President Trump confirmed on Wednesday that Russia has released Stephen Hubbard, an American teacher who had been imprisoned in Russia since 2024 on charges of working as a mercenary in Ukraine. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, "Stephen is on his way back home and will soon be with his family."
The president emphasized that the release came without any reciprocal concession, stating, "The United States, out of respect for President Trump, was not required to give anything in return – an unprecedented situation for Russia. There was no 'swap' necessary for this release." He also criticized the Biden administration for failing to secure Hubbard's release, saying, "This major return should have taken place long ago through the Biden Administration, which got nowhere in its negotiations with the Kremlin."
The announcement comes amid a series of moves by the Trump administration that have drawn bipartisan criticism for appearing to favor Moscow. These include a recent deal to import Russian diesel and a waiver of sanctions that Congress had imposed on Russia. Trump defended his approach, claiming that "numerous people" who had urged him to sanction Russia "have called to apologize to President Trump in that they didn't know that he was negotiating the release of Stephen Hubbard, a truly big and important deal for the U.S." He added, "If sanctions would have been placed, certainly those negotiations would have come to a complete and total halt."
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff first announced Hubbard's release during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday. Witkoff thanked Putin for Hubbard's release, telling him that "because of you, he's going home to his family," according to The Associated Press. Putin confirmed that Hubbard was at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg after being released.
Trump had hinted at the development on Tuesday, telling reporters he had spoken with Putin and requested Hubbard's release. Hubbard, a Michigan native, was serving a seven-year sentence after Russian prosecutors alleged he had signed a contract with Ukraine's military following Russia's invasion and fought alongside Ukrainian troops before his arrest two months into the war. The Biden administration had designated Hubbard as wrongfully detained.
Trump again took aim at his predecessor, writing on Truth Social, "Biden should have done the Hubbard release a long time ago! What a difference a president makes!"
Hubbard is the second American detained in Russia to be freed in just over two months, a development that comes as critics accuse the Trump administration of making concessions to a declining Russia while straining ties with Ukraine in its nearly five-year war against Putin's forces.
The administration's recent actions, including the diesel import deal and the sanctions waiver, have sparked backlash from both parties. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the diesel deal a "birthday gift" to Putin and urged Washington not to make a "historic mistake" by offering support to Moscow. Trump has responded sharply, calling Zelensky "not a good guy for us to deal with."
Some Republican senators have also voiced concerns about Trump's approach, particularly his plan for a trilateral summit with Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The release of Hubbard, while welcomed, is likely to intensify the debate over the administration's Russia policy as the midterm elections approach.
