MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the release of American national Stephen James Hubbard, who had been imprisoned in Russia on charges of fighting as a mercenary for Ukrainian forces. The decision came as US special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in St Petersburg for talks on ending the war in Ukraine.
Russian state media reported on Wednesday that Hubbard was preparing to board a flight back to the United States. Washington had maintained that the 74-year-old former teacher from Michigan was wrongfully detained.
Russian authorities arrested Hubbard in April 2022 after he was captured in Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion. A Russian court sentenced him in 2024 to six years and ten months in prison after accusing him of fighting alongside Ukrainian forces. Hubbard’s family and legal representatives disputed the allegations.
US President Donald Trump said he had personally asked Putin to release Hubbard ahead of Witkoff’s visit. Trump raised the case during remarks at the White House, expressing hope that Moscow would agree to free the American.
The release coincided with renewed diplomatic efforts to find a settlement to the conflict in Ukraine. Witkoff arrived in St Petersburg after holding discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Oslo, Norway, on Tuesday.
A US official described the Oslo discussions as constructive, saying participants had made progress on proposals involving security guarantees for Ukraine, post-war economic recovery and European security arrangements.
The talks brought together representatives from Ukraine, Norway, Finland, Europe and NATO to discuss approaches to engaging Russia.
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