ABC and The New York Times are reporting that multiple Americans detained in Russia could soon be free as part of a major Trump deal with Moscow.
Negotiations are said to be in the final stages, with Special Envoy Steve Witkoff set to be in Moscow on Wednesday. And so a major announcement and release could happen by the time he leaves the Russian capital later the same day.
via PBSStephen Hubbard, an American who is accused of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine forces when he was captured in 2022, is expected to be among the released prisoners.
Citing unnamed officials, ABC writes, "They add that the talks have centered on freeing Stephen Hubbard, a 72-year-old retired teacher who is the only American held in Russia officially designated as wrongfully detained by the State Department, as well as several other U.S. citizens held by Moscow on what the administration said it believes are dubious charges."
President Trump acknowledged Monday that he was "trying to get a hostage that the country has been after for a long time" - which appeared to refer to Hubbard. "Let's see what happens," Trump said. "That'll be soon."
On Tuesday, Witkoff and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met in Oslo as part of efforts to find an end to the Ukraine war. In a closing presser for the talks, Zelensky said the latest working proposal features security guarantees for
