Freed American Stephen Hubbard is back in the U.S.; Trump says no swap was needed

Stephen Hubbard is back in the United States after Russia released him from prison on Wednesday, CBS News reports. CBS describes him as a Michigan native and says his imprisonment was wrongful.

CBS also reports that President Trump said no "swap" was necessary to secure the release. PBS NewsHour had earlier reported that Hubbard was freed without an exchange.

Putin announced the release during talks in St. Petersburg with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff about ending the war in Ukraine. The BBC reports Putin said Hubbard had been taken to Pulkovo Airport. NPR reports Putin said he acted on a request from Trump. PBS says Witkoff greeted Hubbard in St. Petersburg. PBS and The Guardian report that Witkoff praised Putin; The Guardian says he called him a "humanitarian".

CBS links the release to a diesel deal Trump made with Russia. The Hill reports Trump defended his waiver of Russian sanctions. It says he argued that imposing them would have stopped the talks over Hubbard.

Hubbard was held after being captured in Ukraine, PBS reports. The Guardian says the charge was fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine. The New York Times says the State Department called the charges fabricated.

Outlets differ on the length of his detention. NBC News says nearly five years. The New York Times and The Guardian say more than four. PBS, CBS and Al Jazeera say four.