Skip to main content

Understand. Power. Act.

The Library

New

One story, all the way down.

Who is Stephen Hubbard, imprisoned American released by Russia?

Russia on Wednesday released American teacher Stephen Hubbard, who was serving a seven-year prison sentence after prosecutors accused him of working with Ukraine as a mercenary following the Russian invasion that launched the war between the two countries. President Trump announced the development on Truth Social after U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff…

Sources (2)· Oct 21, 12:50 PM to Oct 21, 2:36 PM

Security Education Justice

Every telling

their own versions

How it spread

2 articles

firstThe Hill
+2hNewsNation

The thread

Foreign Affairs →

Before

Democratic Congressional Candidate Brad Lander Detained by IsraelDemocratic nominee for Congress and former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander was detained by the Israeli military in the occupied West Bank Wednesday morning. “I’ve been detained by the IDF, along with a group of rabbis & volunteers. We were simply harvesting olives in a grove near Nehalim in the West Bank,” Lander posted on X with a picture from a…

The New Republic2d agoWhole story →

Warren warns of ‘enormous risk’ if Musk is ‘dictating our foreign policy’Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said there needs to be an investigation of who ordered the limit on Ukraine’s access to the Starshield satellite-based inte

NewsBreak2d agoSources (2)Whole story →

Technology Elizabeth Warren

New York congressional candidate Brad Lander says IDF detained him in the occupied West BankLander later said Israeli authorities released him after they detained him and dozens of other volunteers for harvesting olives near a settlement.

NBC News2d agoWhole story →

Poland Blasts Ukrainian City’s Honor for World War II FightersTensions between Poland and Ukraine flared up after a major city council voted to dedicate the year 2027 to the memory of controversial World War II-era Ukrainian fighters.

Bloomberg2d agoWhole story →

Headlines for October 19, 2026Hundreds of Thousands March in Over 140 Cities in France on Saturday, Millions of Protesters Participate in “No Kings” Demonstrations on Saturday in the U.S., Thousands March in Tunisia Against President Kaïs Saïed, Protests Continue to Roil Albania, as Demonstrators Call for Prime Minister to Resign, Brazil’s Lula Holds First and Only Debate with Flávio…

Democracy Now!2d agoWhole story →

Economy ukraine russia conflict

Since

Trump accuses Iran of making up attacks and mines to raise oil pricesCENTCOM says no goods have entered or left Iran by sea, apart from humanitarian aid, since the blockade resumed 100 days ago.

NewsNation3h agoWhole story →

Trump Says Musk Restored Starlink as Ukraine Blame Game DeepensUkraine leans heavily on Starlink and Starshield for mid-range strikes and for intercepting incoming Russian attacks.

Newsweek3h agoWhole story →

Israel's leading parties in a dead heat ahead of high-stakes electionThe outcome of party negotiations could have “profound” implications for Palestinians and Israel’s relations with neighboring states.

Semafor2h agoWhole story →

Trump's new promise is raising eyebrows as gas soars to new highs: NBCGas prices are at levels never before seen in October, and President Donald Trump is now promising relief – but only after Election Day. The national average for a gallon of regular is $4.27, according to motor club AAA, and NBC News reported that it’s the first time gas has ever averaged more than $4 a gallon in October, a month when prices usually dip.…

Raw Story2h agoWhole story →

Russia and Ukraine trade fresh strikes despite renewed push for U.S.-brokered peace talksBoth Putin and Zelenskyy said Thursday they were open for peace negotiations, even as they continued strikes overnight.

CNBC2h agoWhole story →

Security us brokered peace talks

More like this

similar stories in the archive

Putin orders release of jailed American as he meets Trump envoy for Ukraine talksRussia frees Stephen Hubbard after US request while Steve Witkoff praises Putin, wanted by ICC as war criminal, as a ‘humanitarian’ Vladimir Putin ordered the release of an American man from a Russian jail as he met Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg on Wednesday for fresh talks on ending the war in Ukraine, amid increasingly close…

The Guardian2d agoWhole story →

Government ukraine talks

Witkoff faces backlash after calling Putin a 'humanitarian'Special envoy Steve Witkoff is facing criticism from lawmakers after calling Russian President Vladimir Putin a “humanitarian” for releasing an American who has been held in Russia for years. President Trump had made a direct appeal to Putin for the release of Stephen Hubbard, a teacher who was accused of being a Ukrainian mercenary. Hubbard...

The Hill22h agoSources (3)Whole story →

Government ukraine war backlash

Stephen Hubbard release from Russia gives detainee families hopeRussian President Vladimir Putin this week released American Stephen Hubbard.

NewsNation2d agoWhole story →

Government us detainee release from russia

Trump Envoy Gives Nauseating Praise of Putin as Russia Frees AmericanTrump administration envoy Steve Witkoff thinks Russian President Vladimir Putin is a “humanitarian.” The comment came after Russia on Wednesday released 74-year-old Stephen James Hubbard, an American who spent four years locked up under accusations of being a Ukrainian mercenary. “He’s a 75-year-old man. You talk so much about my president, President…

The New Republic2d agoWhole story →

Trump envoy Steve Witkoff praises Putin as ‘humanitarian’ as Ukraine peace talks hang in the balanceUS special envoy Steve Witkoff complimented Russian dictator Vladimir Putin as a “humanitarian” during their meeting in St. Petersburg -- as President Trump desperately tries to get Russia back to the negotiating table to end the Ukraine war.

New York Post2d agoSources (2)Whole story →

Government trump envoy praises putin

Stephen Hubbard returns to US after years in Russian prisonAmerican Stephen Hubbard has returned to the U.S. after being detained in Russia for nearly four years. The freed American arrived at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio early Thursday morning. Russia had accused Hubbard, who lived in Ukraine at the time, of fighting on behalf of Ukraine after Russia launched its war. President...

The Hill23h agoSources (2)Whole story →

Justice russian prisoner release

10/21: The Takeout with Major GarrettAmerican Stephen Hubbard released by Russia after four years of wrongful detention; special envoy Steve Witkoff meets with Putin in Moscow.

CBS News2d agoWhole story →

Government us citizen released by russia

Putin Gets Praised as 'Humanitarian' by WitkoffThe Trump administration praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “humanitarian” for releasing a detained US citizen. Steve Witkoff complimented Putin in Russia as he secured the release of Stephen Hubbard, an American teacher convicted there four years ago of fighting for Ukraine. Bloomberg's Anthony Halpin reports. (Source: Bloomberg)

Bloomberg1d agoWhole story →

Government us citizen release from russia