NewzRussia has released Stephen Hubbard, an American retired schoolteacher who spent more than four years imprisoned after being arrested following the Russian invasion of Ukraine on charges of fighting as a mercenary. The release was ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin and completed during a visit to Russia by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff.
The development occurred concurrently with actions by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Russia. President Trump defended his decision to waive certain Russian sanctions, stating that enforcing them would have halted the negotiations with Putin that ultimately secured Hubbard's release. Meanwhile, envoy Steve Witkoff praised Putin as a 'humanitarian' during the discussions.
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