Trump criticized the demands for new sanctions against Russia, arguing that economic penalties would have prevented the release of 74-year-old American citizen Stephen Hubbard from a Russian prison. Hubbard, a Michigan native who was arrested in Ukraine in April 2022 and convicted of mercenary charges, was released on October 21 during talks in St. Petersburg between Putin and Vitkoff.

Trump criticized the demands for new sanctions against Russia, arguing that economic penalties would have prevented the release of 74-year-old American citizen Stephen Hubbard from a Russian prison. Hubbard, a Michigan native who was arrested in Ukraine in April 2022 and convicted of mercenary charges, was released on October 21 during talks in St. Petersburg between Putin and Vitkoff.