American Stephen Hubbard released by Russia, Steve Witkoff says

Key points

• Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old U.S. citizen jailed in Russia for more than four years, was released and confirmed freed by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff during a meeting with Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg.
• President Trump said Russia released Hubbard at his request without any swap, though the release came five days after his administration waived some sanctions on Russia.
• Hubbard, who is in poor health, was expected to be flown to Texas for treatment at a military hospital, while as many as 10 other Americans remain in Russian custody.

Stephen Hubbard, a U.S. citizen held in Russia for more than four years after being accused of fighting for Ukraine, has been released from custody. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed the release Wednesday during a meeting with President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg.

Russian state news agencies, citing Putin, said Hubbard was at St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport. Hubbard, a 74-year-old Michigan native, was the last American in Russia whom the State Department had formally declared wrongfully detained. As many as 10 other Americans, including dual nationals, remain in Russian custody.

What officials said

Video from the meeting showed Witkoff thanking Putin for freeing the American. "I wanted to thank you very much. The president sends his thanks. Our whole nation sends it's thanks," Witkoff said. "Because of you, he's going home to his family."

In a Truth Social post early Wednesday, President Trump said Hubbard was released at his request, made directly to Putin in a telephone conversation last week. Trump said the U.S. "was not required to give anything in return" and that no swap was necessary.

I wanted to thank you very much. The president sends his thanks. Our whole nation sends it's thanks

— Steve Witkoff

Sanctions and remaining detainees

The release came five days after Trump announced his administration would waive some sanctions on Russia just before they were due to take effect. Putin praised the decision, while members of Congress, including some Republicans, criticized it. In a later post, Trump linked the release to the easing of sanctions, saying negotiations would have halted if the sanctions had been imposed.

Hubbard, a retired school teacher who served in the U.S. National Guard and Air Force, was captured in Ukraine shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. Russian authorities accused him of manning a checkpoint for mercenaries, and he was sentenced in 2024 to almost seven years in a penal colony. His family maintained his innocence and had little contact with him while he was detained. He was expected to be flown to Texas for treatment at a military hospital.