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Early Start with Rahel Solomon

President Trump and Zelenskyy Sound Optimistic on Progress of Peace Talks; Two Helicopters Collide Midair in New Jersey; Kyrgios Defeats Sabalenka in Battle of the Sexes Tennis Match. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired December 29, 2025 - 05:00   ET

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

[05:00:00]

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, ANCHOR, EARLY START: Good morning and welcome to our viewers joining us from the United States and all around the world, I'm Fredricka Whitfield, Rahel Solomon is off, it's Monday, December 29th, 5:00 a.m. here in New York and straight ahead on EARLY START.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: President Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy sounding optimistic, but neither of them announcing any major breakthroughs.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I do think we're getting a lot closer, maybe very close.

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT, UKRAINE: We discussed all the aspects of the peace framework.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Two helicopters collided in midair.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Shout out to my wife. I think those two guys just crashed. It's a little bit of a disbelief.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Event organizers built a high profile tennis exhibition match as a modern day battle of the sexes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are citing some progress, but no major breakthrough after the leaders held talks at Mar-a-Lago on efforts to end Russia's war on Ukraine.

Several key issues remain in the negotiations, and Mr. Zelenskyy said teams from the U.S. and Ukraine could meet as early as next week to work out the remaining points in the peace plan. President Trump plans to speak again with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Did Putin agree to a ceasefire to allow a referendum to take --

TRUMP: Not a ceasefire, and that's one of the points that we're working on right now. No, not a a ceasefire. He feels that look, you know, they're fighting and to stop, and then if they have to start again, which is a possibility, he doesn't want to be in that position.

Now, I understand that position. The President feels strongly about that or something. But I think we're finding ways that we can get around that. But I understand President Putin from that standpoint. You know, you have to understand the other side. And, you know, I'm on the side of peace, I'm on the side of stopping the war.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: The Ukrainian leader is expressing optimism that a deal can be reached, and he laid out what was covered during Sunday's meeting.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENSKYY: We discussed all the aspects of the peace framework which includes, and we have a great achievements, 20-point peace plan, 90 percent agreed, and U.S.-Ukraine security guarantees, 100 percent agreed. U.S., Europe, Ukraine security guarantees almost agreed.

Military dimension, 100 percent agreed. Prosperity plan being finalized, and we also discussed the sequencing of the following actions. And we agree that security guarantees is a key milestone in achieving lasting peace.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: But President Zelenskyy is also underscoring that the question of Ukrainian territory remains a difficult factor amid negotiations. And President Trump also acknowledges the fate of the eastern Donbas region, which Russia has demanded Ukraine surrender remains, an outstanding issue.

CNN's Clare Sebastian is tracking all the developments and joins us live now from London. Good morning to you, Clare.

CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning, Fredricka. I think look, it seems fairly clear from the press conference, and we're getting some new comments as well this morning from President Zelenskyy of Ukraine, that amid all these warm and positive words, they haven't advanced much beyond where their teams had got to before this.

He was using numbers like 90 percent going into this. So, it seems that this meeting in a sense, was simply about keeping up the intensity of this very big phase of diplomatic efforts that we're seeing around Ukraine. I think, look, 90 percent, 95 percent is semantic when the final 5 percent or 10 percent is regarding territory, which as you noted, is the biggest sticking point.

President Zelenskyy didn't give too much detail on the whole idea that we've heard floated by the U.S. of a free economic zone or a demilitarized zone in the part of the Donbas region that Ukraine still controls. He later said this morning, there is no detailed concept yet for a free economic zone, so, it's clearly still a major hurdle.

And I think there were points in the press conference on Sunday where, amid the warm words, you did see rhetoric coming from President Trump that would clearly have been a red flag for Ukraine. Take a listen to this portion.

[05:05:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I think the land you're talking about, some of that land has been taken. Some of that land is maybe up for grabs, but it may be taken over the next period of a number of months. And you're better off making a deal now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SEBASTIAN: So, he's basically saying Ukraine is better off making a deal now because the land is at risk of being taken by Russia, which is a clear rhetorical line that the Kremlin has been taking in, and almost an echo of the readout of the call that we got between Presidents Putin and Trump ahead of this meeting with President Zelenskyy from the Russian side.

Where they said that given the situation on the frontlines, it would make sense for the Ukrainian regime to adopt this decision regarding Donbas without delay. The Russians are studiously trying to present their victory as inevitable as a reason for not backing down in these peace talks.

So, there was moments like that that I think do slightly undermine these warm words and expressions of progress and do reduce the incentive, of course, for Russia to compromise. And we see no sign at all at this point that Russia's position has shifted on this war.

But still, we got a bit more meat on the bones of potential next steps from President Zelenskyy. He says that he's -- he foresees adviser level meetings in the coming days, then advancing to meetings with European leaders under the Coalition of the Willing, and then talks as was discussed on Sunday, potentially in Washington, between himself, the European leaders and President Trump.

And after that, he says that they could potentially move towards some kind of meeting in Russia, which he says he is ready for in any format. But it is clear at this point that there is a lot of work still left to do. Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: Indeed. All right, Clare Sebastian, thanks so much. All right, President Trump and the Israeli Prime Minister are expected to discuss the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire plan in the coming hours. Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in West Palm Beach, Florida, Sunday, ahead of today's meeting at Trump's Mar-a-Lago Resort. The President has been urging both Israel and Hamas to work toward

phase two of his peace plan. But both sides continue to accuse each other of violating the deal. Meanwhile, harsh Winter weather has claimed more lives in Gaza.

Civil Defense authorities say two people died, including a seven-year- old after a wall collapsed because of the cold weather. Aid agencies have warned that displaced Palestinians are at risk as they continue to seek shelter from the severe weather conditions in bombed-out ruins. CNN's Paula Hancocks joining us live now from Abu Dhabi. Good day to you.

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Fredricka. Well, it is a political priority for President Trump that this ceasefire deal moves to phase two as you've just pointed out there, it's also a humanitarian priority that there is the beginning of this reconstruction in Gaza as soon as possible.

So, as phase one is effectively over, with the exception of the remains of one Israeli hostage, not having yet been returned to Israel, President Trump really wants to try and push the Israeli Prime Minister towards agreeing to this phase two. We may see more details today on this Board of Peace, which the U.S. President has said that he will head up.

We are waiting for more details on the governance of Gaza with Palestinian technocrats expected to be involved with that as well. And then, of course, you have this International Stabilization Force. This is boots on the ground that are going to keep the peace in Gaza from a number of different countries.

We are waiting to hear more specifics on that. But of course, many countries will not agree to put boots on the ground until many of these prior issues have been resolved. And that is the governance. And of course, the fact that Hamas has to be disarmed.

This is why we have heard from Israeli officials that Prime Minister Netanyahu has been reticent to push forward to phase two because he wants to see Hamas disarmed first before the Israeli military agrees to withdraw to different areas in Gaza Strip.

So, giving some of that land back, they do not want to do that to Hamas, who at this point appears to be filling the power vacuum and even trying to rearm. And of course, when you consider what the Israeli Prime Minister is looking at, he also wants to discuss Iran and Lebanon, believing that both are an increased threat to Israel than they were just a matter of months ago.

But it will be interesting to see whether President Trump will entertain any discussion on those two issues, or whether his focus is going to be firmly on trying to push forward the process that he has created himself.

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He says that he has said that he is responsible for, that he has staked his credibility on the fact that this ceasefire will hold. But of course, we are seeing on both sides, Hamas and Israel, that the ceasefire has been violated on a number of occasions, but for the most part is holding. Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Paula Hancocks, thanks so much. All right, China's military says it has launched war games around Taiwan in a, quote, "serious warning" against the island's push for independence. China's Eastern Theater Command said the military drills would test combat readiness and, quote, "blockade and control of key ports in critical areas".

They will also involve live fire exercises. Beijing has significantly escalated Taiwan encirclement drills in recent years, and these latest drills follow a landmark multibillion dollar arms deal between Taiwan and the United States. Taiwan condemned the drills and accused China of military intimidation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAREN KUO, SPOKESPERSON, TAIWAN PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE (through translator): We call on the Chinese authority to act rationally and with self-restraint, to immediately cease irresponsible, provocative behavior and not to misjudge the situation and become a troublemaker, undermining regional peace.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Powerful storms are impacting parts of the U.S., with millions of people under Winter weather alerts in the Great Lakes and northeast regions, about 2 million people are under blizzard warnings in the Midwest, where snow and strong winds are creating dangerous whiteout conditions.

And while the snowfall continues in the upper Midwest, freezing rain is moving into New England today. Meteorologists say the extreme weather is being fueled by a strong cold front moving to the east and clashing with the unseasonably warm air that we've seen in recent days.

All right, these Winter storms are causing headaches for travelers during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year. According to FlightAware, more than 700 flights across the U.S. are already delayed for today, and nearly 300 have been canceled. More now on the weather woes from CNN's Amy Kiley.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is kind of last hurrah for folks that haven't left already to return home.

AMY KILEY, CNN REPORTER (voice-over): Many post-holiday travelers face weather delays and dangers today. Storms spawning along a cold front are affecting tens of millions of people, much of the northeast is dealing with severe snow and ice storms.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The ice is our main concern. I know temps are supposed to warm up. Ground temps are still cold.

KILEY: In the Midwest today, forecasters warn blizzards are the concern. They say snow could meet winds up to 60 miles per hour in some areas. The FAA says Chicago O'Hare Airport had a ground-stop yesterday. Utilities report more than a 100,000 recent power outages in the region. In Iowa --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fourteen vehicle crash just ahead of my vehicle that's being cleaned up now. Zero visibility.

KILEY: Some communities like this one in Illinois are recovering from tornado damage. Meanwhile, FlightAware reports about 10,000 U.S. flight delays and 800 cancellations yesterday. That follows another rough day for some passengers Saturday.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just want to make it home to my own bed tonight.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Going with the flow wherever the wind takes me.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In places across the country, the upside of the Winter weather is the joy it's bringing children on holiday breaks.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're trying to find a good area to use snowball fight.

KILEY: I'm Amy Kiley, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right, good timing for kids, not so much for travelers. Meantime, this tragedy in the skies over New Jersey as two helicopters collide in mid-air. What we know about the accident straight ahead. Plus, the latest on a deadly train derailment in Mexico on a rail line that has only been running for a couple of years now.

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WHITFIELD: All right, welcome back. Investigators in New Jersey are trying to figure out what caused a deadly collision between two helicopters. It happened Sunday morning not far from Philadelphia. Authorities say one pilot was killed and a second is hospitalized with serious injuries.

The owner of an airport cafe where both men dined shortly before taking off talked with the "Associated Press" about what he saw.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Shout out to my wife. I think those two guys just crashed, and it's a little bit of a disbelief. I was with the kids watching take off, and because we were pretty close to when they take off, and they -- you know, you can see them in there and they looked fine. They really looked good. So, it's hard to believe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: More details now from CNN's Rafael Romo.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN REPORTER (on camera): The helicopters came down in a field in Hammonton, New Jersey, and both pilots were air-lifted to a trauma center. This is according to Hammonton Fire Department Chief Sean Macri, who confirmed to CNN that one person died while the condition of the other one was unconfirmed.

Hammonton located in Atlantic County, is about 35 miles from Philadelphia and sits near the New Jersey pine barrens, a vast area of forested wilderness. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the crash happened around 11:25 in the morning Eastern Time.

The two helicopters collided in mid-air near Hammonton Municipal Airport in New Jersey, the FAA said in a statement.

[05:20:00]

Officials also say that only the pilots were on board each helicopter. Both the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the accident, but the NTSB will be in charge. The FAA described the aircraft as an Enstrom F-28 helicopter and an Enstrom 2ATC helicopter.

According to the information on the FAA database obtained using both helicopters tail numbers, the aircraft are older, probably built in the 1970s. One has a private owner listed and the other is listed to a charter company. Fire Chief Macri described the crash scene as, quote, "a pile of mangled metal that was on fire".

That's all it looked like, he said, it was hard to even tell it was a helicopter. New Jersey Senator Cory Booker reacted to the news on Facebook, calling the fatal helicopter crash over South Jersey horrifying and tragic. "My heart is with those impacted and their families", Booker said, adding that his office is in contact with the NTSB and requesting more information about the details of this tragedy."

In a later post on Facebook by the Hammonton Fire Department, officials said that there are A.I.-generated images and photos and videos from prior incidents circulating on social media that are being falsely depicted as coming from this incident.

These images and videos are not from the scene. We also ask community members to think before sharing content, the Fire Department said. And this is a tragic incident and an ongoing investigation. Rafael Romo, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Authorities in southern Mexico are investigating what led to a deadly train derailment. The Mexican Navy says at least 13 people were killed and nearly 100 were injured in the accident on Sunday. The train line links Mexico's Pacific and Gulf coasts, and has only been in service since 2023.

President Claudia Sheinbaum has instructed top officials in the Navy and the Interior Ministry to personally attend to the families of those affected. Still to come, Myanmar just wrapped up the first phase of voting in parliamentary elections. But critics say the vote will not bring the country closer to democratic rule. We'll find out why straight ahead.

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[05:25:00]

WHITFIELD: All right, welcome back. The first round of Myanmar's controversial election is over. The next two rounds will take place in January. The country's military Junta seized power from the elected government nearly five years ago. The group's leaders say the vote will restore democratic rule.

But critics and human rights groups say that is highly unlikely. The entire sanctions of the country will not get -- the sections, rather, of the country will not get to vote because of the civil war sparked by the coup. CNN's Ivan Watson joining me now from Yangon, Myanmar. What's happening?

IVAN WATSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, we're waiting for results from this first phase of the elections, Fredricka. The acting President of the country, that's the Army General who led the coup nearly five years ago that overthrew the then elected government, he said in an interview with state media that results would be coming out by the end of the day on Sunday.

But they haven't really, so still trying to figure out what exactly happened. But it's very clear that the political party that was aligned with the military was very much favored in this first phase of what was supposed to be three rounds of elections all taking place against the backdrop of a violent civil war that has claimed the lives of thousands of people and displaced millions.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WATSON (voice-over): At polling stations across Myanmar's largest city, this song played on a constant loop. An anthem urging citizens to vote. Myanmar's military is holding an election in the midst of a brutal civil war. The conflict triggered nearly five years ago when the military staged a coup overthrowing an elected government and violently crushing subsequent protests.

This voter told me he hopes the election would help Myanmar chart a way out of its difficult situation. "My family lives in the countryside where it's not safe", he says. "I want the fighting to stop and wish for peace." The situation in this southeast Asian country is dire. The U.N. predicts more than 12 million people will suffer from acute

hunger in 2026, with some 4 million people displaced by the war. Meanwhile, the U.N. special rapporteur for Human Rights calls the election a sham.

TOM ANDREWS, U.N. SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN MYANMAR: There has been an escalation of the use of sophisticated weapons of war. A helicopter, gunships, jet fighters attacking civilian targets in the run up to this election.

If the Junta is successful in getting the international community to in any way recognize this as legitimate, then it will be able to entrench its brutality and things in Myanmar are going to get much worse.

WATSON: The military government concedes it can't hold the election in large parts of the country now controlled by armed opposition groups.

(on camera): Is it difficult to have an election when there's a civil war? "In Yangon, it's safe", says Myo Thein.

MYO THEIN, SPOKESPERSON & CANDIDATE, USDP: No problem, no problem.

WATSON (voice-over): He's running for office with the military- aligned union solidarity and development party.

(on camera): You lost in the last two elections.

THEIN: Yes.

WATSON: Do you think you have a better chance in this election?

THEIN (through translator): He has reason for optimism. The party whose candidate beat him twice can't compete in this election.