ST. PETERSBURG, October 21. /TASS/. US Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for the release of American citizen Stephen Hubbard, who was convicted in Russia.
Below are key facts about the situation
- During his meeting with Putin, Witkoff thanked him for releasing Hubbard.
- The Russian leader replied that the US citizen was already at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg.
Trump’s request
- Earlier US President Donald Trump has said he had asked his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to release Hubbard.
- Barak Ravid, a correspondent for Axios and Israel’s Channel 12, said, citing sources, that Hubbard’s release was part of a broader proposal discussed in Oslo by Witkoff, Vladimir Zelensky and European officials, which could form the basis for renewed negotiations with Russia.
Hubbard’s case
- Hubbard was convicted in Russia for taking part in combat operations alongside Ukrainian forces.
- The Moscow City Court sentenced him to six years and ten months in a general-regime penal colony in 2024.
- He confessed to the charges.
- The time he spent in custody starting in 2022 was credited toward his prison term.