# US envoy flatters Putin as Ukraine's children shelter underground

> Steve Witkoff calls Vladimir Putin a humanitarian while Ukrainian schoolchildren hide from Russian drone strikes and civilians die in bombing raids.
- Title: US envoy flatters Putin as Ukraine's children shelter…
- Summary: Steve Witkoff calls Vladimir Putin a humanitarian while Ukrainian schoolchildren hide from Russian drone strikes and civilians die in bombing raids. The…
- Keywords: ukraine, russia, vladimir putin, steve witkoff, trump administration, kharkiv, drone strikes, us foreign policy, news, world, envoy, flatters
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/21/you-are-a-humanitarian-also-sir-us-putin-lies-ukraine-children-take-cover-and-die-witkoff
- Published: 2026-10-21T17:57:48+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ukraine, russia, vladimir putin, steve witkoff, trump administration, kharkiv, drone strikes, us foreign policy, news, world
## Witkoff calls Putin humanitarian
Steve Witkoff, Trump's senior envoy, met Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Wednesday and called him a humanitarian, saying he saluted and commended that quality.

> You are a humanitarian also, sir, and I salute that. I commend you.
## Putin's record contradicts the claim
In Putin's twenty six years in power, Russia has conducted bombing campaigns in Chechnya, Georgia and Syria, jailed thousands for dissent, and killed opposition journalists.
## Russia plans winter blackout
The Guardian obtained a Russian strategy document showing the Kremlin plans to cut up to ninety percent of electricity to cities including Kyiv, Odesa and Kharkiv this winter.
## Kharkiv builds underground schools
Kharkiv has constructed ten underground schools so children can attend classes safely during regular Russian bombing raids on the city, less than twenty miles from the border.
## Ukrainian educators lose hope
Olena Svytlychna, head of education in Kharkiv's Novobavarskyi region, said Ukrainians had hoped Trump would stop Putin but now have doubts and are very scared.

> We all believed in Trump. We all really had hopes for America and for Trump to stop this monster Putin. And now we have doubts, we don't believe them. And we are very scared.
## Drone strike kills one-year-old
A Russian drone strike on a park near Kharkiv this week killed six people including one-year-old Anhelina in her stroller and her mother Inna Mariukhna, a schoolteacher.
## Trump downplays civilian deaths
Trump told reporters Russia has been fine on Ukraine, then said mostly young soldiers died in attacks, downplaying civilian casualties as some people in a town that got hit.

> has been fine on Ukraine
## White House pushes for quick surrender
The White House is pushing Ukraine to capitulate quickly before the November third midterm elections, which will be a referendum on Trump's leadership over the last two years.
## Key takeaway

The Trump administration is pursuing a peace deal with Russia through flattery and pressure on Ukraine, even as Russian attacks kill civilians including a one-year-old girl.