{
  "id": 15971712,
  "title": "War and peace: Trump team now says Putin is a 'humanitarian'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/war-and-peace-trump-team-now-says-putin-is-a-humanitarian-15971712",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-21T22:57:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/opinion/comment/2026/10/21/putin-humanitarian-witkoff-trump-ukraine/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a surprising turn, the White House has now labeled Russian President Vladimir Putin as a \"humanitarian\" following his release of American citizen Stephen Hubbard. Steve Witkoff, a peace envoy for President Donald Trump, made the statement during a meeting with Putin in St. Petersburg. This stance, however, has been met with harsh criticism from Republican senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, who dismissed the comment as \"embarrassing and outrageous.\" The move comes amid a series of recent decisions by Trump's administration, including the waiver of Russia sanctions and the re-establishment of diplomatic ties with Moscow, all aimed at alleviating energy costs before the midterm elections. Critics argue that these actions effectively undermine the sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, which have been designed to punish the country for its actions. Despite the criticism, Trump appears to be embracing Putin, even as Russia is accused of aiding Iran in targeting US forces in the Middle East. The administration's stance seems to prioritize a potential peace deal with Ukraine over the welfare of American taxpayers and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.",
  "summary": "Washington has called Russian President Vladimir Putin many things since his 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Joe Biden branded him “a butcher”, a “murderous dictator” and a “pure thug”. Four years later, the White House has a new adjective for the man wanted by the International Criminal Court: humanitarian. President Donald Trump ’s peace envoy Steve Witkoff used the descriptor yesterday as he met Mr…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 10,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Voice of Ukraine",
        "title": "Trump warns Ukraine of 'very bad consequences' and says it is time to reach a peace deal with Russia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/trump-warns-ukraine-of-very-bad-consequences-and-says-it-is-time-to",
        "published": "2026-10-21T08:05:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Putin agrees to resume 3-way talks with Kyiv and Washington",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/putin-agrees-to-resume-3-way-talks-with-kyiv-and-washington",
        "published": "2026-10-21T17:22:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Russia willing to resume peace talks with Ukraine, US after Witkoff visit",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/russia-willing-to-resume-peace-talks-with-ukraine-us-after-witkoff",
        "published": "2026-10-21T19:01:05.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "France 24",
        "title": "Putin agrees to resume three-way talks with Kyiv and Washington",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/putin-agrees-to-resume-three-way-talks-with-kyiv-and-washington",
        "published": "2026-10-21T19:32:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Ukrinform - Politics",
        "title": "Trilateral talks could be held in early November following Witkoff–Putin meeting, Zelensky says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/trilateral-talks-could-be-held-in-early-november-following-witkoff",
        "published": "2026-10-21T19:36:12.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "NDTV",
        "title": "Ukraine's Zelensky Hopes For New Talks With Russia, US By Early November",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/ukraines-zelensky-hopes-for-new-talks-with-russia-us-by-early-november",
        "published": "2026-10-21T19:45:07.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News AU",
        "title": "Putin agrees to resume three-way peace talks with Ukraine and US",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/putin-agrees-to-resume-three-way-peace-talks-with-ukraine-and-us",
        "published": "2026-10-21T21:17:09.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "War and peace: Trump team now says Putin is a 'humanitarian'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/war-and-peace-trump-team-now-says-putin-is-a-humanitarian",
        "published": "2026-10-21T22:57:24.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Japan Times",
        "title": "Putin releases hostage to U.S., drawing praise from Trump administration",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/putin-releases-hostage-to-u-s-drawing-praise-from-trump-administration",
        "published": "2026-10-21T23:59:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}