Washington, Oct 2026 : US President Donald Trump has claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to release American citizen Stephen Hubbard following a personal telephone request, describing the development as a diplomatic achievement amid continuing tensions between Washington and Moscow over the Russia-Ukraine war.
Speaking at a Republican campaign rally in Fort Myers, Florida, Trump said Hubbard had returned to the United States after spending years in Russian custody and had reunited with his family.
Trump claimed that he raised Hubbard’s case directly with Putin during a telephone conversation on Friday and received an assurance that the American citizen would be released.
“I called Vladimir Putin on Friday and I said, will you do me a favour? Give me the person you have named Stephen Hubbard, give him back to me, would you, please?” Trump told supporters.
According to the US President, Putin agreed to his request. “And he said, I will do that,” Trump said, adding that Hubbard had subsequently returned to the United States.
“And he gave him back to us. And he just arrived in our country and it’s great, it’s great. His family is very happy,” Trump said.
However, Trump did not provide further details about the circumstances of Hubbard’s release, including the arrangements involved, the precise date of his return or whether any concessions were made as part of the process. He also did not identify the US officials or diplomatic channels that may have helped facilitate the development.
Trump Criticises Biden Administration Over Detention
Trump presented Hubbard’s reported return as an example of how direct engagement with foreign leaders could help resolve sensitive diplomatic issues. He also criticised the previous administration of former President Joe Biden, arguing that the American citizen should have been brought home much earlier.
“It was under Biden that they took him, he should have gotten him back that night, the night they took him,” Trump said.
The President also spoke about Hubbard’s son, saying that he had made a strong impression on him during efforts to secure his father’s freedom.
“I saw Stephen Hubbard’s son; he made a great impression. He really wanted to get his father; he was in Russia for years,” Trump said.
His remarks highlighted the prolonged uncertainty faced by families of Americans detained overseas and the diplomatic challenges involved in securing their release.
Trump did not explain whether Hubbard’s case had been discussed through formal negotiations before his telephone conversation with Putin or whether other diplomatic efforts had contributed to the reported outcome.
US-Russia Relations Amid Ukraine War
The announcement comes amid continuing tensions between the United States and Russia over the war in Ukraine, which has remained a major challenge for international diplomacy and European security.
During the Florida rally, Trump also discussed his efforts to bring the Russia-Ukraine conflict to an end, expressing hope that the fighting could soon stop.
“We’re close to ending, I hope, the Russia-Ukraine catastrophe. I hope we’re ending that,” he told supporters.
Trump further referred to the human cost of the conflict, claiming that an average of 25,000 soldiers were being killed every month. He did not provide supporting details for the figure during his remarks.
The US President did not indicate whether Hubbard’s reported release was connected to broader discussions involving Russia and Ukraine. No details were provided suggesting that the development formed part of a wider prisoner exchange or a formal agreement related to the conflict.
Detention of Americans Remains a Diplomatic Concern
The detention of American citizens in Russia has repeatedly strained relations between Washington and Moscow. Previous cases have involved diplomatic negotiations and prisoner exchanges to secure the return of detained individuals.
Such cases often require discussions over legal proceedings, detention conditions and arrangements for the transfer of prisoners across international borders.
If confirmed, Hubbard’s return would mark a humanitarian development in US-Russia relations, even as the two countries remain divided over the war in Ukraine and other geopolitical issues.
Trump’s account of the episode underscored his stated preference for direct communication with foreign leaders to resolve bilateral disputes. However, further information about the circumstances of Hubbard’s release, the role of diplomatic intermediaries and any associated arrangements was not disclosed in his public remarks.
The development also places renewed attention on the broader issue of Americans detained abroad and the role of high-level diplomatic engagement in securing their release.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
