Ukraine criticizes US envoy for calling Putin a humanitarian

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sîbiga has condemned US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff for describing Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “humanitarian” during a meeting in Saint Petersburg. Sîbiga argued that such “conciliatory, servile, and flattering” approaches will not end the war, stating that “only force will do so.”

The criticism follows Witkoff’s expression of gratitude to Putin for the release of Stephen Hubbard, a retired American professor held in Russia. Witkoff praised Putin’s humanitarian spirit in connection to the release, a sentiment that US President Donald Trump partially echoed, suggesting the term could be used to justify the decision to free Hubbard.

Simultaneously, Sîbiga reported that Russian forces intensified attacks on Ukrainian territory, including ballistic missile strikes targeting energy infrastructure, medical facilities, and residential areas in Kyiv and other cities.