US Nearing Deal With Russia to Free Multiple Jailed Americans, Sources Say
The United States is closing in on a deal with Moscow that would free multiple Americans detained in Russia. Two US officials and another source familiar with the matter told ABC News that the negotiations are in their final stages.
The talks are being led by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, and the terms of the arrangement are coming into focus, the sources said.
At the centre of the talks is Stephen Hubbard, a 72-year-old retired teacher who is the only American in Russia officially designated by the State Department as wrongfully detained.
Alongside Hubbard, the release of several other US citizens is also under discussion. According to the administration, they are being held on charges it believes are dubious.
Officials caution, however, that while the terms are taking shape, nothing has been finalised, and it is still possible the deal will not materialise or that its scope will change.
One official said Witkoff is expected to travel to Moscow this week, following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Oslo, Norway.
Speaking about his dealings with Russia on Monday, Trump said he was 'trying to get a hostage that the country has been after for a long time' — presumably referring to Hubbard. 'Let's see what happens,' Trump said. 'That'll be soon.'
Asked on Tuesday about a potential prisoner exchange, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said: 'Dialogue on all these issues is ongoing through intelligence service channels.' He said Hubbard's name was 'certainly familiar' but added that he had 'nothing to report' on the matter.
The White House declined to comment. It is not clear what Russia might receive in exchange for releasing the US citizens.
In recent days, however, Trump has taken several steps viewed as favourable to Moscow, including waiving new sanctions on Russian officials and oligarchs mandated by a bill he signed into law last month after it passed Congress by wide margins.
At the same time, Trump has increased pressure on Ukraine to halt attacks on Russian energy sites. Whether these moves are connected to the prisoner talks has not been officially stated.
At least eight Americans are currently in Russian custody. If the talks succeed, several of them could be released — but until a final announcement, everything remains at the stage of possibility.
