On October 21, 2026, Donald Trump announced the release of American Stephen Hubbard, who had been convicted in Russia for mercenary activities. According to Trump, this release occurred without any exchange, marking a unique situation for the Kremlin.
Circumstances of Hubbard's Release
Trump noted that he personally reached out to Russian President Vladimir Putin with a request to release Hubbard during a phone call that took place last week. He emphasized that Hubbard had been captured during the administration of Joe Biden and that his release should have happened long ago.
Trump's Reaction to the Release
Trump described the situation as "unprecedented" for Russia, stating that the U.S. should not have had to give anything in return for Hubbard's release. He believes that this significant return was made possible through his personal efforts.
- Hubbard was released without any exchange.
- Trump requested Putin to release him.
- The release occurred after a phone conversation between Trump and Putin.
Context of U.S.-Russia Negotiations
Trump also pointed out that the Biden administration had failed to achieve success in negotiations with the Kremlin, leading to delays in Hubbard's release. He believes that this release should have occurred earlier and that his administration could have achieved this result more quickly.