Stephen Hubbard, 74, an American citizen, has been released from prison after US President Donald Trump asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to do so. Putin announced Hubbard’s release as conversations with White House envoy Steve Witkoff began in Saint Petersburg, with the focus on US attempts to end the conflict in Ukraine.
Hubbard, a Michigan native, was held in Russia after being taken by Russian soldiers in eastern Ukraine in 2022. In 2024, he was sentenced to nearly seven years in prison on charges of being a mercenary in the Ukrainian army.
Putin said Hubbard had already been released and was at Pulkovo Airport in Saint Petersburg when the statement was made. The revelation occurred as Washington attempted to put an end to the crisis between Russia and Ukraine.
Stephen Hubbard Released After Trump’s Appeal
Trump stated before the meetings that he had requested Putin to free Hubbard. The US government had publicly identified Hubbard as wrongfully incarcerated during former President Joe Biden’s term.
Hubbard’s case gained attention because to his incarceration in eastern Ukraine and the prison term handed after a closed trial in 2024. Russian officials condemned him to nearly seven years in prison on suspicions that he fought for Ukraine as a mercenary.
The available material does not provide any additional information about his release or when he will return to the United States. Putin’s proclamation verified Hubbard’s release from prison and his arrival at Saint Petersburg’s airport.
The publication was announced while Witkoff was in Russia to meet with Putin. His conversation with Russia’s president centred on the United States’ attempts to stop the bloodshed in Ukraine.
Trump’s appeal to Putin came before the news, linking Hubbard’s release to the two presidents’ discussions. However, the available material does not indicate whether the release was part of a larger deal between the two countries.
Stephen Hubbard’s Release Comes During Ukraine Talks
The declaration came while the Trump administration was negotiating an end to the Ukrainian war. The discussions between Putin and Witkoff were part of such attempts.
Trump has also removed certain sanctions on Moscow and openly attacked Ukraine as the US seeks a negotiated settlement. Hubbard’s release was announced in light of the broader diplomatic context.
The issue dates back to 2022, when Russian forces apprehended Hubbard in eastern Ukraine. Two years later, a closed trial resulted in a roughly seven-year prison sentence for his role as a mercenary in the Ukrainian army.
His release removes him from Russian custody, but the current information does not indicate what next measures will be taken or whether extra arrangements for his travel have been made.
For the time being, the only verified development is Hubbard’s release in response to Trump’s request of Putin. The revelation came as US and Russian diplomats discussed resolving the war in Ukraine, placing the case amid ongoing diplomatic efforts between the two countries.
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