STEPHEN HUBBARD SISTER SAYS HE IN DISBELIEF FOLLOWING RELEASE BY RUSSIA

What happened: Stephen Hubbard, an American held in Russia for more than four years, was freed Wednesday. His sister Patricia Hubbard Fox said she spoke with him by phone and he was in disbelief. Key numbers: Hubbard is 74 and was detained in 2022; he was sentenced in 2024 to nearly seven years. He is a U.S. Air Force veteran who retired in 2012. Why it matters: President Donald Trump said he asked Vladimir Putin to free Hubbard during a call this month. Hubbard was freed after a visit to St. Petersburg by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who also discussed the war in Ukraine with Putin. Coverage: 3 outlets in 24h

Stephen Hubbard, an American held in Russia for more than four years, was freed Wednesday. His sister Patricia Hubbard Fox said she spoke with him by phone and he was in disbelief.

President Donald Trump said he asked Vladimir Putin to free Hubbard during a call this month. Hubbard was freed after a visit to St. Petersburg by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who also discussed the war in Ukraine with Putin.