Putin Says He Freed One American as Moscow Still Wants Donbas

Vladimir Putin announced the release of an imprisoned American during talks with US envoy Steve Witkoff on October 21 in St Petersburg. ^[1]

The Russian president said Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired teacher from Michigan, was waiting at St Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport to return to the United States with Witkoff. The envoy thanked Putin for his release. ^{[2] [4]}

Their meeting produced no publicly reported peace agreement. Witkoff had arrived after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Norway the previous day, seeking to advance proposals to end the war and reopen negotiations involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States. ^[3]

It was Putin and Witkoff's ninth in-person meeting, according to Reuters. That sustained access has given Washington a direct route to the Russian president, but the two countries' ability to resolve a prisoner's case does not demonstrate agreement on the territory and security questions dividing Moscow and Kyiv. ^{[1] [3]}

Witkoff described his meeting with Zelensky as productive and said there was a basis for a ceasefire, according to Russian news agencies cited by Reuters. He said he hoped Putin would consider resuming three-way talks. ^[3]

A release announced, a return awaited

Russian authorities detained Hubbard in April 2022. In October 2024, a Russian court sentenced him to six years and 10 months in prison on a charge of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine. His sister, Patricia Hubbard Fox, said the accusation that he fought for Ukraine was a lie. ^{[2] [4]}

Hubbard's family had questioned the charge, according to RFE/RL. The broadcaster also said the circumstances surrounding a video in which he appeared to support Russia's invasion were unclear. The conviction should therefore be understood as Russia's judicial finding, not independent proof of its accusation. ^[2]

US President Donald Trump said Hubbard had been released at his request after he raised the case with Putin in a telephone call the previous week. Trump said the United States had given nothing in return. ^{[2] [4]}

CNN could not immediately confirm Hubbard's location after Putin placed him at the airport. Trump subsequently said he was on his way home and would soon be reunited with his family. His arrival in the United States and the terms of any private understanding had not been independently established. ^{[2] [4]}

The release gives Washington something specific to point to after repeated high-level contact. It also leaves other cases unresolved. RFE/RL cited an advocate who said at least five Americans remained detained in Russia, while other accounts put the number as high as 10. ^[2]

For the wider negotiations, Hubbard's case shows the value of a direct channel for a discrete request. Ending the war requires decisions on who controls land, what military forces Ukraine can maintain and who will protect it after a settlement. Those demands reach well beyond a decision to release one prisoner.

The proposals came through Norway

Witkoff's trip connected two rounds of diplomacy on consecutive days: talks with Zelensky in Norway on October 20, then the meeting with Putin in St Petersburg. He said he had come to discuss the outcome of the Norway meeting and advance proposals for ending the war. ^[3]

A US official familiar with the Norway discussions said they had made meaningful progress. According to the official, the talks covered security guarantees for Ukraine, a postwar economic plan and European security. The aim in Russia was to build on that work and create a path to broader negotiations. ^[3]

Security guarantees concern how Ukraine would be protected against another war after an agreement. For Kyiv, a settlement must address its future safety as well as the fighting now. Ukraine and its allies say those guarantees are necessary and reject demands that Ukraine surrender territory. ^[3]

Russia has demanded that Ukraine give up the whole Donbas region, sharply reduce its military and pledge never to join NATO. Those positions put Moscow at odds with Kyiv over both the map and Ukraine's ability to defend itself. ^[3]

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov offered little public encouragement for a change in that position. According to Russian state media cited by CNN, he said Moscow would make no political concessions and did not expect a miracle from the meeting. ^[3]

Access has yet to become agreement

Putin also expressed interest in restoring economic cooperation with the United States. CNN reported that he raised the possibility of a meeting with China to discuss Ukraine, adding another potential diplomatic format alongside the three-way talks Witkoff sought. ^[3]

Economic relations already form part of the tension around Washington's peace efforts. The Daily Inference reported on October 10 that Washington had authorized Russian diesel transactions through April 7, 2027, while US, Ukrainian and European negotiators worked on a peace proposal. Zelensky said renewed fuel sales would give Moscow money for its war.

Washington's task is to turn its access to Putin into negotiations Ukraine can accept. The Norway meeting gave Witkoff a Ukrainian discussion to bring to St Petersburg. Moscow's stated demands, however, still conflict with the territorial and security conditions Kyiv and its allies have set. ^[3]

The next diplomatic step Witkoff sought was Russia's agreement to resume talks with Ukraine and the United States. Putin's publicly reported response offered interest in economic ties and another possible meeting format, but no agreement to that negotiating table. ^[3]