Vance defends Trump envoy’s ‘humanitarian’ praise for Putin

U.S. Vice President JD Vance defended President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff's praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin as "humanitarian" after Putin released American hostage Stephen Hubbard. Witkoff thanked Putin for freeing Hubbard, saying "You are a humanitarian also, sir, and I salute that. I commend you, and I thank you again."

When asked by American journalists if he agreed with Witkoff, Vance replied, "I agree with Steve Witkoff saying something nice to a person who just released an American hostage." Although one may disagree with the underlying sentiment, Witkoff's role as a diplomat was to secure the release of Hubbard. Vance emphasized that Americans should celebrate Hubbard's return, not criticize Witkoff's actions that made it possible.

Witkoff met with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Oslo soon after Witkoff's talks with Zelensky and European leaders. The Kremlin expressed willingness to resume trilateral talks in November, but Putin's aide noted the EU and Kyiv's new proposals lacked significant progress for a settlement in Ukraine.