US citizen Stephen Hubbard freed by Russia as Trump envoy meets Putin
Russia has released 74-year-old American Stephen Hubbard, who was imprisoned for allegedly fighting for Ukraine, following a meeting between a US envoy and Vladimir Putin. The release has sparked political controversy in the US over the envoy's praise of Putin.
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Illustrates the complex intersection of international diplomacy, prisoner releases, and domestic political polarization in the US.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Maia Davies US envoy calls Putin "humanitarian" for freeing American, BBC asks Vance for reaction. Russia has released a 74-year-old American citizen who was jailed for allegedly fighting on behalf of Ukraine, as President Vladimir Putin met US envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg for talks.
Stephen Hubbard had been taken to the city's Pulkovo Airport, Putin said during the meeting early on Wednesday.
President Donald Trump later said the former teacher was "on his way back home" and "there was no 'swap' necessary". Following the release, Witkoff called Putin a "humanitarian".
Hubbard, who was sentenced to almost seven years in a penal colony in 2024, was accused of serving in a defence unit in eastern Ukraine when he was captured in 2022, shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion.
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