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Former prisoner Ihor Shishko blasted US envoy Steve Witkoff's flattery of Putin as a humanitarian as "shameful and despicable."

The Trump administration praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “humanitarian” for releasing a detained US citizen. Steve Witkoff complimented Putin in Russia as he secured the release of Stephen Hubbard, an American teacher convicted there four years ago of fighting for Ukraine. Bloomberg's Anthony Halpin reports. (Source: Bloomberg)

Russian President Vladimir Putin this week released American Stephen Hubbard.

Retired American teacher Stephen Hubbard has been released from a Russian jail after over four years of detention. His son, Joseph Coleman, spoke to CBS News about the good news. CBS News' Natalie Brand has more.

Russia freed an American imprisoned for the last four years. Stephen Hubbard was captured in Eastern Ukraine and convicted of fighting against Russia. The 74-year-old retired teacher was reportedly freed without a swap. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff greeted Hubbard in St. Petersburg. He also met with the Russian president and praised Putin in unusually glowing terms. Nick Schifrin reports.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday offered a qualified defense of White House special envoy Steve Witkoff's description of Russian President Vladimir Putin as a "humanitarian," saying the characterization could apply to Putin's decision to release Stephen Hubbard.

American Stephen Hubbard released by Russia after four years of wrongful detention; special envoy Steve Witkoff meets with Putin in Moscow.

Stephen Hubbard’s release is welcome, but it doesn’t change Russia’s hostility to U.S. interests.

U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff announced the release while meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg.

American citizen Stephen Hubbard was on his way home to after being freed during a meeting between U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Vladimir Putin.

Russia unilaterally frees Stephen Hubbard after US request while Steve Witkoff praises Putin as a ‘humanitarian’ Europe live – latest updates US politics live – latest updates Vladimir Putin ordered the release of an American from a Russian jail as he met Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg on Wednesday for fresh talks on ending the war in Ukraine, amid increasingly close relations between Moscow and Washington. Trump had previously asked Putin to free 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 . Continue reading...

The move buys good will with President Trump while costing the President Vladimir V. Putin — who is wanted for war crimes — little.

Trump said he personally requested the 74-year-old prisoner's release during a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week.

Russia released Stephen Hubbard, a U.S. citizen allegedly fighting on behalf of Ukraine, captured in the opening phase of its invasion of Ukraine, President Donald Trump announced. Trump said he made the request to release Hubbard, 74, last week in a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Hubbard had been sentenced to nearly seven […]

White House envoy Steve Witkoff on Wednesday asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to allow the resumption of trilateral peace talks between Russia, Ukraine and the U.S. in order to reach an end to the war. Why it matters: The White House hopes Putin will show more willingness to compromise after President Trump agreed to lift sanctions on Russian diesel sales and took other steps welcomed by Moscow. Driving the news: Witkoff presented Putin with an updated proposal to end the war in Ukraine during a meeting in St. Petersburg. Before the meeting, Russia released U.S. citizen Stephen Hubbard, 74, who had spent more than four years in captivity after being seized by Russian troops in eastern Ukraine in April 2022. Putin announced his release at the top of the meeting with Witkoff. "He is at Pulkovo Airport," Putin told Witkoff in front of the cameras. "Stephen is on his way back home and will soon be with his family. The United States, out of respect for President Trump, was not required to give anything in return - an unprecedented situation for Russia. There was no 'swap' necessary for this release," Trump wrote on Truth Social. State of play: Witkoff arrived in Russia after a day of talks in Oslo , Norway, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as the leaders of Norway and Finland and representatives from France, the U.K., Germany, Poland, the EU and NATO. Zelensky said Tuesday that the next step should be a trilateral meeting between him, Putin and Trump — a format Russia has so far rejected. The discussions in Oslo focused on developing a unified proposal for a "framework agreement" to end the war. What he is saying: "I believe the talks [in Oslo] were productive, and I would like to say that there is progress, and I will update you on this. I hope that we have truly laid the groundwork for a successful end to hostilities in this Ukrainian-Russian conflict," Witkoff told Putin. Witkoff asked Putin to "consider resuming trilateral talks involving Ukraine, Russia, and the United States, where we could discuss the next steps toward achieving a settlement." Witkoff said the talks could include representatives of technical groups of specialists who could discuss these issues in detail. "We have brought several documents outlining approaches to achieving a peaceful settlement in the Ukrainian-Russian conflict. I would ask you, Mr. President, to review these documents a little later," Witkoff said. The intrigue : Putin also told Witkoff he wants to discuss possible Russian mediation between the U.S. and Iran. "You know that we have a special, trusting relationship with Iran, with our partners in Iran, our friends, built over decades, and if there's anything we can do to resolve this crisis, we'll be happy to do so. You're also well aware of our proposals in this area," Putin said. What's next: Putin told Witkoff he wants to discuss a possible meeting with Trump in China in mid-November.

Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired school teacher, had spent more than four years in prison on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine.

U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin after the release of American Stephen Hubbard. Hubbard is a 74-year-old retired school teacher who was detained in Ukraine in 2022 and charged with fighting as a mercenary, which he denies.

Witkoff thanked Putin for releasing the 74-year-old American teacher who had been imprisoned in Russia since 2022.

Russia on Wednesday released a retired American teacher who had been imprisoned on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said Wednesday at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg.

Russian President Vladimir Putin says he has freed an American, Stephen Hubbard, from a Russian prison following a request from President Trump.

Russia on Wednesday released a retired American teacher who had been imprisoned on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said Wednesday at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg. The release of Stephen Hubbard had ...

American Stephen Hubbard has been released from Russian custody after Trump urged Putin to free the retired teacher imprisoned on Ukraine mercenary charges.

American Stephen Hubbard was released by Russia on Wednesday, state news agencies reported, the latest sign of warmer ties with the Kremlin as Washington pressures Kyiv to agree to a deal that ends Moscow’s war.