French President Macron has criticized the deliberate distortion of information surrounding recent events in the country, highlighting concerns over media manipulation. Separately, the release of a detained American citizen by Russia has drawn attention, with claims that the move followed direct negotiations between the US and Russian leaders. The US president has posted on social media about the release, emphasizing its significance and the absence of a reciprocal deal. Details of the prisoner’s detention and the diplomatic discussions remain under scrutiny.
Macron says he is frustrated by the ‘visible manipulation of information’ about the events in FranceMeanwhile, back to Witkoff’s meeting with Putin in St Petersburg, the US president, Donald Trump, has just welcomed the release of Stephen Hubbard, a US citizen held by Moscow on allegations of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine (11:24).In a post on Truth Social, he said:“Stephen Hubbard, taken four years ago by Russia during the Biden Administration, was just released from prison, at the request of President Donald J. Trump, made directly to President Vladimir Putin in a telephone conversation last week. Stephen is on his way back home and will soon be with his family. The United States, out of respect for President Trump, was not required to give anything in return - an unprecedented situation for Russia. There was no “swap” necessary for this release. Continue reading...
