GOP Senator Slams Trump as Freed American Returns From Russia
WHO:
Alternet - Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota criticized President Donald Trump’s approach to Russia and Steve Witkoff’s description of Vladimir Putin.
Alternet - Steve Witkoff, a longtime friend of Trump and his special envoy, represented Trump in Russia.
Alternet - Stephen Hubbard, 74, is an American whose release from Russian detention was secured during Witkoff’s visit.
Alternet - Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina, criticized Witkoff’s words.
CBS News World - Stephen Hubbard returned to the United States after Russian detention; Trump announced his return.
The Denver Post - Patricia Hubbard Fox is Hubbard’s younger sister. She said she spoke with him by phone and was traveling to meet him in San Antonio.
The Denver Post - Hubbard is a retired teacher from Michigan and a U.S. Air Force veteran. He taught English overseas, retired to Cyprus, and later moved to Ukraine.
WHAT:
Alternet - Cramer said, “if I'm ever captured by Vladimir Putin, I'd rather die in a prison in Russia” than have someone acting on his behalf call Putin a humanitarian. He said Putin is “as bad as it gets” and “anything but a humanitarian,” while calling Hubbard’s release a “big deal.”
Alternet - Witkoff thanked Putin for freeing Hubbard and said, “You are a humanitarian also, sir, and I salute that.” Trump defended the compliment, saying, “I guess you could say for that particular purpose.”
Alternet - Tillis called Witkoff’s remark “an embarrassing and outrageous thing to say.”
The Denver Post - Fox said Hubbard was laughing and told her, “I can’t believe this is happening.” She said he had feared he would die in prison.
The Denver Post - Fox said Hubbard suffered beatings and starvation in captivity, and now has an enlarged heart and likely post-traumatic stress disorder. She said he was in perfect health when he was “kidnapped.”
The Denver Post - Fox disputed that Hubbard was a mercenary, saying he was used as “bait” in Putin’s war with Ukraine. She said, “Putin is as evil as they come.”
WHERE:
Alternet - Hubbard was held in a Russian prison; Witkoff visited Russia to secure his release.
The Denver Post - Fox was heading to Denver’s airport to fly to San Antonio to meet Hubbard. She said he might live with her in Colorado.
The Denver Post - Hubbard lived in Ukraine during Russia’s invasion and had retired to Cyprus.
WHEN:
Alternet - Hubbard had been imprisoned for more than four years before his release.
The Denver Post - Russia freed Hubbard after more than four years in prison. He was accused of signing a Ukrainian military contract and sentenced to nearly seven years in prison in 2024, following closed court proceedings.
The Denver Post - Fox said she had slept on her couch for four years in solidarity with Hubbard.
The Denver Post - Fox said Hubbard retired in 2012 and was living in Ukraine when Russia invaded.
WHY:
The Denver Post - Russia accused Hubbard of fighting alongside Ukrainian forces; Hubbard’s legal team disputed the allegation and said he had no military involvement. The U.S. government under the Biden administration designated him wrongfully detained.
Alternet - Trump said he had not given anything in exchange for Hubbard’s release and suggested sanctions could have derailed negotiations.
HOW:
The Denver Post - Trump said he asked Putin during a phone call to release Hubbard. Witkoff visited St. Petersburg and also spoke with Putin about the war in Ukraine.
The Denver Post - Fox said she slept on her couch because she believed her brother had no bed: “Why should I have a bed?”
(UPDATED October 22, 2026 20:17 UTC)
Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old American held in a Russian prison for more than four years, has returned to the United States. President Trump said he asked Vladimir Putin to release Hubbard during a phone call, and special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Putin in Russia to help secure his freedom. Russia had accused Hubbard of fighting with Ukrainian forces, but his legal team said he had no military role, and the U.S. government designated him wrongfully detained. Hubbard is a retired Michigan teacher and Air Force veteran who lived in Ukraine after retiring to Cyprus. His sister, Patricia Hubbard Fox, said he told her he could hardly believe his release and had feared dying in prison. She said he suffered beatings and starvation in captivity and may have post-traumatic stress disorder.