Russia Releases Imprisoned American Man as Trump Envoy Meets With Putin

Time · MS NOW, MS NOW and BBC report that Russia freed Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired teacher from Michigan, while U. S. envoy Steve Witkoff met President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on Wednesday. Witkoff's warm words for Putin drew rebukes from fellow Republicans, underscoring how contested the administration's Russia approach has become.

Hubbard was seized in 2022 and received a 2024 sentence of almost seven years over accusations that he fought for Ukraine. President Donald Trump said the release followed a request he made directly to Putin and involved no swap. The BBC adds that CBS News said Hubbard was in poor health and due to be flown to Texas for treatment, and that Trump linked the outcome to his suspension of sanctions. Witkoff called Putin a humanitarian. Senators Thom Tillis and John Cornyn objected, and MS NOW reports Cornyn called Putin a "stone cold killer." The BBC adds that Representative Don Bacon described the remark as "another embarrassment," while Vice President JD Vance said he cared more about an American coming home.

Time · MS NOW says the Kremlin announced that Putin agreed in principle to resume trilateral talks with Ukraine and the U. S. after Nov.

Summarized by PolitiKool from Time · MS NOW, MS NOW and BBC’s reporting. Read the full story at Time · MS NOW → Also at MS NOW → Also at BBC →