The US president earlier signaled that he expects the release of another detainee later this week
US President Donald Trump is determined to secure the release of all American citizens detained in Russia, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said. His remarks followed the release by Moscow of US national Marc Fogel, a former US Embassy employee who was sentenced to 14 years in prison on drug trafficking charges.
Fogel, a teacher from Pennsylvania, was detained at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport in August 2021, several months after losing his diplomatic immunity. The authorities found marijuana in his possession, which he claimed was medically prescribed.
Fogel was picked up on Tuesday by the plane of Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy for the Middle East. The White House praised the release as a “show of good faith,” adding that it is a “sign we are moving in the right direction to end the brutal and terrible war in Ukraine.”
Commenting on the development, Rubio stated that Washington seeks to free even more Americans from Russian custody. “Promises made, promises kept. President Trump promised the Fogel family he would bring Marc home, and today, Marc is on his way. After three and a half years of detention in Russia, Marc is finally free. Marc’s release is also a reminder that other American citizens are still detained in Russia. President Trump is committed to bringing all of them home,” the statement released by the State Department read.
Trump said he appreciated what Russian President Vladimir Putin did to facilitate the deal. He also confirmed that another detained American would be released on Wednesday, without providing further details.
Currently, at least nine Americans remain detained in Russia on charges ranging from espionage and drug-related offenses to allegations of assault. Their sentences vary significantly, with prison terms ranging from under four years to 21 years, according to AP.
Fogel’s release marks the first time an American detained in Russia has been freed during Trump’s second term. The last major US-Russia prisoner exchange took place in August 2024, involving 26 individuals in the largest swap since the Cold War.
