
US citizen Stephen Hubbard, who was imprisoned in Russia, is free, according to President Vladimir Putin.
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Stephen Hubbard was sentenced to prison in Moscow in October 2024 for alleged mercenary work.
US citizen Stephen Hubbard, imprisoned in Russia, is free. Russian President Vladimir Putin made the announcement during a visit by US envoy Steve Witkoff to St. Petersburg, Russian news agencies reported.
Hubbard is already at Pulkovo airport in St. Petersburg, Putin said, according to the Interfax news agency. Witkoff confirmed the information and thanked Putin for the release.
Trump spoke to Putin about release
US President Donald Trump recently asked Putin for Hubbard's release. It's time to bring Hubbard back, Trump said in Washington on Tuesday. Trump said he had spoken "at length" with Putin about the case.
Hubbard, a retired teacher, was sentenced to almost seven years in prison in Moscow in October 2024 for alleged “mercenary work” for Ukraine.
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US envoy Steve Witkoff is in St. Petersburg negotiating with Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin about the Ukraine war. At the start, Putin announces the release of US citizen Stephen Hubbard, who has been imprisoned since 2024. There were previously talks in Oslo with Zelensky.
Russian President Vladimir Putin received US special envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg to discuss an end to the war in Ukraine. The meeting was accompanied by the release of US citizen Stephen Hubbard.
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US negotiator Steve Witkoff met with Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg to discuss new proposals for a peace solution to the Ukraine war. At the start, Putin announced the release of an imprisoned American.
After more than four years in prison in Russia, US citizen Stephen Hubbard has been released. This came during talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US special envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg about the war in Ukraine.