Steve Witkoff, special envoy for former President Donald Trump, has sparked controversy after praising Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “humanitarian” during talks in St Petersburg following the release of an American hostage. Witkoff thanked Putin for freeing Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired teacher and military veteran from Michigan, who had been imprisoned in Russia since 2022 after being arrested in the eastern Ukrainian city of Izyum. Russian authorities accused Hubbard of being a mercenary, a charge his lawyers denied.
During the Kremlin meeting, Witkoff pointed to Putin with a gold-tipped pen and commended him, stating, “You talk about my President, President Trump, being the humanitarian. You are humanitarian also, sir, and I salute that.” The comments have drawn sharp criticism from multiple Republican lawmakers and other observers. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina called the remarks “embarrassing and outrageous,” while Senator John Cornyn of Texas described Putin as a “stone cold killer.” Both senators, who are not seeking re-election, expressed concern about Trump’s ongoing negotiations to buy millions of tonnes of Russian diesel and his calls for the removal of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Supporters of Witkoff, including Vice-President JD Vance, defended his diplomatic approach, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging the release of an American hostage, regardless of broader disagreements over U.S.-Russia relations. Witkoff, formerly a New York real estate developer and golfing partner of Trump, stated after the meeting that Russia had agreed to resume trilateral talks involving the United States, Russia, and Ukraine. Previous such talks have been hosted by Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates.
However, critics argue that Witkoff’s praise overlooks the broader context of Putin’s actions. Putin is wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes, including the abuse of an estimated 35,000 Ukrainian children. Observers point to Russia’s ongoing military aggression in Ukraine, which has caused tens of thousands of casualties, and highlight accusations that Moscow has provided military intelligence aiding Iran in targeting U.S. forces in the Middle East.
Further criticism draws attention to Russia’s history of imprisoning Western nationals on allegedly fabricated charges as part of “hostage geopolitics.” The cases of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, detained for 16 months before a prisoner exchange, and opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in a Russian penal colony, are cited as examples. Some view the release of Hubbard as a calculated political move by Russia, coinciding with the U.S. midterm elections.
A Kremlin foreign affairs official indicated after Witkoff’s visit that Putin has agreed to return to negotiations with Ukraine next month, but skepticism remains about the likelihood of sustained progress. Analysts emphasize that any optimism about renewed dialogue should be tempered by Russia’s “relentless hostility” toward U.S. interests and ongoing conflict dynamics.