Brief
Trump claims Putin freed American detainee without asking for anything
Trump asserted that Putin released the last wrongfully detained American in Russia after a direct request, saying no prisoner swap was required.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that President Vladimir Putin released American citizen Stephen Hubbard "out of respect" and without asking for anything in return. Hubbard, a 74‑year‑old retired teacher from Michigan, had been detained by Russian forces in eastern Ukraine in April 2022 and sentenced on mercenary charges that his family and U.S. officials describe as false.
What happened
Hubbard spent more than four years in a Russian prison before being freed on 21 October 2026. Trump said the release followed a telephone conversation he had with Putin the previous week, during which he directly requested Hubbard’s freedom. The former president added that the United States was not required to provide any concession or prisoner swap.
What the reports add
The Daily Mail article notes that Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, met Putin in St Petersburg, and that the release occurred amid a broader U.S.–Russia diesel trade deal announced earlier in October. The piece also mentions that Trump had recently signed an executive order waiving new sanctions on Russia, a move criticized by some Republican senators.
What was said
"Stephen Hubbard, taken four years ago by Russia during the Biden Administration, was just released from prison," Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding that the request came "directly to President Vladimir Putin in a telephone conversation last week." The article also records Witkoff describing Putin as a "humanitarian" during their talks.
How it came about
Hubbard’s detention was part of a series of American arrests in Russia that began after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The release follows a recent U.S. decision to import 300,000 tonnes of Russian diesel, a deal highlighted in Felo’s earlier coverage of Trump’s energy negotiations with Moscow.
Key facts
- Stephen Hubbard, a 74‑year‑old American, was released from a Russian prison on 21 October 2026. (dailymail.co.uk)
- Donald Trump said the release followed a phone call he made to Vladimir Putin the week before. (dailymail.co.uk)
- Trump claimed no prisoner swap or other concession was required for Hubbard’s freedom. (dailymail.co.uk)
- Steve Witkoff, Trump’s envoy, met Putin in St Petersburg around the time of the release. (dailymail.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] dailymail.co.uk — originally reported as “Russia frees US prisoner as Trump claims Putin asked nothing in return”
