Stephen Hubbard thanks Trump for securing release from Russian prison after four years

President Donald Trump met with Stephen Hubbard in the Oval Office on Thursday, marking a reunion just over a week after the American was released from custody in Russia. Hubbard, a retired teacher from Michigan, spent more than four years in a Russian prison where he faced charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine. His legal team has consistently denied those accusations, stating that he was not involved in any military activity.

Prior to the meeting, Trump stated that he had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to secure Hubbard’s freedom. The president noted that the United States did not have to release any prisoners in exchange for Hubbard’s return. During the Oval Office gathering, Trump described Hubbard as someone he wanted to bring home.

Hubbard shared his experience of the release process with the president. He explained that he had heard many times that he would be freed but never fully trusted the information. He adopted a mindset of seeing is believing, waiting for concrete actions rather than words. Hubbard said he only began to believe he was being released when officials provided him with new clothes and guided him toward an exit.

He described the moment of confirmation to Trump, noting that he walked out to see a waiting vehicle. Hubbard was accompanied by two Russian officials during the drive from Moscow to St. Petersburg. It was during that journey that he realized he was finally leaving the country.

The White House permitted a limited group of journalists to attend the meeting. The pool consisted primarily of news photographers and a television crew. The event took place in the formal setting of the Oval Office, where the two men discussed the details of Hubbard’s return.

Hubbard’s release concludes a four-year legal battle that involved international diplomatic efforts. The meeting serves as the final public step in his return to the United States after his long detention in Russia.