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The White House announced Tuesday that Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff had secured the release of detained American Marc Fogel from Russia on a secret trip to the country.
‘Today, President Donald J. Trump and his Special Envoy Steve Witkoff are able to announce that Mr. Witkoff is leaving Russian airspace with Marc Fogel, an American who was detained by Russia,’ according to an announcement by the National Security Advisor’s office.
‘President Trump, Steve Witkoff and the President’s advisors negotiated an exchange that serves as a show of good faith from the Russians and a sign we are moving in the right direction to end the brutal and terrible war in Ukraine,’ it said.
‘By tonight, Marc Fogel will be on American soil and reunited with his family and loved ones thanks to President Trump’s leadership.’
It comes after Trump has made a series of coy statements about speaking to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and about recent contacts between the U.S. and Russian sides.
The American teacher was classified as ‘wrongfully detained’ during the Biden administration and has received a 14 year prison sentence.
The former United States Embassy Moscow worker was arrested in 2021 and convicted of drug smuggling. He has been left out of previous negotiations to free American held in Russia.
That included two separate swaps to release WNBA star Brittney Griner and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. The Griner exchange handed over ‘merchant of death’ arms deal Viktor Bout.
Trump vowed to continue to push to free Americans held abroad. On Tuesday once again commented on the release of hostages by Hamas in Gaza. He demanded the release the remainder by noon on Saturday or there would be ‘hell to pay.’
This is a breaking story
