Calling Putin a ‘humanitarian,’ Witkoff thanks him for releasing an American

New York Times: The release came after Mr. Trump made a direct appeal last week to Mr. Putin to let the 74-year-old teacher, Stephen James Hubbard, return to the United States. Russia had accused Mr. Hubbard, who was held for over four years, of being a Ukrainian mercenary and sentenced him to more than six years in a penal colony. Mr. Hubbard had been seized by Russian troops in Ukraine, where he was living, but there was no evidence he was involved in the battle after Russia’s invasion…