Witkoff thanks Putin for releasing American
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The gist
US envoy Steve Witkoff thanked Putin in St. Petersburg as Russia released American Stephen Hubbard, 74.
The release came without a swap; talks also covered a Ukraine ceasefire plan.
Background
Stephen Hubbard is a 74-year-old retired teacher from Michigan who had been living in eastern Ukraine as a civilian since around 2014, teaching English, according to his family. A Russian court sentenced him in 2024 over what the State Department called fabricated charges that he was a Ukrainian mercenary, and the US designated him wrongfully detained. Steve Witkoff is President Donald Trump's special envoy; he met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, where the release was announced. The visit also covered a proposed US plan to end the war in Ukraine and a US purchase of Russian diesel.
How it unfolded
- 2022Hubbard, a retired teacher from Michigan, was detained in eastern Ukraine by the Kremlin.
- 2024A Russian court sentenced Hubbard for allegedly fighting for Ukraine; the State Department said he had been wrongfully detained since then.
- Oct 21, 2026Witkoff landed in St. Petersburg for a planned meeting with Putin.
- Oct 21, 2026At the meeting, Putin said Hubbard was at Pulkovo Airport and Witkoff thanked him; Putin said the release was for humanitarian reasons.
- Oct 21, 2026Hubbard was expected to be flown to San Antonio, Texas, for treatment at a military hospital, his sister said.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Witkoff thanked Putin and called him a humanitarian, saying "because of you he is going home to his family."
- Support
- Hubbard's son John Coleman said the family never wavered in prayer and called Putin's move deeply appreciated; his sister thanked Trump for bringing Hubbard home.
- Caution
- Trump said no swap was needed and that the US gave nothing in return, an outcome he called unprecedented for Russia.
Still unverified
It was not immediately clear what the US had agreed to, if anything, to secure Hubbard's release. Putin's figures that world diesel prices have fallen 5-6% since the announcement of the Russian-American agreement have not been confirmed in published independent price statistics.