Stephen Hubbard Freed From Russian Custody
You talk so much about my president, President Trump, being a humanitarian. You are a humanitarian also, sir,
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff told Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, NBC News reported. Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired schoolteacher from Big Rapids, Michigan, was released by Russia on Wednesday after being imprisoned on charges of serving as a mercenary in Ukraine. Hubbard was designated as wrongfully detained in Russia by the State Department.
Diplomatic Talks in St. Petersburg and Oslo
The release coincided with high-stakes diplomatic meetings led by Witkoff, who traveled to Russia following a summit in Oslo, Norway. In Oslo, Witkoff met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. A U.S. official told NBC News that meaningful progress
was made during the European discussions. Following those talks, Witkoff arrived at Pulkovo Airport outside St. Petersburg, where he was greeted by Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev before meeting Putin at Constantine Palace.
Putin Announces Release of American Stephen Hubbard, Convicted in Russia of MercenarismThe 72-year-old U.S. citizen is already at Pulkovo Airport preparing to leave Russia, Vladimir Putin stated during a meeting with Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, in Saint… pic.twitter.com/f9uwRXQxrT
Contrasting Views on Ukraine Peace Pressure
While the Trump administration hailed Hubbard’s release as a victory, the broader peace push has drawn widespread criticism from allies and Ukrainian officials. President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday that we want Zelenskyy to make a deal,
adding that the U.S. has received nothing back from Kyiv except grief, death, tremendous monetary loss.
The administration has faced criticism for moves to bolster Russia, developments Trump hailed while noting that the U.S. was not required to give anything in return to secure Hubbard’s release.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Prisoner Release
When and where was Stephen Hubbard detained?
Russian forces detained Hubbard in April 2022 in the eastern Ukrainian city of Izyum, where he had lived since 2014 with a Ukrainian partner after teaching English abroad for decades.
What specific charges did Russian authorities bring against Hubbard?
A Moscow court convicted Hubbard in October 2024 during a closed trial, sentencing him to six years and 10 months in prison on allegations that he served as a mercenary for Ukrainian territorial defense units, according to Reuters.
What did President Trump say about concessions made for the release?
President Trump stated on Truth Social that the United States was not required to give anything in return for Hubbard’s freedom, describing it as an unprecedented situation for Russia.
🤮 “Thank you, President Putin! So glad to see you!” An awfully cordial start to the meeting: Witkoff is politeness personified, while Putin asks him to pass on his immense gratitude to Trump. pic.twitter.com/8Fco0BDG8J
Other Americans Imprisoned in Russia
While Hubbard has returned, several other Americans remain held in Russia. Andre Khachatoorian was detained in 2021 and sentenced to eight and a half years for arms trafficking, charges he denies. Aleksander Antonov, a naturalized U.S. citizen who arrived in America as a Soviet refugee, was arrested in 2025 while attempting to cross the border from Russia into Estonia.
More on American Stephen Hubbard
⚡️ JUST IN: Putin and Witkoff have begun their meeting in St. Petersburg, Russian media reportWhat do you think we'll hear after the talks? pic.twitter.com/4XndeJqpPF
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