Trump hails Russia’s release of US teacher amid Witkoff’s visit – live

Donald Trump will begin his day in Washington, and host a roundtable at the White House at ۲.۳۰pm ET.

He’ll then continue he midterm campaign blitz by heading to Clemson, South Carolina, where he’ll rally for Darline Graham – the Republican nominee for US Senate who is hoping to secure a full term for her late brother’s seat. Trump won the Palmetto state by almost ۱۸ points in ۲۰۲۴.

A reminder that Darline was appointed by the South Carolina governor to carry out the remainder of Lindsey Graham’s time in office after his death in July. However, she now faces a competitive race against Annie Andrews, a paediatrician and the Democratic nominee, in a contest that has become rancorous in recent months.

My colleague Jakub Krupa over on our Europe live blog is staying abreast of the Witkoff and Putin meeting in St Petersburg.

Trump’s envoy is trying to advocate progress on peace talks after meeting yesterday with Zelenskyy in Norway.

We’re not expecting much though – both sides are still launching daily drone and missile strikes.

The first comments from the Kremlin on the meeting so far say Russia will analyze the US proposals but “much depends on Ukraine” and “if Ukraine does not make necessary decisions, situation for them will be worse.”

As voters struggle with the rising cost of living and gas prices up ۴۵% since the Iran War, Trump on the campaign trail this week has also repeated his $۵,۰۰۰ cash promise to every American adult if the Republicans win the House and Senate.

That’s a $۱.۲ trillion cash splash. Lawmakers in his own party have questioned where the money will come from while Democrats have called it blatant vote-buying scheme.

The White House says the payments will be funded by foreign trade deals, investment by foreign countries and government shares in private companies and oil and gas.

There’s also scepticism among voters as to whether they’ll actually see the cheque. Some have pointed out that previous government dividends promised by Trump – such as tariff revenues- never materialised. Meanwhile voters are facing rising inflation and a national average price of gas is more than $۴ a gallon.

Roughly half of registered voters say Trump does not keep his promises, according to September AP-NORC poll.

The US president has just posted on Hubbard’s release, saying: “Welcome home Stephen, it’s great to have you back.”

The statement posted on his Truth Social says the prisoner release was the result of a direct request Trump made to Putin in a telephone call last week.

“Stephen is on his way back home and will soon be with his family,” the statement reads.

The United States, out of respect for President Trump, was not required to give anything in return – an unprecedented situation for Russia.

There was no “swap” necessary for this release. This major return should have taken place long ago through the Biden Administration, which got nowhere in its negotiations with the Kremlin. Stephen is on his way back home.

US envoy Steve Witkoff announced this morning that Russia authorities had freed Stephen Hubbard, the first American known to be convicted of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine.

Hubbard, who grew up in Michigan, had been living with his Ukrainian wife in the eastern Ukrainian city of Izyum. He was arrested when the Russians briefly took over the city at the start of the war in ۲۰۲۲.

In ۲۰۲۴, he was sentenced to nearly seven years in prison by a Russian court. But he has always denied being involved with any combat or military unit, saying that the Russians just took him from his house.

Trump yesterday had flagged Hubbard’s release saying he’d spoken with Putin in regards to the ۷۴-year-old. “It’s time to have Mr Hubbard back,” he said.

Good morning and welcome to our coverage of US politics. With ۱۴ days until the mid-terms, we’re heading into the final straight.

President Donald Trump attended a rally last night in North Carolina, where Democrat Roy Cooper is leading Trump’s pick Michael Whatley by a considerable margin.

Undaunted though, Trump said the pollsters “never poll us right” and he predicted “some amazing results”. He repeated his $۵,۰۰۰ cash “goodie” to voters if Republicans retain control of both the Congress and Senate. He’s got another rally in South Carolina later today.

Overnight he’s also posted on data centers – saying that companies building the energy-intensive sites should pay a “dividend” to the communities where they’re located, including several proposed warehouses in Michigan, where the president will head to on the weekend.

Trump has been pushing rapid AI expansion but in a nod to how unpopular these water and electricity-guzzling centres are with locals who have to live near them, he’s been hinting at community benefits.

Trump said the “new and giant” centers “are mandated by me to make their own electricity , and ‌give or sell any excess back to the local community, or grid”.

Meanwhile US envoy Steve Witkoff is in St Petersburg for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Ukraine; some earlier wrangling by Trump has succeeded in the release of US schoolteacher Stephen Hubbard, who was captured by the Russians and accused of having fought for Ukraine.

Stay with us for all the day’s developments.