US special envoy Steve Whitkov visited Russia and secured the liberation of Mark Fogel, an American teacher arrested and held in that country since August 2021, the White House said.

“The president TrumpSteve Whitkov and the president’s advisers negotiated an exchange showing the good will of the Russians and is an indication that we are heading in the right direction to end the brutal and horrible war in Ukraine“Said Mike Walts, the White House National Security Advisor.

Witten, who is a special envoy to Trump for the Middle East, traveled to Russia to pick up Fogel, Walts said. This trip had not been announced in advance.

“Tonight, Mark Fogel will be on American soil and reunite with his family and loved ones, thanks to President Trump’s leadership,” Walts added.

Trump had implied that he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin but was very vague in what was said. He only said that he insisted on ending the war in Ukraine.

Fogel was arrested at Moscow’s Seremetievo Airport in August 2021 because 17 grams of marijuana were found in his luggage, which he claimed to use for medical reasons. He was subsequently sentenced to 14 years in prison for drug trafficking.