U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff called Vladimir Putin a "humanitarian" during a meeting in St. Petersburg on October 21, 2026. The remark followed Russia's release of 74-year-old American prisoner Stephen James Hubbard. Witkoff thanked Putin, "You talk so much about my president, President Trump, being a humanitarian," said Witkoff. "You are a humanitarian also, sir." 1/2