Trump Meets With Freed Russian-American Ballerina

Trump welcomed a dual U.S.–Russian citizen whose freedom he secured in an exchange last month.

Senior Director for Counterterrorism Sebastian Gorka takes a picture of U.S.-Russian ballet dancer Ksenia Karelina and her boyfriend South African boxer Chris van Heerden at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, following Karelina's release from Russia, on April 10, 2025. Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images

A Russian American ballerina freed last month from a prison in Russia as part of a prisoner exchange, Ksenia Karelina, visited the White House on Monday and met with President Donald Trump.

The 33-year-old dual citizen’s visit underscores the delicate balance of negotiations with Moscow amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Karelina, a Los Angeles resident and amateur ballerina who was born in Russia and became a U.S. citizen in 2021, was arrested in February 2024 while visiting family in Yekaterinburg.

Russian authorities charged her with treason for donating $51.80 to a U.S.-based charity they accused of aiding Ukraine’s security forces.

The charity, Razom for Ukraine, a New York-based nonprofit, denied funding military efforts and said its group is focused on humanitarian aid.

“The case against Ksenia Karelina was a farce from the moment of her detention,” Dora Chomiak, the charity’s CEO, said in a statement after Karelina was released.

“Peacefully demonstrating solidarity with the people of Ukraine is not a crime.”

Russia’s Federal Security Service claimed the donation supported Ukraine’s armed forces.

Karelina pleaded guilty in August 2024 and was sentenced to 12 years in a maximum-security prison.

Her release on April 10 came after intense negotiations between American and Russian intelligence agencies, culminating in a swap at an Abu Dhabi airport overseen by Central Intelligence Agency director John Ratcliffe.

“Honored to greet Ksenia Karelina early this morning and help get her returned home to the United States. Grateful for the CIA officers who worked to make this success possible,” Ratcliffe wrote on April 10 in a post on social media platform X, along with pictures of him and a smiling Karelina.

“President Trump will continue to work for the release of all wrongfully detained Americans.”

To secure the deal, the United States freed Arthur Petrov, a dual Russian German citizen accused of smuggling military-grade electronics in violation of sanctions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a pardon for Karelina, a gesture seen as a nod to improving ties with the Trump administration, which has signaled openness to dialogue with Moscow to end the Ukraine conflict.

The exchange reflects a broader pattern of U.S.–Russia prisoner swaps, including the February release of American teacher Marc Fogel for Russian cybercriminal Alexander Vinnik.

Fogel also visited Trump at the executive mansion.

Karelina’s White House visit comes as his administration pushes for a Ukraine peace deal, with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff expected to visit Moscow soon.