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Witkoff Praises Putin After Detained US Citizen Released

The Trump administration praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “humanitarian” for releasing a detained US citizen, the latest White House move to curry favor with Russia in its efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

Sources (1)· Oct 21, 5:50 PM

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Bloomberg· Oct 21, 5:50 PMWitkoff Praises Putin After Detained US Citizen Released

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Russia frees U.S. citizen as Kremlin maneuvers to show goodwill to Trump - Wed, 21 Oct 2026 PSTRussia on Wednesday freed Stephen Hubbard, a retired U.S. teacher imprisoned there since 2022, in what Moscow portrayed as a gesture of goodwill to President Donald Trump, who had requested his release.

Spokane Spokesman-Review2d agoWhole story →

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WATCH: Vance defends U.S. envoy Witkoff calling Putin a 'humanitarian' after prisoner releaseThe vice president called Steve Witkoff "a diplomat" and said he was in Russia to get a job done.

PBS NewsHour2d agoWhole story →

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Russia released a US prisoner. What did they get out of it?This story appeared in The Logoff, a daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news take over your life. Subscribe here. Welcome to The Logoff: President Donald Trump is cozying up to Russia again. What’s happening? On Wednesday, Russia released an American prisoner, 74-year-old retired teacher…

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WSJ editors blast Trump after he caves in hostage deal: ‘No cause to be grateful’A conservative editorial board threw cold water on one of President Donald Trump's latest diplomatic wins , warning his team was getting played. The Wall Street Journal's editorial board wrote Wednesday that there is "no cause to be grateful" to Russian President Vladimir Putin for freeing Stephen Hubbard, a retired American teacher jailed in Russia…

Raw Story2d agoWhole story →

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Putin Gets Praised as 'Humanitarian' by WitkoffThe Trump administration praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “humanitarian” for releasing a detained US citizen. Steve Witkoff complimented Putin in Russia as he secured the release of Stephen Hubbard, an American teacher convicted there four years ago of fighting for Ukraine. Bloomberg's Anthony Halpin reports. (Source: Bloomberg)

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Donald Trump’s Ukraine Envoy Faces Backlash For Calling Vladimir Putin ‘A Humanitarian’Steve Witkoff praised the Russian president for releasing a U.S. citizen, with GOP lawmakers furious at the characterization.

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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...

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Trump envoy Steve Witkoff praises Putin as ‘humanitarian’ as Ukraine peace talks hang in the balanceUS special envoy Steve Witkoff complimented Russian dictator Vladimir Putin as a “humanitarian” during their meeting in St. Petersburg -- as President Trump desperately tries to get Russia back to the negotiating table to end the Ukraine war.

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UK Rejects Witkoff’s Characterization of Putin as ‘Humanitarian’The UK pushed back against the description of Vladimir Putin as a “humanitarian” given by US President Donald Trump’s Ukraine war envoy, saying it rejected that characterization of the Russian leader.

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GOP senator: Putin is ‘anything but a humanitarian’Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) slammed special envoy Steve Witkoff’s characterization of Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “humanitarian,” instead calling the Russian leader “an evil killer.” Cramer also declared he would rather die in a Russian prison than have someone praise Putin as a “humanitarian” to earn his release. “Humanitarian wouldn’t be one…

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Putin orders release of jailed American as he meets Trump envoy for Ukraine talksRussia frees Stephen Hubbard after US request while Steve Witkoff praises Putin, wanted by ICC as war criminal, as a ‘humanitarian’ Vladimir Putin ordered the release of an American man from a Russian jail as he met Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg on Wednesday for fresh talks on ending the war in Ukraine, amid increasingly close…

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Trump Envoy Gives Nauseating Praise of Putin as Russia Frees AmericanTrump administration envoy Steve Witkoff thinks Russian President Vladimir Putin is a “humanitarian.” The comment came after Russia on Wednesday released 74-year-old Stephen James Hubbard, an American who spent four years locked up under accusations of being a Ukrainian mercenary. “He’s a 75-year-old man. You talk so much about my president, President…

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