Politics
Russia releases US citizen Stephen Hubbard after Putin-Witkoff talks
October 21, 2026 at 10:26 AM
Coverage
3 reports · 1 in Arabic, 2 in English
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced the release of US citizen Stephen Hubbard during talks with US envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg.
- Putin announced the release of US citizen Stephen Hubbard, who was brought to Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg.
- US envoy Steve Witkoff thanked Putin for the release during their talks at Konstantinovsky Palace.
- Hubbard, a retired English teacher from Michigan, was sentenced to nearly seven years in 2024 for allegedly fighting for Ukraine.
- Putin began talks with Witkoff on ending the war in Ukraine, one day after Witkoff met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.


