Downing Street Rejects Witkoff's Description of Putin as a 'Humanitarian'

Downing Street has pushed back against a remark by Donald Trump's chief negotiator on the Ukraine war, who described Russian president Vladimir Putin as a "humanitarian".

Steve Witkoff met Putin in St Petersburg on Wednesday as part of a fresh effort to bring the invasion of Ukraine to an end. The United States has been pressing Kyiv to agree to a settlement. In a clip released by Russian state media and posted on X, Witkoff told the Russian leader: "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."

Asked about the comments, a Downing Street spokesperson said: "We certainly do not recognise that characterisation." The spokesperson said Putin had killed thousands of people, including innocent Ukrainians and Russians he had sent to their deaths on the frontline.

The spokesperson also accused Putin of depriving children and elderly people of heat and warmth, and of systematically targeting critical national infrastructure. They pointed to a remark by Ukraine's foreign minister earlier in the day: "This night, the residents of Kyiv heard what Russian humanitarianism really sounds like."

The spokesperson was asked whether the government would put this argument directly to the US administration. They replied that the UK engages regularly with a range of partners at a range of levels on Ukraine, and added: "I'm sure we will continue to do so."

The statement followed comments from the Scottish secretary, Douglas Alexander, in an interview with LBC. He said Britain saw Putin as "somebody who illegally invaded Ukraine at the start of this conflict, who has been responsible for conduct by his government that included attempted assassinations on UK soil". Alexander added: "We simply do not recognise the description of Vladimir Putin as a humanitarian."

After the Witkoff meeting, Russia agreed in principle to resume peace talks with Ukraine and the US. Trump has suggested the two sides are "maybe now the closest we've been" to ending the war.

Even so, Russian attacks on Ukraine have continued. That included a drone strike on Kharkiv while Putin and Witkoff were speaking.

Last week, Andy Burnham welcomed Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Downing Street and backed him amid criticism from Trump. Trump had suggested Zelenskyy should be replaced and declined to say whether Russia was responsible for the war.