US special envoy Steve Witkoff has drawn sharp criticism, including from Republicans, after praising Vladimir Putin as a humanitarian during talks in St Petersburg on Wednesday, CBS News reports.
Witkoff thanked the Russian president for freeing Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old American held in Russia for four years whom Washington regarded as wrongfully detained. Senator Thom Tillis called the remark embarrassing and outrageous, Senator John Cornyn described Putin as a killer, and Congressman Don Bacon called it another embarrassment.
The visit was meant to advance efforts to end the war in Ukraine, as Russia steps up strikes on Ukrainian power infrastructure before winter. CBS noted that President Trump recently waived new sanctions on Russia shortly before they were due to take effect. Before travelling to Russia, Witkoff met Volodymyr Zelensky in Oslo.
Source: CBS News
