‘WTF, Steve?’ U.S. lawmakers outraged after Witkoff calls Putin a ‘humanitarian,’ leaving Trump and Vance to defend their envoy
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on October 21 for talks on ending the war in Ukraine. At the start of the meeting, Putin announced that Russia had freed Stephen Hubbard, a U.S. citizen serving a prison sentence on mercenary charges related to his service with Ukraine’s territorial defense forces. Witkoff responded by describing Putin as…
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff's recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin sparked outrage among American lawmakers. Witkoff described Putin as a "humanitarian" during the October 21 talks in St. Petersburg, a remark that drew criticism from fellow Republicans such as Joni Ernst, Donald Trump, JD Vance, Thom Tillis, and John Cornyn, among others.
The controversy intensified with Republican senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis questioning the use of the term "humanitarian" and wondering what children kidnapped or murdered by Putin would think of such a statement. Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen called Putin a "war criminal" and condemned the comment as "disgusting and shameful."
Despite the backlash, Witkoff's diplomatic mission to secure the release of an American hostage remains a priority, with Trump and Vance defending his actions.
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