Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Wednesday that Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old U.S. citizen from Michigan, has been released from Russian custody. The release followed a direct request from President Trump, according to Putin's announcement.
Hubbard had been detained by Russian forces in eastern Ukraine in 2022. A closed trial in 2024 resulted in a sentence of nearly seven years in prison on charges of serving as a mercenary in the Ukrainian army. The U.S. government had formally designated Hubbard as wrongfully detained during the Biden administration.
Putin revealed the release as negotiations commenced in Saint Petersburg between himself and White House envoy Steve Witkoff. The talks center on U.S. efforts to bring an end to the war in Ukraine. According to Putin, Hubbard was already at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg at the time of the announcement.
Before the discussions began, Trump stated that he had asked Putin to free Hubbard. The release occurs amid a broader shift in U.S. policy, with Trump having lifted certain sanctions on Moscow and openly criticizing Ukraine as his administration pursues a negotiated conclusion to the conflict.
The case has drawn attention to the plight of Americans detained abroad and the diplomatic mechanisms employed to secure their return. Hubbard's release marks a notable development in U.S.-Russia relations, which have been strained by the ongoing war in Ukraine.
