Witkoff calls Putin 'a humanitarian' after American's release; Zelensky, Republicans criticize remark

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff called Russian President Vladimir Putin "a humanitarian" on Wednesday in St. Petersburg after Russia released Stephen Hubbard, a retired American teacher detained since 2022. Russia had held Hubbard for allegedly fighting for Ukraine. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, called Putin a warmonger and a thug, and Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., mocked the remark online. President Donald Trump said in the Oval Office that Witkoff may have meant it for the "particular purpose" of Hubbard's release. On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia fired three waves of ballistic missiles, 21 missiles in all, at Kyiv, hitting residential buildings, energy sites, a railway station, the metro and shopping malls. Putin had agreed Wednesday to trilateral talks with the U.S. and Ukraine.

The alternative outlet, The Hill, covers the reaction from Fox News host Brian Kilmeade, who said Russians must be laughing and that the remark looks naive. Left-leaning outlets, NBC News and MS NOW, frame it as part of Trump's effort to coax Putin to negotiate, quoting experts and Republican critics. Right-leaning Washington Examiner leads with Zelensky's mockery and the strikes, with Trump's comment and the peace-talk context.