Diplomacy
Detained American Stephen Hubbard Released by Russia as Witkoff Meets Putin
ABC News · 3 hours ago · Read the Full Story on ABC News
AI SUMMARY
President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff traveled to Russia to meet with President Vladimir Putin, securing the release of 74-year-old detained American Stephen Hubbard.
- President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff traveled to Russia on Wednesday and met with President Vladimir Putin.
- The visit resulted in the release of Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired teacher from Michigan who had been in Russian detention since 2022.
- Hubbard was taken to St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport following his release.
- Witkoff's talks in Russia also centered on several other U.S. citizens held by Moscow on charges the U.S. administration considers dubious.
- Hubbard had been living in eastern Ukraine as a civilian since around 2014, where he taught English.
- Russian authorities previously charged Hubbard with acting as a mercenary and sentenced him to nearly seven years in prison, though the U.S. State Department designated him as wrongfully detained.
- Witkoff traveled to St. Petersburg following a meeting in Oslo with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb to discuss ceasefire proposals.
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