In a move that has ignited speculation about the future of US-Russia relations, President Donald Trump praised Moscow for its “very nice” handling of the release of American citizen Marc Fogel, a former US Embassy employee who had been serving a 14-year sentence on drug-related charges. Trump described the exchange as a “very fair and reasonable deal,” implying that the US gave little in return. On February 12, Trump shared a video post on his X platform and wrote, “WELCOME HOME, MARC.”

The Kremlin has yet to comment on the specifics of the release, but the White House framed it as a “show of good faith,” signaling that diplomatic backchannels may be operating to defuse broader tensions. This development has fueled speculation that this diplomatic gesture could pave the way for further negotiations, particularly regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has claimed thousands of lives and remains a major source of geopolitical strife.

Fogel’s release was reportedly facilitated through extensive negotiations, spearheaded by US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff. On February 12, Witkoff returned to the United States with Fogel, an event followed by Trump’s public expression of gratitude toward Russia’s cooperation.

“We were treated very nicely by Russia, actually. I hope that’s the beginning of a relationship where we can end that war and millions of people can stop being killed,” Trump told reporters at the White House. His choice of words suggested an overture toward Moscow, potentially signaling an effort to reset relations after years of hostilities, particularly over Ukraine and NATO expansion.

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