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CNN International: British PM To Host Zelenskyy At Downing Street Today; Saudi Arabia's Aramco Hit As Houthis And Riyadh Trade Strikes; Vatican: Pope Spends Quiet Night After Lung Cancer Surgery; White House Ousts Kimberly Guilfoyle As Ambassador To Greece. Aired 4- 4:30a ET

Aired October 14, 2026 - 04:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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[04:00:36]

CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome. I'm Christina Macfarlane live in London.

Ahead here on "CNN Newsroom," Russian missiles hit a high-rise apartment building and a power plant in Ukraine. Why Kyiv says it did not get the usual warning from Western countries.

Pope Leo is in the hospital recovering from lung surgery. We're live in Rome with the very latest on his cancer diagnosis.

And later, the U.S. is looking for a new ambassador to Greece after Kimberly Guilfoyle's resignation. Details on the alleged pay-for-play scheme that brought her down.

ANNOUNCER: Live from London, this is "CNN Newsroom" with Christina Macfarlane.

MACFARLANE: It's 9:00 in the morning here in London where British Prime Minister Andy Burnham will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Downing Street today. The meeting comes as the U.K. doubles down on support for Ukraine and calls on international partners to step up sanctions on Russia.

His visit comes as Russia is again unleashing a massive attack on Ukraine, this time striking the country's energy infrastructure.

Zelenskyy says more than 600,000 people are now without power. The strike comes just hours after the Ukrainian leader said his country had received no advance notice from allies of a previous Russian attack.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Yesterday, unfortunately, there was a ballistic missile strike on Kyiv. There was no warning from our partners about that strike. Usually, such warnings are provided, and they are very important. They help our defense. There were five ballistic missiles. In fact, our armed forces detected them only seconds before impact.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: Well, the CEO of Ukraine's largest private energy provider, DTEK, spoke to me just days ago about the challenges of constant Russian attacks on infrastructure.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAXIM TIMCHENKO, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, DTEK: They're trying to -- to break our energy system, interconnection between different regions. And this is the -- the -- the key challenge for us, how to reconnect our power station back to the grid as soon as possible.

And basically talking about coming winter. It's not a question -- it's not either we have blackouts or not. It's the question of how we can minimize suffering of our people, our companies, and our economy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: Well, CNN's Nada Bashir is following developments and joins me now.

Nada, Zelenskyy's visit to London, of course, comes in the wake of Donald Trump's shock diesel deal with Russia over the weekend and then threats to Ukraine to cease its energy -- its strikes on Russian energy, which, of course, have been sort of roundly criticized by Europe's leaders.

So, what are we expecting to come out of this meeting today with the British prime minister?

NADA BASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, look, Christina, these talks come after what the Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband described as a very difficult few days for U.S. and U.K. relations when it comes to their support for Ukraine.

And it is expected, according to number 10 Downing Street, that these talks between the British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and President Zelenskyy will be focused on how the U.K. can double down on its support for Ukraine commitments already laid out in various aid packages and support frameworks issued by the British government.

But also, we are learning, according to Downing Street, the potential for the British government to call on its allies, particularly in Europe, to expand sanctions on Russia as well.

Now, we have heard from the British prime minister ahead of today's meeting with Zelenskyy saying, my message to the Ukrainian people could not be clearer. We are with you for as long as it takes.

There is also the expectation that in addition to military aid packages that have been set out and are set to be, according to Downing -- Downing Street, partially accelerated in response to recent events. We are also learning from the British Chancellor, John Healey, that not only will the U.K. maintain its commitment to banning a maritime ban on Russian natural -- liquefied natural gas exhaust, but it is looking now to call on its allies to also reflect this ban as well and issue those sanctions on Russia, particularly, of course, in light of this energy ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday.

[04:05:10]

And the clear situation that we are seeing now where Russia, of course, is continuing to target, as you mentioned, Christina, Ukrainian energy facilities and infrastructure. That is something that is said to be a key focus it's expected for President Zelensky and, of course, bolstering up that support from one of its key European allies.

MACFARLANE: Yes. And we will continue to follow this today. Nada Bashir, for now, thank you very much.

Now, the latest strikes between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis have hit major energy infrastructure on both sides. The headquarters of the Saudi state oil giant, Aramco, appears to have been hit on Tuesday. Authorities say the strike caused a limited fire, but it's unclear if it was due to a direct hit or falling debris.

Those strikes came just hours after the kingdom attacked a key fuel depot, which it claims was being used by Houthi rebels.

Well, meanwhile, the White House is not saying if it will grant Saudi Arabia's request to join the strikes against the Houthis. President Trump gave reporters a non-committal answer on Tuesday. Instead, he repeated that the Houthis are, quote, behaving very badly.

Well, let's bring in CNN's Leila Gharagozlou live from Abu Dhabi. And, Leila, these attacks on the energy sites will only increase concerns about the Middle East oil supply and -- and prices right now.

How much more do we know about the damage that was inflicted here to Saudi Aramco's headquarters?

LEILA GHARAGOZLOU, CNN PRODUCER: Yes. So, we know that there has been some limited damage to that building that was hit. There was a limited fire that, as you mentioned, is unclear whether it was from debris or a direct hit. And we know that there were no injuries at the headquarters of Saudi Aramco.

So, the damage, so far, as I said, quite limited as far as we know. That being said, there is, you know, broader damage that we're seeing. And because these attacks have continued, beyond just the attack on Saudi Aramco, we're seeing a civilian toll on this.

So, just yesterday, the Saudi-led coalition said that they intercepted a number of missiles and drones that injured four people with falling debris. We also know, of course, that Saudi hit a fuel depot in Yemen itself. That building is damaged, but none of the fuel reserves and supplies were damaged.

So, we're seeing a lot of tit for tat and back and forth in this conflict. And the damage really varies, depending on what is being targeted. But really, it's the civilian toll that we're seeing at the forefront of this with those attacks on the airports and Yemen's humanitarian crisis, Christina.

MACFARLANE: All right. Leila, appreciate the update. Thank you for now.

So, let's turn to the Vatican where Pope Leo is recovering from hospital after undergoing a successful surgery to remove a growth that was determined to be lung cancer and that he had a quiet night. Those are the latest reports.

The 71-year-old pontiff had the lower lobe of his right lung removed during a 90-minute procedure on Tuesday. All of his public events have been cancelled for the next week as he recovers.

CNN's Stefano -- Stefano Pozzebon joins me now live from Rome with the latest. So, just bring us up to date. There is Stefano on the Pope's condition and what the Vatican is saying following his surgery.

STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we heard in the last hour, Christina, that Leo had a peaceful night and that we will hear further from the Vatican and especially from the doctors who operated him, of course.

A lot of people here are concerned about what happens after he should be discharged from this hospital. We understand in about a week time, that's at least the recovery time that they, Vatican, had told us Leo would need before being able to leave the hospital, the Gemelli Hospital, which is just right behind our live location here in Rome.

And lot of the -- of the concern is about the upcoming trip that Leo will have to do towards South America in the next month, and whether he's -- he will be able to fly.

We spoke with the surgeon late yesterday about this issue. And this is what they -- they told us.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. GIUSEPPE CARDILLO, THORACIC SURGEON (through translator): Flying after surgery? Of course, that's possible, although not immediately after the operation. We have to let at least one or two weeks pass after the procedure. We need to ensure that the patient's lung in the affected area of the chest is fully expanded so that they can fly without any concerns.

[04:10:00]

Given that there are no contraindications, of course, I'd recommend spending at least the first 10 to 15 days at home and then having an x-ray confirmed that the lung is still expanding properly. After that, the patient can safely resume flying. (END VIDEO CLIP)

POZZEBON: And why is that trip such an important engagement, Christina? Because Leo XIV, when he was known as Robert Prevost, spent more than two decades in South America, particularly in Peru as a missionary and a bishop. This is one of the first trips that he envisioned.

Chris Lamb, our Vatican correspondent, was telling me in -- in days past that this is one of the very first trips that Leo himself had envisioned in order for him to schedule his movement around the globe and meet his flock on all the continents.

And so this is why perhaps this operation was brought forward and done with as quickly as possible in order to allow the pontiff as longer recovery time as possible to prepare for the such an important trip, Christina.

MACFARLANE: Yes. And nevertheless, this has come as a bit of a shock, hasn't it, to Catholics around the world, given the Pope's age. I think 71 is considered to be pretty young as a pontiff, and, of course, his love of -- of sports. He's thought to be quite fit.

POZZEBON: Yes, exactly. And one of the people who expressed his surprise is the Secretary of State, the Foreign Minister of the Vatican, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who, speaking to media yesterday, was saying that the news of this operation came out like a bolt out of the sky because nobody expected to be back here at Gemelli, frankly, so soon in -- in Leo's pontificate.

Perhaps also today is the day that the faithful are going to feel his absence in a way, in the sense that there -- right now, I think we're having live images from St. Peter's. A mass is being celebrated with cardinals from all around the world gathering here in Rome for an event around the issue of the family.

And that mass was meant to be preceded by -- by Leo himself. We know, for example, that Cardinal Tagle, who is officiating the mass in the Pontiff's place, is reading out the same homily that Leo has prepared for his own engagement with this mass.

So, today is also the day that we feel that the pontiff is not at the Vatican, but hopefully, we'll see him back out soon enough before such an important trip to South America. Christina.

MACFARLANE: All right. Stefano, we appreciate the update there. The very latest on the Pope from Rome. Thank you.

Well, let's turn now to Washington where Dr. Stephen Liu, Chief of Hematology and Oncology at MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute is joining me. Thank you so much for your time.

So, Dr. Liu, this has been described as we were hearing there as a small cancerous tumor, but the doctor, we understand, had to remove the entire lower lobe of his right lung. Why would that be necessary and how serious is all of this in your view? DR. STEPHEN LIU, CHIEF OF HEMATOLOGY AND ONCOLOGY, MEDSTAR GEORGETOWN CANCER INSTITUTE: That's a good question. This is a proper cancer surgery. At times, we can do a lesser surgery removing only part of that lobe, but really depends on the location.

What we want to do is ensure the best possible cancer outcomes. And while we remove a lung cancer tumor, we want to be sure the margins are wide to minimize the chance of recurrence. Often the cancer can extend beyond what we see on a CT scan or an imaging study. It's important that we remove all microscopic traces of cancer to maximize the chance of cure.

MACFARLANE: I see. The Vatican and -- and the Pope himself have actually described this nodule as localized and -- and that it -- that it was caught early. What does that mean then in terms of further testing and what treatment he may receive moving forward?

LIU: It's quite fortunate. You know, the most common stage for lung cancer really is stage four when we have a small nodule within the lung itself. When our treatments are most effective. These are cancers that do not produce any symptoms. We only find an early stage lung cancer if we go looking for it or by -- by chance, by good fortune.

In this case, a localized tumor is highly likely to be cured with surgery such as the one that the Holy Father underwent.

What we're waiting for now really is final confirmation of the stage. This involves the precise measurement of the size of the tumor removed, ensuring that no other parts of the lobe were affected by that cancer.

I think most importantly that the regional lymph nodes were not involved with cancer. If this is an early stage one lung cancer, surgery alone is highly curative, no further treatment is necessary.

But if that cancer has found a way to spread to those regional lymph nodes, then additional therapy could be required.

[04:15:10]

MACFARLANE: Interesting. So, obviously, there'll be more information, you know, that we'll -- we'll be looking to -- to learn out of this.

We heard that the Pope won't be returning to his duties until, I think, October 20th. And he, of course, has that long-awaited trip to South America coming up.

In terms of a recovery, I mean, we were hearing from a surgeon there that said he should be able to fly if he spends 10 to 15 days at home resting. Do you agree with that, that this will likely be doable?

And -- and separately, what -- what is the prognosis for this type of cancer?

LIU: So, recovery is highly variable. And essentially, at the first week or two, we want to be sure that that lung fully expands. If the x-ray does show that, then I do think travel at about three weeks would be possible, but it is highly variable. And I know better than to make guarantees. It is possible that more time could be needed for recovery, have to prioritize health and safety.

Overall though, if the cancer is limited to the lung, small nodule, our earliest stage to prognosis is excellent for cure, far more likely to be cured than not. Again, if that cancer has been found to move to other areas, then additional treatment would be needed to prevent recurrence to reduce the risk of -- of relapse.

MACFARLANE: You mentioned just then that, you know, it's difficult to diagnose cancer like this, unless you go looking for it. I mean, we know that the Pope is 71 years old. He's known to be very fit, devoted tennis player, but he does have a family history of cancer. His mother died at the age of 77 from cancer. His -- apparently, his brother has contracted cancer too. So, presumably all of that would have made him more susceptible to this.

LIU: You know, it's possible family history of lung cancer specifically can increase the risk. The greatest known modifiable risk for lung cancer is smoking. But what we are seeing is a rise of lung cancer in people with no history of smoking.

In fact, today about one in five people newly diagnosed with lung cancer has never smoked a cigarette. These are slightly different types of lung cancer. The exact reason why these are happening is unclear. Some environmental risk that really does affect us all.

We currently use CT scans for screening of lung cancer at people of high risk. This would be people with a heavier history of smoking, age 50 to 80, with recent cigarette use. But we have not yet found a way to screen for or detect these non-smoking related cancers.

MACFARLANE: Yes, but that -- that is very concerning. But, of course, we wish the Pope a very speedy recovery. We'll wait to hear for more information on this and maybe speak to you again.

Dr Stephen Liu, we appreciate you sort of breaking this all down for us. Thank you.

LIU: Pleasure.

MACFARLANE: And there is much more to come here on "CNN Newsroom." President Trump is campaigning in Alaska. And now he's planning more stops in once reliably Republican states.

Plus, French student protests are demanding more financial investment in schools as the government struggles to contain a ballooning budget crisis. We'll look at the wider impacts of France's debt woes, just ahead.

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[04:20:08]

MACFARLANE: The U.S. president will campaign today in Arizona and Montana for Republicans running in the midterm elections. The White House says he's also added stops in the coming days in traditional Republican strongholds, Kentucky and Florida.

On Tuesday, Donald Trump campaigned in Alaska for incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan and urged voters not to confuse him with another candidate with the same name.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And nobody's done more for Alaska than Donald J. Trump, that I can tell you.

And with your support, just 21 days from now, Alaska is going to defeat the radical left, Democrats, once again.

On November 3rd, we're going to send one of the best and most respected senators in D.C., Dan Sullivan, the real -- the real Dan Sullivan. I'm talking about the real Dan Sullivan, not the fake Dan Sullivan. Not the Dan Sullivan put up by the Democrats.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: Kimberly Guilfoyle is now out as the U.S. ambassador to Greece following a string of reports about alleged misconduct and an announcement from the White House requesting her resignation on Tuesday.

CNN's national security correspondent Kylie Atwood has the latest on this once high-profile MAGA figure.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATIE ZACHARIA, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: We have asked Ambassador Guilfoyle to resign. She has been a wonderful asset to the team and we wish her well.

KYLIE ATWOOD, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST (voice-over): White House Press Secretary Katie Zachariah breaking news at her first briefing, the departure of the U.S. ambassador to Greece coming after a series of damaging reports, including Kimberly Guilfoyle asking a long-time Trump donor to pay off her $100,000 credit card bill in exchange for access to Trump administration officials.

Guilfoyle was engaged to Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., for four years. But today, the president downplayed her ties to his family.

TRUMP: She wasn't a member of my family. She, I guess, dated my son a long time ago, but she wasn't. Now, she -- she went to Greece. She was doing a good job, but we didn't like what we were reading.

ATWOOD (voice-over): Guilfoyle and Don Jr. broke off their engagement in December 2024. She was nominated as U.S. Ambassador to Greece that same month. A plum post for someone who had become a high-profile fixture of the MAGA movement.

KIMBERLY GUILFOYLE, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO GREECE: We will continue to stand for President Trump, stand with him and for this country.

ATWOOD (voice-over): But her downfall began when reports of her misconduct emerged less than a month ago. First, a "Wall Street Journal" report about a lobbyist for a Greek construction company joining her in many official meetings.

Then a report of Eric Deters, a major Trump donor alleging a pay-for- play scheme.

[04:25:03]

ERIC DETERS, TRUMP SUPPORT: She told me, it's in the text messages, I'll be your ride or die forever in the Trump administration. I won't keep track of how many favors, how big the favors. So, that's why she asked for it. There was no question it was a quid pro quo.

ATWOOD (voice-over): Guilfoyle's lawyers said those claims are false. Deter's owed her for previous speaking engagements, they said, calling him, quote, a delinquent client being asked to pay an overdue bill.

Guilfoyle acknowledged her time as ambassador was winding down in a tweet and submitted her formal resignation. A White House official tells CNN she denied the allegations against her, writing, quote. "I intend to vigorously defend my name, my reputation, and my integrity."

Guilfoyle has not always been an ardent Republican. She was married to Gavin Newsom when he was the mayor of San Francisco. They divorced in 2006. That same year, she started working at Fox News full-time.

Newsom, on a CNN podcast, said this.

GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM (D-CA): She's whip smart and she felt preyed. I think the culture at Fox in -- in a deep way, she would disagree with that assessment.

ATWOOD (voice-over): Guilfoyle abruptly left her post at Fox in 2018, and she started dating Don Jr. that same year.

She became an ever-present partner, a senior adviser to Trump's 2020 campaign and key surrogate, speaking at the Republican convention that year.

GUILFOYLE: The best is yet to come.

ATWOOD (voice-over): Four years later, she was on stage again, remaining keenly involved even while her engagement to Don Jr. was nearing its end.

GUILFOYLE: This is our last chance to make America great again.

ATWOOD (voice-over): And now, after being asked to resign, Guilfoyle says that she remains committed to Trump and his America First movement.

Kylie Atwood, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MACFARLANE: A Ukrainian ex-military officer suspected of organizing the operation to blow up the Nord Stream gas pipeline goes on trial today in Germany. The suspect is accused of leading a group of Ukrainian agents that included divers and an explosive expert in the sabotage.

The destruction of the Nord Stream pipelines four years ago severed Western Europe from its largest source of Russian natural gas.

French students say the images of clashes with police, like the ones you're seeing here, do not define their protest movement. Students marched in cities across France again on Tuesday, continuing their demands for better funded schools and more teachers. Most of the protesters were peaceful, but some fringe protest groups lit fires, vandalized property and clashed with police.

Anger is also brewing over France's public debt crisis. A new government report has found that pension payments are taking up nearly a third of some French ministries' budgets, hampering the ability to pay for education and other social services.

The overall financial situation is threatening to spill over into the rest of Europe too. Earlier, the president of the European Central Bank spoke out about that at the CNN Global Perspectives event in Bangkok.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTINE LAGARDE, PRESIDENT, EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK: The first response to the current situation, which as you said, applies across the world. The bond yield factor is not just specific to Europe, not specific to France, it's across the world, number one.

There are particular circumstances that lead to some countries being more affected, France being a case in point. And for that one, the primary and first solution lies at home in France, and it has to do with fiscal policies.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: Well, earlier I spoke with Shahin Vallee, a senior associate fellow in the German Council of Foreign Relations Europe Center.

I asked him how likely it is that the French government will be able to solve the education funding crisis as its public debt burden continues to grow.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SHAHIN VALLEE, SENIOR ASSOCIATE FELLOW, EUROPE CENTER, DGAP: You know, we're just a few months away from a very important presidential election and then a general election. So, I don't think it's so much for this particular government to answer this challenge. It will be for the future ones.

And I think the key question for France is, can we get a new president elected? And then, can we get a new government that will actually have a mandate to deliver on this fiscal consolidation path?

And I think the big problem, which is affecting in part the -- the French government bond market, is that there is no obvious path to have a president and a governing majority that would have such a mandate.

France is still, you know, hotly debating what kind of fiscal policy it needs and there is no national consensus on the matter. And I think this is what's hurting us at the moment.

MACFARLANE: Yes. And -- and before we discuss the elections and the sort of political ramifications around this, I mean, many analysts here are saying France is on the brink of a dangerous financial spiral. I mean, not only obviously is the public debt is huge, but the borrowing costs have risen sharply recently as well.

France was once considered an oasis of sort of relative stability in Europe. So, can you just explain how it has gotten to this point?