ST. PETERSBURG, October 21. /TASS/. US Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for the release of American citizen Stephen Hubbard, who was convicted in Russia.

Below are key facts about the situation

Release

- During his meeting with Putin, Witkoff thanked him for releasing Hubbard.

- The Russian leader replied that the US citizen was already at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg.

Trump’s request

- Earlier US President Donald Trump has said he had asked his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to release Hubbard.

- Barak Ravid, a correspondent for Axios and Israel’s Channel 12, said, citing sources, that Hubbard’s release was part of a broader proposal discussed in Oslo by Witkoff, Vladimir Zelensky and European officials, which could form the basis for renewed negotiations with Russia.

Hubbard’s case

- Hubbard was convicted in Russia for taking part in combat operations alongside Ukrainian forces.

- The Moscow City Court sentenced him to six years and ten months in a general-regime penal colony in 2024.

- He confessed to the charges.

- The time he spent in custody starting in 2022 was credited toward his prison term.