Senator Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) issued a sharp rebuke this week following reports that special envoy Steve Witkoff had described Russian President Vladimir Putin as a "humanitarian." Cramer, a member of the Senate, explicitly rejected this characterization, labeling the Russian leader an "evil killer" instead.

The senator’s comments were prompted by concerns over how diplomatic language is used when discussing figures involved in international conflicts and prisoner negotiations. Cramer emphasized the severity of his position by stating he would prefer to face imprisonment in Russia rather than see Putin praised or described in humanitarian terms as a strategy to secure a prisoner release.

While the report from The Hill highlights Cramer’s intense disapproval, it does not provide the full context or the specific setting in which Witkoff allegedly made the remark. The article focuses primarily on the senator's reaction and his moral stance regarding the Russian president's record. There is no accompanying statement from Witkoff or the administration clarifying the context of the alleged comment, leaving the public with only the senator's interpretation of the envoy's words.