Trump Claims Putin Released American Citizen Stephen Hubbard After His Appeal

Washington, October 24 (Daily Kiran) : Former President Donald Trump announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to release American citizen Stephen Hubbard after a direct appeal from him. Speaking at a Republican rally in Fort Myers, Florida, Trump described the release as a significant diplomatic achievement.

Trump revealed that he spoke with Putin on Friday, urging him to return Hubbard, who had been held in Russian custody for several years. He recounted, “I called Vladimir Putin and said, can you do me a favor? The person you have, Stephen Hubbard, please give him back to me.”

According to Trump, Putin complied with the request promptly, leading to Hubbard’s release. He stated that Hubbard has now returned to the United States, where his family is overjoyed to reunite with him. “They gave him back to us. He just arrived in our country, and that’s wonderful. His family is very happy,” Trump said.

However, Trump did not disclose the conditions under which Hubbard was released, whether any concessions were made to Russia, or the role of other diplomatic channels in the process. He also did not specify the date of Hubbard’s return or which U.S. officials assisted in coordinating it.

The former president highlighted this release as an example of his ability to achieve results through direct communication with foreign leaders. He criticized the Biden administration, asserting that Hubbard should have been brought back much earlier. “He was captured during Biden’s term. The night he was taken, there should have been efforts to bring him back,” Trump remarked.

Trump expressed that meeting Hubbard’s son had a profound impact on him. “I met Stephen Hubbard’s son. He made a great impression on me. He was doing everything he could to bring his father home. His father had been in Russia for many years,” he noted.

The former president characterized Hubbard’s time in Russian custody as extremely challenging, with the family enduring prolonged uncertainty and anxiety. This comment came amid a broader discussion of Trump’s foreign policy record, including his attempts to end the Russia-Ukraine war. He expressed hope that the conflict could be resolved soon, stating, “I hope we are close to ending this tragedy of Russia-Ukraine. I hope it will end soon.”

Trump also addressed the humanitarian toll of the war, claiming that an average of 25,000 soldiers are killed each month. Yet, he did not clarify whether Hubbard’s release was linked to any larger agreements or negotiations regarding the war in Ukraine.

According to Trump, Hubbard’s release can be viewed as a separate humanitarian gesture in U.S.-Russia relations, despite ongoing differences over the Ukraine conflict. Dialogue between the two nations continues.