Donald Trump has expressed his joy at the return of American schoolteacher Marc Fogel, who has been released from a Russian prison. The former president remarked that Vladimir Putin received “not much” in exchange for Fogel’s release.
Trump also indicated that another individual would be released on Wednesday, although he did not disclose their identity.
Marc Fogel, a 63-year-old ex-diplomat, arrived at Joint Base Andrews near Washington DC late Tuesday night before proceeding to the White House.
According to US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Fogel’s release was part of a negotiated exchange with Russia, which has not yet commented on the matter.
Trump, alongside Mr. Fogel at the White House, remarked, “He appears to be in excellent condition.”
He informed reporters that the release represented a “show of good faith” from Russia and suggested it “could play a significant role” in resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
“We received a warm reception from Russia,” he stated. “I genuinely hope this marks the start of a relationship that leads to the end of the war and spares millions of lives.”
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago, it is estimated that hundreds of thousands, primarily soldiers, have lost their lives.
Characterizing the prisoner exchange with Russia as “very fair and reasonable,” Trump mentioned that “another individual will be released tomorrow.”
“I feel incredibly fortunate at this moment,” expressed Mr. Fogel. “As a middle-class school teacher, I find myself in a surreal situation.”
Earlier, Mr. Fogel’s sister, Anne Fogel, shared with the BBC that her brother, detained in Russia since 2021, was transferred last Wednesday from a penal facility in Rybinsk. She noted that while the family was aware of the possibility of his release, the negotiations were “very delicate.”
Upon his return to the United States, the White House shared on X: “PROMISES MADE, PROMISES KEPT!” along with a photo of Mr. Fogel.
In a statement provided to CBS News, his wife Jane and sons Ethan and Sam expressed, “This has been the darkest and most painful period of our lives, but today marks the beginning of our healing.”
Mr. Fogel was arrested at an airport in 2021 for the illegal possession of cannabis.
He faced charges for carrying a small quantity of medical marijuana, which had been prescribed in the United States, and received a 14-year prison sentence.
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Mr. Fogel’s legal team expressed gratitude to Trump for his involvement in the negotiations and criticized what they termed the “bureaucratic inaction” of the Biden administration.
“President Trump facilitated Marc’s release in a matter of weeks, taking swift and decisive action to bring him home,” stated his lawyers in a message also sent to CBS.
Waltz remarked that Mr. Fogel’s release signifies progress towards concluding the devastating conflict in Ukraine. He did not elaborate further.
Earlier on Tuesday, Trump announced that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent would be visiting Ukraine later this week.
During his presidential campaign, Trump pledged to resolve the war in Ukraine within 24 hours.
However, in a Fox News interview on Monday, he stated, “They [Ukraine] may reach an agreement, or they may not. They could become Russian one day, or they might not.”
When questioned by the BBC regarding the connection drawn by officials between the release and the situation in Ukraine, Anne Fogel commented, “These are the significant dynamics of global politics at play. It will be fascinating to reflect on this in the future and see how it all integrates and how history unfolds.”
