Downing Street on Thursday rejected U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff’s description of Russian President Vladimir Putin as a humanitarian, pointing to deaths caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine.
“We certainly do not recognise that characterisation,” a Downing Street spokesperson said. The spokesperson blamed Putin for thousands of deaths, including innocent Ukrainians and Russians sent to the front.
Witkoff made the remark during a Wednesday meeting with Putin in St Petersburg, where he thanked the Russian leader for the release of American Stephen Hubbard, CBS News reported. The Guardian said Witkoff was seeking another effort to end the invasion. It also reported that Moscow signaled it was prepared in principle to restart peace talks after the meeting, while Washington was urging Kyiv to accept a settlement.
Witkoff’s praise had already drawn criticism from Republican lawmakers, CBS News reported. EconoTimes previously covered the Republican response to Witkoff’s remark.
Asked whether Britain would raise the criticism with Washington, the spokesperson pointed to regular contact with partners on Ukraine and said those discussions would continue.
