Freed American Describes Russian Prison Release to Trump
Hubbard, a retired Michigan teacher and U.S. military veteran, told Trump in the Oval Office that he did not believe he would survive another year in Russian custody. Russia had imprisoned him on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine, which he denied. His legal team has said he took no part in military activity.
He said he had repeatedly been told he would be freed but had stopped trusting those assurances. Hubbard said he began to believe only after prison staff gave him new clothes, led him outside and put him in a vehicle. He then traveled from Moscow toward St. Petersburg with Russian escorts.
Hubbard was released on October 21. Trump said he had urged Russia’s leader to let him go and that Washington owed no reciprocal release. Trump described Hubbard as someone he wanted brought home and welcomed him back at the White House.
Hubbard’s son attended the meeting and said he had feared his father would die in Russia. He said Hubbard was now eating more protein to rebuild his strength. The release was viewed by some in the international community as a Russian effort to steer Trump toward Putin’s wartime outlook, while also giving Trump a diplomatic success ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
Hubbard’s Release Gives Trump a Diplomatic Win as Russia Presses Its Advantage
Stephen Hubbard’s release from Russian custody gave Donald Trump a diplomatic success just days before the November 3 midterm elections, while raising concern that Moscow may be using the case to pull the president closer to its position on Ukraine. Hubbard met Trump at the White House on October 30 after more than four years behind bars.
Russia had convicted the retired Michigan teacher of serving as a paid fighter in Ukraine. Hubbard denied the accusation, and his legal team said he had not taken part in military activity. He told Trump he had stopped believing promises of release and only trusted the process when prison staff gave him new clothes and escorted him to a waiting vehicle.
Trump said he had appealed to Russia’s leader to let Hubbard go, adding that Washington owed no reciprocal release. The release on October 21 is a visible win for Trump, but the stakes extend beyond one American’s return: some in the international community viewed it as a Russian maneuver to move Trump toward Putin’s position on the war.
Hubbard told Trump he believed he would not have survived another year in custody. His son said he had feared Hubbard would die in Russia and that his father was working to regain strength. Trump welcomed Hubbard back during the Oval Office meeting.
Trump Brings American Home From Russian Prison Without a U.S. Swap
Donald Trump secured the return of Stephen Hubbard from a Russian prison without requiring the United States to release anyone in exchange, according to the president’s account. Hubbard met Trump at the White House on October 30, nine days after his release, and described the moment he finally believed he was going free.
Hubbard, a retired Michigan teacher and veteran, had spent more than four years in custody over Russian allegations of fighting for pay in Ukraine. He denied the accusation, and his legal team said he was not involved in military activity. He told Trump he had heard promises of release before but trusted them only after receiving new clothes and being taken to a waiting vehicle.
Trump said he had appealed to Russia’s leader to let Hubbard go and called him someone he wanted to get back. The case shows the value of direct presidential diplomacy: Hubbard is home, and Trump said no American concession was needed to secure his freedom.
Some in the international community saw the release as an attempt by Russia to draw Trump closer to Putin’s stance on the war. Hubbard, meanwhile, said he feared he would not have lasted another year in custody. His son said he had worried his father would die in Russia and was now eating more protein to regain strength.
Reported by New York Post, ABC7 Los Angeles, The Guardian US, WSVN 7News.
