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Isa Soares Tonight
President Trump Welcomes Netanyahu To Palm Beach Florida For Phase 2 Of Gaza Peace Talks; Trump Optimistic Of End Of Russia-Ukraine War; Boxer Anthony Joshua Involved In A Car Crash In Nigeria; Ukraine Peace Plan Effort; Zelenskyy Rejects Russian Claim Of Ukrainian Drone Attack; Bulgaria Set To Adopt Euro On January 1; Millions Across U.S. Impact By Winter Weather Alerts. Aired 2-3p ET
Aired December 29, 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, a high stakes meeting in Florida as U.S.
President Donald Trump welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Palm Beach to push forward a fragile ceasefire.
Then Trump turns his diplomatic skills to Russia's war in Ukraine, struck - - striking an optimistic tone on progress towards peace. But the Ukrainian President is accusing his Russian counterpart of trying to sabotage the
talks. I'll ask a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine where things really stand.
Plus, brace for bad weather if you're in the Midwest and northeast United States, 2025 is on its way out with a chaotic forecast threatening to upend
travel plans for millions. We have the very latest for you. We do begin this hour, though, with U.S. efforts to push forward a fragile ceasefire
still stuck, if you remember, in that phase one months after a halt in fighting was declared in Gaza.
President Donald Trump has been hosting, and is currently still hosting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida right
now. Mr. Trump wants momentum for phase two of the Gaza deal his administration brokered, which includes the creation of a temporary
governing board, the disarmament of Hamas and the beginning of reconstruction of Gaza.
But underscoring the challenges just today, Hamas repeated its vow not to disarm as long as the Israeli occupation remains. And if you remember last
week, the Israeli Defense Minister said Israel would never withdraw from Gaza. That video you're looking at, just happening in the meeting in the
last 20 minutes or so.
All of this leaves Palestinian civilians in limbo. Many are still living in pretty flimsy, I wouldn't even call them tents, or the ruins of unstable
buildings, desperate, of course, for shelter from what has been a pretty horrific Autumn -- Winter, rain and cold.
Many of the areas flooded as we've shown you on the show. Well, President Trump and Mr. Netanyahu briefly took questions from reporters just moments
ago. The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for the Israeli leader over alleged war crimes in Gaza. But President Trump had
high praise for his ally. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He's a wartime prime minister. He's done a phenomenal job. He's taken Israel through a very
dangerous period of trauma, Israel with other people might not exist right now if you want to know the truth. That's a pretty big statement.
But it's true. I feel that you had the wrong prime minister. Israel right now would not exist because they were --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Trump --
TRUMP: They were met with a force, the likes of which very few countries could have handled. And we worked together and we were extremely
victorious, to put it mildly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Let's get more now from CNN's Matthew Chance who joins us this hour from Jerusalem. And Matthew, just that little clip we heard there shows
that potentially, we are likely to see kind of united front when we do hear from both leaders.
But I imagine, there will also be pressure on Prime Minister Netanyahu on advancing this 20-point ceasefire, that phase two. How likely is Netanyahu
to respond to him? Just give us a sense of what he's likely to get out of this.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CHIEF GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Well, there's likely to be unity on some issues. I mean, President Trump there, was sort
of alluding to the issue of Iran, and you know, Netanyahu has gone to Florida to talk about the growing threat, as he perceives it, of Iran
rebuilding its ballistic missile program and its nuclear program as well.
And the two leaders seem to be on the same page when it comes to sort of answering that threat with military force if necessary. Although, President
Trump expressed a preference for Iran to sit down and do a deal.
The issue which is going to potentially be contentious is the one about Gaza, about the -- you know, the sort of demands by President Trump to move
as quickly as possible, in his words, to the second phase of his much vaunted peace plan for Gaza.
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Which would involve disarming Hamas, but would also involve some very difficult concessions from Israel, like withdrawing from the Gaza Strip and
handing control over to an International Stabilization Force. Netanyahu, and more importantly, his right-wing coalition partners, are deeply
skeptical, at least, and at worst, fundamentally opposed to those kinds of moves.
And the Israeli Prime Minister is sort of desperate to try and sort of convince President Trump to hold back from pushing forward and advancing to
that second phase, but while also maintaining, you know, a good relationship with the U.S. President, who he needs if he stands any chance,
or at least, this is his calculation.
If he stands any chance of winning the forthcoming elections in Israel. So, it's a very difficult balancing act that Benjamin Netanyahu is currently
engaged in. Isa.
SOARES: Yes, and we've heard on previous occasions, Matthew, you know, the President Trump kind of somewhat impatient over the phase two, the fact
that we haven't really moved that far ahead. But this is a crucial year coming up, a crucial year domestically for Netanyahu, as you clearly
mentioned there, with the election around the corner.
That last comment that we heard from President Trump saying that Bibi has done a phenomenal job, that Israel wouldn't exist without his leadership,
saying he should be pardoned. How will that play domestically do you think?
CHANCE: Well, I think it plays into Netanyahu's hands. I mean, look, I mean, the Netanyahu sort of campaign, have made it pretty clear that, you
know, they need to have President Trump on side if they stand any chance of winning an election, which is scheduled within the next ten months.
It could come a lot sooner than that. But Trump is immensely popular inside Israel. And, you know, having Trump essentially campaign or endorse
Benjamin Netanyahu to be the next prime minister in the forthcoming election would be a huge boon for him.
But again, it's a -- it's a -- it's a fragile, you know, balancing act because Trump is also concerned about his legacy. He also wants to push
forward what he sees as the centerpiece of his foreign policy. This peace plan for Gaza, which he hopes will create lasting peace in the Middle East
and potentially give him a Nobel peace prize.
And, you know, Netanyahu is dragging his feet when it comes to implementing or beginning the second phase of that because of the opposition he has
domestically from his own right-wing coalition and his own skepticism, of course. So, that's where we're going to see the tensions potentially emerge
between Trump and Netanyahu. Isa.
SOARES: Yes, one of the more contentious areas, one, of course, when we do hear from both men, will bring that to everyone's attention. Matthew, good
to see you. Thank you very much indeed. Let's stick with the story. I want to bring in Gideon Levy, a columnist for the Israeli newspaper, "Haaretz",
a well-known face here on the show.
Gideon, great to see you. Let me just pick up, really, with what our correspondent Matthew Chance was just talking about there. You know,
President Trump has staked his legacy, he's staking his image on promoting peace. He wants to see, right? He wants to see the next phase advance, and
has been impatient with this.
Netanyahu, meanwhile, is under pressure, Gideon from his coalition, who believes he probably has conceded too much. Well, how do you then -- how do
you see -- if you see any progress first of all, at all, coming out of this meeting on the question of Gaza?
GIDEON LEVY, COLUMNIST, HAARETZ: Right, it's very hard to tell. It was quite amazing, I must tell you, because Donald Trump presented an
alternative reality. Benjamin Netanyahu is the man who saved Israel without Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel wouldn't exist.
Benjamin Netanyahu is expecting a pardon very soon and many other things which were really amazing to any Israeli ear. Donald Trump, I hope is
giving Netanyahu now a bear hug, and I hope that in a closed room, things will really lead to somewhere.
Because if to listen to what was said, and I'm so grateful to you, Isa, for your introduction, reminding all of us that by the time we are talking
about all those important issues, 2.3 million people are freezing in the cold weather. Today was a terrible day in Gaza in terms of weather sinking
in the mud.
But OK, let's put it aside. I'm just grateful you mentioned them because we have to remember them, but by the end of the day, we face two approaches.
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Donald Trump wants to get an achievement, a peaceful achievement, Netanyahu faces four fronts in all of them. He would like those fronts to continue to
be a lie. And in all fronts, his only -- a solution is a military solution. And those are two different schools.
SOARES: Let's then expand on this, because I think it's really important that I think viewers potentially have lost sight of where we are. We've
been talking about phase two, Gideon, you and I, for a while. Talk us over the hurdles here over phase two, because the disarmament of Hamas is one of
them.
But we were talking about a stabilization force, and we heard President Trump being asked, of course, about the element of Turkish forces. Where
are -- where are the hurdles from the Israeli side?
LEVY: Well, first of all, the basic hurdle is the fact that Netanyahu would like to see the Israeli presence, the Israeli occupation of Gaza,
continuing today, the Minister of Defense of Netanyahu said that Israel is going to stay there forever. Netanyahu can deny it, but that's the Minister
of Defense.
While Donald Trump has a vision in which Israel will have to get out of Gaza in a certain stage. Secondly, Israel is putting many obstacles. The
Turkish presence is one of them, if you ask me.
We should be very happy about any country who would join this peace force or whatever it will be called, because as many international forces will be
involved in it, the harder it will be to violate it.
The harder it will be to get back to war, to attacks, to bombardments. But in any case, the two men, Netanyahu and Donald Trump, come from a totally
different start point for Israel, it's continuing to occupy Gaza as much as possible. Some of Israelis speak about settlements in Gaza. I must remind
you, including ministers in the government. In Israel's eyes, there is no alternative to Hamas because --
SOARES: Yes --
LEVY: Israel put a veto to any other Palestinian leadership which would get in, including the Palestinian Authority --
SOARES: Yes --
LEVY: While Trump wants to run forward.
SOARES: And while we are talking Gaza, Gideon, we heard President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu take a couple of questions before they went into
the White House. We know that it won't only be the question of Gaza, potentially the most contentious we know.
They're also talking about potentially Iran. There were two questions on Iran, Lebanon and even the President commenting on Syria. How will Trump
likely thread this? Because let me put what the "New York Times" said today. "Israel's military actions in Lebanon and Syria appear at odds with
the Trump administration's efforts to stabilize governments in both countries.
What is Netanyahu looking to get out of President Trump on Syria, on Lebanon and on Iran critically?
LEVY: Which, if I may correct, it's much more important what Donald Trump wants to get out of it, because if he really wants to promote stabilization
in all those fronts, he has to push Netanyahu to stop with the bombardment of Lebanon, to stop the bombardments in Syria, and to postpone any threats
and talking about bombing Iran again, and trying to get to a diplomatic deal.
So, the pressure should be from Donald Trump over Netanyahu. And here we can only hope that Donald Trump will use his leverage, and yes, an endless,
unlimited leverage over Netanyahu, especially now, would he really push him to give up some of the bombardment, some of -- and to bring Netanyahu to
the understanding that not everything can be solved by bombing and bombing and bombing, and diplomacy can reach many times much more.
SOARES: Yes, and we did hear President Trump say, we want to see Syria survive. And he mentioned looking to Netanyahu, saying hoping that Israel
will get along with Syria's new president. We'll have a look and a listen to when both men speak. Gideon, as always, great to see you. Happy new year
if we don't speak before that, thank you very much indeed.
LEVY: Happy new year for you. Thank you --
SOARES: Thank you. Now, optimism from the White House about reaching a deal to end Russia's war in Ukraine is giving way to signs that talks could be
on the verge of crumbling. U.S. President Donald Trump spoke to his Russian counterpart just earlier today amid claims by the Kremlin that one of
President Vladimir Putin's residences was targeted by Ukrainian drone.
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An accusation, by the way, that Kyiv has rejected. Moscow now says Russia's negotiating position will be revised. And that's a quote. Minutes ago,
President Trump spoke about his call with President Putin. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I heard about it this morning. You know who told me about it? President Putin told me about it. Early in the morning, he said he was
attacked. It's no good. It's no good.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Russian officials --
TRUMP: Don't forget. You know, the Tomahawks, I stopped the Tomahawks, I didn't want that because we're talking about -- you know, it's a delicate
period of time. This is not the right time. It's one thing to be offensive because they're offensive. It's another thing to attack his house.
It's not the right time to do any of that. And can't do it. And I learned about it from President Putin today. I was very angry about it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, Mr. Trump said a deal to end the war is a lot closer, maybe very close following a Sunday meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelenskyy. Well, the future of the Donbas region remains a major sticking point. This is the area we're showing you, the territory that has long been
coveted by Mr. Putin.
After that meeting with Mr. Zelenskyy, President Trump pushed back on Ukraine's proposal for a ceasefire, saying he understands President Putin's
position on the matter. There's a lot for us to talk about when it comes to Ukraine. Our Fred Pleitgen joins me now from Berlin with more.
And Fred, let me start, first of all, with that Kremlin readout, and that Kremlin claim that they're making the Ukrainian drone attack targeted one
of Putin's residences on Monday. First of all, what do we know? And did the Kremlin really offer any proof at all?
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the Kremlin is saying that this happened basically as President Trump and
Volodymyr Zelenskyy had just finished talking in Mar-a-Lago. So, they're essentially saying that, that happened almost at the same time in the
overnight hours from the 28th to the 29th.
So, in the early hours probably of this morning, the Russians are saying that it was 91 drones in total. That information, by the way, coming from
the Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, that all of those drones were taken down, and that there are no reports of any casualties on the ground.
Now, this happened in the Novgorod region, which I would say is about two- thirds of the way from Moscow to St. Petersburg. And the Russians obviously are saying this is a very serious incident, and so far, these are the words
of the Kremlin and the words of Russia's Foreign Minister.
We haven't seen very much beyond that. No video from on the ground or anything of that nature. However, of course, we do know that in that
region, in that part of Russia, there have been drone attacks by the Ukrainians, for instance, targeting Russian oil and gas infrastructure,
which is something that they've been frequently doing over the past couple of months.
So, it's totally unclear what exactly happened there, and you're absolutely right that the Ukrainians came out very quickly and denied all of this. So,
the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, coming out and saying he believes it's a Russian pretext for massive strikes, for instance, on Kyiv.
But the Ukrainian Foreign Minister also coming out and denying it as well as President Trump says right now, it is a very delicate time after those
talks that took place in Mar-a-Lago. Certainly, he's saying it's not something that he wanted to see, but it's very difficult to ascertain
whether this actually happened and what exactly happened there in the Novgorod region.
So, right now, all sides doing their best, if you will, Isa, I would say, to get their version of events out, to make sure that the message doesn't
get out of control for any of these sides. Isa.
SOARES: And look, you have covered Ukraine numerous occasions. We often see you as well in Russia, Fred. So, let's put your, you know, diplomatic hat
on, because the Kremlin saying it will review and revise agreements, saying that, quote, "Russia's negotiating position will be revised."
It doesn't appear, quite honestly, that peace is close after all. How do you see this panning out? Because we've been here --
PLEITGEN: Yes --
SOARES: In so many occasions, Fred, where Putin is constantly just kicking the can down the road.
PLEITGEN: Well, certainly, it appears as though there are still a lot of very difficult issues at hand. I think one of the things that's happened
over the past couple of days, which has been a big -- i wouldn't say breakthrough, but certainly, a step forward, especially if you look at some
of the things that Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the U.S. negotiators have been trying to achieve, is that Volodymyr Zelenskyy, for the first
time, was actually speaking about the possibility of ceding land to the Russians in the Donetsk region.
That little sliver of land that the Ukrainians still hold. There are three very key towns Kostiantynivka, Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, which the Russians
obviously want. So, that would seemed like a pretty big breakthrough. But right now, if you look at how far the two sides are still apart on that
point, there certainly still seem to be a lot of difficulties.
The Ukrainians are saying that any deal would have to go through a referendum. A referendum would mean there would have to be a ceasefire to
be able to prepare a referendum. And the Russians are saying that a ceasefire simply isn't going to happen, because they believe it would allow
the Ukrainians to regroup.
[14:20:00]
So, President Trump is saying and the Ukrainians are saying they believe about 90 percent of the issues have been dealt with. But the issue of
territory certainly still is a very difficult one. And if the Russians do now, as they've threatened -- revised, as they put it, their position on
dealing with the Ukrainians, that, of course, could make it a lot more difficult.
Interesting, by the way, in that -- in that talk that Yuri Ushakov, a senior Kremlin aide, had after the Trump-Putin phone call. He said that the
Russians would revise their position towards the Ukrainians, but still want a diplomatic path with the United States.
Because we know, Isa, one of the things that the Russians have been gunning for since the very beginning is a normalization, a reset of relations
between Russia and the United States. Isa --
SOARES: That is very telling indeed. Fred Pleitgen, as always, great to have you on the show. Thanks, Fred. And later in the show, later in about
20 minutes or so here, we'll take a deeper dive on where things stand with peace talks to end Russia's war in Ukraine.
I'll be speaking with Ambassador William Taylor, who previously served as the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine. Stay tuned for our conversation coming up -
- well, I'll correct you not n ten -- in about ten minutes, not 20, so do stay right here. Now former World Heavyweight boxing champion Anthony
Joshua has been injured in a fatal car crash in Nigeria.
Authorities say the crash happened on a major roadway when the SUV Joshua was traveling in hit a parked truck. The driver of the SUV and another
passenger were killed. Joshua was seen being helped, as you can see there from the wreckage, before being taken to the hospital.
He is being treated for minor injuries. Joshua was born in the U.K., but has Nigerian family. Officials in Nigeria says he's responding well to
treatment and the crash is under investigation. We'll have more on this story in the next hour for you. And still to come tonight, the first round
of Myanmar's controversial elections has finished, all while civil war rages in parts of the country.
We'll have more details straight from the ground after this very short break. You are watching CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: 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. Entire sections of the country will not get to vote because of the civil war
sparked by the coup. Our Ivan Watson brings us the very latest from Yangon in Myanmar.
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(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
IVAN WATSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (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.
WATSON: These are the offices of the National League for Democracy, or NLD Party. Now, it won conclusively in national elections that were held in
2015 and 2020. But since the coup, many of its leaders have been arrested and thrown in jail.
(voice-over): The U.K. and European Union say this election is neither free nor fair, but a Myanmar military government spokesman calls their criticism
irrelevant. The Junta, trying to generate excitement for this controversial process, two more phases of the election are scheduled to take place in
other parts of the country next month. Ivan Watson, CNN, Yangon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Well, China's military says it has launched war games around Taiwan in a, quote, "serious warning" against the island's push for independence.
Beijing says it mobilized Army, Navy, Air and Rocket units in exercises meant to test combat readiness and blockade and control of key ports and
critical areas.
Taiwan condemned the drills and accused China of military intimidation. At least, 13 people were killed and nearly a 100 others injured after a
passenger train derailed in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. It happened on Sunday on the train's main line between Veracruz and Salina Cruz.
Two hundred and fifty people were on board. A cause has not been determined, but an investigation is underway. And still to come tonight, we
will ask a former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine if he believes Russia when it claims Ukraine attacked a personal residence of President Vladimir Putin.
More after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:32:36]
SOARES: Welcome back, everyone. Back to our top story this hour, the effort to find a peace plan for Ukraine. Every time it seems like there is a step
forward, along comes a step back. The latest step comes from talks, in fact, between President Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Florida.
Both the U.S. and Ukraine have expressed optimism and say only a couple more issues need to be resolved.
But amidst that optimism comes an explosive accusation from Russia. It claims Ukraine targeted one of the personal residences of President
Vladimir Putin with a drone attack. President Trump, we heard him speak in the last 45 minutes, said he's very angry to hear about the attack. Though
Mr. Zelenskyy says the whole thing is a lie. And Russia says it is revising its negotiating position in response to that attack. Important to say that
proof was never shown.
Joining us now to help sort through all of this, the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Bill Taylor, well-known face on the show. Ambassador, great to
have you on the show. Let me start, really, with your reaction to exactly the point that we were just highlighting -- I was highlighting to our
viewers that claim -- these claims by the Kremlin that Ukraine is vehemently denying that Ukrainian drone attack targeted one of Putin's
residence on Monday. Your initial reaction, I mean, do you buy it or is this part of the Putin playbook?
BILL TAYLOR, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO UKRAINE AND DISTINGUISHED FELLOW, ATLANTIC COUNCIL: It's clearly part of the Putin playbook. Exactly right. I
mean, this is the man who said in 2014 that the soldiers in Crimea were not Russian when the Russians clearly invaded Crimea. This is the same man in
what, 2022, who said we would never invade Ukraine. You know, this is Putin, said we would never -- this is an American hysterical claim. And we
know what happened there. This is the man who said he wished Ukraine well. That's what he told President Trump yesterday, a clear lie. That's -- he --
Putin is bombing every day. So, no, I put no credence in this claim.
SOARES: And important to point out, again, Ambassador, that no proof was ever provided with this claim. President Zelenskyy saying on X, and this is
just a shortened part of what he said, this alleged residence strife story is a complete fabrication intended to justify additional attacks against
Ukraine.
[14:35:00]
And it does come, of course, on the back of that meeting. And I think timing is important. Often it is with President Putin between President
Trump and President Zelenskyy, where we heard both optimism and uncertainty being projected.
President Trump went as far as to say that the plan was 90 percent complete, but no major breakthrough. Do you see progress here, Ambassador?
TAYLOR: So, I see good progress. Both sides have said, both the Americans and the Russians have said that -- both the Americans and the Ukrainians
have said that about 90 percent. So, most of the elements are agreed. That's a good sign. The Europeans are also on board. The Europeans are
going to play, of course, a big role in the security guarantee supported by the Americans. But they're also on board. So, I think the Americans and
Ukrainians and the Europeans are very close to an agreement. The problem, of course, is the Russians, and the Russians would love to disrupt these
negotiations.
SOARES: You mentioned security guarantees being proposed for 15 years. Zelenskyy -- I saw President Zelenskyy saying he wants longer, potentially
30 to 40, even 50 years. I mean, will the U.S. agree to this sort of commitment? Will U.S. Congress agree to this sort of length of commitment?
TAYLOR: Well, there's strong support for Ukraine in the Congress, strong support in the Senate, where some 85 senators have signed on to a bill that
would put harsh sanctions on the Russians. And you'd ask the American people if they support Ukraine, yes. If they support Russia, no. So,
there's strong support. Whether it goes to a 30- or 50-year plan, we'll have to see.
SOARES: Let's talk in more detail, Ambassador, about the conversation I had just, what, 10 minutes, less than 10 minutes ago with our Fred Pleitgen
over the 20-point plan, of course, and the two of the main issues here, right, which seems to be the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and the issue
of territory. How do you move past this? Because this is a major red line for Ukraine.
President Zelenskyy tweeting, as for withdrawal from Donbas, it is no secret that Russia wants this in their fantasies. They would like us not to
exist on the territory of our own country at all. These fantasies have been around for years. But we do have our own land, our own territorial
integrity, our own state, our own interests. How do we go past this? Because I just feel -- I haven't heard anything -- we haven't had any
detail on these very thorny issues.
TAYLOR: The details are still being worked out. You're right, Isa. But the Ukrainians have said that they will pull back 40 kilometers from the line
of contact in Donbas if the Russians will pull back 40 kilometers as well. That would mean, of course, that the Ukrainians would continue to
administer that territory, like they do now, with local mayors and local police, local courts. The population wouldn't be uprooted and moved out.
So, that's the proposal that the Ukrainians have suggested.
And again, if the Russians want to have a deal, if the Russians want to have some kind of agreement, a ceasefire, which I doubt, but then they can
agree to that. But there is a way forward on that. But you ask how this ends, when the Russians say no to this, that's when President Trump has to
put pressure on Putin to come back to the table and say yes.
SOARES: Do you think he would, though? Do you think you put pressure on Putin or do you think you would just, as President Putin may be wanting
potentially, as I've heard from many analysts, you know, just let go of Ukraine as really a mission for him, a priority for the president, which is
probably what Putin wants to see?
TAYLOR: It's undoubtedly what Putin wants to see. I'm sure Putin is dismayed, is angry, is upset, is worried that President Trump has stuck to
it so well. President Trump has made this the top priority of his foreign policy since he was elected. And to his credit, he's stuck with it and he's
still sticking with it. He wants this to end. So, I don't see him walking away.\
If he wants to end it, if he wants to get credit for ending this, he must put pressure on Putin. And he's got the leverage, got military leverage.
He's got economic leverage. He's got sanctions leverage. He can do this if he really wants to end this war.
SOARES: Ambassador Bill Taylor, always great to see you. Thank you very much.
TAYLOR: Thank you.
SOARES: You're very welcome. Well, across Bulgaria, currency change is sparking both excitement and anxiety. The government's preparing to replace
the lev with the euro starting on January 1st. Bulgaria has been trying for years to meet the strict economic requirements of the European Union. Shops
are now showing prices in both currencies. And officials say the switch will boost trade as well as investment. Public opinion, however, is divided
with many Bulgarians worried the change will drive up prices.
Well, this monumental change comes as the country is gripped by political unrest. Our look at Lynda Kinkade has more for you.
[14:40:00]
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LYNDA KINKADE, CNN ANCHOR/CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Dual pricing at a Bulgarian grocery store, the cost of goods displayed in both the outgoing
Bulgarian currency, the lev, and euros, a soft launch of what customers can expect to pay on January 1st when Bulgaria adopts the euro as its official
currency.
It's taken many years for Bulgaria to meet the economic criteria to join the euro, after becoming a member of the European Union back in 2007. And
now that the time has come for the switch, Bulgarians are divided on how it will affect them. Some people say it would be good to integrate more with
other E.U. countries.
VESELINA APOSTOVIOVA, SOFIA PENSIONER (through translator): Because in the entire E.U., the euro can be used. Not only older people but also young
people can easily travel using euros instead of having to exchange currency.
KINKADE (voice-over): But a recent poll says that about half the country, which is one of the poorest nations in the E.U., is skeptical, fearing the
change would drive up prices.
EMIL IVANOV, SOFIA PENSIONER (through translator): I am against it: first, because the lev is our national currency. Secondly, Europe is heading
towards demise, which even the American president mentioned in the new national security strategy.
KINKADE (voice-over): Euro starter coin kits are now being circulated. Analysts say there may be some confusion, especially amongst the elderly,
as people use the new banknotes and coins. But some processes will be automatic. Lev bank accounts will be converted into euros on the first of
the year, a necessary adjustment period, according to some economists.
STEFAN LUKOV, ECONOMIST (through translator): First and foremost, it will further integrate our economy. And in the end, at least, our central bank
will become a full member of the European central bank family and will have the right to participate in decision making.
KINKADE (voice-over): But the transition comes at a time of political turmoil in the country. The prime minister resigned in December after less
than a year in office, following weeks of mass protests against corruption and a controversial 2026 budget proposal, which means Bulgaria's entry into
the eurozone will be happening as the country tries to form a new government.
That's a lot of change in the new year, but one thing is certain: as of January 1, there will be a period of one month where there will be dual
circulation of both the lev and the euro for payments. And after that, the euro will be Bulgaria's sole legal tender, and the lev, part of the
country's past.
Lynda Kinkade, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: And still to come tonight, millions in the U.S. are under winter weather alerts as a powerful storm spawns blizzards and tornadoes. A live
update just ahead for you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:45:00]
SOARES: From the Midwest to the Northeast, tens of millions of people across the U.S. are under winter weather alerts. Here's what it looks like
in the state of Michigan. Look at that. Many homes and towns completely covered in snow, and some areas are dealing with wiped-out conditions.
Wiped-out conditions, in addition to the blizzards in some states, other states are dealing with ice, thunderstorms, and even tornadoes.
And this is adding, as you can imagine, to the travel challenge for millions driving and flying home for the holidays. The Transportation
Security Administration expects today to be one of the busiest travel days of the year.
Meteorologist Derek Van Dam joins us now from the CNN Weather Center. Wow, it's beautiful for us on this side because we don't have to deal with these
conditions, Derek. Talk us through what the conditions are like now, of course, as the storm starts moving through.
DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Isa, it's a very difficult storm to navigate during this challenging holiday travel period in the best of days,
right? But you put on top of it blizzard conditions, white-out conditions like this. This is coming out of Iowa yesterday, same storm system. Now,
we're getting reports of a multi-vehicle crash that occurred in a snow squall or white-out conditions in and around the greater Detroit area,
impacting a major thoroughfare there, Interstate 75.
So, this is just kind of a drop in the bucket of what people have been contending with, and it's all because of a powerful razor-edge, razor-thin
cold front that is not only picking up the winds and driving the snow, but also dropping the temperatures in a big way. 52-degree Fahrenheit or
roughly 30-degree Celsius temperature change in St. Louis, Missouri, compared to this time yesterday. And it is all thanks to this powerful cold
front that is marching eastward, causing all the havoc that you've seen on your television screens.
So, you're looking at a live radar, and I'm going to focus in on the northern part of the storm where we're getting the cold air wrapped in
behind it. That, of course, ushers over the relatively warm lake waters of the Great Lakes, and then that picks up what we call lake-effect snow
bands. And this time of the year, they can be very treacherous. In fact, some of the snow squalls from the lake-effect snow band traveled across the
state of Michigan and caused, or at least was a part of the reason why we had that lowered visibility across the greater Detroit area and the car
wreck that caused so much vehicles being damaged.
OK. So, here's a look at the wind gusts. This is interesting, too. Buffalo, New York, had a wind gust of 127 kilometers per hour earlier today. It
hasn't gusted that high at the airport since 1980. So, we're going back roughly 45 years for these records. So, it's a powerful storm, and it means
business. It's created an ice storm across northern New England, so parts of upstate New York into Vermont, New Hampshire, and western Maine has seen
at least a quarter inch of ice. You get the winds on top of that, and that can take down tree limbs, also power outages. So, we've got the full gamut
here, really.
This is the forecast snow still to come through the middle of the week heading into New Year's, and you can see some of those favored areas
downwind from Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, that's the lake-effect snow band working its magic, talking feet of snow, and with the busy travel season
coming into full gear right now, with wind gusts in excess of 50 to 70 kilometers per hour, you better believe that there could be some delays at
the major East Coast airports. So, double-check your flight, Isa.
SOARES: Very good advice. Derek, thank you very much indeed. We're going to take a short break. We'll be back on the other side.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:50:00]
SOARES: From A-list stars to wealthy buyers looking for a fresh start, more and more Americans are calling Britain's ideally Cotswolds region their
home. The area is famous for its rolling hills and uniquely colored cottages. Anna Cooban took a trip there to find out why Americans want
their own slice of the English country life.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANNA COOBAN, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: I'm here in the Cotswolds. It's a region in the West of England, and it is a quintessential slice of English
country life. And despite the really gray, drizzly weather here today, this part of the world has become a big draw for Americans buying properties and
starting new lives here. So, I've turned up to find out why.
DEBRA DREW, COTSWOLDS RESIDENT: I think the Americans have quite a romantic notion about the Cotswolds because of the honey-colored stone and the
cottages. I think they think everyone in England lives in a stone cottage.
COOBAN: It's all like this.
DREW: Yes. And it's always sunny.
COOBAN: And tell me. There's this trend of more and more Americans moving to the Cotswolds recently. Is this something you've noticed?
DREW: Oh my gosh, yes. It's in the press here every day. I think that -- I think the Brits are quite interested in the fleeing Americans. Oh!
COOBAN (voice-over): The Cotswolds is a protected area of natural beauty. It's about 100 miles West of London. Hop on a train, and you're there in a
couple of hours. That proximity, combined, of course, with those famous rolling hills, makes it a magnet for lots of famous people.
For centuries, the region was at the center of Britain's wool trade. Today, it is sprinkled with many well-known names. Kate Moss has had a place there
since the early 2000s.
Here's David Beckham digging up vegetables on his Cotswolds estate. But in 2024, U.S. comedian Ellen DeGeneres really helped put the region on the map
for Americans when she moved there with wife Portia de Rossi.
HARRY GLADWIN, BUYING AGENT, THE BUYING SOLUTION: Over the last 12, 18 months, we've seen about 30 percent increase in the number of Americans
registering with us, wanting help with their purchases.
But it's not a cheap part of the world to buy in. There is a premium, because it's an incredibly popular location. Really, you could look at
anything from a smaller cottage for around 1 million pounds through to sky's the limit.
LAUREN NEELY, COTSWOLDS RESIDENT: Hi, there.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How are you?
NEELY: I'm well. How are you?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Usual for you today?
NEELY: Yes, please. Thanks so much.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
NEELY: It's been a 15-year dream in the making. My husband and I fell in love with the U.K. way of life. We love the weather. We loved the
architecture, the history, even the food. It looks quite a bit like home. I'm from Pennsylvania, so it's not that different as far as rolling, gentle
hills, fertile land.
COOBAN: The Cotswolds has quite a reputation in the U.K. for being very well-to-do. Has that been what you've experienced? How does the reality
compare with the impression?
NEELY: I think the impression is correct. These homes are much bigger than they look from the lanes, and they're very private. That being said, well-
to-do means the people have wonderful etiquette. They're very inclusive. They have wonderful manners.
Yes, everyone's just been so friendly and so gracious. Everyone's very down to earth. They have a dog; they take walks. They come to the local pub.
They're just people.
Painswick feels like I went to bed and woke up in the middle of a Christmas Hallmark movie. The stone walls and the architecture. It just feels like
comfort in a time when the world needs more of that. So, we moved here in May, and it's been a dream.
[14:55:00]
COOBAN (voice-over): You know, I think I understand what all the fuss is about now.
Anna Cooban, CNN, the Cotswolds.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: It is a beautiful part of the country. Well, one zoo in the U.K. is welcoming a very large present this holiday season. An endangered giraffe
calf was born at the Whipsnade Zoo last week. Beautiful zoo, by the way. He has not been named yet and is still sticking close to mom. The calf is
expected to venture out in the next few days. The Whipsnade Zoo also welcomed a female giraffe calf just last month. Let us know what they name
him. That would be good to know.
And the countdown, meanwhile, is on until 2026. Join us for New Year's Eve right around the world as we bring you celebrations from across the globe.
The party starts December 31st at 8:00 p.m. if you're watching in Hong Kong, 11:00 in Sydney and noon right here in London. We will be celebrating
throughout the night with you.
That does it for this hour of the show. Do stay right here. I'll be back with "What We Know" after this very short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:00:00]
END
