Witkoff praises Putin during US diplomatic visit to Russia
The US envoy is expected to propose three-way talks involving Putin, Zelenskyy and Trump as Russian attacks on Ukraine continue.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff described Russian leader Vladimir Putin as “a humanitarian” during talks in St. Petersburg on 21 October 2026, as Washington pursued efforts to bring Russia and Ukraine into negotiations.
Footage from Russian state media, shared on social media, showed Witkoff thanking and praising Putin. The envoy said Putin deserved the same humanitarian description that the Russian leader had used for US President Donald Trump.
Before travelling to Russia, Witkoff met Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in Oslo. He is expected to put forward a proposal for talks involving Zelenskyy, Putin and Trump.
Meanwhile, overnight Russian attacks on Kyiv and Kharkiv killed three people, according to the cities’ mayors. The United Nations said Russia’s assault killed 328 civilians in September. Russian forces are also attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure as winter approaches.
In 2023, the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for Putin’s arrest over children being forcibly transferred to Russia following the start of the invasion.
