Russia don release 74-year-old American citizen Stephen Hubbard, wey dem jail for allegation say e fight for Ukraine. Di release happen as President Vladimir Putin meet US envoy Steve Witkoff for St Petersburg early Wednesday. Putin talk say dem don carry Hubbard go Pulkovo Airport. Later, President Donald Trump talk say di former teacher dey ‘on his way back home’ and say ‘there was no swap necessary.’
Witkoff call Putin a ‘humanitarian’ after di release. Dem sentence Hubbard to almost seven years inside penal colony in 2024. Dem accuse am say e serve for defence unit inside eastern Ukraine when dem capture am for 2022, shortly after Russia full-scale invasion. CBS News, wey be BBC US media partner, report say Hubbard health no good and dem expect make dem fly am go Texas for treatment.
Witkoff praise Putin for di release: ‘You talk so much about my president, President Trump, being a humanitarian – you are a humanitarian also sir, and I salute that. I commend you.’ Di comment cause backlash from lawmakers inside Republican Party. Representative Don Bacon post for social media say na ‘another embarrassment.’ Senator John Cornyn talk say Putin na ‘stone cold killer.’
When BBC ask Vice-President JD Vance about di backlash, e talk say Witkoff work na to go over there and get job done. ‘I care much less about what Steve said than about the fact that he is bringing an American hostage home to his family,’ Vance talk for press conference inside Ohio on Wednesday. Before now, detained Americans mostly dey leave Russia through prisoner swaps.
Later, people see Hubbard dey thank Witkoff when dem meet separately. Putin financial adviser Kirill Dmitriev also dey there. After Russian state media report di release, Trump write for social media say di release follow request wey e ‘made directly’ to Putin last week. Trump later tell reporters: ‘I was talking to Vladimir Putin about settling his war with Ukraine. I mentioned, could you let Steven Hubbard out, please? And, he agreed to do it.’
Trump call Hubbard ‘a very high quality, innocent man.’ E talk say Hubbard family dey travel with am as e dey return to US. ‘They didn’t think he’d come out for 20, 25 years. So we appreciate that fact that we were able to get them,’ Trump talk. E add say e speak with Hubbard Wednesday morning and say ‘he is the happiest man around.’
