Kremlin Denies Prisoner Swap Link in Release of American Stephen Hubbard
The Kremlin rejects claims that the release of U.S. citizen Stephen Hubbard involved a prisoner swap for a Russian war blogger amid ongoing Ukraine talks.
POLICY WIRE — Moscow, Russia — The Kremlin officially refuted reports on Friday suggesting that the liberation of American national Stephen Hubbard was part of a prisoner exchange involving a Russian war blogger.
Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired educator from Michigan, had been held in Russian custody for over four years. He was originally detained in 2022 in Izyum, Ukraine, facing allegations of serving as a mercenary within Ukrainian armed forces.
Russian state media confirmed his release on Wednesday, which coincided with the arrival of U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff in Saint Petersburg. The timing of the release occurred as discussions began between Witkoff and the Kremlin regarding potential trade negotiations and efforts to conclude the conflict in Ukraine.
President Donald Trump informed reporters at the White House that he had personally requested Hubbard’s freedom during a recent conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump emphasized that, unlike previous prisoner releases, the United States did not provide a reciprocal concession to secure his return.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the matter of Hubbard’s detention had been a topic of discussion with the American side for some time. According to Peskov, Putin ultimately decided to grant the release as a gesture of goodwill.
Following his liberation, President Trump confirmed that Hubbard is currently in the process of returning to the United States. Putin noted that Hubbard was located at Pulkovo Airport in Saint Petersburg, where envoy Witkoff expressed his appreciation to the Russian leader for the decision.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
