UK rejects Trump negotiator’s description of Vladimir Putin as ‘humanitarian’

The Government has hit back after Donald Trump’s lead negotiator on the Ukraine war described Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “humanitarian”.

Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy, made the remark as he met with the Russian leader this week.

It comes as the US president has made a new push to end the Ukraine war, and is putting pressure on Kyiv to agree to a settlement.

Scotland Secretary Douglas Alexander suggested the Government was wholly at odds with the remarks made by US special envoy Mr Witkoff.

Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said the Government rejects Mr Witkoff’s characterisation of Mr Putin (Paul Reid/PA)

PA Wire

Asked by LBC if the UK agreed with Mr Witkoff’s characterisation, Mr Alexander said: “No, we don’t.

“We see him 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.

“So we simply do not recognise the description of Vladimir Putin as a humanitarian.

“In contrast, we are crystal clear that we stand foursquare behind Volodymyr Zelensky and the people of Ukraine in their battle for freedom.”

Following Mr Witkoff’s meeting with the Russian president, Moscow agreed in principle to resume peace talks with Ukraine and the US.

Mr Trump has suggested that Russia and Ukraine are “maybe now the closest we’ve been” to ending the war.

Despite the apparent willingness to negotiate, Russia has continued to launch missile strikes at Kyiv.

Andy Burnham spoke with Finland’s President Alexander Stubb on Wednesday evening, following a meeting between Ukraine’s President Mr Zelensky and Mr Witkoff in the Norwegian capital Oslo.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said the Prime Minister and Mr Stubb both “underlined how it was crucial to maintain the momentum on Ukraine to end Russia’s unjustified attacks” in their phone call.

“Any peace had to include security guarantees for Ukraine, as well as ensuring war did not return to the European continent, the leaders agreed,” she added.