Putin sends you his blessing and all the best": the first words released American retiree Steven Hubbard heard from White House envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg. Witkoff introduced Hubbard to Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev, said he now had a "new life," and offered to call his son. The 74-year-old former English teacher from Michigan has lived quietly in Isium with his partner since 2014. In April 2022, Russian forces seized him from his home. A Russian "court" later sentenced him to 6 years and 10 months on fabricated mercenary charges. In prison he was tortured and beaten until his health collapsed. Former Kremlin prisoner Dmytro Khilyuk said the Russians constantly mocked Hubbard, forced him to learn the Russian national anthem and give reports, and in the end he could barely walk. Source: Channel 5.

Putin sends you his blessing and all the best": the first words released American retiree Steven Hubbard heard from White House envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg. Witkoff introduced Hubbard to Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev, said he now had a "new life," and offered to call his son. The 74-year-old former English teacher from Michigan has lived quietly in Isium with his partner since 2014. In April 2022, Russian forces seized him from his home. A Russian "court" later sentenced him to 6 years and 10 months on fabricated mercenary charges. In prison he was tortured and beaten until his health collapsed. Former Kremlin prisoner Dmytro Khilyuk said the Russians constantly mocked Hubbard, forced him to learn the Russian national anthem and give reports, and in the end he could barely walk. Source: Channel 5.