Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff is facing criticism from Republican lawmakers after calling Russian dictator Vladimir Putin a “humanitarian.”

On Wednesday, Putin announced the release of Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old former teacher who had spent more than four years in Russian jails on charges of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine.

In response, Witkoff lavished praise on Putin during their meeting at the grand Constantine Palace in St. Petersburg, describing the Russian president as a “humanitarian.”

“You talk so much about my president, President Trump, being a humanitarian,” Witkoff said to Putin. “You are a humanitarian also, sir, and I salute that.”

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) hit back at Witkoff in a Wednesday Twitter post, saying, “WTF, Steve?”

“Look up the definition of ‘humanitarian.’ What an embarrassing and outrageous thing to say,” he added. “You should go back to Ukraine and ask the families of the children Putin has kidnapped and murdered whether they agree your friend Putin is a ‘humanitarian.’”

“No,” posted Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), adding, “Putin is a stone-cold killer.”

Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) said Witkoff’s words brought “another embarrassment” to the United States.

Witkoff’s praise of Putin came after a Russian drone strike at a park in Kharkiv killed Ukrainian teacher Inna Mariukhna and her 1-year-old baby Angelina on Monday —  with graphic images showing the baby dead in her stroller. Four others were killed in the strike, including an 11-year-old.

In September alone, Putin’s attacks on Ukraine killed 328 civilians as Russia bombarded Ukraine’s major cities and energy infrastructure, the UN reported.

The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin in 2023 over the forced transfer of children to Russia after the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine began.

Despite this, the Trump administration has taken a friendlier approach to Russia, with the president declaring this week that “Russia, frankly, has been fine on Ukraine,” adding “they haven’t been doing much.”