Laila Kirkpatrick, Staff Writer
Marc Fogel was an American history teacher who was deemed to have been wrongfully detained by Russian authorities. Fogel was freed and returned to the U.S. recently in what the White House defined as a diplomatic thaw. They went on to say that this “thaw” could be a major step in advancing negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin released a statement on Wednesday stating that a Russian citizen was freed in the United States in exchange for Fogel, who had been held in Moscow.
The Kremlin refused to identify who this person was until their arrival in Russia had been confirmed. Steve Witkoff, a special envoy for President Trump, departed Russia with Fogel late Tuesday, where Trump reportedly welcomed him back to the U.S. Fogel stated, “I feel like the luckiest man on Earth right now,” as he stood next to Trump with an American flag draped over his shoulders. Fogel is from Pennsylvania, where he lived with his wife, two children, and 95-year-old mother. Fogel was given the opportunity to speak with them shortly after his arrival at the White House on Wednesday. Trump alluded to another prisoner swap occurring, saying someone “very special” would be released Wednesday, though he declined to give any other specifics. Fogel praised Putin, stating that Putin was “very generous and statesmanlike in granting me a pardon.”
