You are humane, and I appreciate this greatly – said Trump's special envoy to Putin

Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, praising him for his humanity. This meeting comes amid ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine, which have resulted in civilian casualties. Witkoff's visit aims to facilitate negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv, including discussions about the release of Stephen Hubbard, a man imprisoned in Russia for fighting alongside Ukrainian forces. Prior to this, Witkoff met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders in Oslo, where discussions were constructive. The potential for a trilateral meeting involving Trump, Putin, and Zelensky was also announced, marking a significant diplomatic effort since the war began in 2022.