U.S. envoy wins detainee release as Trump team bargains with Putin amid the war
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American envoy Steve Witkoff secured the release of 74-year-old Stephen Hubbard while meeting President Vladimir Putin, as the Trump administration continues to chase a settlement that critics say does not stop Russia’s assault on Ukraine.
Russia released Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired American teacher who had been detained in Ukraine since 2022, during a meeting between U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg. In remarks broadcast by Russian state media, Putin confirmed Hubbard’s presence at the airport, and Witkoff effusively praised the Russian leader for the release, saying, "> You talk so much about my president, President Trump, being a humanitarian. You are a humanitarian also, sir."
President Donald Trump said he had appealed to Putin for Hubbard’s freedom, noting that the detainee had been designated as “wrongfully detained” by the State Department. The release is being promoted as a diplomatic win for the Trump administration, even as it faces deep criticism for its handling of the conflict in Ukraine and its willingness to treat Kremlin goodwill as progress.
The meeting followed a series of negotiations involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, European leaders in Oslo and a virtual participation by Jared Kushner. A U.S. official said the Oslo talks produced “meaningful progress” as the administration intensifies its push for a peace deal. Zelenskyy later expressed gratitude for restored intelligence sharing, stating, "> We are thankful that intelligence works now — I am speaking about early warning systems, which are very important for our people, for our children and civilians."
Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the Oslo discussions as “positive” but noted no unexpected outcomes, adding that Witkoff would bring the ideas to the Russian side. Meanwhile, Russian forces continued attacks across Ukraine, killing at least nine civilians and striking energy infrastructure ahead of winter.