WASHINGTON — President Trump will greet Russian-American ballerina Ksenia Karelina later Monday, formally welcoming her again to the US after 15 months in Russian captivity.
Karelina, 33, landed again on American soil final month after the Trump administration secured her freedom in an April 10 prisoner swap.
The dancer was dealing with 12 years in a penal colony after she was accused of treason by the Kremlin for donating $51 to a charity that supported Ukraine.
Karelina was detained in January 2024 whereas visiting her household within the metropolis of Yekaterinburg. Karelina is a twin US-Russian citizen and had donated to the Ukrainian basis two days earlier than Moscow formally invaded its western neighbor.
The Los Angeles resident was charged with transferring “funds in the interests of a Ukrainian organization, which were subsequently used for the purchase of tactical medicine items, equipment, means of defeat and ammunition by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”
Upon Karelina’s return, she was met by her fiancé, skilled boxer Chris van Heerden, and Morgan Ortagus, Trump’s deputy peace envoy to the Center East
“I am overjoyed to hear that the love of my life, Ksenia Karelina is on her way home from wrongful detention in Russia,” van Heerden stated on the time.
“She has endured a nightmare for 15 months, and I cannot wait to hold her. Our dog, Boots, is also eagerly awaiting her return.”
On the time, Trump credited UFC boss Dana White with bringing Karelina’s case to his consideration.
“They released the young ballerina and she is now out, and that was good. So we appreciate that,” the president stated the day of her launch.
Karelina was the second US citizen free of Russian captivity beneath the Trump administration. In February, Pennsylvania instructor Marc Fogel was launched after being sentenced to 14 years in a Russian jail following his arrest with what he claimed was legally prescribed marijuana
The ballerina was exchanged for Russian-German twin citizen Arthur Petrov, who was arrested in 2023 on expenses of smuggling delicate microelectronics to the US adversary.
