Russia releases U.S. citizen amid Witkoff’s diplomatic contacts

The released man was identified as Stephen Hubbard by La Repubblica and India Today. Forbes Business described Hubbard as a 74-year-old American teacher who had been imprisoned in Russia since 2022.

Clarín and La Repubblica reported that Hubbard had been accused of acting as a mercenary for Ukraine in the conflict there. La Repubblica further reported that the American citizen had received a six-year sentence over the mercenary-related accusation.

Witkoff’s meeting with Putin and the release were reported against the backdrop of U.S.-Russia discussions concerning efforts to end the war in Ukraine. The Financial Times, Forbes Business and other outlets linked the envoy’s visit to the diplomatic contacts surrounding the release.

India Today reported that Donald Trump had asked Putin to free the jailed American. That account is not independently supported by another supplied source, so the request remains attributed to India Today.

The Trump administration praised the release, according to The Japan Times, while Clarín reported that Trump defended Witkoff after the envoy praised Putin as a humanitarian in connection with the case.

The available material confirms the release but does not establish its precise location or the terms attached to it. It also does not establish that Hubbard’s release formed part of a formal prisoner exchange; the sources use differing descriptions of his status, including prisoner, hostage and person accused or reportedly sentenced for mercenary activity.