Russia Frees US Citizen Stephen Hubbard
US President Donald Trump says Russia has released 74-year-old American Stephen Hubbard, who was jailed for allegedly fighting for Ukraine, following a request Trump says he made directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Hubbard Released After Trump’s Request
Trump announced Hubbard’s release on social media, saying the American was “on his way back home”. He added that no prisoner exchange was needed to secure his freedom.
Russian state media reported that Hubbard had been taken to Pulkovo Airport in St Petersburg, where Putin was meeting US special envoy Steve Witkoff. Trump said the release followed a request he made directly to Putin the previous week.
The US State Department had previously classified Hubbard as wrongfully detained. Trump had also suggested on Tuesday that the American’s release could happen soon, telling reporters that his administration had been focused on the case.
American Jailed Over Alleged Ukraine Service
Hubbard, a former teacher originally from Michigan, was sentenced in 2024 to nearly seven years in a Russian penal colony after being accused of serving in a Ukrainian defence unit in the eastern city of Izyum.
Russian prosecutors alleged that he had fought for Ukraine before being captured by Russian forces. His detention followed Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The circumstances surrounding his release were not immediately fully detailed in the reports. However, Trump said no exchange of prisoners was required.
Health Concerns After Detention
CBS News, the BBC’s US media partner, reported that Hubbard had been in poor health and was expected to travel to Texas for medical treatment.
His release marks a significant development in a case that had drawn attention from US authorities, particularly after the State Department formally designated him as wrongfully detained.
Diesel Agreement Discussed at Putin Meeting
Hubbard’s release came as Putin held talks with Witkoff in St Petersburg, where the two sides also discussed an agreement involving Russian diesel exports.
According to Russian state media, Witkoff thanked Putin for releasing Hubbard and conveyed Trump’s appreciation for the diesel arrangement.
Putin said the first shipment under the agreement would leave Russia within two to three days. The arrangement allows Russian diesel exports amid wider economic pressures, according to the reports.
Witkoff described the agreement as an example of what could be achieved through cooperation, saying the decision to ease export controls on diesel was important during an economic shock.
US-Ukraine Relations Under Strain
The diesel agreement has added to tensions between Washington and Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticised the arrangement, while relations between the US and Ukraine have also been strained by disagreements over intelligence sharing and the direction of the war.
Trump had suspended several Russian sanctions and suggested that Ukraine should elect a new leader, prompting further concern in Kyiv.
Ukraine also accused Washington of halting intelligence sharing related to deadly Russian strikes, a claim the US rejected. Zelensky said on Tuesday that intelligence sharing had resumed following talks with Witkoff in Oslo, which US officials described as positive.
Hubbard’s release therefore comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts involving Russia, the United States and Ukraine, as the war continues and Washington explores areas of cooperation with Moscow.
