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.
Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) are gathering in Bishkek for a summit focused on trade, investment and transport as the...
Israel and Greece have signed a €3 billion defence agreement that will see Israel build a new multi-layered air-defence system for Greece....
Russian air attacks on Kyiv and the surrounding region have killed four people and injured more than a dozen others, Ukrainian officials said, mark...
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan have concluded talks in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, as leaders gather for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
Iran has reached an understanding with Oman on transit arrangements through the Strait of Hormuz, but the waterway will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils its commitments, a senior Iranian diplomat said on Saturday.
U.S. forces struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island on Sunday, with Tehran responding by launching ballistic missiles at two U.S. bases in Jordan in the first direct U.S.-Iran military escalation in weeks.
Russia views NATO’s growing military activity in the Arctic as a direct threat to its national security, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
As leaders from across Eurasia gather in Kyrgyzstan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, the meeting is bringing together countries with very different interests, from China and Russia to India, Iran and Azerbaijan.
Israel and Greece have signed a €3 billion defence agreement that will see Israel build a new multi-layered air-defence system for Greece.
Russian air attacks on Kyiv and the surrounding region have killed four people and injured more than a dozen others, Ukrainian officials said, marking the sixth consecutive day of strikes on the area.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Monday there were signs that Russian and Israeli networks helped spread disinformation about Spain’s migration policy, contributing to last month’s unprecedented surge of migrants into Ceuta.
A gathering of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors in Asheville, North Carolina, was dominated by sharp disagreements over Russia's presence, as the world's leading economies face mounting geopolitical and economic pressures.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance has blamed the administration of former President Joe Biden for ammunition shortages within the U.S. military, arguing that years of insufficient defence spending left the armed forces under-resourced.
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