Witkoff Praises Putin as ‘Humanitarian’ for Releasing US Citizen Stephen Hubbard
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff on Wednesday praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “humanitarian” for releasing American citizen Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old jailed for allegedly fighting alongside Ukrainian forces. The remarks came during a meeting in St Petersburg, where Putin personally informed Witkoff that Hubbard had been taken to Pulkovo Airport. The release was hailed by President Donald Trump, who emphasized on Truth Social that “There was no ‘swap’ necessary for this release,” calling it “an unprecedented situation for Russia.” The White House had not been required to give anything in return, Trump stressed.nnThe warmth of Witkoff’s comments stood in stark contrast to the increasingly hostile rhetoric directed at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by senior US officials, most notably Trump, who has called for the Ukrainian president to resign and portrayed him as the main obstacle to peace. Witkoff described his meeting with Putin as “constructive” but said “important work” remained and that trilateral talks between the US, Russia and Ukraine “at the technical level” would follow. The envoy’s visit to St Petersburg came a day after he held talks with Zelenskyy and European leaders in Oslo as part of US efforts to end the war in Ukraine.nnThe release of Hubbard, who had been imprisoned for allegedly fighting on behalf of Ukraine, was framed by Moscow as a goodwill gesture. Putin’s decision to free the American without a reciprocal exchange was described by Trump as “an unprecedented situation for Russia.” The move was also seen as a sign of potential easing of tensions between Washington and Moscow, even as fighting continues in Ukraine. More than 17,500 civilians have been confirmed killed in Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, according to the UN, which says the true toll is likely to be significantly higher.nnWitkoff’s praise for Putin drew attention to the delicate diplomacy underway, with the US envoy calling the Russian leader a “humanitarian” for the release. The BBC sought reaction from Vice President JD Vance, highlighting the political sensitivity of the remarks. As talks continue, the release of Hubbard may serve as a confidence-building measure, but the broader conflict remains unresolved. The US has insisted that no concessions were made, and
Shimanta Das 
