WASHINGTON, October 21 (ANI) — U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Stephen Hubbard, an American citizen previously captured by Russian forces in Ukraine, had secured his freedom and was returning to the United States.
The prisoner’s release was first disclosed by Russian President Vladimir Putin during a meeting with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, according to Russian news agencies.
Putin reportedly said Hubbard was at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg and that Witkoff had expressed gratitude to the Russian leader for his release.
Hubbard, a retired English teacher in his 70s, received a nearly seven-year prison sentence following a closed trial in October 2024 over allegations that he had engaged in “mercenary work” in support of Ukraine. Hubbard has contested the accusation.
Trump emphasized that Hubbard’s release had been secured without a prisoner exchange with Moscow.
“Stephen is on his way back home and will soon be with his family,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social account.
“The United States, out of respect for President Trump, was not required to give anything in return — an unprecedented situation for Russia. There was no ‘swap’ necessary for this release,” he added.
Trump also linked Hubbard’s release to a recent pause in certain U.S. trade tariffs and sanctions targeting Moscow.
“If sanctions would have been placed, certainly those negotiations would have come to a complete and total halt,” Trump said on the platform.
Wednesday’s announcement came as Witkoff met with Putin to brief the Russian leader on his discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Oslo the previous day. The U.S. envoy had described those talks as constructive.
Trump said Tuesday that he had personally appealed to Putin to release Hubbard.
“I’ve been talking to him at length. I’ve asked him to release him. Let’s see what happens,” Trump told reporters in Washington.
Following the announcement, Witkoff said Trump and the entire nation were grateful for Hubbard’s release, describing Putin as a humanitarian. (ANI)
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