Russia releases jailed American Stephen Hubbard
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the release of US citizen Stephen Hubbard during talks with US special envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg. The meeting came a day after Witkoff met Ukraine's president in Norway.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday in St. Petersburg that American Stephen Hubbard will be freed. He made the announcement during talks with Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy who is involved in efforts to reach a peace deal over Russia's war against Ukraine.
Hubbard had been captured by Russian forces and accused of being a mercenary. In 2024, a closed trial sentenced him to seven years in prison.
Talks ahead of the meeting
A day earlier, Witkoff met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other European leaders in Oslo, the Norwegian capital. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the meeting as positive. He said Witkoff could now take those ideas to St. Petersburg, present them to the Russian side and see whether progress is possible.
The Oslo meeting has reportedly brought fresh momentum to peace efforts, which continue more than four years after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Zelenskyy stayed in Oslo on Wednesday and met members of the Norwegian parliament.
What comes next
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said Witkoff intends to return to Oslo for further consultations after his trip to St. Petersburg. He told Norway's public broadcaster NRK that the talks may have entered a phase in which Russia is also looking for diplomatic opportunities.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, meanwhile, said Moscow was willing to listen but did not expect a "miracle." US President Donald Trump reiterated on Tuesday that he wants Zelenskyy to make a deal.
