Trump thanks Putin for release of jailed American Hubbard, says Ukraine peace is closer
In short
US President Donald Trump said on 20 October that he had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to release Steve Hubbard, an American jailed in Russia on charges of fighting for Ukraine. On 21 October, Korean outlets reported, Trump thanked Putin for the release and said an end to the Ukraine war was closer than ever. Two Republican senators criticised envoy Steve Witkoff for calling Putin a "humanitarian" during a meeting in St Petersburg.
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US President Donald Trump said on 20 October (US time) that he had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to release Steve Hubbard, an American detained in Russia on charges of working as a mercenary for Ukraine. Yonhap, citing the New York Times, quoted Trump at the White House as saying he had spoken with Putin about Hubbard, had asked for his release and that it was now time to bring him home. [ 1 , 2 ]
Yonhap said Hubbard is 74, is from Michigan and had lived since 2014 in Izium in Ukraine's Kharkiv region. It said he was arrested and charged after the 2022 outbreak of the war on allegations that he served under contract with Ukrainian forces, and that a Moscow court sentenced him to 6 years and 10 months in prison. Newsis also gave his age as 74 in its text, though a photo caption gave 76. The United States has said the charges were fabricated and that he is wrongfully detained. [ 1 , 2 ]
Newsis, citing the NYT and ABC, said the State Department has designated Hubbard as the only American in Russia officially considered wrongfully detained, and that Washington was also exploring the release of several other jailed Americans. ABC, quoting US officials, said the outlines of an agreement were emerging but it was not final. Yonhap said Putin had not commented publicly, and Newsis said Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told reporters he knew of Hubbard but had nothing to report. [ 1 , 2 ]
On 21 October (US time), Yonhap, Seoul Shinmun and Kukmin Ilbo reported that Trump thanked Putin for the release of an American held in Russia and said an end to the Ukraine war was closer than ever. Seoul Shinmun quoted Trump as saying he was discussing a resolution with Putin and that it was perhaps the closest point yet. It said Trump added that the US had given nothing in return and that Hubbard's family was delighted. Seoul Shinmun said the remarks came as Putin was pushing for a US-China-Russia summit next month without Ukraine. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Seoul Shinmun said Witkoff, meeting Putin in St Petersburg, told him: "You are also a humanitarian." Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina wrote on X that the remark was embarrassing and absurd, and Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas wrote that Putin is a cold-blooded killer. Asked about it, Trump said Witkoff might have said it with the aim of freeing someone he thought would get a life sentence, and that he did not want to say more either way. [ 4 ]
Yonhap, citing the NYT, said Trump's request came as the US was pressing Ukraine to join an energy ceasefire, and that Trump had suspended sanctions on Russia, drawing criticism from Democrats and some Republicans. The NYT, Yonhap said, read the request as an effort to quiet that opposition with a diplomatic result. Newsis likewise described the move as an effort to ease backlash ahead of the midterms. [ 1 , 2 ]
Why it matters
Yonhap and Newsis, citing the New York Times, link Trump's request to criticism of his Russia policy, including a suspension of sanctions, ahead of the midterm elections. Trump said talks with Putin on ending the Ukraine war were advancing, but the documents give no terms of any settlement.
Key facts
- On 20 October (US time) Trump said at the White House that he had asked Putin to release Steve Hubbard, an American held in Russia. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Hubbard was sentenced by a Moscow court to 6 years and 10 months in prison for taking part in hostilities on Ukraine's side; the US says the charges were fabricated. [ 1 , 2 ]
- On 21 October (US time) Trump said he was grateful to Putin for the release of Hubbard and said the Ukraine war was closer to ending than ever. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Trump said the US gave nothing in return for Hubbard's release, calling it highly unusual. [ 4 ]
- Witkoff, meeting Putin in St Petersburg, told him: "You are also a humanitarian", drawing criticism from Republican Senators Thom Tillis and John Cornyn. [ 4 ]
- Seoul Shinmun reported that Putin is pushing for a US-China-Russia summit next month that would exclude Ukraine. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Trump said he asked Putin to release Hubbard, who was jailed in Russia for alleged mercenary activity for Ukraine. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Hubbard received a sentence of 6 years and 10 months, and the US holds that the charges against him were fabricated. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Trump thanked Putin on 21 October for the release of the American and said an end to the Ukraine war was closer than ever. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- Whether other jailed Americans will also be freed. Newsis, citing ABC, said the US was also exploring the release of several other detained Americans; Seoul Shinmun mentions only Hubbard.
- Hubbard's age. Yonhap and the Newsis text say he is 74; the Newsis photo caption says 76.
- What Russia has said about the release. Before the release, Yonhap said Putin had not commented publicly and Newsis said Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told reporters he knew of Hubbard but had nothing to report; the later documents give no Russian statement.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Yonhap reports that Trump on 20 October asked Putin to release Hubbard. [ 1 ]
- Newsis reports the request and analysts' view that it may be an effort to ease backlash over Trump's Russia stance. [ 2 ]
- On 22 October Yonhap reports Trump's 21 October remarks that an end to the Ukraine war is closer than ever and his thanks to Putin. [ 3 ]
- Seoul Shinmun reports Trump's remarks and the criticism of Witkoff's "humanitarian" comment. [ 4 ]