Russia Releases American Convicted of Fighting in Ukraine
Meeting of Putin and Whitlock | American Hubbard freed | Inside 5 morning podcast Today in the episode: 00:16 Trump's special envoy Whitlock met with Putin in St. Petersburg.
Consensus
- Steven Hubbard, a U.S. citizen, was convicted in Russia for participating in hostilities in Ukraine as a mercenary.
- Hubbard was sentenced to six years and ten months in prison by the Moscow City Court in October 2024.
- President Vladimir Putin announced Hubbard's release during a meeting with U.S. special envoy Steve Wittkoff in Saint Petersburg on October 21, 2024.
- Hubbard is located at Pulkovo Airport in Saint Petersburg.
- U.S. special envoy Steve Wittkoff thanked Putin for the release.
- The decision was made on humanitarian grounds, according to Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
- President Donald Trump previously requested Putin to release Hubbard.
Points of divergence
- Hubbard is 72 years old. — tg_varlamov_news
- Hubbard is located in Saint Petersburg airport. — tg_bbcrussian
- Hubbard was detained by Russian forces in Ukraine in 2022. — tg_dwglavnoe
- Hubbard was subjected to constant beatings in Russian prison. — tg_dwglavnoe
- Hubbard is a retired English teacher who lived in Izium since 2014. — tg_dwglavnoe
- Hubbard admitted guilt at trial but later claimed he never served in any military unit. — tg_dwglavnoe
- U.S. authorities under President Biden accused Russia of denying consular assistance to Hubbard. — tg_dwglavnoe
- The U.S. side had raised the issue of Hubbard's release for some time. — interfax
- Trump requested the release during a phone call. — interfax
- Hubbard was sentenced in April 2022. — rimao
- The U.S. administration was close to a deal with Moscow on the release of several Americans, with negotiations led by Witkoff and Jared Kushner. — vedomosti
Coverage (20 sources)
- Meeting of Putin and Whitlock | American Hubbard Freed | Morning Podcast INSIDE 5 — The Insider
- Portrait of the Day: Stephen Hubbard — 73-year-old American whom Russia freed as a 'gesture of goodwill' — ЭХО / Новости
- «I agree that he said good about a person who freed an American hostage». Vance supported Whitcuff, who called Putin a 'humanist' — Meduza
- Lawyer of freed Hubbard told about his conversation with son — Вести
- Putin met with Wittkoff in St. Petersburg: • Wittkoff thanked Putin for the release of 72-year-old American Steven H... — Varlamov News
- Whitkopf and Dmitriev met with freed by Russia American Hubbard — Вечерняя Москва
- Whitkopf and Dmitriev met with freed American Hubbard. — РИА Новости (Telegram)
- Russia freed convicted American Hubbard — РИАМО
- Liberation of Steven Hubbard. Main. Before meeting with Witkoff, Putin released the American serving a sentence for participation in Ukrainian special defense — Meduza
- Putin met with Wittkoff in St. Petersburg: • Wittkoff thanked Putin for the release of 72-year-old American Steven H... — Varlamov News
- Putin at meeting with Whitcomb in St. Petersburg declared on release of American Steven Hubbard, Trump's special envoy thanked him for this... — ASTRA
- Putin announced the release of an American sentenced for participation in combat operations in Ukraine At a meeting with special envoy... — BBC News Русская служба
- Peskov: Putin made a decision to release Hubbard for humanitarian reasons — Ведомости
- Whitcroft thanked Putin for freeing American Steven Hubbard. Russian President stated that Hubbard is in Pulkovo Airport. — РИА Новости (Telegram)
- Putin met with Wittkoff in St. Petersburg: • Wittkoff thanked Putin for the release of 72-year-old American Steven H... — Varlamov News
- Peskov explained the decision to release Steven Hubbard on humanitarian grounds — Интерфакс
- Putin freed 73-year-old American at Trump's request — DW Главное
- President of Russia Vladimir Putin at meeting with special envoy of the President of the USA Steve Witkoff announced about release... — Радио Свобода
- Peskov: Putin freed Hubbard on humanitarian grounds — Вести
- Putin met with Whitcomb in St. Petersburg: — Varlamov News
Key entities
More on Stephen Hubbard
- Putin Releases Hubbard, Denies Exchange for Rybar Creator
- Witkoff calls Putin 'humanist' after prisoner release
- Russia Offers to Resume Ukraine Talks in Nov
More on Putin
- Photo - © Telegram channel of President of Ukraine Volodymyr…
- India's ambassador spoke about Modi's preparation for a visit to…
- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will visit Moscow on Tuesday