The release is part of a swap with the Kremlin that freed an American schoolteacher being held in a Russian prison.
The Trump administration is preparing to release a Russian cybercriminal as part of a prisoner exchange that led to the release of an American schoolteacher from a Russian prison, three U.S. officials said on Wednesday.
Officials were preparing to release Alexander Vinnik, who pleaded guilty to money laundering in 2024, to Russia as part of a swap for Marc Fogel, according to the three officials. Mr. Vinnik is a nonviolent offender and is forfeiting tens of millions of dollars in assets in the exchange, one of the officials said.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private diplomatic negotiations.
Mr. Trump told reporters on Tuesday, as he awaited Mr. Fogel’s arrival back in the United States, that his administration had traded for “not much” — suggesting he had gotten the better of the deal — and later described it as a “very fair” exchange.
But they did see the exchange as an effort to establish good will as the administration looks for ways to bring about a peace settlement in the war in Ukraine that Russia began almost three years ago.
Mr. Fogel’s release was negotiated by Steve Witkoff, Mr. Trump’s decades-long friend and his Mideast envoy, whose portfolio has expanded to helping find a way to end the war in Ukraine. Mr. Witkoff flew to Russia on his private jet, then brought Mr. Fogel home on that plane, and to the White House to meet with Mr. Trump.
“I think they had a great friendship,” Mr. Witkoff said outside the White House on Wednesday, referring to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and Mr. Trump. “I think now it’s going to continue, and I think it’s a really good thing for the world.”