Washington, Oct. 21 -- Russia has released Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old American citizen who had been imprisoned for more than four years on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine against Russian forces.
US President Donald Trump announced the release on Wednesday, saying Hubbard was on his way home to reunite with his family.
Hubbard, a retired teacher from Michigan, had been designated by the US State Department as wrongfully detained. Trump said his release followed a direct conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin the previous week.
Trump said Russia did not demand anything in return, and Putin agreed to the release for humanitarian reasons.
Trump said the US did not have to give Russia anything in return, "out of...