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Notes -
As a German, I generally value Russian hitman being in prison where they belong above rescuing people playing spy for third countries and failing. I mean, if he had been caught during a scheme to kill Putin, then that would be something within German geostrategic interest, and it would be in Germany's interests to bring him back. Doing a bit of sabotage to hamper their war effort feels rather minor by comparison.
Right, assuming there were not in fact hidden additional elements, this trade does of course look flat out disadvantageous to Germany. I'm just trying to argue that the Germans did get something out of it (standing by conspicuously doing nothing as the US bails all of its citizens in trouble in the Eastern Bloc out might also be a bad look, and German media sure seemed to be fixated on the guy for several days/weeks before the trade while the hitman's release is already being buried). Ultimately, such is the life of the vassal; sometimes you have to humiliate yourself to help your master save face.
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