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Witkoff faces backlash after calling Putin a ‘humanitarian’
The envoy’s praise of Putin drew bipartisan criticism as Moscow released Stephen Hubbard and signaled renewed ceasefire talks with Washington and Kyiv.
- On Wednesday, October 21, 2026, Trump administration envoy Steve Witkoff called Russian President Vladimir Putin a "humanitarian" while thanking him for releasing American Stephen James Hubbard after four years of imprisonment.
- Russia released the 74-year-old Hubbard last Wednesday after he spent four years locked up under accusations of being a Ukrainian mercenary, though associates dispute the claim.
- Putin asked Witkoff to convey his gratitude to President Donald Trump for his help in resolving humanitarian issues, according to the meeting details released by officials.
- The "humanitarian" label drew immediate scrutiny, as the International Criminal Court seeks the Russian leader on war crimes charges tied to Ukraine's ongoing conflict.
- Republican Senator John Cornyn opposed the administration's "fealty to the Kremlin," describing the Russian president as a "stone cold killer" in a recent statement.
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Witkoff praises Putin as a humanitarian — to his shame and ours
President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff praised Vladimir Putin as a “humanitarian” on Tuesday while representing the United States in talks with the Russian “president” in St. Petersburg. Witkoff couldn’t be more wrong. Vladimir Putin is an ex-KGB intelligence officer and Stasi liaison who served in Dresden at the height of the Cold War […]
·Washington, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources114
Leaning Left25Leaning Right18Center15Last UpdatedBias Distribution43% Left
Bias Distribution
- 43% of the sources lean Left
43% Left
L 43%
C 26%
R 31%
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