United States special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner concluded their latest negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, a meeting that resulted in the release of a retired American teacher from Russian custody. The talks took place at the Constantine Palace in Saint Petersburg, with Witkoff attending in person while Kushner joined the session virtually.
The release of Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old former educator, marked the opening gesture of the discussions. Hubbard had been held in Russia for more than four years after his arrest in 2022. He was sentenced to over six years in prison on accusations of being a Ukrainian mercenary, charges that the United States has consistently argued were baseless. Hubbard is now returning to the United States to reunite with his family.
President Donald Trump made a direct appeal to Putin for Hubbard’s freedom. Following the release, Trump posted on social media that Russia acted out of respect for him, noting that no prisoner swap was requested. Trump also spoke with Hubbard by phone, reiterating his commitment to bringing home Americans wrongfully detained abroad.
Witkoff’s Praise Sparks Bipartisan Backlash
Witkoff faced immediate criticism from US lawmakers after praising Putin during the meeting. Witkoff told the Russian president, “You talk so much about my president, President Trump, being a humanitarian. You are a humanitarian also, sir, and I salute that. I commend you.” The comment drew sharp rebuke from both Republican and Democratic senators.
Senator Thom Tillis, a Republican, responded on social media by asking, “WTF, Steve?” He urged Witkoff to look up the definition of humanitarian and pointed to the suffering of Ukrainian families. Senator John Cornyn, also a Republican, called Putin a “stone cold killer.” Senator Mark Kelly, a Democrat, labeled Putin a “war criminal,” citing the bombing of hospitals and the intentional killing of civilians.
Despite the backlash, members of the Trump administration defended Witkoff. Vice President JD Vance argued that Witkoff had a job to do and that complimenting Putin likely aided the negotiations. Trump also supported his envoy, calling the characterization a “good saying” for the specific purpose of securing Hubbard’s release, though he advised against making such statements generally.
Resumption of Peace Talks and Future Summits
The meeting comes as the Trump administration intensifies efforts to end Russia’s war against Ukraine, which began with a full-scale invasion in February 2022. Russian officials agreed to resume US-mediated peace negotiations with Ukraine for the first time in months. A US official stated that Witkoff and Kushner proposed a trilateral meeting at the technical level to discuss security guarantees for both nations once the war ends. Ukraine accepted this proposal during separate talks with Americans in Oslo, Norway.
The last US-mediated peace talks occurred in February. The source text notes these talks took place just days before the US and Israel launched their war against Iran. Russian officials indicated that the new trilateral talks could begin as soon as next month, potentially in Abu Dhabi.
Additionally, the Kremlin confirmed that a potential meeting between Trump, Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping was discussed. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that the subject was raised given the possibility of all three leaders attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in China next month. However, Peskov clarified that no specific proposals or agreements were made regarding the agenda or content of such a hypothetical meeting. The three leaders have never previously met for a dedicated trilateral visit.
These diplomatic moves have heightened concerns in Kyiv that the United States is backing away from its support for Ukraine. Critics fear that Trump’s warm relations with Putin may lead to concessions that favor Russian demands to end Europe’s bloodiest conflict since World War II.
Source: Al Jazeera
