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Isa Soares Tonight
U.S. And Israel Announce A Distribution Plan For Aid In Gaza; U.S.- Born Robert Prevost Becomes Pope Leo XIV; China's Xi Jinping Joins Putin For Victory Day Parade; World Leaders Attend Massive Military Parade In Russia; Ukraine's Zelenskyy To Host Coalition Of The Willing Talks; Judge Orders Release Of Tufts University Student Held By Immigration. Aired 2-3p ET
Aired May 09, 2025 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[14:00:00]
ISA SOARES, HOST, ISA SOARES TONIGHT: A very warm welcome to the show, everyone, I'm Isa Soares. Tonight, as the U.S. and Israel announce a
distribution plan for aid in Gaza, aid groups, including the U.N. sound the alarm. We are live in Gaza this hour with the World Food Program. And he's
a Chicago-born, a love of the White Sox baseball team, and now the head of the Catholic Church.
How, though, will he shepherd the world's 1.4 billion Catholics? We are live in Chiclayo, Peru and Rome. Plus, as Russian President Vladimir Putin
shows off his hardware at Moscow's Victory Day parade, Ukraine is preparing to host the coalition of the willing to counter his aggression.
But first tonight, after a week of devastating bombings and increasingly dire warnings of a possible famine, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is
worse than ever. And the U.N. warns the cost of any further delay in lifting Israel's total blockade on aid is irreversible. But the U.S. and
Israel have other plans. In Jerusalem today, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee unveiled a new aid mechanism for Gaza's 2 million people.
It will be run by a private foundation and initially have just four distribution sites. Israeli troops would police the perimeter and U.S.
contractors would provide security inside. Huckabee, who has said Palestinians don't exist as a people, says that would prevent Hamas from
stealing aid. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE HUCKABEE, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL: I want to say the Israelis are going to be involved in providing necessary military security because it is
a war zone. But they will not be involved in the distribution of the food or even in the bringing of the food into Gaza. Their role will remain on
the perimeter, as is necessary, to make sure that those who are bringing the food in and who are distributing the food are kept safe and out of
harm's way in the midst of a war zone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, the U.N. and other aid organizations are rejecting the privatization plan, saying it would not meet the urgent need of really,
Gaza's population. A CNN team filmed these desperate scenes, you see there, in Khan Younis this week, as a community kitchen shut down after food run
out.
A UNICEF spokesperson is condemning the plan to force civilians into small militarized zones, saying it would only increase the suffering. Have a
listen to what James Elder had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAMES ELDER, SPOKESPERSON, UNICEF: The use of humanitarian aid as a bait to force displacement, especially from the north to the south, will create
this impossible choice between displacement and death.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, we told you earlier this week about a series of devastating Israeli strikes that hit civilian areas in Gaza. Now, we have footage from
those attacks. It is extremely hard to watch, but we feel it's important to get beyond the death tolls and statistics to show what is happening on the
ground. Our Jeremy Diamond has our report, and we strongly warn you again that what you're about to see is graphic and highly disturbing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Who can be saved and who is beyond saving? In the first seconds after this airstrike, it
seems impossible to tell. After shouting for an ambulance, these men leave this bloodied boy in the middle of the road and head back to the scene. But
his, is not the only limp body being rushed away.
In the arms of some and carried on chairs by others, critically-wounded Palestinians are heaved into ambulances in the flickering hope that they
can be saved. These motionless bodies are far from anonymous. Dad, this boy cries out over and over again, shock and fear etched into his voice and
across his face.
Israel target this restaurant in Gaza city where customers died at their tables, and where one man now tries to revive another. The man, journalist
Yahia Subhi(ph), won't survive. Hours after his daughter was born, he died wearing the same clothes he held her in. This strike capped a deadly 24
hours in Gaza, during which Israel killed 97 people and injured over 200 more in strikes on just three locations, according to the Palestinian
Ministry of Health.
[14:05:00]
With a pink backpack still slung over his shoulders, this boy is one of at least two dozen children killed in those strikes. He was killed when
missiles struck a crowded marketplace blocks away from the restaurant. The Israeli military said they killed Mohammed Barakat(ph), whom they accused
of kidnapping an elderly woman on October 7th.
Earlier on Wednesday, an Israeli strike hit a school, housing displaced Palestinians in another Gaza city neighborhood. Fifteen were killed, no
comment from the Israeli military. A day earlier, another school turned- shelter in central Gaza was the target not once, but twice in the span of five hours, according to witnesses.
The Israeli military said it struck a Hamas command center. In this graveyard of shredded tents, once the school's courtyard, this man
describes what he calls a night of horror. "This is what they drop on displaced people in an UNRWA school. Look at these rockets." Anger here
isn't just directed at Israel. "Hamas should get out of the school. They are hiding between the people. Get them out!", this woman shouts.
For these girls, grief is the only emotion now pouring out. "My friend Lynn(ph) is gone. My friend Yusra(ph) is gone. My friend Miral(ph) is
gone." Like so many girls their age, they had been planning a party and were discussing what outfit they were going to wear when the airstrikes
hit. "I was holding her hand. Her hand left me and she disappeared. I couldn't find her and ran to hide."
Hours later, her body lies among those of other dead children. Like them, her final outfit, a white shroud.
(on camera): And beyond bombs, Palestinians in Gaza also now facing the threat of starvation as Israel's total siege on the Gaza Strip now
approaches its 10th week. Ten weeks during which Israel hasn't allowed a single truck of humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. And now cases of acute
malnutrition are rapidly rising in the Strip.
On Friday, the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, announcing a new U.S.-Israeli plan to get aid into parts of the Gaza Strip, tightly
controlled ways of getting aid into Gaza that they say will keep Hamas from stealing the aid. Humanitarian aid organizations have rejected those claims
in the past, insisting that the overwhelming majority of aid actually makes it to the people in need.
This mechanism, though, even if it goes into effect, is weeks away from actually getting up off the ground. And even then, Mike Huckabee,
acknowledging that this mechanism will only feed about 60 percent of Gaza's population, and the people of Gaza are rapidly running out of time. Jeremy
Diamond, CNN, Tel Aviv.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: And like Jeremy said, people who survived the bombs face another lethal threat, one that really never leaves their side. The U.S. Ambassador
to Israel, Mike Huckabee, today acknowledging that, quote, "the greatest danger, the most important danger in Gaza is people starving to death." And
as desperation grows, this is what some families are eating to stay alive.
Spoiled flour full of sand and mites, you can see there. One mother says the smell is intolerable and it's not even fit for animals. But she says
the children want to eat. Yet, Israel denies that people are starving. Listen to what the deputy Foreign Minister told my colleague just this
week, our Christiane Amanpour. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Are you denying that people have died of starvation in Gaza? Are you denying that there was a
famine? That famine is imminent now because this is categorized and reported by international doctors, international humanitarians?
SHARREN HASKEL, DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER, ISRAEL: Look --
AMANPOUR: Are you denying that, seriously?
HASKEL: These are complete lies. And I'll tell you what we heard a year ago. You heard about the starvation, and you saw that it was a lie. And
this is the same situation --
AMANPOUR: No, but we didn't. That's why I'm asking you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, that's the deputy Foreign Minister there of Israel speaking to our Christiane Amanpour on Wednesday. Our next guest is on the ground in
Gaza for us giving his perspective. Antoine Renard is the Palestine Representative and Country Director for the World Food Program. He's seen
with his own eyes what is happening on the ground.
Antoine, really appreciate you taking the time to be -- to be with us today. Can I pick up with what we've heard there from Israel's deputy
Foreign Minister? I don't want you to get into the politics of it. It's just the aspect of what she said to our Christiane that, you know, calling
these reports of starvation complete lies. Just tell us what you are seeing, what your team on the ground is seeing first of all.
ANTOINE RENARD, PALESTINE REPRESENTATIVE & COUNTRY DIRECTOR, WORLD FOOD PROGRAM: You know, thank you so much, and it's important exactly that we
speak about what is the reality on the ground. I was just two days ago in Gaza city -- by the way, one of the places that you spoke about that was
just bombed.
[14:10:00]
I was actually ordering -- with my staff, ordering pizza on that place. To tell you the reality on the ground, I was just two days in Gaza city,
Aisha(ph) was telling me that she barely eats one-and-a-half meal per day. She is the mother of three children. She has a husband, and all she's
relying on are, by the way, some of the hot meals that are in the kitchen that we are supporting.
She has barely a soup in which they are 16 lentils. Sixteen, one-six. That is the main meal she's having. We eat bread because there is not enough
wheat flour anymore on the market. And the one that is now on the market, a bag of 25kg is 560 USD. So, you know --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wow --
RENARD: What people are resorting to? They are buying macaroni, that are still affordable. They smash them and they try to do dough to actually have
bread for their own children. That's the reality of what we see on the ground.
SOARES: And you know, those who cannot afford it, Antoine, those who cannot get their hands on any food, what do they do? How did they survive? I mean,
how are they possibly coping?
RENARD: That's exactly why we're seeing now that we are really getting to the end of the road. As the World Food Program, we had to stop, as you
know, and we have been already in contact with you. A week ago, we stopped our bakeries, we stopped our food parcels, and the last lifeline that we
have is, in fact, tekia(ph), these hot meals.
Many people are dependent fully on these hot meals. A week ago, speaking to your audiences, we still had 142 kitchens that were up and running, today,
there's only 94. There's less than half a million of the population who still has access to some of these hot meals. And the amount of food that
they have is so low that they don't have the proper food intake. Nothing is --
SOARES: Yes --
RENARD: Fresh into this --
SOARES: Antoine, let me make it very clear just for our viewers, so, they understand. From what you -- from what you have seen, have you seen women?
Have you seen children starving in Gaza? Because this is really important. The clarity from what your teams have been seeing on the ground. Is
starvation already happening there in Gaza?
RENARD: That's exactly what you have. You have a real hunger. I was with Khalid(ph) and his family. Khalid(ph) over the war has lost 20kg, and he
was telling me that the shock that they have now, he doesn't know how he's going to cope. He doesn't know how seven of his grandchildren are going to
cope.
Because if you have children less than five years old, you need to have the proper food on your table to be able to grow. You have no fresh food, no
meat, no fish, no dairy products. So, what are people surviving on and these young children? It's again purely the soup.
SOARES: Yes --
RENARD: The soup is sometimes a broth cube and spaghetti. It is how you grow when you're five years old.
SOARES: Yes, it's a physical and mental decline for so -- for all those children of course. And as you and I are talking about the crisis that's
been deepening every week, it seems that it's getting worse and worse. We are getting details, Antoine, from -- of this American-Israeli plan to kind
of funnel humanitarian aid into parts of Gaza, a plan that, as we said, is already facing plenty of criticism.
The U.N. calls this unfeasible and incompatible humanitarian principles. What is the World Food Program's position on this plan?
RENARD: The position that we have is that we should not at this stage, speak about a plan. We should actually speak of how we are reaching people,
and as you were mentioning, the plan is not yet in motion. So, we need to make sure that the food goes to the people. That's why we need to continue
to plead with the Israeli, plead with the mediators, plead with the different member states of the United Nations to make sure that the food
still goes to people.
You have 800,000 people that are in Gaza city and in the north. How the food is going to reach these people? That is what we need to speak about.
This is what is --
SOARES: Yes --
RENARD: The urgency.
SOARES: Yes, and look, James Elder, who is a guest often on the show of UNICEF, says the plan will only increase -- he said, ongoing suffering. And
then he says from what he's seen of the plan, only 60 trucks would be allowed in per day. That is, according to him, one-tenth of what was being
delivered.
[14:15:00]
And, you know, and I know from many NGOs, many of the trucks are waiting on the Egyptian side of the border. I mean -- and then you have the fact that
this plan supposedly is only going to feed 60 percent of the population as our Jeremy Diamond said in that report before we came to you, Antoine. What
will happen to the remaining 40 percent?
RENARD: You know, I feel that we are back into December 2024, January 2025, before the ceasefire actually emerged, we were really on the collapse
related to our --
SOARES: Yes --
RENARD: Assistance. As United Nations, as humanitarian, we have all it takes to deliver. I feel like I'm a broken record because I've been saying
this often and often again. We need to ensure that we reach a consensus, we reach a ceasefire, and we reach again the people. There are 2.2 million
people that are waiting for us. We can't anymore let them wait. We need to reach them.
SOARES: I think that we're all broken records at this point, Antoine. But you know, we -- it's so important that we have your voice and your
perspective here, incredibly grateful for that, Antoine Renard, thank you very much. Antoine there from Deir al-Balah in Gaza.
RENARD: Thanks --
SOARES: Now, we're going to leave -- you're very welcome. We're going to leave Gaza and focus turned really to what is being a historic moment and a
new era for the Catholic Church. Congratulations, as you can imagine, are pouring in for the newly-chosen Pope Leo XIV. On his first full-day as
pontiff, Leo celebrated mass in the Vatican Sistine Chapel.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(POPE LEO XIV CELEBRATING MASS)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Only the cardinals electors who were part of the conclave were actually there. Leo, the first American pope, also has citizenship in Peru,
where he served as a Bishop. The Vatican says Leo will be formally installed as pope on May 18th. That is when the pontiff would hold his
inaugural public mass in St. Peter's Square.
Leo, Robert or just plain Bob, the world and the people closest to the American pope are getting used to the name change. Here is how Cardinal
Joseph Tobin, the archbishop of Newark, recalls the moment his friend accepted this new title. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOSEPH TOBIN, ARCHBISHOP OF NEWARK: I took a look at Bob, and because his name had been floating around, and he had his head in his hands, and I was
praying for him because I couldn't imagine what happens to a human being when you're facing something like that.
And then when he accepted it, it was like he was made for it. He just -- all of whatever anguish was resolved by the feeling that I think that this
wasn't simply his saying yes to a proposal, but God had made something clear, and he agreed with it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Let's get more on this. Stefano Pozzebon is standing by for us in Peru. But first, I want to go to Rafael Romo, who is in Rome. Rafael, good
to see you, my friend. So, we know he's Chicago-born, and we know he's a lover of the White Sox baseball team. Do we have any clarity so far from
what we've heard from him about the direction that he will take the Catholic Church?
RAFAEL ROMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Isa, well, yes, one very huge, gigantic clue is the name that he chose, Leo. And by doing that, he is probably
going to follow in the footsteps of the previous Leo, Leo XIII, who wrote a very influential encyclical in -- when he was a pope in the late 19th
century, early 20th century, where he advocated for workers rights.
And he's also seen as someone who espoused the social doctrine of the church. So, it is very important to look at that, considering what he is
going to be. And he's also talking a lot about the legacy of Pope Francis, and how he admired how Pope Francis went out to the people, the peripheries
of the church, the marginalized.
And let me tell you, Isa, he has been the leader of the Roman Catholic Church for a little over 24 hours now. And Pope Leo XIV already has a full
schedule for the month of May. It all began this morning with a mass at the Sistine Chapel, the same place where he was elected pope on Thursday.
On Saturday, tomorrow, Pope Leo XIV will meet with the college of cardinals, and on Sunday, he will be reciting the Regina Caeli prayer from
the main balcony of St. Peter's basilica here behind me. Then on Monday, he will answer questions from international correspondents covering the
Vatican.
But probably, the most important event, the highlight of the month, other than his election, of course, will be the pope's inaugural mass that will
be held on Sunday, May 18th here at St. Peter's Square.
[14:20:00]
And it will be, we already know, because the Vatican announced it will be open to the public. So, already, a full month of events for the pope, only
a day after he was elected. Isa.
SOARES: Yes, I'm interested to see as well what his first trip would be, and that would say so much about the direction, of course, he wants to take
the Roman Catholic Church. Rafael, stay with us, let me go to Stefano in Chiclayo in Peru, which I am sure they are celebrating, because in many
ways, he is one of their own.
STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Yes, absolutely, Isa. The celebration for the election of the new pope here in Chiclayo is just getting started.
I wanted to point out to you, to these enormous poster that has just been posted out of the City Hall Palace. We were here literally 20 minutes ago
when that poster was hung up.
They are celebrating Chiclayo (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE), so, Chiclayo blessed. And just to tell you about the expectations that the new pope is
triggering in these people. I'm here with my new friend, Anoiette(ph), who is a -- he's a -- she's a journalist at the local "Panorama Chiclayo", she
spoke with the pope.
She had the privilege of interviewing the pope a couple of times when he was the Bishop here. And I'm going to ask about the expectations. (SPEAKING
IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE) what are the expectations that the people around here have for this new pope?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
POZZEBON: The expectation have, of course, arisen a lot since the election. He -- she, Anoiette(ph) here told me that everybody still remember of the
pope as a very spiritual but also a very kind person. And that the expectation is for him to continue his missionary work from, of course,
from Rome, from the capital of the Roman universal Catholic Church.
Many here remember him as a missionary, we spoke with Anoiette(ph). You can see here, Isa, by the way, take a look at this. We have a pope, Habemus
papam, of course, but Chiclayo from Chiclayo, and then, of course, Rubin, Peru. One of the very first things that they will tell you is that the pope
used to love the goat stew. (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
That was apparently a local delicacy that he was fond of. And then, of course, we intend to try out for you, Isa, in the upcoming hours.
SOARES: A very good -- do send me a photo. I want to see that, and of course, it was Pope Francis who appointed him the Bishop of Chiclayo. Thank
you very much, Stefano Pozzebon and Rafael Romo for us in Rome, appreciate it, thank you to you, both. And still to come right here on the show
tonight, a call for restraint from many around the world as the fighting between India and Pakistan intensifies. We'll have the latest on a
diplomatic push to try to ease those tensions.
Plus, thousands of soldiers marched across Moscow to mark Russia's Victory Day. We'll have a report on the dozens of foreign leaders who attended the
grand event. That is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:25:00]
SOARES: While tensions remain high with India, Pakistan says it is giving space for diplomacy. Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister is meeting separately
with Pakistani as well as Indian officials to try to turn down the temperature between the two long-time adversaries. Amid those efforts, both
sides exchanging fire, as well as blame.
A new round of explosions heard in Indian-administered Kashmir just a short time ago. Pakistan says five people were killed overnight in cross-border
shelling. Clearly, those living along the line of control separating Indian and Pakistan-administered Kashmir are caught in an absolute nightmare. One
resident telling CNN, there's been heavy shelling and people there are under high tension. Our Nic Robertson reports from Pakistan near a cricket
stadium that was the apparent target of a drone attack.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR (on camera): Yes, when you're looking at Kashmir across that line of control, there has been
intense shelling, people are fleeing the border area right now. That's what we're understanding. Overnight, Pakistani officials told us that India sent
more drones into Pakistan. They sent 29, according to Pakistani officials, India sent 29 drones into Pakistan yesterday.
One of them came down here, and I'm going to ask Javit(ph) just to give us a show and tell here, this is a cafe area, you see some of the metal work
ripped down here, Javit(ph), if you can pan up, you can see there where the drone impacted on the building up there above us. And if you come down
here, you get a sense of, look, the shrapnel literally splashed all across the wall here, it came down, this shrapnel marks all over the ground here,
a piece of shrapnel lying on the ground.
Now, it was about 10:30 in the morning when that happened yesterday. This area here is known as food street. Fortunately, at that time, it wasn't too
busy, but the window fronts in all these restaurants were blown out. They're being tidied up today. But right behind what you're looking at
there, is the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
And there is a major cricketing event going on here, or there was, the Pakistan Super League bringing in international players, it's the sort of
the main cricketing event of the year inside Pakistan. That -- because the Foreign Minister said actually it was the stadium that was the target of
the drone. The organizers of this cricketing event have put it on pause.
They're moving it to the UAE, that's going to cost several millions of dollars to do. India, in the meantime, is also now pausing matches in the
India Premier League, major sporting event there as well. And it's ironic, if you will, that cricket, the sort of unifying thing for the youth of
these two nations, is getting affected by these attacks. But this is what people are living in fear of. Here, yesterday, one man in his mid-twenties
was killed. Two people were injured.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Nic Robertson reporting there from Pakistan. And still to come tonight, Russian President Vladimir Putin, surrounded by dozens of world
leaders in Moscow to celebrate Victory Day. We'll bring you the key moments of the grand military parade. Plus, U.S. lawmakers are in London for a
defense conference. I'll speak with some of them to get their thoughts on U.S. efforts to end the war between Ukraine and Russia. That is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:32:24]
SOARES: Welcome back, everyone. A once isolated leader, Russian President Vladimir Putin was surrounded by some powerful friends as he celebrated
Victory Day today. Thousands of troops marching through the streets of Moscow marking 80 years since the Soviet Union and its allies defeated Nazi
Germany in World War II.
Russian state media report almost 30 world leaders were due to attend. Chinese President Xi Jinping as you can see there was there, along with
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
CNN's Fred Pleitgen has more from Moscow for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As Russia puts on a massive parade to mark 80 years since the defeat of Nazi
Germany, Russian leader Vladimir Putin and his guest of honor, China's Xi Jinping closer than ever, side by side wearing patriotic Russian ribbons,
as Putin vows Russia will win in Ukraine as well.
VLADIMIR PUTIN, PRESIDENT, RUSSIA (through translator): Our whole country, society, and people support the participants of the special military
operation. We are proud of their courage, determination, and power of spirit that has always only brought us victory.
PLEITGEN (voice-over): And the Russians flashing the top weapons in their arsenal, from jet fighters to drones heavily used in the battles in
Ukraine, to intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of carrying some of the most deadly nuclear warheads.
PLEITGEN: While this parade is there to commemorate 80 years since the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, it's also a show of force by the
Kremlin saying that its forces are inching closer to victory in Ukraine.
PLEITGEN (voice-over): Moscow buoyed by recent battlefield successes all but completely ousting Ukrainian troops from Russia's Kursk region with a
lot of help from North Korean soldiers. Putin showing his gratitude embracing a senior member of Kim Jong-un's general staff.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Congratulations and all the best wishes to all your warriors.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're putting a lot of pressure on Russia.
PLEITGEN (voice-over): While President Trump has once again called for a 30-day ceasefire and threatened more sanctions if it's broken, a senior
Russian senator making clear to me it's the Kremlin that's calling the shots.
PLEITGEN: Do you believe that President Trump can still broker a peace deal?
KONSTANTIN KOSACHEV, SENATOR, RUSSIA: He is most welcome. He is most welcome to do what he can do, but of course, we have our basic interest in
this crisis, and we will not give up this interest just for the reason somebody in Washington or elsewhere thinks this or that about the crisis.
[14:35:17]
PLEITGEN (voice-over): And Putin and she have made clear nobody will get between them, laying flowers at the tomb of the unknown soldier vowing to
stand together facing down threats from the Trump Administration.
Fred Pleitgen, CNN Moscow.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Well, meantime, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is hosting a meeting of European leaders this weekend called the Coalition of the
Willing. It is intended to shore up support for Ukraine three years after Russia's full-blown invasion. The Finnish Prime Minister said this time
that really is about negotiating a ceasefire. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALEXANDER STUBB, PRESIDENT, FINLAND: I think, you know, peace negotiations and negotiations about ceasefire are always very complex. And there's
always a road that you take, and you have different steps on the road. And I think in the beginning the Americans rightly try to convince the Russians
to join the negotiating table. But now I think the response that we're seeing from Russia is haphazard or actually negative. And now a lot of the
American administration is rightly saying that time is running out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Alexander Stubb there. Well, the coalition was established earlier this year, if you remember, in response to changes in U.S. policy with the
new Trump administration. President Donald Trump has been criticized for his comments on Russia, but the U.S. Vice President says Moscow also needs
to be realistic about ending the war. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
J.D. VANCE, VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I wouldn't say that the Russians are uninterested in bringing this thing to a resolution. What I
would say is right now the Russians are asking for a certain set of requirements, a certain set of concessions in order to end the conflict. We
think they're asking for too much.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: J.D. Vance speaking there. Well, joining me now are House Republican Pat Harrigan and House Democrat Don Davis, both from North
Carolina. And they are part of the Four Country Caucus. It is a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers who are military veterans.
Congressmen, I really appreciate you both taking the time to speak to us from Central London, busy Central London at this hour. Pat, let me start
with you if I may and really pick up on this focus on Ukraine as we just heard from our correspondent. You know, we're on the third year -- entering
third year of unprovoked brutal war. You're both veterans. How do you assess, Pat, first of all this lack of progress when it comes to a
ceasefire? The U.S. is for it, Ukraine has been pushing for it, but it hasn't really moved the needle when it comes to Russia.
REP. PAT HARRIGAN (R-NC): I think President Trump is trying to do everything that he can to turn the temperature down of global conflict,
particularly with Ukraine. He wants to end this war. We've also got to realize the enemy gets a vote. That's one of the first things that you
learn when you walk through the gates at West Point. I'm a West Point graduate.
And so, he's doing the right thing but President Putin is ultimately going to make his decision here and America will have a choice once he makes that
decision.
SOARES: And Don, you know --
REP. DON DAVIS (D-NC): And I believe it is so important for us --
SOARES: Go ahead. Go ahead.
DAVIS: That was so important for us to continue to stand with Ukraine and I believe is important for us to bring this conflict to an end soon. It is so
important for us to continue to get through the negotiations and bring an end to this. But more importantly highlight that this was an unprovoked
invasion and to stand with the Ukraine.
SOARES: And Don, let me pick up on that. You know, here on this show I have spoken to several foreign ministers that they've told me repeatedly that
they don't believe that Russia is interested in peace. This week, I'm not sure if you heard the interview that the former president, President Biden,
gave to the BBC accusing President Trump of modern-day appeasement towards Russia.
Let me play it and then you I could get your reaction after that. Have a listen, Don.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It is modern-day appeasement. Look, listen to what Putin said when he talked about going
from Kyiv into Ukraine and why. He can't stand the fact that the Russian dictatorship that he runs, that the Soviet Union has collapsed. And anybody
thinks he's going to stop is just foolish.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: What do you make of that, Don? Anyone who thinks Putin will stop is just foolish. Do you think this administration is realizing that now?
[14:40:10]
DAVIS: I believe it's important for us to continue to show and convey our support for Ukraine and to bringing an end to the conflict. When we think
about where we've been, I would love to continue to see more support and assistance. But what I want to be clear on, even in a polarized environment
in the United States, it was the Congress that came together at the end to ultimately provide supplemental assistance for Ukraine.
And I believe we need to continue to look at ways that we're able to provide the assistance so that we can be clear that this needs to come to
an end right away.
SOARES: Yes. Pat, today we just played a little video in a report in fact from my colleague Frederick Pleitgen in Moscow where we saw Putin marking
victory day yesterday. I know you know because you're here in the U.K. and of course it's marked in so many places including United States. We had VE
Day, right, the end of World War II in Europe, a time of unity, a time of cooperation, and a celebration too of the ironclad alliance between the US
and Europe, an alliance that many, Pat, are worried about.
Let me read you what has been written in the New York Times by Roger Cohen. He writes this. "Never did I imagine less than a year ago that so much so
dear to so many could unravel so fast, nor that the 80th anniversary on Thursday of VE Day or Victory in Europe would come with so many Europeans
no longer sure whether to regard Mr. Trump's America as an ally or adversary."
What do you say, Pat, to those European allies who are worried about the US's role in the world?
HARRIGAN: I think that's absolutely the wrong assertion. And first, I'm going to start with President Biden saying that this is appeasement. The
only appeasement that's happened in the Ukrainian conflict was President Joe Biden allowing Russia to start the Ukrainian conflict in the first
place. That's the only time that appeasement has actually happened and it let loose the chains of destruction around the world.
Now, when we're talking about what President Trump is actually trying to do with our friends in Europe, we have to understand, unity is everything. The
allies that we have overseas are everything. It's everything to us, it's also everything to you. All President Trump has done is issue a challenge
to Europe. He's issued a challenge to the United Kingdom, please pull your weight of the bargain. We need you to up your defense spending. You have to
care as much about your defense as we care about your defense.
That is common sense. And I think that there is all this talk that our allies and our close ties across the ocean are unraveling. I think that
assertion is completely false. We are there together. That is not going to change.
SOARES: On the question, Pat, on that point of actually stepping up when it comes to defense, I will tell you that many on this show including Nordic
countries have said even President Trump in the first administration, that push to up their defense spending actually had a very positive effect. So,
I think everyone of those European defense ministers I've spoken to and foreign ministers are in agreement with President Trump that everyone
should be playing a part on this.
But let me -- you brought up the alliance. Let me ask you this. You know, there's a big diplomatic push now of this Coalition of the Willing. There
are calls for more pressure on Russia. What are, Pat, the pressure points you think at this juncture? What would make Putin play ball you think?
HARRIGAN: Well, look, the biggest pressure point that has not been leveraged right now because Europe doesn't want to leverage it is cutting
off the flow of Putin's gas. That will obviously increase commodity prices over here in Europe. But if everyone is really serious about setting the
conditions to end this conflict, we will absolutely impose those secondary sanctions, cut 80 percent of Russia's revenue, and we will do that
expeditiously.
SOARES: And Pat and Don, I'm incredibly grateful to have you here. While I have you, congressmen, I want to get your reaction to some very good news,
some very happy news -- the first American pope, Pope Leo. Give us your reaction on the second day of course -- the first day I should say on the
job.
HARRIGAN: Boy, I'll tell you I think that there's a lot of excitement among Catholic communities across the world particularly in the United States. I
think it's a great development to have an American at the table in the Vatican. And nothing but excitement from my Catholic friends that I've
heard.
[14:45:00]
SOARES: Don, your thoughts.
DAVIS: Hey, I echo the same sentiment, and we look forward to all that all that will come, you know, with the pope.
SOARES: Gentlemen, thank you very much for taking the time to speak to us here on the show. A busy evening behind you there in Central London. Well
done for keeping your train of thought as well as the traffic goes past. Thank you very much, Congressmen. I appreciate it.
And still to come tonight, a federal judge orders the immediate release of a Tufts University student detained by U.S. immigration officers. We'll
bring you that story next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: Well, a federal judge has ordered the immediate release of a detained student from Tufts University, this after she was -- spent nearly
six weeks in a Louisiana immigration detention center. Rumeysa Ozturk's detainment was part of a series of high-profile arrests of non-citizen
students who participated in pro-Palestine protest. She was accused by the Trump Administration of participating in activities that support Hamas.
Omar Jimenez is in New York with all the details. And Omar, this is in many ways I think a win for free speech and a blow to this administration. What
more can you tell us?
OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. So, Rumeysa Ozturk who was part -- the center, the really the focal point of this particular case, she was
ordered released by a federal -- by a federal judge here. She is a Tufts University doctoral student from Turkey.
Now, the reason she was taken into custody -- there were a lot of different questions, but her attorneys for the longest time had said that it was
because of an op-ed that she penned basically criticizing Tufts University which is where she's a student, their response to pro -- to the war in
Gaza.
Now, she's not accused of any crime, but instead as you mentioned, accused by the Trump Administration of activities in support of Hamas. So, you have
these hearings to try to see what is that evidence. Well, the judge repeatedly noted, noted for weeks, the government failed to produce any
evidence to support her continued detention except the op-ed. That is literally the case.
And I'm quoting here, "There is no evidence here as to the motivation absent the consideration of the op-ed." And then earlier today, she was
ordered release.
And she is at least the second high-profile non-U.S. citizen and/or activist who has been ordered release after being detained by United States
Immigration. The previous one, Mohsen Mahdawi, a former Columbia University student was ordered released previously essentially along these same
grounds, that this authority that the United States has tried to implement saying that these people vaguely in most cases are participating in
activities in support of Hamas. But what we are seeing in at least the second case is that so far those claims have not held up in court.
There are still more proceedings to go but at the very least she is ordered released as a result -- as a result of this bail hearing today.
[14:50:35]
SOARES: Omar Jimenez with the very latest there on the ground. Thank you, Omar. I appreciate it.
JIMENEZ: Of course.
SOARES: And we'll have much more news after this very short break. Do stay right.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: Well, it's become common knowledge by now Italy's floating city Venice is sinking. In the past century, it's sunk by about 25 centimeters
or nearly 10 inches while sea levels rise. Engineers are working on solutions. But in the meantime, tourists continue to flock to the city
before it's too late.
CNN's Erica Hill traveled there for the whole story with Anderson Cooper. She found the tourism boom is causing an even more immediate crisis for
local people. Have a look.
ERICA HILL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is a magical destination that really feels more like a dream. Venice likely brings to mind images of gondolas,
canals, carnivals, maybe even flooded piazzas. But if you think saving Venice is only about water and those floods rising sea levels, think again.
For many Venetians, saving Venice means saving the soul of this ancient city and their place in it. Both of which are increasingly threatened by
rising tourism and a shrinking population.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HILL: Do you worry about as a Venetian the soul of the city for people who live here? Do you worry about that going away?
ELENA ALMANSI, COMPETITIVE ROWER: That is slowly going away because locals are going away. Everything changes because less locals means less services.
Less services means less locals. It's a chain that keeps going at a circle. So, you struggle to find a family doctor. You go to the supermarkets which
is full of supermarkets but all of them sell only the highest price thing because tourists buy it anyways. The only way to save the city is keeping
the locals in, otherwise it's going to be like an empty box.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[14:55:05]
HILL: As Venice leaned into tourism, many locals feel they've been forced out. And while they're not saying Venice should do away with visitors
altogether, they warned that not addressing the issue threatens their very survival.
I hope you'll join me on Sunday night for this hour taking a look at those challenges but also the solutions when it comes to saving this ancient
city. It is a beautiful and surprising hour. Back to you.
SOARES: Thank you very much. Erica Hill there. And you can watch the deep dive into the future of Venice on "THE WHOLE STORY" with Anderson Cooper.
That airs at 8:00 p.m. Sunday in New York. That is 1:00 a.m. on Monday right here in London.
And that does it for me for tonight here on the show. Thank you very much for your company. Do stay right here though. "WHAT WE KNOW" with Max Foster
is up next. Have a wonderful weekend. I shall see you on Monday. Bye-bye!
END
