President Donald Trump on Wednesday seconded his roving peace envoy’s obsequious description of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin as a “humanitarian” and praised the autocratic leader for having released an American his government had taken hostage after Trump waived bipartisan sanctions meant to hinder Moscow’s war against Ukraine.

Earlier in the day, Witkoff, a real estate developer with no experience in diplomacy who Trump has nonetheless tasked with international negotiations normally entrusted to the Secretary of State, praised Putin and credited him with saying nice things about Trump during a meeting that was recorded and released on Russian state media.

“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,” Witkoff said.

Asked about the exchange and pressed on whether he agreed with Witkoff, Trump offered a qualified “yes” to the query.

“Well, I guess you could say for that particular purpose, for the purpose of allowing a man who was thinking he was going to be in prison for life out. But you know, I I wouldn’t say anything one way or the other,” he said.

The president then falsely claimed that Russia has “not gotten involved with Iran,” seemingly ignorant of the fact that Iran and Russia have a longstanding relationship that has seen both governments assist each other in their respective efforts to undermine Western-aligned governments — and the United States itself.

Trump’s comments came hours after Putin announced the release of imprisoned US citizen Stephen Hubbard following a plea for his release from his American counterpart, who had previously suggested his decision to allow Russia to continue to sell diesel fuel despite sanctions enacted by Congress was part of a gambit to secure Hubbard’s release.

Hubbard, 74, had been held in Russian custody since April 2022 and was serving a nearly seven-year prison sentence in a penal colony for allegedly fighting on behalf of Ukraine, charges he denies.

Putin told US special envoy Steve Witkoff that the former schoolteacher was at the St Petersburg Pulkovo airport and waiting to fly back to the US with him. Witkoff thanked him for the goodwill gesture.

The US envoy flew into Russia’s second city on Wednesday morning to review new ideas on ending the war in Europe, with allies anxious that president Trump appears to be turning away from Kyiv while firming up relations with Moscow.

President Trump welcomed the news of Hubbard’s release on Wednesday, claiming the retired schoolteacher was released at his request in a telephone call with Putin last week.

“Stephen is on his way back home and will soon be with his family. The United States, out of respect for President Trump, was not required to give anything in return – an unprecedented situation for Russia,” the president said.

“There was no “swap” necessary for this release. This major return should have taken place long ago through the Biden Administration, which got nowhere in its negotiations with the Kremlin.”

Following a closed trial, a Moscow court convicted Hubbard of being a mercenary in October 2024 and sentenced him to six years and 10 months in prison.

James Reynolds and Liam Gilliver contributed reporting from London