US envoy's praise of Putin sparks backlash after American freed from Russian prison

U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff thanked Vladimir Putin, calling him "compassionate" after securing the release of Stephen Hubbard, an American imprisoned in Russia for four years, sparking a political backlash in the United States. Hubbard is now heading home following the negotiation. Republican lawmakers sharply criticized Witkoff's remarks, with Senator John Corbyn calling Putin a "ruthless killer" and others expressing embarrassment. Vice President JD Vance defended Witkoff, emphasizing the successful return of an American hostage over the envoy's choice of words, while President Trump touted the release as achieved without any exchange. Hubbard, a 74-year-old former English teacher and U.S. veteran from Michigan, was arrested in April 2022 in Ukraine and sentenced to nearly seven years for mercenary activity. Trump also criticized the Biden administration for not securing his release earlier.