Russia released 74-year-old American citizen Stephen Hubbard on Wednesday, a move that coincided with a high-stakes meeting between US envoy Steve Witkoff and President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg. The release of the former teacher, who was serving a prison sentence for allegedly fighting for Ukraine, was described by President Donald Trump as a humanitarian gesture that required no prisoner swap.
Witkoff and Putin Meet in St Petersburg
Witkoff, serving as a special representative for the Trump administration, arrived in St Petersburg for talks with Putin. During the meeting, Putin confirmed that Hubbard had been transported to the city’s Pulkovo Airport. The US envoy praised the Russian leader for the release, calling him a humanitarian and saluting his decision to free the American.
“You talk so much about my president, President Trump, being a humanitarian – you are a humanitarian also sir, and I salute that. I commend you,” Witkoff said during the encounter. Putin’s financial adviser, Kirill Dmitriev, was also present at the meeting. Hubbard was later seen thanking Witkoff as they met separately.
The meeting also touched on energy issues. Witkoff thanked Putin for a recent agreement allowing the import of Russian diesel into the United States. Putin stated that the first shipment under this deal would leave Russia within two to three days. This agreement comes as Trump seeks to lower fuel costs ahead of the November midterm elections, a top concern for many American voters.
Hubbard’s Release and Political Fallout
Stephen Hubbard, a resident of Michigan, was sentenced to nearly seven years in a penal colony in 2024. He was accused of joining a Ukrainian defense unit and receiving military training shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. His family and legal team have long disputed these charges, with his sister noting his age and lack of military interest made such involvement unlikely.
Trump announced the release on Truth Social, posting a photo captioned “Stephen Hubbard and Family COMING HOME from Russia.” He stated that Hubbard was on his way back to Texas for medical treatment, citing reports from CBS News that the former teacher had been in poor health. Trump emphasized that the release followed a direct request he made to Putin the previous week and defended his decision to suspend sanctions on Russia two days prior, arguing that sanctions would have halted negotiations.
The release sparked immediate political controversy in the United States. Several Republican lawmakers criticized Witkoff’s praise of Putin. Representative Don Bacon called the comments an “embarrassment,” while Senator John Cornyn described Putin as a “stone cold killer.” Vice President JD Vance defended the envoy’s actions during a press conference in Ohio, stating that Witkoff’s job was to bring an American home and that he cared more about the result than the rhetoric used.
Hubbard’s son, Joseph Coleman, an Orthodox priest, released a statement saying he had prayed for his father’s freedom for years. He described the release not as a political victory but as a “gift of mercy.” A lawyer for Hubbard, Martin De Luca, added that the “human dividends” of such releases should not wait for a final peace agreement.
The US State Department called the release a “welcome step” and expressed hope that it would lead to the freedom of all Americans unjustly held in Russia. The department noted that there are currently no other Americans determined to be wrongfully detained in the country. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that intelligence sharing with the US had resumed, though he warned that much depended on whether Russia was serious about peace rather than continuing the war.
Source: BBC
