Trump Hopes US Detainee’s Release Signals Path to Ending Ukraine War
US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he hopes Russia’s release of an American detainee could mark the “beginning of a relationship” with Moscow aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump expressed optimism about future negotiations, stating, “We were treated very nicely by Russia. Actually, I hope that’s the beginning of a relationship where we can end that war and millions of people can stop being killed.”
His remarks followed the release of American Marc Fogel, who had been detained in Russia since 2021 on charges of bringing medical marijuana into the country. White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz confirmed that Trump and his special envoy Steve Witkoff negotiated the exchange, calling it a “show of good faith” from Russia and a step toward resolving the conflict. Trump reiterated that the war must be stopped.
Fogel, a schoolteacher, had been serving a 14-year sentence and was designated as “wrongfully detained” by the US in 2024. .
