An American teacher imprisoned in Russia is returning to the United States on Tuesday after his release was secured by President Donald Trump, following negotiations led by Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff.
The New York Times reports that Marc Fogel was jailed for 14 years in June 2022 after being arrested in August 2021 on charges of bringing marijuana to Russia.
Fogel, who spent more than two years in a Russian jail, was released on Tuesday and taken out of Russia by Witkoff’s private jet.
Mike Waltz, National Security Advisor, said, “President Trump and Steve Witkoff negotiated an agreement which serves as a demonstration of Russian good faith and a sign that we are moving forward in the right direction in ending the brutal and horrible war in Ukraine.”
He said that, since Trump’s inauguration, “he has succeeded in securing the release of Americans held around the world. And he will keep going until all Americans are released to the United States.”
Waltz stated that by Tuesday evening, Fogel would “be on American soil, reunited with family and loved ones thanks to President Trump’s leadership.”
Waltz didn’t provide any details on whether Fogel was exchanged for a prisoner from the United States or an ally. Or the steps taken to ensure the release.
The Times reports that it was not clear who Witkoff had spoken with, or whether Ukraine was included in the discussion. Neither the White House nor Witkoff have commented on these questions.
Fogel was not classified as wrongfully detained by the Biden administration until December, a few weeks before former President Joe Biden’s departure.
Witkoff was negotiating in secret but online flight tracking software detected that his private jet had entered Russia.
The first top official from the United States to visit Moscow since William Burns, former CIA director, flew to Moscow in November 2021 for a brief stopover to prevent Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The deal between Russia and the United States for Fogel has been hailed as a gesture of goodwill and a sign that Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to repair ties with Trump’s administration.
Putin has frequently praised Trump who has expressed some doubts regarding Ukrainian leadership.
Fogel’s wife, Jane, and sons Ethan and Sam thanked Trump in a statement for securing their relative’s release, saying they are “beyond grateful, relieved, and overwhelmed” that he is “finally coming home.”
Sources briefed about the situation say that Witkoff’s involvement in the release extends beyond his Middle East role.
Trump has appointed retired three-star General Keith Kellogg to be his envoy in Ukraine and Russia. But, Witkoff was reportedly given secret authority weeks earlier to extend his role beyond the Middle East and play a part in the Russia-Ukraine process of peace.
Sources said Witkoff spoke with close Putin allies before flying to Moscow, and also that he had discussed Ukraine with contacts in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
No one would confirm that Trump and Putin had directly spoken.
Fogel’s supporters have been pressing for his release to show their support for the Trump administration.
Malphine, his 95-year-old mother, lives in Butler Pennsylvania, and attended the rally at which Trump was shot. She met the then-candidate before the rally and was going to join him on stage. But the plan was canceled when a gunman opened fire.
Fogel’s supporters also hoped that he would be part of the larger prisoner exchange which freed former Marine Paul Whelan, and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. However, the Biden administration did not push for Fogel’s release as he was still classified as wrongly detained.
Fogel’s team of lawyers called the Biden decisions “years of bureaucratic inaction”.
Attorneys Martin de Luca & Andrew Smith stated that “President Trump was able to secure Marc’s release within a matter of weeks. He wasted no time taking decisive actions to bring Marc back home.”