Russia has freed a retired U.S. teacher who was locked up on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine, according to U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff.
The Michigan man, Stephen Hubbard, had been sentenced in 2024 to almost seven years imprisonment.
Prosecutors said he had signed a contract with the Ukrainian military after Russia sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022, and that he fought alongside them until being captured two months later.
“I’ve been talking to President Putin about Mr. Hubbard. I’ve been talking to him at length. I’ve asked him to release him,” President Donald Trump had said on Tuesday. “Let’s see what happens.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report
This is a breaking news story and will be updated