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Many of the hundreds of children kidnapped from a Catholic school in Nigeria were as young as 5 years old, according to a nun who also described how 50 of the students escaped over the weekend.

Mary Barron, the superior general of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles (OLA), described many of the 303 children kidnapped from St. Mary's School in Nigeria’s Papiri community on Friday as "tiny," the BBC reported.

"In this part of the world where there's no education available, people send their children to boarding school from nursery school, so you have very small children, the majority of the children that are missing are from the primary school," Barron said.

School officials said Sunday that 50 students, ages 10 to 18, escaped individually between Friday and Saturday. A total of 253 students and 12 teachers were still being held, they said.

ARMED ATTACKERS IN NIGERIA KIDNAP 25 GIRLS FROM BOARDING SCHOOL

Barron said the 50 children escaped their captors by jumping over a wall and running into the bush.

"They said they walked and walked, because they knew they couldn't walk back to the school, so they just kept walking until they found something familiar," she said.

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION EXPANDS EFFORTS TO STOP CHRISTIAN VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA WITH AID THREAT

No group has come forward to claim responsibility for the attack, The Associated Press reported. The outlet added that authorities said tactical squads and local hunters were working to rescue the kidnapped children.

It remains unclear where the remaining students and teachers were being held.

"I really keep hope alive," Barron said. "I really believe if there is a concerted effort, if we get enough people mobilized with the resources necessary to try to find these children, then it can happen."

Nigeria has seen a series of attacks on Christians and their institutions, prompting President Donald Trump to declare the West African nation a "country of particular concern." However, the Nigerian government has disputed the U.S. claims.

Fox News Digital’s Rachel Wolf and Anders Hagstrom, along with The Associated Press, contributed to this report.

Russia launched an overnight attack on Kyiv that killed at least six people and injured 13, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday.

The strikes on residential buildings and civilian infrastructure came as U.S. and Ukrainian officials met over the weekend in Geneva to discuss the 28-point peace plan being pushed by the Trump administration to end the nearly four-year war.

Zelenskyy wrote on X that Russia launched 22 missiles of various types and more than 460 drones, four of which crossed into the airspace of Moldova and Romania. 

"This is precisely why all partners must remember that lives need to be saved every single day. Weapons and air defense systems are important, as is the sanctions pressure on the aggressor. There can be no pauses in assistance," he said. "What matters most now is that all partners move toward diplomacy together, through joint efforts. Pressure on Russia must deliver results. Thank you to everyone who stands with Ukraine."

RUSSIAN ATTACK ON UKRAINE LEAVES 25 DEAD IN TERNOPIL AFTER MASSIVE OVERNIGHT STRIKES

Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko wrote on Telegram that 18 people were rescued by state emergency services in Kyiv’s Dnipro and Desnyan districts, and operations were ongoing to find anyone still trapped under the rubble.

Lt. Col. Jeff Tolbert, a spokesman for U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, told Fox News that Driscoll and his team met with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi on Monday and Tuesday to discuss the framework for a Ukraine peace deal.

"The talks are going well and we remain optimistic. Secretary Driscoll is closely synchronized with the White House and the U.S. interagency as these talks progress," said Tolbert.

SOME EUROPEAN LEADERS WARY OF US APPROACH TO UKRAINE PEACE TALKS AS UK, FRANCE PLAN NEW MEETING

A U.S. official told Fox News that the Ukrainian delegation was also in Abu Dhabi and was in contact with Driscoll and his team.

The diplomatic flurry over the weekend followed the leak of the 28-point peace plan to Axios, which many European leaders and U.S. lawmakers viewed as largely favorable to Russia.

Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., said on X that the initial proposal by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff was a "surrender document for Ukraine that would have left it at the mercy of Russia for decades to come."

He said the latest version, developed with Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s involvement and input from Ukrainian and European officials, was a better plan.

"We must stand on [the] side of freedom & rule of law," Bacon wrote.

A 65-year-old Thai woman believed to be dead stunned temple staff in Bangkok when they heard a faint knocking from inside her coffin after her brother brought her in for cremation.

Pairat Soodthoop, general and financial affairs manager at the Wat Rat Prakhong Tham temple, told The Associated Press on Monday that he was discussing cremation with the woman’s brother when they heard the noise coming from inside the coffin.

"I was a bit surprised, so I asked them to open the coffin, and everyone was startled," he said. "I saw her opening her eyes slightly and knocking on the side of the coffin. She must have been knocking for quite some time."

The Buddhist temple in Nonthaburi province, outside Bangkok, posted a Facebook video showing a woman in a white coffin in the back of a pickup truck moving her arms and head, leaving staff stunned.

WOMAN STARTS KNOCKING INSIDE COFFIN DURING HER WAKE: 'GAVE US ALL A FRIGHT'

Pairat said the woman’s brother had driven her from Phitsanulok province to be cremated.

Pairat said the brother explained that his sister had been bedridden for about two years before her health declined and she appeared to stop breathing two days earlier. Believing she was dead, he placed her in a coffin and made the 300-mile trip to a Bangkok hospital, where she had wished to donate her organs.

MAN IN INDIA REGAINS CONSCIOUSNESS BEFORE HIS CREMATION ON FUNERAL PYRE: REPORTS

The hospital, however, refused to accept the woman without an official death certificate, Pairat said. The brother then turned to the temple on Sunday, which offers free cremations, but was also turned away for lacking the document.

While Pairat was explaining how to obtain the certificate, they heard knocking from the coffin. Staff opened it, confirmed she was alive and sent her to a nearby hospital.

The abbot later said the temple would cover her medical expenses, according to Pairat.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro danced to a remix of his own peace slogans at a student rally in Caracas – the latest act of defiance after his performance of John Lennon’s "Imagine" while U.S. warships patrol near its coast.

Video from the National University Student Day celebration shows Maduro swaying to the beat, seemingly mimicking President Donald Trump’s trademark dance moves – with a noticeably looser sway.

The electronic track featured Maduro’s own phrases – recycled from speeches promoting peace and rejecting war – as tensions with the U.S. continue rising.

Reuters identified the remix as "Peace, yes. War, no." At one point, the Venezuelan leader punctuated the beat with finger pistols – a playful "pew, pew" gesture captured on camera.

US NAVY DESTROYER ARRIVES IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO AS TRUMP TURNS SCREWS ON VENEZUELA

The clip surfaced about a week after Maduro sang "Imagine" at a rally, urging peace while the Trump administration reinforced its military presence near Venezuela to stem drug trafficking.

Maduro invoked Lennon as he spoke about peace, calling the former member of The Beatles a poet and musician who left a "gift to humanity."

He urged young people to read the lyrics, describing the song as an anthem for every generation.

TRUMP ANNOUNCES VENEZUELA WILL TAKE CRIMINAL ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS BACK

In the video, Maduro paused mid-speech to recall Lennon’s song, singing a few words before reflecting on its meaning.

"What a beautiful song. The lyrics – young people, look up the lyrics," he said, according to a translation. "It’s an inspiration for all time. It’s an anthem for all eras and generations that John Lennon left as a gift to humanity. Long live the eternal memory of that great poet and musician, John Lennon."

As Maduro preaches peace, the U.S. has significantly increased its military presence across the Caribbean, deploying bombers, warships and Marines as part of a campaign targeting drug-trafficking operations in the region, including airstrikes on suspected smuggling vessels.

HEGSETH SAYS MILITARY CONDUCTED ANOTHER STRIKE ON BOAT CARRYING ALLEGED NARCO-TERRORISTS

On Monday, the State Department formally announced the Cartel de los Soles would be designated as a foreign terrorist organization.

The Cartel de los Soles, or "Cartel of the Suns," refers to a network of government and military officials in Venezuela engaged in drug trafficking.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement last week that the Cartel de los Soles and other cartels in Venezuela were "responsible for terrorist violence throughout our hemisphere as well as for trafficking drugs into the United States and Europe."

Fox News Digital’s Emma Bussey contributed to this report.

Climate activist Greta Thunberg has been slapped with a 48-hour ban from entering Venice, Italy after joining Extinction Rebellion protesters in dyeing the Grand Canal bright green, according to reports.

The Swedish activist, 22, was also fined $172 along with roughly 35 other demonstrators involved in the action, per The Telegraph.

GRETA THUNBERG SLAMMED FOR USING IMAGE OF STARVED ISRAELI HOSTAGE TO SHOW PALESTINIANS SUFFERING IN GAZA

Extinction Rebellion said the dye used was a fluorescent, non-toxic tracer commonly employed in environmental studies, such as tracking water flows or monitoring leaks. The group reportedly insisted the dye posed no ecological threat.

The group also argued the stunt was designed to "draw attention to the massive effects of climate collapse," and claimed that Venice is among Europe’s most vulnerable cities due to rising sea levels and increasingly frequent flooding.

GRETA THUNBERG'S ALLEGED JAIL COMPLAINTS CALLED 'BRAZEN LIES' BY ISRAELI GOVERNMENT

Thunberg's protest took place just as the COP30 United Nations climate conference ended in Brazil, with Extinction Rebellion coordinating actions in ten Italian cities. 

These included dyeing fountains in Genoa and Padova and turning rivers green in Turin, Bologna and Taranto.

FLARING CLIMATE PROTESTS BECOMING MORE CONFRONTATIONAL AS FREE SPEECH TESTED GLOBALLY

Their banner "Stop Ecocide" also hung from the iconic Rialto Bridge in Venice, while a silent flash-mob of protesters dressed in red veils moved through dense tourist crowds.

Veneto Province Gov. Luca Zaia said Thunberg and Extinction Rebellion's stunt was "a gesture that risks having consequences for the environment."

Zaia also criticized the action as "a disrespectful act towards our city, its history and its fragility."

Extinction Rebellion had also criticized the Italian government under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for resisting stronger climate measures at the Brazilian COP30 event.

Several major airlines have pulled Venezuelan flights following a U.S. aviation safety warning, disrupting travel to the country and as the Trump administration escalates pressure on President Nicolás Maduro.

According to Reuters, at least three airlines, Brazil’s Gol, Colombia’s Avianca, and TAP Air Portugal, canceled departures from Caracas Saturday, with other international carriers making changes through Monday.

The flight disruption also impacted the U.K. and Europe, coinciding with the administration’s decision to designate the Venezuelan group known as the Cartel de los Soles, as a foreign terrorist organization.

TRUMP’S STRIKE ON CARTEL VESSEL OFF VENEZUELA SENDS WARNING TO MADURO: ‘NO SANCTUARY’

TAP said its flight decision followed U.S. advisories indicating that safety could not be guaranteed, Reuters reported.

Spain’s Iberia said it would suspend flights to Caracas starting Monday "until further notice," though its Saturday service to Madrid operated as planned, per the report.

Copa Airlines and Wingo continued operations, while LATAM canceled its Sunday Bogotá-bound flight.

The airline changes primarily came after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a warning to aircraft operating in or over Venezuelan airspace.

TRUMP ENDS VENEZUELA TALKS, MILITARY OPTIONS LOOM, NEW REPORT

As reported by Fox News Digital, the FAA had warned airlines Nov. 22, about flying over Venezuela, issuing a notice urging them to "exercise caution" due to the "potentially hazardous situation" in the region.

The advisory comes as the U.S. has significantly increased its military presence across the Caribbean deploying bombers, warships, and Marines as part of a campaign targeting drug-trafficking operating near the region and airstrikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels.

On Monday, the State Department went on to formally announce the designation of the Cartel de los Soles in the Federal Register.

MARCO RUBIO SAYS NICOLÁS MADURO’S CARTEL DE LOS SOLES TO BE DESIGNATED A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION

The Cartel de los Soles, or "Cartel of the Suns," refers to a network of government and military officials in Venezuela engaged in drug trafficking.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio had said in a statement last week that the Cartel de los Soles and other cartels in Venezuela were "responsible for terrorist violence throughout our hemisphere as well as for trafficking drugs into the United States and Europe."

On Monday, European governments quickly updated their travel guidance. Germany warned that Venezuela’s situation remained "tense" and could deteriorate further.

Meanwhile, the U.K. advised travelers Sunday that flights were being canceled on short notice.

"Some airlines have canceled flights at short notice," the U.K. government advised. "If you have an upcoming flight to or from Venezuela, you should stay in touch with your airline or travel agency," it said.

Australia’s Parliament descended into turmoil Monday after right-wing populist Sen. Pauline Hanson entered the chamber wearing a burqa, triggering outrage from Muslim lawmakers and forcing proceedings to be suspended.

Hanson arrived in the full-face covering shortly after being denied permission to introduce her bill seeking to ban burqas and other face coverings in public. The move prompted shouting across the chamber as senators demanded she remove the garment. Senate leaders eventually halted the session when she refused to do so.

Leaders from both major parties condemned the stunt. Labor Senate leader and Foreign Minister Penny Wong described Hanson’s display as "not worthy of a member of the Australian Senate," according to Reuters, and moved to suspend her after she refused to comply with instructions to remove the covering. Opposition Deputy Senate Leader Anne Ruston also criticized the act.

CONSERVATIVES RIP GEN Z HOUSE CANDIDATE'S FREE SPEECH CLAIM AFTER FEDERAL INDICTMENT: 'SHE'S LYING'

Two muslim senators condemned Hanson's actions. Green party Sen. Mehreen Faruqi denounced the move. "This is a racist senator, displaying blatant racism." Independent Sen. Fatima Payman similarly denounced the act as "disgraceful" and "shame".

The incident marked the second time Hanson has worn a burqa inside Parliament. The 71-year-old senator first did so in 2017 as part of her longtime campaign against Islamic dress. Hanson has spent decades opposing immigration from Asia and criticizing Australia’s multicultural policies, positions that helped launch her political career in the 1990s.

Her One Nation party currently holds four seats in the senate after gaining two in May’s national election, reflecting a rise in anti-immigration sentiment, according to Reuters.

GEN Z HOUSE CANDIDATE INDICTED FOR ATTACKING ICE OFFICERS QUITS INTERVIEW AFTER BEING ASKED ABOUT CHARGES

Following the uproar, Hanson released a statement on her verified Facebook page. She wrote: "Today I wore a burqa into the Senate after One Nation's bill to ban the burqa and face coverings in public was blocked from even being introduced. The usual hypocrites had an absolute freak out. The fact is more than 20 countries around the world have banned the burqa because they recognize it as a tool that oppresses women, poses a national security risk, encourages radical Islam and threatens social cohesion. If these hypocrites don't want me to wear a burqa, they can always support my ban."

Her statement continued, "So if Parliament won't ban it, I will display this oppressive, radical, nonreligious head garb that risks our national security and the ill treatment of women on the floor of our Parliament so that every Australian knows what's at stake. If they don't want me wearing it, ban the burqa."

France and 21 other countries, including Tunisia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Portugal, have already implemented burqa bans.

Hanson left Parliament after losing her seat in 1998 and resigned as leader of One Nation in 2002. She was jailed in 2003 on electoral fraud charges, though the conviction was later overturned. 

In 2010, she dropped plans to move to the United Kingdom, saying it was "overrun with immigrants and refugees." She returned to lead One Nation in 2014 and won election to the Senate in 2016. She used her first speech to warn that "Australia was in danger of being swamped by Muslims."

Reuters contributed to this report.

A U.S. proposal to end the war in Ukraine has opened some disagreement with key European allies, with Paris, Berlin and Helsinki signaling they will not be sidelined during talks in Geneva.

A senior European diplomat told Fox News Digital that Europe would not accept a U.S.-driven agreement without full European involvement. "No negotiations about Ukraine without Ukrainians. No negotiations about Europe’s security without Europeans," the diplomat said.

Some of the European concerns came a day after Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday that the U.S. and Ukraine made "substantial" headway on an "updated and refined peace framework." He called it "the most productive day we have had," acknowledged unresolved issues, and said matters involving the EU and NATO would proceed on a "separate track." Negotiators from the U.S., Ukraine and major European states are expected to continue discussions throughout the week.

US AND RUSSIA DRAFT PEACE PLAN FOR UKRAINE REQUIRING MAJOR CONCESSIONS FROM KYIV

The European official called the American plan "a basis that requires further work," adding that "the first of these conditions must be the implementation of a ceasefire along the line of contact." According to the diplomat, France and the United Kingdom will convene a Coalition of Volunteers meeting on Tuesday to coordinate Europe’s position.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned at the Group of 20 summit in South Africa over the weekend that Europe cannot be cut out of any settlement. "Wars cannot be ended by major powers over the heads of the countries affected," he said, adding, "We are still quite a way from a good outcome for everyone."

French President Emmanuel Macron echoed those concerns on the sidelines of the summit, saying the U.S. plan "has not been negotiated with the Europeans," even though it contains "many provisions that concern Europeans directly." He pointed to proposed limits on Ukraine’s military capacity, calling them "limitations on the size of the Ukrainian army — in other words, on its own sovereignty."

"It is positive in the sense that it proposes a path to peace and acknowledges important elements regarding sovereignty, security guarantees, and other issues. But it is only a basis for work that needs to resume, just as we did last summer, because this plan has not been negotiated with the Europeans," Macron told reporters.

TRUMP, ZELENSKYY AGREE ON CRUCIAL ASPECT TO END UKRAINE WAR: 'GOOD COMPROMISE'

Finland’s President Alexander Stubb wrote on X on Monday that NATO will assert control over issues in their remit: "It is clear that Europe and NATO decide on matters concerning them."

Amid the friction, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told "Fox & Friends" on Monday the U.S. effort still contained constructive elements, saying "some elements had to be changed, but there was also good stuff in the plan." In the interview, Rutte told Brian Kilmeade that President Trump’s team is "working extremely hard to get this war solved," with the goal of "a durable and lasting peace in Ukraine, a sovereign nation."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reinforced Kyiv’s red lines in an address to Sweden’s parliament on Monday, "The aggressor must pay fully for the war he started," rejecting territorial concessions. "Putin wants legal recognition for what he has stolen… That is the main problem," Zelenskyy said.

Moscow dismissed emerging European ideas as "not constructive," according to Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, according to Reuters.

EXCLUSIVE: The U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) announced on Monday, after the delivery of more than 187 million free meals to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip without Hamas stealing their aid, that it will shift its work to other aid organizations.

The GHF launched its operation on May 26 to ensure meals reached the Gazan population and to prevent Hamas terrorists from looting goods. According to GHF, it "provided more than 1.1 million packs of ready-to-use supplementary food (RUSF) for malnourished children."

GHF Executive Director John Acree said, "From the outset, GHF’s goal was to meet an urgent need, prove that a new approach could succeed where others had failed, and ultimately hand off that success to the broader international community. With the creation of the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) and a rejuvenated engagement of the international humanitarian community, GHF believes that moment has now arrived," he said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

GAZA HUMANITARIAN FOUNDATION: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE US-BACKED AID GROUP

Acree continued, "GHF has been in talks with CMCC and international organizations now for weeks about the way forward, and it's clear they will be adopting and expanding the model GHF piloted. As a result, we are winding down our operations as we have succeeded in our mission of showing there's a better way to deliver aid to Gazans.

"From our very first day of operations, our mission was singular: feed civilians in desperate need. We built a new model that worked, saved lives and restored dignity to civilians in Gaza. Our dedicated and compassionate team, including former U.S. service members, humanitarians, local Gazan workers and other partners like Samaritan’s Purse, risked their lives to feed the people in Gaza amidst an active war conflict," he said.

U.N. aid organizations plagued by corruption and alleged support for Hamas terrorism reportedly bristled at the effectiveness of GHF.

Since May, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has faced numerous attacks over its operations, including accusations that hundreds of Gazans were killed and injured at distribution sites. The United Nations and other nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) also blasted GHF for what they said was its weaponization of aid. The commissioner-general of UNRWA in July called for an end to GHF, saying it "provides nothing but starvation and gunfire to the people of #Gaza."

In August, a whistleblower confirmed to Fox News Digital that "the IDF is actively helping the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation get food into the hands of civilians while U.N. agencies, including WFP and OCHA, through their unwillingness to coordinate with the IDF, are inhibiting the distribution of such aid."

Stéphane Dujarric, a spokesperson for the United Nations secretary general, told Fox News Digital at the time that the whistleblower’s "accusation is delusional."

GHF told Fox News Digital that "it repeatedly offered to help U.N. agencies secure and distribute their aid to meet the need in Gaza while preventing looting and diversion. During its entire four-and-a-half months of operations, not a single GHF aid truck was looted."

AS US-BACKED GROUP DELIVERS 70 MILLION MEALS, UN AND NGOS FIGHT TO DISCREDIT GAZA AID RIVAL

GHF stated that "American-led solutions and compassion work," attributing its success to "the Trump administration’s call for innovation and early confidence in our mission, recognizing that American leadership, clarity of purpose and accountability to results are still the international gold standard."

GHF leaders said they are prepared to revive the mission "if new humanitarian needs are identified and will not dissolve as a registered NGO."

Acree said, "What our team will miss the most are the friendships and camaraderie developed with thousands of Gazans, especially the women and children we served. In early July, as the food security situation in Gaza improved, our operations stabilized, and we experienced a major shift in winning over the trust of aid seekers to the point where our aid sites became local hangout spots for women and children interacting with our team on a daily basis. We will miss them dearly."

Hamas invaded Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, resulting in the mass murder of over 1,200 people, including more than 40 Americans. Hamas kidnapped 251 people during the invasion and still holds three dead hostages, according to Israel. Trump’s peace plan for Gaza outlines no role for Hamas in post-war Gaza governance and demands the total disarming of the Iran-backed jihadist terrorist organization.

Fifty of the 303 students kidnapped from a Nigerian Catholic school on Friday have escaped and are now reunited with their families, officials said Sunday, as schools across Niger remain closed following the attack.

The students, ages 10 to 18, escaped individually between Friday and Saturday, according to the Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Niger state and the school’s proprietor.

A total of 253 students and 12 teachers from St. Mary's School are still being held, Yohanna said, adding: "We were able to ascertain this when we decided to contact and visit some parents."

Officials did not provide further details about how the children escaped or where the remaining students and teachers were being held.

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION EXPANDS EFFORTS TO STOP CHRISTIAN VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA WITH AID THREAT

Pope Leo XIV called for the immediate release of the children and school staff, saying at the end of a Mass in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday that he was "deeply saddened" by the incident.

"I feel great sorrow, especially for the many girls and boys who have been abducted and for their anguished families," the pontiff said. "I make a heartfelt appeal for the immediate release of the hostages and urge the competent authorities to take appropriate and timely decisions to ensure their release."

No group has come forward to claim responsibility for the attack, The Associated Press reported. The outlet added that authorities said tactical squads and local hunters were working to rescue the kidnapped children.

52 CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS IN NIGERIA KIDNAPPED BY GUNMEN IN LATEST ATTACK: REPORT

Niger State quickly shut down all schools after Friday’s attack, while the Nigerian government also closed several federal colleges in conflict-prone areas across the region.

The attack at St. Mary’s came just four days after armed men kidnapped 25 girls from a boarding school in Kebbi State, killing at least one staff member. The search for the missing girls is ongoing.

Meanwhile, 38 worshippers kidnapped during a deadly church attack in central Nigeria’s Kwara State have been freed, Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said Sunday. Gunmen had attacked the Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku town on Tuesday, killing two and taking others hostage. President Bola Tinubu credited "the efforts of security agencies" for securing their release but offered no further details.

Nigeria has seen a series of attacks on Christians and their institutions, prompting President Donald Trump to declare the West African nation a "country of particular concern." However, the Nigerian government has disputed the U.S.'s claims.

"I’m really angry about it," the president told Fox News Radio on Friday. "What’s happening in Nigeria is a disgrace."

Fox News Digital’s Rachel Wolf and Anders Hagstrom, along with The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) released a video showing what it describes as one of Hamas’s "most complex" underground infrastructures extending beneath the southern Gaza city of Rafah. 

According to the IDF, the seven-kilometer-long "root tunnel" runs roughly 25 meters underground, contains about 80 rooms and was used for command operations, weapons storage and sheltering Hamas operatives. 

The video shared on X on Nov. 20 travels through reinforced concrete passageways and large chambers, showing the sophistication and scale of Hamas’s underground network. 

The Israeli military claims the tunnel originated beneath a United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) compound and stretched beneath civilian sites.

ISRAEL'S DOHA STRIKE SENT A DECISIVE MESSAGE THAT TERROR WILL FIND NO SAFE HAVEN

"IDF troops uncovered one of Gaza’s largest and most complex underground routes, over 7 km long, ~25 meters deep, with ~80 hideouts, where abducted IDF officer Lt. Hadar Goldin was held," the post read.

Israeli analysts say the demolition of this tunnel marks a strategic blow to Hamas and "paves the path to its defeat."

"The destruction of this tunnel as well as many others like it or similar… as well as other terror facilities pushes Hamas to the edge," said Professor Kobi Michael, senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) and the Misgav Institute.

IDF HOLDS MEMORIAL CEREMONY AT BASE ATTACKED BY HAMAS ON OCT. 7 HONORING FALLEN TROOPS 

"It is one of the longest and [most] complicated tunnels that have been discovered, but it is not the only one," he told Fox News Digital.

Michael explained that Hamas’ root tunnels form the backbone of its underground warfare system. 

"This is an example of a root tunnel, a strategic one that feeds many tactic tunnels and is used for strategic purposes [such] as command and control, weapon storage, manufacturing platforms of weapon[s] and strategic logistics," he said.

ISRAEL SET TO LAUNCH GAZA CITY OFFENSIVE: HIGH STAKES, HIGH COSTS AHEAD 

"Such a tunnel is usually manned by hundreds of militants and commanders."

The IDF believes this particular tunnel network may have been connected to the area where Lt. Hadar Goldin, an Israeli soldier abducted during the 2014 Gaza war, was held captive. Hamas returned Goldin’s remains earlier this month – after more than a decade. 

The tunnel’s exposure sheds new light on the extent of its underground operations.

ISRAEL’S COVERT CAMPAIGN TARGETS HAMAS TERRORISTS BEHIND OCT 7 MASSACRE

"I have no idea about the cost but if you take into consideration the amount of the building materials, labor and facilities and its length, it is a matter of millions of INS," he claimed. "Hamas chose routes under sensitive civilian and humanitarian facilities in order to prevent the IDF from attacking the tunnel."

As Israel continues operations in Gaza, the destruction of Hamas’s tunnel networks remains central to its strategy to dismantle the group’s military capabilities and prevent future attacks.

In 2014, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he wanted to destroy the tunnels, which Hamas militants used to infiltrate Israeli territory, "with or without a ceasefire."

According to a 2023 investigation by Reuters, Hamas had said it had been using the tunnels to hide hostages seized in its Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

Israel’s military said its ground forces had uncovered around 1,500 Hamas tunnels and shafts throughout the Gaza Strip, per the report.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) killed Haytham Ali Tabatabai, Hezbollah’s chief of staff, in Beirut, calling him a "mass murderer" responsible for attacks on Israelis and Americans.

Netanyahu framed the strike as part of Israel’s ongoing effort to dismantle Hezbollah’s leadership and prevent the group from rebuilding its arsenal after recent operations. He warned that Israel would not tolerate future threats from Lebanon and urged its government to disarm Hezbollah.

"A few hours ago, the IDF eliminated Ali Tabatabai, the chief of staff of the Hezbollah terrorist organization," Netanyahu said. "Tabatabai is a mass murderer. His hands are soaked in the blood of many Israelis and Americans, and it is not for nothing that the U.S. put a bounty of $5 million on his head."

The prime minister said Tabatabai was a senior commander in the Radwan Force, which he said prepared to invade the Galilee and kill Israeli civilians.

ISRAELI STRIKE TARGETS HAMAS LEADERSHIP IN QATAR

Netanyahu said Tabatabai most recently led Hezbollah’s efforts to rearm after the group suffered major losses in the "Pager Operation," including damage to missile stockpiles and the killing of Nasrallah.

"I thank the IDF and the security forces that carried out a professional, accurate and successful operation today," Netanyahu said. "The policy I am leading is absolutely clear: Under my leadership, the State of Israel will not allow Hezbollah to rebuild its power and we will not allow it to pose a threat to the State of Israel again.

ISRAEL-HEZBOLLAH BORDER TENSIONS RISE AS TERROR GROUP REARMS, RESISTS US- BACKED CEASEFIRE

"I expect the government of Lebanon to fulfill its commitment to disarm Hezbollah," he added. "Because only in this way can a better future be made possible for every citizen in Lebanon and only in this way can good and secure neighborly relations be established between Israel and Lebanon."

Netanyahu also commended President Donald Trump for vowing to designate the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization, saying the group endangers stability throughout the Middle East and beyond.

NETANYAHU CALLS ON NEIGHBORING NATIONS TO JOIN ISRAEL IN ‘EXPELLING HAMAS’ FROM REGION

Hezbollah confirmed Tabatabai’s death by posting a photo on its Telegram accounts, signaling the loss of one of its top commanders. A translation of the image’s caption reads, "Islamic Resistance in Lebanon – Hezbollah. The great jihadi leader Haitham Ali Tabatabai (Sayyed Abu Ali), 1968–2025."

Earlier Sunday, the prime minister’s office said the IDF carried out the Beirut strike on the recommendation of the defense minister and the IDF chief of staff. Shortly after the operation, Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel will continue to act decisively against threats from Lebanon.

"Anyone who raises a hand against Israel will have his hand cut off," Katz said. "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I are determined to continue the policy of maximum enforcement in Lebanon and elsewhere. We will not allow a return to the reality before Oct. 7."

JOHANNESBURG: The White House has mounted a new verbal attack on South Africa over the G20 Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg this weekend. White House deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly hit back at South African President Cyril Ramaphosa after Pretoria refused to allow a U.S. embassy delegation to take part in the summit’s closing ceremony.

The U.S. takes over the G20’s presidency next year. But Ramaphosa’s spokesperson told reporters here at the summit their president won’t perform the ceremonial hand over to a junior diplomat. Washington had asked to send the embassy’s chargé d’affaires to the ceremony.

In what is becoming an increasingly fractious back-and-forth of bitter statements between Pretoria and Washington on several issues around the G20, Kelly told Fox News Digital, "President Ramaphosa initially declared that he would pass the gavel to an ‘empty chair.’ Now, he’s refusing to facilitate a smooth transition of the G20 presidency at all."

WHITE HOUSE SHUTS DOWN REPORTS US BACKTRACKED ON TRUMP’S G20 BOYCOTT

Kelly continued "This, coupled with South Africa’s push to issue a G20 Leaders Declaration, despite consistent and robust U.S. objections, underscores the fact that they have weaponized their G20 presidency to undermine the G20’s founding principles. President Trump looks forward to restoring legitimacy to the G20 in the U.S.’s 2026 host year."

Trump withdrew all U.S. participation in the summit over his claims that some white South Africans were being racially discriminated against.  

Now South Africa’s Chief Rabbi, Dr. Warren Goldstein, has also lashed out at the G20, speaking exclusively to Fox News Digital, saying, "How can it be that in the long wish list of items that make up the G20 Leaders Declaration, there wasn’t space to condemn one of the greatest human rights crises in Africa - the continent wide jihadi war on Christians?"

He continued "How can it be that the first G20 hosted in Africa by an African government ignores how Africa — from Mozambique to Mali, the DRC, Nigeria, Sudan and so many other countries — has become the central front of Islamist terrorism?

TRUMP PICKS HIS MIAMI DORAL RESORT TO HOST 2026 G20 SUMMIT IN FLORIDA DURING NATION'S ANNIVERSARY YEAR

"Just Friday, more than 300 girls and 12 teachers were kidnapped from a Catholic school in Nigeria," he added. "Who will speak up for these children and save them? The silence of the G20 declaration on this and other Jihadi atrocities on the continent is a moral disgrace, revealing the gathering to be a heartless charade that history will judge harshly. God’s condemnation of Cain following his feeble defense of "am I my brother’s keeper?" stands as an eternal accusation against the leaders of the G20 — "What have you done? The blood of your brother calls out to Me from the ground."

42 world leaders and major institutions such as the U.N. are represented at the summit. Only one of them, Italy’s President Giorgia Meloni, has addressed the issue of Christian persecution in the last few days – and she did that Friday, before the summit started. Posting on X, she wrote, "We ask the Nigerian government to strengthen the protection of Christian communities and all religious communities and to pursue those responsible for these heinous attacks."

The White House could question the validity of the Leaders’ Declaration produced at the G20. Ramaphosa conceivably didn’t realize his microphone was open right at the beginning of proceedings Saturday. Journalists in the media center next door to the main summit hall could hear him telling leaders that the final 122-point resolution was ready for them to endorse – before they had discussed it.

As it stands, South Africa has officially marked the U.S. as ‘absent’ from this G20 summit. The only U.S. presence here this weekend was the American flag in the media center.

The final G20 South Africa Summit Leaders' Declaration was released on Sunday with the only reference to religion, noting, "We condemn all attacks against civilians and infrastructure. We further reaffirm that in line with the U.N. Charter, all states must refrain from the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state and that states should develop friendly relations among nations, including by promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion. We condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

Fox News Digital reached out to the South African government but did not receive a response.

Teachers fended off a grizzly bear that attacked a school group walking along a trail in British Columbia, Canada, on Thursday, officials said.

"The group had stopped along a trail near the community when a grizzly bear emerged from the forest and attacked," Insp. Kevin Van Damme of British Columbia’s Conservation Officer Service, said in an update on social media. "Teachers successfully repelled the bear using pepper spray and a bear banger."

Eleven people were injured in the attack, including students in the fourth and fifth grade, according to CBC News.

Two were in critical condition, two in serious condition and the other seven were treated at the scene, the British Columbia Health Services said.

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The incident happened in Bella Coola, a town more than 400 miles north of Vancouver.

The victims were taken to Bella Coola Hospital and were being transferred to Vancouver for further care, Van Damme said.

Officials were still searching for the bear as of Friday, who they believe may have been previously injured.

HIKER'S FRIEND WATCHES IN HORROR AS BROWN BEAR DRAGS MAN INTO BUSHES ON MOUNTAIN: REPORT

"We recognize this incident is distressing for the community. We are in close contact with the Nuxalk Nation as our investigation continues. We thank them for their collaborative efforts to ensure community awareness and shared safety information," Van Damme said. "Our thoughts are with the victims and their families, and we wish them a full and speedy recovery."

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Tamara Davidson, British Columbia’s Minister of Environment and Parks, called the teachers who fought off the bear "true heroes," adding that they were well-prepared, according to the Guardian.

An anti-Israel group's website is offering bounties of up to $100,000 for the murder of Israeli academics, according to reports.

"The Punishment for Justice Movement" not only named specific targets and prices on their heads, but also published personal information like home addresses, emails and phone numbers, the Jerusalem Post reported.

The academics who were targeted work at universities like Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv University, the Technion public research university in Haifa, and even Harvard and Oxford universities, and the European Organization for Nuclear Research.

UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY PROFESSOR SUES AFTER BEING BARRED FROM LAW SCHOOL AFTER CALLING FOR AN 'END' TO ISRAEL

Along with offering $100,000 for the killing of "special targets," $50,000 was being offered for the murder of other targets, as well as $20,000 to set fire to their homes or car, $5,000 for information about a target, and $1,000 to put protest signs outside their homes.

The website, created last summer and appears to have originated in the Netherlands, briefly went down Friday night, but was back up on Saturday, the outlet reported.

The website is written in English, according to the Times of Israel, and accuses its targets of being "criminals and collaborators with the occupation army," referring to the war in Gaza.

It also accuses the targets of being "distributors of weapons of mass destruction to the Israeli army," who are "involved in the murder of Palestinian children," the Jerusalem Post reported.

The organization claimed to have warned the targets to "abandon criminal activity" and stop working with the Israeli Defense Forces, but claimed they ignored the warnings so they are now "legitimate targets for the movement," according to the Times.

Two targeted academics told the Post they received no warning and several of those targeted at the European Organization for Nuclear Research said they hadn’t worked on military projects, but the website creators seemed to be mixed up by the word "nuclear."

One targeted academic told the Post: "The competent government agencies should suggest more comprehensive solutions" than just taking down the website, "because walking around with targets on our heads puts at risk not only us, but also our families."

However, Michael Bronstein, who teaches computer science at Oxford, told the Post he didn’t "give a damn" about the bounty on his life, calling those threatening him "nutcases."

"I was profoundly disturbed and shocked that my head was valued so cheaply, considering my standing in the academic community, I find anything below a seven-figure highly offensive," he told the Post. "I am, however, consoled that I am at least in a good company."

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Anti-Defamation League for comment.

Gunmen abducted 303 children and 12 teachers in an attack on St. Mary's School, a Catholic institution in Nigeria. Initial reports indicated that at least 52 had been kidnapped before the tally was increased to over 200 children and then to its final count of 303.

Most. Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna said in a statement that the total number of kidnapped was determined "after a verification exercise and a final census was carried out," according to The Associated Press. Yohanna is the chairman of the Niger state chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), who visited the school on Friday. The AP noted that the students who were kidnapped were male and female and ranged in age from 10 to 18.

GUNMEN ATTACK CHURCH IN NIGERIA, KILLING TWO AND KIDNAPPING OTHERS

No group has come forward to claim responsibility for the attack, according to the AP. The outlet added that authorities said tactical squads and local hunters were working to rescue the kidnapped children.

After the attack, the state government said that St. Mary's School reopened despite warnings of increased threats. However, Yohanna denied this claim, the AP reported.

"We did not receive any circular. It must be an afterthought and a way to shift blame," he said, according to the AP.

RAP STAR NICKI MINAJ THANKS TRUMP FOR ADDRESSING PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS IN NIGERIA

The attack at St. Mary's follows a similar incident earlier this week in which armed attackers kidnapped 25 girls from a boarding school in Nigeria’s Kebbi State and killed at least one staffer. The search for the abducted schoolgirls is still underway.

Nigeria has seen a series of attacks on Christians and their institutions, prompting President Donald Trump to declare the West African nation a "country of particular concern." However, the Nigerian government has disputed the U.S.'s claims.

On Tuesday, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz held an event highlighting the ongoing violence in Nigeria. During the event, Waltz called the killings of Christians in Nigeria "genocide wearing the mask of chaos." He was joined by rap superstar Nicki Minaj, who called for religious freedom for all.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The Federal Aviation Administration warned airlines about flying over Venezuela as it issued a notice urging them to "exercise caution" due to the "potentially hazardous situation" in the region. 

The advisory comes as the U.S. has significantly increased its military presence across the Caribbean under U.S. Southern Command, deploying bombers, warships and Marines as part of an expanded campaign targeting drug-trafficking and so-called "narco-terrorist" networks operating near Venezuela. 

"Operators are advised to exercise caution when operating in the Maiquetia flight information region at all altitudes due to the worsening security situation and heightened military activity in or around Venezuela," the FAA advisory said. 

"Threats could pose a potential risk to aircraft at all altitudes, including during overflight, the arrival and departure phases of flight, and/or airports and aircraft on the ground," it added, requesting airlines to provide at least 72-hour advance notice to the FAA if they plan to fly through the area.

US NAVY DESTROYER ARRIVES IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO AS TRUMP TURNS SCREWS ON VENEZUELA 

Direct flights from U.S. passenger and cargo carriers to Venezuela have been suspended since 2019, but some airlines still fly over the country on their South American routes, according to Reuters. 

It added that American Airlines said Friday it stopped flying over Venezuela in October, while Delta Air Lines said it stopped "a while ago." 

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"Since September 2025, there has been an increase in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) interference in the Maiquetia Flight Information Region (SVZM FIR), as well as activity associated with increasing Venezuela military readiness," the FAA also said.

"Some civil aircraft recently reported GNSS interference while transiting the SVZM FIR, which, in some cases, caused lingering effects throughout the flight. GNSS jammers and spoofers can affect aircraft out to 250 nautical miles and can impact a wide variety of critical communication, navigation, surveillance, and safety equipment on aircraft," the FAA continued.

"Additionally, since early September, Venezuela has conducted multiple military exercises and directed the mass mobilization of thousands of military and reserve forces. While Venezuela has at no point expressed an intent to target civil aviation, the Venezuelan military possesses advanced fighter aircraft and multiple weapons systems capable of reaching or exceeding civil aircraft operating altitudes, as well as potential low-altitude risk from man-portable air defense systems and anti-aircraft artillery," it also warned. 

Fox News Digital’s Morgan Phillips contributed to this report. 

China’s aggressive campaign to steal American military technology is emerging as a central concern in the debate over whether the United States should sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, according to experts and retired senior military commanders.

(Ret.) Gen. Charles Wald, a former U.S. Air Force officer and former deputy commander of EUCOM, said the United States had already rejected the United Arab Emirates and Turkey due to concerns about Chinese technology exploitation.

"We told Turkey they’re not going to get the F-35. We told the UAE they’re not going to get it because there’s concern that there could be a transfer of technology to China," Wald said. "That would probably be the biggest issue with Saudi Arabia getting the F-35 … Not because they would give it to the Chinese. Because the Chinese could exploit through intel, getting capability off that, but I’m not as worried as some," Wald said during a briefing at JINSA this week.

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China expert Gordon Chang said Beijing has already demonstrated its ability to penetrate U.S. defense programs and should be assumed to be targeting the F-35 again. "We should assume China has everything already. They already stole the whole plane once. They probably did it again," Chang told Fox News Digital.

He argued that Washington must balance the risks with the strategic benefits of strengthening ties with Riyadh. "We need to cement the relationship with the crown prince, especially if that helps him sign off on an Abraham Accord. Let him have stripped-down F-35s," he said.

He added that other U.S. partners may present even greater concerns. "I’m much more worried about South Korea having the plane and turning over the plans to China."

Chinese intelligence services have been implicated for years in efforts to harvest American military and aerospace technology, including stealth designs, propulsion systems, and advanced avionics. U.S. officials have previously linked Chinese cyber actors to thefts targeting premier American defense programs, including components resembling those found in fifth-generation fighters.

AMERICA’S ‘BAT’ MAN UNVEILS TECH BUILT TO OUTSMART A CHINESE FIRST STRIKE

Against that backdrop, the United States is weighing whether to approve Saudi Arabia’s request for the F-35 as part of a broader negotiation that includes defense assurances and potential diplomatic progress with Israel.

(Ret.) Lt. Gen. Robert Ashley, former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, said the United States uses foreign military sales monitoring protocols to reduce risk, but the protections are not perfect. "One of the things that we do through foreign military sales is end-use case monitoring protocol," Ashley said. "We watch very closely how these kinds of advanced systems are used … but they’re not absolute."

SAUDI ARABIA IS ALREADY AMERICA’S TOP ARMS BUYER AND NOW TRUMP WANTS TO ADD F-35S

Despite the China threat, the retired commanders said they do not believe a Saudi F-35 acquisition would undermine Israel’s qualitative military edge.

Wald emphasized that Israeli pilots, planners, and engineers maintain a superior level of training and innovation. "There’s a big difference between the Israeli actual pilot capability than the other countries out there," Wald said. He added that Israel has integrated its own upgrades into the aircraft. "The Israelis modified their own F-35 a little bit … they created or developed [additional capabilities] just prior to the attack on Iran."

Wald noted that even if approved, Riyadh would not receive the aircraft for years. "At the very least, there’s probably about a five-year window here before that would happen if they got the F-35," he said.

Ashley and Wald said that in the long term, additional F-35s in the region could enhance shared situational awareness and strengthen collective defenses against Iran. Retired Vice Adm. Mark Fox said the fighter’s data-sharing architecture means more aircraft in allied hands improves overall performance. "The one thing about F-35 is it talks to every other F-35," Fox said. "Having more F-35s in the region actually increases the capability of the coalition."

A U.S.-backed framework to end the Ukraine war — assembled by special envoy Steve Witkoff, with input through both Kyiv and Moscow channels — is stirring unease among European allies and putting fresh pressure on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy, who has ruled out recognizing Russian sovereignty over Ukrainian land, delivered one of his starkest public messages yet, warning that Kyiv is entering "one of the most difficult moments in our history."

In remarks released on Friday by Reuters, Zelenskyy said Ukraine is under intense pressure and may soon face what he called "a very difficult choice: either losing its dignity or risking the loss of a key partner. Either 28 difficult points or an extremely difficult winter — the most difficult one yet — and further risks. Life without freedom, without dignity, without justice. And we are expected to trust someone who has already attacked us twice."

WITKOFF MEETS UKRAINE OFFICIALS IN NEW YORK AHEAD OF EMERGENCY UN SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING: 'VERY PRODUCTIVE'

Zelenskyy urged Ukrainians to remain disciplined as negotiations continue with Washington. "We will not make any loud statements; we will work calmly with America and all our partners," he said. "I will present arguments, I will persuade, I will offer alternatives, but we will definitely not give the enemy any reason to say that Ukraine does not want peace, that it is disrupting the process, and that Ukraine is not ready for diplomacy. That will not happen."

Warning of intensified attempts to divide the country, he said Ukrainians should expect "a lot of pressure — political, informational and other kinds of pressure — to weaken us," but vowed that "we have no right to allow that," and insisted, "we will succeed."

According to multiple outlets, a working draft would require Kyiv to cede the eastern Donbas region to Russia, limit long-range Western strikes inside Russia, and cap Ukraine’s armed forces at roughly 600,000 troops.

The White House says Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have been "quietly working" on the plan and engaging both sides. President Donald Trump has been briefed and supports pushing to finalize the framework by the holidays. 

Zelenskyy is preparing calls with Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz as European leaders scramble to assess the proposal’s implications, after he held a call with U.S. Vice President Vance, source says.

Ukraine has formally received the document. Zelenskyy said Ukraine and the United States would "work on the provisions of the plan," and that Kyiv is ready for "constructive, honest and swift work." He has repeatedly ruled out recognizing Russian sovereignty over any Ukrainian territory, saying earlier there can be "no reward for waging war."

"We are working to ensure that Ukraine’s national interests are taken into account at every level of our relations with partners," Zelenskyy posted Friday on X, formerly known as Twitter.

ZELENSKYY SEEKS 'STRONG REACTION' FROM US IF PUTIN IS NOT READY FOR BILATERAL MEETING

A Ukrainian source told Fox News Digital that Kyiv’s red lines include limits on NATO membership, territorial concessions and troop cuts. The former senior Ukrainian official called the draft’s terms "political suicide" that would leave Zelenskyy responsible "for the loss of about one-fifth of Ukraine."

In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that Washington and Moscow are not yet discussing the proposals in detail, but that contacts were taking place. "There are certain ideas on the American side, but nothing substantive is currently being discussed. We are completely open — we maintain our openness to peace negotiations," Peskov told reporters.

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz pressed for urgency during a Security Council briefing Thursday, saying diplomacy is "the only path to a durable and just peace." Waltz said Washington has "proposed generous terms for Russia, including sanctions relief," and vowed that "under President Trump’s leadership, the United States will continue to pursue a path to peace in Ukraine."

Ukraine’s Deputy Representative to the United Nations, Khrystyna Hayovyshyn, pushed back firmly during Thursday’s Security Council meeting, declaring that Kyiv would reject any settlement that compromises its sovereignty. "There will never be any recognition, formal or otherwise, of Ukrainian territory temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation as Russian. Our land is not for sale," she said. Hayovyshyn stressed that "Ukraine will not accept any limits on its right to self-defense or on the size and capabilities of our armed forces, nor will we tolerate any infringement on our sovereignty, including our sovereign right to choose the alliances we want to join."

European leaders were caught off guard. The Associated Press reported that the leaders of Germany, France and the U.K. spoke with Zelenskyy Friday to reaffirm their "unchanged and full support on the way to a lasting and just peace" as diplomats scrambled to parse a U.S. proposal many first learned about through the media. Bild said Merz canceled a domestic appearance to hold crisis calls with both Zelenskyy and Trump.

Zelenskyy is expected to speak with Trump in the coming days to discuss the plan’s core points and Ukraine’s red lines.

A U.S.-backed framework to end the Ukraine war — assembled by special envoy Steve Witkoff, with input through both Kyiv and Moscow channels — is stirring unease among European allies and putting fresh pressure on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy, who has ruled out recognizing Russian sovereignty over Ukrainian land, said he will work "calmly" with America." This is one of the most difficult moments in our history," Zelenskyy said in a video address to the nation. "Currently, the pressure on Ukraine is one of the hardest. Ukraine may now face a very difficult choice, either losing its dignity or the risk of losing a key partner," he said, according to a report in the Associated Press 

According to multiple outlets, a working draft would require Kyiv to cede the eastern Donbas region to Russia, limit long-range Western strikes inside Russia, and cap Ukraine’s armed forces at roughly 600,000 troops.

The White House says Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have been "quietly working" on the plan and engaging both sides. President Donald Trump has been briefed and supports pushing to finalize the framework by the holidays. 

WITKOFF MEETS UKRAINE OFFICIALS IN NEW YORK AHEAD OF EMERGENCY UN SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING: 'VERY PRODUCTIVE'

Zelenskyy is preparing for a call with Trump and spoke with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as European leaders scramble to assess the proposal’s implications, after he held a call with U.S. Vice President Vance, source says.

Ukraine has formally received the document. Zelenskyy said Ukraine and the United States would "work on the provisions of the plan," and that Kyiv is ready for "constructive, honest and swift work." He has repeatedly ruled out recognizing Russian sovereignty over any Ukrainian territory, saying earlier there can be "no reward for waging war."

"We are working to ensure that Ukraine’s national interests are taken into account at every level of our relations with partners," Zelenskyy posted Friday on X.

A Ukrainian source told Fox News Digital that Kyiv’s red lines include limits on NATO membership, territorial concessions and troop cuts. The former senior Ukrainian official called the draft’s terms "political suicide" that would leave Zelenskyy responsible "for the loss of about one-fifth of Ukraine."

In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that Washington and Moscow are not yet discussing the proposals in detail, but that contacts were taking place. "There are certain ideas on the American side, but nothing substantive is currently being discussed. We are completely open — we maintain our openness to peace negotiations," Peskov told reporters.

ZELENSKYY SEEKS 'STRONG REACTION' FROM US IF PUTIN IS NOT READY FOR BILATERAL MEETING

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz pressed for urgency during a Security Council briefing Thursday, saying diplomacy is "the only path to a durable and just peace." Waltz said Washington has "proposed generous terms for Russia, including sanctions relief," and vowed that "under President Trump’s leadership, the United States will continue to pursue a path to peace in Ukraine."

Ukraine’s Deputy Representative to the United Nations, Khrystyna Hayovyshyn, pushed back firmly during Thursday’s Security Council meeting, declaring that Kyiv would reject any settlement that compromises its sovereignty. "There will never be any recognition, formal or otherwise, of Ukrainian territory temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation as Russian. Our land is not for sale," she said. Hayovyshyn stressed that "Ukraine will not accept any limits on its right to self-defense or on the size and capabilities of our armed forces, nor will we tolerate any infringement on our sovereignty, including our sovereign right to choose the alliances we want to join."

European leaders were reportedly caught off guard by the proposals, with the Associated Press reporting the leaders of Germany, France and the U.K. spoke with Zelenskyy Friday to reaffirm their "unchanged and full support on the way to a lasting and just peace" as diplomats scrambled to parse a U.S. proposal many first learned about through the media. Bild said Merz canceled a domestic appearance to hold crisis calls with both Zelenskyy and Trump.

Zelenskyy is expected to speak with Trump in the coming days to discuss the plan’s core points and Ukraine’s red lines.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.