Why Russia released a US prisoner, and what Trump’s response reveals

Hubbard returns to the US

Russia released Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired teacher, and sent him back to the United States on Wednesday. Trump said in a social media post that the US had not needed to offer anything for his release.

Hubbard’s return was welcome news, but the article challenges Trump’s description of the circumstances. It says recent actions by his administration have repeatedly worked in Russia’s favor.

Recent steps favor Russia

Late last week, Trump waived upcoming economic sanctions against Russia. Congress had passed those sanctions with broad bipartisan support, and Trump had recently signed them into law. The administration also made a diesel arrangement that temporarily eased fuel sanctions in return for Russia releasing a small amount of diesel onto the global market. Separately, the US temporarily halted intelligence sharing with Ukraine, while Trump played a role in disrupting Ukraine’s access to Starlink, which supports its drone operations against Russia.

Last month, Trump invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to this year’s G20 summit. It would be Putin’s first appearance at the gathering since 2019.

Costs and consequences

The article says the United States appears to have gained little beyond Hubbard’s release, while Russia’s international standing may have been softened. It also says the administration’s approach has created a break with US allies in Europe. The shift comes as Ukraine faces a Russian campaign intended to wear down civilians ahead of winter, as reported by the New York Times earlier this month. On Wednesday, Trump envoy Steve Witkoff described Putin as a “humanitarian.”