Trump says Russia sanctions would have halted talks to free Stephen Hubbard as Putin releases the 74-year-old American
Stephen Hubbard, the Michigan teacher whom Vladimir Putin freed unilaterally — not in a prisoner swap — after being jailed in Russia for nearly seven years as a mercenary.Steve Witkoff with Putin's envoy Kirill Dmitriev in St Petersburg. Vladimir Putin revealed during their talks that Stephen Hubbard was already at Pulkovo Airport awaiting his flight home.
Donald Trump insisted Moscow demanded nothing in return, writing on Truth Social that there was 'no swap necessary'. He claimed critics who urged sanctions have since called to apologise. Envoy Steve Witkoff thanked Vladimir Putin at the Constantine Palace in St Petersburg. Hubbard, a retired Michigan teacher held since April 2022, is expected to be flown to Texas for medical treatment.
Trump faced Republican criticism for waiving Russian energy sanctions and buying Russian diesel.
Trump took a dig at his predecessor: 'Biden should have done the Hubbard release long ago!'
His sister Patricia Hubbard Fox says Russia's mercenary allegation against him was false.
