Russia frees jailed American teacher Stephen Hubbard, 74, and Trump insists Putin asked for nothing in return
Stephen Hubbard, whose lawyer says he had no involvement with Ukraine's military, was seized in Izyum in 2022 and jailed on mercenary charges before Vladimir Putin freed him unilaterally.Stephen Hubbard was reportedly in poor health when freed, with Texas understood to be his destination for medical treatment after the retired Michigan teacher spent almost four years in Russian custody on mercenary…
President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff hailed Vladimir Putin as 'a humanitarian' at their St Petersburg meeting, where Putin said Hubbard had been taken to Pulkovo Airport. The retired Michigan teacher was seized in Izyum, Ukraine, in 2022 and jailed for almost seven years on mercenary charges. He was reportedly in poor health, with Texas understood to be his destination for medical treatment.
Trump said imposing sanctions would have brought the talks to 'a complete and total halt'.
Witkoff also thanked Putin for supplying diesel under a deal that has angered Ukraine's allies.
Hubbard's lawyer, Martin De Luca, says he never had any involvement with Ukraine's military.
