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Witkoff meets Ukraine officials in New York ahead of emergency UN Security Council meeting: ‘Very productive’
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EXCLUSIVE: White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff met with Ukrainian officials in New York City Friday for «very productive and constructive» talks ahead of Kyiv’s emergency U.N. Security Council meeting, Fox News Digital has learned.
Witkoff met with Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine’s office of the president and chief of staff, and Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukraine’s ambassador extraordinary.
RUSSIAN ATTACK KILLS 17, INJURES 48 OTHERS IN KYIV, UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS SAY
Senior administration officials familiar with the meeting told Fox News Digital that Yermak and Kyslytsya gave Witkoff a status update on the war with Russia and Moscow’s most recent attacks.
Russia launched a large-scale attack on Kyiv Wednesday night, killing at least 17 people, wounding 48 others and damaging buildings, officials in Ukraine said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, meets with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, right, at Kremlin Palace in Moscow Aug. 6, 2025. (Kremlin Press Office/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The Ukrainian officials invited Witkoff to visit Ukraine in the future, a senior official told Fox News Digital.
Witkoff is continuing talks with Ukrainian officials, who say they are making progress.
The meeting, according to Trump administration officials, was a status update and a reaffirmation of the goal of getting both Ukraine and Russia to meet to ultimately reach an agreement to end the war.
Witkoff’s diplomatic approach in the highly sensitive talks has been met with praise by Trump Cabinet officials and foreign officials alike.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also touted Witkoff’s work, saying he is «a key member of President Trump’s team and plays an indispensable role in advancing the president’s priorities.»
Rubio told Fox News Digital that Witkoff’s «unique perspective and innovative approach open new opportunities for diplomacy that were previously unavailable.»
«It’s been remarkable to see him in action and a privilege to call him a colleague,» Rubio told Fox News Digital.
National Security Advisor to the United Kingdom Jonathan Powell also praised Witkoff’s style.
Powell reflected on his more than 30 years of experience in peace negotiations, telling Fox News Digital that «there is a lot of snobbery in diplomacy — that peace can only be made in grand chandelier rooms, with a delegation of tens of officials and decades of diplomatic experience.»
«But in my experience, the people who are actually successful at making peace operate on their own and concentrate on building trust between key leaders on either side and moving quietly to cut a deal,» Powell said. «Steve Witkoff is exactly that sort of person.»
Steve Witkoff, U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, during an executive order signing ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington Feb. 3, 2025. (Chris Kleponis/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Powell told Fox News Digital that Witkoff’s experience of «making deals in a completely different field,» along with his «charm and optimism, unburdened by the tens of reasons why an initiative cannot work, and a steely focus on getting to a lasting agreement.
«In the court of this year, Steve has been able to open doors that no one else could and make peace possible in a series of different conflicts which would otherwise have remained insoluble.»
And Jared Kushner, a former senior adviser to Trump during his first administration, told Fox News Digital that the Trump administration’s «small, focused teams with the right leadership can achieve great results.»
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also touted Steve Witkoff’s work, saying he is «a key member of President Trump’s team and plays an indispensable role in advancing the president’s priorities.» (Mark Schiefelbein/The Associated Press)
«Coming from the deal world, managing several complex deals at the same time is not uncommon,» Kushner said, touting Witkoff’s «commitment, creativity and determination to solve some of the world’s most complex problems.»
«Steve is quick to seek out advice and expertise when he is assessing a situation and evolves his perspectives as the facts change,» Kushner said.
Reports this week, however, quoted anonymous sources who said Witkoff didn’t have enough experience to handle the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
Vice President JD Vance, though, told Fox News Digital that Witkoff has «made more progress toward ending the bloodshed in Ukraine than all his critics combined.»
«He’s a natural diplomat, an experienced negotiator and a true humanitarian,» Vance said.
Vance blasted those who have criticized Witkoff for simply being «threatened.»
RUSSIA LAUNCHES LARGEST ATTACK ON UKRAINE THIS MONTH FOLLOWING TRUMP’S MEETINGS WITH PUTIN, ZELENSKYY
«These smears are coming from lifelong bureaucrats who are threatened by Steve’s success and who are basically opposed to a productive peace process,» Vance said.
Meanwhile, Witkoff’s meeting with officials in New York City comes just hours after Ukraine requested an emergency open briefing at the U.N. Security Council following Russia’s overnight aerial attacks on Kyiv and other cities across Ukraine.
Council members Denmark, France, Greece, the Republic of Korea, Slovenia and the United Kingdom supported the meeting request.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, meets with President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., Aug. 19, 2025. (Ukrainian Presidency/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Reports say Russia used nearly 600 drones and more than 30 ballistic and cruise missiles in the attack this week.
Russia’s continued attacks come after Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska earlier in August. Putin proposed Ukraine cede some territory in exchange for peace.
Days later, Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and several European heads of state at the White House, and he urged Ukraine to accept a land swap deal with Russia. Trump has argued that it is the most efficient way to end the war.
Trump hosted Zelenskyy along with French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also attended the meeting at the White House.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte prepare to depart after a group photo prior to meeting at the White House Aug. 18, 2025, in Washington. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Trump is coordinating the next steps in brokering an end to the war and is encouraging Putin and Zelenskyy to meet.
Trump has said that after Putin and Zelenskyy meet, he will host a «trilat,» which will be a meeting between Putin, Zelenskyy and Trump.
«After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself,» Trump said last week. «Again, this was a very good, early step for a War that has been going on for almost four years. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, are coordinating with Russia and Ukraine.»
But after the latest attack, Zelenskyy blasted Putin, saying Russia «chooses ballistics instead of the negotiating table. It chooses to continue killing instead of ending the war.
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«And this means that Russia still does not fear the consequences,» Zelenskyy added. «Russia still takes advantage of the fact that at least part of the world turns a blind eye to murdered children and seeks excuses for Putin.»
Zelenskyy added that it is «definitely time for new, tough sanctions against Russia for everything it is doing.
«All deadlines have already been broken, dozens of opportunities for diplomacy ruined,» he said. «Russia must feel accountable for every strike, for every day of this war. Eternal memory to all victims of Russia.»
ukraine,russia,white house,state department,marco rubio,jd vance
INTERNACIONAL
Blackburn says Trump support was ‘common thread’ among lawmakers reportedly targeted by Jack Smith
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FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., was one of nearly a dozen Senate Republicans allegedly probed by former Special Counsel Jack Smith, an investigation she wasn’t aware of until earlier this month.
She was one of several Senate Republicans that Smith allegedly surveilled as part of his investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riots. But it was only revealed earlier this month by the FBI — thanks to an oversight request by Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa — that Smith allegedly requested phone records on her and others.
Blackburn told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview that until the documents from Smith’s «Arctic Frost» investigation were revealed, she had no idea that her phone records were being surveilled.
JACK SMITH INVESTIGATORS NEED TO ‘PAY BIG’ FOR JAN. 6 PHONE RECORDS PROBE, WARNS SEN. GRAHAM
Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., believed that the «common thread» on former Special Counsel Jack Smith’s alleged spying on congressional Republicans was their support of President Donald Trump. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
She believed the «common thread» behind the former special counsel’s probe, which was carried out in 2023, was because «the eight of us are all Republicans. We all support President Trump.»
Blackburn and Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Ron Johnson, R-Wis., Josh Hawley, R-Mo., Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., Bill Hagerty, R-Wyo., Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., and Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., were all reportedly part of Smith’s investigation.
In response, Blackburn and many of the others that were allegedly surveilled by Smith want to see him disbarred.
«This is about making certain we have one tier of justice, and that we stop this two tiers of justice,» Blackburn said. «And if they can do this to eight sitting U.S. senators, what could they possibly — I mean, think about how, what they must be doing to conservatives in this country.»
Last week, she and Graham, Tuberville, Sullivan and Kelly sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi demanding an investigation into Smith, and that he be referred to the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Professional Responsibility.
HAGERTY PRESSES VERIZON OVER FBI’S ACCESS TO HIS PHONE RECORDS DURING JACK SMITH PROBE
Special Counsel Jack Smith delivers remarks on an unsealed indictment including four felony counts against former President Donald Trump in Washington, Aug. 1, 2023. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
The end goal of the investigation is to see Smith disbarred from both New York and Tennessee, two states where he holds a license to practice law. Blackburn argued that Smith’s alleged spying on her and others was a «First Amendment and Fourth Amendment violation.»
Her latest push against the former special counsel came on the heels of another letter sent to AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon demanding why the cellphone carriers allegedly allowed Smith and the FBI under the Biden administration to track their communications.
«You would have thought that, because of the Stored Records Act and the First Amendment, the Fourth Amendment and the Speech and Debate Clause, that at least Verizon, who’s my wireless carrier, would have informed me that there was a request on my records,» she said.
JACK SMITH TRACKED PRIVATE COMMUNICATIONS, CALLS OF NEARLY A DOZEN GOP SENATORS DURING J6 PROBE, FBI SAYS
President Donald Trump listens to Argentina’s President Javier Milei (not pictured) in the Cabinet Room at the White House in Washington, Oct. 14, 2025. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)
«But of course, there was nothing given to us, and it’s the reason that we sent the letter to Verizon and then followed it with a letter … to the DOJ on Jack Smith,» she continued.
Smith is one of a handful of former officials that have been targeted by the DOJ under the Trump administration. He is currently under investigation by the Office of Special Counsel for alleged Hatch Act violations, which bars government employees from participating in political activities.
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Then there are federal indictments against former FBI Director James Comey for allegedly making false statements and obstructing justice, and former National Security Advisor John Bolton for allegedly mishandling classified documents.
Blackburn was one of many Republicans that railed against so-called political witch hunts against President Donald Trump when he was out of office. When asked what the difference between the indictments against Trump and his allies compared to the latest crop of former officials, she said it was about accountability.
«These need to be investigated so that this kind of stuff stops,» Blackburn said. «And one of the differences, I think you see between Democrats and Republicans, is Democrats repeatedly circle the wagons, and they push things under the rug, and then they want two tiers of justice. And with Republicans, the focus is on accountability and transparency, and I think that is a major, major difference.»
senate,justice department,corruption,donald trump,politics
El cantante español Joaquín Sabina ya tiene una novela gráfica sobre su biografía, un proyecto que sedujo a los guionistas Kike Babas y Kike Turrón (los Kikes), que vieron en el artista un personaje de cómic.
“Sabina tiene una vida de cómic y una cantidad de canciones que pueden ser hechas viñetas en cualquier momento”, argumentan.
El primer volumen de Joaquín Sabina. Pasión y Vida (Bao Bilbao Ediciones), que se publica este mes, tiene el acicate de haber agotado ya la primera edición en preventas. Han participado los Kikes y doce ilustradores, que narran “un trozo de su vida” (desde el nacimiento hasta 1995, año del álbum Yo, mi, me, contigo) porque meter a Sabina en un solo tomo resultaba complicado por su prolífica trayectoria.
Kike Babas y Kike Turrón explican que Sabina tiene novela gráfica porque “es un grande, porque es un personaje de cómic y por el empeño de los Kikes desde hace años de dar impulso y respeto a la cultura popular”.
“Siempre hemos envidiado que los países anglosajones rindan homenaje a su cultura popular, que Bob Dylan tenga cátedras en la universidad o que hubiera tomos de cómic sobre The Doors o Janis Joplin, y en España eso no estaba tratado”, dice Babas.
Así que, después de hacer biografías de cantantes y grupos como Manu Chao, Los Rodríguez, Rosendo, Siniestro Total…, pasaron a la novela gráfica con Fito, el humorista Gran Wyoming y ahora le llega el turno a Sabina.
Turrón admite que a la hora de decidirse por el personaje lo principal es que sea relevante y con público suficiente para lanzarse a ello.
Babas va un paso más allá y admite que a la hora de elegir personaje lo que manda es que les guste, pero también que llene plazas de toros o pabellones y que sea personaje de cómic: “Fito es un personaje de cómic, pero Sabina es otro”. Explican ambos que pidieron permiso a Sabina para hacer su biografía, igual que hacen con todos los artistas.
Un año tardaron en montar la biografía, tras obtener el ‘sí’ de Sabina, a través del cantautor Leiva, amigo en común.
La condición que puso Sabina fue que no lo molestaran porque se embarcaba en su gira de despedida y no quería volver a narrar historias que ya había contado en muchas ocasiones.
Babas explica que, en realidad, no necesitaban el relato de Sabina porque su vida está ya en 17 libros y la han interpretado decenas de periodistas. Es decir, solo con esa bibliografía extensa y buscando los libros en mercadillos, era suficiente.
A partir de ese trabajo de documentación, el objetivo era “resumir y resumir y buscar la esencia” hasta tener el guión listo para entregarlo a los ilustradores.
Y en el final del proceso, un audio de Sabina en whatsapp, con esa voz inconfundible y ronquísima, les confirmó que el trabajo estaba bien hecho: “Queridos Kikes, felicidades”, les dijo.
Turrón reconoce que, para dar dinamismo al guión, hicieron un ‘tour’ de ficción que pasaba por Úbeda, su pueblo natal, y por el Madrid antiguo, pero también por entrevistar a algunos personajes, como el que inspiró la canción ‘Juana la Loca’.
En la obra se mezcla la ficción y la no ficción, y algunas entrevistas como al poeta Benjamín Prado y al poeta y director del Instituto Cervantes, Luis García Montero, que han terminando siendo los prologuistas del libro.
Los Kikes están muy satisfechos de haber tenido la responsabilidad de haber puesto imágenes a sus canciones.
Sobre algún apunte oculto que desvele la obra, los Kikes comentan que algunos de los que han leído el libro adquirido en preventas han reconocido que, por ejemplo, “no tenían ni idea de que Sabina había tirado un cóctel molotov a una sucursal bancaria”.
Hay muchos datos en el libro, pero Sabina les reconoció tras leerlo: “Hay cosas que se cuentan mejor de lo que yo recordaba entre sombras”.
Babas destaca que una de los capítulos más atractivos es donde narra la llegada y el triunfo en Latinoamérica: “Como una persona tan andaluz, tan de Madrid, tan castiza y tan ibérica, de repente encuentra en Latinoamérica el triunfo absoluto. La patria es un idioma y Joaquín es un habitante perfecto de esa patria.
Los guionistas han hecho coincidir la publicación de la novela con la gira de Sabina que acaba en el mes de noviembre, y con la que se retira de los grandes recintos.
Fuente: EFE
caricaturas y cómic
INTERNACIONAL
Former French President Sarkozy begins a 5-year prison sentence for campaign finance conspiracy
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Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy entered a prison in Paris on Tuesday to begin serving a 5-year sentence for a criminal conspiracy to finance his 2007 election campaign with funds from Libya — a historic moment that makes him the first ex-leader of modern France to be imprisoned.
Sarkozy, 70, was greeted by hundreds of supporters when he walked out of his Paris home earlier in the day hand-in-hand with his wife, supermodel-turned-singer Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. He embraced her before getting into a police car.
Minutes later, the vehicle passed through the gates of the notorious La Santé prison — where Sarkozy will now serve his sentence in solitary confinement.
Sarkozy was convicted last month of criminal conspiracy in a scheme to finance his 2007 election campaign with funds from Libya.
He contests both the conviction and a judge’s unusual decision to incarcerate him pending appeal. His lawyers said Tuesday that they filed an immediate request for his release.
FORMER FRENCH PRESIDENT NICOLAS SARKOZY SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS IN LIBYA CORRUPTION CASE
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy leave their home on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, in Paris as Nicolas Sarkozy heads to prison to serve time for a criminal conspiracy to finance his 2007 election campaign with funds from Libya. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
A show of defiance
«It’s an ominous day for him, for France and for our institutions, because this incarceration is a disgrace,» Sarkozy’s lawyer Jean-Michel Darrois told reporters soon after his incarceration.
In a show of defiance and while on his way to the prison, Sarkozy released a statement on social media declaring that «an innocent man» was being locked up.
«I will continue to denounce this judicial scandal,» he wrote. «The truth will prevail.»
Sarkozy told Le Figaro newspaper that he would bring three books to prison — the maximum allowed — including Alexandre Dumas’ «The Count of Monte Cristo,″ in which the hero escapes from an island prison before seeking revenge. He also picked a biography of Jesus Christ.
«I’m not afraid of prison. I’ll hold my head high, including in front of the doors of La Santé,» he told La Tribune Dimanche newspaper last week. «I’ll fight till the end.»
Sarkozy has repeatedly said he is the victim of «a plot» staged by some people linked to the Libyan government and denounced the Sept. 25 verdict as a «scandal.»
TRUMP COMMUTES GEORGE SANTOS’ SENTENCE, PARDON BLITZ WIPES OUT COSTLY FEDERAL INVESTIGATIONS
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, center, arrives at La Sante prison to serve time for a criminal conspiracy to finance his 2007 election campaign with funds from Libya, on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, in Paris. (AP Photo/Emma Da Silva)
Solitary confinement
Sarkozy’s lawyers said he will be kept away from all other prisoners for security reasons. They said he packed a bag with a few sweaters because the prison is cold and earplugs because it’s noisy.
Christophe Ingrain, another of Sarkozy’s lawyers, denounced «a serious injustice.»
«It’s a very difficult time, but the president has stood strong,» Ingrain said. «He doesn’t complain, hasn’t asked for anything, no special treatment.»
Solitary confinement implies that Sarkozy will never see other inmates and will spend most of his time alone in his cell, Ingrain said.
He will be allowed to go outdoors one hour per day alone in the prison yard and to get three visits per week from his family, Ingrain said, adding that he is planning to write a book about his prison experience.
BRAZIL’S EX-PRESIDENT AND MAJOR TRUMP ALLY BOLSONARO PLACED ON HOUSE ARREST
People stand behind French flags with inscription reading «Courage Nicolas, come back soon,» right, and «True France with Nicolas» outside former French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s home, on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, in Paris. (AP Photo/Masha Macpherson)
An outpouring of support for the ex-president
Sarkozy’s journey from the presidential Elysée Palace to La Santé prison has captivated France.
After leaving their home, Sarkozy and his wife walked slowly to join family members, including his children and grandchildren, outside his home.
«I’m very proud to share his name, and very proud of how he’s reacting,» said his brother, Guillaume Sarkozy. «I’m truly convinced that he is innocent.»
Hundreds of supporters applauded and chanted «Nicolas, Nicolas» and sang the French anthem. Two French flags were hung on a nearby fence, with the words «Courage Nicolas, return soon» and «true France with Nicolas.»
Parisian resident Virginie Rochon, 44, came in support of Sarkozy, calling it «scandalous» to see «a former president being taken away while still presumed innocent.»
Another supporter, Véronique Maurey, 50, said: «it’s just not possible. And on top of that, calling it a ‘criminal conspiracy’ kind of makes all of us feel like criminals too, because we voted for him. It’s not right to say that.»
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Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy reacts before entering a police car on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, in Paris as he heads to prison to serve time for a criminal conspiracy to finance his 2007 election campaign with funds from Libya. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Meeting with Macron
Embattled centrist President Emmanuel Macron hosted the conservative Sarkozy at the presidential palace last week, explaining it was «normal on a human level» to receive one of his predecessors in this context.
On Tuesday, Macron said he would not comment on a justice decision. «Nevertheless, it’s normal that the image of a president being imprisoned … may prompt comments,» he said.
«We must distinguish emotion, including the legitimate emotion of relatives and part of the country … and the proper functioning of justice,» Macron added.
Sarkozy has been retired from active politics for years but remains very influential, especially in conservative circles.
France’s top magistrate Rémy Heitz, Prosecutor-General at the Court of Cassation, warned Tuesday about a risk of «hindering (justice) serenity» and of «undermining the independence of judges,» including when the justice minister — a former conservative who joined Macron’s party — plans to visit Sarkozy in prison.
«The goal for everyone must be serenity, to allow justice to truly rule independently… free from any pressure,» Heitz said.
The Paris court ruled last month that Sarkozy would start to serve prison time without waiting for his appeal to be heard, due to «the seriousness of the disruption to public order caused by the offense.»
The court said Sarkozy, as a presidential candidate and interior minister, used his position «to prepare corruption at the highest level» from 2005 to 2007, to finance his presidential campaign with funds from Libya — then led by longtime ruler Moammar Gadhafi.
Under the ruling, Sarkozy was able to file a request for release to the appeals court only once behind bars. Judges have up to two months to process it.
france,associated press,world
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