Trump says Russia freed American Stephen Hubbard after his direct request to Putin and that no prisoner swap was required

U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Russia had released American citizen Stephen Hubbard after Trump personally asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to free him during a phone call last week.

“Stephen is on his way back home and will soon be with his family,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump said the United States was not required to give anything in return and that no prisoner exchange was necessary. Russia also described Hubbard’s release as a unilateral humanitarian decision rather than part of a swap.

Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired American schoolteacher, had been held by Russia since 2022 after being accused of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine. A Russian court sentenced him in 2024 to six years and 10 months in prison.

Hubbard’s family and lawyer have disputed the Russian allegations that he fought for Ukraine, and the U.S. government had formally designated him as wrongfully detained.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Hubbard’s release during talks with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg. Witkoff thanked Putin for the decision during their meeting.

Trump also criticized the Biden administration, arguing that Hubbard should have been brought home earlier and that previous negotiations with Moscow had failed.