Trump Says He Asked Putin to Release Stephen Hubbard

President Donald Trump said on October 20 that he had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to release Stephen Hubbard, an American serving a prison sentence in Russia. Trump hinted that there could be an update within a couple of days but announced no agreement, terms or firm release date. The remarks came amid reports of negotiations over a possible release involving Hubbard and other Americans held in Russia. Two U.S. officials and another person familiar with the matter told ABC News that talks were in their final stages and centered on Hubbard, but cautioned that no deal had been finalized and its scope could change. That account also said at least eight Americans were in Russian custody. Separately, people familiar with the matter said U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff was expected to discuss Hubbard’s possible release with Putin during the week of October 20. Trump’s public comments confirmed that he had made a request to Putin, but did not establish that Russia had agreed to release Hubbard. Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said dialogue on such matters was continuing through intelligence channels and that he had nothing to report on Hubbard. Hubbard,...