Trump: 'Stupid people wanted me to put sanctions on Russia'
Donald Trump (photo: Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump called those who urged him to impose sanctions on Russia "stupid people." He believes sanctions would have prevented the release of American Stephen Hubbard from a Russian prison.
"People, stupid people, wanted me to put sanctions on Russia," the US president said.
According to him, Moscow simply laughs at such restrictions. "They [Russians –ed.] laugh at the sanctions," Trump stressed.
He explained his position using Hubbard's case as an example. Trump asked what it would have looked like if he had asked Putin to release an American while imposing sanctions on Russia at the same time. "Can you imagine?" the American leader said.
The 74-year-old retired teacher from Michigan was captured by Russian forces in Ukraine in April 2022. Russia convicted him on allegations that he had fought on Ukraine's side as a mercenary. The United States had designated him as wrongfully detained.
Hubbard was released on October 21 during a visit to St. Petersburg by Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff. Trump said he had asked Putin to release the American during a phone call and emphasized that no prisoner exchange had taken place. The Kremlin said it released Hubbard on humanitarian grounds.
