EU officials told POLITICO they’re stunned by Steve Witkoff’s poor grasp of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and have zero confidence he can accurately pass messages between Moscow and Washington.

Turkish President Erdogan:

Türkiye considers all the peoples in Syria its brothers and wants peace, security, and well-being for everyone.

The European Solidarity Party (led by Petro Poroshenko) and the Voice Party have formally presented their demands to President Zelensky following a major corruption scandal involving senior officials.

They are calling for:

• The full resignation of the government

• A new parliamentary coalition

• A newly appointed Cabinet

• The dismissal of Andriy Yermak and a reset of the President’s Office

Both parties argue that the corruption revelations have severely damaged public trust and could undermine Ukraine’s stability and international support.

Although the two parties together hold only 45 seats in parliament — far short of a majority — they say the scale of the scandal requires immediate political action.

Sudan: SAF recaptured Barah in North Kordofan this morning from UAE-backed RSF militias.

Senator Lindsey Graham:

Congress will be moving on the overwhelmingly bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that will provide President Trump with more tools to end the bloodbath in Ukraine.

Sudan: UAE-backed RSF carried out a drone strike on El Halba in White Nile State.

NEW: For the first time, an F-22 pilot directly controlled an MQ-20 Avenger drone from the cockpit, General Atomics revealed.

The Oct. 21 demo used new open-architecture radios and a tablet interface, proving the F-22 can operate as a lead aircraft for crewed-uncrewed teaming — a key part of the Air Force’s future Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program.

General Atomics and Anduril are flying prototypes now, with the F-22 serving as the first platform for integrating drone wingmen before the concept expands to jets like the F-35.

Israel’s Elbit Systems will equip Albania with ATMOS howitzers, SPEAR mortars, and Magni-X/Thor drones, while helping the NATO member build its own defense industry.

Source: Haaretz

UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood:

I wish I had the privilege of walking around this country without seeing the division that the issues of migration and the asylum system are creating.

Unlike him, I am the one that is regularly called a “f***ing Paki” and told to go back home.

Negotiations between Israel and Syria over a potential security agreement have reached a dead end.

Israel has rejected al-Sharaa’s request for a withdrawal from the areas it occupied after the fall of the Assad regime.

Israel has indicated it would agree to withdraw only if a full peace agreement with Syria is signed.

Source: Kan News

Trump on Saudi Arabia:

We have the king coming, the crown prince is coming tomorrow.

Senior White House official to Reuters:

Trump leans toward supporting the sale of F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia.

Reporter: Your voice sounds a little rough, you alright?

Trump: I feel great, I was shouting at some people because they were stupid about something.

Trump on Venezuela:

I don't rule out anything.

We just have to take care of Venezuela.

Trump:

I probably would talk to Maduro, I talk to everybody.

Reporter: Is there anything Maduro can do that would allow him to stay with your support?

Trump: Maduro has done tremendous damage to our country. I will be talking to him.

Trump:

A country wanted to renegotiate the terms of their trade deal, I was not happy about it.

BREAKING: Trump:

We will be selling F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia.

READ MORE

Trump:

We have nothing to do with Epstein, the Democrats do.

All of his friends were Democrats.

I was not with Epstein all the time, they were.

Trump:

Would I launch strikes in Mexico to stop drugs?

OK with me. Whatever we have to do to stop drugs.