Russia Frees Last Wrongfully Detained American At Trump's Request
Stephen Hubbard, an American who is accused of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine forces when he was captured in 2022, has been freed in a Trump-Putin deal while US envoy Steve Witkoff is in St. Petersburg. Hubbard is at the Pulkovo Airport and will safely exit the country, the Russian president said.
ABC reported in the run-up, "the talks have centered on freeing Stephen Hubbard, a 72-year-old retired teacher who is the only American held in Russia officially designated as wrongfully detained by the State Department, as well as several other U.S. citizens held by Moscow on what the administration said it believes are dubious charges."
President Trump had initially on Monday referenced that he was "trying to get a hostage that the country has been after for a long time" - which appeared to refer to Hubbard. "Let's see what happens," Trump said. "That'll be soon."
The release of Hubbard - a Michigan native - was hailed by Witkoff, who addressed Putin saying, "You talk so much about my president, President Trump, being a humanitarian. You are a humanitarian also, sir."
Witkoff to Putin after the release of American Stephen Hubbard: "The first thing I wanna tell you is thank you." "The president sends his thanks, our whole nation sends their thanks." "Because of you, he's going home to his family." https://t.co/GTuMIxgbZ7
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) October 21, 2026
Trump celebrated the development on Truth Social, writing: "Stephen is on his way back home and will soon be with his family. The United States, out of respect for President Trump, was not required to give anything in return — an unprecedented situation for Russia."
It seems this is a Kremlin 'thank you' to Trump for doing the diesel deal, and for at the last minute waiving the sweeping Graham sanctions package, which outraged hawks and Democrats in Congress.
Trump issued at least two Truth Social posts connected with Hubbard's release, lambasting the prior Biden administration for not accomplishing it earlier.
NBC reports, "Trump said that he had directly asked Putin in a phone call last week to release Hubbard, who was being held on charges he denies of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine. He was the last American designated as wrongfully detained in Russia by the State Department."
On Tuesday, Witkoff and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met in Oslo as part of efforts to find an end to the Ukraine war. In a closing presser for the talks, Zelensky said the latest working proposal features security guarantees for Ukraine modelled on NATO's Article 5, which is the collective defense clause.
Wednesday saw Witkoff in St. Petersburg updating President Putin on the current status of negotiations. Some pundits believe the world could be closer than ever before to seeing some kind of significant Ukraine peace deal emerge. TASS subsequently described direct Witkoff-Putin dialogue as "productive".
Interviewer: Would you accept a peace deal that freezes everything the way it is right now, where you still keep 75 percent or more of your country? Regardless of how it started, would you accept where it is right now? Zelensky: Yes. https://t.co/g0kEHey9p7
— Clash Report (@clashreport) October 21, 2026
Meanwhile an overjoyed Hubbard family has thanked "President Trump and his team for opening the dialog with Russia which led to this joyful day. Our family can attest that there are wonderful blessings to be found along the hard road to peace."