US envoy Witkoff calls Putin a 'humanitarian' after US teacher freed; lawmakers object
In short
US envoy Witkoff praised Russian President Putin as a "humanitarian" after Russia freed a detained American former teacher. Lawmakers in the US criticised the remark, and Trump neither endorsed nor rejected it. Russia's Ushakov said Moscow is ready in principle for three-way talks with the US and Ukraine between 1 and 10 November.
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US special envoy Witkoff praised Russian President Putin as a "humanitarian" after Russia released a detained American former teacher, Kyodo reported. Witkoff met Putin in St Petersburg on the 21st and thanked him for the release. According to Kyodo, he said: "You say President Trump is a humanitarian, but you are a humanitarian too." [ 1 , 3 ]
Bloomberg, in a report carried by TBS NEWS DIG, identified the freed man as Stephen Hubbard, 74, who was convicted in Russia four years ago for fighting on Ukraine's side. Bloomberg described the praise as unusual and said it ran against decades of US policy. [ 3 ]
Kyodo reported that lawmakers from both US parties condemned the remark, citing the many casualties of the invasion of Ukraine. Republican Senator Tillis wrote on X that Witkoff should look up the meaning of "humanitarian", and Democratic Senator Coons called Putin a killer and a thug. Bloomberg's report mentions only two Republican senators as strong critics. [ 1 , 3 ]
Asked by reporters at the White House whether Putin is a humanitarian, Trump said he might be called one for a specific purpose but that he would not say either way, Kyodo reported. In a social media post, Bloomberg said, Trump wrote that the US was asked for nothing in return for the release, but that it would not have happened without a decision to hold off sanctions under a law the Senate passed 86 to 11. He wrote that imposing sanctions would have brought the talks to a complete halt. [ 1 , 3 ]
Russian presidential aide Ushakov told reporters that Russia is ready in principle to resume talks with the US and Ukraine between 1 and 10 November, according to Interfax as cited by Bloomberg. He did not say which officials would take part. He said Putin found several new elements in the ideas Witkoff presented for Ukraine and Europe, but relatively little that was useful for resolving the crisis. [ 3 ]
Witkoff had met Ukrainian President Zelensky in Oslo on the 20th before travelling to Russia. Zelensky said Ukraine backs any ceasefire or prisoner-exchange proposal and the US proposals, but is sceptical of Russia. Bloomberg also reported criticism that US policy benefits Russia, while US officials say pressuring Russia would derail efforts to end the war. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The remark drew criticism from US lawmakers while Washington seeks an end to the war in Ukraine. Bloomberg's report says some critics view US policy as benefiting Russia, and US officials defend it as part of efforts to end the war.
Key facts
- Witkoff, the US envoy, praised Putin as a "humanitarian" after Russia released a detained American former teacher. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Witkoff met Putin in St Petersburg on the 21st; Russian aide Ushakov said the meeting lasted more than three hours. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The freed man is Stephen Hubbard, 74, who was convicted in Russia four years ago for fighting on Ukraine's side. [ 3 ]
- Republican Senator Tillis and Democratic Senator Coons criticised the remark, according to Kyodo. [ 1 ]
- Ushakov said Russia is ready in principle for talks with the US and Ukraine between 1 and 10 November, without saying which officials would take part. [ 3 ]
- Trump said the US was asked for nothing in return for the release, but that it would not have happened without a decision to hold off sanctions. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Which US lawmakers criticised the remark. Kyodo (via Livedoor) names Republican Tillis and Democrat Coons and speaks of lawmakers from both parties; Bloomberg (via TBS) says two Republican senators criticised it.
- Whether Russia will join three-way talks and at what level. Ushakov said only that Russia is ready in principle for talks between 1 and 10 November and did not say which officials would take part; Bloomberg's report says there is no sign Putin will negotiate directly with Zelensky.
- Whether the US has withheld Patriot interceptor missiles or restricted Starlink and Starshield use by Ukraine. Zelensky accused the US of this, according to Bloomberg; the US administration denies it.