WASHINGTON (AP) – Mark Vogel, a teacher of American history considered illegally detained by Russia, described the White House as a diplomatic thawing that could encourage negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. He was released and returned to the United States.
Steve Witkov, President Donald Trump’s special envoy, left Russia with Vogel and brought him to the White House where Trump welcomed him.
“I feel like the luckyest man on the planet right now,” Fogel said, standing next to Trump, holding the American flag covered in his shoulder.
Fogel, a native of Pennsylvania who was expected to reunite with his family by the end of the day, said he would benefit Trump forever.
Trump said another American would be released Wednesday, but he refused to name the person or say it from any country, which is what he is “very special.” He said he just said that.
The president refused to say whether he spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin about Vogel, but Vogel said that he “looks very generous and politician at giving me pardon.” He praised him.
President Donald Trump accompanied by Mark Vogel will speak in Washington on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at the White House Diplomatic Response Office. (Photo by Alex Brandon)
Asked about the terms of the transaction, Trump said: It’s not like the deal you’ve seen over the years. They were very fair. ”
He did not say that the US traded for Fogel’s release.
Fogel was arrested in August 2021 and sentenced to 14 years in prison. His family and supporters say he was traveling with medically prescribed marijuana, and he was mistakenly taken into custody in December and was designated by the administration of President Joe Biden. .
Trump’s national security adviser Michael Waltz said the US and Russia “negotiated an exchange” to ensure Vogel’s release. He didn’t say what the US side of bargains entailed. Previous negotiations have sometimes involved mutual release of Russians by the United States or its allies.
Waltz said the development was “a sign that we are moving in the right direction to end the brutal and terrible war in Ukraine.” Republican Trump has pledged to find a way to end the conflict.
Trump also spoke about having good relations with Putin, who launched a full-scale Ukraine invasion in 2022. Last month, Trump said his administration was having a “very serious” conversation with Russia about the war.
Speaking to a White House reporter earlier Tuesday, Trump said: “We were actually treated very well by Russia. I hope that is the beginning of a relationship where we can end that war.”
When asked if the US had given up on something in return, Trump replied, “Not that many,” but did not elaborate.
Fogel’s relatives said they were “thank you, relieved and overwhelmed” that they were back home.
“This was the darkest and most painful time of our lives, but today we are beginning to heal,” they said. “For the first time in years, our family is looking forward to the future with hope.”
There were no immediate comments from Moscow about Vogel’s release on Tuesday.
The US, Russia and other countries conducted a massive prisoner swap in August, resulting in the announcement of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and American company security executive Paul Whelan. .
However, the deal ruled out many other Americans who were imprisoned in Russia, including Vogel. Some were then omitted, but not included in Tuesday’s release. It has since had a major milestone in cases.
Among them was convicted of treason in a Russian court shortly after the prisoner swap last August, and sentenced to 12 years for accusations stemming from donations to charities to Ukrainian aid charities. There are US Russia’s dual national national Ksenia Khavana, declared. John Kirby, then-Biden White House national security spokesman, called his beliefs and rulings “nothing like vindictive abuse.”
Last October, US Robert Gilman was sentenced to more than seven years in Russia for allegedly attacking law enforcement officers while sentenced to another attack, but US Stephen Hubbard said He was sentenced to prison in a closed trial, where he was allegedly fighting as a merc soldier. Ukraine.
As the Russian-Ukraine war approaches the end of its third year, Trump’s plans to ensure an end to the conflict remain unknown, but he says both sides need to make concessions, and Ukraine has at least some territory.
Vogel’s release and Trump’s announcement that Treasury Secretary Scott Bescent could be sent to Kiev for consultations with Ukrainian leaders, suggests that plans may be beginning to take shape. It may indicate.
Vice President J.D. Vice President Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, and Trump’s Russian and Ukrainian envoys have retired as General Keith Kellogg and will travel to a security conference in Munich later this week. .
Kellogg told The Associated Press on Monday that he and others were talking to European officials about a very broad overview of what Trump would like to see their interests.
“We give our allies our hopes,” Kellogg said. “When we come back from Munich – we want to bring options to the president, so when he gets involved in the peace process (directly), he knows what it will look like for him. Masu.”
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