A school in the US released from Russia

American teacher and former diplomat Mark Fogel has landed in the United States after being released from prison in Russia.

The 63-year-old landed on a joint base Andrews just outside Washington at the end of Tuesday night. He is ready to meet with President Donald Trump in the White House later.

The release of G -N Fogel was agreed as part of an exchange with Russia, said US National Security Advisor Mike Walz earlier on Tuesday without providing further details.

Russia has not commented on its release. Meanwhile, the sister of G -n Fogel told the BBC about his “great relief” of his freedom.

“I plan to celebrate in the next 24 hours,” said Ann Fogel. “We're so happy.”

She said her brother, who was detained in Russia in 2021, was moved last Wednesday from a criminal colony to Ribinsk. She said the family knew that his release was an opportunity, but also that “these negotiations are very weak.”

After landing on American soil, the White House was published on X: “Promises have been made, promised!” Together with a photo of G -N Fogel.

In a statement received from CBS News, the BBC American news partner, his wife Jane and sons Ethan said, “It was the most darkest and most painful period of our lives, but today we are starting to treat.”

D -n Fogel was arrested at an airport for illegal possession of cannabis in 2021.

He was accused of carrying a small amount of medical marijuana prescribed in the United States and received a 14-year sentence.

The legal team of G -n Fogel thanked Trump for his role in the negotiations and criticized what they call the “bureaucratic inaction” of the previous Biden administration.

“President Trump has secured the release of Mark in just a few weeks, not wasting time to take decisive action to bring Mark home,” said CBS's lawyers.

D -N Fogel was not classified by the US government as an improperly detained until December 2024, although it began its sentence in 2022.

His family tried to encourage former President Joe Biden to secure his release and was left disappointed when he was left out of prisoners in 2022 and 2024.

American basketball star Britney Grinner, who was arrested in Russia on a similar charge for possession of cannabis in 2022, was Released in an exchange of Russian arms dealer Victor Booth 10 months laterS

Subsequently the Biden Administration provided the release of three more Americans last year as part of The largest exchange of prisoners between Russia and the West after the Cold WarS The Americans were released were the Wall Street Journal reporter Evan GERSKOVIC, the American marine veteran Paul Wilan and the Russian-American journalist on radio Alsa Kurmasheva.

Ann Fogel Before the BBC During feeling “betrayal” when she learned that her brother was not included in the prisoners exchange – which Biden praised as a “feat of diplomacy”.

Mr. Fogel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was a teacher at the Anglo-American School of Moscow. He had previously worked as a diplomat at the US Embassy there.

While in prison, he announces that he has taught English to prisoners.

It is unclear if the US has released someone in exchange for G -n Fogel.

D -Fogel flew to the United States with Steve Vikof, President Donald Trump's special envoy to the Middle East.

Vitcof's journey to Russia has been the first of the US senior employee for several years. Most contacts between the nations were excluded after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The National Security Advisor Wals stated that the release of G -N -Fogel is “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.” He did not provide additional details.

President Trump announced on Tuesday that Finance Minister Scott Bensten will travel to Ukraine later this week.

During his presidential campaign, Trump promised to end the war in Ukraine for 24 hours.

But in an interview with Fox News on Monday, he said, “They (Ukraine) can make a deal, they may not make a deal. They may someday be Russian, or they may not be Russian someday.”

Asked by the BBC about the relationship made by employees between the liberation and the conflict in Ukraine, Anne Fogel replied: “These are the giant machines of world politics in the game.

“It will be interesting to look back at this and see how all this fits in and … how the story is played.”