Trump welcomes back teacher released by Russia

Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced that American teacher Marc Fogel, who was released in Russia, has returned to the United States. Trump stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin "didn't get too much in return" in this event. This successful repatriation marks a significant diplomatic achievement.

Trump also revealed that another detainee would be released on Wednesday, but did not disclose their name. Mr. Fogel, a 63-year-old former diplomat, arrived at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington D.C. on Tuesday evening, before heading to the White House. His arrival was a moment of relief for his family and supporters.

U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz previously stated that Fogel's release was part of an exchange agreement reached with Russia. The Russian side has not immediately commented on the matter. Trump, standing alongside Mr. Fogel at the White House, said, "He looks like he's in very good shape, in my opinion." This positive assessment suggests Fogel's well-being after his ordeal.

Trump told reporters that the release was a "show of good faith" by the Russian side and "could play a big role in ending the war that's going on in Ukraine." He also stated, "We were treated very nicely by Russia. In fact, I'm hoping this is a start of a relationship so that we can end that war and so that millions of people aren't being killed." It is believed that hundreds of thousands of people, mostly soldiers, have died since Russia invaded Ukraine nearly three years ago. The hope is that this release could be a stepping stone towards broader peace negotiations.

Trump described the prisoner deal reached with Russia as "very fair, very reasonable," and said "another person is going to be released tomorrow." Mr. Fogel said, "I feel like the luckiest person on planet Earth right now. I'm a middle school teacher, and now I'm in a dream world." His gratitude reflects the profound impact of his release on his life.

Mr. Fogel's sister, Anne Fogel, earlier told the BBC that her brother was detained in Russia in 2021 and was transferred from a penal colony in Rybinsk last Wednesday. She said the family had always known there was a possibility of his release, but also understood that negotiations were "very precarious." The family's cautious optimism highlights the complexities of such diplomatic endeavors.

Upon arrival on American soil, the White House posted on social media platform X: "Promise made, promise kept!" accompanied by a photo of Mr. Fogel. CBS News obtained a statement from Mr. Fogel's wife, Jane, and sons, Ethan and Sam, which stated: "This has been the darkest, most painful period of our lives, but today, we begin to heal." The family's statement underscores the emotional toll of Fogel's detention and the joy of his return.

Mr. Fogel was arrested at an airport in 2021 for illegal possession of marijuana. He was accused of carrying a small amount of medical marijuana prescribed in the United States and was sentenced to 14 years in prison. Mr. Fogel's legal team thanked Trump for his role in the negotiations and criticized the Biden administration for alleged "bureaucratic inaction." The circumstances of his arrest and sentencing have been a source of controversy.

His lawyer said in a statement to CBS, "President Trump secured Marc's release in a matter of weeks, acting decisively and without delay to bring Marc home." Although Mr. Fogel had been imprisoned since 2022, it was not until December 2024 that the U.S. government classified him as wrongfully detained. His family had tried to push former President Joe Biden to secure his release, but he was excluded from prisoner swaps in 2022 and 2024, to their disappointment. This timeline highlights the challenges and complexities of securing the release of wrongfully detained Americans.

It is currently unclear whether the U.S. released someone in exchange for Mr. Fogel's release. Mr. Fogel flew back to the United States with Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff. Witkoff's trip to Russia was the first visit by a senior U.S. official to the country in recent years. Most contact between the two countries has been severed since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The details of any potential exchange remain undisclosed, adding to the intrigue surrounding the release.

Waltz said Fogel's release was "a sign that we are moving in the right direction toward ending the brutal and terrible war in Ukraine." He did not provide further details. Trump announced earlier on Tuesday that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent would visit Ukraine later this week. During his presidential campaign, Trump promised to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours. But in an interview with Fox News on Monday, he said, "They [Ukraine] may make a deal, they may not make a deal. They may someday be a part of Russia, they may not." The connection between Fogel's release and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine remains a subject of speculation.

When the BBC asked about officials linking the release to the conflict in Ukraine, Anne Fogel said: "These are huge machinations of world politics at play. It will be interesting to look back on this and see how it's all tied together and… how history plays out." Her comments suggest a broader geopolitical context surrounding the release, hinting at potential future developments and interpretations.