Witkoff announces release of ex-teacher Hubbard held in Russia; Trump cites sanctions
In short
Special envoy Witkoff announced on the 21st the release of Stephen Hubbard, a former teacher held in Russia for more than four years, Nippon TV reported. Trump said the US offered nothing in return and suggested that his 16th decision to exempt Russia from additional sanctions was part of the talks.
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Nippon TV reported that US special envoy Witkoff, who visited Russia and met President Putin, announced on the 21st the release of Stephen Hubbard, a former teacher who had been held in Russia for more than four years. Trump posted on social media that the US had not had to offer anything in return, calling it unprecedented for Russia. [ 5 ]
Trump also addressed his decision on the 16th to exempt Russia from additional sanctions. He posted that many who had called for immediate sanctions had phoned to apologise, saying they had not known about the release negotiations, and that negotiations would have stopped completely had sanctions been imposed. Nippon TV said this suggested the exemption was part of the release negotiations. A Nishi-Nippon Shimbun headline said Trump was touting the result and justifying the easing of sanctions. [ 5 , 6 ]
On the 20th, ABC television had reported that US-Russia talks on freeing several Americans held in Russia were nearing agreement. According to the report, Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Kushner were the US negotiators. Trump told reporters at the White House on the 20th that he had asked Putin to release Hubbard, saying it was "time to bring him back". [ 3 , 4 ]
The State Department has designated Hubbard as "wrongfully detained" by Russia. According to the New York Times, he was detained in April 2022 in Izyum in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, then under Russian occupation, after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In October 2024 a closed trial sentenced him to six years and 10 months in prison for fighting as a mercenary for the Ukrainian side. [ 3 , 4 ]
Nikkei, carrying a Kyodo report, added that Hubbard lived in Japan for 25 years as an English teacher and has a child with a Japanese former wife. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The release follows reports of US-Russia talks on freeing several detained Americans. Trump's remarks suggest the talks were tied to the sanctions decision, which a Nishi-Nippon headline described as a justification of eased sanctions.
Key facts
- Nippon TV reported that US envoy Witkoff, who visited Russia and met President Putin, announced on the 21st the release of Hubbard, a former teacher held in Russia for over four years. [ 5 ]
- ABC television reported on the 20th that US-Russia talks on freeing several detained Americans were nearing agreement, with Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Kushner as US negotiators. [ 3 , 4 ]
- On the 20th Trump told reporters at the White House that he had asked Putin to release Hubbard, saying it was "time to bring him back". [ 3 , 4 ]
- The State Department has designated Hubbard as "wrongfully detained" by Russia. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Trump posted on social media that the US did not have to offer anything in return and that this was unprecedented for Russia. [ 5 ]
- Trump also posted that many who had urged immediate sanctions called to apologise, and that negotiations would have stopped completely had sanctions been imposed. [ 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Nothing is confirmed by two independent outlets yet.
Still unclear
- Whether the exemption from additional sanctions on the 16th was part of the release negotiations. Nippon TV says only that Trump's posts suggested it; the documents give no further confirmation.
- Whether other Americans besides Hubbard are being or have been released. ABC reported talks on several Americans, but the documents name only Hubbard as released.
- Whether the US gave anything in return. Trump said nothing was offered; no other source in the documents addresses this.
- ABC television reported on the 20th that US-Russia negotiations to free several detained Americans were nearing agreement, with Witkoff and Kushner as US negotiators. Reported by a single source so far
- Trump said on the 20th that he had asked Putin to release Hubbard. Reported by a single source so far
- Witkoff announced Hubbard's release on the 21st. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Tokyo Shimbun, on the 21st, reported that the release of an American held in Russia might be near, following US media reports. [ 1 ]
- Nikkei, on the 21st, published the report that ABC had said on the 20th that talks were nearing agreement. [ 3 ]
- Sankei Shimbun, on the 21st, published the same report, naming Hubbard. [ 4 ]
- Nippon TV, on the 22nd, reported Witkoff's announcement of Hubbard's release and Trump's social media posts. [ 5 ]
- Nishi-Nippon Shimbun, on the 22nd, ran a headline saying Trump touted the result and justified easing sanctions. [ 6 ]