US special representative in the Middle East Steve Witkoff Some things were still in the air when he hopped on his jet to Russia to discuss the potential release of the American school teacher Marc Fogel.
Witkoff, a long -time friend of President Donald Trump, said on Wednesday by “Hannity” that someone who is a mediator between the United States and the Russian governments has achieved with the opportunity to bring Fogel back.
A plan was presented to the president and Members of his cabinet, Including the national security advisor Mike Waltz and the CIA director John Ratcliffe, who considered the information as “credible” and “implementable”.
Marc Fogel, a history teacher in Pennsylvania who worked at the Anglo-American school in Moscow, returned to US floor on Tuesday evening after Russia, where he had been imprisoned since 2021, was published after talks with the officials of the Trump administration. (The White House over X)
Sean Hannity, moderator of Fox News, asked Witkoff whether he knew the ultimate result when he climbed to the jet.
“You know, we thought we had a very, very good chance that Marc would come back. We weren’t positive. There were still some things that I have no freedom about tonight,” said the real estate investor.
“We thought it was a sufficient opportunity that we had to go, and hopefully we had a good result. And of course we did it. So I’m grateful for it and grateful for the Fogel family.”
Fogel was released on Tuesday after spending about three years in a Russian prison for drug accusations. He was not recorded in August 2024 mass prisoner exchange Between the United States and Russia, in which the Wall Street Journal Evan Gershkovich and the Marine Veteran Paul Whelan were freed.
This picture published by the White House shows Evan Gershkovich, left, Alsu Kurmasheva, right and Paul Whelan, second from right, and others on board an aircraft on Thursday, August 1, 2024, after being released from Russian captivity. (White house about AP)
The White House announced the Russian National Alexander Vinnik, who was guilty last year Conspiracy to commit money launderingwould be published as part of the fogel exchange.
Witkoff refused to comment on whether he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his trip.
Fogel met with Trump late Tuesday evening An American flag carried over his shoulders in the White House.
“I feel like the happiest man on earth at the moment,” he said, praising the president and his team as “heroes” for ensuring that he has secured his release and brought home.
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US President Donald Trump welcomes Marc Fogel to the USA after being released in the White House on February 11, 2025 in Washington, DC. Fogel, a history teacher from Pennsylvania, served a 14-year prison sentence after he was arrested at an airport in Moscow in August 2021 because he had owned cannabis that he reported to the treatment of chronic back pain. He was previously released today as part of an exchange negotiated by the Trump administration. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
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“I think he (Fogel) also caught up after three and a half years in prison. I think he saw himself as lucky. He is an example of a very, very brave person and I am glad that I was privilege Meet him to know him, “said Witkoff. “I will stay in touch with him and play a small role to get his freedom.”
