# Russia has released American citizen Stephen Hubbard, a retired teacher who had been imprisoned for more than four years on accusations of fighting for Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the release during talks with US envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg. The 74-year-old Hubbard was sentenced to almost seven years in prison after a closed trial in 2024. The United States had designated him as wrongfully detained. Witkoff thanked Putin for the release, but it remains unclear whether any agreement or concessions were involved.
Russia frees US citizen Stephen Hubbard after more than four years in detention