US envoy under fire for calling Putin 'compassionate' after prisoner release

US envoy Steve Witkoff sparked a political firestorm in the United States after thanking Vladimir Putin and calling him "compassionate" for releasing American Stephen Hubbard, who had been imprisoned in Russia for four years. Witkoff praised Putin during the prisoner release, saying, "You are compassionate too, I recognize that, I praise you for it and thank you again." Conservative Senator John Corbyn called Putin a "ruthless killer," while Republican Congressman Don Bacon labeled Witkoff's remarks "another embarrassment." Republican Senator Thom Tillis suggested Witkoff should check the dictionary definition of compassionate and ask Ukrainian families of children kidnapped and killed by Putin whether they agree. The controversy comes amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Moscow over prisoner exchanges and the war in Ukraine.