{"id":2403662,"date":"2025-02-18T10:04:02","date_gmt":"2025-02-18T15:04:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/russia-releases-american-hostage-hours-before-negotiations-begin-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-02-18T10:05:42","modified_gmt":"2025-02-18T15:05:42","slug":"russia-releases-american-hostage-hours-before-negotiations-begin-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/russia-releases-american-hostage-hours-before-negotiations-begin-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Russia releases American hostage hours before negotiations begin &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Frussia-releases-american-hostage-hours-before-negotiations-begin-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2403662&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-york-times-issues-multiple-corrections-for-article-falsely-claiming-900000-u-s-children-have-been-hospitalized-for-covid-19-during-pandemic\/\" title=\"New York Times Issues Multiple Corrections For Article Falsely Claiming 900,000 U.S. Children Have Been Hospitalized For COVID-19 During Pandemic\">article discusses<\/a> the release of an American citizen, Kalob Byers, who was detained in Russia on <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">drug charges earlier<\/a> this month. He was arrested on February 7 for \u200dhaving a small amount of marijuana at a \u200cMoscow airport. His release occurred just before <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/far-left-dems-hint-biden-should-abandon-gop-on-infrastructure\/\" title=\"Far-Left Dems Hint Biden Should Abandon GOP on Infrastructure\">negotiations began<\/a>\u200c between U.S. and Russian officials\u200b in Saudi\u200d Arabia, which were aimed at addressing \u200bvarious \u2064diplomatic issues, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. \u2064The meeting involved key figures such as Russian Foreign\u2064 Minister Sergei lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State \u2062Marco Rubio, who discussed \u200destablishing a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-raises-concerns-by-micron-intel-with-china-as-export-control-meeting-set-to-launch\/\" title=\"US expresses concerns over export control meeting with China as Micron and Intel raise alarms.\">consultation mechanism<\/a> to work towards \u2062diplomatic normalization and \u200cpeace in \u200cUkraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed concern over Ukraine&#8217;s exclusion from these discussions,\u2064 emphasizing \u2063that any\u200b agreements \u200caffecting Ukraine should include \u2063its\u200c participation. The U.S. State \u2063Department highlighted\u200d the importance of continued\u200c dialogue and actions to \u2063<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/zelensky-praises-strike-on-russian-air-defense-as-significant-achievement\/\" title=\"Zelensky hails strike on ...n air defense as &#039;major success&#039;\">achieve lasting peace<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Russia releases American hostage hours before negotiations begin<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1994520\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/russia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Russia\">Russia<\/a> has agreed to release an American who was arrested on drug charges earlier this month at a Moscow airport as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/foreign-policy\/3321883\/where-things-stand-marco-rubio-saudi-arabia-ukraine-russia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Russia\">talks<\/a> begin between U.S. and Russian officials.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Kalob Byers was arrested on Feb. 7 after being found with a small amount of marijuana at a Moscow airport, but the detained American was released as a goodwill gesture ahead of the talks that began Tuesday in Saudi Arabia, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/02\/17\/us\/politics\/russia-american-prisoner-released.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&amp;referringSource=articleShare\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"according to\">according to<\/a> the <em>New York Times<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Byers was released shortly after Marc Fogel, an American teacher accused of a similar drug-related crime, was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3316687\/trump-secures-release-marc-fogel-russia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"released\">released<\/a> back to the U.S. after being detained in the country since August 2021.<\/p>\n<p>The release of Byers came as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Secretary of State <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/marco-rubio\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Marco Rubio\">Marco Rubio<\/a> met in the Middle East to discuss various topics. The State Department billed the meeting as a follow-up to President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin&rsquo;s phone call last week.<\/p>\n<p>Officials said they agreed to &ldquo;establish a consultation mechanism&rdquo; to address troubles as they work toward normalization of diplomatic missions, appoint teams to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, &ldquo;lay the groundwork&rdquo; for working in mutually beneficial areas after the war ends, and keep talks going on ending the war.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;President Trump wants to stop the killing; the United States wants peace&nbsp;and&nbsp;is using its strength in the world to bring countries together. President Trump is the only leader in the world who can get Ukraine and Russia to agree to that,&rdquo; State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;One phone call followed by one meeting is not sufficient to establish&nbsp;enduring peace.&nbsp;We must take action, and today we took an important step&nbsp;forward,&rdquo; Bruce added.<\/p>\n<p>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed his displeasure at his absence from the talks, arguing that an agreement cannot be reached without Ukraine&rsquo;s participation.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We can&rsquo;t recognize any things or any agreements about us without us,&rdquo; Zelensky told reporters Monday.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The meetings were attended by Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, on the U.S. side, and Lavrov and Putin aide Yuri Ushakov, on the Russian side.<\/p>\n<p>Previously, Zelensky <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/foreign-policy\/3321610\/zelensky-putin-fear-trump-can-lead-peace-ukraine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"said\">said<\/a> that Putin&rsquo;s fear of Trump could lead to the Russian president being forced to the table for a peace deal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1994520\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1994520\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Russia frees American hostage before U.S.-Russia talks start<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2638,"featured_media":2403663,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/russia-releases-us-prisoner.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[39950,32402,11860,4280,32076],"class_list":["post-2403662","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-american-hostage","tag-international-relations","tag-negotiations","tag-russia","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/russia-releases-us-prisoner.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2403662","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2638"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2403662"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2403662\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2403666,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2403662\/revisions\/2403666"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2403663"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2403662"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2403662"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2403662"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}