# Vance defends Trump envoy’s ‘humanitarian’ praise for Putin

https://mins.news/en/item/110074

- Meduza, 2026-10-21 19:54 UTC
- Politics
- Original: https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/10/21/vance-defends-trump-envoy-s-humanitarian-praise-for-putin

> U.S. Vice President JD Vance defended special envoy Steve Witkoff for calling Vladimir Putin a “humanitarian” after Putin released American Stephen Hubbard, convicted in Russia of serving as a mercenary. Vance said Witkoff was doing his job as a diplomat and that Americans should celebrate Hubbard’s return rather than criticize the words used to secure it.

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