US envoy calls Putin a 'humanitarian' amid Kyiv strikes; UK rejects claim

US special envoy Steve Witkoff controversially described Russian President Vladimir Putin as a "humanitarian" during an October 21, 2026, meeting in St. Petersburg. The remarks came as Witkoff thanked Putin for the release of Stephen Hubbard, an American citizen who had been detained in Russia for four years. The meeting between Witkoff and Putin was part of a renewed diplomatic effort to discuss a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine, following earlier talks involving Witkoff, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and European leaders in Oslo.

However, hours after Witkoff's meeting, Kyiv experienced a significant barrage of Russian missile strikes, including ballistic missiles, some equipped with cluster munitions. These attacks caused casualties and extensive damage across the Ukrainian capital. In response to Witkoff's comments, Downing Street firmly rejected the characterization of Putin as a "humanitarian." A spokeswoman cited Putin's responsibility for thousands of deaths and systematic targeting of critical infrastructure in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy also made a sarcastic reference to Witkoff's remarks following the overnight strikes on Kyiv.