Russia Has Released Detained American Teacher Marc Fogel, The White House Says

FILE – A drawn portrait of Marc Fogel, who has been detained in Russia since August 2021, hangs on rails outside of the White House during a demonstration organized by his family, July 15, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The family of American teacher Marc Fogel says it’s “beyond grateful, relieved and overwhelmed” that he’s heading home after his release from Russia. The White House announced Tuesday Fogel had been released. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff left Russian airspace with Fogel on Tuesday. Trump national security adviser Michael Waltz says the U.S. and Russia “negotiated an exchange” but did not say if the U.S. released anybody in return. Waltz describes the development as “a sign we are moving in the right direction to end the brutal and terrible war in Ukraine.” Trump has promised to find a way to end the conflict. Fogel is from Pennsylvania.