Russia releases US prisoner Stephen Hubbard after more than four years

Russia has released Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old American who had been imprisoned for more than four years, after Donald Trump said he had asked Vladimir Putin for his freedom. Trump said no exchange or concession was required and attributed Putin’s decision to respect for him, while criticising the previous US administration. Hubbard’s release is significant as he was the last American the State Department considered wrongfully detained in Russia.

Hubbard, a retired teacher from Michigan, was seized in eastern Ukraine in April 2022 and sentenced to nearly seven years on mercenary charges that his family and US officials said were false. He was released as Trump envoy Steve Witkoff met Putin in St Petersburg. Trump also said talks could have stalled without his recent easing of sanctions, complicating his claim that Russia asked for nothing; the sanctions move is part of efforts to lower fuel prices amid disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.