Marc Fogel, an American teacher considered by Washington to be unjustly detained by Moscow, has been released, a move the White House described as a diplomatic effort that could advance talks to end the war in Ukraine.
The development comes as President Trump is seeking to lay the groundwork for peace negotiations between Moscow and Kiev to end the war in Ukraine, A2 writes.
"President Trump, Steve Witkoff, and the president's advisers negotiated an exchange that serves as a show of good faith on the part of the Russians and a sign that we are moving in the right direction to end the brutal and horrific war in Ukraine," said White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz.
President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff left Russia with American Marc Fogel, a history teacher from Pennsylvania. He is expected to join his family on Monday evening. Arrested in August 2021, Mr. Fogel was serving a 14-year prison sentence.
His family and supporters said Mr. Fogel had medical marijuana with him when he was arrested. In December, President Joe Biden's administration said he had been wrongfully arrested.
Michael Waltz, President Trump's national security adviser, said the United States and Russia "negotiated a trade" to secure Mr. Fogel's release. He did not say what the U.S. side had offered in exchange. In the past, negotiations have included the reciprocal release of Russians by the United States and allied countries.
Republican President Donald Trump has promised to find a way to end the conflict. Mr. Trump has also spoken of good relations with President Putin, who ordered the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Last month, President Trump said his administration was having serious conversations with Russia about the war. Mr. Fogel's relatives said they were "extremely grateful and relieved" that he was returning home.
"This has been the darkest and most painful period of our lives. But today this chapter ends. For the first time in years, our family can look to the future with hope," his family said. Moscow did not comment on Mr. Fogel's release.
The United States and other countries carried out a major prisoner swap in August. The swap saw the release of American journalist Evan Gershkovich and businessman Paul Whelan, among others.
However, the deal left many other Americans imprisoned in Russia, including Mr. Fogel. Among them was Russian-American Ksenia Khavana, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison two weeks after the swap. She was charged with treason after making a $52 million donation to a charity helping Ukraine. The White House under President Biden called the sentence “nothing short of vindictive cruelty.”
Last October, Russia sentenced American Robert Gilman to more than 7 years in prison for alleged violence against Russian police, while American Stephen Hubbard was sentenced to prison in a closed-door trial for allegedly fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine.
As the war in Ukraine nears its third year, there is no word on President Trump's plan to end the conflict. He has said Moscow and Kiev must make concessions while hinting that Ukraine will have to accept the loss of at least some territory.
Mr. Fogel's release and President Trump's announcement that he will send Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to Kiev for talks with Ukrainian leaders could be a signal that plans may be starting to take shape.
Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Trump's special envoy for Russia and Ukraine, retired General Keith Kellogg, will travel later this week to attend the Munich Security Conference, where the situation in Ukraine will be one of the main topics of discussion.
Mr. Kellogg told the Associated Press news agency on Monday that the American side would talk to European officials about President Donald Trump's intentions and assess their interests.
"We will outline our expectations for allies. And when we return, we will present the president with alternatives, so he knows better how to act when he is directly involved in the peace process," said Mr. Kellogg./ Voice of America (A2 Televizion)
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