Russia has freed 74-year-old American citizen, Stephen Hubbard, who was sentenced to nearly seven years in prison for allegedly fighting for Ukraine, following a direct request by US President Donald Trump to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Key Highlights
- Russia frees 74-year-old Michigan native Stephen Hubbard, jailed for allegedly fighting for Ukraine.
- Release followed a direct request from Trump to Putin; no prisoner swap involved.
- Envoy Steve Witkoff met Putin in St Petersburg for over three hours.
- Witkoff pressed Putin on renewed trilateral peace talks with Ukraine.
- First shipment under Russian diesel supply deal to leave within days.
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, met Putin in St Petersburg on Wednesday, October 21, where the Russian leader confirmed Hubbard’s release and said he had been taken to Pulkovo Airport.
Trump later announced that the former teacher was on his way back to the United States, stressing that no prisoner swap was required.
In a statement on social media, the US president said the release followed a request he made directly to Putin the previous week.
Who Is Stephen Hubbard?
Hubbard, from Michigan, was sentenced in 2024 after Russian authorities accused him of serving in a defence unit in Izyum, eastern Ukraine, before he was captured by Russian forces following Moscow’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
The US State Department had classified him as “wrongfully detained”, while reports indicated that he was in poor health and expected to be flown to Texas for medical treatment.
Trump also defended his recent decision to suspend sanctions against Russia shortly before they were due to take effect, arguing that imposing the measures would have halted negotiations over Hubbard’s release.
Peace Proposals On The Table
During Wednesday’s meeting, Witkoff commended Putin for releasing the American, describing the Russian leader as a humanitarian.
Witkoff also urged Putin to consider proposals discussed during his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Oslo, Norway, a day earlier.
The proposals reportedly included renewing trilateral peace talks involving the United States, Russia and Ukraine to help end the war.
Putin had yet to publicly indicate whether Moscow would accept the proposals.
The Russian president has continued to reject proposals from Ukraine and its European allies to freeze the current front line and begin peace negotiations.
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Fertiliser, Diesel And Iran Talks
Meanwhile, discussions between Washington and Moscow also covered economic cooperation, Iran and a possible meeting in China.
Putin said Russia could supply large quantities of fertiliser to the American market. He also disclosed that the first shipment under a recently agreed Russian diesel supply arrangement would leave the country within two to three days.
The diesel agreement has heightened tensions between Washington and Kyiv, particularly amid disagreements over US sanctions policy, intelligence sharing and support for Ukraine’s military operations.
Zelensky said on Tuesday that intelligence sharing between Ukraine and the United States has resumed following his discussions with Witkoff in Oslo.
As the US envoy met Putin, the Ukrainian president said the outcome of the discussions would depend on whether Washington could obtain a meaningful response from Moscow on ending the war rather than continuing hostilities.
Russian state media reported that the St Petersburg meeting lasted more than three hours, with Witkoff presenting documents outlining approaches to the peace process.
Hubbard’s release comes amid renewed diplomatic efforts by the Trump administration to engage Moscow and explore possible avenues for ending the war in Ukraine.
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