US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Vladimir Putin to secure the release of an American teacher and discuss peace talks.
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner recently concluded a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Witkoff visited the Constantine Palace in person. Meanwhile, Kushner joined the talks through a virtual connection.
This meeting resulted in the release of Stephen Hubbard. Hubbard is a retired American teacher who spent four years in Russian custody. Russian authorities arrested him in 2022 on charges of being a mercenary. The US government maintained that his detention was wrongful.
Next, the officials discussed resuming peace negotiations regarding the war in Ukraine. Putin agreed to restart discussions mediated by the United States. These talks aim to secure a peace deal after five years of conflict.
Also, the proposed meetings may occur in Abu Dhabi as early as next month. US officials suggested a trilateral format. This would focus on long-term security guarantees for both Ukraine and Russia.
However, Witkoff drew significant backlash for calling Putin a humanitarian. He made this remark after the Russian leader released Hubbard. Many US lawmakers quickly criticized this praise.
Then, Senator Thom Tillis expressed shock at the comment. He questioned Witkoff’s judgment regarding the definition of a humanitarian. Other senators labeled Putin a war criminal due to ongoing human rights concerns.
Still, members of the Trump administration defended the envoy. Vice President JD Vance argued that Witkoff had a difficult job to complete. He suggested that polite language helped secure the prisoner's release.
Furthermore, the leaders discussed a potential meeting between Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and Xi Jinping. Kremlin officials noted that this could happen at a summit in China. No formal plans exist for this trilateral session yet.
Finally, Stephen Hubbard is returning home to his family in the United States. President Trump praised the release during a public event. The administration continues to focus on bringing detained Americans back home.