Russia Frees American Stephen Hubbard as Putin Meets Witkoff for Ukraine Talks
Russia released American citizen Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired Michigan teacher, after more than four years in detention, as President Vladimir Putin met US special envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg. Hubbard had been sentenced in 2024 to nearly seven years on disputed mercenary charges. The Kremlin said Putin agreed to resume three-way Ukraine talks with Kyiv and Washington. Witkoff's praise of Putin as a "humanitarian" drew bipartisan criticism, and Trump denied any swap while referencing a diesel deal and sanctions relief.
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Trump Admits Concession to Russia in American's Release
President Donald Trump claimed the U.S. 'gave nothing' to Russia in exchange for the release of imprisoned American Stephen Hubbard, but moments later appeared to reference a diesel deal and sanctions relief that drew bipartisan criticism. Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired teacher convicted of mercenary charges, was released after nearly five years in detention. The release was followed by a meeting where U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff called Russian President Vladimir Putin a 'humanitarian,' drawing sharp rebukes from Republican Senators Thom Tillis and John Cornyn. Trump declined to criticize Witkoff's remarks, saying he did not want to 'upset an apple cart' as the U.S. nears settling a war.
Read sourceRussia Frees American Stephen Hubbard as Trump Envoy Meets Putin
Russia has released American citizen Stephen Hubbard, 74, after more than four years in detention, according to multiple outlets including AP, BBC, CNN and The Guardian. Hubbard had been captured in occupied Ukraine. The release coincided with a meeting between a Trump envoy and Russian President Vladimir Putin for talks on Ukraine, and reports say Putin ordered the release as that meeting took place. Politico characterized the episode as "Trump swaggers, Kremlin snickers," suggesting skepticism about the diplomatic dynamic. The reports attribute the release to Putin's order and link it to the ongoing Ukraine negotiations, though details of any agreement or conditions behind the release were not specified in the aggregated headlines.
Read sourceWitkoff Calls Putin a 'Humanitarian' During Russia Trip to Free Detained American
US special envoy Steve Witkoff described Russian President Vladimir Putin as a 'humanitarian' on Wednesday, remarks that shocked Ukraine and its supporters but did not surprise close observers of his handling of the Russia file. The praise came after Witkoff arrived in Russia to secure the release of Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old American citizen who was living in eastern Ukraine when Russian forces detained him soon after the 2022 invasion. The US State Department had designated Hubbard as wrongfully detained and rejected Russian claims that he was a mercenary. According to the report, the comment was not a departure for Witkoff, as President Trump has sought warmer relations with Putin to defuse the Moscow-Kyiv conflict and develop economic ties with Russia.
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Russia Frees American Stephen Hubbard as Kremlin Signals Goodwill to Trump
Russia has released Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired Michigan teacher, after more than four years in detention. Hubbard was captured in occupied Ukraine, according to CNN. The Washington Post reports the release is part of Kremlin maneuvers to show goodwill to President Trump. ABC News sources say the U.S. is nearing a deal with Russia to free multiple jailed Americans. The New York Times profiles Hubbard, identifying him as the American released from Russian jail. The event highlights ongoing diplomatic negotiations between Washington and Moscow over detained citizens.
Read sourcePutin Agrees to Resume Three-Way Ukraine Talks With Kyiv and Washington, Kremlin Says
The Kremlin says Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to resume three-way talks on the Ukraine war involving Kyiv and Washington, according to AP and Reuters. The development comes as U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff met with Putin, and Russia's government said Ukraine must make "necessary decisions" to end the war, CBS News reported. Separately, Russia released American citizen Stephen Hubbard from prison, according to state media reports cited by The New York Times. The Washington Post also reported the prisoner release alongside praise from Trump's envoy for Putin. The talks signal a possible diplomatic opening, though no conditions or timeline for negotiations were specified in the source items.
Read sourcePutin Tells Witkoff Russia Ready to Resume Direct Peace Talks, Releases US Detainee
According to aggregated reports from Axios, Reuters, The New York Times, CBS News, and The Washington Post, Russian President Vladimir Putin told US special envoy Steve Witkoff that he is ready to resume direct peace talks, with Reuters describing the format as three-way talks involving Ukraine and the United States. Russia also released American detainee Stephen Hubbard from prison, according to state media cited by The New York Times. CBS News reported that Russia said Ukraine must make "necessary decisions" to end the war as Witkoff met Putin. The Washington Post reported that Trump's special envoy called Vladimir Putin a "humanitarian." The reports attribute these statements to their respective speakers and do not independently confirm the outcomes of any negotiations.
Read sourceRussia Signals Readiness to Resume Ukraine and US Peace Talks, Frees American Prisoner
Russia has indicated it is ready to resume talks with Ukraine and the United States aimed at ending the war, according to multiple reports. Reuters reported that President Vladimir Putin agreed to resume three-way peace talks involving Ukraine and the US. The Kremlin also signaled openness to new Ukraine peace talks. In a related development, Russia released American teacher Stephen Hubbard from prison, as reported by state media and confirmed by The New York Times. CNBC noted that US envoy Witkoff called Putin a 'humanitarian' during Russia peace talks that took place without Ukraine's participation. The flurry of diplomatic activity suggests a potential thaw, though the exact format and conditions of any negotiations remain unclear.
Read sourceRussia Releases American Stephen Hubbard as Putin Agrees to Resume Ukraine Peace Talks
Russian state media reported that Russia released American Stephen Hubbard from prison. Separately, the Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin agreed to resume three-way peace talks on the Ukraine war with Kyiv and Washington, according to Reuters and other outlets. Axios reported that Putin told U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff he is ready to resume direct peace talks, and that Russia released a U.S. detainee. The Washington Post included the developments in its daily briefing. The reports link a diplomatic opening on Ukraine with the release of an American prisoner, though details of the talks and the release remain attributed to state media and Kremlin statements.
Read sourceWitkoff Calls Putin 'Humanitarian' After Russia Frees Jailed American
Trump administration envoy Steve Witkoff called Russian President Vladimir Putin a 'humanitarian' after Russia released 74-year-old American Stephen James Hubbard, who had been imprisoned for four years on accusations of being a Ukrainian mercenary. Witkoff praised Putin at the release, saying 'You are a humanitarian also, sir, and I salute that.' The article notes Hubbard was a Michigan native who was tortured and starved in prison, and that Putin is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes. Republican Senator John Cornyn and Kyiv Independent's Jimmy Rushton criticized Witkoff's remarks, with Cornyn calling Putin a 'stone cold killer.' The article also cites at least 125,000 Ukrainian soldiers and 15,000 civilians killed in the war.
Read sourceUS citizen Stephen Hubbard freed by Russia as Trump envoy meets Putin
Russia has released Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old US citizen and retired teacher who was captured in occupied Ukraine. The release coincided with a visit by a Trump envoy to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. President Trump hailed the release. Multiple outlets, including BBC, CNN, The New York Times, The Guardian, and NBC News, reported on the event, with several providing profiles of Hubbard.
Read sourceRussia Releases U.S. Citizen Stephen Hubbard After Four Years, Trump Denies Swap
Russia has released 74-year-old American Stephen Hubbard after four years in detention, according to multiple news reports. Hubbard was captured in occupied Ukraine. President Trump stated there was "no 'swap'" involved in the release. The release coincided with a visit by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin and called him a "humanitarian." Trump also claimed that implementing Russia sanctions would have halted the release talks. The event has been covered by CBS News, CNN, The Guardian, The New York Times, and The Hill.
Read sourcePutin Meets Witkoff on Ukraine War, Frees Detained US Citizen
Russian President Vladimir Putin met US special envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg on Wednesday for their ninth in-person meeting, focused on ending the Ukraine war. As a goodwill gesture, Putin announced the release of Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired US teacher detained in Russia since 2022 and sentenced in 2024 to nearly seven years for alleged mercenary activity for Ukraine. Witkoff thanked Putin and said there is a basis for a ceasefire, hoping Putin agrees to resume trilateral talks involving Russia, the US, and Ukraine. Putin thanked President Donald Trump for his peace efforts and expressed interest in restoring economic ties with Washington. Moscow also announced diesel shipments to the US for Thursday. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz insisted Ukraine's capitulation is not an option, while the FSB reported the arrest of a German national accused of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine.
Read sourceRussia Frees American Stephen Hubbard as Trump Envoy Meets Putin
Russia has released American citizen Stephen Hubbard, 74, according to Russian state media and confirmed by US envoy Steve Witkoff. Hubbard, described in reports as a teacher, had been imprisoned for about four years on charges related to serving as a mercenary for Ukraine. The release coincided with a meeting between Witkoff, a Trump envoy, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Fox News reported that the release followed pressure from President Trump on Putin. The event marks a rare diplomatic exchange amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Moscow over the war in Ukraine.
Read sourceRussia Releases US Citizen Stephen Hubbard After Over Four Years in Prison
Russia has released US citizen Stephen Hubbard after more than four years in detention, according to Russian state media reports on Wednesday. The release followed a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US special envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg. US President Donald Trump had requested Putin free the detained American. Hubbard, a retired teacher, was sentenced in Moscow in October 2024 to nearly seven years in prison on charges of allegedly serving as a mercenary for Ukraine. His detention had initially been kept secret after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and he was brought to trial after more than two years in custody. Russian investigators claimed the former teacher joined a Ukrainian defense battalion and received at least $1,000 per month in salary, allegations he denied. At the time of his sentencing, Hubbard was 72 years old. A former Ukrainian fellow prisoner reported in autumn 2024 that Hubbard, like many other detainees, was tortured with food deprivation and electric shocks.
Russia Frees US Citizen After Four Years as Putin Meets Witkoff
Russian President Vladimir Putin met US special envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg to discuss ending the Ukraine war, while Russia announced the release of US citizen Stephen Hubbard after more than four years in detention. Hubbard, a retired teacher, was sentenced in October 2024 to nearly seven years for alleged mercenary activity for Ukraine, charges he denied. Witkoff said a basis for a ceasefire exists and expressed hope Putin would agree to resume trilateral talks involving Russia, the US, and Ukraine. Putin thanked President Donald Trump for his efforts and stressed Russian interest in restoring economic ties with the US. Witkoff had met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Oslo on Tuesday and planned to present European and American peace proposals to Putin.
Read sourceRussia Frees US Citizen Stephen Hubbard, Putin Says
President Vladimir Putin said Russia has agreed to release Stephen Hubbard, an American citizen jailed for allegedly fighting on behalf of Ukraine, according to state media. Putin said Hubbard had been taken to Pulkovo Airport during talks with US envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg. Hubbard, originally from Michigan, was 72 when he was sentenced to almost seven years in a penal colony in 2024; prosecutors accused him of serving in a defence unit in the eastern city of Izyum when he was captured by Russian forces two years earlier. The US State Department had classified Hubbard as "wrongfully detained", and President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he had raised Hubbard's case with Putin, telling reporters: "Watch what happens." The BBC said it had contacted the White House for comment.
Read sourceRussia Frees American Stephen Hubbard After Trump Plea
Russia has released 74-year-old American citizen Stephen Hubbard, according to state media reports. The release followed a plea from former President Donald Trump and occurred as a Trump envoy met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Hubbard, described as a teacher, had been imprisoned on Ukraine mercenary charges and jailed for four years. Multiple outlets including CNN, BBC, NBC News, Fox News, and The New York Times reported the development, attributing the information to Russian state media.
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