Russia frees US teacher after Trump eases sanctions

Stephen Hubbard, 74, has already been taken to Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg, Russian President Vladimir Putin told U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff. Russia freed an American teacher Stephen Hubbard four years after he was convicted of fighting for Ukraine (Moscow City Court Press Service) (Tribune News Service) — Russia freed an American teacher four years after he was convicted of fighting for Ukraine following a decision by President Donald Trump to ease sanctions on the country. Stephen Hubbard, 74, has already been taken to Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg, Russian President Vladimir Putin told U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff on Wednesday during a meeting in the city. Trump said the U.S. had not been required to give anything in return for Hubbard’s release, but in a subsequent post, confirmed the sanctions relief came amid talks for Hubbard’s release.

“If sanctions would have been placed, certainly those negotiations would have come to a complete and total halt,” he wrote. That revelation was an extraordinary admission given past presidents’ reluctance to make such a massive concession for hostage releases. Their fear was that doing so would only encourage Russia to seize more Americans. The State Department had labeled Hubbard “wrongfully detained” in 2025, indicating that the U.S. believes his arrest and trial were illegitimate. He was sentenced to more than six years in