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Connect the World
Zelenskyy Praises "Substantive" Results of Sunday's Talks; Europe Offers Modified Plan with Fewer Ukrainian Concessions; U.S. Labels Maduro, Allies Members of Foreign Terrorist Organization; Trump Expected to Unveil New Health Care Cost Proposal; Pope Leo Urges Release of Abductees from Nigerian School. Aired 9-10a ET
Aired November 24, 2025 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[09:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: The initial White House proposal that asked almost nothing from Russia, and everything of Ukraine
is still being worked on. Right now, the latest we know about this proposal now that Europe and Ukraine are weighing in.
It's 09:00 a.m. in Washington. It is 06:00 p.m. in Abu Dhabi. I'm Becky Anderson. You're watching "Connect the World" from our Middle East
programming headquarters. Also coming up, Israel strikes Lebanon's capital for the first time in months. Why now? We will be live in Jerusalem for
you.
And the U.S. ramps up pressure on Venezuela and designates President Nicholas Maduro as a member of a foreign terrorist organization. The stock
market in New York opens about 30 minutes from now, 09:30 local time. It looks like a higher open at that point, with investors betting that the fed
will cut interest rates at its next meeting.
More at 09:30 local time in New York, halfway through this hour. Well, the U.S. President amping up the optimism today on the prospects for peace in
Ukraine. In a social media post, Donald Trump saying that, quote, something good just may be happening in Geneva.
Well, discussions there are ongoing at a technical level over Mr. Trump's 28-point plan to end Russia's war against Ukraine. And at this point, U.S.
and Ukraine both indicating those talks are going well.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE: Right now, we are at a critical moment, and we are working closely with the United States, with European
partners, with many, many others, to define steps that can end Russia's war against us, against Ukraine, and bring real security.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, Mr. Zelenskyy also praising the talks as substantive, taking a much more optimistic view after his earlier dismay at the plan,
which requires Ukraine to cede territory and shrink its military. Well U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the proposal is evolving, and he called
the Geneva talks the most productive and meaningful so far.
My colleague, CNN's Matthew Chance asked Marco Rubio whether there were changes to the more contentious elements of the peace plan. Here is how the
top U.S. diplomat responded.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CHIEF GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Has Ukraine indicated to you that is prepared to compromise, for instance, some of
those key issues, like territory in exchange for peace with Russia? They suggested that they are prepared --
MARCO RUBIO, SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Well, I'm not going to look it's not because, for purposes of evasion, it's just, I'm
not going to get into the details of the topics that were discussed, because this is an ongoing process. What is important to understand and how
these things work is you have to -- in order to have a proposal, you have to write it, if it's just verbal, it's in the air.
You have to put it down on a piece of paper, and just because it's printed on a piece of paper doesn't indicate finality. So, you get input, and based
on that input, you make adjustments, and then you get more input, or you and or you make a counter offer, and you get more adjustments.
That's an ongoing process. There's a lot more of that to happen. So, I'm not going to speculate or go into the details of any of the specific items
in the latest version of the proposal, because, frankly, by tomorrow or the next day, that may have evolved and changed further and -- but I can tell
you, I'm guess, that I feel very optimistic that we can get something done here, because we made a tremendous amount of progress.
CHANCE: What -- President Trump --
RUBIO: Oh, it was very positive. I'm telling you, today was the most productive --
CHANCE: -- ungrateful earlier.
RUBIO: Well, today, and we've talked to him since, I think he's quite pleased at the reports we've given him about the amount of progress that's
been made.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, I want to bring in Nigel Gould-Davies. He is a Senior Fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic
Studies, and the Former UK Ambassador to Belarus. Well placed and versed to get us more on this, he's joining us today from Kyiv.
It's good to have you, sir. So, the U.S. Secretary of State says this is an evolving plan. The European Commission President now sounding more
positive. Let's have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
URSULA VON DER LEYEN, EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT: While work remains to be done, there is now a solid basis for moving forward. As we do, we must
remain united and keep placing Ukraine's best interest at the center of our efforts.
[09:05:00]
This is about the security of our entire continent now and in future.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, all sides nearly U.S., Ukraine and Europe, seem cautiously optimistic. Nigel, save Russia, which says it hasn't seen the current plan.
What's your take at this point on what we're hearing?
NIGEL GOULD-DAVIES, SENIOR FELLOW FO RUSSIA & EURASIA AT THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES: Well, let's just step back for a brief
moment and see how we got here. So, it's in some tumultuous and extraordinary few days, a peace plan whose authorship and origins are
still, frankly, very obscure, was presented in Kyiv to President Zelenskyy by someone who's not even a cabinet level official in the Trump
Administration.
And that has prompted an immediate summit begun with no preparation whatsoever, on what is a fundamental security issue, not just for Ukraine,
but for the whole of the European continent. The plan itself, I think, we should describe the sort of Frankenstein plan.
It has different parts sewn together from a series of apparent conversations with some Russians, although not President Putin himself. And
there are parts of that plan which seem to borrow provisions of the earlier Gaza peace agreement conducted in a very different situation.
These are to say the least, very unpromising conditions for producing something that would be acceptable to all sides. And you just made the very
important point, that officially, at least Russia is not party to these talks. So enormous pressure being put on one side alone in this war with no
indication of whether the other side would agree to any outcome from it.
I think the optimism is that you've heard is in the way of politeness rather than anything authentic.
ANDERSON: This is now an official diplomatic push, though, to end the war. We've got the U.S. Secretary of State, you know, voicing, you know, quite
considerable optimism, as does the U.S. President. We've heard from the European Commission President. We've heard from Zelenskyy himself.
Again, you know, let's note nothing from the Russians. President Trump has set a deadline of Thursday to get an agreement. It's now being described,
of course, as fluid. What do you make of that timeline at this point? I mean, you know, if you were to sort of sketch out how you foresee this
process, how does it go?
GOULD-DAVIES: Yeah, I think fluidity is the way to think about this. President Trump has also said that this is not the final version of the
plan or the final version he's prepared to entertain. That implies it's not a take it or leave it demand on the part of the United States or anything
like it.
And what it seems to me that people like Secretary Rubio now are working hard to, in effect, although they never put it in these terms, row back or
salvage some more plausible process from the very unpromising start presented by this so-called peace plan. So, I really don't expect the
Thursday demands to stick.
We've seen President Trump say many times on matters regarding the Russia- Ukraine war. There's this deadline and there's that deadline, and the deadlines pass and no consequences follow from them. I think it's at most,
a negotiating tactic. I think that Ukraine and Europe and those in the U.S. Administration who understand what damage this plan could do if it's forced
upon Ukraine in some unaltered form.
That these are -- all of these, these parties will seek to spin out the process and turn it into something either fundamentally different or more
acceptable, or hope that in some sense, it runs into the sand, because one of the paradoxes about this, is that although it's the most detailed peace
proposal we've seen so far.
President Trump himself has said remarkably little about it, when he's being asked by reporters, he's responded, but it's not as if he's put the
force of his personality and rhetoric at the forefront of this. He's let other people do the heavy lifting. That suggests to me that he himself is
not really committed to the ambitious deadline that he himself has indicated.
[09:10:00]
ANDERSON: Yeah. Well, the perspective of Nigel Gould-Davies in Kyiv. Good to have you, sir. Thank you. Well, the Israeli military says it has killed
Hezbollah's second most senior official in a strike in Southern Beirut. An attack that came despite a yearlong ceasefire.
Five people killed and dozens were injured in that strike, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. CNN's Nic Robertson is live in Jerusalem for us
this hour. And Nic, at this point, what more are you learning?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yeah, we've heard from the President of Lebanon saying that the international community really
should put more pressure on Israel to stop it, in their view, violating the terms of the ceasefire. This targeting by Israel of the number two in
Hezbollah.
And when we talk about number two, you think of the number one as being the spiritual leader. The number two is the military commander, the chief of
staff, if you will. The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu accused Haytham Ali Tabatabai. This is the person who was killed in the
strike of having Israeli blood on his hands, of having American blood on his hands.
The U.S. had in 2016 put designated him a terrorist, put a bounty of $5 million on his head, if you will, for information leading to knowledge
about his whereabouts. The strike against him that killed him came in the southern suburbs of Beirut, and that's significant in of itself as well,
because it was June this year.
That was the last time Israel struck in those Southern Beirut suburbs. It was in a tall residential building. The strike appeared to hit the fourth
or fifth floor of that building. You have the other casualties there that you mentioned, 28 people injured, 5 killed.
And it's, you know, triggering here at a moment of increased tensions between Israel and Hezbollah and Lebanon as well, along the border, where
Israel has had a number of strikes across the border, at locations, they say, where Hezbollah has been rebuilding itself, reconstituting itself,
since that ceasefire last year.
And that was the thrust of what Prime Minister Netanyahu said. He said, we're not going to allow Hezbollah to rebuild, and pointed the finger at
the number two of the chief of staff for being responsible for that. Again, this comes at a time the background to the background is, you know, the
Lebanese army, as part of this ceasefire deal is supposed to be moving into the areas where Hezbollah, close to the Israeli -- Israel's northern border
had pulled out to make sure that Hezbollah can't move in.
It's been a heavy lift, and a big lift for the Lebanese army, who are ill equipped to do that. And so, you have a very sort of fragile situation on
the context of the ceasefire, of potentially, really at a moment of maximum strain and into that all as well. One might look at the arrival of the Pope
to Lebanon on a visit this coming weekend. The tensions around the ceasefire are rising at the moment, Becky.
ANDERSON: OK Nic. It's good to have you. Important story. Thank you. Nic is in Jerusalem for you. The time is 30 minutes past four in the afternoon.
Well, the United States has designated Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his allies, members of a foreign terrorist organization.
Now the White House says that the move will give President Trump expanded options to take military action inside Venezuela and to allow for new
sanctions targeting Maduro's assets. Caveat legal experts say it doesn't explicitly authorize use of legal force. Will the administration, basing
its action on Maduro is alleged ties to a drug trafficking network in Venezuela called the Cartel de los Soles.
Let's get you to Caracas, where Stefano Pozzebon is on the story for us. Stefano, thank you. What's the reaction there to this latest move by the
U.S. against President Maduro?
STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Yes, Becky, well, whoever received only a couple of hours ago, frankly, early this Monday morning, a statement from
the Maduro government, of course, rejecting all of these accusations. I want to quote a couple of paragraphs from that statement, saying they call
it a new and ridiculous, laughable offense from Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.
And saying that these men are will just follow up with other attacks against Venezuela that will be just defeated by the Maduro government.
[09:15:00]
I think it's important to notice that it's very rare for us to hear so early in the day from the Maduro government. We knew that this action was
coming since at least a week ago when Mark Rubio himself announced it, posting it on X later last Sunday, the Sunday before last and so I think
that the government had been prepared.
They sent out the statement. I don't imagine the Maduro government will make any other reaction to this designation. I think that the last few
weeks, their utmost goal, at least here in Caracas, has been to give their people the opinion, the idea that nothing is actually happening, that these
-- that the government is standing firm to these rising tides of geopolitical tensions arriving towards Venezuela.
So, I don't imagine that they will reject, or I'm not imagine here in Maduro himself, for example, speaking about this designation. It's
important that in this statement, by the way, Becky, he mentioned that these attacks have already been rejected by the people of the United
States, which means that probably they also saw some polling that suggest that most of Americans don't really support a foreign intervention here in
Venezuela, Becky.
ANDERSON: Stefano Pozzebon with the very latest from Caracas. Thank you. Well, still to come, U.S. President Donald Trump is set to reveal his new
plan for health care coverage as millions of Americans face staggering hikes in their premiums. Plus, questions over the vice president's ties to
a wildly successful tech company, one that Steve Bannon has likened to a sci-fi villain. More coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to unveil a new plan to address rising health care costs as early as today. Sources tell CNN that
Trump's new plan aims to deliver a quote, better alternative to what these Americans are paying for right now on the ACA marketplace.
Let me explain. CNN's Alayna Treene following this story for us from Washington. She joins us now. Alayna, just explain what's going on here.
ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, this was the fight that was at the core of the government shutdown here in the U.S., Becky. And that's
because these health care premiums under the Affordable Care Act are expiring at the end of this year.
Democrats, during the shutdown, were saying they needed to negotiate and ensure that these premiums did not expire, because if they do, they're
expected to skyrocket next year for the 22 million or so Americans who rely on the Affordable Care Act for their health insurance.
Republicans instead said, we have to reopen the government. We'll deal with health care later. Well, this is now the Trump Administration's way of
trying to solve for that. And look, there's a couple things here that I want to break down, because this framework, I should say it's a proposal
the White House has repeatedly argued that this could change.
[09:20:00]
It's not final. But this is some of the things that they're looking at in this. One is that there would be a temporary extension of the subsidies.
Again, they are set to expire on December 31, this would try and continue that we're hearing potentially for two years, but that is still something
that is up for debate, particularly within the Republican Party.
The other is that it would restore the income cap, essentially putting new requirements on who would be eligible for some of the benefits under these
premiums. There would also be monthly premium requirements for all of the enrollees who rely on this. That is different from some of what we have
seen under the Affordable Care Act.
Currently, they would also allow for a health savings account for lower tier plans. Look, I think the key thing to keep in mind is this is an issue
that the president and Republicans have tried repeatedly to solve, but the problem has consistently been that there is so much division when it comes
to dealing with health care.
Trying to extend these subsidies is another one of those big issues, and the problem as well. This is something many people in the Trump
Administration recognize, as if they do allow these subsidies to expire, that is a major, not only practical reality that they'd have to deal with,
but a political one, as they look ahead to the midterms in November of 2026.
ANDERSON: Alayna, thank you. The explanation, much needed. Your insight analysis, extremely important. Thank you. We'll keep an eye on that one.
Well, concerns about state surveillance and the influence of the data processing company Palantir are now stoking criticism from inside Donald
Trump's political coalition.
The Trump Administration has handed billions of dollars of contracts to Palantir. Now, prominent conservatives are voicing their unease, like Joe
Rogan, for example. And MAGA Architect Steve Bannon, who once compared Palantir to a sci-fi villain. All of this is generating unwanted attention
for U.S. Vice President JD Vance.
Let me explain why. He's for years, had close ties to Peter Thiel, the Co- Founder of Palantir. For 50 students who were abducted from their Catholic school in Nigeria and our home with their families, 250 others are still
being held by their captors. The students, along with a dozen teachers, were taken by armed bandits on Friday. CNN's Larry Madowo has the latest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Anxious parents scramble to pick up their children from a boarding school in Nigeria. The nightmare
scenario of armed gangs kidnapping students has once again set the country on edge. This school in Kaduna state told parents the school was closing
because of unspecified security threats.
GLORIA SAMUEL, MATRON, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GIRLS COLLEGE ZARIA: They have to let children go for their safety, their life is important that their
education, as far as now is concerned. So, I think it's the best.
MADOWO (voice-over): Meanwhile, a mass abduction from a Catholic school in the neighboring Nigerian state of Niger is terrifying parents. More than
300 children and 12 teachers were kidnapped on Friday, though dozens have since escaped, according to the Christian Association of Nigeria.
All schools in the State of Niger have been closed. and people across the country are demanding that the government provide more security at schools
and churches.
IFEOMA ANEKE, BUSINESSWOMAN: I don't think anybody feels safe. What is happening in Nigeria presently, because the kidnapping, the bandits
everywhere, the killing, everybody is so scared, even to sleep, if you are sleeping, I don't think people are sleeping with their eyes closed.
MADOWO (voice-over): So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the abductions. And authorities say tactical squads and local hunters are
looking for the children.
MOHAMMED UMARU BAGO, NIGER STATE GOVERNOR: It is not a time for blame game, our mission today is to see how we can rescue these children, and all those
that have been kidnapped in the incident.
MADOWO (voice-over): But there, is a growing fear and anger across Nigeria about security concerns, especially after several brazen attacks in the
past week. In Western Nigeria's Kwara state, gunmen raided a church service, killing at least two people. Dozens of worshippers were kidnapped,
but have since been freed.
And 25 female students were taken after armed men stormed a government boarding school in the northwestern Kebbi state. The violence once again,
putting Nigeria in the international spotlight. Just over a decade ago, there was a global outcry after 276 girls from a school in Chibok were
kidnapped by the terror group Boko Haram.
Many of those girls never returned home. U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed outrage over the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria,
and has even threatened military action to protect Christians from Islamist insurgents, the radical groups in the area attacks both Christians and
Muslims.
POPE LEO, HEAD OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND SOVEREIGN OF VATICAN CITY: Student -- Nigeria --
[09:25:00]
MADOWO (voice-over): Pope Leo also weighing in on Sunday, saying he is saddened by the incidents and appeals for the immediate release of the
captives. Larry Madowo, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Right, you're watching "Connect the World". I'm Becky Anderson for you live from Abu Dhabi. This is our Middle East programming
headquarters. Time here, 24 minutes past six. There is a lot more news aired, including the opening bell on Wall Street. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: The United Kingdom, France and Germany have put forward a counter proposal to U.S. President Donald Trump's peace plan for Ukraine, with a
key number of changes. Sources have confirmed the validity of the draft text to CNN, which was obtained by Reuters.
Now among the key changes, it scraps the language regarding the restriction on NATO instead stating that Ukraine joining NATO depends on the consensus
of NATO members, which does not exist right now. NATO will not permanently station troops in Ukraine during peace time, instead stationing them in
neighboring Poland.
Look, my next guest is Kaja Kallas, a European Union's Foreign Policy Chief. She told the U.S. President's team that any plan without the backing
of both Kyiv and Europe will fail. She joins me live from EU headquarters in Brussels, and it's really good to have you. Thank you so much for
joining us.
Donald Trump has just posted on social media, quote, don't believe it until you see it, but something good just may be happening in Geneva, he said.
What can you tell us about the latest diplomatic developments? Does this something good that Trump is referencing involve the European counter
proposal to the initial? What was controversial U.S. plan?
KAJA KALLAS, VICE-PRESIDENT OF EUROPEAN COMMISSION: Well, of course, everybody wants peace, that is very, very clear, and we welcome all the
efforts to achieve this peace, but we shouldn't take the focus of who doesn't want the peace, which is Russia.
I mean, we haven't heard of Russia making any concessions, or any concessions to be asked from Russia, because, you know, we should be
discussing on how Russia would not invade again, and how Russia would stop this war, and not what Ukraine could or should give up, because there's one
victim and one aggressor in this war.
ANDERSON: Does this at least feel substantive from Europe's position? This is a U.S. drafted 28-point plan.
[09:30:00]
KALLAS: But if you look at those 28-point plan, I mean, 28 points that are on this plan. It's also clear that none of these plans or points are about
Russia making any concessions, which is a problem, because if you look at the history, I mean, they have invaded their neighbors many times, whereas
their neighbors haven't been invaded them ever.
So, we should move from discussing how it would be easier for Russia to invade again to discussing what should we do and what kind of concessions
should Russia make in order not to invade again.
ANDERSON: Got the bell ringing on Wall Street. Investors there will be keenly watching what is going on in Geneva at this point as these technical
teams get to work on this evolving draft, as Marco Rubio has described it. Earlier this hour, I spoke to Nigel Gould-Davies of the International
Institute for Strategic Studies.
And he's also the former UK Ambassador to Belarus, as you'll know. Here's how he described at this plan, at this point.
GOULD-DAVIES: The plan itself, I think we should describe the sort of Frankenstein plan. It has different parts sewn together from a series of
apparent conversations with some Russians, although not President Putin himself. And there are parts of that plan which seem to borrow provisions
of the of the earlier Gaza peace agreement, conducting a very different situation.
These are, to say the least, very unpromising conditions for producing something that would be acceptable to all sides.
ANDERSON: Is that a fair assessment to your mind?
KALLAS: Well, this is again, you know the point that we should focus on, what are the asks for Russia? Because we want this war to stop, and the
asks for Russia is, I mean, to start with, we should ask that they keep to their international agreements that they haven't so far.
I mean, kept so start from there, also limiting the military of Russia, limiting the military budget of Russia so that, you know, they wouldn't be
able to invade again. If we put the limitations on Ukraine, who hasn't made any invasions on their part, then you know, Russia just gets what he wants,
and then we are walking into these traps.
What we have to understand right now is that you know, although you know, Russians want to make us believe that you know, Ukraine is in a hurry, and
Russians are not. But this is actually not true. Why they're making a good face to Americans that they are open to peace again, is because they are
afraid of the reparations loan.
I mean, the Russian frozen assets to be used, and they are afraid of the sanctions because they are running out of oil revenues to fund this war.
And wars also end when one party runs out of means to fund it. And that's why they are making these faces, and that's why our response should be
pressure on Russia, who is the aggressor in this war?
ANDERSON: Well, let's get some detail from you on this plan, this counter plan, a European official has confirmed to CNN that the reported text of a
UK, French and German counter proposal is accurate. That text removed the U.S. proposals recognition of three eastern Ukrainian territories is de
facto Russian territory, and it removed references to territorial concessions.
Is there a possibility of the EU supporting a plan in any way that forces Ukraine to cede territory?
KALLAS: Well, what we have to understand that if Russia could conquer Ukraine, they would have already done so. So, to offer them something that
they even haven't conquered militarily is, you know, offering something on top of what they already have, or what they have achieved on the
battlefield, which is definitely awarding or rewarding them for the aggression, which is a very bad sign.
ANDERSON: Right.
KALLAS: So again, you know, I think we shouldn't fall into the straps to discuss all What Ukraine should give away, but, you know, bringing the
discussion back to the territory, what Russia should concede, because they have started this war and they are doing the killing.
ANDERSON: OK, what about what Russia has conquered military?
KALLAS: Well, we have called and Ukraine has agreed to unconditional ceasefire already in February this year.
[09:35:00]
So of course, you mean there should be a ceasefire in order to start the real talks. I mean, there is clear distinction also between the order and
the facto. So, one is what Ukrainians are able to conquer back, but the other one is the stalemate, where the things actually stand and not
recognizing any territories or conquering of the territories the Euro, because that would go really in conflict with all the agreements that we
have.
ANDERSON: Right. Can you confirm that all European countries are on board with this document and together? And if not, how you expect Ukraine, Russia
-- Ukraine and Russia to agree if the EU doesn't?
KALLAS: Well, we have on Wednesday, the meeting with the Foreign Affairs Ministers of European Union. I mean, to also steer this process back to the
discussion what Russia should concede. So, to really, I mean, have the approach from the European side, what we want to see from Russian side, so
that this would not happen again.
ANDERSON: So, as we speak today, you can't tell me that, that the Europeans are speaking with one cohesive voice.
KALLAS: Well, in Europe, we have 27 different member states, and, of course, also 27 different historical backgrounds, whereas, also 27
approaches when it comes to, you know, historical background regarding Russia. So clearly, I mean, in order to rush into any agreements, we want
to understand what is the price. And again, you know, shift the focus to Russia, who is the aggressor here.
ANDERSON: Right. Can I ask you, have you spoken with Secretary of State Marco Rubio? If so, what's been your message to him? And it is worth noting
that Europe still buys oil from Russia. If the European allies are in the talks. Is this going to be one of the sticking points that the U.S. is
going to bring up time and again?
KALLAS: Well, President Trump gave exemption to his friend who is buying the oil from Russia, so one of the member states. So actually, I mean, it
is true that is kind of strange that we are still buying oil from Russia that is funding this war and on you know, many member states have already
ended it, whereas some haven't, and that also gives revenues for Russia, which is definitely not a good thing.
ANDERSON: Leave it there we. Thank you very much indeed for your time. Kaja Kallas is the EU Foreign Policy Chief back with us here on CNN. And we are
back after this quick break. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:40:00]
ANDERSON: Right. Well, the second "Wicked" movie is outpacing the first film with a worldwide box office gain. And get this $226 million.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's more important than ever, that you lift everyone's spirits.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, "Wicked: For Good", wraps up the original story of the "Wicked Witch of the West". The film's plot based on the Broadway musical
version of the popular novel, which was in turn inspired by "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz". More than half of the film's earnings are from the U.S. box
office.
A good sign for Hollywood after what's been an historically slow October. Cristiano Ronaldo was rolling back the years on Sunday in Saudi Arabia, 40-
year-olds should not be able to pull off shots like this one on the pitch. Stop it. Just stop it. Amanda Davies is with me.
I'm so pleased we had this to run, because I know you'll be also talking about the North London derby in "World Sport" coming up, which I was hoping
you wouldn't bring up with me -- my teams on the losing side horribly. So, let's talk about Ronaldo very briefly.
AMANDA DAVIES, CNN WORLD SPORT: Yeah, there was too much football to be watching this weekend to watch "Wicked", but it was well worth missing the
new "Wicked", because the action was sensational. And you know, Ronaldo may have said to you, he's only got one more World Cup in him, but maybe this
suggests that otherwise.
ANDERSON: Yeah.
DAVIES: It really was rolling back the years, incredibly, his 954th goal of his career.
ANDERSON: Yeah.
DAVIES: So, hedging ever closer to that big 1000 that he wants. But you certainly wouldn't bet against him when you see that. But yes, I'm afraid,
Becky, will give you the positivity now, but we are going to be talking about the Arsenal success in just a couple of minutes in "World Sport".
So, I hope everybody will be able to join us, even if you're not watching.
ANDERSON: No, I won't be for once, I really love "World Sport" -- What I do for the next 12 or 30 minutes every night at this time, but tonight, I
won't be watching. I'm letting you know that that's a confirmation. I will be back though with the rest of our show at the top of the hour 15 minutes
from now. Amanda, enjoy your show.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:45:00]
(WORLD SPORT)
[10:00:00]
END
