He blasts U.S. envoy Witkoff: after Hubbard's release he called Putin "compassionate". Trump and Vance are defending him.

Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky have agreed to resume trilateral negotiations with the United States, signaling a potential shift in the conflict that has persisted for four and a half years. The Russian president gave his assent to technical-level talks scheduled to begin in mid-November in Abu Dhabi, mirroring previous sessions held there last January. This diplomatic movement followed a three-hour meeting in St. Petersburg between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. The encounter occurred just one day after Witkoff concluded consultations with Zelensky and European officials in Oslo. The most prominent outcome of the St. Petersburg summit was the release of American citizen Stephen Hubbard, a move described by the Kremlin as a gesture toward the United States. The timeline of these diplomatic efforts began in Oslo, where Witkoff met with Zelensky, along with leaders from Norway and Finland, and representatives from France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, the European Union, and NATO. In a subsequent interview with Fox News, Zelensky stated that Ukraine is prepared to freeze the conflict along the current front lines to initiate negotiations. His primary objective is securing security guarantees from the United States and European nations. Zelensky indicated readiness for a trilateral meeting "as soon as possible." However, Moscow maintains its opposition to simple ceasefires or suspensions of combat, including the halt of bombings on energy sites previously proposed by President Donald Trump. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov asserted that Russia requires peace rather than a temporary cessation of hostilities. During the St. Petersburg meeting, which took place at the Constantine Palace, Witkoff presented Putin with an updated proposal to end the war. Jared Kushner, another senior U.S. official, participated virtually. Kremlin foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov confirmed that the main topic of the resumed dialogue will be the creation of a security system for both Russia and Ukraine following the end of the conflict. Ushakov noted that while Witkoff reported new approaches from Europe and Kyiv, these nuances did not fully satisfy the Russian side. When asked if the parties were nearing the end of the war, Ushakov responded that while he could not quantify the proximity, the process was moving in that direction. He added that the earlier optimism displayed by Putin in May regarding the conflict's conclusion had not yet resulted in peace over the intervening five months. The release of Stephen Hubbard dominated the initial phase of the meeting. Putin announced that the 74-year-old American, who had been held in captivity since April 2022 after being seized by Russian troops in eastern Ukraine, was already at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg. Hubbard had been sentenced to long-term imprisonment in 2024 for allegedly fighting alongside Ukrainian forces as a mercenary. Witkoff thanked Putin for the release, stating that Hubbard’s family and Americans were grateful. President Trump later addressed the incident on social media, asserting that no exchange or swap was necessary for Hubbard’s freedom. He claimed the United States was not required to provide anything in return, describing the situation as unprecedented for Russia. Trump also mentioned that he had lifted sanctions on Russian diesel sales to facilitate negotiations regarding Hubbard and Ukraine, arguing that maintaining sanctions would have prevented any deal and left Hubbard in prison for 25 years. The manner in which Witkoff acknowledged the release drew sharp criticism within the United States. In a moment captured on camera, Witkoff told Putin, "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." This description triggered immediate backlash from members of the Republican Party. Senator John Cornyn of Texas labeled Putin a "stone-cold killer" and questioned Witkoff’s choice of words. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina urged Witkoff to look up the definition of "humanitarian" and suggested he ask the families of children killed by Putin if they shared that view. Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska called the remark "another embarrassment." Senator Susan Collins of Maine described Putin as a warmonger and a thug, emphasizing his role as the aggressor in the war. Despite the partisan outcry, the White House defended the envoy. Vice President JD Vance argued that Witkoff’s polite remarks were part of his diplomatic duty to secure the hostage's release and that the focus should remain on the result rather than the specific language used. President Trump echoed this defense during a White House roundtable, suggesting that such terms might be applicable given the specific purpose of freeing a man who feared life imprisonment. Trump maintained that he would not characterize Putin broadly in those terms outside of that specific context. The broader geopolitical landscape remains tense. While the White House hopes that lifting certain sanctions will encourage further compromises from Moscow, the only concrete concession secured thus far is the agreement to negotiate. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen clarified that EU sanctions against Russia would remain in effect. Meanwhile, military operations continue, with Russia intensifying strikes on civilian and energy infrastructure in an effort to disrupt Ukraine’s power grid ahead of winter. The upcoming technical talks in Abu Dhabi represent the next step in a process that both sides acknowledge requires substantial work to achieve a lasting resolution.