WASHINGTON: Moscow freed an American prisoner on Tuesday after the first-known visit by a member of President Donald Trump’s administration to Russia, in a deal the White House said bodes well for ending the Ukraine war.

The White House said Trump secured the release of Marc Fogel, an American jailed since 2021 on drug charges, as part of an “exchange”.

Steve Witkoff, a property developer and close friend of Trump who serves as his Middle East envoy, was involved in the release and was “leaving Russian airspace” with Fogel, the White House said.

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2025