Vice President JD Vance defended Steve Witkoff, the U.S. envoy who described Russian President Vladimir Putin as a "humanitarian" following the release of an American detainee held for over four years. Vance stated that criticism of Witkoff's remarks was secondary to the successful repatriation of the hostage, emphasizing that securing the return of an American citizen should be the focus. He characterized Witkoff as "a diplomat" conducting negotiations in Russia to achieve a specific objective. The comments came as Witkoff publicly acknowledged Putin's role in facilitating the release, which occurred after more than four years of detention. Vance reiterated that the broader goal of bringing the hostage home outweighed concerns about the phrasing used during diplomatic efforts. The statement was made during a public event where the vice president addressed the matter without referencing additional political context or attributing further commentary to unnamed parties.