Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Wednesday that Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old US citizen, had been released from custody and was at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg. The announcement came during a meeting with US envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg, where Witkoff thanked Putin for the gesture.
Hubbard, a retired schoolteacher from Michigan, had been held in Russian custody since April 2022 after being arrested in Izyum, eastern Ukraine. Russian prosecutors accused him of serving as a mercenary for Ukraine, alleging he manned a Ukrainian military checkpoint. He was sentenced in 2024 to nearly seven years in a penal colony following a closed trial. Hubbard’s US-based lawyer, Martin De Luca, previously stated that Hubbard denied the charges and claimed he was not part of any combat unit.
The US government had designated Hubbard as "wrongfully detained" under the Biden administration. Witkoff confirmed Hubbard’s release during the meeting, stating, "Because of you, he's going home to his family." Hubbard, who is in poor health, was expected to be flown to Texas for medical treatment at a military hospital.
Diplomatic Context and Policy Shifts
The release occurred amid ongoing talks between US and Russian officials focused on efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Witkoff’s visit to St. Petersburg marked the ninth time he had met with Putin in person. During the meeting, Putin also referenced a recent US-Russia diesel fuel import deal, which he said would begin shipping within two to three days. The agreement has drawn criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has accused Washington of undermining Kyiv’s position in the conflict.
US-Russia Relations and Hubbard’s Case
US President Donald Trump had publicly pressed Putin to release Hubbard, stating on Tuesday that he had raised the case directly with the Russian leader. Trump’s involvement followed earlier reports that his administration had waived sanctions on Russia as part of a broader effort to secure Hubbard’s freedom. The move has strained relations between the US and Ukraine, with Zelensky criticizing Washington’s approach to the war.
Hubbard’s release comes as the US continues to explore diplomatic avenues to end the conflict, now in its fifth year. Witkoff’s discussions with Putin also included efforts to encourage both sides to engage in further negotiations. Hubbard was the only US prisoner held by Russia who had been formally designated as wrongfully detained at the time of his release.
Background and Legal Proceedings
Hubbard, a former US National Guard and Air Force member, was captured shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russian authorities alleged he had signed a contract with the Ukrainian military and fought alongside Ukrainian forces until his capture two months later. His family had previously stated that he was not involved in combat operations.
The case has drawn international attention, with human rights organizations and US officials advocating for Hubbard’s release. His return to the US marks a rare instance of cooperation between Washington and Moscow amid heightened tensions over the war in Ukraine.