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Trump’s Envoy Praises Putin as "Humanitarian" Amid Discussions of Ukraine Ceasefire
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US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff called the Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, a “humanitarian” during a meeting in St. Petersburg on October 21.
This was reported by Russia Today on October 21, citing remarks Witkoff made during his visit to Russia.
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“You talk so much about my president, President Trump, being a humanitarian. You are a humanitarian too, sir, and I give you credit for that. I offer you my respect and thank you again,” Witkoff told Putin.
The remarks came in connection with Russia's release of Stephen Hubbard, a 75-year-old retired American teacher who had been held in Russian captivity since 2022. Witkoff expressed his gratitude to Putin for the release, explicitly comparing the Russian leader to Trump in describing both as humanitarians.
Witkoff’s characterization of Putin as a "humanitarian" comes as the Russian leader remains wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The court issued an arrest warrant on March 17, 2023, accusing Putin of responsibility for the alleged war crimes of unlawfully deporting and transferring Ukrainian children from Russian-occupied territories to Russia.
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Witkoff's praise contrasted with the hardline position Moscow staked out on the eve of his visit.
On October 20, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that the Kremlin would hear out whatever proposal the envoy brought but ruled out any political concessions.
He added that relations with the West would not return to their pre-2022 state and cautioned against overestimating the significance of Washington's decision not to enforce sanctions legislation authored by Senator Lindsey Graham. Putin, meanwhile, had directed the continuation of massive strikes on Ukrainian facilities.
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