Trump Admin Touts Big Win in Negotiations with Russia as 'a Sign' That End of Ukraine War Is Near

Could the recent release of a schoolteacher detained in Russia since 2021 be a "sign" that the Trump administration is making strides toward brokering peace with Moscow over the Ukraine conflict?

That’s the speculation from White House national security advisor Michael Waltz after securing the release of Marc Fogel, who had been held in Russia for over three years.

Fogel, a Pennsylvania educator, had been imprisoned for possession of medical marijuana and sentenced to 14 years behind bars. In October 2024, the U.S. government designated him as "wrongfully detained," according to KDKA-TV.

This decision followed criticism from Fogel’s family, who had condemned then-President Joe Biden for negotiating the freedom of other detainees—such as WNBA star Brittney Griner—while leaving Fogel behind.

"The United States hasn’t really done anything to further his cause, and Russia is probably just complacent. They don’t care," his mother, Malphine Fogel, said in August, per CBS News.

As of Tuesday night, however, Fogel has returned to the United States:

Waltz previously confirmed that Fogel was on his way out of Russian airspace, accompanied by Steve Witkoff, the president’s special envoy to the Middle East, who was also instrumental in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire negotiations.

"I feel like the luckiest man on Earth right now," Fogel said during a media briefing with President Trump in the White House’s Diplomatic Reception Room, describing Trump as "a hero" for securing his release, CBS News reported.

"I’m a middle-class school teacher who’s now in a dream world," he added.

Fogel’s family expressed their immense relief.

"We are beyond grateful, relieved, and overwhelmed that after more than three years of detention, our father, husband, and son, Marc Fogel, is finally coming home," they said in a statement.

"Thanks to the unwavering leadership of President Trump, Marc will soon be back on American soil, free where he belongs. This has been the darkest and most painful period of our lives, but today, we begin to heal."

Fogel’s legal representatives also commended the administration’s role in his release.

"Marc Fogel’s release is historic, long overdue, and a testament to the power of strong leadership," stated attorneys Martin De Luca and Andrew Smith.

"After years of bureaucratic inaction, including consistent refusals to designate Marc as wrongfully detained, President Trump secured Marc’s release in just a few weeks, wasting no time in taking decisive action to bring Marc home."

Even Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Fogel’s home state, acknowledged the White House’s efforts.

Though details of any exchange involved remain undisclosed, Waltz suggested the event signifies larger developments.

"President Trump, Steve Witkoff, and the president’s advisors negotiated an exchange that serves as a show of good faith from the Russians and a sign we are moving in the right direction to end the brutal and terrible war in Ukraine," Waltz said in a statement.

"Since President Trump’s swearing-in, he has successfully secured the release of Americans detained around the world, and President Trump will continue until all Americans being held are returned to the United States."

Trump himself remarked that the release "could be a big, important part of getting the war over," as reported by Bloomberg.

This isn’t just speculation tied to Fogel’s return; Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant is set to visit Ukraine this week, making him the first member of the new administration’s cabinet to do so.

Bessant is expected to take a firmer stance with Kyiv regarding the financial aspects of the war, arguing that Ukraine’s natural resources should play a role in covering defense costs.

"We need to recoup those costs, and that is going to be a partnership with the Ukrainians in terms of their rare earths, their natural resources, and their oil and gas, and also buying ours," Waltz said in a Sunday appearance on NBC News’ "Meet the Press."

"Those conversations are going to happen this week."

Trump vowed to bring both sides to the negotiating table to establish a fair peace agreement for the Russia-Ukraine War. While these latest moves don’t guarantee an imminent resolution, they do indicate that the administration is challenging the previous status quo—one the Biden administration appeared content to maintain.

Whether this truly marks a "sign" of change in the conflict remains to be seen, but the initial steps seem promising.