Will Trump ask Putin to bring these Americans home?

Anastasia Antonov describes herself arsenic a "proud U.S. citizen" who believes that her father, Aleksandr, was arrested by the Russian authorities past twelvemonth and sentenced to six years successful situation due to the fact that helium is an American citizen. She is present personally appealing to President Trump to get Russian President Vladimir Putin's authorities to escaped her father.  

In a missive written to Mr. Trump by Anastasia and shared with CBS News, Anastasia wrote that she "felt it was time" to elevate her father's imprisonment to the president, which indicated her vexation with the slow-moving State Department. 

Aleksandr Antonov, 66, is simply a naturalized U.S. citizen who immigrated from the Soviet Union successful the 1990s but returned to Ukraine and Russia connected concern trips. At a passport cheque successful Russia connected March 5, 2025, Russian borderline officers recovered his U.S. passport and alleged helium had Telegram messages connected his telephone containing anti-Russian sentiment. He was aboriginal convicted connected charges related to inciting coercion and extremism.

CBS News has learned from 1 existent and 2 erstwhile U.S. officials that determination is an interior statement astatine the State Department implicit whether to designate Antonov arsenic wrongfully detained, a classification indicating that the U.S. believes the charges against him are fabricated. 

Current and erstwhile U.S. officials contacted by CBS News said Antonov's lawsuit had been reviewed, and respective officials recommended successful a memo to Secretary of State Marco Rubio's apical counsellor that Antonov had been wrongly detained. 

However, the proposal to classify him arsenic wrongfully detained was astatine likelihood with different State Department diplomats who feared upsetting the ongoing, albeit unsuccessful, Russia-U.S. diplomacy related to the Ukraine war. Two officials briefed connected the lawsuit told CBS News that the main obstacle to Antonov's designation is that interest astir further inflaming tensions with Russia.

There is simply a discretionary quality to that ineligible designation, and the authorization yet rests with Rubio to assistance it. 

Former Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Castens, a CBS News contributor, said that alleged "split memos" tin complicate matters. When a determination section disagrees, it tin marque it harder to yet transportation a caput of state, adjacent erstwhile the grounds is overwhelmingly wide to the legal, consular oregon hostage teams who reappraisal the portfolios. Carstens noted that since the Antonov lawsuit happened aft helium had near office, helium could not corroborate if that is what happened here.

Despite the indecision astatine Rubio's State Department, a erstwhile elder authorities authoritative briefed connected the hostage advocacy told CBS News that U.S. officials person told the household that the Russia cases are a priority, and that Antonov is "on the list" fixed to U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff to bring up with Putin advisor Kiril Dmitriev. Jared Kushner, Mr. Trump's son-in-law, is besides portion of those talks. 

Aleksandr Antonov Courtesy of Antonov Family

Former hostage Paul Whelan, freed successful a prisoner swap with Russia successful 2024, told CBS News that the deficiency of advancement could beryllium a lawsuit of Putin not wanting thing from the U.S. astatine this moment, and the Trump medication not wanting to expend governmental capital.

None of the astatine slightest six Americans presently held by Russia person been fixed that designation by the Trump administration, which would let for the peculiar envoy for hostage affairs to further property the case. It besides obligates the U.S. authorities to supply the household with intelligence wellness enactment and pays for 2 trips a twelvemonth to advocator successful Washington, arsenic good arsenic enactment for their loved 1 upon instrumentality to the U.S. 

Stephan Hubbard, a retired teacher presently imprisoned successful Russia, did person it astatine the extremity of the Biden administration.

In the meantime, families similar the Antonovs are seeking much attention. Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner person besides publically called for Rubio to designate imprisoned U.S. Navy seasoned Chuck Zimmerman arsenic "wrongfully detained" by Russia. 

In effect to CBS News' enquiry astir whether the president had received Antonov's missive and whether the detained Americans are portion of ongoing diplomacy with Russia, a Trump medication authoritative sent an emailed statement. 

"President Trump has made it a precedence to bring location each Americans wrongfully and unjustly detained overseas," the connection read. "The State Department is intimately tracking Aleksandr Antonov's detention and is moving diligently to unafraid his release, on with each Americans wrongfully and unjustly detained successful Russia. Due to privateness considerations, the Department cannot remark connected the specifics of his lawsuit astatine this time."

In an email, the State Department told CBS News that it is "closely tracking Mr. Aleksandr Antonov's and Mr. Chuck Zimmerman's detentions, remains successful regular connection with their families, and continues to advocator for consular entree successful some cases."

Anastasia and her parent handed their missive for Mr. Trump to his advisor Sebastian Gorka connected Tuesday of past week, aft helium was honored astatine the Foley Foundation's Freedom Awards meal on with Deputy Envoy for Hostage Affairs Dustin Stewart for helping escaped American hostages, a extremity they described arsenic a apical precedence for Mr. Trump, who claims to person brought backmost 106 Americans from captivity abroad. This newsman was emcee of the event, and the Antonov household approached maine to inquire for help. 

The Trump medication did escaped 2 Americans from custody past twelvemonth with the assistance of the CIA. School teacher Marc Fogel and U.S.-Russian dual nationalist Ksenia Karelina were exchanged successful a captive swap for Russian citizens.