The United Kingdom has condemned remarks made by US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who, during a meeting with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, referred to him as a “humanitarian,” reports Politico.While meeting with Putin in St. Petersburg on the 21st of October, Witkoff stated: “You are a humanitarian also, sir, and I salute that, I commend you and I thank you again.” This was in response to the Kremlin’s decision to release Stephen Hubbard, an American former teacher who had been imprisoned since 2022.When asked whether London agrees that Putin is a humanitarian, a spokesperson for the British Prime Minister’s office stated that the British side categorically rejects this characterization. The spokesperson pointed out that Putin has killed thousands of people—including innocent Ukrainians as well as his own countrymen, whom he sent to their deaths on the front lines. Furthermore, Putin has deprived children and the elderly of heat and has systematically attacked Ukraine’s critical infrastructure. The British position echoes comments made by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on the morning of the 22nd of October; he noted that, during the night, residents of Kyiv heard what “Russian humanism” truly sounds like, as Moscow attacked the Ukrainian capital with ballistic missiles. At least two people were killed in the attack, and another 22 were injured, including four children.Just a few hours before this latest attack, Putin stated that he was, “in principle,” ready to resume trilateral peace talks.
US envoy calls Putin a “humanitarian”; British Prime Minister’s Office criticizes remark
