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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Pjotr Sauer

Putin orders release of jailed American as he meets Trump envoy for Ukraine talks

Vladimir Putin Donald Trump Steve Witkoff Ukraine Stephen Hubbard Volodymyr Zelenksyy Russia United States Elon Musk Moscow
Steve Witkoff and Vladimir Putin shake hands.
Steve Witkoff and Vladimir Putin shake hands during a meeting at the Constantine Palace in St Petersburg. Photograph: Gavriil Grigorov/Sputnik/State Media Handout/Reuters

Vladimir Putin ordered the release of an American from a Russian jail as he met Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg on Wednesday for fresh talks on ending the war in Ukraine, amid increasingly close relations between Moscow and Washington.

Trump had previously asked Putin to free Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old former teacher who had spent more than four years in Russian jails on charges of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine.

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