Independent

President Donald Trump on Wednesday seconded his roving peace envoy’s obsequious description of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin as a “humanitarian” and praised the autocratic leader for having released an American his government had taken hostage after Trump waived bipartisan sanctions meant to hinder Moscow’s war against Ukraine. Earlier in the day, Witkoff, a real estate developer with no experience in diplomacy who Trump has nonetheless tasked with international negotiations normally entrusted to the Secretary of State, praised Putin and credited him with saying nice things about Trump during a meeting that was recorded and released on Russian state media. “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, and I thank you again,” Witkoff said. Watch more on Independent TV: https://tinyurl.com/yc7ukx9n The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking newsbrand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. Subscribe: https://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-Independent Find us on social: TikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@independent Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/the.independent/ X (Twitter) / https://twitter.com/Independent Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/TheIndependentOnline Download the iOS & Android app: https://tinyurl.com/2s3ts5dh Sign up to our newsletters: https://tinyurl.com/2bmw565x Help to support truly independent journalism. Every dollar you contribute will directly fund additional special reports and investigations from a free-thinking, award-winning newsroom you can trust: https://www.independent.co.uk/donations