Russia frees US citizen Stephen Hubbard, state media reports
Ninoda.com – Russia frees US citizen Stephen Hubbard, according to Russian state media, after President Vladimir Putin said the 74-year-old American had been taken to Pulkovo Airport following talks with US envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg. Hubbard, a former teacher from Michigan, had been serving a prison sentence in Russia after being accused of fighting on Ukraine’s behalf.
The reported release places Hubbard’s case at the centre of a wider and sensitive period in relations between Washington and Moscow. The US State Department had previously classified him as wrongfully detained, while President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he had raised Hubbard’s situation with Putin.
“Watch what happens,” Trump told reporters. “We have been focused on Hubbard.”
Russia frees US citizen Stephen Hubbard after prison sentence
Stephen Hubbard was sentenced in 2024 to almost seven years in a Russian penal colony. Prosecutors alleged that he had joined a defence unit in Izyum, an eastern Ukrainian city, before Russian forces captured him shortly after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Russian authorities treated the allegations as a criminal case, while US officials had argued that Hubbard was being wrongfully detained. His reported departure from Russian custody has therefore been closely watched by officials and by those following cases involving Americans held abroad.
CBS News, the BBC’s US media partner, reported that Hubbard had been in poor health and was expected to travel to Texas for treatment. The White House was contacted for comment on the reported release.
Putin and Witkoff discuss Hubbard and Russia-US relations
Russia frees US citizen Stephen Hubbard amid talks that also covered a recent agreement with Washington involving Russian diesel exports. State news agency TASS quoted Putin as saying that the first shipment under that arrangement would leave Russia within “two to three days”.
Witkoff reportedly thanked Putin for Hubbard’s release and, on Trump’s behalf, for the agreement with Washington. Russian television footage from the St Petersburg meeting showed Witkoff describing the move on diesel export controls as significant during a period of economic disruption.
“Your decision to remove export controls on diesel oil from Russia, not just to the US but also to the world at large in the midst of an economic shock, I think that was really important that that happened,” Witkoff said. “I know [President Trump] is deeply grateful for it.”
The diesel agreement has angered Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and added to strains between Kyiv and Washington. The discussion around Hubbard’s case therefore unfolded alongside wider disagreements over the war in Ukraine, energy supplies and the terms of engagement with Russia.
Why Stephen Hubbard’s release matters
The report that Russia frees US citizen Stephen Hubbard is significant because it concerns an American previously designated by the United States as wrongfully detained. Such cases often involve lengthy diplomatic engagement, particularly when they arise during periods of major geopolitical tension.
For Hubbard’s family and supporters, the immediate concern is likely to be his health and return to the United States. For US and Russian officials, the development may also be viewed as part of a broader attempt to manage highly contentious issues through direct contact.
FAQ: Stephen Hubbard’s reported release
Who is Stephen Hubbard?
Stephen Hubbard is a 74-year-old American citizen and former teacher from Michigan. He was imprisoned in Russia after prosecutors accused him of serving in a Ukrainian defence unit in Izyum.
Why was Hubbard in Russian custody?
He was captured by Russian forces after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began and was later convicted in Russia. The United States had classified his detention as wrongful.
Where was Hubbard reportedly taken?
Putin said Hubbard had been taken to Pulkovo Airport. Reports also said he was expected to be flown to Texas for medical treatment because of concerns about his health.
Has the United States confirmed the release?
Russian state media reported the release, while the White House was contacted for comment. Further official information may clarify Hubbard’s travel plans and medical care.