Russia Frees American Stephen Hubbard, Held Since 2022, After Trump Request
Russia has freed Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old American who was held for more than four years after being captured in Ukraine, following a personal request from President Donald Trump.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the release Wednesday during a meeting in St. Petersburg with Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff. Putin told Witkoff that Hubbard was already at the city's Pulkovo airport and ready to fly home to the United States, Yahoo News UK reported.
"It's Time to Have Mr. Hubbard Back"
Trump said Hubbard was freed at his request after a phone call with Putin last week. Before the release, Trump said he had spoken with Putin about Hubbard "at length" and "asked him to release him," adding, "I'd love to get him back." "It's time to have Mr. Hubbard back," Trump said, according to Forbes.
Trump also said the United States did not give anything up to secure Hubbard's freedom. "There was no 'swap' necessary for this release," he said.
Witkoff thanked Putin during their meeting. "Because of you he is going home to his family," he said, calling the move "humanitarian."
Russia's state news agency TASS said Hubbard was released on "humanitarian grounds."
Who Is Stephen Hubbard?
Hubbard is a retired teacher from Michigan. He was living in Izyum, Ukraine, with his Ukrainian partner when Russian forces took him in April 2022, about two months after Russia invaded the country.
After a closed trial in October 2024, a Moscow court convicted him of being a mercenary and sentenced him to six years and 10 months in prison. Russian prosecutors claimed he had joined a Ukrainian territorial defense unit in exchange for $1,000 a month, and Russian state media said he pleaded guilty.
His supporters strongly dispute that. His lawyer, Martin De Luca, said Hubbard denied the charges, was never part of any military unit and was taken from his home by Russian soldiers. His sister, Patricia Hubbard Fox, has also questioned the confession, saying he held pro-Russian views and was unlikely to fight at his age. She has said the two have not spoken since September 2021.
Years in Russian Custody
Hubbard was reportedly moved through at least five detention centers before his trial and was later held in Russia's Mordovia region.
Under the Biden administration, the U.S. State Department officially designated him as wrongfully detained, and he was the only American held in Russia with that designation. The State Department has said Russia denied U.S. officials consular access to him.
His release follows a major prisoner exchange in 2024 that freed several Americans held in Russia. Hubbard was not part of that deal.
Part of Warming U.S.-Russia Ties
Hubbard's release comes as relations between Washington and Moscow have been thawing. Trump has spoken with Putin several times in recent weeks, including a call earlier this month about a possible plague case in Russia. He also lifted some sanctions on Russia on Oct. 9, a move that angered Ukraine.
Witkoff traveled to St. Petersburg after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Oslo, Norway, on Tuesday for talks focused on a possible ceasefire.
Witkoff called those talks productive and said there is a basis for a ceasefire. He has said he hopes Russia will consider returning to three-way talks with Ukraine.
Other Americans Still Held
Hubbard's release may not be the last. U.S. officials have been working on a deal to free several Americans held in Russia, ABC News reported. It was not immediately clear whether anyone else would be released.
The Foley Foundation, which advocates for Americans held abroad, lists at least five other Americans it considers wrongfully or unlawfully detained in Russia.
Curious for more stories that keep you informed and entertained? From the latest headlines to everyday insights, YourLifeBuzz has more to explore. Dive into what’s next.