Trump calls sanctions advocates 'foolish' as Russia frees American Stephen Hubbard

In brief

• Trump called people who urged him to sanction Russia foolish, saying sanctions could have prevented Stephen Hubbard's release.
• Hubbard, 74, a former teacher from Michigan, was captured in Ukraine in April 2022 and freed on October 21.
• Congress passed a law with a 500% tariff on Russian goods and secondary tariffs of up to 100% on the largest buyers of Russian oil and gas.

Trump's remarks at the White House

Trump made the comments on October 30 while speaking at the White House with Stephen Hubbard, a former teacher from Michigan who had just returned from Russian custody (Трамп назвав дурними людьми тих, хто вимагає санкцій проти РФ – Suspilne) (Трамп назвал сторонников санкций против России «глупыми людьми» – NV). He said that imposing sanctions would have made it harder to bring Hubbard home, and that he believed Moscow was laughing at such measures. Trump also questioned whether it made sense to pressure Moscow with sanctions while negotiating for the release of Americans, asking the room how it would look if he asked Putin to free Hubbard while also sanctioning Russia (Трамп заявив, що "дурні люди" хотіли, щоб він запровадив санкції проти РФ – Українська правда) (Дурні люди хотіли, щоб я запровадив санкції проти Росії, - Трамп – UNIAN).

Hubbard's detention and release

Hubbard, 74, was captured by Russian forces in Ukraine in April 2022. A Russian court convicted him of fighting as a mercenary on Ukraine's side, a charge Washington rejects. The US government considers his detention illegal. Hubbard was freed on October 21, during a visit to St Petersburg by Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff. Trump said he had asked Putin for the release in a phone call and that no prisoner exchange took place. The Kremlin said the release was based on humanitarian considerations.

Sanctions legislation and the delay

Congress gave final approval to the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 on September 17. The law sets a 500% tariff on Russian goods and secondary tariffs of up to 100% on the largest buyers of Russian oil and gas. Reports say he later signed an executive order that waived the sanctions and tariffs on Russia.