Marc Fogel Freed in U.S.-Russia Exchange

American teacher Marc Fogel, who was detained in Russia in 2021 for possessing medically prescribed marijuana, has been released as part of a prisoner exchange negotiated by President Donald Trump’s administration. Fogel, who was serving a 14-year sentence, is returning to the United States with Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and is expected to reunite with his family shortly. The specifics of the exchange, including what the US conceded, have not been disclosed. This development is framed by Trump’s team as a diplomatic success and a move towards ending the Ukraine conflict. The White House emphasizes this as part of a broader strategy to secure the release of Americans detained abroad. The release comes after Fogel was designated as 'wrongfully detained' by the State Department, and follows recent media attention on his case.