Russia released an American citizen, while envoy Steve Witkoff praised Vladimir Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the release of American citizen Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old former teacher accused of having fought as a mercenary on Ukraine’s side, following a direct request from Donald Trump.

The release was not part of a prisoner exchange, and Trump presented it as a diplomatic victory.

Hubbard was taken prisoner when Russia invaded the Ukrainian town of Izium, where he lived.

In St. Petersburg, American envoy Steve Witkoff praised Vladimir Putin’s conduct, saying he has a “humanitarian spirit”. Witkoff went to Russia to discuss a possible peace agreement for the war in Ukraine, following talks held in Oslo with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders.

The warmth of Witkoff’s remarks contrasted sharply with the increasingly hostile rhetoric directed at Volodymyr Zelenskyy by senior American officials – especially Trump, who called for the Ukrainian president’s resignation and portrayed him as the main obstacle to peace, The Guardian notes.

Despite the conciliatory tone, the negotiations remain deadlocked: Moscow is maintaining its territorial objectives, while Ukraine accuses Washington of limiting its access to intelligence and the Starshield system.