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US pulls diplomats as Russia keeps striking

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US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff met with Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Wednesday, October 21, after talks with Zelenskyy and European leaders in Oslo, and presented an updated ceasefire framework.

The US State Department ordered some diplomats and family members to leave US missions in Saudi Arabia and planned to withdraw families from a number of other US missions in the Middle East, according to US officials cited by Reuters.

Fact-check

VERIFIED TRUE

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff met with Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Wednesday, October 21, after talks with Zelenskyy and European leaders in Oslo, and presented an updated ceasefire framework.

🛡️ ALPHA BRIEFING — Wednesday, October 21, 2026 🌍 GEOPOLITICS • **Witkoff Carries Peace Plan to Putin.** US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff flew to Moscow on Wednesday to present Putin with an updated ceasefire framework, following talks in Oslo with Zelenskyy, Secretary Rubio,

Original post · AlphaBriefing (@TheAlphaBrief)

[theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/22/ukraine-war-briefing-peace-proposals-lack-substance-witkoff-putin-meeting)

VERIFIED TRUE

The US State Department ordered some diplomats and family members to leave US missions in Saudi Arabia and planned to withdraw families from a number of other US missions in the Middle East, according to US officials cited by Reuters.

www.reuters.com/business/ene... US State Department has ordered some diplomats and family members to leave its missions in Saudi Arabia and plans to withdraw family members from a number of other US missions in the Middle ​East, US officials told Reuters. #Blues

Original post · Deborah Lynn (@mrsdeborahlynn.bsky.social)

[reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/business/ene...) NAMES: Witkoff = Steve Witkoff, US Special Envoy involved in Ukraine-Russia peace negotiations Zelenskyy

Sources

What the hosts said

BUniversity of Arkansas trustees just upheld firing a Middle East studies professor over her online posts.
BAnd a Bluesky post cheering it uses some very strong language: 'Fuck her and her violent antisemitism.'
BThat's the raw reaction. But the legal fight is about whether a public university can fire a professor for speech.
BAnd that's a real First Amendment question. The firing was upheld, but expect an appeal.
BThe trustees say the posts crossed a line. The professor's defenders say it's about who gets to speak.
BAnd on Bluesky, people are picking sides hard. I think universities have the right to hold faculty to a standard—especially on hate speech.
BBut 'hate speech' is not a legal category in the US. The courts will have to decide where the line is.
BAnd this is Arkansas. It'll be watched nationally.

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