Marc Fogel, an American schoolteacher who had been held in Russia since 2021, arrived back on U.S. soil late Tuesday night after the White House announced earlier in the day it had negotiated his release.

An emotional Marc Fogel, the American teacher held captive in Russia for more than three years, told President Trump on Tuesday night that he was forever indebted to him for securing his release as he was greeted at the White House.

Steve Witkoff avoided questions about whether he met with Putin to secure the former American detainee’s release.