Russia frees retired US teacher after Putin meets US envoy

Russia released Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired US schoolteacher detained since 2022, on Wednesday, following a request from President Donald Trump and consideration of his poor health. The release was announced by Vladimir Putin during a meeting with US envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg. Witkoff thanked Putin, calling him a "humanitarian," a remark that drew sharp criticism from US lawmakers. The talks also advanced plans for a tripartite meeting between Washington, Moscow, and Kyiv, likely in mid-November, to discuss post-conflict security. Hubbard, convicted of mercenary activity, was flown to the US, with no swap required. Hubbard's family and lawyer had disputed his conviction, saying he was non-military and not involved in combat. He was the only US prisoner designated as "wrongfully detained" by Washington, and his release follows that of another American teacher, Marc Fogel, last year.