Milan, 12 Feb (LaPresse) – Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump's special envoy to Russia for the release of US citizen Marc Fogel, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin for three and a half hours. This was said by Fox News journalist Sean Hannity during an interview with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the State Department reports on its website. ‘President Zelensky said he was open to a deal. Now, Vladimir Putin got nothing in return – to my knowledge – for the release of this hostage. Steve Witkoff went, apparently met with Vladimir Putin for three and a half hours, and brought the hostage home, and I think that's spectacular,’ the journalist said, then asked what could be inferred and whether this was the “end of the war in Europe”. In his reply Rubio did not refer to the information provided by the interviewer: ‘At the end of the day, all over the world we deal with strong leaders. We may not like them or we may not like them, but they are strong leaders who respect strength. And that's what we have with Donald Trump in the White House,' Rubio said.