21.10.2026 23:30
US President Donald Trump said that talks with Vladimir Putin to end the Russia-Ukraine war are continuing, stating that they are closer to a solution than ever before. Trump also emphasized that they gave Moscow nothing in return for 74-year-old American teacher Stephen Hubbard, who was sentenced to prison in Russia and released.
US President Donald Trump, noting that talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin are continuing in order to reach an agreement between Russia and Ukraine, emphasized that they are "closer to a solution than ever before."
Trump assessed the agenda for members of the press at a roundtable meeting held at the White House.
Trump, stating that his administration continues to work to end the Russia-Ukraine War and that contacts with Moscow have intensified, gave the message that they are close to a result.
WE ARE CLOSER TO A SOLUTION THAN EVER BEFORE
US President Trump made an assessment regarding the process: "The other day, Vladimir Putin and I were talking about resolving the Ukraine war. I think we are approaching a solution on this issue. Perhaps we are now closer to a solution than ever before."
Trump, who in his previous statements gave the message that Moscow was more willing to make a deal than Kyiv, said, "We are continuing negotiations with Russia to stop the war with Ukraine."
Emphasizing that he was "quite pleased" that Russia and China did not intervene in the war process with Iran, Trump stated that Russia in particular did not get involved in the process despite having the capacity.
NO PRICE WAS PAID FOR THE RELEASED AMERICAN TEACHER
On the other hand, Trump also made statements regarding the release of American teacher Stephen Hubbard, who was released in Russia where he had been detained.
Trump, stating that he raised this issue during his phone call with Putin and that Putin also took an interest in the matter, said, "We gave Russia nothing in exchange for his release, which is a very rare situation. We gave nothing on this matter."
Trump, also noting that Hubbard had set off together with his Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to come to the US, stated that they were very pleased with this step taken by Russia.
US citizen Stephen James Hubbard was detained in Ukraine after Russia's attacks on Ukraine in 2022 and was accused of "working as a mercenary in the Ukrainian Armed Forces."
Hubbard, who was born in the state of Michigan and was recorded as "serving as a teacher," had gone to Ukraine's Kharkiv region in 2014.
Hubbard, 74, was sentenced to 6 years and 10 months in prison in Russia in October 2024.