Michael Waltz, Trump’s national security adviser, said the U.S. and Russia “negotiated an exchange” to ensure Fogel’s release. He did not say what the U.S. side of the bargain entailed. Previous negotiations have occasionally involved reciprocal releases of Russians by the U.S. or its allies.

Donald Trump has spoken of doing a deal with Ukraine to obtain rare earth minerals in exchange for U.S. aid ahead of JD Vance's meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky.