Trump welcomes Russia's release of US teacher after 4 years in jail

US President Donald Trump has welcomed the release of Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old American man who had been jailed in Russia for more than four years, insisting: "We gave nothing in exchange."

Speaking at the White House, Trump praised the release as an "amazing thing", stating the retired teacher from Michigan was on the flight home and in "pretty good shape."

Hubbard had been imprisoned on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine.

His release was secured during a visit to St. Petersburg by US Envoy Steve Witkoff, who also held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the conflict in Ukraine.

Trump insisted that Washington gave "nothing in exchange" for Hubbard's release.

When asked whether he agreed with Witkoff's description of Putin as a "humanitarian", Trump declined to comment directly, saying he did not want to disrupt ongoing efforts to bring an end to the war in Ukraine.