Trump says US gave Russia nothing to free an American. The reality is more complicated
In a push to close deals, Trump has pivoted toward Putin.
President Donald Trump claims that the U.S. "gave nothing in exchange" for Moscow's release of American citizen Stephen Hubbard, but his administration has made several moves seen as highly advantageous to Russia in recent weeks -- drawing backlash from members of his own party and fueling a dynamic some hostage advocates and officials fear could set a dangerous precedent.
The State Department determined in January 2025 that Hubbard, a retired teacher who was captured by Russian forces in Ukraine and accused of acting as a mercenary for the country, was wrongfully detained, declaring that the allegations against him were fabricated.
Still, when Russian leader Vladimir Putin announced he would release Hubbard at the top of a meeting on Wednesday with Trump’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg, Witkoff responded by publicly praising him for freeing the American the U.S. government says he jailed on false charges -- calling Putin a “humanitarian."
After Hubbard was freed, Trump indicated he had taken a softer approach toward the Kremlin in order to secure the release -- saying his controversial decision to waive some new Russia-related sanctions that were set to take effect this week was made in part because he thought imposing them would derail the negotiations.
After Hubbard was freed, Trump indicated his surprise and controversial decision to waive some new Russia-related sanctions that were set to take effect this week was made in part because he thought imposing them would derail the negotiations.
"I was in the midst of getting Stephen out of Russia. And if we did what these foolish people wanted me to do, he wouldn't be coming out right now. He'd be in there for another 20 years,” Trump said during a roundtable event at the White House on Wednesday. "So, the last thing I was going to do is break up that."
The president extolled the agreement, asserting Hubbard's return hadn't come at a price.
"The past administration gave massive amounts of money and other things. You can't do that. And when you do that, the problem is, is greatly exacerbated,” he said.
In September 2023, the Biden administration facilitated the release of $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets in exchange for the release of five Americans detained by Tehran.
The money was moved into a restricted account in Qatar intended to ensure that Iran could only spend the funds on humanitarian goods. But the U.S. froze the assets again after the Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel before any of the money was spent.
Kurt Volker, former U.S. ambassador to NATO and U.S. special representative for Ukraine negotiations during Trump’s first term, said the circumstances surrounding Hubbard's release on Wednesday perpetuates a pattern -- encouraging Moscow to take more Americans captive in order to gain political leverage over Washington.
"Russia has been playing this game for years, and of course they will take more hostages. Sanctions relief is just another sort of payoff, like getting intelligence officers or Viktor Bout released," Volker said, referring to the convicted arms dealer the Biden administration exchanged for WNBA player Brittney Griner in 2022.
Some critics of the president’s decision to waive the majority of sanctions and tariffs included in the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which was passed by Congress with broad bipartisan support and signed into law by Trump last month, said the decision provided Moscow with a significant financial lifeline. Analysts project that the sanctions outlined by the law could cost Russia billions in energy revenue if fully implemented.
The provisions included in the legislation named for the late senator aimed to weaken Russia's ability to fund its war against Ukraine by cutting billions from its export revenue.
Following Hubbard’s released, Trump claimed that some opponents of his decision to push off the penalties for at least 60 days had called him to apologize.
But even some Republicans appear to still be harboring misgivings about the administration’s approach to Putin.
"Vladimir Putin is not our friend," Republican Sen. Jodi Ernst posted to X on Wednesday. "His relentless attacks on innocent civilians in Ukraine show his total disregard for human life. Appeasement won't end this war. Pressure will."
Earlier this month, the Trump administration also eased some preexisting sanctions to facilitate a deal to supply Russian diesel to U.S. and global markets, issuing a license authorizing transactions related to its sale and delivery through April 2027.
A bipartisan group of senators protested the agreement, writing in a letter to the president that the revenue the Kremlin receives will "undoubtedly finance its desired war of attrition" against Ukraine.
Volker said Trump could be using Hubbard's release to help strengthen his case for granting sanctions relief to Russia, something the president insists will bring down costs for Americans.
"Trump wanted to do all that anyway -- to claim he is doing something about high diesel prices in the U.S.,” he said. "The release of Hubbard now gives him the opportunity to say this was for a higher cause."
Trump's wavering support for Kyiv has also been described by many as a gift to Putin. The president has significantly ramped up pressure on Ukraine to halt strikes on Russian energy targets and reach a broader truce with Moscow, declaring Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy should have made a deal "a long time ago."
As Trump has grown more vocal in his dissatisfaction with Kyiv, Ukrainian officials say the country's military has been grappling with speed restrictions on Starshield, SpaceX's military-grade satellite network.
According to the Institute for the Study of War, these restrictions have "significantly degraded Ukraine's intermediate-range strike campaign targeting primarily Russian logistics across the frontline."
SpaceX founder Elon Musk has suggested that Trump is the only one who could have authorized the slowdown, while the president and members of the administration have denied issuing directives related to Starshield and maintain the company has the authority to enforce its own terms of service.
"I don’t believe that Elon Musk would do this without at least the acquiescence of the White House," Republican Sen. John Cornyn said. "I think it's frankly shameful. I think we should be supporting the victim, not the aggressor."