Marc Fogel Freed from Russian Prison in U.S.-Russia Exchange

The release of the American teacher has sparked renewed diplomatic efforts to end the Ukraine war, with U.S. officials engaging both Moscow and Kyiv.

Marc Fogel, a U.S. citizen and former teacher in Moscow, was released from Russian custody after being imprisoned on drug smuggling charges since 2021.
The prisoner exchange was facilitated by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, marking the first high-level visit to Russia by a U.S. official in years.
President Donald Trump celebrated the release as a gesture of goodwill from Russia and expressed optimism for progress in ending the Ukraine conflict.
U.S. officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, are set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss potential resolutions to the war.
The diplomatic developments come ahead of the Munich Security Conference, where further discussions on the Ukraine crisis are anticipated.