US special envoy Steve Witkoff has drawn criticism in Washington after describing Russian president Vladimir Putin as a “humanitarian” following Moscow’s release of American citizen Stephen Hubbard.
Republican senator Thom Tillis criticised Witkoff in a post on X: “WTF, Steve? Look up the definition of ‘humanitarian’.”
Donald Trump declined to endorse or reject the envoy’s description, saying “I wouldn’t say anything one way or the other.”
Meanwhile, Russian ballistic missile attacks have struck several parts of Kyiv overnight on Thursday, injuring six people and damaging residential buildings, a car service station, a medical facility and a restaurant.
At least 13 explosions were reported in less than eight minutes during one wave of strikes around 3am local time, according to The Kyiv Independent.
Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said: “In the same district, debris also hit another private residential building. There may be people trapped under the rubble.”
Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday he was willing in principle to resume talks with Ukraine and the US next month, but would want to focus on security guarantees for Russia after the conflict ends, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said.
Read MorePutin says Russia has freed US citizen, 74, jailed since 2022
Elon Musk reportedly ordered slowing down of Starlink access for Ukrainian army
Trump has finally abandoned the West for Putin. This is what the UK and Europe must do next
Key Points
- Trump hails Putin for releasing US citizen Stephen Hubbard
- Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff arrives in St Petersburg for talks with Putin
- Trump's envoy says he hopes to restart three-way talks with Russia and Ukraine
- Zelensky says he had 'constructive dialogue' with the US
- Elon Musk ordered slowdown of Starlink in Ukraine, report says
Witkoff faces criticism over Putin ‘humanitarian’ remarks
06:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarUS special envoy Steve Witkoff has drawn criticism from Washington after describing Russian president Vladimir Putin as a “humanitarian” following Moscow’s release of American citizen Stephen Hubbard.
Republican Senator Thom Tillis criticised Witkoff in a post on X: “WTF, Steve? Look up the definition of ‘humanitarian’.”
Donald Trump declined to endorse or reject the envoy’s description, saying “I wouldn’t say anything one way or the other”.
Vice president JD Vance defended Witkoff, saying: “I agree with Steve Witkoff saying something nice to a person who just released an American hostage.”
Hubbard, 74, a former teacher who had spent more than four years in Russian detention on charges of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine, was released as Witkoff met Putin. Hubbard has denied these accusations.
Trump said the release required no concessions from Washington. He wrote on social media: “The United States, out of respect for President Trump, was not required to give anything in return – an unprecedented situation for Russia … There was no ‘swap’ necessary for this release.”
Russia frees American Stephen Hubbard after over 4 years behind bars
05:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarRussia on Wednesday freed an American who had been jailed for more than four years on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine, a deal completed during a visit by a top US envoy and at a time when president Donald Trump has taken a series of actions meant to benefit Moscow.
Trump told reporters at the White House that he had asked Russian president Vladimir Putin during a recent call to free Stephen Hubbard and that, unlike previous releases, the US did not have to give up anyone in return.
“He is the happiest man around,” Trump said of Hubbard, describing the 74-year-old retired teacher from Michigan as a “very high-quality, innocent man”.
Hubbard’s legal team denied the Russian accusations, saying he was not involved in any military activity.
The release occurred during a visit to St Petersburg by US envoy Steve Witkoff, who in a face-to-face interaction with Putin praised the Russian leader as a “humanitarian” as the men held talks about Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and as Trump simultaneously pushes Kyiv to make a deal that stops the fighting.
Kremlin says peace proposals lack ‘substance’
04:04 , Maroosha MuzaffarThe Kremlin has cast doubt on the peace proposals to end the war in Ukraine, saying proposals put forward by Kyiv and European leaders lack “substance”.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian president Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Wednesday after holding talks with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders in Oslo.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Moscow was “in principle, ready to resume” trilateral talks in mid-November, but added that “there wasn’t really much substance in them”.
US president Donald Trump said the negotiations were “the closest we’ve been” to ending the war, while Zelensky backed an early resumption of three-way talks.
Witkoff described his meeting with Putin as “constructive”, but said “there is still important work left to do”.
Trump hails Putin for releasing US citizen Stephen Hubbard
03:00 , Maira ButtDonald Trump has posted on Truth Social to celebrate Vladimir Putin’s decision to release Stephen Hubbard, a US citizen who was formally designated as wrongfully detained in Russia for four years.
“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 post read.
Hubbard’s release comes after a number of US concessions towards Russia in recent weeks, including a deal signed by Trump to obtain diesel from Moscow.
Nonetheless, Trump claimed that “there was no ‘swap’ necessary for this release”.
“Welcome home Stephen, it’s great to have you back,” the statement quoted Trump as saying.
Kremlin says journalists from 'unfriendly' countries to be allowed to attend Putin's annual presser
02:00 , Maira ButtJournalists from countries Russia considers “unfriendly” will be allowed to attend president Vladimir Putin’s annual year-end press conference in December, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
“They will attend. Yes, [we will invite them] – as we always do,” Peskov told Russian state news agency TASS when asked whether media outlets from countries deemed unfriendly by Moscow would be invited.
The annual press conference will once again be combined with Putin’s “Direct Line” call-in show, during which he answers questions from Russian citizens.
The combined event, known as “Direct Line with Vladimir Putin: Year in Review”, will be held for the fifth time this year. The format was first introduced in 2020 during the Covid pandemic and revived in 2023.
Russia designates countries including the US, UK and EU member states as “unfriendly”, largely in response to sanctions imposed on Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine.
The exact date for the press conference has not been announced yet
Starlink access in Ukraine a decision for Musk, not White House, Rubio says
01:00 , Maira ButtUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that decisions regarding Ukraine's access to Starlink were up to its parent company SpaceX and Elon Musk, not the White House.
"I'm not aware that we knew about this decision beforehand. But that's irrelevant," Rubio told reporters during a trip to India on Wednesday.
Six injured as Kyiv rocked by explosions
Wednesday 21 October 2026 23:52 , Maira ButtExplosions have rocked Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv, leaving six injured on Wednesday.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the city was under attack from Russian ballistic missiles, in a post on Telegram.
Four people are being treated in hospital.
Russian Su-30 fighter jet crashes in Kaliningrad region
Wednesday 21 October 2026 22:00 , James ReynoldsA Russian Su-30 fighter jet has crashed in the Kaliningrad region, Russian agency Interfax reported on Wednesday, citing the defence ministry.
It quoted the ministry as saying the crash occurred during a training flight, but did not specify the cause. The crew ejected and there were no casualties, the ministry said.
Watch: Trump says Ukraine has to want to settle war
Wednesday 21 October 2026 21:00 , James ReynoldsTop story: Elon Musk reportedly ordered slowing down of Starlink access for Ukrainian army
Wednesday 21 October 2026 20:00 , James ReynoldsElon Musk was responsible for the slowdown of Starlink which restricted the Ukrainian army’s ability to carry out attacks against Russia last week, the Wall Street Journal has reported.
The satellite terminals are crucial for Kyiv to carry out long-range drone strikes that have disrupted Russian logistics.
Citing US officials and people familiar with the matter, the WSJ said that Musk and Donald Trump had discussed the decision in a phone call after the outage became public. The matter was also discussed prior to the decision to restrict Starlink, according to the WSJ.
Elon Musk ordered slowing down of Starlink access for Ukrainian army, say report
Ukrainian soldier ‘cut off own leg’ before miracle evacuation by drone
Wednesday 21 October 2026 19:00 , James ReynoldsThe injured soldier airlifted from Ukraine’s frontline by drone cut off his own frostbitten leg in a desperate bid to survive, having spent more than a year alone in the kill zone before his dramatic rescue, according to reports.
The rescue mission this month was the product of more than six months of preparation, coordinating helicopters, electronic warfare and artillery with the drone team on the ground, according to Ukrainian outlet Oboronka.
“The flight was calm, I mostly looked around the area,” the soldier told the outlet after his heroic rescue. “And when I landed, I felt safe and relieved - I would finally see my family soon. A special thank you to my clerk with the call sign ‘Lefty’ for spoiling me with goodies.”
Read the full story:
Ukrainian soldier ‘cut off own leg’ to survive before miracle drone rescue
The key moments of Trump and Zelensky’s rocky relationship
Wednesday 21 October 2026 18:00 , James ReynoldsRelations between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky have reached a new low after the US president tore up sanctions on Russia and struck a highly controversial deal to purchase Russian diesel.
The latest fracture followed months of careful positioning by the Ukrainian president and his allies in Europe to avoid upsetting Trump and the US abandoning the country altogether.
But with Ukraine facing another brutal winter of Russian strikes, Washington’s commitment to sharing vital intelligence and interceptor missiles is again in question.
And where Zelensky would once have tried to court the American president with open displays of praise and gratitude, this time he has stood his ground.
The Independent looks back on the key moments that have shaped the rocky relationship between the two leaders:
The key moments that have shaped Trump and Zelensky’s rocky relationship
Inside Ukraine’s strange rift with a Nato ally over North Korea
Wednesday 21 October 2026 17:00 , James ReynoldsThe unusual public confrontation between Ukraine and South Korea has raised questions about how relations between two nations facing the consequences of growing Russian-North Korean military cooperation deteriorated so sharply. Shweta Sharma reports
Inside Ukraine’s strange rift with a Nato ally over North Korea
Putin says Russia has freed US citizen, 74, jailed since 2022
Wednesday 21 October 2026 16:20 , James ReynoldsRussian president Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Moscow has agreed to free the imprisoned US citizen Stephen Hubbard following a plea from US president Donald Trump.
Mr 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.
Read the full story:
Russia frees retired US teacher jailed for four years after being captured in Ukraine
Russia is willing in principle to join new Ukraine peace talks in November, Kremlin says
Wednesday 21 October 2026 15:30 , James ReynoldsRussian President Vladimir Putin told US special envoy Steve Witkoff on Wednesday that Moscow is willing in principle to resume talks next month with Ukraine and the US on ending the war in Ukraine, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said.
No such talks have taken place since February.
Ushakov said the negotiations should focus on security guarantees for Russia and Ukraine after the conflict ends.
Ukrainian soldier ‘cut off own leg’ to survive on frontline before miracle drone rescue
Wednesday 21 October 2026 14:43 , James ReynoldsThe injured soldier airlifted from Ukraine’s frontline by drone cut off his own frostbitten leg in a desperate bid to survive, having spent more than a year alone in the kill zone before his dramatic rescue, according to reports.
Kostiantyn Vlasenko, 49, made history as the first person to be evacuated from a war-zone with a flying drone, as Russian UAVs and landmines made a conventional rescue impossible.
The rescue mission this month was the product of more than six months of preparation, coordinating helicopters, electronic warfare and artillery with the drone team on the ground, according to Ukrainian outlet Oboronka.
“The flight was calm, I mostly looked around the area,” the soldier told the outlet after his heroic rescue. “And when I landed, I felt safe and relieved - I would finally see my family soon. A special thank you to my clerk with the call sign ‘Lefty’ for spoiling me with goodies.”
The volunteer fighter from Kryvyi Rih, who was serving with Ukraine’s 30th Mechanised Brigade last summer, had reportedly spent 70 weeks stranded in Kharkiv oblast, reliant on airdrops of food, cigarettes and a Stephen King novel, until his evacuation on October 4.
Watch: Trump says Ukraine has to want to settle war
Wednesday 21 October 2026 14:00 , Daniel KeaneZelensky says he supports ceasefire and trilateral talks with US and Russia
Wednesday 21 October 2026 13:30 , Daniel KeaneUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he supports talks between the leaders of Kyiv, Washington and Moscow.
Speaking to FOX News, he said that he hoped that Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff would have positive talks with Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
He said it was important to have a freeze in the fighting and move to diplomacy and toward an agreement that includes security guarantees, praising Trump's call for ceasefires.
"It's important to negotiate trilaterally" with him, US President Donald Trump and Putin, he added.
Kremlin says journalists from 'unfriendly' countries to be allowed to attend Putin's annual presser
Wednesday 21 October 2026 13:00 , Shweta SharmaJournalists from countries Russia considers “unfriendly” will be allowed to attend president Vladimir Putin’s annual year-end press conference in December, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
“They will attend. Yes, [we will invite them] – as we always do,” Peskov told Russian state news agency TASS when asked whether media outlets from countries deemed unfriendly by Moscow would be invited.
The annual press conference will once again be combined with Putin’s “Direct Line” call-in show, during which he answers questions from Russian citizens.
The combined event, known as “Direct Line with Vladimir Putin: Year in Review”, will be held for the fifth time this year. The format was first introduced in 2020 during the Covid pandemic and revived in 2023.
Russia designates countries including the US, UK and EU member states as “unfriendly”, largely in response to sanctions imposed on Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine.
The exact date for the press conference has not been announced yet,
South Korea to recall some of its diplomats from Kyiv
Wednesday 21 October 2026 12:00 , Shweta SharmaSouth Korea will withdraw some of its diplomatic personnel from Ukraine amid worsening relations between Seoul and Kyiv over the disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs), Yonhap news agency reported, citing Seoul’s foreign ministry.
“This measure was taken because we judged it necessary to facilitate an amicable resolution of the issue and restore trust between the two countries,” foreign ministry spokesperson Park Doo-soon said, according to Yonhap.
The move follows South Korea’s decision to recall its ambassador to Ukraine on 8 October after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky publicly disclosed the transfer of the two prisoners to South Korea during his speech at the UN General Assembly on 23 September.
Seoul claims the announcement violated a confidentiality agreement between the two countries.
Trump hails Putin for releasing US citizen Stephen Hubbard
Wednesday 21 October 2026 11:53 , Adam WithnallDonald Trump has posted on Truth Social to celebrate Vladimir Putin’s decision to release Stephen Hubbard, a US citizen who was formally designated as wrongfully detained in Russia for four years.
“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 post read.
Hubbard’s release comes after a number of US concessions towards Russia in recent weeks, including a deal signed by Trump to obtain diesel from Moscow.
Nonetheless, Trump claimed that “there was no ‘swap’ necessary for this release”.
“Welcome home Stephen, it’s great to have you back,” the statement quoted Trump as saying.
Trump's envoy says he hopes to restart three-way talks with Russia and Ukraine
Wednesday 21 October 2026 11:39 , Adam WithnallIn televised remarks at the beginning of his meeting with Vladimir Putin, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff said his goal was to discuss the resumption of trilateral talks involving the US, Russia and Ukraine.
He said a resumption of talks would allow technical teams to discuss the next steps toward a peace settlement.
Witkoff and Putin met at St Petersburg’s Constantine Palace, with Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev and Putin’s foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov also at the table. Witkoff said Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner would join the discussion via a video link.
Witkoff said he would inform Putin about Tuesday’s talks in Oslo, which he described as “productive,” adding that “there is some degree of momentum.”
He thanked Putin for lifting Russia’s ban on diesel exports, which angered some US lawmakers, adding that it would help reduce prices for US farmers and truckers.
Putin thanked Trump and Witkoff for their efforts to end the war and said he was ready to discuss restoring US-Russian economic ties.
Putin was also due to meet later on Wednesday with Chinese premier Li Qiang, who is in St Petersburg meeting with other Russian top officials, the Kremlin said.
‘I lay in a pool of blood after being shot at point blank range while undercover in Northern Ireland’
Wednesday 21 October 2026 11:30 , Shweta SharmaA former member of one of the British Army’s most secret surveillance units has, for the first time, told the dramatic story of his role in an undercover operation that ended with him being shot through the stomach, his partner mortally wounded, and a wanted IRA gunman fleeing injured into the night.
The veteran, known only as Blue*, recounted how events unfolded in episode five of SAS: The Shadow War.
He was just 22 and serving with 14 Intelligence Company – the clandestine unit known simply as “the Det” – when he and another soldier set up a covert observation post beside a farm in South Derry on St Patrick’s Day, 17 March 1978.
‘I lay in a pool of blood after being shot at point blank range’
