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The Situation Room

Russia: Ukraine Drone Attack Targeted One Of Putin's Residences, Ukrainian Pres. Zelenskyy Call Allegation "Another Lie"; Trump Pushes For Phase 2 Of Gaza Peace Deal; Rep. Debbie Dingell (D- MI), Is Interviewed About DOJ Memo: DC Pipe Bomb Suspect Told FBI That Someone Needed To "Speak Up" For People Who Believe 2020 Election Was Stolen. Aired 11-11:30a ET

Aired December 29, 2025 - 11:00   ET

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

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: -- next hour of The Situation Room starts right now.

[11:00:13]

And we're following breaking news. We want to welcome our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer. Pamela Brown is off today. You're in The Situation Room.

We begin this hour with the breaking news. New reports just into The Situation Room that Russia is accusing Ukraine of attacking one of President Vladimir Putin's residences overnight. It's a claim that the Ukrainian President Zelenskyy strongly denies.

CNN senior international correspondent Fred Pleitgen is joining us right now. Fred, you've spent a lot of time reporting from Moscow. What do you make of this accusation?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it came from the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Wolf, I would say about an hour, maybe a little bit more before or ago. And this was a press conference from Sergey Lavrov with some audio where he accused the Ukrainians of attacking a residence of Vladimir Putin in the Novgorod region, which is fairly close to Moscow.

Now, the Russians are saying that 91 UAVs, drones, were used in this attack, that these drones were shot down and that there are no reports of casualties. Now, the Russians, of course, irate about all of this. Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, Wolf, coming out and saying that the Russians are going to have to rethink their negotiating position, accusing the Ukrainians of terrorism.

And the Ukrainians themselves, by the way, also very quick to react to all this. In fact, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, denying that the Ukrainians attacked this residence, claiming that the Russians are trying to stoke discord between the United States and Ukraine, of course, right after that very important meeting took place between Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Donald Trump in Mar-a-Lago yesterday.

So the Ukrainians unequivocally saying that they did not attack Vladimir Putin's residence, whereas the Russians are saying that this did happen, that they are going to rethink their negotiating position vis-a-vis the Ukrainians and trying to end the conflict in Ukraine because of this attack, Wolf.

BLITZER: So are they any closer at all right now to a deal to end this war?

PLEITGEN: Well, we just heard a couple of minutes ago, Wolf, that apparently President Trump just finished a phone call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. We are still waiting to get some sort of readout from that, from the Russian side and from the U.S. side as well.

One of the senior envoys of the Russians, Kirill Dmitriev, called these talks vital for peace, but it's unclear how much closer the sides really are to reaching some sort of agreement. One of the things that Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, said is he said that more than 90 percent of the sticking points, he believes, have been sorted out, but that there are still two key issues that have not been sorted out. One of them is the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, one of the biggest power plants -- nuclear power plants in the world currently held by Russia.

But the Ukrainians obviously saying that this is their power plant and what to do with that is still being sorted out. But the main issue remains the issue of territories and if and what territories the Ukrainians would have to cede to the Russians as part of any peace agreement. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine's president, saying a referendum would be necessary in order to do that.

However, he also says that for a referendum to happen, they need a 60- day ceasefire. The Russians are saying that is absolutely not going to happen. They believe that the Ukrainians are going to regroup, so it's going to be very interesting to see what President Trump and Vladimir Putin spoke about in that phone call and whether or not any headway was made in that regard, Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, Fred Pleitgen reporting for us. Fred, thank you very much.

I want to bring in CNN's Matthew Chance right now. He's joining us live from Jerusalem. Matthew, President Trump is set to meet with the visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later this afternoon at Mar-a-Lago. Just how critical is this meeting between these two leaders?

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CHIEF GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: I think it's very critical because you've got these two leaders, President Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, who have very different visions about what should happen next in Gaza. President Trump, of course, very keen to move to the next second stage of his much vaunted peace plan for Gaza. It's very much the centerpiece of his foreign policy, an attempt to bring a lasting peace to the Middle East.

And U.S. officials have been working very hard behind the scenes to try and create the conditions that would allow for the next phase of that peace place -- peace process to unfold. But, you know, when it comes to Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, there's a high degree of reluctance, because even though as part of the second phase, Hamas would have to disarm and give up power, Israel would also be expected to make very difficult, very hard concessions as well, including withdrawing from territory that has been hard fought for, remember, inside Gaza, and then handing control of the Gaza Strip over to an international stabilization force, which is going to be made up of various countries that U.S. officials are in touch with. It hasn't been agreed yet.

[11:05:14]

But Netanyahu and his right-wing coalition, remember, that keeps him in power as the prime minister, are very skeptical about. Now, there's another issue as well, which is the issue of hostages. There's still a last Israeli hostage, or the remains of that hostage. He's dead. And that has not yet been found or given over, handed over by Hamas. Ran Gvili is his name. His parents are with Netanyahu in Florida right now. They're expected to meet President Trump.

And the fact that, you know, his remains have not been handed over, Wolf, is being cast as a major obstacle by Israel for not moving forward in that peace process to the second phase. And so, you know, that's going to be a major talking point as well. There are other issues that Netanyahu is going to be speaking about with Trump, Iran and its attempts to rebuild its nuclear program and its ballistic missile program, the failure of Hezbollah in Lebanon to give up all of its weapons yet, the security situation with Syria. But it's that issue of the next stage in the Gaza peace plan that really could prove to be contentious. So, we're watching very closely what comes out of it, Wolf.

BLITZER: What's the sense there in Jerusalem, and you've been there now for several days, about the state of the U.S.-Israeli relationship right now? How strained is it?

CHANCE: Well, there's been lots of reporting, as you know, about strains that exist in that relationship between White House officials, Trump officials, not necessarily President Trump himself, but Trump officials and Benjamin Netanyahu. There's a lot of concern that the Israelis, the coalition, Netanyahu, are dragging their feet when it comes to implementing or entering into the second phase of Trump's peace plan, which, as I say, is a centerpiece of his foreign policy.

It's still not clear whether President Trump is, you know, kind of on the side of Netanyahu or not. Certainly, that's one of the intentions the Israeli prime minister has, to go to Florida to meet face-to-face again for the fifth time this year with the U.S. President to try and sort of, like, make sure he is still a backer. Having President Trump as a backer is absolutely crucial for Benjamin Netanyahu, not just in the short term, but in the more medium term as well.

Netanyahu faces elections in this country in the next 10 months or so. President Trump is extremely popular in Israel. Having Trump in his camp, if and when the campaign begins, is being seen as crucial if Netanyahu has any chance at all of remaining in his position as prime minister. Wolf?

BLITZER: All right. Matthew Chance in Jerusalem for us, thank you very much. Excellent update.

Also new this morning, the British boxing star Anthony Joshua has been injured in a car crash in Nigeria. Video on social media shows him being rescued from the wreckage. Police there report that two people died. Joshua's injuries are reported to be minor. The former world heavyweight champion just returned to the ring a few days ago. He knocked out American social media star Jake Paul in Miami.

Also happening now, federal investigators are trying to find out why two helicopters collided in flight Sunday in New Jersey. One pilot was killed. Another was seriously injured. Here, take a look at this. You see one of the choppers spitting out of control. We'll slow it down so you can see it again. Witnesses say they couldn't believe what they were seeing. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAL SILIPINO, WITNESS: I saw one go down and then I saw the other one go down and it was a little bit of disbelief. It's like, is that really happening?

DIANA CLEUFF, WITNESS: I hope they don't clip each other. And the minute I said it to myself, the impact occurred.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: The FAA says the pilots were the only people on board the two helicopters.

[11:09:11]

And still ahead, thousands of recalled products still on store shelves, including baby formula recalled for botulism. And what a pipe bomb suspect allegedly told the FBI after his arrest earlier this month. Why the U.S. Justice Department says he targeted both Democrats and Republicans. Stay with us. You're in The Situation Room.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: New details this morning about the man suspected of planting two pipe bombs in Washington just before the January 6th riots. In newly released court documents, federal prosecutors say Brian Cole, Jr. There you see him. Confessed, telling investigators he targeted the Republican and Democratic National Committee headquarters because they were, "in charge." The Department of Justice says he told investigators something just snapped after the 2020 presidential election. Cole was arrested earlier this month. A detention hearing is scheduled for tomorrow.

Joining us now, Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Dingell of Michigan. Congressman, thanks so much for joining us. You were there in the House chamber when that January 6th attack began. What do you make of this prosecution memo saying the suspect, the actual suspect, told investigators someone needed to, "speak up for the people who believe the 2020 presidential election, which Biden won, was stolen?"

REP. DEBBIE DINGELL (D-MI): I'm going to say this. Yes, I was there. And I don't think any of us realized how serious it was until almost after it was over. But going into that day, you knew that there were a lot of people because of social media who believed that the election had been stolen. What I think bothers me the most about this is the normalization of political violence. This really in the last few years, we think it's OK. We think for whatever reason we can go after people. It's OK to harm people, to hurt people.

[11:15:24]

And I think, one, we need to really recognize people need to get their facts. And social media is not always accurate. And, two, I hope as we go into 2026, all of us are going to work to de-escalate the rhetoric and not normalize political violence.

BLITZER: Yes. I remember covering, I was anchoring our coverage when that riot, that insurrection began. I never in my life expected to see Americans storming the U.S. Capitol.

DINGELL: You didn't even realize it. You know, I was on the floor. They told me, go to the mic. I got told to keep everybody calm. And I'm like, from what? And none of us really understood what was happening until we were taken to the undisclosed location and there for hours. And we didn't have a television at first, Wolf, so we didn't understand what was happening. But everybody, Republicans and Democrats, were determined to go back that night and certify the vote and finish the job we were given to do.

BLITZER: You did do that.

DINGELL: We did do it.

BLITZER: As you know, Congressman, the suspect evaded authorities for nearly five years. How worried are you that something like this could happen again here in the United States, given, as you correctly point out, the heightened political climate that we now live in?

DINGELL: I'm very worried it could happen again. We're seeing it. It's becoming common, and it's not OK. I think that I don't care who you are, what perspective you have. We all have to work to dial down the vitriolicness, the rhetoric, the ugliness. And, one, political violence isn't OK. And two, if people say something, see something, say something.

BLITZER: They should. See something, say something, indeed. Let's get to some other issues while I have you. Foreign policy. The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as you know, met with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago down in Florida for more than three hours yesterday. Zelenskyy now says the lasting peace plan to end the war with Russia proposed that the United States actually guarantee Kyiv's security, the Ukrainian capital's security, for 15 years. Do you think that's something you could support?

DINGELL: I would. We need to see peace in Ukraine. Ukraine is a country that is -- was a symbol of democracy. Russia invaded them in an act that's not OK. I think President Trump is the only one that President Putin might listen to. And I want to see peace. And I think that's a legitimate role. We need to see peace for world security, global security.

BLITZER: And let's not forget it was Russia that invaded Ukraine.

DINGELL: Right.

BLITZER: And this war could end immediately if Russia just pulls out and ends this war.

DINGELL: Correct.

BLITZER: Even on Christmas, they've been bombing targets, urban targets in Kyiv and elsewhere. The White House says President Trump just finished a call, by the way, with the Russian President Vladimir Putin. Do you expect this round of talks will actually produce a breakthrough? God willing, let's hope it does. Is there any way that this war ends without Ukraine giving up territory?

DINGELL: Well, in the 2020 peace plan that President Zelenskyy went into, there was some -- he wanted to create a demilitarized zone, which I would support. I'm just going to be hopeful. I want peace for 2026. And -- but we cannot -- we can't just let Russia think that they can go invade any land and take over. So I am hopeful. Maybe I wouldn't place bets on what's going to happen, but I'm hopeful that something good will come out of all of these discussions.

BLITZER: I hope. Let's hope it happens. So many people are getting killed right now.

DINGELL: Correct.

BLITZER: The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, as you know, he's going to be meeting later this afternoon down in Mar-a-Lago with President Trump. CNN is reporting that Netanyahu is looking for a tougher approach to Hamas in Gaza. Do you have any faith that this fragile ceasefire, which President Trump helped negotiate, will still hold?

DINGELL: Well, first of all, this fragile ceasefire isn't really a ceasefire. There's been too much violence, too much killing. I don't believe that all -- that Netanyahu is holding up to many of the things that he agreed to. Again, I think President Trump is one of the only people that he -- Netanyahu will listen to. I know we have a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

There are too many children starving. There are too many people that don't have a place to live. They need hope. And again, I'm doing a lot of praying this holiday.

[11:20:01]

BLITZER: So you want Trump to get tougher with Netanyahu?

DINGELL: I do. I absolutely do.

BLITZER: And you think that'll help?

DINGELL: I think it's got to because he needs America to succeed. And I know we'll have to see what happens, but I believe that he agreed to ceasefire, that he's not -- he is not adhering to what he agreed to.

BLITZER: Before I let you go, Congresswoman, a quick question. We're still waiting for the U.S. Justice Department, as you know, to release more materials related to the late convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein, despite the December 19th deadline set by Congress. Do you believe the Justice Department has violated the law?

DINGELL: Well, they were told to release the files by December 19th. That hasn't happened. How you suddenly find a million pages, and you wonder how many more may even be there because of that. And we've had some very stunning findings just coming out of the pages that have been released so far. Those -- we owe those survivors the truth.

And we need to hold people that we can still hold accountable, accountable. We are where we are. They did violate the law. At least they acknowledged they had a million more pages, and I hope they plan on getting them out very quickly.

BLITZER: We'll see what happens. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell of Michigan, thank you very much for joining us as usual.

DINGELL: Thank you, Wolf. Happy New Year.

BLITZER: Happy New Year to you, too.

Up next, flu cases are surging across the country right now. We're going to find out where it's hitting especially hard. Stay with us. You're in The Situation Room.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:25:58]

BLITZER: New this morning, the British boxing star Anthony Joshua has been hurt in a car crash in Nigeria. Police there report that two people died. Joshua's injuries are reported to be minor. CNN correspondent Larry Madowo was tracking the story for us. So, Larry, what have you learned?

LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, we're learning that he was driving in this Lexus SUV in the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. This is a popular route for many people coming out of the Nigerian commercial capital. And two foreigners were killed in this road crash, according to Nigerian authorities. They were allegedly speeding and overtaking dangerously.

When this happened, video shared widely on social media shows Anthony Joshua being pulled out of the back of this SUV. He's in pain, and there's people gathered around the scene. He was driven, taken into another car, and is now receiving treatment, said to be receiving, responding well to treatment at hospital. The identities of the two people who were killed in this has not been made public yet.

But Anthony Joshua has previously said in social media posts that his granddad lives in Ibadan. So that is this drive that he's probably making to this location. When this happened, we've also seen video of the crash scene posted by the Nigeria Public Safety Agency showing this stationary truck that they're believed to have crashed into that, again, the agency says that was well parked on the side of the road. A lot of questions still. We haven't seen any statement yet from Anthony Joshua, from his management yet.

People just following, happy that he's doing well, but wondering about the identities of those who were killed and what could have been the cause of this accident. Wolf?

BLITZER: Do we know if he was wearing a seatbelt and the others were not wearing seatbelts?

MADOWO: That is one speculation at this stage, that he could have been wearing a seatbelt when the others were not. Again, we don't know for sure. We have not seen the inside of this video. As yet, it's very early in this investigation. He was seated at the back of the SUV when this accident took place, and the pictures and video of the car that they were traveling in looks very mangled.

It's in a bad state, and it's believed that the two who were killed could have been sitting at the front of the vehicle, so faced the worst impact during this crash, Wolf.

BLITZER: Horrible situation. All right. Larry Madowo, thank you very much for that update.

There's also new CNN reporting this morning detailing a problem that should concern everyone watching right now. Just because a product is recalled does not necessarily mean it's immediately removed from store shelves. It's an issue that could be potentially very dangerous to your health, including your kids.

CNN medical correspondent Meg Tirrell is joining us right now with a story of how one of our own CNN colleagues found recalled baby formula known to cause botulism at her grocery store. Meg, what can you tell us about this?

MEG TIRRELL, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Wolf, folks might remember this recall of the ByHeart baby formula. This came out in the middle of November, November 11th. All lots of this baby formula were recalled. And we should know this makes up about 1 percent of the baby formula market. So it's not that there's an expectation of a shortage of baby formula.

But, of course, this is really concerning. Fifty one cases of infant botulism have been reported that led to this recall. All 51 of the babies were hospitalized. No deaths have been reported, thankfully. But this happened across 19 states all across the country. You can see in Texas and California there were the most number of cases. But really, this is geographically distributed. And so all of these were recalled. But our health reporter, Brenda Goodman, was at her local Kroger in Atlanta and found one of these bottles of formula still on a shelf there. Now, there was a sign underneath the formula on the shelf that noted that it had been recalled. But of course, talking with experts and just common sense, pretty concerning to see a recalled product still on a shelf there in a grocery store, Wolf.

BLITZER: So, what does the store say about why this baby formula was still on the store shelves potentially being available for purchase? What do consumers need to know about where to look for recalled products?

[11:30:00]

TIRRELL: Yes, Wolf, so Kroger, which was the chain where our colleague Brenda found this and noted that, "when the recall was issued, we urgently removed the affected product and immediately --