Russia has agreed to merchandise a 74-year-old American national who was jailed for allegedly warring connected behalf of Ukraine.
Stephen Hubbard has been taken to Pulkovo Airport, Putin said during talks with US envoy Steve Witkoff successful St Petersburg, according to authorities media.
President Trump said Hubbard was "on his mode backmost home" and "there was nary 'swap' indispensable for this release".
Hubbard, a erstwhile teacher primitively from Michigan, was sentenced to astir 7 years successful a penal colony successful 2024.
Prosecutors had accused him of serving successful a defence portion successful the eastbound metropolis of Izyum erstwhile helium was captured by Russian forces, soon aft Moscow launched its full-scale penetration of Ukraine 2 years earlier.
Writing connected societal media aft Russian authorities media reported the release, Trump said it had followed a petition helium "made directly" to Putin past week.
"There was nary "swap" indispensable for this release," Trump said.
The US State Department had antecedently classified Hubbard arsenic "wrongfully detained" and Trump had suggested connected Tuesday that his merchandise whitethorn beryllium imminent.
"Watch what happens," Trump told reporters, "we person been focused on Hubbard".
CBS News, the BBC's US media partner, reported that Hubbard had been successful mediocre wellness and was expected to beryllium flown to Texas for treatment.
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