Russia Frees an American Teacher and Says Ukraine Peace Talks Could Resume in November
Leah and Sam explain how Russia pardoned and freed 74-year-old American retired English teacher Stephen Hubbard after four and a half years in captivity during Saint Petersburg talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and United States representative Steve Witkoff, why Hubbard's family and the United States government rejected Russia's accusation that he fought for Ukraine, and why Russia and Ukraine say three-country peace talks could restart in November even though they remain far apart on land and military alliances.
Show notes
In this episode
- 0:01 Opening
- 0:17 Russia frees an American teacher and says Ukraine peace talks could resume in November
- 4:54 Recap and outro
Sources and context
- Russia frees an American teacher and says Ukraine peace talks could resume in November: Associated Press — Russia releases American Stephen Hubbard after talks between Putin and US envoy Steve Witkoff and BBC News — Russia releases US citizen Stephen Hubbard after Putin meets Trump envoy and Al Jazeera — Witkoff in Russia for Putin meeting after positive talks with Zelenskyy and Reuters (via U.S. News) — Putin Hosts Trump Envoy for New Ukraine Peace Talks, Frees US Citizen Held in Russia and Reuters (via U.S. News) — Who Is Stephen Hubbard, the US Citizen Held by Russia? and The Guardian — Ukraine war briefing: Peace proposals lack substance after Witkoff-Putin meeting
