Hubbard Freed as Witkoff and Putin Meet in St. Petersburg

Key points

• Hubbard, 74, was imprisoned since 2022 on charges advocates call bogus.
• He is the second American freed by Russia in roughly two months, following Marine veteran Robert Gilman in August.
• Witkoff praised Putin as a 'humanitarian' for the release and sought renewed trilateral peace talks.
• Putin proposed a potential meeting with President Trump in China in mid-November.
• Five other Americans remain jailed in Russia, some with serious illnesses.
• Global Reach, an advocacy group, praised the release but demanded the others be freed too.

Background

Hubbard was the last American designated as wrongfully detained, though advocates argue the label should apply to others. His release follows the August release of Robert Gilman, a gravely ill Marine veteran imprisoned on disputed assault charges. The Witkoff-Putin meeting comes amid tensions between Washington and Kyiv, including disputes over US intelligence sharing and Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy targets.

Why it matters

The release signals a potential diplomatic thaw between the US and Russia, with Witkoff securing preliminary agreement for November peace talks. However, the continued detention of other Americans and recent arrests of foreigners by the FSB highlight ongoing tensions and the limits of the current détente.

What to watch

Witkoff will push for resumed trilateral peace talks on the Ukraine war, potentially in Abu Dhabi next month. Putin has proposed a meeting with President Trump in China in mid-November. Advocacy groups will continue pressing for the release of the five remaining Americans held in Russia.