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Trump: "We Are Working Very Hard" On Achieving Peace Between Russia And Ukraine; France Calls Key Leaders To Emergency Meeting In Paris; Lavrov Implies Russia Won't Make Any Concessions To Ukraine. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired February 17, 2025 - 10:00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[10:00:21]
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi. This is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Oh, of CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi, where the time is 7:00 in the evening.
And we start in this region, Saudi Arabia at the center of diplomatic talks between Russia, Ukraine and the United States. Secretary of State Marco
Rubio, is meeting with leaders in Riyadh today.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy here in Abu Dhabi. He has had a busy week advocating for Ukraine with allies around the globe.
Today, he said Ukraine wants security guarantees, not on paper, but in the skies and on the ground.
And pressure growing within Israel for Benjamin Netanyahu to resume talks for a second phase of the ceasefire. The U.S. says phase two of the deal
is, "absolutely going to begin".
To summit on Ukraine, getting underway in Paris as European leaders, frankly, scramble to get ahead of planned negotiations between the U.S. and
Russia on Ukraine on Tuesday. As I said, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Riyadh earlier, where those negotiations are set to take
place. Rubio framing the meeting as the first steps of a process to see if Moscow is serious about ending the Ukraine conflict talks ahead of talks,
as it were.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's president on a state visit right here in Abu Dhabi. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, says his country will not honor any agreements made
without its input.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE (through translator): Ukraine will not participate. Ukraine knew nothing about them. Ukraine perceives
any negotiations about Ukraine without Ukraine as those with no results.
We cannot recognize anything or any agreements about us without us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, meanwhile, there are growing fears ahead of Tuesday's talks that U.S. President Donald Trump will embrace just about any deal with his
Russian counterpart, even if it's a bad one for Ukraine.
Mr. Trump also raised the prospect of a meeting with Vladimir Putin very soon. Here is what he told reporters on Sunday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think he wants to stop fighting. They have a big, powerful machine, you understand that.
And they defeated Hitler, and they defeated Napoleon. You know, they've been fighting a long time. They have done it before, and but I think he'd
like this. I think he would like to stop fighting.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you think he wants the whole of Ukraine or just like -- what do you think he wants --
(CROSSTALK)
TRUMP: No. I think he wants to stop. That was my question to him. Because if he's going to go on, that would have been a big problem for us, and that
would have caused me a big problem, because you just can't let that happen.
I think he wants to end it and they want to end it fast, both of them, and Zelenskyy wants to end it too.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, CNN politics senior reporter Stephen Collinson, good friend of this show is live in Washington.
I wonder what you firstly made of what we just heard there.
STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN POLITICS SENIOR REPORTER: Well, Vladimir Putin could stop the fighting anytime he wants by ending the invasion. And I think
there are serious questions about whether, as his forces push forward somewhat on the battlefield, whether Putin really does want to stop this
war, or if the U.S. can offer him something that gets him a better deal.
I think the issue here is that Trump appears A, to want to meet Putin as soon as possible, and B, to do a deal. But the problem with seeing
everything as a real estate deal in terms of geopolitics and international relations is, this is about the future of Ukraine, its ability to survive
as a nation, the borders of Europe and decisions that are made if there is a peace agreement that will resonate for years to come.
So, I don't think we've seen, at least from the present so far, the substance and the seriousness that you'd expect going into this kind of
negotiations that said, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who will be at those talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, does seem to be making a more
serious effort.
[10:05:04]
You know, he is talking like you'd expect the secretary of state to talk going into these things, trying to ascertain if the Russians are serious.
But the messages from the U.S. over the last four or five days in Europe on this have been all over the place. So, who knows what's going to come out
of those talks?
ANDERSON: As you and I speak, I want to bring up an image of Paris, the Elysee Palace, where European leaders are -- and I don't think it's an
understatement or an overstatement to suggest, scrambling, to work out exactly what is going on and where they stand.
And you know, really wrong footage over the weekend by -- a speech by the Vice President of the United States, J.D. Vance. By the secretary of
defense, new secretary of defense for the U.S., Pete Hegseth, at the Munich Security Conference, about what happens next with regard the conflict in
Ukraine.
Russia's war on Ukraine, frankly telling Europe to sort its own backyard out rather than actually addressing the very important issue of security
and security guarantees for Ukraine and for the Europeans going forward.
And we've heard, Stephen, mixed messages from the Trump administration, suggesting that, you know, Ukraine could be left out of talks about how to
end the conflict, or that European allies will not be invited to take part in these discussions, not getting a seat at the table. And that is,
frankly, fueling pushback and concerns both in Kyiv and across Europe.
What do you -- what do you make of what we are hearing at president and what you expect to come out of this European emergency gathering?
COLLINSON: Well, it's interesting because, you know, Trump has already made clear that he expects the Europeans to finance Ukraine's defense and to
implement any peace deal with their troops, not American troops, if there is a deal.
So, at some point the Europeans going to have to be involved somewhere, unless Trump is just going to, you know, create a deal and try and impose
it, and then walk away. And one of the reasons why there is a lot of concern about the Europeans not being involved in the talks in Saudi Arabia
and any future sort of three-way talks between Russia, the U.S., and Ukraine, is that their position is obviously going to be very supportive of
Ukraine.
Trump has already shown that he's quite supportive of the Russian side. He's shown empathy. For the reasons of the invasion, he's called Putin a
genius, and he himself, since he came back to office, has been an expansionist. He's talked about taking territory in Greenland, in Canada,
in Panama. So, he, and Putin are very much the same wavelength.
The issue here, though, is, can there be a deal that can secure Ukraine's future as an independent nation, and that will stop the war erupting when
Russia has had time to recoup, say, in four or five years-time. That is not just a key question for U.S., it's going to be Trump's legacy.
So, if it becomes clear that he'll be remembered in history for what happens, perhaps, he changes his mind here. But so far, the only country
that's been asked for concession in this process is Ukraine.
The U.S. treasury secretary went there to try and get half of their mineral deposits to pay for U.S. support so far in the war. So, there is not a
great deal of pressure at this point from the United States on Russia. So, they are talking to the invader, and not the country that was invaded.
ANDERSON: President Macron now at the doorway, there, anticipating the arrival of other European leaders who have been asked to attend what is an
emergency meeting at the Elysee Palace.
You write that Vladimir Putin is rising high ahead of these talks in Riyadh. What's the potential impact of basically ending the Russian
president's international isolation to your mind?
COLLINSON: I was very struck this morning, when my colleague, Fred Pleitgen was reported from Moscow about how happy the Russians are to be they
believe shortly to be welcomed back into the international diplomatic community.
Trump has said that he wants Russia back in the G8. He argued last week that if it had been in the G8, they wouldn't have evaded Ukraine, while the
reason it was kicked out of the G8 in 2014 was because it annexed Crimea.
[10:10:02]
So, the logic of that doesn't really work. But I do believe that Trump sees the world in a very different way than almost every other modern American
president. He respects strong men, he likes to sit down with Putin, with China's Xi Jinping, and he sees that as a forum whereby American strength
can best be expressed.
He is not too concerned about less powerful countries, hence his pressure on countries like Canada and Panama. So, he -- what we could be watching is
a complete change in the way the United States acts in the world more of a provocateur than a guarantor of security, and that's very much, I think, an
expression of Trump's world view and his own personality, where he tries to impose his what he perceives as strength on weaker adversaries, and he
feels more comfortable in the company of strong men than he does U.S. allies.
ANDERSON: It's good to have you, sir. Thank you very much indeed. Well, we've got these images up from Paris. Stephen, thank you.
I want to get more on what is this emergency meeting happening in Paris. European leaders beginning to gather there this hour for what will be
closed door talks focused on Ukraine.
CNN's Melissa Bell is in Paris, monitoring that meeting, and I asked her about the apparent scramble to respond to the United States' approach. Have
a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I think your word scramble is exactly the right one. I can't think of a meeting with such
high-profile people, making their way to Paris, organized as quickly as this has been. And yet, French officials really doing all they can not to
look rattled.
We've been hearing yesterday, Becky, from the French foreign minister, speak on French radio, saying, look, these meetings happen all the time.
Emmanuel Macron, himself, tweeting that this was an informal meeting. And yet, we expect in the next few minutes, not just the arrival of several
European leaders, but also the president's European Council and commission, the secretary general of NATO.
Clearly, what Europeans heard over the course of the last few days, and you just been discussing not just Pete Hegseth's comments at NATO last week,
but of course, all that was said at the Munich Security Conference, I'm thinking, are not just of J.D. Vance, but also what Keith Kellogg had to
tell people there that, look, United States is going to negotiate hard. We are going to get territorial concessions from Russia when it comes to
Ukraine.
It isn't simply that the Europeans are rattled from being left out of a process after having contributed so much militarily and financially to the
war effort in Ukraine, but also that they worry that, frankly, these negotiations are to be carried out well, and there's a lot of
disgruntlement at the fact that they have been excluded, both because of the fact of it and because tactically, they worry about the way the United
States is going into this given piece gets comments last week about not foreseeing Ukraine as a part of NATO.
That was a key plank, remember that they saw his leverage going into the negotiations with Vladimir Putin.
Hence, this meeting, it's about a couple of things really, Becky. It's trying to figure out, first of all, where Europe goes from here, and how it
can continue to offer security guarantees to Ukraine, but also to figure out much more speedily and effectively than it has managed to so far, how
it's going to ensure its own defense. Becky.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Melissa Bell, speaking to me a little earlier.
Well, before these talks in Saudi Arabia begin, Russia's foreign minister is already implying Moscow will not make concessions to Ukraine. And I use
that term, concessions from Sergey Lavrov. He is part of the Russian delegation, traveling to Riyadh on Tuesday for discussions with U.S.
officials.
The Kremlin says the talks are also about restoring what it calls the entire complex of Russia-U.S. relations.
Well, let's get the very latest from CNN's senior international correspondent Fred Pleitgen. He joins us now live from Moscow. Fred.
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Becky, yeah. And for the Russians, you're absolutely right. They are seeing this as much
more than just negotiations about a possible ceasefire or peace in Ukraine. They say that for them, this is essentially about getting back on the
international stage and almost a reset, if you will, of us Russia relations. They are hoping for massive sanctions relief and also almost a
normalization, as they put it, of economic relations and diplomatic relations as well.
Now, of course, we know that the Trump administration has said that they believe both sides will need to make painful compromises, and I did ask the
foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, what compromises Russia would be willing to make, especially as far as territory is concerned. Here is what he had
to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PLEITGEN: Which territorial concessions, and in general, which compromises is Russia willing to make to achieve such a peace agreement?
SERGEY LAVROV, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, RUSSIA (through translator): You want us to have a mere thought of the negotiations on the settlement
regarding the fact that some territories still need to be ceded to cede how?
[10:15:08]
With people? With Russians? Or without people? With only rare earth metals? If we are still talking about serious diplomacy, it's better to first
understand the history of the issue and see why the Russian language is banned in all spheres of life in Ukraine, and why the canonical Ukrainian
Orthodox Church is banned there.
And here, they say that territorial concessions are necessary. For what? So, that Russians can now be destroyed like they are now being destroyed in
the Kursk region and in other regions of the Russian Federation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PLEITGEN: And of course, we, Becky, we know that on the ground, de facto, the Russians can hold a considerable part of Ukraine's territory, but the
Ukrainians also have that enclave where they still have their forces holding some Russian territory in the Kursk region as well. So, all of that
seems as though it's going to be pretty difficult as far as these talks are concerned, especially, of course, with Ukraine not even being at the table.
But the Trump administration continues to say that they want to find some sort of peace or ceasefire agreement as quick as possible, but the Russians
have cautioned that there are red lines for them that could make this a lot more difficult than President Trump might be letting on. Becky.
ANDERSON: And while Ukraine isn't involved in these talks at present Europe, it seems pretty much frozen out briefly. How is what happened over
the weekend in Munich, being framed in Russian media?
PLEITGEN: Yes, exactly. It's pretty much exactly that, basically, that the U.S. and Russia are certainly on speaking terms once again, but also seem
to have more of a mutual understanding than the U.S. does with its own allies and with Ukraine.
That's sort of a theme that we're seeing here on state-run media, especially those comments that the Vice President J.D. Vance made at the
Munich Security Conference, sort of scolding the Europeans, if you will, and essentially, saying that the U.S. is very concerned about Europe.
Those are things that are very much playing high here on Russian state media. At the same time, you do here, especially in political Moscow,
Becky, have a lot of optimism that relations between the Trump administration and the Putin administration could get very good very
quickly. They believe that they are back on the international stage, and that right now, it is the Europeans and the Ukrainians that are being
sidelined.
And if you look at Sergey Lavrov, for instance, the foreign minister, one of the things that he keeps saying is that he believes that this sort of
freeze in diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Russia over the past couple of years was something that was completely unnatural, and you do see
the Russians sort of trying to blame that on the Europeans, if you will. Becky.
ANDERSON: Good to have you, Fred. Thank you. Fred is in Moscow. Time there is 17 minutes past 6:00, just after quarter past 7:00 here.
In Abu Dhabi, in region, and in Lebanon, Israel says it killed a senior Hamas operative in an air strike in Sidon earlier, adding to tension ahead
of a key deadline in Israel and Hezbollah's ceasefire agreement.
The current deadline for both sides is troops to withdraw from southern Lebanon is tomorrow, but an IDF spokesperson said Monday, a small amount of
-- and I quote that of Israeli troops would remain in, "five strategic points.
Hezbollah's leader rejecting those plans, saying it would violate their agreement. Now, Israel is, of course, -- but also. juggling another cease
fire deal. The prime minister's office says a negotiating team is in Cairo, today, Monday, for discussions with mediators there on phase one of the
Gaza agreement.
Israel's security Cabinet is set to discuss Phase Two in the hours ahead. All this as family members of Israeli hostages are marking 500 days since
the October 7th massacre. They gathered in Tel Aviv on Monday to call for action.
CNN international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson is live in Jerusalem for us and this -- and he joins us now.
Will this be resolved before the deadline tomorrow? Let's start there. This is Lebanon, of course.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: We're talking here about the withdrawal from Lebanon. Yes, sure. But no, it's not going to be
resolved to everyone's satisfaction.
What the IDF announced today is that they are leaving a small number of troops at these five key strategic locations. They appear to be sort of
mountain tops that give the troops a view along the border.
What the IDF is saying is that when the Lebanese army is ready to fill those spaces, they will -- they will pass them over to the Lebanese army.
So absolutely, tomorrow morning, wake up and expect a number of Israeli troops to have left and a number to remain, and as. Say Hezbollah says
that's not good enough.
[10:20:03]
We've heard pushback last week when this was -- idea was mooted from the speaker of the Lebanese parliament, Nabih Berri. He pushed back. He said,
look, I'm rejecting that and rejecting it for Lebanon.
And what the IDF said when journalists asked them today, and I was listening in as those questions were coming thick and fast, the IDF said,
look, this was agreed with the mechanism, the overseeing mechanism that oversees the ceasefire. As the United States, that is in the middle, if you
will, the glue part of that mechanism.
But the IDF refused to be drawn over who they say they had agreement with, certainly, not with the Lebanese government. They are certainly not talking
to Hezbollah. And it was unclear that they were implying that they'd got specific agreement from the United States from this. They just said that
there was agreement with the mechanism that oversees this cease fire. It seems to be a one-sided agreement at the moment.
ANDERSON: So, it affects -- it affects, Israel is not withdrawing from Lebanon tomorrow. Correct?
ROBERTSON: Absolutely correct. Not. Some -- yet, some troops, yes, some will remain at those posts temporarily, limited time frame.
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: Bring us up -- yes.
ROBERTSON: Couldn't get a sense of the time frame.
ANDERSON: Get us up to speed on what is going on with regard the Gaza cease fire and hostage deal, and the possibility, or not, of a phase two at this
point.
ROBERTSON: Yes, it really seems that Prime Minister Netanyahu came under a lot of pressure from U.S. officials over the weekend, although his push --
his office has pushed back on that notion.
But he had a three-hour meeting with the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, plus he had a call from President Trump's Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff, both
pushing a number of issues.
But specifically, to get going on phase two. President Trump is anxious that Israel negotiates on phase two. It's already almost two weeks behind
on doing that.
So, those negotiators that Prime Minister Netanyahu allowed to go to Cairo yesterday, they are there today. Are negotiators on phase one. Phase one
only, the six weeks that's already underway. Two thirds into that six-week period, less than two thirds of the hostages have been released.
Tonight and a few hours the security Cabinet meets. They will discuss phase two, phase two much tougher, because it potentially means an end to the
war, is political pressure on Netanyahu, because there are members of his government who want him to just continue the war. So, this next phase,
phase two, is very difficult, if that goes ahead, or depending on the outcome of the meeting tonight, it's expected that Prime Minister Netanyahu
will allow his representatives at these talks in Cairo to then speak about phase two.
I think important to look here at who those envoys to Egypt are. Are they the top-level negotiating envoys? That's a good question.
ANDERSON: Nic, it's good to have you. Next in Jerusalem this hour. Thank you.
Still to come, a social media post by U.S. President Donald Trump has some critics accusing him of acting like a dictator and declaring himself above
the law. More on that is coming up.
Plus, the Trump administration slashing more jobs, this time, targeting hundreds of Federal Aviation Administration, probationary employees.
A closer look at that and the impact coming up.
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[10:25:42]
ANDERSON: All right. You're watching connect the world with me. Becky Anderson. Time here in Abu Dhabi is 25 past 7:00. The following social
media post by U.S. President Donald Trump that is sparking outcry from his critics, at least, to accuse him of acting above the law unlike a dictator.
The president's post, which first appeared over the weekend on his truth social account, says, and I quote him here. "He, who saves his country does
not violate any law."
Well, it comes as his administration faces dozens of lawsuits over his flurry of executive actions and orders intended to reshape the federal
government to fall in line with his America first policies.
One of the president's priorities is to reduce the federal workforce, and thousands of jobs have already been targeted. CNN's Pete Muntean is in
Washington, and he is following fresh cuts impacting the FAA, the Federal Aviation Administration. Have a listen.
PETE MUNTEAN, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT: The latest development is now engineers working for Elon Musk will be visiting the FAA air traffic
control command center on Monday. That, plus these firings, are truly uncharted territory for the Federal Aviation Administration, which oversees
an air travel system that is stressed to the max right now.
Remember, the FAA's air traffic control equipment is aging, and the system that delivers mandatory pilot safety alerts failed just days after that
crash that killed 67 people over Washington, D.C. hasn't even been three weeks since that crash, and DOGE has had its eye on the FAA ever since.
Now, the concern is that when these federal workers return from the long weekend on Tuesday, they could be barred from FAA facilities. The workers
impacted here are members of a union called PASS. That is the Professional Aviation Safety Specialist union, part of the AFL-CIO.
Union president, Dave Sparrow tells me between two and 300 FAA workers started receiving firing notices from the Trump administration late on
Friday.
These are the workers who help maintain the critical infrastructure that keeps the air traffic control system operating. He says, not only were
these workers fired without cause, but that this was hardly a surgical move by the Trump administration that is dangerous to public safety and
especially unconscionable in the aftermath of the crashes that have been grabbing headlines over the last month.
It's important to note here that these are probationary employees, meaning, they have been on the job for less than a year, so, the next generation of
FAA employees at an agency that's at a hard time keeping up with retirements and attrition.
So far, the FAA has not returned my request for comment. But we do know this from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who announced the visit by
Musk team. He posted on X that President Trump is ordering a new air traffic control system and called for help, not just from private industry
but any high-tech American developer in overhauling the FAA.
ANDERSON: Pete Muntean, reporting for you. Still ahead on the show, CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson. After many of its proxies have been
destroyed by Israel, could Iran decide to build a nuclear bomb? Let me speak to one Middle East expert after this short break. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:31:31]
ANDERSON: welcome back. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD with me Becky Anderson. Your headlines. Tuesday is a key deadline in Israel in
Hezbollah's ceasefire agreement, which would see both sides as troops withdraw from southern Lebanon. But on Monday, an IDF spokesman said a
small amount of Israeli troops will remain in "five strategic points." Hezbollah's leader says such a move would be a violation of their
agreement.
French President Emmanuel Macron is hosting an emergency summit in Paris on European security and Ukraine. It comes after the Trump administration
announced it was opening talks with Russia on ending its war on Ukraine without a European presence. The Elysee Palace says Mr. Macron will hold a
phone call with President Trump today as well.
And the U.S. Secretary of State is now in Saudi Arabia for those U.S.- Russia brokered talks or talks for talks, as it were. Marco Rubio and other American officials are set to meet with a Russian delegation in Riyadh.
On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meantime, says Ukraine not invited and will not be participating. But Mr. Zelenskyy says he will
be in Saudi Arabia for separate talks this week. And Ukrainian president has been here in Abu Dhabi today.
Well, Saudi Arabia also says it is ready to mediate talks between Iran and the United States on a new nuclear deal. Riyadh is concerned that Tehran
may be more inclined to pursue a nuclear weapon now that its regional proxies have been significantly weakened.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on Sunday, vowed to "finish the job against Tehran with American support." Iran's foreign ministry
spokesman responded on Monday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ESMAEIL BAGHAEI, IRAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON (through translator): You cannot threaten to destroy on one hand and claim to support dialog and
negotiations on the other.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: So, are we heading for a new round of conflict or indeed, a round of negotiations with Iran? Well, joining me now is Firas Maksad. He's the
senior director and senior fellow at the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C. And we just heard the Iranian response effectively to what
the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said about his and the U.S.'s plan for Iran. So, let's just hear from the man himself. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL: We agreed that the ayatollahs must not have nuclear weapons and we also agreed that Iran's aggression in
the region has to be rolled back. Over the last 16 months, Israel has dealt a mighty blow to Iran's terror access under the strong leadership of
President Trump and with your unflinching support, I have no doubt that we can and will finish the job.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Firas, Benjamin Netanyahu was flanked there by the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. What do you make of what you heard both from
Netanyahu and indeed from Iran in response?
[10:35:06]
Where does this leave us and what do we understand to be behind that threat? What's the next step by Israel and do we expect to see Donald Trump
supporting whatever that next step might be?
FIRAS MAKSAD, SENIOR DIRECTOR AND SENIOR FELLOW, MIDDLE EAST INSTITUTE: Becky, it's good to be with you again. Anyway, we spin it, 2025 will be a
pivotal year when it comes to the issue of Iran and what to do about Iran's nuclear program. Speaking to senior officials here, there is a sense that
Iran is the weakest it has ever been perhaps since the 1979 revolution. In fact, I've had an American official tell me that we and the Israelis can
now pretty much crisscross the skies of Iran uninterrupted.
So, the big policy question is, how will Iran react to that? Will it make a mad dash? Will the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei decide to make a run for a
nuclear program to weaponize essentially? The enriched uranium that it already has or would it sit down to negotiate the dismantlement of that
program? And the truth is that nobody knows what decision the Supreme Leader will take.
His public comments have suggested that the U.S. is not to be trusted, that they've negotiated a deal before, only to see President Trump renege on
that deal. But it's very interesting to also see the backroom diplomacy. And the fact that the Iranian foreign minister was in Oman just this week
which has historically played a backroom, sort of a track two diplomacy between the U.S. and Iran.
So, this will be a pivotal year, particularly as a lot of the snapback sanctions are in question in the summer and then a lot of the sunset
clauses, if that nuclear deal will come to expire October.
ANDERSON: Yes. And you make a very good point. This will be a pivotal year. It was already set to be as such. Now we are hearing what could be
posturing. We're certainly getting positions laid out, but whether it's posturing rhetoric, you know, it is unclear at this point. What is clear is
that Saudi Arabia has offered to mediate talks between Iran and the U.S. Why?
MAKSAD: The Saudis have played their cards very carefully. Let's remember that there is kind of an unfinished war on the kingdom's southern border in
Yemen with the Houthis there. And so, as the Houthis particularly given the conflict in Gaza, have stepped up to attack Israel and take on a much more
pronounced regional role on behalf of Iran. The Kingdom has been very careful not to throw itself back in the mix of that conflict, that
protracted conflict.
And so, the Saudis have very much positioned themselves, whether on Iran or on Ukraine, on Russia or otherwise, as this pivotal sort of broker this
mediator. And I think the Saudis also remember very well that when Iran, through its proxies, or even directly attacked the oil facilities in the
kingdom in 2019 the Trump administration back then did not come to its defense.
So, the Saudis have their own set of interests. Yes, they're a key American partner in the region, but at this point, they prefer to keep their
relationship, even though there's no love lost, there's no trust with the Iranians, keep that relationship and try to play that relationship in the
interest of the United States through hosting possible talks or mediating between the two rivals.
ANDERSON: The United States appears to be leaving Europe on the sidelines of its foreign policy initiatives, particularly those with regard Iran, the
Middle East here and Gaza and indeed, and this is very prescient at present what is going on with any deal that might be struck on the Russia war on
Ukraine? Europe, though, is not sitting quietly. French President Emmanuel Macron has called an emergency meeting of European leaders today, very
specifically, it seems to talk about European security and Ukraine. He posted this on X earlier.
He talks about a number of issues. Not least, he said this, I spoke with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, about Russia's war
in Ukraine and the role Saudi Arabia could play in fostering a solid and lasting peace with Europeans at the center of the process. I just wonder
from your perspective, is the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman or MBs as he is known, likely to include Europe, if the U.S. doesn't want them at the
table on, for example, Ukraine and Russia, or indeed, for example, when it comes to Iran?
[10:40:23]
MAKSAD: Yes. Well, here's what we do know. What we do know is that the Kingdom has excelled in diversifying its foreign policy options. It's done
so for the past three, four years. It maintains the United States as a key strategic partner and anchor, if I may, in their relationships but it also
refused to cut and sever its ties to Russia when it was pressured to do so after the war in Ukraine.
Similarly, it's relayed or relied on President Macron, the French, when there were tensions in the relationship with President Biden. And so, I
think MBS's instinct is to continue to keep those doors open to play that role of the mediator to make sure to bring the Europeans in when there is
an opportunity to bring in President Macron, bring in the French. The two men enjoy a very positive relationship.
But at the same time, there is no doubt that the Kingdom has succeeded in not only being or the regional player, the key regional player amongst Arab
and Muslim countries, but it now looks at itself as a global middle power, and is planning on the stage with superpowers like the United States and
Russia and even China.
So, I think MBs and the Kingdom have stepped up to the platform they want to mediate, not only when it comes to Iran, not only being key when it
comes to the future of Gaza boasting a summit next week which brings together Arab leaders to respond to the Trump plan to essentially transfer
Palestinians out of Gaza, but now on the global stage to hosting this summit, which lays the ground for potentially Trump and Putin themselves
meeting in the Kingdom.
ANDERSON: Firas, it's always good to have you, good friend of the show. I've said this before, and I'll say it again. Your insight and analysis is
so important. This is an incredibly important time. It feels like there is sort of seismic shift in geopolitics. It impacts all of us wherever we are sitting, whether you're
sitting in Abu Dhabi or you're sitting in Washington or wherever our viewers are watching this news show.
So, we very much appreciate your time. Thank you very much indeed. And stay with CNN folks as these incredibly important news stories develop over the
coming days. And in other news, Mexico's president taking on Google threatening legal action for its use of the name Gulf of America. We are
live from Mexico City with the very latest for you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: More now on the latest news out of Rome for you.
[10:45:01]
And there has been a change in diagnosis for Pope Francis. The pontiff was admitted to a hospital on Friday. Earlier today, the Vatican announced that
the 88-year-old has poly microbial infection of his respiratory tract. That indicates a complex clinical picture, according to the Vatican. CNN Vatican
Correspondent Christopher Lamb is outside Gemelli Hospital in Rome. And Christopher what is the very latest that you are hearing there?
CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, we're into the fourth day of France's hospitalization here at the Gemelli Hospital behind
me. And the situation or the diagnosis has shifted to saying that the Pope is dealing with something more severe in terms of infection than was
previously thought. The Vatican saying that he has a poly microbial infection, which is a combination of different things or different factors
behind that infection, including viruses and bacteria.
So, a more complex picture than was originally thought. Now, before the Pope was hospitalized on Friday, he was keeping up a relentless schedule of
meetings and public events. And I spoke to a biographer of Pope Francis who explained the mentality that was driving him forward in the job. Here's
what she had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELISABETTA PIQUE, CORRESPONDENT, LA NACION: He's a very spiritual one, but he's very strong leader. He's very strong minded. He's stubborn, so he's
very determined. And in this case, it's very difficult to convince him of doing, for instance, to come here. So at the end, until his body told him,
what now you have to stop. For that reason, he had to stop. He's like he is very determined and he's like he thinks that he's here not to rest, but to
go on and with his job.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LAMB: But the Pope is now being told he must rest. The doctors ordering him to stop all activities and to try and recover. The Pope did not lead the
Sunday Angeles that he does each week. He is also not going to be leading the Wednesday general audience. This is really a case of watching very
closely how things develop. We are expecting a further update from the Vatican later today, Becky.
ANDERSON: It's good to have you. Chris Lamb who actually himself saw the Pope on Friday. Thank you.
One body of water, two names. Mexico's president taking on Google to keep the name Gulf of Mexico, a name that has been in use for more than 400
years. Mexico threatening to sue the tech giant if it didn't reconsider its use of Gulf of America, following an executive order by U.S. President
Donald Trump. Well, Google says -- in Mexico, Google users will still see Gulf of Mexico. In the U.S. users will see Gulf of America and the rest of
the world will see both.
Well, coming up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN MULANEY, SNL HOST: Rudy, you're America's mayor, your beloved all across the country. This is your big shot. What are you going to do with
it?
NATHAN LANE, AMERICAN ACTOR: Simple. I am throwing away my shot.
LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA, AMERICAN SONGWRITER: Rise up, election conspiracy is going to rise up.
LANE: I'll play at the season there.
MIRANDA: Rise up. He's getting (INAUDIBLE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, that is Lin-Manuel Miranda alongside former Saturday Night Live cast member Kate McKinnon reviving a Rudy Giuliani impression for a
special night of comedy in New York. A look at what was somewhat of a celebration up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:50:35]
ANDERSON: Well, the stars were out in London for the BAFTA Film Awards on Sunday night. Amongst the big winners, was the brutalist for leading actor
Adrian Brody and director Brady Corbett and Conclave for best film.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What happened?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They say a heart attack.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know how rumor spreads and one and a quarter billion souls watching.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well thought, no Lawrence. It seems the responsibility for the Conclave falls upon you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: But as we head towards the Oscars, predictions still looking a little bit hard to pin down. In addition to the favorites, there were some
surprises at the BAFTA ceremony in London. Writer Director Jesse Eisenberg took the best original screenplay award for a real pain, and he spoke to my
colleague Max Foster and summed up what he thinks might account for the broad appeal of what is an unusual movie.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JESSE EISENBERG, WINNER, BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY, "A REAL PAIN": Just the unusual thing about it, but I can't even parse it, because it's my own
thing is that perhaps it takes the kind of well-worn theme which is like Holocaust-themed movies, and maybe comes at it from an angle that feels a
little -- I don't know, newer or more modern, more welcoming, less sanctimonious, than a lot of the movies made on the similar theme. So,
maybe that's why.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And in the best actress category, Mikey Madison edge to out the favorite Demi Moore who's been riding high on a comeback performance in the
substance. Madison spoke to max about the film that she stars in, Anora.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why do you think the film hit a nerve? You got any feeling for that?
MIKEY MADISON, WINNER, LEADING ACTRESS, ANORA: I mean, I think Sean makes films about humanity and touches on really interesting subject matter. And
I don't know. I mean, I think that there was just something really special in the air when we made this film.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Saturday Night Live marked a major milestone over the weekend with the star-studded cast marking 50 years of laughs. The sketch comedy
show known for poking fun at current affairs and those involved in current affairs didn't disappoint us. Two fellow alums, Steve Martin and Martin
Short who happens to be Canadian, take on the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARTIN SHORT, CANADIAN-AMERICAN COMEDIAN AND ACTOR: I thought we were hosting together.
STEVE MARTIN, AMERICAN COMEDIAN AND ACTOR: Oh, do you have your passport on you?
SHORT: No.
MARTIN: ICE. Get him.
SHORT: No. No. I'll cooperate! Don't take me. I'll name names. Mike Myers, Jim Carrey, Catherine O'Hara.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, no one was off limits as comedians poke fun at the illegal battle involving actress Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, with the help of
Blake's husband, Ryan Reynolds.
RYAN REYNOLDS, CANADIAN-AMERICAN ACTOR AND FILM PRODUCER: I have a question.
AMY POEHLER, AMERICAN ACTRESS AND COMEDIAN: Oh, hey, Ryan Reynolds. Ryan Reynolds, how's it going?
REYNOLDS: Great, why what have you heard?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: CNN's Elizabeth Wagmeister Joining us from Los Angeles. With more on what is this -- Elizabeth, this is an iconic celebration. Just fill us
in, you know, give us more on what happened and the appearance by Blake and Ryan. I mean, what are these, you know, pretty
spectacular legal battles that say.
ELIZABETH WAGMEISTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, this was the first public appearance for Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds since she
filed her civil rights complaint at the end of last year. And as you said, Becky, this is a big legal battle for the two of them. So, we saw Ryan poke
fun at their own woes, right now, they're obviously going through it.
And I have to tell you that there actually is expected to be a big update in that legal saga this week, Becky. Blake Lively's attorneys have said
that they are going to be filing an amended complaint against Justin Baldoni, and the judge set a deadline for tomorrow. So, that can be coming
very, very soon. But they were far from the only stars there. It feels like if you weren't at the BAFTA Awards, you were in New York at SNL.
I mean, you look at that audience, Becky and I kind of just watched three hours of scanning through the audience.
[10:55:03]
You had Larry David, Jerry Seinfeld, Billy Crystal, Kim Kardashian. I mean, it was the old and the new. And you had all these alums from SNL come up.
You even had Jack Nicholson, who made his first T.V. appearance in years and he introduced someone very special. Let's take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACK NICHOLSON, AMERICAN RETIRED ACTOR AND FILMMAKER: Ladies and gentlemen, Adam
Sandler. Yes, baby.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WAGMEISTER: So, after that Adam Sandler, he got on stage, he played guitar, and he sang a song that was a tribute to the 50 years of SNL, and he went
through some of the great cast members, some of the most memorable moments, and gave a nice tribute to the late Norm MacDonald. Becky?
ANDERSON: Good to have you. Thank you. And that is it folks for CONNECT THE WORLD this evening. Do you say with CNN there. NEWSROOM is up next from the
team working with me here. It is a very good evening.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
