Trump Welcomes Marc Fogel Back to the US
Donald Trump has welcomed American schoolteacher Marc Fogel after his release from a Russian prison. Trump remarked that Russian President Vladimir Putin didn’t get much in return from the exchange. He also mentioned that another detainee would be released on Wednesday, though he didn’t disclose their identity.
Marc Fogel’s Return to the US
Marc Fogel, a 63-year-old former diplomat, arrived at Joint Base Andrews near Washington DC late on Tuesday night before heading to the White House. His release was part of a negotiated exchange with Russia, according to US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. Russia has not commented on the release yet.
Trump’s Remarks on the Release
Standing with Fogel at the White House, Trump said, “To me, he looks damn good.” He described the release as a “show of good faith” from Russia and hoped it could help in ending the war in Ukraine. Trump expressed optimism that this could mark the beginning of better relations and lead to peace, saving millions of lives. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago, hundreds of thousands, mostly soldiers, have lost their lives.
Trump’s Comment on the Prisoner Exchange
Trump called the prisoner deal with Russia “fair and reasonable” and stated, “somebody else is being released tomorrow.” Fogel expressed his gratitude, saying, “I feel like the luckiest man on Earth right now. I’m a middle-class school teacher who’s now in a dream world.”
Family’s Reactions to the Release
Fogel’s sister, Anne Fogel, told the BBC that her brother, who was detained in 2021, was moved from a penal colony in Rybinsk last Wednesday. While the family hoped for his release, they knew the negotiations were fragile.
Upon Fogel’s return to the US, the White House posted on X: “PROMISES MADE, PROMISES KEPT!” along with a picture of Fogel. His wife Jane and their sons, Ethan and Sam, released a statement, saying, “This has been the darkest and most painful period of our lives, but today, we begin to heal.”
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Marc Fogel’s Arrest and Legal Proceedings
Marc Fogel was arrested in 2021 at a Russian airport for carrying a small amount of medical marijuana, which had been prescribed to him in the US. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison. Fogel’s legal team thanked Trump for his decisive role in securing his release and criticized the Biden administration for its delayed response. According to his lawyers, Trump acted quickly to bring Fogel home.
Biden Administration’s Delayed Response
The US government did not initially classify Fogel’s detention as wrongful until December 2024, despite him beginning his sentence in 2022. His family had urged President Joe Biden to secure his release, but he was not included in prisoner exchanges in 2022 and 2024. In contrast, American basketball player Brittney Griner, arrested on similar charges in 2022, was released in exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. Later, the Biden administration secured the release of three other Americans in a major prisoner swap with Russia.
Family’s Frustration with Biden Administration
Anne Fogel expressed feelings of “betrayal” when her brother was left out of the prisoner exchanges, which Biden had hailed as a “feat of diplomacy.” Marc Fogel, originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, had worked as a teacher at the Anglo-American School in Moscow and as a diplomat at the US embassy there. While in prison, he reportedly taught English to fellow inmates.
Unclear Whether the US Released Someone in Return
It remains uncertain if the US released someone in exchange for Fogel’s release. He flew back to the US with Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East. Witkoff’s visit to Russia marked the first trip by a senior US official to the country in years, as most communication between the nations had been cut off following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
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Hope for a Positive Shift in US-Russia Relations
National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said that Fogel’s release was a “sign we are moving in the right direction to end the brutal and terrible war in Ukraine,” although he did not provide further details. Trump also announced that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent would visit Ukraine later in the week. During his presidential campaign, Trump had promised to end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours. However, in a Fox News interview, he said Ukraine might make a deal with Russia, but whether they would remain independent or become part of Russia was uncertain.
Anne Fogel’s Thoughts on World Politics
When asked by the BBC about the connection between her brother’s release and the ongoing war in Ukraine, Anne Fogel reflected, “These are the giant machinations of world politics at play. It’s going to be interesting to look back at this and see how this all fits in and how history plays out.”