Russia releases 73-year-old US citizen who fought alongside Ukrainian forces, Witkoff says

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russia has released 73-year-old American citizen Stefan Hubbard, who was imprisoned in Russia for fighting alongside Ukrainian forces, US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, Witkoff said he had met Hubbard's son, a church pastor, several days earlier. Hubbard's son had also thanked Putin for releasing his father.

"I would like to thank you on behalf of our president, and I thank you on behalf of the US. I do so because the Russian Federation has released Stefan Hubbard," he said.

Hubbard was sentenced by the Moscow City Court on Oct. 7, 2024, to six years and 10 months in a penal colony after being convicted of participating in hostilities alongside the Ukrainian armed forces.

According to Russian court proceedings, Hubbard pleaded guilty to the charges. His time in pretrial detention since April 2022 was credited toward his sentence.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he had asked Putin to release Hubbard.

"I spoke with President Putin about Hubbard. I spoke with him at length, and I asked him to let him go. We'll see what happens," Trump told reporters at the White House. "I would like him to come back. It's time to bring Mr. Hubbard back."