Russia releases American veteran Stephen Hubbard as Putin meets Trump envoy in St Petersburg

Russia released Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old American citizen who had been imprisoned for allegedly fighting for Ukraine in its defence units. The release occurred as President Vladimir Putin met with Steve Witkoff, an envoy representing the United States, in St Petersburg on Wednesday. According to Putin, Hubbard was taken to the city's Pulkovo Airport.

Hubbard, a former teacher, had been sentenced in 2024 to nearly seven years in a Russian penal colony. He was captured in 2022, shortly after Russia launched its full-scale military invasion of Ukraine. Reports indicated that Hubbard's health had deteriorated during his imprisonment, and he was expected to travel to Texas for medical treatment, according to CBS News.

President Donald Trump confirmed that Hubbard was returning home and stated that no prisoner swap had been necessary. However, following the release, Witkoff made remarks that generated considerable controversy. He told Putin: "You talk so much about my president, President Trump, being a humanitarian - you are a humanitarian also sir, and I salute that. I commend you."

These comments provoked sharp criticism from Republican lawmakers. Representative Don Bacon described the remarks as "another embarrassment," while Senator John Cornyn characterised Putin as "a stone cold killer." In response, Vice-President JD Vance defended Witkoff, arguing that his primary responsibility was to secure Hubbard's release and that this objective outweighed the significance of the statements made. Historically, Americans detained by Russia have typically been released through formal prisoner exchange agreements between the two countries.