Marc Fogel, an American history teacher who was deemed wrongfully detained by Russia, has been released and returned to the U.S. in what the White House described as a diplomatic thaw that could advance negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.

One advocacy group says more than 30 American hostages and wrongful detainees are being held in other countries.

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