Former President Donald Trump announced via his Truth Social platform that American teacher Stephen Hubbard has been released by Russia and is returning to the United States. In his statement, Trump credited the release to a direct telephone conversation he held with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week.

According to Trump, the Russian government released Hubbard without requiring a reciprocal prisoner swap or any concessions from the United States. Trump characterized this as an "unprecedented situation" for Russia, noting that he had requested the release as a personal favor. The former president expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating, "Welcome home Stephen, it’s great to have you back," and emphasized that Hubbard would soon be reunited with his family.

While the former president’s account frames the event as a diplomatic success achieved through his personal intervention, the report does not include confirmation from the current U.S. administration or Russian officials regarding the specific terms or the nature of the negotiations. The Guardian’s coverage notes the timing of the announcement coincided with a visit from Steve Witkoff, a real estate investor and close associate of Trump. The report highlights that Trump believes this return should have occurred much sooner, though it does not provide further context on the circumstances of Hubbard’s initial detention or the specific legal status of his case in Russia.