Witkoff thanks Putin for release of American Stephen Hubbard

“You very often say that my president, President Trump, has a humanitarian sense. But you have it too, sir,” US special envoy Witkoff told Putin during the talks. He added that he pays tribute to him. Russian state television later aired the footage.

The American negotiator was thanking Putin for the release of 74-year-old Stephen Hubbard, who had been imprisoned since 2022, when he was detained in Ukraine. The Russians later accused him of fighting in Ukraine as a mercenary. The retired teacher denies this, NBC News reports.

Trump personally asked Putin to release Hubbard by phone last week. On Wednesday the US president made a point of noting that Russia had not demanded anyone's release in return. According to Trump, Moscow did so “out of respect” for him.

On Wednesday Witkoff told Putin that the foundations for ending the war had already been laid, and brought to St Petersburg documents outlining approaches to a possible deal. He also said he hoped Putin would consider resuming trilateral talks.

The day before, in Oslo, the American envoy discussed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky the possibility of a trilateral meeting of leaders. Putin, however, rejects any meeting with Zelensky until a deal is finalised, and says it must take place in Moscow.

Russia still refuses to back down from demands that Ukraine has long found unacceptable. For example, it demands that Ukrainians give up even those parts of their territory that Russian forces have failed to seize in five years of war. Even so, Trump and his administration have in recent weeks stepped up pressure on Kyiv to strike a deal with the Kremlin.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz