Michigan Native Stephen Hubbard Returns to U.S. Following Release From Russian Prison

POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — Stephen Hubbard, a Michigan native who endured a four-year wrongful imprisonment in Russia, touched down back on American soil late Wednesday evening, according to President Donald Trump.

While speaking with reporters on his return flight from a South Carolina rally, the president noted that Hubbard had just arrived in the United States and was anticipated to make a visit to the White House within the next day or so.

Acknowledging the severity of the ordeal, the president remarked that Hubbard had clearly just emerged from prison and had spent a very long time confined overseas.

The breakthrough freeing Hubbard came to light earlier on Wednesday during discussions between U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin, concluding a captivity that lasted more than four years after allegations that Hubbard fought for Ukraine.

Prior to his departure from St. Petersburg, Hubbard spoke briefly on the phone with his son, friar Joseph Coleman, who noted that his father sounded much improved compared to their previous conversation back in May 2025.

Expressing deep familial relief, Coleman shared his desire to embrace his father personally and evaluate his health to ensure his well-being.

At 74 years old, the retired schoolteacher arrived in San Antonio, where he will undergo standard medical evaluations customary for citizens freed from foreign detention.

Hubbard was detained in Ukraine shortly after the 2022 onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion, facing accusations of operating a mercenary checkpoint that culminated in a nearly seven-year penal colony sentence, though his family consistently rejected the allegations.

President Trump stated via social media that the Russian leader agreed to the release upon his personal request without requiring a prisoner swap, while also attributing the outcome to the administration’s decision to halt new congressional sanctions against Russia last week.

Following the event, Witkoff faced bipartisan backlash after commending Putin as a humanitarian during their meeting.

Addressing the Russian president directly, the envoy saluted him as a humanitarian, drawing parallels to President Trump.

Despite the diplomatic gesture surrounding Hubbard’s freedom, military aggression persisted as Moscow unleashed overnight missile strikes targeting Kyiv and roughly half of all Ukrainian regions with 21 projectiles.

Reporting by Olivia Gazis and Jennifer Jacobs contributed to this coverage.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)