President Donald Trump has hailed the release of US teacher Stephen Hubbard following a direct appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to reporting from The Guardian. Hubbard, a 74-year-old native of Michigan who had been living in Ukraine, is on his way back home to his family.
According to statements posted on Truth Social by Trump, the United States was not required to give anything in return for Hubbard’s freedom, describing it as an unprecedented situation for Russia where no prisoner swap was necessary. Trump claimed the release resulted from a direct request made during a telephone call with Putin last week.
Details Surrounding Stephen Hubbard’s Case
Hubbard grew up in Michigan and was living with his Ukrainian wife in the eastern Ukrainian city of Izyum when Russian forces briefly took over the city at the start of the war in 2022. He was subsequently arrested and, in 2024, sentenced by a Russian court to nearly seven years in prison after being accused of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine. Hubbard consistently denied involvement with any combat or military unit, maintaining that he was simply taken from his house by Russian troops.
US envoy Steve Witkoff announced the release in St Petersburg during a meeting with Vladimir Putin concerning Ukraine. Trump had previously flagged the impending release, noting that he spoke with Putin regarding the elderly teacher and stating that it was time to bring him back.
Midterms, Rallies, and Energy Policy Updates
The prisoner release comes as the United States enters the final fortnight ahead of the mid-term elections. Trump recently attended a campaign rally in North Carolina and scheduled an additional rally in South Carolina, while dismissing unfavorable polling numbers.
In addition to foreign developments, Trump addressed domestic infrastructure policy, focusing on energy-intensive data centers. The president suggested that companies constructing large technology and data facilities should provide a dividend or community benefits to local residents. Furthermore, Trump stated that these centers are mandated to generate their own electricity and supply or sell any excess power back to local grids and communities.
Source: Trump hails Russia’s release of US teacher amid Witkoff’s visit – politics live (source-feed timestamp 2026-10-21T10:49:20+00:00). AI-assisted report based on the cited linked article and its RSS feed; details were not independently verified.
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