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Russia releases detained American Stephen Hubbard
U.S. Envoy Steve Witkoff says Russia has released Stephen Hubbard, a retired American teacher who been imprisoned on changes of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine. The news coming after Witkoff met with Russia's President Vladimir in St. Petersburg.
An American man imprisoned in Russia since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine is returning home this week after U.S. officials negotiated his return.
Stephen Hubbard, 52, was released just two years into his sentence after being imprisoned on Ukraine mercenary charges after President pressed Russian President Vladimir Putin.
What they're saying:
"Stephen Hubbard, taken four years ago by Russia during the Biden Administration, was just released from prison, at the request of President Donald J. Trump, made directly to President Vladimir Putin in a telephone conversation last week," according to a Wednesday morning Truth Social post issued by President Trump.
The backstory:
A retired Michigan teacher, Hubbard was sentenced in 2024 after prosecutors say he signed a contract with the Ukrainian military after Russia sent troops there in February 2022. He was captured by Russian forces just two months after the start of the conflict.
Dig deeper:
President Donald Trump said he had faced calls to impose sanctions on Russia but held off while negotiating Hubbard’s release, arguing that additional sanctions would have brought those talks to a halt.
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff also weighed in on the release, describing Russian President Vladimir Putin as a "humanitarian" for allowing Hubbard to return home.
Russian authorities have not publicly commented on the circumstances surrounding Hubbard’s release.
The Source: This story was written with information provided by Fox News Digital. This story was reported from Orlando.