# Russia frees American teacher as Trump envoy meets Putin

> Stephen Hubbard, 74, released after four years imprisoned on mercenary charges. Trump says it was secured directly from Putin and involved no swap.
- Title: Russia frees American teacher as Trump envoy meets Putin
- Summary: Stephen Hubbard, 74, released after four years imprisoned on mercenary charges. Trump says it was secured directly from Putin and involved no swap. Russia…
- Keywords: stephen hubbard, russia, ukraine, donald trump, vladimir putin, steve witkoff, prisoner release, u.s.-russia relations, mercenary charges, wrongful detention, frees, American
- Source: TIME — https://time.com/article/2026/10/21/russia-releases-imprisoned-american-stephen-hubbard-trump-putin-witkoff-deal
- Author: Olivia-Anne Cleary
- Published: 2026-10-21T11:05:51+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: stephen hubbard, russia, ukraine, donald trump, vladimir putin, steve witkoff, prisoner release, u.s.-russia relations, mercenary charges, wrongful detention
## American teacher freed after four years
Russia released Stephen Hubbard, seventy four, a retired American teacher imprisoned since April two thousand twenty two on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine.
## Putin and Trump envoy confirm release
Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed the release Wednesday during a meeting in St. Petersburg. Witkoff called Putin a humanitarian on behalf of President Trump.

> You are a humanitarian also, sir, and I salute that.
## Hubbard sentenced to nearly seven years
The Michigan man was sentenced in two thousand twenty four after Russian authorities accused him of signing a contract with Ukraine's military in Izyum after Russia's full-scale invasion in February two thousand twenty two.
## U.S. declared him wrongfully detained
The U.S. State Department under the Biden Administration declared that Hubbard, who was sentenced in a closed trial, had been wrongfully detained.
## Trump says no swap was involved
Trump said the release was secured at his request, made directly to Putin in a telephone conversation last week and was not part of a swap.The U.S.was not required to give anything in return.

> Stephen is on his way back home and will soon be with his family.
## Trump hinted at release before announcement
Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday that Hubbard's release was pending. He said everybody had been after Hubbard for a long time, long before he got here.

> I do things that nobody else can do.
## Experts warn against reading too much in
Brian Taylor, a professor of political science at Syracuse University who specializes in Russian politics, argues the release was a gesture to Trump and does not imply Putin will make larger concessions or end the…

> The release of Hubbard was a gesture to Trump, nothing more.
## Second American freed in three months
Hubbard is the second American freed by Russia in three months. Marine veteran Robert Gilman was released on August eleventh after spending more than four years imprisoned on disputed charges of assaulting a police officer.
## Last American on wrongful detention list
Hubbard was the last American on the State Department's list of wrongfully detained U.S. citizens in Russia. His release comes after Trump waived sanctions on Russia to progress a diesel deal with Putin.
## Diesel deal draws bipartisan condemnation
The Russia diesel deal has earned bipartisan condemnation, with several Republican lawmakers joining calls for Trump to reverse course.
## Putin agrees to resume peace talks
During the St.Petersburg meeting, Witkoff asked Putin to reconsider participating in peace talks with Ukraine, with the U.S.serving as intermediary.The Kremlin announced Putin agreed in principle to resume trilateral talks anytime after November tenth.
## Technical talks likely to focus on security
Putin's foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov told reporters the technical talks would likely focus on security guarantees for Ukraine and Russia once the war ends. The sit-down could take place in Abu Dhabi.
## Key takeaway

Russia released retired American teacher Stephen Hubbard after four years in prison on mercenary charges, following a Trump request to Putin during a St. Petersburg meeting with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff.