US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff faced criticism Wednesday for calling Vladimir Putin a “humanitarian” despite the Russian leader’s brutal war in Ukraine.
“You talk so much about my president, President Trump, being a humanitarian you are a humanitarian also, sir, and I salute that,” Witkoff said, referring to Hubbard’s release. The Kremlin said after the meeting between Witkoff and Putin that Russia was ready in principle to rejoin three-way talks with Ukraine and the United States to end the war. Look up the definition of ‘humanitarian’,” he said in a post on X. “Well, I guess you could say for that particular purpose, for the purpose of allowing a man who was thinking he was going to be in prison for life out,” Trump said when asked about his envoy’s remarks.
Republican Senator Thom Tillis, a frequent Trump critic in recent months, reacted with astonishment. “WTF, Steve?
“I agree with Steve Witkoff saying something nice to a person who just released an American hostage,” Vance said at an event in Ohio. US Vice President JD Vance defended Witkoff’s comments.
