Marine Released from Russia for Medical Treatment (No Exchange)

Robert Gilman, a U.S. Marine from Massachusetts, was released from a Russian prison after about four years on humanitarian grounds, with no prisoner exchange involved. President Trump credited high-level diplomacy with Putin for the release and highlighted Gilman’s severely deteriorating health, including a catatonic-like state that required medical evaluation and treatment in the United States. Gilman’s family and advocacy groups had warned of life-threatening conditions and urged medical care in the U.S., and he was headed to a U.S. military hospital in Texas for evaluation. The State Department and White House described the release as humanitarian and not part of any swap, while officials pledged to continue pressing for the return of other unjustly detained Americans. Gilman’s case has underscored broader tensions over Americans detained in Russia, with reports detailing the original arrest and subsequent sentence extensions. Upon his return, Trump noted his one request—a great cheeseburger—and he was set to travel to Joint Base Andrews before continuing to receive medical care.