Return to Transcripts main page
Connect the World
British P.M. Facing Confidence Vote; Zelenskyy Visits Cities Along Front Lines In Donbas; U.S. And South Korea Send Missiles Message. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired June 06, 2022 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[10:00:30]
GRAHAM BRADY, CHAIRMAN, 1922 COMMITTEE: Threshold or 15 percent of the parliamentary party seeking a vote of confidence and the prime minister has
been passed.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR (voice over): Well, it's crunch time for Boris Johnson. Can the British Prime Minister survive confidence
vote by his own party lawmakers? More than that is coming up. Plus.
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE(through translator): I am proud of everyone I met, shook hands with, communicated with and supported.
ANDERSON: Ukraine's president on the front lines with his troops just kilometers away from the fierce battle over Severodonetsk. And.
A show of force. The U.S. and South Korea responding to eight missiles launched by Pyongyang with eight of their own.
3:00 p.m. in London. I'm Becky Anderson. Hello and welcome to CONNECT THE WORLD. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is fighting for his political
life trying to fend off a potentially lethal blow from his own party now. In the coming hours Mr. Johnson will face a vote of confidence. This has
been triggered by discontented lawmakers from his own party. The Conservatives. Conference in the P.M.s leadership has been shaken by the
so-called Partygate scandal and his response to a cost of living crisis pass. Plus, this didn't help.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Mr. Johnson and his wife Carrie booed during the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations over the weekend. It is worth noting nearly 14 million
people delivered a stunning election victory to Boris Johnson and his conservative party putting in power back in December 2019. Yet his fate is
now in the hands of some 360 U.K. lawmakers in Parliament and at least 54 M.P.s are not happy and chose to trigger this vote.
Well, the move was announced a short time ago by Graham Brady who heads a committee of conservative lawmakers. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRADY: Threshold of 15 percent of the Parliamentary Party seeking a vote of confidence in the prime minister has been passed. Therefore a vote of
confidence will take place within the rules of the United States to committee. That vote will take place this evening in the House of Commons
between 6:00 and 8:00. And we will announce the result shortly thereafter.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Right. Graham Brady runs what's known as the 1922 Committee. That is a group composed of all of the conservative members of Parliament who
don't hold a cabinet position. Downing Street says Boris Johnson plans to address the committee next hour. Well, CNN's Bianca Nobilo is standing by
for us in Downing Street and she joins us now live. So, for those who don't understand the sort of machinations of British politics, let's just be
quite clear about what happens this evening. And why, Bianca?
BIANCA NOBILO, CNN LONDON-BASED CORRESPONDENT: What we're going to see this evening is the entire of the conservative parliamentary party vote whether
or not they have confidence in the prime minister, it's as simple as that, do you or do you not? Now Boris Johnson requires just more than 50 percent
of his own M.P.s in order to literally survive this vote. So that would be approximately 180. There are one -- 359 Conservative M.P.s.
It's unclear whether or not one of them will count because they're currently being investigated and going through legal proceedings. But
that's what happens tonight. Then after that vote, Graham Brady who our viewers just heard from will address those M.P.s and some journalists and
give them the result of that vote. This was triggered because as you say, 15 percent of the Conservative Party wrote letters to Graham Brady
expressing that they didn't have confidence in the prime minister.
And the understanding is that this was probably occurring today because the Conservative Party Graham Brady didn't -- Graham Brady didn't want to
interrupt the Jubilee festivities. So, that's why we're seeing this announcement today. The prime minister was told yesterday and the rapidity
of this vote from when we knew it was going to occur will probably work in the prime minister's failure -- favor because most M.P.s were back in their
constituencies, celebrating with their constituents, street parties, having Jubilee parties, and so they've had less time to get together to plot.
Potentially to be persuaded to vote against Boris Johnson but also to be persuaded to come back into the fold.
[10:05:05]
NOBILO: And the reason why this is happening now, Becky, is the result of many scandals but I would say the beginning -- the beginning of these
deepest problems for Boris Johnson really did occur through Partygate. And that's because as much as a lot of mischievous behavior and scandal is
priced in with Boris Johnson, it was the perceived hypocrisy and visceral attack that people felt when they found out that the prime minister and
those within his government were breaking their own COVID rules while people in the United Kingdom were dying or alone and unable to see their
loved ones, Becky.
ANDERSON: Even if he survives this confidence vote, there is an argument to suggest at this point isn't there that his premiership isn't particularly
safe? Just explain.
NOBILO: Well, precedent would suggest that even if Boris Johnson did survive the confidence vote that he's not going to be in a strong position,
you know, even if it doesn't wound him terminally this evening and end his premiership, it does inflict a lot of political damage and drains the prime
minister of authority, consider the last vote of confidence in a conservative leader, Theresa May back in 2018.
She won it and she won it sort of a reasonable outcome but then she was gone less than just about six months later. And if we look at any of the
previous leadership contests, it doesn't spell anything good for the prime minister, the best outcome was really John Major, who then went on to lose
an election. So the prime minister will struggle to get through this, whatever the outcome is.
And he'll be in a very difficult position. He already is drained of authority, and doesn't come on the support of his party. And the crucial
aspect is, Becky, is the support that the prime minister is lacking is not from one faction, like it was years ago with Theresa May and Brexit. It
comes from across the board. It's a lot more nuanced, it's nebulous. And it's difficult then to win any particular constituency back because they
all have competing interests.
So he's now dealing with a very broad and disparate discontent and not from one particular faction. And that is why today is so dangerous.
ANDERSON: Then goes outside number 10, the residence of the prime minister of course. And as Bianca was explaining, what's happening today is a -- is
a rare event. But let's not forget Mr. Johnson isn't the only prime minister who has faced a vote of confidence in the recent past. As Bianca
pointed out, Theresa May, Mr. Johnson's predecessor battled against members of the Tories in December 2018.
A confidence vote was triggered by members of her own party who disagreed with her handling that then of Brexit, she survived the test. She got two-
thirds of the M.P.s to vote for her. But in the words of one M.P., she got a real grilling. Her premiership only lasted for a matter of months after
that. She resigned in 2019 giving in to the intense political pressure. Well, that 2018 ballot was blind as is today's.
But some M.P.s have already come up publicly against the prime minister. One letter in particular we feel sums up their satisfaction with Tory
leadership. And I want to take a moment to read some of this. A former ally of Boris Johnson, M.P. Jesse Norman, emphasizing that the Partygate scandal
is a major source of chagrin. He accuses the prime minister of "casual law breaking" and says for Mr. Johnson to describe himself as vindicated is
like and I quote Jesse Norman here, "grotesque."
Norman goes on to say that the U.K. cannot squander the next two years adrift. He said distracted by endless debate around Johnson's leadership.
Well, our next guest has just written an article called we'll miss Boris, if he goes. Freddy Gray from The Spectator magazine joins us live with his
perspective. We'll miss him. If he goes. Let's just be quite clear. I mean, he is facing a vote of no confidence. He may survive this of course.
FREDDY GRAY, DEPUTY EDITOR, THE SPECTATOR: I think I think as you've already mentioned, history would suggest you probably won't in the end. I
think that what you're seeing at the moment is a Tory Party that's eating itself alive. And the timing is particularly interesting. I mean, there was
thought to be -- that there will be a moment of unity after the Jubilee weekend and that the government could sort of get behind that and try to
move on after a long crisis, the long crisis of COVID and even longer crisis of Brexit.
I think today shows that the Tory party is not in a position to move on. And it will try to destroy Boris and this crisis won't go away. And it
could cripple his premiership forever.
ANDERSON: Which would mean what should he hang on? What would that mean for Britain and its economy at this point?
GRAY: Well, it's hard to say. I mean, the public opinion is extremely sour on Boris Johnson. There's no denying that. He has turned things around
before people thought he turned it around with his response to the Ukraine crisis. We'll see about that. But he's shown before that he can pull off
miraculous recoveries. I don't think he would ever have thought of anything quite like this if he were to come back from this.
[10:10:09]
GRAY: So, I think it's looking pretty fatal for him at the moment. If not today, if not tonight, or in the next week in the coming -- in the coming
weeks ahead.
ANDERSON: Just remind us what happens if he loses this vote. I mean, he could remain his prime minister as I understand it, while a replacement is
found in the Tory leadership. Is it clear who that might be?
GRAY: Well, that's the big problem for those who want to get rid of Boris as they have no alternative, there is no good successor. And that could be
Boris's saving grace. However, if he loses tonight, rumor is he will call for a general election, which again, would be a sort of crisis moods. And
as Thatcher and Theresa May show you can survive (INAUDIBLE) confidence. But maybe not for that long.
ANDERSON: When you look at this lineup, Rishi Sunak, for example, Liz Truss. I mean, there are another three or four names in the mix. I think
many of our viewers watching this wherever they are in the world, we'll be hard pressed to recognize not just the faces, but the names of any of these
perhaps by Liz and -- Liz Truss and receive Rishi Sunak.
What does this say? I mean, perhaps you've just, you know, alluded to this. What does this say about leadership in Britain today?
GRAY: Well, I think it might suggest that the Tory Party have clapped out as an administrative entity, they've been in power for over a decade. There
is not a lot of talent on the front bench. They have gone through a number of crises and the people who have survived those crises have done it just
by being survivors. Not necessarily by being particularly good or effective. Politicians. Boris has always been the exception, the great
talent, the kind of the election winner. I don't think you see that in any of the possible alternative (INAUDIBLE)
Do you mean booze -- do you mean booze with a zed or booze? Yes, we can.
ANDERSON: I'm talking about Partygate, of course.
GRAY: Body gate. I think -- yes, I think part of it is the sort of above ground reason. But the deep rage in Britain is about the cost of living
crisis. And that really informs everything. And a lot of people I think, would not be angry about the fact that inflation is roaring and the
government doesn't seem to have a firm grip on the economic crisis.
ANDERSON: Good to have you on, sir. This vote, of course, later on this evening, London time. Stick with CNN for the result of that. Thank you.
Well, to the war in Ukraine now and an update on what is a fierce battle for Severodonetsk after reporting notable gains over the weekend. The
Ukrainian military chief in the Luhansk region says the situation has in his words worsened again. These pictures of destruction in the city from
Ukraine's government. The military chief says Russia is focusing most of its shelling on the neighboring city of Lysychansk where thousands of
civilians do now remain trapped.
It's they're among the heavily bombarded places. Ukraine's president visited on Sunday on a tour of the front lines. Volodymy Zelensky met
soldiers and internally displaced Ukrainians offering words of praise after all that they have endured over what is now months of war.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ZELENSKYY: I am proud of everyone I met, shook hands with and communicated with and supported me. Something was brought for the military, but I will
not detail it. And I brought something from them. To you, it is important, we brought confidence and strength.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Russia's president meantime issuing a new warning to the west after the U.S. and U.K. announced plans to send advanced weapons systems to Ukraine.
Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VLADIMIR PUTIN, PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA (through translator): In general, all this fuss around additional weapon deliveries, in my opinion, has only one
goal to drag out the armed conflict for as long as possible. If they are supplied we will draw appropriate conclusions from this and use our own
weapons of which we have enough in order to strike at those facilities. We are not targeting yet.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Ben Wedeman connecting us today from Eastern Ukraine and perhaps not surprising what we heard from the president speaking to state media in
Russia over the weekend. Let's concentrate on what is going on on the ground just for the time being. What can you tell us about what's happening
around Severodonetsk. Ben?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It seems, Becky, that it's a back and forth situation at the end of last week. Ukrainian
officials were conceding that the Russians had taken about 80 percent of that city.
[10:15:06]
WEDMAN: Over the weekend, the Ukrainians launched a counter offensive in Severodonetsk, and we're able to take some areas. But this morning, they
came out and said that the tide is turned yet again, that they're further, they're on the defensive and losing more ground in that city. In fact, the
head of the Luhansk regional military command said that at this point, the Russians are using scorched earth tactics basically blowing up everything
they can to try to gain as much control as possible of that town.
And surprisingly, President Zelenskyy came near, we understand it near the town of Luhansk, which I've been there, it overlooks Severodonetsk to visit
the troops. So that's very, very close to the front lines. And certainly you won't find most Western leaders getting that close to the action. And I
think that his visit unannounced of course, really underscores the importance the Ukrainians are putting in this -- the battle that is going
on in Severodonetsk and the area around it. Becky?
ANDERSON: To address the issue of these long-range missile systems, neither the U.K. or the U.S. has actually promised missiles that would have a long
enough range, they say, to hit Russian targets. But, you know, a response from Vladimir Putin over these -- over these systems, at least. And what do
you make of what you heard?
WEDEMAN: Well, I think many people are interpreting yesterday's strikes, missile strikes on Kyiv, that railway facility as part of that warning.
Kyiv hadn't been hit in weeks. And this is -- he's basically saying, if the West sends these -- these are High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems that
fire artillery from a long range. It's been described with the position of a sniper rifle.
So, this would allow them to sort of counterbalance the advantage the Russians have in artillery. Going back to World War II, artillery was one
of the main tools in the Russian military used in an extreme manner. And what they're doing in Severodonetsk and the Donbass region as a whole is
really using this artillery which is not precise. Most of it is not very modern, but it has a hugely destructive effect.
And this -- these weapon systems being offered by the west or to be provided by the west. I counterbalance that. Becky?
ANDERSON: It does seem remarkable that we were alluding to weapon used back in World War II. Such as the state of things at present. Thank you, Ben.
Meantime, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov won't be going to each scheduled meeting in Belgrade. That is according to Russian state news
agency, which says E.U. and NATO members that border Serbia close the only air routes into the country. Lavrov says he's invited his Serbian
counterpart to Moscow.
Well, ahead on the show, a tit for tat response from the U.S. and South Korea after Pyongyang late -- launches its latest missile. We'll have more
on Seoul's recent change in tone.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:21:03]
ANDERSON: South Korea and the United States is sending a strong message to Pyongyang about its recent missile launches. The South Korean Joint Chiefs
of Staff say that the two countries launched eight surface to surface missiles early on Monday. This is a direct response we are told to North
Korea's launch of eight short-range ballistic missiles the day before. CNN's Barbara Starr standing by live from the Pentagon.
Let me get you though first to Paula Hancocks who is live from Seoul. South Korea responding with its own missile fire three times this year, we -- you
and I have spoken about a pivot, a change in tone and a pivot by the new South Korean leader. What does this tell us at this point?
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, we have heard from South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol that he wants to have a stronger
response to North Korea. And this potentially is what we are seeing. It is worth pointing out though that back in 2017, we did see his predecessor,
Moon Jae-in do something similar after a North Korean missile launch.
But then, of course, he did pivot to engagement and negotiation. So what we're seeing here is really the closest you can get to the meaning of the
term tit for tat. On Sunday morning, local time, you have North Korea firing eight short-range ballistic missiles into the sea, off the east
coast of the peninsula. And then in the early hours of this morning, Monday morning, local time, the U.S. and South Korea fired eight surface to
surface missiles.
Now what we heard from the South Korean side, the Joint Chiefs of Staff saying that basically the message with this is to tell North Korea that no
matter where you fire from, we will be able to target that exact location. Japan's defense minister actually called what North Korea did on Sunday
unprecedented because it was eight separate launches. And they were from multiple sites, we understand four different locations, according to the
South Koreans over a space of 14 minutes.
So, this is a new kind of approach from North Korea. So, certainly it is concerning, the South Korean cities concerning those in Tokyo and in
Washington, as well. And this is what is called a show of force. They want to show that they would be able to target North Korea's abilities if they
so desired. Now, of course, the question is, does this make any difference to the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his assessments?
Most would guess no, because he is very much in a testing regime at this point, showing no interest whatsoever in engaging. Becky?
ANDERSON: Barbara, thank you. Barbara, the International Atomic Energy Agency, of course, said that there are signs that North Korea could be
preparing for a nuclear test. Tell us more about the U.S. involvement. Washington's involvement in what as full of describing tit for tat missile
launches?
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, this is something that both sides have done before the U.S. partnering with the Republic of Korea.
And as Paula just points out quite precisely, it's a show of force. It's a message being sent to fire these missiles into the sea. International
notification, no risk, a very low key, essentially, but still trying to send a message to North Korea that the Republic of Korea and the United
States military can reach out and respond if North Korea was to do something that was needed a military response.
So, it sent a message, Kim Jong-un, not likely to change his mind about anything. And you also saw that shortly after the Republic of Korea and the
U.S. conducted their missile firings in response there was a statement that the U.S. and Japan also conducted a missile defense test.
[10:25:00]
STARR: So you're seeing this kind of mood across the region trying to put a mark on the wall, we're here, we will respond to you. But no indication
that Kim may even be listening, Paula -- Becky?
ANDERSON: Paula and -- Paula and Barbara in the house for you. Thank you both. What a pivotal moment for Boris Johnson's Premiership. The British
Prime Minister faces or votes in a matter of hours that could decide whether his three years in office will quickly come to an end. More than
that after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back. I'm Becky Anderson in London. You are watching CONNECT THE WORLD. Boris Johnson's future as Britain's leader could be
decided in less than three hours from now. The prime minister faces a vote of confidence in Parliament later today triggered by disgruntled members of
his own Conservative Party. Mr. Johnson is expected to address those members of the voting committee shortly before they make their decision, if
more than half vote to oust him, he will be forced to step down as party leader and will be removed from office.
Now all of this comes in backlash for parties held at Downing Street during the COVID lock downs and amid growing concern about Johnson's handling of
the cost of living crisis.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON (voice over): Well sounds more like the reaction you get from protesters, not revelers. The prime minister's unpopularity at times
eclipsing even the celebratory crowds during the queen's four-day Platinum Jubilee celebrations. You've never booze above the sound of bells at St.
Paul's Cathedral. Johnson arrived for the Thanksgiving service on Friday. Well, Conservative M.P. Conor Burns joins us now live.
He tweeted, I will vote to support Boris tonight. I watched how broken our politics became in 2019 and was convinced only he could fix it having won
the biggest mandate of any Tory leader since Lady T and got the big calls right. He commands support the people should be his judge. Well, he joins
me now. Conor Burns. The problem is at this point people can't be as judge. It is his party and at least 15 percent of them want to see the back of
him.
A former ally of Johnson, Mr. Burns M.P. Jesse Norman, emphasizing that the Partygate scandal is a major source of chagrin. Accusing the prime minister
of casual law breaking and says Mr. Johnson to describe himself as vindicated as he did back then is grotesque.
[10:30:05]
ANDERSON: He says that the U.K. cannot squander the next two years of drift distracted by endless debate around Johnson's leadership. Is he not right,
sir? And if not, why not?
CONOR BURNS, BRITISH CONSERVATIVE M.P: Well, look, Jesse Norman is entitled to his view, and he's entitled to express it. Jesse, of course, was until
very recently, a member of the government led by Boris Johnson, and in fact, one of the most articulate defenders of the government. Its policies
and what it's trying to deliver for its vision for the British people. I want to see colleagues tonight supporting the Prime Minister.
I think the public are looking on at this. And bewildered that when we have so many challenges, the going on, the cost of living challenges that's
across the western world, what's going on, in the continent of Europe, with Ukraine and Russia, that the Tory party appears to be looking inwards at
its own leadership. It's only two and a bit years since this prime minister won a landslide majority at a general election from the British people, the
biggest majority since Margaret Thatcher in 1987.
If anyone's got the right to dispatch this prime minister, it is the British people in a general election.
ANDERSON: They don't have that opportunity at this point, do they? Because there isn't a general election on the cards as it were for what? Some 18
months and, and most polls with respects when you look at them have an approval rating which is pretty dire. For this prime minister and for the
Conservative Party.
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: Hang on, sir. Hang on. Hang on. Well, hang on. I am working on opinion polls just for the time being because the British public don't have
the opportunity to vote. But let's just --
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: Let's just --
BURNS: And they -- and they vote people in for a five-year period.
ANDERSON: Right.
BURNS: And then they have a judgement after that four or five years. And if we operate in all opinion polls, Margaret Thatcher would have been
dispatched in 1991 and in 1986.
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: And we don't -- and we don't work on opinion polls. We don't work on opinion polls. Hang on. We don't work on opinion polls. You're right. I
am just quoting an opinion poll and using it here but we don't work on those. At this point, the British public don't have an opportunity to vote
whether or not they would vote to keep the Conservative Party in or not. It is about what Boris Johnson's own party is doing.
Let's just -- let's just be clear about what Jesse Norman has said. Because you're right, this was a key ally of the British prime minister who accuses
Boris Johnson of casual law breaking. He says to describe himself as vindicated over Party gate is grotesque. Do you not agree with what Jesse
Norman has said?
BURNS: I agree with what the prime minister said when he apologized in a recent statement to the House of Commons and through the House of Commons
to the British people some 42 times for failures within the operation in Downing Street, and he's made significant changes to his operation. And
number 10. He's appointed new personnel to tighten up the discipline. We accept that we're failures through the lockdown period.
There's been no attempt to shy away from that. But what we're talking about today is who is the right person to lead our country, to lead our party and
to take us into the next general election in two or three years time. And I still believe that person is Boris Johnson.
ANDERSON: You are talking as a -- as a Tory lawmaker about who you believe should take you as a party into the next election. But let's be quite
frank, it is bigger than that at this point, while the British public don't have an opportunity to vote themselves. They are looking to you as a set of
lawmakers to decide whether or not the U.K. and again I quote Jesse Norman here, "will squander the next two years adrift," distracted by, "endless
debate around Johnson's leadership."
You must agree that this endless debate is a distraction surely at a time when the U.K. as others are dealing with a real cost of living crisis at
this point.
BURNS: And that's exactly the sort of thing that my constituents in Bournemouth are talking to me about. The people I met across the four days
of the Jubilee weekend when I was in Northern Ireland as a minister, they're talking about the cost of energy bills, they're talking about what
the government's massive package of support that we came forward with in the last fortnight means for them.
They are not talking about this in the same way that the media wants to talk about this. They're talking about what we are doing to help them in
their lives and asking us if it's -- if it's enough, are we going to ensure that it actually gets to them. There is a whole world out there for people
are focused on day to day cost of living, getting the kids into the right schools, making sure that the economy is vibrant and creating the jobs that
they need for their children to have when they come on to the labor market.
Those are the things that the government is focused on. And I totally reject Jesse's assertion that this is a government without an agenda. This
government has got an absolute mission with the prime minister has defined it in terms of the leveling up making sure that there are opportunities
provided and afforded to communities across the entirety of our United Kingdom.
[10:35:07]
ANDERSON: You watched you said how broken British politics had become in 2019. And was convinced only Boris Johnson could fix it. He faces a
confidence vote at this point, are you saying that there is nobody better served at this point to take the reins and to fix what is still a very,
very difficult set of decisions to be made for Britain?
BURNS: What I'm saying to you is that I recall shortly before Boris Johnson became prime minister. The Conservative Party had just come fifth in a
national election. And within six months, Boris Johnson had led us to victory in 2019 with a majority of (INAUDIBLE) the biggest landslide for
the conservative party since Margaret Thatcher a generation ago. And I'm saying that the Prime Minister deserves the opportunity to carry on
explaining to the British people what we're doing to improve their laws.
He deserves the opportunity to continue implementing that manifesto, for which he got a very decisive personal mandate only two and a bit years ago.
And he deserves the opportunity to have that appointment with the British people in a couple of years time where he can ask them to form judgment on
how he has conducted himself as prime minister, what he has delivered for the British people and crucially, what his vision is, if they were to trust
him with a further term in government.
ANDERSON: We'll see. Good to have you on, sir. Thank you very much indeed. And as we have this discussion, we are looking at pictures of the British
prime minister with his wife Carrie being booed as they -- as they arrived for the service of remembrance at our celebratory service -- sorry, at St.
Paul's this weekend. Thank you.
An emotional day on the football pitch Sunday. Coming up. The heartbreaking end to Ukraine's World Cup hopes. And a triumph for the king of play what
others only dream of he achieves. What is next for Rafa. Details are in our World Sport update after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Another twist in the Twitter ownership saga. The world's richest man Elon Musk threatening to walk away from his plan purchase of the social
media company. In a letter to Twitter's chief legal officer Musk demanded that the company turn over information proving its claims that fake
accounts only make up five percent of the company.
Maybe on Ukraine's road to the World Cup has ended. They lost one nil to Wales, which now gets a ticket to the World Cup in Qatar. Alex Thomas
reports from Cardiff.
[10:40:03]
ALEX THOMAS, CNN WORLD SPORT ANCHOR: On a rainy evening in Cardiff Ukraine's World Cup dream was washed away winning two playoff games in five
days proving too much for a team denied competitive international action since last November by Russia's invasion in February. Although they had
beaten Scotland on Wednesday, Ukraine's footballers couldn't find a way past Wales in particular goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey.
The 35-year-old veteran has played just three games for his club all season, but produced a string of stunning saves here. Wales winning this
playoff final one nil after Gareth Bale's free kick was deflected into his own goal by Ukraine Captain Andriy Yarmolenko.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE) and our victory of our country isn't the future. Our forces (INAUDIBLE) will win Putin's army and it's the most
important for us.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Disappointed but, you know, I think by the team we lost today, so we're playing it well and probably deserted to play in a World
Cup but, you know, I really wish best Wales now and yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're very proud of them. They've done very well. And this, you know, everything that's happened at the moment, you can relate,
it's very touches our heart.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I tell you what (INAUDIBLE) that --- shows that shows us more, it's not, you know, it's not just about football. It's, you know,
what's going on in the world as well. What kind of (INAUDIBLE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
THOMAS: Ukraine's players slumped to the ground at the final whistle. It would have been a cross between the sporting miracle and the fairy tale if
they had qualified for Qatar 2022. Instead, Wales is celebrating a place of the men's FIFA World Cup tournament for the first time since 1958. So long
ago, that color television was in its infancy. The first moon landing was more than a decade away, and Ukraine was still part of the former Soviet
Union. Alex Thomas, CNN, Cardiff.
ANDERSON: Well, if I just say the number 14, does that mean anything to you? The man they call the king of clay. It means an awful lot. Rafa Nadal
did it again and he proved his super skills at the French Open. I have to say. It was electrifying. World Sport anchor Amanda Davies joins me. I say
it was electrifying blink and you nearly missed it. I mean, he absolutely well -- I mean, he just walked it really.
(CROSSTALK)
AMANDA DAVIES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Yes. And the crowd, you could -- you could tell that Roland Garros really didn't know what to make of it. They
wanted Rafa Nadal to win this record extending 14 Grand Slam but they wanted a final and he was up against Casper Ruud in a Grand Slam final for
the first time. And really all the talk of Nadal struggling physically, the problems with his 36 years of age, him talking about whether or not he
would ever be back at Roland Garros.
And he breezed through. You -- they call him the king of clay. The discussion today is, you know, is he the king full stop having won in
straight sets for the loss of just six games. 6-3, 6-3, 6-love --
ANDERSON: What a season he's having.
DAVIES: While this is the quite, you know, people saying he's obviously struggling physically. He's admitted to that but he has won the first two
grand slams of the year. The Australian Open at the start of the year, now the French Open. Coming up, we've got Wimbledon, then the U.S. Open. Could
this be a first calendar Grand Slam if his body holds out?
ANDERSON: I think I told you, I saw him at them a battler in Abu Dhabi before Christmas and he didn't look like the same player. So he's clearly
improved since then. What a result. Thank you very much. World Sports up after this short break. We are back after that. Stay with us.
[10:45:00]
(WORLD SPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:00:00]
END
