Marc Fogel, an American educator detained in Russia since 2021, has returned to the United States following a prisoner exchange between Washington and Moscow. His release was confirmed late Tuesday, and he arrived at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, where he was welcomed by U.S. officials. Following his arrival, Fogel traveled to the White House, where he was greeted by President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and House Speaker Mike Johnson.
As part of the exchange, the U.S. released Alexander Vinnik, a Russian national who had been in American custody since 2022. Vinnik, a cybersecurity expert, was accused of laundering billions of dollars through the BTC-e cryptocurrency exchange and pleaded guilty in 2024 to conspiracy to commit money laundering. His release had been sought by Russian officials for years, and his return to Moscow was confirmed by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
At a press briefing at the White House, Fogel expressed his gratitude for being back on U.S. soil, calling the experience surreal. He praised the administration’s efforts, saying he felt incredibly fortunate to be home. His family had long advocated for his release, frustrated by previous attempts that had excluded him from prisoner swaps.
President Trump, while describing the terms of the exchange as fair, declined to provide additional details about how negotiations unfolded. However, he hinted that another detainee could be released soon, though he did not specify who or where.
Earlier on Wednesday, Trump posted on social media that he had a “lengthy and highly productive” discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to the post, they covered topics including global security, economic policy, artificial intelligence, and the conflict in Ukraine. Trump indicated that both leaders agreed to “work closely” on de-escalating tensions and would immediately begin diplomatic efforts to resolve the war.
Steve Witkoff, a senior administration official involved in the negotiations, played a key role in securing Fogel’s release. He noted that discussions had intensified in recent days, with key contributions from CIA Director John Ratcliffe, National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. According to Witkoff, the Saudi leader acted as an intermediary, using his influence to facilitate the exchange.
Witkoff described the final stages of the deal as uncertain. He recalled receiving a call confirming that Fogel was at a Russian airport and immediately alerting President Trump, who urged him to move quickly. Once on the ground, Witkoff verified Fogel’s status and arranged for his departure. Upon exiting Russian airspace, they contacted Fogel’s family, who had been anxiously awaiting news of his return.
Fogel’s family released a statement expressing immense relief, thanking President Trump and all those involved in securing his freedom. His legal representatives also commended the administration’s swift action, highlighting the difference from past efforts that had failed to secure his release.
His case had drawn comparisons to previous high-profile prisoner exchanges, including the 2022 swap of WNBA player Brittney Griner for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. Supporters had long pushed for Fogel to be classified as wrongfully detained, a designation he was finally granted in late 2024.
Following his arrival at the White House, Fogel met privately with President Trump before departing to reunite with his loved ones. Administration officials framed the release as a diplomatic success while emphasizing that efforts continue to bring home other Americans still detained abroad.
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