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Russia And Ukraine Carry Out New Prison Exchange; Russia's Lavrov Question If Zelenskyy Is Legitimate Leader; Putin To Visit China For Talks, Military Parade; U.S. And S. Korea Alliance Under Pressure Ahead Of W.H. Meeting; National Guard Troops in Washington, D.C. Carrying Weapons, Trump Threatens to Deploy National Guard to Chicago; Former Sinaloa Cartel Boss ""El Mayo"" Expected in Court; Maduro to Deploy 4.5 Million Militiamen to Deter Conflict; Zimbabwe's Orphaned Elephants; Tommy Fleetwood Wins Tour Championship for Fist PGA Tour Title. Aired 1-2a ET
Aired August 25, 2025 - 01:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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POLO SANDOVAL, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to CNN Newsroom. I'm Polo Sandoval live in New York. And here's what's ahead in the next hour. A week after a whirlwind of diplomatic summits, talks to bring an end to the war in Ukraine appear to be stalled. We talked to an expert about what the sticking points for both sides may be.
And Israel launches strikes on neighboring Yemen. What Israeli leaders say led to the new attacks on against the Iran backed Houthi rebels. And armed troops are now on the Streets of Washington, D.C., how local leaders in Chicago are pushing back against Trump's attempts to expand his federal crime crackdown to their city.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live from New York, this is CNN NEWSROOM with Paulo Sandoval.
SANDOVAL: The effort to reach a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine appears to have stalled. Just one week ago, the U.S. president welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the White House. Donald Trump had hoped to arrange a summit between Ukrainian and Russian leaders, but so far that hasn't happened. Russia now says that Ukraine launched a drone attack on Sunday that sparked a fire at the Kursk nuclear power plant, a facility, it's actually one of the biggest in Russia. Plant officials there told Reuters that despite some damage, radiation levels were normal and that there were no reported injuries.
Meanwhile, Russia and Ukraine completed a new prisoner exchange. Moscow says it included the return of at least 146 prisoners of war from each side. Listen to the former mayor of Kherson who was among those freed after spending more than three years in Russian captivity.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) VOLODYMYR MYKOLAYENKO, FORMER KHERSON MAYOR (through translator): I always wondered what would be the new date of my birthday and I am very happy that my alternative birthday turned out to be on the 24th of August.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANDOVAL: And world leaders traveled to Kyiv on Sunday to celebrate Ukraine's Independence Day. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney made his first official visit to that country. And the Trump administration's Russia-Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg also traveled to attend the ceremony. At a press conference, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was asked about a report that the Pentagon is blocking Kyiv from using American made long range weapons to strike inside Russia. This is his answer.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRANIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): To be honest, we are currently using our domestically produced long range weapons. And to be frank, we have not discussed such issues with the U.S. recently. There used to be, you remember, various signals regarding our strikes in response to strikes on our energy sector. That was a long time ago. Today we don't even mention it.
This is news to me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANDOVAL: CNN's Nada Bashir has more on Kyiv's Independence Day and also on a letter sent to Zelenskyy from President Trump.
NADA BASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: While marking Ukraine's 34th Independence Day, U.S. President Donald Trump has sent a letter of support praising the nation's courage and saying the United States believes in its future as an independent state. The letter was shared on X by Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who thanked Trump for his message with Keith Kellogg, the Trump administration's Russia Ukraine envoy, in attendance for Kyiv's Independence Day ceremony on Sunday.
Zelenskyy, meanwhile, also delivered his own address to Ukraine, reiterating his determination to triumph against Russia. In recent weeks, Ukraine has ramped up its attacks on Russia, particularly when it comes to Russia's energy infrastructure. According to a CNN tally of attacks, Ukrainian drones have struck at least 10 key Russian energy facilities this month alone.
And while reports have emerged that the Pentagon has for months been blocking Ukraine's use of U.S. made long range army tactical missile systems to strike inside Russia, President Zelenskyy said Sunday that he has not yet discussed the use of such weapons with the U.S. and that Ukraine is currently using domestically produced long range weapons. Efforts to secure a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, meanwhile, appear to have stalled once again, with the Kremlin pouring cold water on the possibility of a meeting between President Putin and President Zelenskyy in the near future.
[01:05:04]
However, speaking to NBC, U.S. vice President J.D. Vance indicated some degree of optimism, saying that Russia has made significant concessions and that the U.S. will keep on pushing for a diplomatic solution.
Nada Bashir, CNN in London.
SANDOVAL: Jill Dougherty is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University and also former CNN Moscow Bureau Chief.
Jill, thank you so much for being with us.
JILL DOUGHERTY, ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, GEORGETOWN UNIV.: Hey, Polo, glad to be here.
SANDOVAL: So, Jill, we're now what, one week since that big high stakes summit in the White House. Is there anywhere that you've seen any sort of signs of progress, maybe even this weekend's prisoner exchange, could that maybe offer a glimmer of hope that we're perhaps inching closer to something?
DOUGHERTY: Well, I mean, the prisoner exchange certainly is good news, there's no question, 146 men on both sides on either side. And so that really is good. But you know, that has happened before and it really could be connected with the peace process. But it again, doesn't seem to be that way if you look at the peace process itself because it really seems to be stalled.
Now, the only things that I can see would be when the Europeans, along with the Ukrainians and the Americans were talking about security guarantees, they do seem to be working very assiduously trying to figure out how that would actually work and trying to get commitments, you know, in terms of troops that might be applied as monitors. But the question would be, you know, where would those troops be? Would they belong to the individual countries? You know, Russia has said no way, NATO, but would they take it so far as to say which they seem to be doing? Well, you know, France is part of NATO, therefore French troops can't be involved.
And then security, even in terms of what they're saying now about Russia's, quote, "own security," now that seems pretty, you know, contradictory when you think that Russia is the country that invaded Ukraine, but the Russians are bringing that up as well. So I don't see a lot of progress on the other sides, quite honestly sadly.
SANDOVAL: Vice President J.D. Vance said on Sunday that Russia has made, as he put it, significant concessions thus far. But there does seem to be one unyielding point when we hear from Russia that Putin does not seem to budge on, which is recognizing Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the Ukrainian leader who would ultimately sign any possible deal. I want you to listen to Russia's foreign minister on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday, and he's referring to Zelenskyy, listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SERGEY LAVROV, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: We recognize him as de facto head of the regime. And in this -- in this capacity we are ready to meet with him. But when it comes to signing legal documents, when we come to a stage when you have to sign documents, we would need a very clear understanding by everybody that the person who is signing is legitimate. And according to the Ukrainian constitution, Mr. Zelenskyy is not at the moment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANDOVAL: So what are we to take away after hearing from Russia's top diplomat, even if there is a Putin-Zelenskyy meeting, if it were to happen, what hope should we have that it would actually end in Zelenskyy being allowed to put pen to paper?
DOUGHERTY: You know, that is an extraordinary comment by Mr. Lavrov. What he is saying is that at this point, they're not going to sign anything because Mr. Zelenskyy is, in his estimation, not legitimate. Now, how does he make that point? How does he, you know, buttress that? He would say, and President Putin would say that Zelenskyy is not legitimate because he was elected, they would even have trouble with that, but he was elected to a five-year term.
That five year term expired one year ago. And in conditions of war, Mr. Zelenskyy is the -- and Ukraine are not having elections. That is apparently according to the constitution. But the Russians are saying that that is not legitimate. So this is, I think, actually a pretty dangerous statement from Mr. Lavrov because the only way that I could see, now, you know, again, we love some more details, but what he's saying is essentially, you have to change the president of Ukraine before we are going to sign anything.
Or if he signs, he will be described, as he put it, the head of this regime, you know, the de facto head of a regime, that undermines completely any indicate -- any Ukrainian belief that he is their duly elected president. It's really quite extraordinary.
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SANDOVAL: I agree. I mean, what good is a meeting between Russia and Ukraine if it can't eventually produce an actual peace agreement?
Jill Dougherty, thank you so much for analyzing all that. I have to say it was really just extraordinary to see Russia's top diplomat speaking to an American outlet as well and saying what he did. Jill, thank you so much for your time as always.
DOUGHERTY: Thank you, Polo.
SANDOVAL: We want to turn to the Middle East now where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that anyone who attacks Israel will learn the hard way that there will be a price to pay.
The Israeli military says that it struck several targets inside Yemen rocking the Yemeni capital. Israel says that this comes in response to the latest attack by the Iran backed Houthis who fired a new type of missile at Israel on Friday. The Israeli prime minister says that the Houthis will continue to pay, as he put it, a very heavy price.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER (through translator): Whoever attacks us, we attack them. Whoever plans to attack us, we attack them. I believe the entire region is learning about the strength and determination of the state of Israel.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANDOVAL: The Israeli military is also unleashing strikes on Gaza City ahead of its planned takeover of the enclave's largest city. Israel's defense minister now vowing to push forward with the offensive despite international criticism and concerns for civilian safety. On Sunday, funerals were held for those killed in the latest round of attacks. The Palestinian Health Ministry says at least 64 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 300 injured in Gaza just over the last 24 hours. Among them a nine-year old boy who the health ministry says was killed when an Israeli airstrike hit a building in the Sabra neighborhood.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HANAN ABEDRABO, AUNT OF NINE-YEAR-OLD HAMADA ABEDRABO (through translator): He was going to buy food in front of the house's door. It was a direct targeting. Direct. His head was blown away.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANDOVAL: CNN's Oren Liebermann following all the developments in the Middle East and he's got more from Jerusalem.
OREN LIEBERMANN, JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: Israel carried out a series of strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen on Sunday evening, including what appears to be the first time they hit the presidential palace. The Israeli military also says it carried out strikes on two power plants in Yemen in the Houthi held capital of Sanaa, as well as the fuel supply for those power plants. Israel says this is in response to a ballistic missile that came over on Friday that for the first time appears to have had a cluster warhead that is multiple munitions carried one missile designed to spread out the damage, make it more difficult to intercept. An Israeli military official says it appears to be the first time the Houthis have fired this type of ballistic missile at Israel. There have also been other ballistic missiles and drones that the Houthis have launched.
Many of those are intercepted, but Israel sees it as an attack on Israel itself and has vowed to respond to those. And that's what we saw with towers of smoke and fire rising out of the capital of Sanaa as a result of the Israeli strikes. Israel warning there will be more such strikes if the Houthi attacks continue. And they have, for the most part, unabated at a fairly steady pace over the course of the last weeks and months. Meanwhile, the Israeli military carrying out a series of punishing strikes in Gaza City in what appear to be the first phases of the operation the security cabinet had approved just a couple of weeks ago. The Israeli military is already operating in Zaytun on the outskirts of Gaza City, with reports it's also operating in Jabalia.
Meanwhile, we see the video from those strikes and CNN has spoken with Palestinians, some of whom have already made the decision to flee ahead of specific evacuation orders. Others who say they refuse to leave. They either refuse to be displaced again by Israeli evacuation orders or they refuse to leave their homes ahead of what Israel essentially says will be a forced evacuation of the city to go after what they see as one of Hamas last remaining strongholds there. The Israeli defense minister had warned just days ago that Israel would open the gates of hell if Hamas didn't free the hostages there, that may be the beginning of what we're seeing here.
Oren Liebermann, CNN, in Jerusalem.
[01:14:34]
SANDOVAL: Still ahead, a decades old alliance being put to the test today. Just ahead, we'll go live to Seoul ahead of the first summit between Donald Trump and Lee Jae Myung.
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SANDOVAL: Welcome back to CNN Newsroom. Russian President Vladimir Putin will be traveling to China for four days next week. That's leading up to the visit that will actually be some major talks between Russian and Chinese delegations. Putin will then be joining more than 20 other leaders for a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and then finally a military parade in Beijing on September 3, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. For more on this upcoming visit, I'm joined now by CNN's Marc Stewart joining us live from Beijing.
Marc, great to see you again. Without a doubt, President Xi, I'm sure, was watching closely those images out of Alaska as President Putin stood alongside Donald Trump. Soon it will be his turn to host the Russian leader. Why will that meeting be so significant?
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MARC STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's significant, Polo, because there's this phrase you're known by the company you keep. And coming to China will not only be Vladimir Putin, it'll be the prime minister of India, the president of Iran as well as the U.N. secretary general, just some of the names on this guest list. Nations, many of them have had a very complex and strained relationship with the United States. But the bigger question that I think will catch our attention is the question about Ukraine. Hence Vladimir Putin's presence, of course, coming after that meeting you mentioned with President Trump.
Of course, Putin and Xi Jinping have this very tight established relationship, a no limits friendship as it's been described. We'll be curious to see if Xi Jinping will perhaps pressure Putin into some kind of resolution to the war in Ukraine. It's interesting that China has never formally condemned Russia for its involvement in the conflict. China has a big stake in this as well as India. India is now facing sanctions from the United States for purchasing fuel from Russia.
China perhaps could meet a similar fate. So those, Polo, are some of the storylines we're looking as many of these nations really try to portray themselves as an alternative to the west and of course to the United States.
SANDOVAL: And then there's a parade that we mentioned a short while ago scheduled to take place for you are there in Beijing next week. Curious if you've seen any signs of preparations and if not, what can we expect for that military parade next week?
STEWART: Lots of preparations, lots of disruptions on the weekend here in Beijing. I was at a coffee shop last weekend and suddenly at 2:00, everything just closed because barricades and blockades were taking place. These rehearsals are enormous. This parade on September 3rd will be 70 minutes long and it will be a chance to -- for China to show off its arsenal. I mean, in the recent weeks we have seen aircraft fly overhead, we have seen tanks in the streets, we've seen what appear to be missiles covered in tarps as they -- as they zip through the streets.
It's going to be a big unveiling, Polo. Part of this bigger message for China to show not only to its citizens but to the world, it's a force, a strong military force as well as a strong political organization.
SANDOVAL: China's military might will certainly be on display and we'll know you will be there to cover it.
Marc Stewart, thank you so much for your time and for your reporting.
Well, two longtime allies are at a critical juncture this hour. Later today, South Korea's new president, he's expected to meet with his American counterpart in their first summit. The pivotal White House meeting coming just weeks after the two partners struck a new trade deal. One major topic that will likely be up for discussion, U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to pressure Lee Jae Myung to commit to spending more on defense, and that includes billions of dollars on the nearly 30,000 American troops were stationed in South Korea. Let's talk more about this and go live to CNN's Mike Valerio joining us out of Seoul.
Mike, this is clearly going to be a significant meeting. I'm curious, what are you going to be looking out for?
MIKE VALERIO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, Polo, I'm really glad that you brought up the cost that South Korea pays for U.S. troops here on the peninsula because that is something that was not, I repeat, not resolved in the trade deal between the United States and South Korea when both countries were able to come to that agreement a couple of weeks ago. So that's why it looms large and it's on the top of our list for what to watch out for during this White House Oval Office meeting around noon D.C. time.
So, let's talk about some other things. There are three other items on the list, but troops on the Korean Peninsula, 28,500 of them, it's been an issue in Trump's portfolio along his talking points for months now, almost a year when he talked about it in Chicago on the campaign trail last year of how much South Korea pays. Right now they pay around 1 billion, just a little north of $1 billion for those nearly 30,000 U.S. troops stationed here on the peninsula, Trump wants up to 10 billion, between five and 10 billion. And also what could be interesting to watch during this meeting, Polo, is if it comes up whether or not the role of these troops here are going to change from being a primary deterrent for North Korea to some of them potentially, and I stress potentially, changing their role to being a deterrent for China.
President Lee on his way to Washington, D.C. has said that could be a tough ask because South Korea has to maintain very good relations not just with the United States, but also with its huge neighbor China. But he said that this issue, he's leaving it open to discussion whether or not the role of these troops, some of them anyway, could possibly change.
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North Korea is the second issue we're looking for. They both, definitely, Presidents Lee and President Trump want to reengage North Korean leader Kim Jong Un when it comes to his nuclear program, to bring Kim back to the negotiating table. Right now, Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, has shown zero, Polo, zero interest in reengaging with Washington, D.C. or Seoul. So it'll be interesting to see if there's some plan to bring Kim back to the table.
Shipbuilding, South Korea is one of the leaders in the modern shipbuilding industry. Seoul here is saying that they want to make American shipbuilding great again. So we'll be waiting to learn about specific investment plans from South Korean industries into the American shipbuilding ecosystem, as it were.
And then the personal rapport. The two leaders have never met. This is going to be critical for them to suss out their different personalities. Both of them, though, united in the rare stories of surviving assassination attempts. President Lee here in South Korea survived somebody trying to stab him and did stab him in the neck in January of 2024, it was certainly a harrowing moment in his life.
President Trump with two assassination attempts of his own. So it will be very fascinating to see what dynamics come out during this Oval Office meeting in front of the fireplace. A lot for them to talk about, Polo.
SANDOVAL: You've given us at least five reasons to watch this very closely. CNN's Mike Valerio with the live report out of Seoul. Thank you, Mike. Appreciate you.
President Trump is threatening to deploy the National Guard to more U.S. cities, including really possibly even Chicago. Ahead will tell you what officials in that city have to say about it.
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SANDOVAL: Well, the start of the week means some new changes for members of the U.S. National Guard currently deployed in Washington, D.C., as they are now carrying weapons. A spokesperson for the mission telling CNN that the troops started carrying sidearms on Sunday.
In addition to that, a CNN reporter saw two guard members in Washington carrying rifles in the city. It is -- in the district, I should say. It is a drastic shift in the guards' presence since President Trump deployed them.
The president says Chicago could possibly be next. But Chicago's mayor is pushing back, threatening legal action for what he calls unlawful actions.
And it appears that many people in Washington, D.C., they're not very happy with the deployment of these federal troops in their jurisdiction. A "Washington Post" poll showing 69 percent of residents strongly oppose the president taking control of D.C.'s police and deploying the National Guard.
CNN's Julia Benbrook has much more about President Trumps crackdown on crime and this talk of sending federal troops to more U.S. cities.
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JULIA BENBROOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: President Donald Trump has made it clear that he plans to expand these efforts outside of Washington, D.C. This is a part of his anti-crime agenda and his immigration crackdown.
Here in the nation's capital city in recent weeks, Trump has temporarily taken control of the D.C. Metropolitan Police. And then there's this constant, visible National Guard presence.
While he does have more authority here in the district to implement these changes, he says that he plans to expand this further. In fact, on Friday, he was speaking in the Oval Office, and he said that he's looking at Chicago next.
Take a listen.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Chicago's a mess. You have an incompetent mayor, grossly incompetent. And we'll straighten that one out probably next.
And the people in Chicago, Mr. Vice President, are screaming for us to come. They're wearing red hats just like this one, but they're wearing red hats.
Officials who spoke with CNN said that the plans to send troops there have been in the works for weeks. It's still unclear how many would be sent and when those deployments would start.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has said that the Trump administration has not been in direct contact with his team or the governor. He has accused the president of, quote, "stoking fear" and says this is not the way to bring down crime in his city.
MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: What he is proposing at this point would be the most flagrant violation of our constitution in the 21st century. The city of Chicago does not need a military occupation. That's not what we need.
In fact, we've been very clear about what we need. We need to invest in people to ensure that we can build safe and affordable communities.
BENBROOK: In a statement, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said this. He said "The safety of the people of Illinois is always my top priority. There is no emergency that warrants the president of the United States federalizing the Illinois National Guard, deploying the National Guard from other states or sending active-duty military within our own borders."
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BENBROOK: While it is not uncommon for federal authorities like the National Guard to help out across the country in times of emergency, like natural disasters or civil unrest, experts say that sending in the National Guard in a blanket order to combat crime and implement the president's immigration policies is unprecedented.
So we've seen this start here in Washington. He says that Chicago's next. Then he says he's taking a look at New York. In recent weeks, he has also criticized other major cities, calling them, quote, "very bad", including Los Angeles and Baltimore.
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SANDOVAL: While China condemns the U.S. naval deployment in the Caribbean Sea, Venezuela's president is massing millions of militia members to deter foreign aggressors. The very latest on this coming up.
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SANDOVAL: The infamous co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, he's expected to appear in a federal courtroom here in New York in just a matter of hours, where he's expected to enter a plea of guilty. Zambada indicted on 17 counts accusing him of trafficking drugs as well as murder.
Along with Joaquin "Chapo" Guzman, authorities allege that he established Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel decades ago. You'll recall that it was actually one of Chapo's sons who was believed to have lured him to the United States last summer, right into the waiting arms of U.S. drug agents. After his capture, social media videos verified by CNN illustrate
record levels of violence in Sinaloa amid a power struggle for control of the Sinaloa Cartel.
CNN's Avery Schmitz has more and his report does contain some disturbing images.
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AVERY SCHMITZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: An ode to the cartel as bullets rained down. With an alleged cartel kingpin behind bars, civilian killings have run rampant as his turf spiraled into chaos having risen by more than 400 percent.
Footage verified from social media shows intense clashes, burned-out vehicles, and narco patrols throughout the streets of Sinaloa's capital city and towns across the region.
From early 2020 until the capture of Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada in July of 2024, a civilian was murdered in targeted violence every two days. Now it's every six hours, our investigation found.
The cartel has evolved into a major drug trafficking ring, with a reputation for using violence to maintain control.
STEFANO RITONDALE, CHIEF INTELLIGENCE OFFICER, ARTORIAS: Ismael Zambada was probably the most powerful drug lord in Mexican history. In many ways, even -- probably even more powerful than El Chapo.
El Mayo Zambada was very key on keeping that peace in Sinaloa. But with El Chapito's turning him into the U.S. the Mayito Flaco feels like he has no loyalty.
SCHMITZ: Record levels of violence are forcing businesses to close, as their customers, now afraid to leave their homes, have disappeared.
SONYA, CULIACAN RESTAURANT OWNER: There were days when there was maybe one customer, if there even was one, because people don't go out at night.
SCHMITZ: Now Mexico's military is ramping up its response. Armored convoys roll through shopping centers and military helicopters circle nearby.
A year after "El Mayo's" capture, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum emphasized how the circumstances of his stateside arrest are driving the violence.
CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM, MEXICAN PRESIDENT: What's important now is how did this happen? The assessment is about how the intervention by agencies or institutions of the United States government that took place a year ago provoked what has happened over the past year.
SCHMITZ: Her comments were days before reports say that President Donald Trump instructed the Pentagon to use military force against some cartels he believes to be terrorist organizations, among them the Sinaloa Cartel.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANDOVAL: That was Avery Schmitz reporting.
Well, Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., he is set to stand trial over alleged cartel ties and arms trafficking. During a court hearing in northern Mexico on Saturday, a judge ruled that Chavez could await that trial outside of detention.
Chavez was arrested by U.S. federal agents just outside of his home in Los Angeles last month. He was later deported back to Mexico. Mexican authorities say they have been tracking the boxer since 2019, amid a wider investigation into the infamous Sinaloa Cartel's operations. If convicted, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. could face up to eight years in prison.
Well, China is weighing in on the U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean Sea near the Venezuelan coast. A spokesperson for China's foreign ministry says that China opposes, quote, "the use or threat of force and the interference of external forces in Venezuela's internal affairs," end quote. The White House insisting that its ships are there to curb drug trafficking.
Meanwhile, the U.S. increased its reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. It is now at $50 million. The Trump administration claims that he leads Venezuela's Cartel of Sons crime group.
[01:44:49]
SANDOVAL: In response, President Maduro said that he is deploying four and a half million militia members across this country as a defensive deterrent. He's also recruiting more.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTO ALAIZA, ENROLLING IN THE NATIONAL BOLIVARIAN MILITIA: We are responding to the Call made by the constitutional president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, as we enroll in the Bolivarian militia to prevent any empire from setting foot on this homeland of liberators again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANDOVAL: Joining me now from Bogota, Colombia to dive deeper into this is Geoff Ramsey. He's a senior fellow at The Atlantic Council. Geoff, good to have you.
GEOFF RAMSEY, SENIOR FELLOW, THE ATLANTIC COUNCIL: Thanks for having me.
SANDOVAL: So we have a lot of moving parts here. Venezuela seems to be readying their militia, they did a weekend of enlistments.
The White House, meanwhile, offering that $50 million -- $50 million for Maduro's capture, but also positioning naval forces just outside of Venezuela's waters. Are we nearing a military confrontation, in your view, Geoff?
RAMSEY: You know I don't think so. And I'll tell you why. I think it's really important to understand the context here. I mean, we've seen a lot of heated rhetoric recently but the reality is that Washington has no plans to invade Venezuela.
Trump came to office promising to end wars, not to start them. And in fact, actually in recent weeks, he's softened sanctions on Venezuela. He's given a license to the U.S. oil company Chevron to operate in Venezuela.
And in fact, we've seen increasing coordination with the Maduro regime regarding deportations, which are more and more happening directly to Venezuela from ICE detention facilities. And that wouldn't happen if there weren't some kind of a back channel between Washington and Caracas.
SANDOVAL: We know that shortly after he assumed office again earlier this year, he designated various drug trafficking organizations as terror groups. What is your understanding of how or even if the president may want to use military forces to carry out what is traditionally law enforcement operations against some of these organizations, be it in South America or Mexico, perhaps?
RAMSEY: Yes. So, you know, I think, you know, the realities of the Trump administration is looking to send a strong signal to transnational organized crime that the U.S. is taking this seriously.
And I think that's part of the reason why we're seeing increased military operations in the south Caribbean. But you know, one thing that I think we overlook here is that about 70 percent of the cocaine that's consumed in the United States actually comes to the U.S. from the Pacific Ocean, not from the Caribbean.
So you know, that means countries along the Pacific coast, like Ecuador, Peru and Colombia, even parts of Central America are going to be much more decisive partners than a show of naval power aimed at Venezuela alone.
I tend to think the operations that we're seeing in the Caribbean, have more to do with politics and policy.
SANDOVAL: Perhaps a bit of saber rattling, at least.
Now, in terms of just how dependent the president could be on some of his counterparts in some of these Latin American countries, I'm wondering if you can just explain for our viewers around the world, really, how much of the president's plan to go after drug trafficking organizations or cartels -- how much of it actually relies on getting help from his counterparts in throughout Latin America, you think?
RAMSEY: Yes. I mean, it's a great question. And I think the reality is we're still in the very early stages of these operations. And whether we see this pick up, I think it's going to depend heavily on whether governments across Latin America, are willing to coordinate with Washington on this.
I mean, we've seen different responses here. We've seen in Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum make very clear that she wants no part in any kind of unilateral military action in Mexico. That any kind of cooperation with this is going to require some kind of prior agreement with her government.
And then on the other side of the spectrum, you have presidents like Daniel Noboa in Ecuador who's more receptive, who's interested in seeing a greater military presence in Ecuador.
But I think, you know, the big picture here is that the U.S. can't move forward without broader regional support. And I don't think we can afford to lose our allies in Latin America by taking unilateral action here. I think "coordination" is the key word.
SANDOVAL: And then finally for me, just where would -- where do you see some of these drug trafficking organizations in terms of threats against the United States and civilians?
Obviously, we know the organizations like the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the main organizations that move things like fentanyl into the -- into the United States. I mean, how much of a priority do you think should the White House make these sort of organizations when it comes to other major issues that they're hoping to tackle?
RAMSEY: Yes. I mean, you know, I think supply is definitely one side of this. I think it's important that the White House is taking very seriously the influence of transnational organized crime across the hemisphere.
[01:49:52]
RAMSEY: But, you know, I think we also have to look at the reality here, which is that the United States is the world's largest consumer of illegal narcotics. And I think we need to look internally if we really want to address this question.
I think there's no way of talking about the war on drugs if we don't address the reality that part of this is not just on the supply side, but on the demand side. There will be a market for harmful drugs like fentanyl, cocaine and others as long as we don't do something about it at home.
I think that's sort of the history of the drug war and the hemisphere that we've seen across the decades. And I think, you know, if you really want to get at the root causes of this problem, we need to look at the demand for these drugs here in the United States.
SANDOVAL: Yes. The flow -- the flow goes in both directions. It's the narcotics go into the United States while you have things like weapons and money that tend to pour south of the border.
Geoff Ramsey, thank you so much for your perspective and for helping us better understand right now what's happening in that part of the world. Thank you. RAMSEY: Thank you.
SANDOVAL: Baby elephants orphaned by poachers now given a second chance. Next, we'll hear how rescuers are raising them for a future back in the wild.
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SANDOVAL: As Vietnam braces for Typhoon Kajiki, officials are making plans to evacuate over half a million people. This typhoon actually strengthened as it grazed (ph) China's island province of Hainan on Sunday.
The tourist destination, Sanya, issued a red typhoon alert, the highest severity warning, as torrential rainfall drenched the zone.
Boats have been banned -- boats have already been banned from leaving several coastal provinces in Vietnam, with dozens of regional flights already canceled or delayed.
And orphaned by poaching and human encroachment into their natural habitat, young elephants in Zimbabwe are getting a second chance at life. The life that they deserve, really.
Isabel Rosales explains how rescuers are rearing them so that they can -- they're actually raising them so they can eventually return back to the wild. Look at this.
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ISABEL ROSALES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Excited for their next meal, these elephant calves are taken care of day after day at the Wild is Life Animal Sanctuary in Zimbabwe. These calves are orphans, the sanctuary says, because their parents died in human-wildlife conflicts like poaching and car collisions.
Established in 2013, the ZEN Nursery became a vital part of the sanctuary and the first elephant nursery in the country, nurturing young and vulnerable orphans until they're about three years old.
Here they're able to play, stay well-nourished and roam free in the bush, shielded from any harm that might come their way in the wild. The founder of the sanctuary, Roxy Danckwardt, says while they're difficult to hand raise, she's potentially saving them from a difficult introduction to life.
ROXY DANKWARDT, FOUNDER, "WILD IS LIFE": They're persecuted in many ways. And I wanted to try and highlight that within Zimbabwe to just create awareness and just get people to really care.
[01:54:44]
ROSALES: In the nursery, the elephants gradually acquire survival skills to live in the wild and are eventually introduced into a conservation area to join herds. Danckwardt hopes to do more than just save the animals, but also return them to the wild. DANCKWARDT: People didn't really believe that elephants could be
rescued and rewilded. And I was very insistent that we rewild these ellies (ph) that we don't, you know, keep them in captivity. Captivity is not great for elephants.
ROSALES: Praised for their work by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, each day "Wild is Life" gives these ellies someone to count on to help them grow until it's time to head back into the wild.
LUCKMORE SUFULI, COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR ANIMAL WELFARE: We've managed to rescue over 50 elephants, and as I thought, we are proud to be part of this achievement.
ROSALES: Isabel Rosales, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANDOVAL: Tommy Fleetwood on the tour championship to capture his maiden PGA tour victory on Sunday in Atlanta.
The world number -- the world number secured the $10 million prize, as well as the FedEx Cup playoffs. It's the world number ten, I should say.
CNN's Don Riddell asking him how it felt to finally get there.
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DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORTS: Tommy, many congratulations. Your quest for your first PGA tour win has felt more like an odyssey at times. But finally, you've done it.
If you can close your eyes for a moment and let it sink in, what are the emotions that you're experiencing?
TOMMY FLEETWOOD, PGA TOUR WINNER: I think multiple, like it's not really sunk in yet, but I think there's definitely some relief there. There's some pride. There's joy.
There's a lot of things. I think a lot has gone into the story that has been me chasing that first PGA tour win. And yes, it's been an amazing place to do it. It's been an amazing day. And yes, very, very happy.
RIDDELL: Every time you and I speak, we talk about your love of the Everton Football Club. And they are a team who don't always put a smile on their fans' faces.
But I felt like there was a good omen today. First game in the new stadium and they won. Did you feel some synergy? Did you feel as though that might have helped you in any way today?
FLEETWOOD: I don't know. Very unlikely that you get both in a day. So I don't know. I don't know, but yes, it's been a great day. They put on a great performance this morning that I watched in the hotel room. And then came out and it was my turn to play. So, a, really great day for us all around Evertonians.
RIDDELL: Well-played and well-played in the Ryder Cup. I know you're going to do great.
FLEETWOOD: Thank you. Thank you so much.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANDOVAL: Thank you for watching CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Polo Sandoval live in New York.
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