A retired American teacher from Michigan, imprisoned for years in Russia, has been released on President Donald Trump’s request.
On Tuesday, Trump was asked about the case involving teacher Stephen Hubbard, who had been accused of fighting for Ukraine. He told reporters, “stick with me.”
On Wednesday, the announcement came that Hubbard was heading toward freedom.
“Can you confirm reports that the U.S. is on the verge of a deal to free the American teacher, Stephen Hubbard, from Russia?” @POTUS: “Just stick with me… Everybody’s been after Hubbard for a long time — long before I got here — and just remember that question for a couple of days from now. You know why? Because I do things that nobody else can do.”
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 20, 2026
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for being a ‘humanitarian,’ after Moscow released Stephen Hubbard, a retired US school teacher held by Russia, as the two sides met https://t.co/daTDADfg5i https://t.co/T8sfek5tZV
— Reuters (@Reuters) October 21, 2026
Retired American teacher Stephen Hubbard has been released after being jailed in Russia for more than four years. Hubbard was accused of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine against Russia. President Trump said in social media posts that Russian President Putin agreed to release Hubbard at his request, with “no ‘swap’ necessary,” but he added that he would not have gotten his release had the White House not stopped new sanctions targeting Russia. CBS News’ @RamyInocencio reports.
— CBS News (@CBSNews) October 21, 2026
Trump said, “Stephen Hubbard, taken four years ago by Russia during the Biden Administration, was just released from prison, at the request of President Donald J. Trump, made directly to President Vladimir Putin in a telephone conversation last week.
“The United States, out of respect for President Trump, was not required to give anything in return – an unprecedented situation for Russia. There was no ‘swap’ necessary for this release,” the president said.
He suggested, the release “should have taken place long ago.”
