Russia has released American schoolteacher Marc Fogel, who had been detained since 2021, following an unannounced diplomatic visit to Moscow by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff. President Donald Trump confirmed Fogel’s release, describing it as a goodwill gesture from Russia.
Fogel, 63, was serving a 14-year sentence for drug smuggling, after being detained at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport in August 2021 with 17 grams of marijuana, which he claimed was for medical use. His release comes as Trump works to strengthen relations with Moscow while seeking an end to the Ukraine war.
Trump told reporters that Fogel would visit the White House upon his return to the U.S. and that he was reunited with his family on Tuesday night. A photo posted by Trump’s chief hostage envoy Adam Boehler showed Fogel aboard a plane, holding a glass of wine and his U.S. passport.
When asked what the U.S. gave up in exchange for Fogel’s release, Trump responded, “Not much”, framing the move as a sign of good faith from Russia.
Fogel’s Russian lawyer confirmed his release but said it was unclear on what legal grounds he was freed. He had been moved from a prison in Rybinsk to a pre-trial detention center in Moscow ahead of his release.
Fogel had previously been excluded from the August 2024 prisoner swap, which saw 16 prisoners freed from Russia in exchange for eight sent back from the West.
Trump has hinted at ongoing talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and described “good progress” toward resolving the Ukraine conflict, though he has not provided specifics.
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The U.S. State Department has approved a potential $179.1 million Foreign Military Sale to Ukraine for sustainment of its Patriot air defense systems, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on Friday. Congress has been notified of the certification.
Russia and China will strengthen bilateral ties, boost economic cooperation, and jointly oppose “discriminatory” sanctions, Russian President Vladimir Putin said ahead of his visit to China.
Demonstrations across Indonesia have intensified after the death of a delivery driver in Jakarta, alongside criticism of government policies on wages, taxation and lawmakers’ allowances.
The U.S. has sent a sizable naval force to the Southern Caribbean and nearby waters to target Latin American drug cartels, officials said.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
Volkswagen’s Brazil unit has been ordered to pay 165 million reais ($30.44 million) in damages for subjecting workers to slavery-like conditions on a farm during the 1970s and 1980s, labour prosecutors said on Friday.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that all tariffs he has imposed remain in effect, following a ruling by a U.S. Appeals Court that found most of tariffs illegal.
The U.S. State Department has approved a potential $179.1 million Foreign Military Sale to Ukraine for sustainment of its Patriot air defense systems, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on Friday. Congress has been notified of the certification.
Russia and China will strengthen bilateral ties, boost economic cooperation, and jointly oppose “discriminatory” sanctions, Russian President Vladimir Putin said ahead of his visit to China.
Demonstrations across Indonesia have intensified after the death of a delivery driver in Jakarta, alongside criticism of government policies on wages, taxation and lawmakers’ allowances.
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