Russia frees 74-year-old American Stephen Hubbard captured in occupied Ukraine

Russia has freed Stephen Hubbard, an American who had been imprisoned in Russia for more than four years on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine following a direct plea from US President Donald Trump. Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired teacher, was captured in occupied eastern Ukraine during Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 and accused of fighting for Kyiv in what his family and the State Department said were fabricated charges. His release was announced as US special envoy Steve Witkoff met Russia’s President Vladimir Putin for talks aimed at advancing peace efforts in Ukraine. Witkoff thanked Putin for Hubbard’s release, calling Russia’s president – who is subject to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant and has clamped down on opposition at home – a “humanitarian.” A video shared with CNN showed Hubbard meeting Witkoff and Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev at the Pulkovo airport in St. Petersburg on Wednesday. Hubbard was seen in the video standing and walking on his own. His family previously expressed concerns over his health. Witkoff told Hubbard, who had spent years in Russian prison, that Putin “sends you blessings and wishes you good things.” While Trump said the US was not required to give Russia anything in return, Hubbard’s release comes as the president faces accusations of cozying up to Moscow at the expense of Ukraine. The Trump administration’s relationship with Kyiv has been strained in recent weeks, as Ukraine accused the US of limiting intelligence sharing on incoming Russian missiles, slowing down vital Starlink services and delaying weapon supplies. Exacerbating Kyiv’s frustrations, Trump waived some sanctions against Russia last week – a move which drew bi-partisan criticism in the US. Posting on social media on Wednesday, Trump said that “out of respect for President Trump” Russia didn’t require anything in return for Hubbard’s release. But in a separate post later, he said “if sanctions would have been placed, certainly those negotiations would have come to a complete and total halt.” Trump said Hubbard was released after he made a request to Putin. “Stephen is on his way back home and will soon be with his family,” Trump posted. Hubbard’s son Joseph Coleman thanked Trump and other US officials for securing his father’s release. “Never once did we waver as we prayed for success in these negotiations, and we must acknowledge that this humanitarian move by President Putin in this matter is deeply appreciated,” he said. Other Americans still in Russian prisons Hubbard is the latest American to be freed from Russian detention. In August, Robert Gilman was released from Russian detention for humanitarian reasons amid severe concerns about his health. The Marine veteran was severely emaciated when he arrived back in the US on a specialized medical plane. The organization advocating on his behalf said Gilman had been tortured in Russian detention. But many other Americans remain imprisoned in Russia: This story has been updated.