▲ President Trump and Middle East Envoy Witkoff
On the 11th (local time), the White House announced that an American detained in Russia has been released, describing Russia’s move as a positive signal for the end of the war in Ukraine.
In a statement, Mike Waltz, the White House National Security Advisor, said, “Today, President Trump and Steve Witkoff, the Middle East Envoy, can announce that Envoy Witkoff is leaving Russian airspace with American Mark Fogel, who was detained in Russia.”
He further emphasized that “President Trump, Envoy Witkoff, and the President’s advisors negotiated (the detainee) exchange as a gesture of goodwill from Russia and a sign of moving in the right direction to end the brutal and terrible war occurring in Ukraine.”
Advisor Waltz also added, “Since taking office, President Trump has successfully secured the release of Americans detained around the world, and will continue to work until all detained Americans return.”
Additionally, he stated, “Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, Fogel will arrive on U.S. territory by tonight to reunite with his family and loved ones.”
Fogel, an employee of the U.S. Embassy in Russia and a teacher at an American school in Moscow, was arrested by Russian authorities in the summer of 2021 when drugs were found in his luggage as he entered Russia from the United States.
Fogel claimed that the drugs were medically prescribed by an American doctor, but his claim was not accepted, and he was convicted and serving time in a Russian prison.
He was expected to be released during the largest prisoner exchange with Russia since the end of the Cold War in August last year, involving the U.S. and the West, but was excluded from the list.
Meanwhile, reports surfaced in the media the day before regarding Special Envoy Witkoff’s visit to Russia, but Russian authorities did not confirm this and denied that there were plans for him to meet with the Kremlin.
Witkoff, a real estate businessman and Trump’s golf partner, who also served as the chairman of the inauguration preparation committee, participated in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire negotiations even before Trump took office and achieved results in the Middle East by pressuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a ceasefire.
This time, by resolving the issue of detainees in Russia, he is being evaluated for extending his activities beyond his designated field.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)