The President of the United States, Donald Trump, stated this Tuesday that he has directly requested his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, the release of Stephen Hubbard, a 75-year-old American citizen imprisoned in Russia and accused of having participated in the war in Ukraine as a "mercenary" integrated into the Ukrainian forces.
"I have been talking to President Putin about Hubbard. I have spoken with him in detail. I have asked him to release him," he indicated during a press conference.
The American leader emphasized that "(he) would love for him to return" to North American territory. "Let's see what happens. It is time for Mr. Hubbard to come back," he considered, leaving the possibility of a forthcoming outcome in the air.
When questioned by the press about a possible "agreement" to achieve the release of the American professor, Trump responded that "no one else has been able to do it."
"I don't want to talk about it, but everyone has been after Hubbard for a long time, long before I got here. And remember that question in a couple of days (...) I do things that no one else can do. I hate to say it. So we'll see what happens. We have focused on Hubbard, and we don't give 6 billion dollars like (former President Joe) Biden," Trump added.
The Russian authorities maintain that Hubbard took part in the conflict with Ukraine as a "mercenary" in support of the Ukrainian troops. A Russian court sentenced him to six years and ten months in prison in a trial held behind closed doors in October 2024.