Russia Frees American Stephen Hubbard After Trump Appeals to Putin

Stephen Hubbard's detention began in Ukraine in 2022. NYT Politics described him as a Michigan teacher seized from his home months after Russia invaded the country.

Hubbard, now 74, spent four years in detention. His case became the focus of negotiations between Washington and Moscow, according to ABC News.

On October 20, ABC News reported that the Trump administration was closing in on a deal to secure the release of multiple Americans detained in Russia. The report cited two U.S. officials and another source familiar with the matter.

That day, President Trump said he had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to release Hubbard. He suggested a resolution could come within days, The Hill reported.

On October 21, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff met with Putin. After the meeting, Putin announced Hubbard's release, according to Deutsche Welle.

Russian state news agencies reported that Hubbard had been freed, NBC News reported. Witkoff also confirmed the release, according to CBS Top Stories.

Hubbard's release has been reported by both Russian state media and Witkoff. DIE ZEIT reported that he was expected to return to the United States with Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, but the supplied coverage does not confirm his arrival.

The broader negotiations remain less clear. The earlier ABC News report described a potential deal involving multiple Americans, while the subsequent reports confirm Hubbard's release without establishing whether others have also been freed.

The immediate next step is confirmation of Hubbard's return to the United States. Also pending is whether the wider talks reported by ABC News produce additional releases, and what terms, if any, accompanied Hubbard's freedom.