President Trump hinted Tuesday at a possible breakthrough in the case of Stephen Hubbard, the American teacher held in Russia.
Mr. Trump, during a press briefing in the Oval Office, said he has personally urged Russian President Vladimir Putin for Mr. Hubbard’s release and that “nobody else” had been able to get it done.
Although the president did not confirm a deal, he signaled something may be afoot.
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When asked if he could confirm if the U.S. is on the verge of a deal to free Mr. Hubbard, Mr. Trump responded, “I’ve been talking to President Putin about Mr. Hubbard.”
He said, “I’ve been talking to him at length. I’ve asked him to release him. Let’s see what happens.”
The president said, “Just stick with me. Nobody else was able to do it. Because I do things that nobody else can do. I hate to say it. So, watch what happens. I’d love to get him back. It’s time to have Mr. Hubbard back.”
A Russian court in October 2024 sentenced Mr. Hubbard, then 72, in a closed trial to nearly seven years in prison for allegedly fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine.
Russian prosecutors said Mr. Hubbard signed a contract with the Ukrainian military after Russia sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022, and he fought for Ukraine until he was captured two months later.
He was sentenced to six years and 10 months in a general-security prison.
Mr. Hubbard, a Michigan native, is the first American known to have been convicted on charges of fighting as a mercenary in the Ukrainian conflict.
Mr. Hubbard was sentenced in Russia around the same time as American Robert Gilman.
Mr. Gilman was sentenced to seven years and one month by a Russian court for allegedly assaulting law enforcement officers while serving a sentence for another assault.
Russia released Mr. Gilman to American custody in August.
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