President Trump on Wednesday said he secured the release of Stephen Hubbard, an American detained in Russia four years ago.
The president said Mr. Hubbard was on his way home after direct negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“The United States, out of respect for President Trump, was not required to give anything in return — an unprecedented situation for Russia,” Mr. Trump said on social media. “There was no ’swap’ necessary for this release. This major return should have taken place long ago through the Biden Administration, which got nowhere in its negotiations with the Kremlin.”
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Mr. Hubbard is a 74-year-old retired teacher from Michigan who was captured by Russia and accused of manning a Ukrainian military checkpoint. He had been living in Izyum, Ukraine, for years, and his family denied claims he worked on the Ukrainian army’s behalf.
He was sentenced to more than six years in prison on charges of acting as a mercenary.
His release from Russia follows Mr. Trump’s decision to lift sanctions on Russian fuel in a bid to lower diesel prices.
“If sanctions would have been placed, certainly those negotiations would have come to a complete and total halt,” Mr. Trump said.
Lawmakers in both parties are livid with Mr. Trump for lifting sanctions, saying fuel sales will help Russia’s war machine.
They said it undercut recent legislation named after the late Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina to increase pressure on Russia through sanctions.
Russia released Mr. Hubbard after White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff went to St. Petersburg for talks with Russia.
Mr. Trump is trying to end the war in Ukraine, which began in February 2022 when Russia invaded its neighbor.
Mr. Witkoff is discussing plans to end the war with Mr. Putin. He met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Norway on Tuesday.
Mr. Zelenskyy openly criticized the U.S. for easing sanctions on Russia. He also faulted a reported slowdown in satellite services offered by SpaceX’s military satellite system, Starshield, to Ukraine to aid its defense.
Mr. Hubbard is among several Americans released by Russia after the U.S. determined they were wrongfully detained.
Robert Gilman, a Marine veteran, was released in August after being accused of assaulting a police officer. Mr. Gilman’s supporters disputed the charges.
Mr. Trump said he requested Mr. Hubbard’s release in a phone call with Mr. Putin last week.
“Only President Trump and his team were capable of doing this. An American is coming back home and will be reunited with his family,” White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said on social media. “To all the critics in the liberal media and the think-tank class, you just showed yourselves to be incapable to seeing the entire chess board.”
Later Wednesday, Mr. Trump posted a photograph of Mr. Hubbard on a plane returning home with family members.
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