US citizen Stephen Hubbard freed by Russia Amid Putin-Witkoff Peace talks

Retired teacher detained since 2022 set to fly home as Trump claims no quid pro quo

By LineZotpaper

Published21 October 2026

Updated21 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Sources2 outlets

Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired US schoolteacher from Michigan who was held by Russia since 2022 on charges of fighting for Ukraine, has been released in what Russian President Vladimir Putin described as a goodwill gesture. Putin announced the release as he began his ninth round of talks with US envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg, focused on negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine. President Donald Trump confirmed Hubbard's release, saying he requested it in a phone call with Putin last week and that Washington gave nothing in return, though he separately announced a deal waiving sanctions on Russian diesel exports.

Stephen Hubbard, the only US citizen designated by Washington as wrongfully detained in Russia, was at St Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport on October 21 and was set to fly back to the United States with envoy Steve Witkoff, according to Putin. He had been sentenced in October 2024 to six years and 10 months in prison after a Moscow court found him guilty of serving as a mercenary for Ukraine's territorial defence forces in the Kharkiv region. Russian prosecutors said he fought under a contract worth $1,000 per month.

Hubbard's sister, Patricia Fox, has expressed doubts about the accusations, saying her brother had been sympathetic to Russia, moved to Ukraine in 2014, and was living in the city of Izyum when the war began. She pointed to a video from May 2022 in which Hubbard claimed to have seen Ukrainian forces shelling Izyum and voiced understanding for Putin's decision to invade. It remains unclear whether he was coerced.

Trump wrote on Truth Social, "Welcome home, Stephen. It's great to have you back." He said the release was unprecedented because the US gave nothing in return. However, after the latest call between Trump and Putin, the US president announced a deal to encourage Russian diesel exports and waived sanctions due under a law he had signed the previous month. Kyiv and Western allies have warned that such measures could fuel Moscow's war effort.

At least five other Americans are believed to remain in Russian detention. The case has become a prominent political issue ahead of November's US midterm elections, as efforts to end the full-scale invasion of Ukraine continue without a breakthrough.

Analysis

Why This Matters

Hubbard's release reduces the number of US citizens in Russian custody, but Moscow's pattern of holding Americans as leverage persists.
The timing, just before US midterm elections, gives President Trump a domestic political win.
The US agreement to waive sanctions on Russian diesel exports, announced alongside the release, has drawn warnings from Kyiv and Western allies that it may strengthen Russia's war effort.

Background

Stephen Hubbard, a retired schoolteacher from Michigan, was detained by Russian forces in April 2022 shortly after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. He was convicted of mercenary activity and sentenced in October 2024. His family said he had lived in Ukraine since 2014 and was sympathetic to Russia, raising questions about the charges. The case is part of a broader pattern of Americans used as bargaining chips in US-Russia relations.

Key Perspectives

US Government: President Trump said he requested Hubbard's release from Putin and secured it without concessions, calling it a goodwill gesture. Russia: President Putin framed the release as an act of goodwill as he engaged in peace negotiations with US envoy Witkoff, while offering no concessions on the terms of a Ukraine settlement. Ukraine and Western Allies: Kyiv and its supporters expressed concern that the US waiving sanctions on Russian diesel exports could help fuel Moscow's military campaign.

What to Watch

Whether Russia releases any of the other US citizens it still holds.
The impact of the diesel export deal on Russia's ability to fund the war.
Progress in the ongoing Putin-Witkoff talks toward a ceasefire or peace deal.

Sources

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 6 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedHubbard was freed by Russia amid Putin-Witkoff peace talks.RFE/RL: “Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Hubbard's release on October 21 as be began his latest round of talks -- their ninth meeting -- with US envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg, which focused on negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine.”
SupportedHubbard had been held by Russia since 2022 on charges of fighting for Ukraine.RFE/RL: “Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired US schoolteacher from Michigan who was accused of joining the Ukrainian armed forces and had been held by Russia since the beginning of Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022”
Partly supportedPutin described Hubbard's release as a goodwill gesture.RFE/RL: “has been freed in what is being framed as a goodwill gesture from the Kremlin.”
SupportedTrump said he requested Hubbard's release in a phone call with Putin last week.RFE/RL: “Trump said he had "requested" Hubbard's release during a phone call with Putin last week”
Partly supportedTrump claimed Washington gave nothing in return, or that there was no quid pro quo.RFE/RL: “Trump said he had "requested" Hubbard's release during a phone call with Putin last week and that Washington "was not required to give anything in return,"”
SupportedTrump wrote, "Welcome home, Stephen. It's great to have you back."RFE/RL: “"Welcome home, Stephen. It's great to have you back," he wrote on Truth Social.”
SupportedHubbard was the only US citizen held by Russia with Washington's wrongful-detention designation.RFE/RL: “Putin said Hubbard, the only US prisoner held by Russia with the designation by Washington as "wrongfully detained," was at St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport”
SupportedPutin said Hubbard was at Pulkovo Airport and would fly back to the United States with Witkoff.RFE/RL: “Putin said Hubbard, the only US prisoner held by Russia with the designation by Washington as "wrongfully detained," was at St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport, where he will fly back to the United States with Witkoff.”
Partly supportedA Moscow court found Hubbard guilty of serving as a mercenary for Ukraine's territorial defence forces.RFE/RL: “He was later sentenced by the Moscow City Court in October 2024 to six years and 10 months in prison on charges of being a mercenary. Russian prosecutors claimed that he had fought for Ukraine's territorial defense forces”
Partly supportedThe case became a prominent political issue ahead of the US midterm elections.RFE/RL: “The subject of US citizens being held in Russian prisons has become a prominent political issue in recent years. Hubbard's release came ahead of November's US midterm elections”
Partly supportedTrump announced a deal waiving sanctions on Russian diesel exports.RFE/RL: “Trump announced a deal to encourage Russian diesel exports and waived sanctions that were due to be imposed under a law he signed last month.”
Partly supportedAt least five other Americans are believed to remain in Russian detention.RFE/RL: “According to Eric Lebson, chief strategy officer at Global Reach, an advocacy group, who spoke with RFE/RL earlier this year, at least five Americans remain in Russian detention. Other reports put the number as high as 10.”

Correction

21 October 2026An earlier version of this story said Stephen Hubbard had flown back to the United States. He was at Pulkovo Airport and was set to fly home with Steve Witkoff, according to Putin.