Former President Donald Trump has expressed joy over the return of American schoolteacher Marc Fogel, who was recently released from a Russian prison. Trump remarked on the situation, stating that Russian President Vladimir Putin had gained “not much” in exchange for Fogel’s freedom.
Fogel, a 63-year-old former diplomat, arrived at Joint Base Andrews near Washington, D.C., late Tuesday evening before heading to the White House. His return was facilitated through negotiations as part of a deal with Russia, as confirmed by U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. However, Russia has not publicly commented on the exchange.
Details of the Release
In a meeting at the White House, Trump stood alongside Fogel and remarked, “To me he looks damned good.” He characterized the release as a “show of good faith” from Russia, suggesting it could serve as a significant step toward resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. “We were treated very nicely by Russia,” Trump noted. “Actually, I hope that’s the beginning of a relationship where we can end that war and millions of people can stop being killed.” Since the onset of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago, it is estimated that hundreds of thousands have lost their lives, primarily soldiers.
“I feel like the luckiest man on Earth right now,” said Mr. Fogel. “I’m a middle-class school teacher who’s now in a dream world.”
Fogel’s family had long anticipated his release, with his sister, Anne Fogel, revealing that he was moved from a penal colony in Rybinsk just last Wednesday. The family understood that discussions regarding his release were “very tenuous.” Following his arrival in the United States, the White House celebrated with a post on X, stating, “PROMISES MADE, PROMISES KEPT!” accompanied by a picture of Fogel.
Background of the Detention
In 2021, Fogel was arrested at an airport in Russia for the illegal possession of cannabis, specifically a small amount of medical marijuana that had been prescribed in the United States. He received a 14-year prison sentence for this charge. His legal team expressed gratitude to Trump for his involvement in the negotiations and criticized what they called the “bureaucratic inaction” of the Biden administration. “President Trump secured Marc’s release in just a few weeks, wasting no time in taking decisive action to bring Marc home,” his lawyers stated.
Despite beginning his sentence in 2022, Fogel was not classified by the U.S. government as wrongfully detained until December 2024. His family had previously urged the Biden administration for his release, feeling disappointed when he was not included in earlier prisoner exchanges.
In a similar case, U.S. basketball player Brittney Griner was released after being arrested in Russia on cannabis charges in 2022, as part of a high-profile exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. The Biden administration later facilitated the release of three other Americans, marking a significant prisoner exchange between Russia and the West in recent history.
Upon his release, Anne Fogel reflected on the complexities of international politics, stating, “These are the giant machinations of world politics at play. It’s going to be interesting to look back at this and to see how this all fits in and… how history plays out.”
In addition to Trump’s announcement, Waltz indicated that Fogel’s release could be a sign of improving relations aimed at ending the conflict in Ukraine. However, he did not disclose further details concerning the negotiations. As Trump prepares for his presidential campaign, he has vowed to resolve the war in Ukraine swiftly, suggesting that negotiations might yield uncertain outcomes.