Stephen Hubbard released by Russia amid diplomatic talks
American Stephen Hubbard was released by Russia on Wednesday, state news agencies reported, the latest sign of warmer ties with the Kremlin as Washington pressures Kyiv to agree to a deal that ends Moscow’s war, reports BritPanorama.
The news of Hubbard’s release followed talks between U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and President Vladimir Putin early Wednesday. Putin stated that Hubbard, 74, was at Pulkovo Airport near St. Petersburg, as reported by the TASS state news agency. The United States has not yet confirmed this information.
Washington has sought to cultivate relations with the Kremlin for weeks. The release of Hubbard—a retired schoolteacher detained in Ukraine in 2022—will provide President Donald Trump a victory to highlight amid criticism for his perceived shift in stance regarding Ukraine.
Trump mentioned on Tuesday that he had discussed with Putin the potential release of Hubbard, who faced charges in Russia that he denies regarding his involvement as a mercenary in Ukraine.
The meeting in St. Petersburg, which Jared Kushner was expected to join virtually, follows American negotiators’ discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders in Oslo.
Ukraine has presented new proposals during those talks, according to a U.S. official, highlighting “meaningful progress” in the ongoing peace dialogue encouraged by the Trump administration.
Diplomatic efforts have struggled to gain traction in recent months, leading to rising concerns both domestically and internationally regarding the U.S. commitment to Ukrainian defense against Russian aggression.
Trump renewed pressure on Ukraine, stating that the U.S. had given substantial assistance without receiving much in return. “We want Zelenskyy to make a deal,” he told reporters, expressing frustration about the situation.
Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov indicated that discussions regarding Ukraine would be central to the talks between Putin and Witkoff at the Constantine Palace. Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev was also expected to participate.
The goal of the meeting was to build upon the discussions in Oslo, navigate the proposals with Russia, and formulate a plan for direct negotiations, according to the U.S. official. Zelenskyy deemed a possible trilateral meeting of leaders “one of the important ideas” emerging from those Oslo discussions, which also featured leaders from Norway and Finland.
However, Putin has maintained that any meeting with Zelenskyy would only transpire once a deal is agreed upon and would take place in Moscow—a condition unacceptable to Ukrainian officials. The Kremlin has not shown signs of budging from its firm demands, which involve the seizure of Ukraine’s entire eastern Donbas region.
Earlier this month, Trump signed a diesel fuel deal with Russia and waived new sanctions, while Ukrainian officials stated they received no advance warning about multiple significant Russian attacks. Restrictions on Elon Musk’s Starshield satellite service continue to hinder Ukraine’s aerial defenses and conduction of battlefield operations.
After discussions with Witkoff on Tuesday, Zelenskyy noted to reporters that the recent security cooperation concerns with the U.S. had been resolved, expressing gratitude for improved early warning intelligence systems essential for civilian safety.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterized the Oslo talks as “positive” but remarked that “nothing unexpected” emerged. He indicated that Witkoff would take the proposals to St. Petersburg and engage with the Russian side to assess potential progress.
As Russian attacks persist, at least nine civilians were reported killed across Ukraine on Wednesday due to increased strikes on energy infrastructure ahead of winter. Meanwhile, authorities in Russia’s border Bryansk region noted that a Ukrainian strike resulted in one death.
