Trump Signals Progress After Putin Call Secures Hubbard’s Release, Says, ‘Closest To Ukraine Peace'

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US President Donald Trump said Russia and Ukraine may be closer than ever to a peace deal after Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to release American prisoner Stephen Hubbard following a personal appeal. Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired teacher from Michigan, had been detained in Russia since 2022 and sentenced to nearly seven years in prison in 2024. Trump said Hubbard’s release required no prisoner exchange, while the Kremlin cited humanitarian considerations. The development comes as US special envoy Steve Witkoff holds talks with Putin in St. Petersburg on Ukraine and economic cooperation.
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