Russia frees American Stephen Hubbard as US envoy meets Putin on Ukraine talks

Summary

US special envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Wednesday for fresh talks on ending the war in Ukraine. During the meeting, Putin ordered the release of Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old former teacher who had spent more than four years in Russian jails on charges of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine, according to The Guardian and Deutsche Welle. The Guardian reports that Witkoff praised Putin as a 'humanitarian', and NBC News says the release signals warmer ties between Moscow and Washington. Channel NewsAsia reports that Trump had asked Putin to free Hubbard and described his talks with Zelenskyy as 'positive'. Deutsche Welle also reports that the Kremlin said Russia was 'in principle' ready to resume trilateral talks next month. These reports are based on headlines and summaries, so any response beyond the release is not covered here.

Timeline

1. Channel NewsAsia

   21 Oct 2026, 02:14 UTCSource ↗

   Channel NewsAsia reports that Trump described his talks with Zelenskyy as 'positive' and said he had asked Putin to release Stephen Hubbard, an American taken captive by Moscow's forces years earlier in Ukraine.

2. Deutsche Welle

   21 Oct 2026, 06:46 UTCSource ↗

   Deutsche Welle reports that after the meeting with the US envoy, Putin announced the release of Stephen Hubbard, an American taken captive by Russian forces years ago in Ukraine.

3. NBC News

   21 Oct 2026, 09:25 UTCSource ↗

   NBC News reports that retired American teacher Stephen Hubbard was released as Witkoff hailed Putin as a 'humanitarian', a signal of warmer ties between Moscow and Washington.

4. Deutsche Welle

   21 Oct 2026, 09:42 UTCSource ↗

   Deutsche Welle reports that Putin announced Hubbard's release during talks with Steve Witkoff, and that the Kremlin said Russia was 'in principle' ready to resume trilateral talks next month.

5. The Globe and Mail

   21 Oct 2026, 09:55 UTCSource ↗

   The Globe and Mail reports that Witkoff called Putin a 'humanitarian' as Russia freed the jailed American, after talks with Putin about the Ukraine war during a visit to Moscow.

6. The Guardian

   21 Oct 2026, 15:24 UTCSource ↗

   The Guardian reports that Putin ordered the release of Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old former teacher held for more than four years on mercenary charges, as he met Witkoff in St Petersburg, and that Witkoff praised Putin as a 'humanitarian'.

7. Sydney Morning Herald

   21 Oct 2026, 19:23 UTCSource ↗

   The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Russia has released a jailed US prisoner as Donald Trump's special envoy meets Vladimir Putin.