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Witkoff and Kushner Meet Today with Putin in Moscow; Russians Claim Capture of Pokrovsk; Followup Strike on Venezuelan Boat Could Be War Crime; Trump Formally Pardons Former Honduran President; Pope Leo Delivers Message of Peace and Coexistence to Lebanon; Israeli Drone Strike Kills Two Children in Gaza; Emirates Great Britain Wins 2025 SailGP Championship. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired December 02, 2025 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST (voice-over): Welcome to our second hour of the show. I'm Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi, where the time is 7:00 in the
evening.
We are following two breaking stories relating to U.S. president Donald Trump's foreign policy, both in a spotlight today on the global stage.
His son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and special envoy, Steve Witkoff, are meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin in Moscow, looking to bridge
the enormous gap between Moscow and Kyiv's visions for the end of the war.
And Trump presses on with his saber rattling against Venezuela and the controversy of the Pentagon's double tap strike on an alleged drug boat in
the Caribbean reaching a fever pitch. The president is said to meet with his cabinet next hour and he is likely to address both files.
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ANDERSON: With a critical meeting set to happen this hour that could offer clarity on whether the conflict between Russia and Ukraine will end anytime
soon.
Russian president Vladimir Putin talking with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and president Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, presumably
to go over revisions I president Trump's original 28-point peace plan.
The American pair strolled through Red Square with the top Russian negotiator before entering the Kremlin. This meeting coming just days after
Witkoff, Kushner and other top U.S. officials met with a Ukrainian delegation in Florida. CNN chief global affairs correspondent Matthew
Chance is live in Moscow for us.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CHIEF GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Becky, thanks so much.
Well, it is now 6 o'clock local time in the evening here in Moscow. The Kremlin said earlier the meeting was going to start anytime after about 5.
So the delegation from the United States, Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy; Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, they have been inside the Kremlin
compound now for some time waiting.
Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, to spend several miles away in a different location, giving a keynote speech to an international
investment forum, keeping Witkoff and Kushner waiting in the -- in the halls of the Kremlin for him to finish talking.
Speech is now over. Putin's motorcade has now headed over toward the Kremlin. So we're expecting that meeting to get underway pretty soon.
The big issue at stake and the reason I think the U.S. delegates are here, the envoy and the son-in-law are here, is to try and sound out Vladimir
Putin on the outcome of intensive negotiations that have been underway for the past week or so between U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators.
To try and work out a wording, work out a way of tiptoeing around some of the big red lines for Ukraine, preventing them from signing up to the U.S.
backed peace plan.
Things like the aspiration to join the NATO military alliance, things like the call by Russia for Ukraine to surrender territory in the east of the
country that has been annexed by Russia but not yet fully conquered by it.
These are things that Ukraine has so far going to publicly refuse to do but there have been these intense negotiations underway. In Geneva last week,
inside Florida at the weekend, where we understand that there was some creative solutions proposed by the Americans and discussed with the
Ukrainians.
The objective now, we think, is to present those potential solutions to the Kremlin and see what appetite there is inside the halls of the Kremlin for
them to take this as a victory.
Because it is a victory that Vladimir Putin is now looking for. The Kremlin has said they appreciate that the efforts of the U.S. administration to
find a peace deal, to broker a peace deal in Ukraine, saying those efforts are very effective.
But they say the goals of the special military operation, what they still call there a war in Ukraine, have to be achieved.
[10:05:03]
And so if Putin's impression is that these proposals stop short of what he would regard as a full victory, yet it is unlikely that he is going to
accept them. Certainly up until now the Kremlin has been reluctant to refuse to back away from any of its core maximalist objectives.
We're watching very closely to see what the outcome of these talks, Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff, President Putin also translators from both sides.
We understand that this time Witkoff and Kushner will be using a translator provided by the U.S. embassy rather than a Russian translator to assist in
the negotiations.
We'll see what the outcome is in the -- in the hours ahead.
ANDERSON: Yes. Yes, good to have you there, thank you.
Ukraine's president said he hopes the hear from the U.S. negotiators once they finish their meetings Moscow. Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters today
a visit to Ireland that he is ready to meet with President Trump again, depending on how successful the talks in Moscow are.
Mr. Zelenskyy has been in Western Europe this week, trying to solidify support for Ukraine's position as these peace talks play out. Let's get you
back to Nick Paton Walsh who is in Kyiv.
What's the sense in Ukraine on these talks today and about Steve Witkoff's seeming closeness with Russia, particularly after the bombshell Bloomberg
report recently that he coached a top Putin adviser on how to talk to Donald Trump?
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Those leaks have particularly audio files purported to show Witkoff in those
conversations. The authenticity of them is something which has been slightly dangled and not entirely clear also ended when Bloomberg obtained
them.
But the desired effect was to expose what critics of Steve Witkoff say, that he said is his proximity towards the Kremlin.
And I think through his actions a lot of time and comments he has made in public interviews, it is clear, that a little time he seems to share a lot
of the Kremlin points of view, whether he is simply repeating what he says or has genuinely decided to adopt that particular perspective.
And that's left many in Ukraine obviously nervous here. But I think we're in a different phase of Witkoff's role here in the aspects of an
unprecedented amount of time, frankly, with Ukrainian negotiators in Florida over past days, along with secretary of state Marco Rubio, going
through finer points.
President Zelenskyy said during this discussion 6.5 hours was spent on the issue of territorial concessions or where the front line should be, if I
quote President Zelenskyy more accurately.
That suggests I think that Witkoff is trying to bring with him something which is palatable to the Ukrainian side but might also meet the demands of
Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The real frailty of this entire process over the months as being of U.S. and Russia P1 track and in the U.S. and Ukraine pursue another with
European allies and hope the outcome of both is somehow compatible.
They have not been but indeed, today, they may not be again. But Zelenskyy in Dublin today says that the he hopes after this meeting there might
further meetings with American negotiators.
He said that depends on what level, holding out the possibility he might take this quick jump from Dublin all the way to Washington to perhaps meet
President Trump. He talked about how the 20-point plan previously is still being worked on and will continue to be worked on.
And there are still some outstanding issues there. I think there is a reluctance on all sides for any part of this plan to be made public,
particular the thorny issues about territorial concessions.
Zelenskyy keeps holding that out as being the real obstacle and problem here. And frankly, everything else in the different versions we've seen is
about future states. It's that issue of who holds what territory in order for there to be a cease-fire and whether that cease-fire comes in enduring
peace. That is really at stake.
And indeed where they've managed to find some kind of fudge that enables Putin to declare victory but Ukraine also to not say it cedes the land
without a fight.
ANDERSON: As the question of territory is absolutely essential to these talks, Russia claiming to have captured a key city in eastern Ukraine,
where do the front lines stand right now? Let's just remind our viewers.
WALSH: It's no coincidence that last night the Kremlin stepped forward and said that they captured all of the city of Pokrovsk, not enormous but key
and strategic as a hub for Ukraine. Fought bitterly over for well over a year now and in Russia's sights.
They've shown state's TV images of their troops in the center, moving with a degree of relaxation. I think it is fair to say most independent or open-
source assessments of what is happening in the town put the vast predominance of its open area under Russian control.
[10:10:04]
There may be Ukrainian sporadic forces here and there on the outskirts and there are indeed some, it seems, to its east near Minagram (ph). But they
are imperiled too. So I think ultimately it is now a political decision for Zelenskyy to decide when he wants to stop the application of those forces,
to deny Russia over come a political victory here.
But ultimately, this is Putin saying it's 100 accurate or not doesn't really matter what he presents to me territorially. I'm just going to
continue taking the things I want anyway.
He still doesn't have Konstantinovka. He still doesn't have Kramatorsk, Slovyansk (ph), the other key parts of Donetsk. And he's not managed to
take over years of fighting. But increasingly his position is superior there, day by day, worse in Kupyansk, where they claimed victory yesterday.
But Ukraine insists they've been pushing the Russians out and over down in Zaporizhzhya to the south, a surprise advance by the Russians there, over
10 kilometers, fast paced movement over the past months, which has taken many by surprise over flat, open stretches there.
It seems to have slowed recently but it is more broadly a sign of how this length attrition of warfare by the Russians has worn the Ukrainians down as
have the nightly barrage here, sapping some elements of the Ukrainian morale.
Zelenskyy also domestically, politically weak after his top negotiating chief of staff resigned Friday after anti corruption investigators searched
his home. That potentially left Zelenskyy more susceptible to the concept of red lines on the past.
Perhaps being broken but have put all this aside. It's really important to remember that Russia's past in diplomacy here has been deceptive. They've
not honored previous agreements. They are winning here militarily.
They may be very happy to accept a deal that gives them land without a fight. But the concern in Ukraine is that simply buys Moscow a pause to
regroup, refit and then have another go at another fourth invasion.
And that essentially means Ukraine needs security guarantees. But matter from European allies who are strapped for cash and lack the military might
to be really meaningful in applying those guarantees in the event of another Russian push.
And the United States is casting itself as the mediator here between Russia and Ukraine, rather than under Biden administration, the biggest ally that
Ukraine had. A lot at stake here from this meeting.
But don't discount the possibility that Putin hears what Witkoff (ph) has cooked up with the Ukrainians that the Europeans have heard about as well
and dismisses it out of hand.
Because, ultimately, the larger geopolitical stature of Putin seeing the U.S. pleading him to sign some kind of deal, to end a war of choice for him
here, that he was at the start losing so badly, does appeal to him. Becky.
ANDERSON: It's good to have you, Nick. Thank you.
Henry Bolton is the foreign affairs, defense and security spokesperson for the U.K. Social Democratic Party, joins us now from Folkestone in southeast
England.
And it is good to have you. I hope you've been able to listen to Nick's analysis of what is going on at present. I want to push you on a couple of
points that he brought up.
Witkoff and Kushner are expected to present Putin then with an amended version of this U.S.-led peace plan that, at least as we understand it,
considers Ukraine's position and needs at this point.
Picking up on where Nick just left off there, I wonder what incentive you believe President Putin has to take that deal or any deal at this point,
considering how much he has benefited -- certainly those are the suggestions from many -- from the Trump administration's seeming sympathy
for his position?
HENRY BOLTON, FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEFENSE AND SECURITY SPOKESPERSON, SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY U.K.: I say, first off, Becky -- and thank you for having
me on -- that his position has actually already weakened the West significantly and weakened Ukraine's position.
And I can explain why in a minute but I think, ultimately, President Putin's objectives and president Trump's are not compatible. President
Putin has and Russia and before that the Soviet Union, one of their less strategic aims, if you like, has been to divide the European allies from
the United States.
And president Trump has, for the first time, really in history since World War II, allowed that to happen. So Putin has already gained a strategic
advantage in that sense. He's delayed the decisionmaking.
NATO, of course, has been the strategic deterrence of the West. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Vienna-based, has
been the diplomatic forum to address concerns between, if you like, Northern Hemisphere countries to prevent conflict.
Was actually set up by something called the Helsinki Final Act, which was initiated by the then Soviet Union. President Trump has bypassed all of
that architecture and is going straight to President Putin, which undermines all that architecture and fundamentally weakens it and thereby
weakens European security.
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So in a sense, President Putin's probably rubbing his hands in glee and thinking, look, you know, I'm carrying on in the battle -- on the
battlefield. If somebody presents me something, whatever it is, that actually gives me a significant advantage, then I might consider taking it.
The -- if he's being given a watered-down plan because of what -- or it can be presented as such because of what the Europeans or because of what
Ukraine has said, he will say, look, I was prepared to talk about the 28- point plan but this is ridiculous. I'm sorry.
The Europeans once again are derailing president Trump's efforts at peace. He will again divide and he will again rule the situation.
Sorry?
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ANDERSON: Are they, to your mind?
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ANDERSON: -- derailing this --
BOLTON: Well, I think the Europeans are divided but I think they're increasingly concerned about, in fact, they are increasingly concerned at
this bypassing by the Trump administration of the fundamental structures that have really preserved and managed security situations in Europe for
decades.
And that is being -- so that's being fundamentally weakened. So he -- president Trump is dividing the United States strategically from the
European Union when it comes to European security.
ANDERSON: Can I just, Henry, read you a line from "The Wall Street Journal's" reporting over the weekend?
I'm sure you'll have read this. For our benefit, for the benefit of our viewers, this was an article entitled, "Make Money, Not War: Trump's Real
Plan for Peace in Ukraine."
Kushner and Trump, two real estate moguls, quote, "see an opportunity for American investors to snap up lucrative deals in a new postwar Russia and
become the commercial guarantors of peace."
This really is a business deal rather than a peace deal, is the, you know, the premise of that piece.
Is it?
Do you -- do you believe that?
BOLTON: I tell you what I think, Becky, there's -- first of all, there's a number of ways that wars end. Either one side is victorious over their
defeated enemy or the two -- or the belligerents come to some agreement themselves because it is mutually beneficial to do so.
But that's not the situation we have at the moment.
Or there is a peace imposed, such as we did in Bosnia in the '90s or I think president Trump thinks he's come up with an alternative, a fourth
way, which is to bribe President Putin.
Listen, we can do a deal. We can do a deal that is financially lucrative for you, for whoever you want, for yourself, for your country, for whoever,
and financially lucrative for us.
Now we tried that back in back, sort of, what, 800 years ago in the United Kingdom or 1,000 years ago. It was called Danegeld. When the Vikings were
raiding the United Kingdom and England, the eastern coast, we were paying them. We were bribing them not to come and not to raid.
What did they do?
They stepped up the raids. They demanded more and more and more. Every time in history, where you have tried to put off an aggressor by giving them
what they want or trying to give them a carrot to do it, it has failed and it has led to war further down the road.
So I think part of his approach is indeed that, let's do financially beneficial deals that bring us closer together, that mean that you don't
need to fight the war any longer and we've got some control over it. I think that is fundamentally misreading President Putin and the Kremlin.
ANDERSON: At this point, nearly four years into this war and with, you know, a sense of exhaustion on the part of the Ukrainians, as we've been
reporting, but certainly a sense that they want a fair deal out of this, what does that fair deal look like at this point to your mind?
BOLTON: Well, I think the Ukrainians obviously are exhausted. I don't entirely agree with the earlier -- the earlier assessment of the situation
on the ground.
Russia is taking immense casualties, immense casualties and expending huge amounts of its national budget, 40 percent of its national budget on this
war. It cannot go on forever.
And Ukraine actually has some depth in terms of its financial strength through the European Union and, to an extent, through the United States. So
this war is a deeper one than just simply those two countries. Nonetheless, I think Ukraine is exhausted. Of course, they don't want this war to go on
any longer than it needs to.
[10:20:00]
But they are not going to give up without security guarantees, which, at the moment, are not forthcoming. And nor does Putin. Nor is Putin, in my
opinion, ever going to accept any. He is -- fundamentally, he is in a position where he thinks he does not need to agree to any security
guarantees whatsoever for Ukraine.
And I think that's where -- that will be the sticking point throughout this. For Ukraine, it is fundamental and I understand it. And I think
actually that's a huge compromise. They are potentially -- President Zelenskyy has indicated that he will talk about the mechanisms for giving
Russia some of the terrain that it wants.
But there have to be security guarantees. So he's compromising on that. That's a big thing for a national leader. I mean, if somebody invaded
Florida, I wonder whether the United States president would even for a moment consider that.
Or if somebody invaded East Anglia in the U.K., whether we would. We wouldn't. So I think, I think there is, you know, there is that impasse.
But I think, Becky, the point is President Putin does not yet want an end to this war unless it means victory for him, defeat for Ukraine and,
frankly, he is being handed not just the possibility of a capitulation, you know, offered on the part of -- by president Trump of Ukraine.
But he will see -- I know the Russians quite well at a very high ministerial level. And I think that they will see President Putin,
president Trump's approach as capitulation of the United States as well.
ANDERSON: Well, you've called this an American surrender to Russia in the past. It's good to have you, Henry. Your analysis is important to us as we
continue to follow this story. Thank you.
Well, next up, how a followup strike on the vessel in the Caribbean is leading to accusations of a war crime. We speak to the founding chief
prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. That is up next.
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ANDERSON (voice-over): You're looking at the first of what has become a series of U.S. strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean, this one
from September the 2nd, is now the center of a growing controversy in Washington.
Let's just take a moment to explain what is going on here. Dozens of strikes have followed the one you just saw, killing more than 80 people.
Washington's aim is to target alleged drug smuggling after the U.S. called Venezuela's president a drug trafficker and threat to national security.
But it was an additional strike on the same boat moments later that is causing alarm. A bombshell "The Washington Post" report has said that
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth ordered the second attack to kill two survivors of the first in what is known as a double tap.
[10:25:00]
Lawmakers on both sides are now demanding answers, with some saying it could be a war crime. Both Hegseth and the White House are appearing to
shift responsibility for the strike on the military commander overseeing them.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Secretary Hegseth authorized Admiral Bradley to conduct these kinetic strikes. Admiral
Bradley worked well within his authority and the law, directing the engagement to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat to the United
States of America was eliminated.
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ANDERSON: Well, Hegseth, appearing to throw his support behind Admiral Mitch Bradley, saying, "I stand by him and the combat decisions he has made
-- on the September 2 mission and all others since."
I'll come back to that. Our next guest is echoing concerns about that followup strike or that double tap being a potential crime against
humanity.
The founding chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Luis Moreno Ocampo, told BBC news, quote, "These are criminals, not soldiers.
Criminals are civilians. They are criminals and we should do better at investigating and prosecuting them and controlling them but not killing
people," he said.
Luis Moreno Ocampo joins me now.
It's good to have you, sir. There are so many layers here. I want to start with the big picture of this broad campaign by the U.S. against these drug
boats, alleged drug boats.
The Trump administration declared the cartel Tren del Agua as a terrorist organization to justify this, quote, "war on drugs as a war on terror."
Is there any legal merit to the argument that these are terrorists?
And this is a, quote, "war?"
LUIS MORENO OCAMPO, FOUNDING CHIEF PROSECUTOR, INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT: Well, it's highly disputed or it's not outside the U.S. All the
American military lawyers are against this idea. It's very clear these are criminals but they are not combatants.
That's why they should be prosecuted. They could be arrested. But killing people with no trial, that is illegal.
ANDERSON: Well, let's focus on that September 2nd double tap strike.
What is your reaction to the U.S. move to then kill the two survivors of the first?
OCAMPO: Well, the first -- the first reaction, the first killing is also illegal because, if they are not combatants and they are civilians, they
cannot be killed. Assuming president Trump is right, assuming he has the right to kill drug dealers, the second shooting look illegal in terms of as
a war crime. It's a war crime.
Why?
Because these people are defenseless. They are not more threat to U.S. The boat was destroyed. They were almost surviving there. You could, in a
normal war operation, you cannot kill them. And that's why it's against the basic, basic rules. The U.S. legal military lawyers are saying.
ANDERSON: So you're suggesting this could be a war?
You're not suggesting that this would be a war crime because you don't see this as a legally valid war to begin with. But you say this could be a
crime against humanity.
Am I correct in saying that?
OCAMPO: Exactly, exactly. Because if there is no -- they are criminals, a systematic attack against civilians -- and criminals are civilians -- is a
crime against humanity. Imagine alternative. If this is a war, the second shooting is also illegal.
The problem I see in this case is the generals, the admirals cannot oppose the military code of defense (ph). So that's a problem in the U.S. now.
There is no check and balance, no military office -- officer could oppose the state of defense in war now, order instructions. That's a problem. No
one can stop them.
ANDERSON: So it is worth noting that the ICC, which, of course, you are a founding member of, has no jurisdiction over the United States. So in
reaction to your comments calling this U.S. campaign a crime against humanity, the White House has accused the ICC of being biased on serious
entity.
And said, quote, "It's ridiculous that they are now lecturing president Trump and running cover for evil narcoterrorists trying to murder
Americans."
Your response?
OCAMPO: Well, the International Criminal Court is part of Venezuela and Colombia.
[10:30:00]
So if the shootings are part of the Sea of Colombia or Sea of Venezuela, the ICC would have jurisdiction. If not, no. So probably the most clear
jurisdiction here is the U.S. jurisdiction. And maybe one day it will implement it. So we don't know yet.
But that's why the Army officers are well aware of the problem. That's why I see a huge crisis for the U.S. officers, because they understand this
illegal but they cannot do a rebellion against the president.
ANDERSON: On that double tap strike, Pete Hegseth, the Defense Secretary, who runs now the Department of War as it is now known, has posted his full
support for Admiral Mitch Bradley, who he named as the person who made the decision on September the 2nd.
Do you read this apparent full-throated support as a way of making someone else responsible in case there are legal repercussions?
OCAMPO: Well, first, allegedly, people say that the secretary of war himself gave instructions, no survivors. So therefore, the admiral was just
implementing his order. That's why secretary of war should defend the admiral because he gave instructions. So that is the main idea, of course.
Secretary of war will always try to protect himself. And in addition, he will try to protect the officers who are following his instructions, yes.
ANDERSON: We've just learned --
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: -- Trump has now formally pardoned the former Honduran president, Juan Orlando Hernandez. And he has been released from prison and
will not serve the 45 years that he was originally sentenced to.
I wonder what that pardon for major drug trafficking offenses says to you about Trump's claim, that he is currently cracking down on drugs when he is
targeting Venezuela?
OCAMPO: Well, it's interesting because, as you know, the worst drug in the U.S. was the opioids. And it was produced by an American lab. So that is
really interesting. That's why this is not a war problem. You will not solve the drug abuse in the U.S. shooting people in the boats in the
Caribbean. It's ridiculous. It's diverting attention.
So that's why I feel this is -- everything is wrong here. It's a discussion not going to the center of the problem. The problem is not drug abuse in
the U.S., will not be stopped killing civilians or people, drug dealers in the Caribbean. Simple (ph).
In addition, what happened here is president Trump is trying to remove Maduro, who is a dictator. And that's why it's so complicated. Well, today,
this week, Corina Machado will receive a Nobel prize for her role in during the campaign electoral campaign in Venezuela in 2024.
So Corina Machado is in the middle of dictatorship, fighting a dictator. But the only one supporting removing, trying to remove Maduro is president
Trump. That's why it's such a controversial point -- problem.
ANDERSON: I just want to finally -- and thank you for your thoughts and analysis today, which are extremely important. You are speaking to us from
Uruguay today.
And I just wonder, as you observe and consider U.S. action, in your part of the world, effectively, how impactful or significant you think this
American action is and what its consequences might be in South America?
OCAMPO: Well, I'm from the beach (ph). I'm involved in all the conflicts in the world. So I'm following all the conflict. In some of them, like
Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia, President Trump is a good influence. So it's very interesting. The world is so complicated.
But Venezuela idea is really bad because, when I was young in my country, we prosecuted the generals in Argentina for the dirty war against
international terrorism. And this dirty war was promoted by U.S.
When the U.S. decide the Latin American military had to deal with international terrorists, create a dirty war in the south. And this idea to
use the army, the military to control drug dealers, is creating a similar threat, including wars in South America.
[10:35:05]
South America is a -- is a region with no war from -- for decades. And this is including war in a zone, with no war, in peace. That's the danger for
the region.
ANDERSON: It's good to have you. Thank you very much indeed for your thoughts today.
OCAMPO: Thank you.
ANDERSON: President Trump and top national security officials are huddled at the White House -- or they certainly were Monday night -- to discuss
next steps on Venezuela.
That comes as the Trump administration intensifies pressure on the South American country, amassing more than a dozen warships and 15,000 troops in
the region as part of what the Pentagon has branded Operation Southern Spear.
And in the latest escalation, Mr. Trump warned airlines, pilots and criminal networks in a social media post on Saturday to avoid Venezuelan
airspace, which he said should be considered closed in its entirety. Look, more on this story as we get it. I'm going to take a very short break. Back
after this.
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ANDERSON (voice-over): Welcome back. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson. Here are the headlines.
Russian president Vladimir Putin is set to meet with special envoy Steve Witkoff and president Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, any time
now in Moscow. The American delegates strolled through Moscow's Red Square with a top Russian negotiator ahead of the talks.
They'll presumably discuss revisions to the original U.S. plan made during the weekend talks with Ukrainian officials.
Well, next hour, president Trump will hold a cabinet meeting, with Venezuela likely on the agenda as the administration faces backlash from
both Democrats and Republicans over what is now a controversial boat strike in the Caribbean.
Pope Leo has wrapped up a six-day tour of the Middle East. These are images from Beirut, where he celebrated a public mass earlier with thousands of
followers. Throughout his trip, he has emphasized interfaith cooperation and unity. CNN's Ben Wedeman is in Beirut with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In Beirut's port, Pope Leo tries to comfort the relatives of those killed five years
ago in the massive blast there on the 4th of August, 2020, that killed more than 240 people.
The push for accountability for the blast has gone nowhere. Pope Leo's trip to Lebanon has been crammed with events and meetings. Everywhere he went,
the reception was emotional. His visit culminated with a mass, attended by tens of thousands on Beirut's waterfront.
[10:40:05]
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He gave us hope. And what we need the most now in Lebanon is hope.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Always. We always hope, always. That's why we still are standing up.
WEDEMAN (voice-over): Ten-year old Alex Ferrari (ph) gave Leo a glowing review.
ALEX FERRARI (PH), 10-YEAR-OLD DEVOTEE: I think he's a very nice pope.
WEDEMAN (voice-over): This was the pope's first ever trip to Lebanon, which brought him face-to-face with a people who have endured so much in
recent years. Welcome words to a war-weary people and a Christian community that often feels forgotten by the rest of the world.
And a country wracked by dread of what may come to pass.
"The Lebanese today are waiting for what happens after the pope leaves," says Jean-Paul Samaha (ph).
"We're afraid of another war of clashes. We live in an unstable country."
Tensions continue to mount after almost daily Israeli strikes on what Israel claims are Hezbollah members and infrastructure. The one-year-old
ceasefire is fraying.
WEDEMAN: For three days, this country, Muslims as well as Christians, were mesmerized by this visit. It was an opportunity to put their troubles
aside, however briefly, and perhaps hope for a better tomorrow -- Ben Wedeman, CNN, Beirut.
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ANDERSON: We are getting harrowing details about two children killed by an Israeli drone strike in Gaza.
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ANDERSON (voice-over): The images that you are looking at are of 8-year- old Fadi and 10-year old Juma. They went out looking for firewood for their father last Saturday but the boys never made it home.
The Israeli military has acknowledged the strike, calling the children, quote, "two suspects who crossed the yellow line."
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ANDERSON: CNN's Jerusalem correspondent Jeremy Diamond is following the story and he joins us now live.
Walk us through what you understand to have happened. Jeremy
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Well, these two boys, 8-year- old Fadi and 10-year-old Juma, went out to seek firewood just a few days ago over the weekend, during what was supposed to be a time of calm, a
ceasefire in the two-year-long war in Gaza.
But the two boys were killed in an Israeli drone strike after the Israeli military claims that they crossed over that yellow line separating Hamas
and Israeli-controlled parts of the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli military described them as carrying out, quote, "suspicious activities" on the ground. But the reality that we are now seeing in videos
is all too clear: two very, very young boys, severely wounded and ultimately killed in this Israeli drone strike after they went out to
collect what their father says was firewood.
[10:45:10]
Their father described waking up in the morning, making breakfast for them, only to realize that they needed more firewood in order for him to be able
to cook for his family. The boys went out to collect that firewood and that is when they were killed by this Israeli drone strike.
They are among more than 350 Palestinians who have been killed by the Israeli military since the start of this ceasefire, according to the
Palestinian health ministry.
And overall, since the beginning of this war, we've now seen the death toll in Gaza climb as a result of those strikes during the ceasefire and also
the recovery of bodies that were buried under the rubble to more than 70,000 Palestinians who have been killed since the start of this war,
according to the Palestinian health ministry.
For Fadi and Jama's parents, it is obviously all too much to bear. This was the last time, the last moment, that they expected their children to be
taken away from them. And yet, even amid this ceasefire, we are continuing to see these kinds of strikes taking place and lives that are being cut
short far too soon. Becky.
ANDERSON: Jeremy Diamond is in Jerusalem. Thank you, Jeremy.
And we will be right back.
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ANDERSON: For lovers of high-speed racing on both land and sea, Abu Dhabi is at the epicenter of the sporting world this week, Formula 1 fans eagerly
awaiting this weekend's season finale.
Meanwhile, the SailGP series made waves with a high-pace finale to the fifth season in a sport which is attracting big audiences, big names and
big money.
The Emirates Great Britain team secured victory here in Abu Dhabi over the weekend, winning the 2025 SailGP championship. I was at the grand final and
caught up with some of the key players in the sport.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Through massive by the Germans, I could go over here. Look how Slingsby (ph), how did he avoid the collision there?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Those boats, 50-foot boats doing 100 kilometers an hour, 1.4 meters above the water, exactly like Formula 1, very close to
each other. This is for me what brings excitement and drama.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The intention is we don't make it easy for them. We actually make it challenging for them. The boats are designed to make it
challenging for the best sailors in the world.
ANDERSON: Well, I'm here at the Abu Dhabi SailGP 2025 season grand finale, where the winner takes it all. It is the second year that the UAE's capital
has hosted this event and this year it's expanded its investment.
This is a sport which is fast becoming a global phenomenon, with millions watching around the world and celebrity investors to boot.
ANDERSON (voice-over): With high-tech aerodynamics, split-second reactions and skippers known as drivers, SailGP is described as a Formula 1 with
sails. Its reputation for heart-pounding action on the water is smashing TV records, with 3.5 million viewers making it the most watched sailing race
in U.S. history.
SIR RUSSELL COUTTS, CEO, SAILGP: I think it's fair to say season 2025, the growth has just been phenomenal. And really we've seen, you know, new teams
come on board.
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We've seen incredible valuations for those teams. We've seen growth in audience. Our broadcast audience has grown at over 15 percent. The -- our
engagements have doubled. The views on social have increased five times. We're really seeing some great growth numbers.
It's a great test for the best professional athletes in our sport. They're using absolutely identical equipment. There's no excuses, nowhere to hide.
ANDERSON (voice-over): From sports to the silver screen, SailGP has attracted a number of celebrity superfans to invest in the teams.
No stranger to speed, F1 champion Sebastian Vettel co-owns the German team. France's soccer superstar Kylian Mbappe. Hollywood entering the stage with
Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds jumping on board.
HUGH JACKMAN, ACTOR AND SPORTS ENTHUSIAST: Because we're announcing that we are owners of Team Australia.
RYAN REYNOLDS, ACTOR AND SPORTS ENTHUSIAST: Team Australia.
JACKMAN: The bonds flying roos (ph), man, I'm pumped.
REYNOLDS: Crazy.
COUTTS: The fact that we've got celebrity investors, to be frank, we didn't really chase that.
ANDERSON: You didn't?
COUTTS: The great thing is that they've come into the league as real investors. And we've seen some of the content that Hugh and Ryan have put
out. They are engaged. I think they're having fun with this, which is probably the main thing.
ANDERSON: So in 2025, 12 teams --
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COUTTS: Yes.
ANDERSON: -- 12 events?
COUTTS: Yes.
ANDERSON: That's a significant increase, of course, over the past five years, going into season six.
What does that look like?
COUTTS: Well, we're going to have 13 teams in season six. So a new team from Sweden is joining.. We've actually sold team 14 as well, yet to be
announced. So exciting news for the league. And we're going to go to 13 events next season.
So, yes, we'll -- we will continue to grow this up until 20 teams. And in the future, each of those teams will have a home event.
ANDERSON: So we've got South America. You nailed that. And the numbers sound fantastic.
What about Asia?
Where's the growth in Asia for you?
COUTTS: Asia is probably our next step. We've certainly got plans to enter Asia with an event in the near future. And I think that's -- that
announcement will be made in due course.
ANDERSON (voice-over): This season, SailGP added two new teams to its fleet. Red Bull hopes to reproduce its Formula 1 track success on the
water, while Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth fund, Mubadala, is increasing its investment in the sport from SailGP global partner to becoming a team
owner.
ANDERSON: Mubadala Brazil team really aims to combine Brazil's passion for sports and sailing with innovation and sustainability.
ALAN ADLER, CEO, MUBADALA TEAM BRAZIL: The impact is about innovation, it's about sustainability. And, of course, you know, since the beginning,
we have Martine Grael as the first female driver. That's unique in the league. I think that will serve as inspiration for many women in sports in
general.
And Brazilians, they are -- they love sports. They love to cheer for Brazilian team.
ANDERSON: The investment in the team, of course, suggests that you're in this for the long term.
How about the global partnership?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I hope you're not negotiating with me.
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ANDERSON: I'm just a journalist.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are very interested in the relationship and the global partnership and we will continue. We have -- we have a lot of hopes
and aspirations for this race and we believe that, with this race, we can still reach a bigger partnership.
ANDERSON (voice-over): The sport has a special synergy for Mubadala. Its UAE-based aerospace company, Strata, harnesses aerodynamic technology to
build the foils that power these high-speed catamarans.
ANDERSON: Mubadala is not just an outbound investor but a significant part of the Mubadala strategy is about inbound investment here.
So can you just explain how SailGP fits into that kind of strategy?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's a lot of industry that we've developed here in the UAE. SailGP, when it comes and races the final race here in Abu Dhabi
and people look at the skyline, we're hoping that two things will happen.
Number one, the tourism, putting Abu Dhabi on the map. People understand that we're interested a lot more than just oil and the desert but also tell
the world that there is a lot of technologies, there is a lot of advancements that we here -- we have here in the UAE and we're open for
business.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Emirates Great Britain.
ANDERSON (voice-over): In this year's thrilling finale, Emirates GBR, led by British Olympian Ben Ainslie, left it all on the water, becoming the
2025 Rolex SailGP champions.
And British speed sport fans will be hoping for a double success.
[10:55:00]
With Formula 1 championship leader Lando Norris on the final day in Abu Dhabi this weekend. Both on land and sea, Abu Dhabi IS on a fast track to
becoming the speed capital of the world.
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ANDERSON: Well, for tonight's "Parting Shots," marking 54 years since the late Sheikh Zayed founded the UAE in 1971. Six of today's seven Emirates
united, forming the Gulf country that we know today.
Well, today is Eid Al Etihad, which translates to Festival of the Union. Every year, festivities take place across the country on this day, most
notably with fireworks displays.
And one of those displays was right here, just across from our CNN office. When I first came to the UAE as a visitor, then as a reporter passing
through, and now for more than a decade as the managing editor here and as a resident, Abu Dhabi, of course, is my home. Happy UAE National Day from
the team and from me.
That is it for CONNECT THE WORLD. See, CNN stays on, of course. Stay with us. "ONE WORLD" is up next.
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