US President’s envoy Steven Witkoff visited Moscow on 11 February to retrieve American citizen Marc Fogel, a trainer who spent over three years in Russian custody on drug possession costs.
Supply: The White Home; The New York Instances, as reported by European Pravda
Particulars: Nationwide Safety Advisor Michael Waltz acknowledged that Witkoff, appearing on Trump’s directive, flew Fogel out of Russia on his personal jet as a part of a prisoner trade.
Quote from Waltz: "President Trump, Steve Witkoff and the president’s advisers negotiated an trade that serves as a present of excellent religion from the Russians and an indication we’re transferring in the fitting route to finish the brutal and horrible conflict in Ukraine."
Extra particulars: No particulars had been supplied on whether or not the US or an allied nation launched anybody in return or what steps the Trump administration took to safe Fogel’s launch. It’s also unclear if Witkoff met with any Russian officers throughout his go to to Moscow.
Fogel, a trainer and former US Embassy staffer, was arrested in Russia in August 2021 for bringing in medical marijuana. In June 2022, he was sentenced to 21 years in jail.
Earlier on Tuesday, 11 February, media retailers famous {that a} Gulfstream enterprise jet, owned by Witkoff and continuously utilized by Trump, had landed in Moscow.
Background: In August 2024, a significant prisoner swap passed off in Türkiye involving 24 detainees, with the participation of six Western nations, together with the US and Germany, in addition to Russia. Negotiations lasted over two years. On the time, Trump known as the trade "a victory for Putin".
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