Republicans are criticizing a remark by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff that Russian President Vladimir Putin is a "humanitarian" for releasing a U.S. hostage.
Witkoff made this comment earlier this week when Putin released 74-year-old Stephen Hubbard, an American who was deemed wrongfully detained by Russia after being imprisoned for four years. The two were meeting in St. Petersburg to discuss moving toward a resolution of the Russia-Ukraine war.
"You talk so much about my president, President Trump, being a humanitarian," Witkoff told Putin. "You are a humanitarian also, sir, and I salute that, I commend you, and I thank you again."
In the last month, Russia has intensified strikes against Ukraine’s civilian and energy infrastructure. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill on both sides of the aisle have continued to demand stronger action against Russia.
“No. Putin is [a] stone cold killer,” Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) replied on X.
This comes as Sen. Cornyn and other Republican lawmakers called on President Donald Trump to reverse his recent Russian diesel deal and impose strict sanctions to prevent further military aggression against Ukraine.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) echoed that sentiment.
“WTF, Steve?” Sen. Tillis said. “Look up the definition of ‘humanitarian.’ What an embarrassing and outrageous thing to say.”
Sen. Tillis added, “You should go back to Ukraine and ask the families of the children Putin has kidnapped and murdered whether they agree your friend Putin is a ‘humanitarian.’”
President Donald Trump even weighed in on Witkoff’s comment during a White House roundtable on cybercrime.
"Well, I guess you have to say for that particular purpose, for the purpose of allowing a man who was thinking he was going to be in prison for life out," Trump said of releasing Hubbard. "But I wouldn't say anything one way or the other."
