Naama Issachar’s release came ahead of talks in Moscow on Thursday between Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who flew in from Washington to pass on details of a US peace plan, which Israel supports and Palestinians reject.

Netanyahu thanked Putin at talks in Moscow for what he said was a “swift” decision to pardon Issachar. Netanyahu has said he plans to meet her later on Thursday.

The release of the New Jersey-born 26-year-old is seen as a boon for Netanyahu, who had publicly appealed Putin to free her.

The right-wing Israeli leader, under criminal corruption indictment, faces an election on March 2 and has campaigned on his ability to protect Israel’s interests abroad.

Issachar was jailed for 7.5 years after being arrested last April when police found 9g of cannabis in her bags during a stopover at a Moscow airport on her way from India to Israel.

Her family called her treatment disproportionate and the case opened an unusual public rift between Russia and Israel.

“It has been a long journey that I would not wish upon anyone,” Yaffa Issachar, Naama’s mother, was quoted as saying by the Jerusalem Post, having travelled to Moscow for her daughter’s release.

“Now, all I want is to hug my daughter Naama.”