Putin releases American Stephen Hubbard at Trump's request
Russian President Vladimir Putin has informed US envoy Steve Witkoff that American citizen Stephen Hubbard has been released, following a request from President Donald Trump. Hubbard is at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg awaiting repatriation. Hubbard, a former teacher from Michigan, was sentenced in October 2024 to six years and ten months in prison for allegedly fighting as a mercenary with Ukrainian armed forces. Witkoff publicly thanked Putin for the diplomatic gesture, while Hubbard's family, lawyer, and the US State Department had disputed the charges. Trump had announced he personally asked Putin for Hubbard's release, hinting at imminent developments. The announcement came at the start of talks between Putin and Witkoff focused on finding a diplomatic solution to the war in Ukraine, following Witkoff's meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky in Oslo.