US envoy meets Putin in Russia as freed American teacher returns home

UPDATE - follow-up to Russia frees US citizen Stephen Hubbard, state media reports: Russian President Vladimir Putin has released 74-year-old American citizen Stephen Hubbard without any prisoner swap required, coinciding with talks in St Petersburg between Putin and US special envoy Steve Witkoff.

The Release

Hubbard, a former teacher from Michigan, was taken to Pulkovo Airport after being jailed in 2024 for nearly seven years for allegedly fighting for Ukraine in Izyum. US President Donald Trump stated that Hubbard is on his way back home following a direct request made to Putin last week, while CBS News reported that Hubbard is in poor health and expected to fly to Texas for medical treatment.

Diplomatic Talks

During their meeting at Constantine Palace, Witkoff thanked Putin for the release and for a deal allowing Russian diesel exports to resume, which Putin noted will send its first shipment in two to three days. Russian state media reported that Witkoff and Putin also discussed the outcome of recent talks in Oslo, Iran, economic cooperation, and potential fertiliser supply.

Context

This release unfolds against a complex backdrop of US-Russia-Ukraine relations involving recent diplomatic friction over diesel deals and intelligence sharing. Envoy visits and high-level talks regularly serve as key channels for managing prisoner releases and discussing wider geopolitical settlements between Washington and Moscow.