A retired US teacher, Stephen Hubbard, has been released from Russian custody after President Donald Trump personally requested his release from President Vladimir Putin.
What happened
Hubbard, a 74-year-old Michigan man, was sentenced to almost seven years in prison in 2024 for allegedly fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine. He was captured by Russian forces in 2022 after signing a contract with the Ukrainian military.
According to President Trump, he had been in communication with President Putin about Hubbard's release and had asked him to free the American teacher. Trump announced the release on his social media platform, stating that Hubbard is on his way back home to his family.
The US did not have to make any concessions in exchange for Hubbard's release, which Trump described as an unprecedented situation. The release is seen as a significant development in the ongoing tensions between the US and Russia.
