US Envoy Secures Release of 74-Year-Old American From Russia
US envoy Steve Witkoff met with Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, securing the release of 74-year-old American Stephen James Hubbard, who returned to the US with Witkoff after being detained since 2022. Hubbard, a former teacher from Michigan, was convicted on charges of fighting as a mercenary for Ukrainian forces, which US authorities, his family, and lawyer have consistently denied. The meeting was Witkoff's ninth with Putin, and he also discussed a diesel agreement. The release follows a personal call from Donald Trump to Putin, seen as a diplomatic gesture to ease negotiations. The talks covered Ukraine peace proposals and security guarantees, following constructive meetings in Oslo between Ukrainian and European leaders.