Witkoff faces backlash after calling Putin a ‘humanitarian’

Special envoy Steve Witkoff is facing criticism from lawmakers after calling Russian President Vladimir Putin a “humanitarian” for releasing an American who has been held in Russia for years.

President Trump had made a direct appeal to Putin for the release of Stephen Hubbard, a teacher who was accused of being a Ukrainian mercenary. Hubbard was released Wednesday after more than four years in detention.

“You talk so much about my president, President Trump, being a humanitarian,” Witkoff, in St. Petersburg, Russia, said to Putin. “You are a humanitarian also, sir, and I salute that.”

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) hit Witkoff in a Wednesday post on the social platform X, saying, “WTF, Steve?”

“Look up the definition of ‘humanitarian.’ What an embarrassing and outrageous thing to say,” he wrote . “You should go back to Ukraine and ask the families of the children Putin has kidnapped and murdered whether they agree your friend Putin is a ‘humanitarian.’”

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) rebutted Witkoff’s comments.

“No. Putin is stone cold killer,” he wrote on X .

And Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) called it “another embarrassment.”

Witkoff was in St. Petersburg to discuss the Russia-Ukraine war, a day after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Oslo.

Putin agreed Wednesday to resume trilateral talks “in principle” with Washington and Ukraine, The Associated Press reported. They would resume after Nov. 10.