unbiased

Politics1d19 outletscenter average

LeftLean leftCenterLean rightRight

Some ratings on this page are entered from the public AllSides ratings and not yet verified against the licensed feed.

Russia Releases American Stephen Hubbard After Years in Detention

What happened

Russia released Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired American teacher from Michigan, on Wednesday after more than four years in detention. Hubbard had been sentenced to nearly seven years in prison on charges of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine, which the U.S. State Department called fabricated. President Trump said he had asked Putin for Hubbard's release, and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff announced the release during a meeting with Putin in St. Petersburg.

Side by side

Left16 versions

Left outlets emphasize Trump's "actions meant to benefit Moscow" and frame the release as Putin "costing little" while "buying good will" with Trump. MS NOW specifically notes Trump has "taken actions meant to benefit Moscow."

Center8 versions

Center outlets lead with the release itself and Witkoff's comments about "a foundation in place to move toward a ceasefire." They present the facts of the release without emphasizing geopolitical context or characterizing the diplomatic relationship.

Right15 versions

Right outlets highlight this as a "gesture to Trump" and a "humanitarian" release, emphasizing it was "not part of a Russia swap" and describing "warmer ties" between the countries. They frame it as a diplomatic success following Trump's direct request to Putin.

Bias ratings from AllSides Media Bias Ratings™. Ratings are fluid and change as outlets change. Unbiased links to the source article rather than reproducing it. A few outlets no longer publish a feed and reach us through Google News; their links are marked, and they pass through Google before reaching the outlet.

How ratings workAllSidesPrivacy