The release

Russia freed Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old former Michigan teacher, on Wednesday, 21 October 2026. The Russian news agency Ria Novosti reported that Putin announced the release and that Hubbard was already at Pulkovo airport in St Petersburg. Trump wrote on Truth Social that he had asked Putin in a phone call in October 2026 to free Hubbard, and that, unlike earlier releases, the United States had handed over no one in exchange. Hubbard was convicted in 2024 after a closed-door trial, though sources differ on the sentence: AP reports almost seven years, while Adnkronos reports six years. Prosecutors said he signed a contract with the Ukrainian army after Russia sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022, and that he fought alongside Ukrainian forces until he was captured two months later. The Biden administration had designated him as wrongfully detained.

Witkoff and Putin in St Petersburg

Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy, met Putin in St Petersburg and brought American proposals to end the war in Ukraine, according to Adnkronos. TASS reported that Witkoff thanked Putin for the release, and AP reports that Hubbard was heading home after the visit. Witkoff has tried without success to move Russia and Ukraine toward a deal to end a war that will reach five years in February 2027. Presidential adviser Yuri Ushakov and Kremlin special envoy for foreign investment Kirill Dmitriev also attended the meeting. Putin said Russia wants to discuss restoring economic cooperation and bilateral contacts with the United States. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian media that the US side had raised the release for some time, that Putin decided on humanitarian grounds, and that contacts between intelligence services continue regularly.

Diesel shipment and sanctions relief

Trump announced a diesel supply agreement in early October 2026 after a phone call with Putin. The US Treasury Department granted a sanctions waiver to allow the operations, valid until 7 April. During the meeting with Witkoff, Putin announced that the first ship carrying 40,000 tonnes of diesel bound for the United States would leave Russia within two or three days, according to TASS. Putin also said that Moscow sees value in discussing its plans to restore bilateral relations and Russian-American contacts, including economic cooperation, according to Ria Novosti. The timeline below sets out the main dates reported so far.

Peace push and European response

Putin proposed a meeting of the leaders of Russia, the United States and China to negotiate an end to the conflict in Ukraine, according to ANSA. The Kremlin said Putin would review all of Witkoff's proposals, but that much depends on Ukraine and how willing it is to commit to a peaceful settlement. Paula Pinho, spokesperson for the European Commission, told a press briefing that Ukraine must be present at any meeting about Ukraine, and that organisers and partners decide the agenda. She was responding to a question about whether the EU would take part in the proposed summit. According to AP, Trump is pressing Kyiv to reach a deal that halts the fighting.