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CNN International: Ukraine And Russia trade Strikes After Witkoff-Putin Meeting; Deadly Attacks On Saudi Arabia's Dammam Airport, Oil Field; Thousands Of Students And Teachers Protest In Athens; Trump's FCC Chair Issues Warning About "Fake Polls". Aired 4- 4:30a ET

Aired October 22, 2026 - 04:00   ET

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

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CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome back. I'm Christina Macfarlane in London.

Ahead here on "CNN Newsroom," Russian missiles and drones rained down on Kyiv hours after Putin agrees to resume three-way talks with the U.S. and Ukraine.

Thousands take to the streets in Greece, demanding greater investment in education. We'll speak to a demonstrator about their fight for better schools and higher wages for teachers.

And a concerning United Nations report says the planet will blow past the Paris Agreement's warming target within the next few years, what that means for the effort to combat the climate crisis.

ANNOUNCER: Live from London, this is "CNN Newsroom" with Christina Macfarlane.

Russia and Ukraine are trading strikes just hours after U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff sat down for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In Kyiv, at least one person was killed and 22 others wounded, including four children, in Russian attacks, while Ukraine launched hundreds of drones towards the Moscow region overnight.

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MACFARLANE: This video just in from Ukraine shows an explosion lighting up the sky in one of Russia's overnight strikes on Kyiv, as the eyewitness here runs away from the area.

And this is all coming after Witkoff held what he described as constructive meeting, a constructive meeting with Putin in talks aimed at advancing peace efforts in Ukraine.

Well, the two sat down for at least three hours in St. Petersburg on Wednesday and at Witkoff's request, Putin said he'd be ready to resume trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S. after November 10th.

Ukraine's president said he'd like to meet by the beginning of next month. He also pointed out that Russia had previously said it was ready to meet only for plans to be cancelled.

CNN's Clare Sebastian has been following all the developments for us and joins us in London.

And, Clare, it's worth remembering that the attacks in Ukraine that we saw there overnight came following Steve Witkoff's flattery of President Putin as a humanitarian. What more are you learning about the attacks?

CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Look, these are not surprising, Christina. We know that Russia has, and again did, over the course of this week, reject the idea of any kind of temporary ceasefire. It's clear they want to keep up the military pressure on Russia.

President Zelenskyy has come out with a bit more information on the scale of these attacks in the last half hour or so. He called them, by the way, a demonstrative strike, the suggestion that they -- they were sort of a sign of Russia's disdain for this entire peace effort. He says that 21 missiles were used. That's a pretty high number.

And crucially, we hear from the Air Force report that none of those were shot down. This will refocus attention on the severe shortage Ukraine is facing of interceptor missiles. CNN reported at one point last week that they had none left at all.

And there was reporting from "The Washington Post" earlier this week that the Trump administration may somehow be withholding supplies of Patriot missiles from Ukraine's partners. The Trump administration has denied it is doing anything like that intentionally, but certainly this will show, again, Ukraine's vulnerability. More than 200 drones. Zelenskyy now saying two killed, 34 injured. The attack mainly focusing on Kyiv, but 12 regions in total were targeted.

And on the other side as well, Ukraine continues its deep drone strikes into Russia. The mayor of Moscow is saying that 630 were detected flying towards the capital. He claimed most of those were shot down at long range. So, look, these are the strikes that are still being traded. This air war is still escalating.

Where are we in terms of the talks? Well, Russia has agreed in principle to trilateral talks, but there is an element of slowballing here. We don't know why they've suggested after November 10th, perhaps because it will leave some room after the midterms.

And in terms of the new ideas that we expected would be brought by Steve Witkoff from the talks that happened before those St. Petersburg talks in Oslo with the Europeans as well, we heard from the Russians that they said they were not all that much of value in resolving the Ukraine crisis.

So, look, the Trump administration is still fixed on the idea that flattery and incentives will keep Moscow at the table and will advance this peace process. Russia was able to create the, I think, impression that that was working by releasing a 74-year-old American, Stephen Hubbard, just before those talks started, an American, that the State Department deemed that they should never have detained or arrested or held for four plus years in the first place.

[04:05:08]

And then came this moment that I think has raised eyebrows in the U.S., as well as in Ukraine. Take a listen.

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STEVE WITKOFF, U.S. SPECIAL ENVOY: You talk so much about my President, President Trump, being a humanitarian. You are a humanitarian also, sir. And I salute that. I commend you.

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SEBASTIAN: So, bipartisan backlash to that in the United States and in Ukraine as well. The post from President Zelenskyy this morning said Russian humanitarians have launched three waves of ballistic strikes.

And the foreign minister said overnight, Kyiv residents heard what Russian, quote, humanism truly sounds like. Christina.

MACFARLANE: Yes, certainly is a comment that has been met with plenty of backlash around the world.

Clare Sebastian, appreciate the update. Thank you.

Turning now to yet another international airport in Saudi Arabia that has come under attack. Authorities now say two people were killed in Dammam and eight others wounded. Damage assessments are still underway.

Separate strike on an oil field killed two workers. No claims of responsibility yet, but Yemen's Houthi rebels have vowed to keep going after prominent Saudi targets. And that the U.S. State Department issued -- issuing new security alerts, warning Americans to be aware of potential attacks on airports.

Non-essential embassy staff have also been ordered out of the Saudi capital that the Iran-backed Houthis have launched a series of deadly strikes on the Riyadh International Airport in recent days.

Well, meanwhile, President Trump is congratulating himself over the war with Iran, nearly eight months after it began, even though there's no official end in sight.

And a new CNN poll shows just 30 percent of Americans approve of his handling of foreign affairs.

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DONALD TRUMP, UNITED STATES PRESIDENT: I think it's one of the greatest things we've done. We've stopped Iran from having a nuclear weapon. It's one of the best things that we've done. It took a lot of courage to do it because no other president was willing to do it. And if we didn't do it, Iran would right now have already used massive nuclear weapons.

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MACFARLANE: Paula Hancocks is standing by for us in Abu Dhabi. So, Paula, what more are you hearing on this latest airport attack on Dammam airport?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So, Christina, what we know now from authorities is that at least two people have been killed, eight more have been injured. One of the -- the deceased is an Indian national. This was Dammam airport. It's in the eastern part of the -- the country.

And we have been seeing intensifying attacks by Houthi rebels in recent weeks, specifically against airports and energy infrastructure.

Now on Wednesday, we also know that there were, according to authorities in Saudi Arabia, at least seven drones which were intercepted. One hit in an -- an oil field in Shaybah, this is in the eastern province. Two expatriate workers were killed in that attack, two more were injured.

So, all of this has led to the U.S. State Department to order all its non-essential staff, all family members from the U.S. embassy in Riyadh to leave the country.

I'll read a part of the -- the statement from the department saying, Iran supported Houthis have increasingly engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including attacks on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure resulting in civilian casualties and severe travel disruptions.

Now, a source tell CNN that at a few other U.S. diplomatic posts in this region, they are also readjusting some of the staffing in response to the -- the Houthi attacks.

And we understand in Saudi Arabia, any embassy employee who needs to use any of the airports has to get special permission from the chief of mission. So, it's certainly on a heighted state of alert there.

Now, we also did see a -- a surprise visit from the French President Emmanuel Macron to Saudi Arabia. He met with the Crown Prince. He was showing solidarity, according to officials, with -- with Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks, also pushing for the supply of more oil and gasoline supplies to France.

We have seen high energy costs there. We've seen that translate into some -- some substantial protests across France.

And we've also understood that -- that France is supporting Saudi Arabia when it comes to one of their oil export hubs on the Red Sea.

On Tuesday, the U.K. also said that it would deploy fighter jets to help defend the kingdom. Christina.

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MACFARLANE: All right. Paula Hancocks there with the update from Abu Dhabi. Thank you.

Well, let's stay with French President Emmanuel Macron because he is vowing to prevent a repeat of last weekend's riots as France braces for more protests on Saturday. The country has seen some of the worst rioting in years, along with peaceful protests over the past week.

Lawmakers from across the political spectrum grilled the government for answers about how it plans to address the social and economic issues behind the unrest.

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ALEXIS CORBIERE, FRENCH MP (through translator): We need a comprehensive political response aimed at reducing social inequalities and addressing the demands of youth in school. Are you looking for an effective policing strategy? Start by building a just and equitable social order, otherwise, it's a strategy for maintaining disorder.

We need a political response that runs radically counter to the budgets you have been imposing on us since 2022 and the one you are still demanding today to the point of absurdity.

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MACFARLANE: Well, meantime, thousands of students and teachers fill the streets of Athens. They're demanding more education funding, higher teacher pay, and relief from the rising cost of living.

Well, joining me now from Athens is Angelos Thomopoulos, representative of the student struggle front and an engineering student. Thank you so much for joining us this morning.

Angelos, I understand you took part in yesterday's demonstration, as well as several others happening in Athens. Tell us why you are marching and why this is important to you.

ANGELOS THOMOPOULOS, MEMBER, EXECUTIVE SECRETARAT, STUDENTS' STRUGGLE FRONT: Thanks for the -- first of all, thanks for the invitations -- for the invitation. Good morning to you and your viewers.

From the streets of France to the streets here in Athens, we think that the struggles of the younger generation made because behind the problems we face, lies the same grand dilemma. Their profits or our lives who have many problems in our studies, in our lives. And basically, every day, we're wondering if we're -- if we're going to be able to study or if we're going just to survive. This is what brings us to the streets.

For example, I'm coming from the countryside and I'm lucky and I came for studies here in Athens. And I'm lucky as my university has a dorm and I don't pay for it. If I didn't -- if it didn't, I wouldn't be able to study.

I work alongside my studies to make ends meet, and even then, it's -- it's even hard to get through the month.

However, most universities here in Athens and across the country do not have a -- a dorm. This year, thousands of young kids or young kids who passed the university entrance exam -- exams did not study their studies for financial reasons.

There isn't enough money for rent. We live with so much stress -- with so much stress. And that's why we took out on the streets yesterday.

MACFARLANE: It does sound like a very difficult situation for you right now. You mentioned the protests happening in Europe. Obviously, this is coinciding with scenes we're seeing in France, in Spain, in Italy. How much has that inspired this movement in Greece?

THOMOPOULOS: Pretty much, pretty much. I think that across Europe, the process -- the process that are happening these days that will carry on and the rest encapsulates the reality that are experienced by thousands of young people of their families.

It's basically our answer -- our answer to the European Union fairy tales that they sell about equal opportunities, about growth for all, because it is a provocation in 2016 with our -- with all the science and technology taking giant leaps for young people to be forced to choose between survival and education.

MACFARLANE: You've talked just then about the -- the -- the challenges you're facing both in education. We know that housing is an issue as well. I mean, how long have you been asking your government for change? And what response have you had from the government so far?

THOMOPOULOS: We're asking for months, for years, and there is no response. There is no response. And we don't know what to do, how to survive, how to keep on with our studies.

The situation is very difficult. Every day, we live with so much stress. There are -- there has to be an answer right now. We're fighting for our needs, not for something else. We just want to study and to work with our rights.

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We demand -- we want to be able to receive a well-rounded, free, and safe education to study and to live with dignity. That's all.

MACFARLANE: Well, Angelos, that certainly echoes what we're hearing from students across Europe right now. We know in other cities that, you know, some of these protests have turned violent. And I hope that this protest remains peaceful for you. Thank you so much for coming on and -- and telling us why you're marching today. Thank you.

THOMOPOULOS: Thank you. But there were no classes here in Greece.

MACFARLANE: OK. Good to -- good to hear. Thank you.

All right. There's much -- much more to come here on "CNN Newsroom." U.S. President Donald Trump is back at the White House, but not for long. Find out where he's headed on the campaign trail today.

Plus, a warning from the head of the FCC about fake polls, what it's threatening to do about the so-called election interference.

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MACFARLANE: U.S. President Donald Trump is taking his midterm campaign blitz to Iowa, Florida, Georgia, and Michigan this week. He spent Wednesday night in South Carolina, stumping for Republican incumbent Senator Darline Graham. She is in a closer than expected race with Democrat Annie Andrews. The president fired back at protesters during his rally, calling them crazy and serious losers.

Well, meanwhile, Vice President J.D. Vance is defending a controversial ad from the Republican candidate for governor in Ohio, Vivek Ramaswamy. He says politics is a tough business and people should stop whining about the ad.

It features the estranged mother of Democrat Amy Acton telling voters her daughter is a liar. Acton says she hasn't seen her mother since she was 12 when her stepfather was arrested for sexually abusing her. He pleaded not guilty but was indicted by a grand jury.

Records from the early 18 -- 1980s show authorities were still looking for him but there's no record of any further action in the case.

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TRUMP: I heard the mother went very rogue on the daughter. Doesn't have a lot of respect for the daughter. And I think the mother is a witness to things also. So, who knows? And you have to figure that out. It's a very unusual situation to have a mother hate a daughter that much, but I don't think that has anything to do with Vivek.

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MACFARLANE: Well, Acton got a show of support at a campaign appearance in Ohio on Wednesday. A woman at the event said, my heart goes out to you and gave Acton here a hug.

Well, numerous polls show Democrats poised to make big gains in the midterm elections. But the Republican chair of the FCC is advising local broadcasters that some of those polls could be fake. He's even threatening to penalize stations for distortion and hoaxes.

CNN's Brian Stelter reports.

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BRIAN STELTER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA ANALYST: Hey there. Yes, this is a story with lot of layers. President Trump and his top media regulator are targeting so-called fake polls. At the same time, highly respected pollsters are seeing data showing Democrats poised to make big gains in the midterm election.

So, you have First Amendment groups saying that Trump and SEC Chairman, Brendan Carr, are trying to chill news coverage about these polls, discouraging news coverage about bad polls for Republicans.

But at the same time, there are some actually made-up polls that are floating around out there. There's a scandal in the news this week about a totally fictional polling firm. So, you have many reputable, highly respected polling groups finding Trump with record low approval ratings, finding Democrats ahead in key Senate races, but there is a concern about polls that's legit.

So, here's what Brendan Carr said that caused so much criticism on Wednesday. He wrote on X, quote, "During this election season, there has been a significant surge in entirely fake polls and suppression polls."

He went on, "Many journalists and broadcasters have been amplifying or airing these polls without regard to basic journalistic ethics." Then he said, "Broadcasters are advised to avoid engaging in news distortions or running broadcast hoaxes by airing polls that would violate their regulatory obligations."

So, which polls was Carr talking about? Well, he didn't say, and he didn't respond to my request for comment.

But some of Carr's predecessors are former SEC chairs from both parties, say that Carr is engaging in inappropriate, outrageous threats trying to intimidate the news media. This is a statement from a coalition of former FCC leaders saying that what Carr is doing is part of a quote, "Accelerating White House strategy to tilt the electoral playing field in the president's favor and deny election results that don't go his way."

The former officials also noted that the FCC has zero authority to dictate editorial decisions. But because Carr's agency does license local T.V. and radio stations, station owners do have to pay some attention. And Carr has used that limited power to pressure broadcasters.

Brian Stelter, CNN.

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MACFARLANE: Well, now to exclusive reporting on conflicting claims coming from the U.S. State Department, according to internal documents, it's warning Americans about violent crime in parts of Latin America, specifically Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador.

But at the same time, the State Department is privately telling officers dealing with asylum seekers that the conditions in some countries are no more dangerous than in U.S. cities like Baltimore, Houston, and Memphis. The goal? Getting more asylum claims denied.

Experts worry the new guidelines downplay the very real dangers people face in some areas of Latin America.

Well, we asked immigration analyst and attorney Paul (ph) Reyes about the practical impact of this new guidance.

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RAUL REYES, ATTORNEY AND CNN OPINION WRITER: This is very serious. It will make it much easier to deport people potentially who have asylum claims, and which goes against the reason we have asylum in the first place. Congress created asylum to protect people who were in danger. It's -- it's a system that has existed for decades.

[04:25:03]

And when I say danger, I'm -- I'm talking about these countries in Central America, certain states of Mexico where we have transnational gangs, kidnapping, extortions, all -- all types of horrendous conditions.

And so we are looking at potentially sending back -- sending people back to these places to harm -- placing them in harm's way. And really with grave consequences. It's -- we know that some people have been deported and have -- have -- have never been seen again or their bodies were found in sugar cane fields. So, we are talking grave consequences.

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MACFARLANE: All right. Still to come, CNN gets a rare look at Russia's new jet-powered drones that are posing a growing threat to Ukraine.

Also, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has been given the green light to test a controversial military weapon for possible use along the southern border. Details after the break.

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MACFARLANE: Hi. Welcome back to "CNN Newsroom." I'm Christina Macfarlane.

Russia and Ukraine have been trading overnight strikes following a meeting between U.S. Special Envoy Steve Wittkopf and Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg.

In Kyiv, at least one person was killed and 22 others wounded in Russian attacks. Hours earlier, Witkoff held what he described as a constructive meeting with Putin in talks aimed at advancing peace efforts in Ukraine.

At Witkoff's request, Putin said he'd be ready to resume trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S. after November 10th.

Joining me now is Robert English, the co-director of Central European Studies at the University of Southern California. Thank you so much for your time this morning.

Robert, I want to get to that comment from the president in just a moment. But first --