BREAKING: Russia releases detained American, Steve Witkoff reveals

>> Ashley: BACK WITH BREAKING. DETAILS ON PEACE TALKS IN. RUSSIA. STEVE WITKOFF IS MEETING WITH. PRESIDENT PUTIN IN EFFORT TO END. THE WAR IN UKRAINE. PUTIN IS THANKING PRESIDENT. TRUMP FOR HIS ATTENTION TO THE. CONFLICT AND EXPRESSING HOPE FOR. TIES WITH THE U.S. STEVE. WITKOFF REVEALING DETAINED. AMERICAN STEVEN HUBBARD IS NOW. FREE. HE HAD BEEN IN RUSSIAN CUSTODY.

FOR FOUR YEARS. THIS FOLLOWS STEVE WITKOFF'S. MEETINGS YESTERDAY WITH UKRAINE. PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY. AND EUROPEAN LEADER SAYS IN. NORWAY. SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO. IS IN INDIA, WEIGHING IN ON THE. PUSH TO END THE FOUR AND A HALF. YEAR CONFLICT. LISTEN. >> MY UNDERSTANDING FROM. INFORMATION HE PROVIDED TO ME IS. THAT IT WAS POSITIVE. NOTHING UNEXPECTED. NOTHING SURPRISING. AND HE'LL NOW ARMED WITH THOSE. IDEAS, GO TO SHARE THEM WITH THE.

RUSSIAN SIDE AND LET'S SEE IF WE. CAN MAKE PROGRESS. THESE THINGS ARE COMPLEX. THIS IS, IF THIS WAS EASY TO. SOLVE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SOLVED. A LONG TIME AGO. >> Ashley: WE'LL HEAR FROM. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR. ZELENSKYY WHEN HE JOINS "FOX AND. FRIENDS" LIVE NEXT HOUR. IT WAS MUCH CALMER ACROSS FRANCE. THIS MORNING. NIGHTLY CURFEW HELPED RESTORE. ORDER TO CITIES ROCKED BY. VIOLENCE, STARK CHAOS FROM THE.

WEEKEND. RIOTERS SET FIRES AND BATTLED. POLICE. MORE DEMONSTRATIONS SCHEDULED. FOR SATURDAY, FRANCE AND ITALY. ARE ON HIGH ALERT. >> Todd: BENJAMIN HALL JOINS US. WE HAVE BREAKING NEWS ASHLEY. READ THAT STEVE WITKOFF. REVEALING DETAINED AMERICAN. STEVEN HUBBARD IS NOW FREE, RETIRED TEACHER BEEN IN RUSDZIAN. CUSTODY FOR FOUR YEARS. ANY TIME YOU GET AN AMERICAN. HOSTAGE FREED, IT IS TIME FOR.

CELEBRATION. WHAT ARE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS. GOING FORWARD? THE RAMIFICATION ON GREATER GEO. POLITICAL ISSUES VALVING RUSSIA, UNITED STATES AND UKRAINE? >> IT IS VERY INTERESTING, UNLIKE YOU, WE SHARE THIS. AMAZING MOMENT AND PRESIDENT. TRUMP HAS BEEN SPEAKING TO. PRESIDENT PUTIN ABOUT HAVING HIM. RELEASED. THEY HAD SPOKEN FOR A WHILE. ABOUT GETTING MR. HUBBARD.

RELEASED. BOTH ADMINISTRATIONS ARE TRYING. TO GET AMERICANS BACK HOME. STEVE WITKOFF IS IN RUSSIA AT. THE MOMENT. FLIP SIDE, RUSSIA HAS BEEN. PLAYING HOSTAGE DIPLOMACY. SO MANY PEOPLE BEING HELD BY. RUSSIA. RUSSIA LIKES TO TRADE BACK WHEN. THEY WANT SOMETHING IN RETURN. LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN. UKRAINE AND QUESTIONS ABOUT. PRESIDENT TRUMP BUYING DIESEL. FROM RUSSIA AND PUTTING PRESSURE.

ON VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY AND. WONDER IF PUTIN IS HANDING BACK. MR. HUBBARD BECAUSE HE WANTS. SOMETHING IN RETURN. GREAT CELEBRATION FOR THE. FAMILY. DOES THIS CENT VISE PRESIDENT. PUTIN TO TAKE MORE AMERICANS? MR. HUBBARD WAS TAKEN IN 2022, HE WAS LIVING IN EASTERN UKRAINE. AND TAKEN BY THE RUSSIANS. IT WAS AN ARREST THAT TOOK. PLACE. YOU HAVE TO CONDEMN RUSSIA FOR.

TAKING HIM. HE WAS UNLAWFULLY HELD, AN. INNOCENT CIVILIAN. GREAT NEWS HE IS COMING BACK, WHY DOES PUTIN KEEP TAKING. AMERICANS? EIGHT AMERICANS ARE STILL BEING. HELD BY RUSSIA. >> Ashley: I HATE USING PEOPLE. AS LEVERAGE, YOU TOOK THE WORDS. OUT OF MY MOUTH. IF YOU SEE RUSSIA GIVING. HOSTAGES BACK, THEY WANT. SOMETHING IN RETURN. WHAT COULD THAT LOOK LIKE, BEN?

>> Benjamin: IT IS WHAT WE HAVE. SEEN IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS. WE ARE REACHING A POINT AND. PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS BEEN CLEAR, THIS WAR HAS BEEN GOING ON. ALMOST FIVE YEARS AND IT IS. BRUTAL, MILLIONS INJURED AND. KILLED AND THERE NEED TO BE A. SOLUTION. HE IS SAYING PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR. ZELENSKYY NEED TO BE OPEN TO. NEGOTIATIONS. HE IS PUTTING PRESSURE ON. VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY AT THE. MOMENT. PUTIN WANTS THAT, AS WELL, I. THINK THAT IS SOMETHING PUTIN. MIGHT BE WANTING, FOR AMERICA TO.

PUT PRESSURE ON VOLODYMYR. ZELENSKYY TO ACCEPT RUSSIA HAS. 11% OF DONBAS IN THE EAST AND. PERSUADE THEM TO GIVE MORE LAND. TO PUTIN. WE ARE SEEING PRESIDENT TRUMP. PLAY A MORE FORCEFUL ROLE. STEVE WITKOFF MET WITH PUTIN. YESTERDAY IN FINLAND, I BELIEVE. PRESIDENT TRUMP IS PUSHING TO. END THIS WAR. WE ARE SEEING OIL PRICES HIGH,

PRICE OF DIESEL AND OTHER. CONFLICTS AND RUSSIA LEAD TO. THAT. IT IS GIVE AND TAKE, CERTAINLY. MORE PRESSURE ON VOLODYMYR. ZELENSKYY AND I THINK PRESIDENT. PUTIN FEELS THAT AND IF HE. CAN. GIVE BACK TO PRESIDENT TRUMP. LIKE RELEASING HOSTAGES, THAT. MIGHT PUSH PRESIDENT TRUMP TO. FIND A SOLUTION FASTER. >> Todd: THERE ARE EVENTS AND. INSTINCT AND NOBODY'S INSTINCT.

ARE BETTER THAN YOURS. IN LIGHT OF THIS HOSTAGE. RELEASE. IN LIGHT OF THE LAST FOUR PLUS. YEARS AND KEEPING IN MIND ALMOST. EVERY GUEST WE'VE HAD ON HAS. SAID PUTIN WANTS TO EXTEND THIS. WAR INDEFINE EIGHTLY. WHAT IS YOUR GUT IB INSTINCT. TELL YOU? DO YOU THINK THIS IS A SEMINOLE. MOMENT, THE MOMENT WE SAW PUTIN. DOES WANT TO COME TO THE TABLE.

OR IS THIS ANOTHER KICK IN THE. CAN DOWN THE ROAD TO BUY MORE. TIME? >> Benjamin: YEAH, NO, I DO NOT. SEE THIS BEING A SOLUTION. IT COMES DOWN TO WHAT RUSSIA. WANTS AND WHAT UKRAINE WON'T. GIVE AWAY. PUTIN WANTS ALL OF THE DONBAS, THEY WANT THE REST OF THE 11TH. OF THAT PART OF UKRAINE. IF UKRAINE GIVES THAT UP, SECRETARY RUBIO SAID WHEN YOU.

GIVE THAT UP, CLEAR PATH FOR. RUSSIA TO TAKE THE WHOLE AND. MOVE ON KYIV. PRESIDENT TRUMP BUILD WAR. ECONOMY BACK HOME. IDEA OF CEASING THIS WAR DOES. MOT MAKE SENSE. PUTIN WANTS MORE, UKRAINIANS. CAN'T GIVE UP WHAT THEY WANT AND. IT WILL KEEP CLASHING IN THAT. WAY. WE ARE HEADING INTO WINTER IN. RUSSIA.

STATIONS ARE BEING ATTACKED. ACROSS UKRAINE. DIFFICULT TIME FOR UKRAINIANS. THAT IS OPPORTUNITY FOR PUTIN TO. PUSH HIS GAINS. ON THE BATTLEFIELD, RUSSIANS ARE. NOT TAKING LAND, THEY ARE LOSING. LAND. NO SIDE IS TAKING ANY TERRITORY. TO BE HONEST AND NEITHER SIDE. WILL GIVE UP WHAT THE OTHER SIDE. WANTS. IN MY OPINION, IT FEELS THIS. WILL KEEP GOING FOR THE MOMENT.

>> Ashley: VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY. HAS NOT SIGNALLED TO PRESIDENT. TRUMP HE'S WILLING TO STOP, HES. HIS COUNTRY HAS A RIGHT TO. DEFUND THEMSELVES. THIS IS CONSTANT BACK AND FORTH, ONE SIGNAL IS WE MIGHT BE COMING. TO A DEAL AND THE OTHER DOUBLES. DOWN. WILL WE BE IN LIMBO FROM HERE ON. OUT? WHAT IS THE END GOAL HERE? >> Benjamin: I WISH I COULD TELL. YOU, HARD TO KNOW WHAT WILL.

CHANGE WHAT IS HAPPENING. AS LONG AS VLADAMIR PUTIN IS IN. CONTROL IN RUSSIA, HE CAN'T BE. SEEN TO ACCEPT A BAD DEAL EITHER. AND RUSSIA AND THES SYSTEM HE'S. BUILT UP AROUND HIM, IF HE TAKES. A BACK STEP, HE WILL BE PUNISHED. BACK HOME AND HE'S CONCERNED. ABOUT STAYING IN POWER. HE HAS TO GAIN WHAT HE SET OUT. TO WIN AT THE BEGINNING. I DON'T SEE WHAT WILL FORCE. PRESIDENT PUTIN TO THE TABLE AND. VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY WILL NOT.

GIVE UP EITHER. COULD THERE BE A POINT WHERE. UKRAINIANS AGREE TO HAVE A NEW. ELECTION? THEY CAN'T DO THAT AT THE. MOMENT. THEY SAY THEY NEED 60 DAYS OF. CEASEFIRE TO SET UP AN ELECTION. VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY SAID HE. WOULD HAVE KNOWA ELECTION IF. THERE IS A CEASEFIRE. THEY THINK RUSSIANS WILL PLAY. WITH THAT ELECTION. THAT IS ONE POTENTIAL WAY OUT. OTHER IS FOR A LONG-TERM.

CEASEFIRE, NEITHER SIDE SEEMS. KEEN ON THAT. UKRAINIANS SEEM KEEN ON THAT, RUSSIANS DO NOT, NOT SURE OF THE. SOLUTION. >> Todd: VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY IS. ABOUT TO APPEAR ON "FOX AND. FRIENDS" IN AN HOUR OR SO. HOW DO YOU THINK HE'S GOING TO. REACT TO THIS NEWS OF THIS. HOSTAGE RELEASE? >> Benjamin: I THINK HE WILL. TALK ABOUT IT, IF HE DOES TALK. ABOUT AS HOSTAGE DIPLOMACY. RUSSIA HAS TAKEN AMERICANS WHO.

ARE INNOCENT AND THOUSANDS OF. UKRAINIANS WHO ARE INNOCENT AND. PUT THE FOCUS BACK ON THIS IS. NOT A GREAT GIFT BY PRESIDENT. PUTIN, THIS IS SOMETHING. PRESIDENT PUTIN TOOK. VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY HAS SPOKEN. OPENLY ABOUT HOW HE SEES. PRESIDENT TRUMP'S RECENT. DECISION. PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY. HAS BEEN SAYING, HE FEELS. PRESIDENT TRUMP IS ON THE WRONG. SIDE AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE GOOD. AND EVIL AND WHAT IS HAPPENING. IN UKRAINE, PRESIDENT TRUMP IS.

TAKING THE WRONG SIDE AND NEED. TO COME BACK AND SUPPORT THE. EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. BIG DEBATE, THEY WILL TALK ABOUT. DIESEL PURCHASE THAT AMERICANS. WILL BUY FROM RUSSIA AND TALK. ABOUT WHETHER THE SANCTIONS ARE. IN PLACE AND WHETHER THAT IS. LEGAL OR NOT. A LOT OF ISSUES TO TALK ABOUT. LAST FEW DAYS HAVE SHOWN HE WILL. SPEAK OPENLY AND CRITICIZE. PRESIDENT TRUMP AND SAY WE WANT. TO GET BACK TO THE TABLE. WE'RE ON THE SAME SIDE, HE FEELS.

PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS TURNED AWAY. FROM THEM. ASHLEY STROHMIER. >> Ashley: IF THERE WERE AN. AGREEMENT BETWEEN RUSSIA AND. UKRAINE, DO YOU SEE ONE COUNTRY. LAYING DOWN ARMS BEFORE THE. OTHER ONE TO GET TO KNOWA. AGREEMENT? >> Benjamin: I THINK BOTH SIDES. FEEL AND IT HAPPENS TIME AND. TIME AGAIN IN WAR, IF YOU LAY. DOWN YOUR ARMS BEFORE THE OTHER. SIDE, YOU ARE AT SERIOUS RISK. DIPLOMACY AND MARCO RUBIO TALKS. ABOUT GETTING BOTH SIDE TO INCH.

FORWARD AND AGREE ON SMALL. ISSUES BEFORE LAYING DOWN. WEAPONS AND THAT IS A CEASEFIRE. IF YOU START WITH A ONE-WEEK. CEASEFIRE, SMALL MOVEMENTS. FORWARD ARE THE WAY FORWARD. RATHER THAN A BIG SOLUTION AT. ONCE. TRY BEING TO GET TRILATERAL MEET. ING WOULD BE SIGNIFICANT AND. PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY IS WILLING, PRESIDENT PUTIN HAS NOT AGREED. TO DO THAT UNLESS IT IS IN.

MOSCOW. AND ZELENSKYY SAID HE CANNOT FLY. TO MOSCOW, HE WOULD LIKELY BE. TAKEN. WE HAVE TO SEE. UP TO STATE DEPARTMENT TO SEE. WHAT THEY CAN GET FROM THEM. >> Todd: THANK YOU FOR YOUR. INSIGHT ON THIS BREAKING NEWS, RUSSIA FREEING STEPHEN HUBBARD.