Trump greets American teacher after his release from Russian prison
12 February 2025 5:01am GMT
Marc Fogel, the American schoolteacher freed by Russia after three and a half years in prison, got a flag-waving welcome from Donald Trump as he arrived at the White House on Tuesday night.
Steve Witkoff, the US president’s envoy, flew to Moscow on a private jet to secure Mr Fogel’s release, and left with him in tow.
“I feel like the luckiest man on earth right now,” Mr Fogel, a history teacher from Pennsylvania, said, with an American flag draped around his shoulders.
“I’m a middle-class school teacher who’s now in a dream world.”
Mr Trump, standing alongside Mr Fogel in the White House Diplomatic Reception Room, said: “To me he looks damned good.”
Mike Waltz, Mr Trump’s national security adviser, said the US and Russia “negotiated an exchange” to ensure Mr Fogel’s release.
When Mr Trump was asked what the US gave up in exchange for Mr Fogel, he said: “Not much” and called the release a show of good faith from the Russians.
“We were treated very nicely by Russia. Actually, I hope that’s the beginning of a relationship where we can end that (Ukraine) war and millions of people can stop being killed,” Mr Trump said.
He added: “We just wanted to get him back home.”
Mr Trump said another hostage would be released on Wednesday, but he did not say who they would be. He called the terms of Mr Fogel’s release “very fair”.
It comes as the US and Russia are thought to be in direct behind-the-scenes talks about ending the war in Ukraine, with details of the plan to be hammered out in Europe this week.
Mr Waltz described the development in Moscow as “a sign we are moving in the right direction to end the brutal and terrible war in Ukraine”.
Mr Fogel’s family thanked Mr Trump for securing his release, saying they were “beyond grateful, relieved and overwhelmed”.
With his American passport in hand, the history teacher was pictured kissing a glass of whiskey on board Mr Witloff’s private jet in his first taste of freedom.