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Trump hosts freed American Stephen Hubbard, says 'stupid people' wanted Russia sanctions
President Donald Trump welcomed Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old American freed after more than four years in Russian detention, to the Oval Office on Friday and appeared to link his release to his decision not to impose sanctions on Russia.
President Donald Trump welcomed Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old American freed after more than four years in Russian detention, to the Oval Office on Friday, and appeared to link his release to his refusal to impose sanctions on Moscow.
"Stupid people wanted me to impose sanctions on Russia," Trump said, according to Russian newspaper Izvestia. He said that the United States had been "in the midst of negotiating" and that if he had imposed the sanctions, "you would not have Mr. Hubbard coming back."
Trump insisted there had been no "swap" for Hubbard. He has not reimposed the sanctions passed by Congress since the release, CBS News reported.
'Spur of the moment'
"It was really an honor to help. It was just spur of the moment," Trump told Hubbard. "I said, 'Do me a favor. Will you let Stephen Hubbard ... let him out.' And they were very nice in that regard."
Hubbard, a retired teacher, said he had heard promises of release many times and only believed it when prison staff gave him new clothes and led him to the exit. He said he would not have survived another year in prison and that some guards had treated him sympathetically.
Accused of fighting for Ukraine
Russian authorities accused Hubbard of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine, charges his legal team denies. His release was announced last week as U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, and he returned to the United States days later.
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