Karelina arrived astatine Joint Base Andrews successful Maryland precocious Thursday, April 10, 2025 pursuing her merchandise from detention successful Russia. (AP/Alex Brandon)

Karelina was sentenced to 12 years successful a Russian penal colony aft pleading blameworthy to treason for donating $51.80 to a Ukrainian foundation successful aboriginal 2024. She was initially detained for "petty hooliganism" portion visiting household successful Russia that year. 

Russian authorities claimed that Karelina, who lived successful Los Angeles, raised wealth for the Ukrainian service and took portion successful "public actions" that supported Ukraine portion successful the U.S.  

Karelina was near retired of a monolithic August 2024 captive swap that resulted successful the merchandise of Wall Street Journal newsman Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan and Alsu Kurmasheva from Russia. 

Ksenia Karelina thanked President Donald Trump successful a video helium posted to his Truth Social relationship connected Friday, April 11, 2025. (AP/Alex Brandon)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP 

She is the latest American captive detained successful different state to beryllium freed nether Trump's administration. In February, Trump brought American past teacher Marc Fogel, who had been detained successful Russia since 2021, backmost to the U.S. 

Fox News’ Lauralee Guidry, Elizabeth Pritchett and Alex Hogan contributed to this report.