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Connect the World

Iran's Position Unclear on Standing Down After Strikes; 1,450 Confirmed Dead, 3,000+ Injured as Hopes of Rescues Fade; Global Aid Groups Work to Meet Growing Needs of Survivors; Global Aid Groups Work to Meet Growing Needs of Survivors; Three Firefighters Killed Battling Fire on Utah-Colorado Border. Aired 9-9:45a ET

Aired June 29, 2026 - 09:00   ET

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

[09:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: Well, it is nine. This is the scene at the White House where President Donald Trump is up and posting on

social, insisting a Tuesday meeting between the U.S. and Iran will go ahead, despite a denial from Iranian officials.

09:00 a.m. in Washington, same time in Venezuela, where rescuers are in a race against time days after devastating earthquakes. I'll speak to a

W.H.O. official about the country's greatest needs. It is 05:00 p.m. here in Abu Dhabi from our Middle East programming headquarters.

I'm Becky Anderson. You're watching "Connect the World". And we are also following this moving story this hour. A shooting in northern Germany

leaves five dead. We're live in Berlin for the very latest details this hour. Well, the stock market in New York opens about 30 minutes from now.

This is the picture live on the U.S. futures market, indicating a better start to the trading day, including very specifically on that tech-laden

NASDAQ. More on that at the bottom of this hour. Well, after a dramatic weekend of violent exchanges between the U.S. and Iran, we begin this week

with a very cautious sense of hope.

President Trump posting this in the past few hours, saying Iran has requested a meeting that will take place in Doha tomorrow. Well, that goes

against what Tehran said earlier, when it maintained no technical talks with the U.S. were currently scheduled. U.S. officials say Washington and

Tehran are standing down for now, at least after tit for tat strikes around the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's position on standing down military forces is again unclear. Julia Benbrook has more for you from Washington.

JULIA BENBROOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, despite those recent comments from the Iranians, President Donald Trump himself has now said that there are

plans for this meeting to take place in Doha, Qatar, tomorrow, that matches what we had previously heard from an administration official.

But as you pointed out, there are a lot of questions on this, and how this plays out after all of the back and forth that took place in recent days,

really started on Thursday and escalated through the weekend. The main questions are, what does this mean for the ceasefire agreement, and what

does this mean for the ongoing negotiations?

A senior administration official tells me that the negotiations, the talks will continue as planned. Going on to say nothing has been canceled.

Technical talks regarding the implementation of the MOU, the Memorandum of Understanding, are on track for the coming days as planned, and de-

confliction channels are up and running after the Lake Lucerne Summit.

Now that's referring to just last weekend when Vice President J.D. Vance led the delegation to Switzerland for the high-level, high-stakes talks,

really kicking off the technical talks here on the Memorandum of Understanding, and that agreement really is just a starting point.

It kicked off this 60-day time period to work through some of the top issues related to Iran's nuclear program, like the fate of its stockpile of

highly enriched uranium. An official also tells us that the United States and Iran, both sides, have agreed to stand down for now to halt the

fighting.

ANDERSON: All right. Well, that's Julia. Paula Hancocks is with me now. Paula, Julia, there with the U.S. perspective as we understand it. A

different take from Tehran, which is not unfamiliar as we've moved through this sort of supercharged diplomacy between the U.S. and Iran.

But what are we hearing from Tehran? And certainly, what have we heard, which has created the sort of confusion today?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So, what we've heard so far is from the Deputy Foreign Minister. Now, this was before President Trump did that post

on social media.

ANDERSON: Yeah.

HANCOCKS: And he said that there are no plans for any technical talks this week. I'll read you part of what he said. He was talking about

consultations with Qatar, including on the implementation of the other side's commitments, are continuing as usual, but then pointed out that

reports claiming that the technical working group was going to meet in Doha, that's not confirmed at this point.

[09:05:00]

So, as you say, it's not unusual to be seeing two very different narratives coming both from the U.S. and Iran. I mean, for example, before the

Memorandum of Understanding was even signed, we had the U.S. President, something like 40 times, saying the deal is close. Iran said, well, no,

it's not.

We've heard and seen over the weekend the Strait of Hormuz really being the focal point of this confusion, this misunderstanding, this belief that two

different things have been agreed in this MOU. For example, Iran is saying that it is controlling the Strait of Hormuz, that vessels should be going

along its route along the northern part of the Strait of Hormuz, getting permission from Tehran, whereas the U.S. will not agree to that.

ANDERSON: Yeah.

HANCOCKS: The Gulf nations will not agree to that as well. The Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, saying that there will be exclusive control by

Iran of the Strait of Hormuz. It's simply not what was agreed by both sides, but it is the nature of the MOU. It's vague enough that both sides

can have their interpretation.

ANDERSON: It's fascinating, isn't it? And whether or not these technical talks happen tomorrow will, I think, only become clear when we hear reports

that they are ongoing, and again that seems to be the nature of this diplomacy, until we see or hear reports that said parties are on the ground

and these talks are underway.

We won't know, and we will keep in touch with our sources, of course, to ensure that our CNN viewers are clear about where things stand. Meantime,

it is really important just to step back for a moment and sort of consider what happened over the weekend, because there was quite some violence,

including some attacks once again on Bahrain from Iran.

At the same time, certainly those I'm speaking to around the region have a kind of cautious sense of optimism at this point that we have -- that we

are there is a direction that direction, despite what we hear and despite, you know, some of what is violence and deadly violence at times. There does

seem to be this direction of travel, which is holding at present.

HANCOCKS: There does. And also, there does seem to be this feeling of this is the new normal, that there is this spark in violence from the two sides,

and then they pull back at the last moment. But it's worth pointing out, the last four days, we've seen the most serious escalation since this MOU,

this memorandum was signed.

And it all started from Thursday, when the U.S. accused Iran of targeting a vessel. The U.S. struck Iran, then Iran struck U.S. military targets, and

then it happened once again Saturday into Sunday, and of course it was Kuwait and Bahrain once again bearing the brunt of the Iranian retaliation.

So, we can talk about potential new normal, but it is severe repercussions for some of these Gulf nations. In Bahrain, for example, that there was

serious damage to a residential building.

ANDERSON: Yeah. And it's -- and I wanted to just sort of clarify that, because you know we often in journalism, perhaps you know, we talk about

tit for tat, and it is tit for tat. I mean, you've seen Iran attacks on vessels, you've seen American Attacks on Iranian assets, and then you see

Iran attacks on -- and it feels, you know, you can -- it can be described, I think, as tit for tat.

But I mean, you know, it's important to underscore, you know, what these attacks create, and it's a sense of confusion, a sense of alarm, and

oftentimes injuries and death, you know.

HANCOCKS: Well, it is military targets.

ANDERSON: Yeah.

HANCOCKS: Both sides say they're targeting, but it's generally the public that it suffers.

ANDERSON: Yeah, absolutely. Good to have you. Thank you very much indeed. Well, Venezuela, now outside of that window during a disaster, when

unfortunately, most survivors are found, rescuers, though, are not giving up. A short time ago, the Salvadoran President posted this video on an

international rescue team working to achieve a 21-year-old man, nearly five days after a powerful pair of earthquakes struck northern Venezuela.

And footage emerged over the weekend of survivors being pulled from the rubble alive, including this nine-month-old baby. Well, those scenes of

elation as lives are saved sadly becoming less common. More than 1400 people are known to have died. That number is expected to rise as the

search for the missing goes on.

We've got teams on the ground in the disaster zone. Stefano Pozzebon is in the Coastal City of La Guaira, where he witnessed an unwavering resolve to

find signs of life.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR (voice-over): Rescue workers are digging their way through rubble and dust to locate survivors in La Guaira trapped

for days under a pile of collapsed homes. The port city is ground zero for the Venezuelan earthquake search and rescue operation.

This elite rescue team from the U.S. believe they have heard the tap-tap from under the debris.

[09:10:00]

POZZEBON: They try to communicate with them with sound, and this is why -- this is truly a race against time, but it's race against time that is

happening in after silence. Nobody dares to speak, nobody dares to shout, because a sound could mean a life saved.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, there's an elevator too, right?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Next to the stairs?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Whether it --

POZZEBON: Now all of this is happening as the relatives of the people trapped inside and other survivors are staying here, they're waiting,

they're watching. It's an excruciating way for someone who has a seven- year-old son trapped beneath the rubble.

POZZEBON (voice-over): Ronald Pinerua has not slept since Wednesday. He was out when the quakes hit. His son was with his grandmother at home. I will

find my son today, he says. I know I will. It's now or never, for thousands of people who are still missing. Most earthquake survivors are rescued

within 72 hours.

These rescue workers say they will continue to dig until everyone is accounted for. The Venezuelan government estimates more than 12,000 people

have been displaced. They all need a place to sleep and eat.

POZZEBON: We've just arrived to a fast food, it's a fried chicken restaurant, but they've been turned into a community kitchen. Basically,

all of these people are now working in the train to bring out 1500 ready meals, it's fried chicken and fries, but that will fuel both displaced and

volunteers that are trying to help.

POZZEBON (voice-over): At these restaurants, everyone lives in La Guaira. Everyone has lived through the double earthquake, but nobody wants to rest.

It's the strength of a community who refuses to give up, despite the reality. By sunset, the search stopped.

Ronald's son was found, along with his grandmother, under the rubble, the latest victim in a tragedy that's already taken more than 1400 lives. It

will still take days to recover their remains, but the pain will stay forever. Stefano Pozzebon, CNN, La Guaira, Venezuela.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Well, the America's arm of the World Health Organization is helping to coordinate the health sector response on the ground. Dr. Ciro

Ugarte is the Director of Health Emergencies for the Pan American Health Organization, and he joins us now. And Ciro, thank you, Stefano, there,

describing the absolute pain of loss.

And we know so many will be going through that. 1400 people already confirmed dead, and those numbers expected to rise for those who have

survived this? We know Venezuela's health system is not equipped to handle this sort of emergency. So, just walk us through what current conditions

are there, particularly in the hardest hit areas as you assess them, and what needs to be done?

DR. CIRO UGARTE, HEALTH EMERGENCIES DIRECTOR OF PAHO/W.H.O.: Yes. Thank you, Becky. Because this is a real tragedy in the midst of a long-time

health sector situation, difficult situation for several years already. And there are several areas that are heavily hit the Capital District of

Caracas, La Guaira, Miranda, Carabobo, Aragua, that are the declared zones.

But particularly we saw that more than 1000 buildings have been heavily damaged, and many of them collapsed, and the preliminary assessment that we

did, we saw that from all the health facilities that are located in the seven-intensity level, that when the 21 health facilities, only five are

operational, three of them are in critical condition, six with the structural damage, and seven with heavily conditions of access to medicine

supplies and medical care, et cetera, that cannot perform all the areas that is needed for the population.

So, the main priorities now are saving lives, particularly through surgery, but also, we are seeing increasingly some other patients that do have

chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and others that do not have enough health access, so that complication that we are seeing being there

in Venezuela.

[09:15:00]

ANDERSON: So, this is the perspective from the W.H.O. I know, I mean, I've worked with you guys on the ground in situations like this. I know how much

of this is about effective coordination of agencies to help and support. Can you just talk to me about the challenge very specifically on that in

Venezuela?

UGARTE: Yes. When there are -- we do have almost 70 partners on the ground in Venezuela that work together in the health cluster, and we've been

having those meetings frequently. Now 40 of them have actual presence in Venezuela, and those meetings are being organized with the Ministry of

Health and several other partners.

Of course, in the middle of this situation, the coordination is not easy, and also several other -- several countries are offering support to

Venezuela, and that coordination is not necessarily going in the way that it should be. The priorities are going somewhere, and still the need for

the deployment of emergency medical teams that are qualified is a huge need, because the health sector, unfortunately, is not able to cope with

all the situation right now.

ANDERSON: We very specifically been talking about the health sector, and rightly so, and the enormous challenge on hospitals, the destruction that's

been wrought, of course, on that infrastructure. It's not just hospitals and the health sector, of course, under stress. The death toll, as we've

said, grows and is likely to get higher.

It's an awful question, but it's one of those that needs to be asked. How are morgue services coping?

UGARTE: Well, we are looking at the assessment of the all-health facilities, but we, as I said, we identified at least 25 of them that are

heavily affected. So, the coordination itself is very difficult because of the access to the places, but also the communication is not up and running

completely.

So, all the field visits are difficult to do, but there is good news. There are field hospitals, particularly Samaritan Purse, that is located in La

Guaira, with surgical capacity that is, will be operational up to now, and that will solve many of the key challenges that we have, particularly at

the epicenter of these earthquakes.

ANDERSON: Yeah, that's good to know. You're speaking to us from Washington, where your organization is headquartered. Can you just talk to us about the

role, as you understand it, that the U.S. is playing in rescue recovery and aid support at this point?

UGARTE: Absolutely. Well, actually, the deployment of the Samaritan Purse is coming from the U.S., and Samaritan Purse is one of the institutions

that are part of the State Department's preferred institutions to mobilize, and Samaritan Purse was with us also during the Hurricane Melissa, and

several others.

So, we do have that relation, and also, we are exchanging information with the U.S. Department -- U.S. Department of State, on all the information

that we are dealing with. Also, I would like to highlight that on the ground we were always working together, exchanging information, moving

together, and usually in that coordination also the government was present.

And so that coordination is paramount, because at the center is the well- being and health of the people of Venezuela. So, moving aside all these differences that we have, and we will probably continue having, we

concentrate our efforts in something that is crucial for the people in Venezuela that is suffering a lot that this takes.

ANDERSON: Yeah, because you and you make a very good point. I mean, you're not going to say it, but I will. I mean, the relationship between the

W.H.O. and this U.S. Administration is not a good one, but it's good to hear that, you know, what needs to be done on the ground in coordination

and in communication is happening.

So that's it's good to know. Ciro, thank you very much indeed for joining us. Well, ahead on "Connect the World", shots ring out in the City of Stade

in northern Germany. Details on that up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:20:00]

ANDERSON: Right, breaking news into CNN. Police say five people have been killed at a youth facility in the northern Germany City of -- German City

of Stade. We're told there is no ongoing threat to the public. I want to get you to CNN's Sebastian Shukla was in Berlin and monitoring what is

going on there in Stade in Germany. Seb, what are you hearing at this point?

SEBASTIAN SHUKLA, CNN PRODUCER: Yeah, Becky, good afternoon. Very concerning reports coming out of Lower Saxony, in this town of Stade, where

police have now confirmed that five people have been killed, as a result of a shooting at what they are calling a youth welfare facility.

Rudimentary pictures that we've seen coming from the scene there seem to suggest that this looks like a very residential area of this town, which is

about 50 kilometers west of the largest German city in that region, Hamburg. It forms part, as I said of the Lower Saxony region, of which the

largest capital or largest city in that area would be Hanover.

But the thing that we don't know here yet, Becky, is really the motive, and that tends to always be the first question that comes out in a result like

this. We know that two people have been apprehended by police. We know that there is no longer a threat to the local population.

That's what the police have told us, and we just don't know yet if that number of people dead will rise. We know that there are multiple other

injuries, but we don't really have a sense about how serious those are, but the rarity of a shooting, Becky, in Germany is also something that is

important to mention.

Owning a gun here in Germany is quite difficult. It requires multiple layers of approval in order to be able to acquire one. It's a lot harder

here than it is, let's say in the United States to own a weapon, but the details are still relatively thin on the ground. What we are able to say,

or what I can say, I think, is that having looked at this area, it seems to be a very residential area.

There is a mother and children's welfare facility of some form listed on the street that this has taken place, but we are not able to confirm that,

that is the facility where this incident took place. It could, of course, have taken place in another facility that potentially is not listed on the

resources on the internet.

I think, Becky, this is one that we're obviously going to stay across, we'll have to make sure and talk to our sources in the police to see if we

can get any more information, but at the moment those details are quite scant, but nevertheless quite disturbing, Becky.

ANDERSON: Yeah, absolutely, stay on it for us, Seb. Thank you.

[09:25:00]

Well, turning to the Western U.S., where wildfires have turned deadly, forcing officials there to restrict fireworks over the coming Independence

Day weekend. Authorities say three firefighters have been killed, battling a blaze along the Colorado-Utah border. They were helping fight the fast-

growing Snyder fire.

Meantime, Utah's massive Cottonwood fire remains 0 percent contained and has grown to more than 40,000 hectares, an area larger than Salt Lake City.

Well large parts of the U.S. also bracing for a heat wave this week. Let's get you CNN's Derek Van Dam, who's in the weather center.

Deadly wildfires are now dangerous heat, and we've been reporting on that heat in Europe, which is now, it seems, hitting the U.S. What can we expect

at this point?

DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yeah, it's important to differentiate between the heat wave in Europe and what is coming here for the United

States. Similar temperatures, but very different impacts. We just remember that a large majority of homes over the eastern half of the U.S. have air

conditioning, have the ability to cool themselves.

That graphic, though, probably looks pretty similar and very familiar to our viewers, because the heat dome that we talked about last week

throughout Europe has now migrated and is now impacting portions of North America. This is a large population density.

All those red dots along the eastern seaboard, those are potential record high temperatures through the week, and it won't just be daytime highs,

it's going to be the overnight lows, making it very challenging for anyone who doesn't have access to cool their bodies off.

So right now, we have several million Americans under these heat alerts. We have warnings for Chicago, that means it's imminent. We have advisories as

far south as the Gulf, but look at this along that I-95 corridor, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, eventually spreading into the nation's capital.

We have heat alert watches in place, that is for the upcoming rest of the work week and into the holiday weekend. Remember, we have temperatures here

that, when you factor in the dew points and the humidity levels will feel unbearable, in fact, downright dangerous, triple-digit heat.

When we see those types of numbers, we know that we need to limit our time outdoors, drink plenty of water, and take this heat wave seriously.

National Weather Service really phrasing it well. This heat wave is different from previous heat waves, in that it could rival some of the

worst heat waves in, let's say, Virginia, for instance, back in 2012 where there were 30 heat-related deaths in four separate states from a heat wave

that struck then.

This is the type of temperatures that it will feel like as you step outside, just downright dangerous, Becky.

ANDERSON: Yeah, I mean, some of those temperatures are familiar to us here in the Gulf.

DAM: Yeah.

ANDERSON: But I mean, again, air conditioning, we stay hydrated, all of that is important to get through it, that really does look unpleasant.

Thank you. Still ahead, Wall Street about to kick off a new week of trading, energy markets in focus once again amid new tensions between the

U.S. and Iran.

We'll take a look at what is driving oil prices, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:30:00]

ANDERSON: Welcome back, I'm Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi. You're watching "Connect the World". And this is the story on the markets just opened. Bell

rung today by the CEO of Del Monte Corporation and the big board up by about a third of 1 percent and the NASDAQ and the S&P both expected to

trade high.

We're just going to let those markets settle for a little bit. Certainly, the futures market indicated that they would be higher. And oil prices also

pushing northward slightly, crude up by WTI benchmark, that's the U.S. benchmark, of course, up by about 1 and a third of 1 percent and Brent, the

global index, up by a little less than that, but still higher.

CNN Business Senior Reporter David Goldman has been tracking what's going on in these markets, he has the latest for us from New York. And we do see

prices on the rise after a weekend of back and forth, David, back and forth strikes in the Strait of Hormuz, but these numbers are pretty small.

I mean, what do you make of what could be described as this sort of subdued reaction on the words?

DAVID GOLDMAN, CNN BUSINESS SENIOR REPORTER: That's the word. That is the word for it. It's subdued. I mean, a price hike of 1 percent today is not

significant. In fact, we are still below where we were when right before the war had started. And I think that that has made a lot of us eat some

humble pie over the past couple days, because the expectation from the industry, from all of the economists, was that this was going to take a

long time to rectify itself.

Right, there was this historic oil supply shock, and then that's not something that can just be easily undone. In fact, we are not seeing the

same kind of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz that we saw before the war. So, you know, I had one oil analyst say the market has gotten seven

steps ahead of where we are right now, and the price of the market that the market is giving oil right now doesn't meet the reality of physical

barrels.

Nevertheless, the market is saying that this is what oil is worth today, and that is having a really positive effect for consumers at the gas pump.

ANDERSON: Yeah, I mean, you wrote about this.

GOLDMAN: Yeah.

ANDERSON: You and the oil industry sort of quote, eating a lot of humble pie lately in your latest digital piece for CNN, which is a good read, and

I'll push our viewers towards that. I do, though, wonder whether in yours and others' defense. You know, it's not just about fundamentals these days,

it's not just about sort of, you know, the fundamental sort of, you know, available data when it comes to supply and demand.

There's more -- there does seem to be more going on, not least, you know, administration officials sort of, you know, talking to, or quote, pumping

the market, sort of late on a Sunday, you know things changing early on a Monday morning, you know it's been an odd time. Let me say that in your

defense, correct.

GOLDMAN: Well, thank you for defending me, Becky. I really appreciate it, because humble pie is not the tastiest dish. But here's the thing, so you

mentioned three things, yeah, yeah, I will not be sending you any of that anytime soon. It's not fun, but you know, supply and demand really are

impacting oil prices even today.

So, there was way more supply on the market before the war started than anyone had, I think, anticipated, and that supply had insulated the market

all the way through the war. Remember, prices never even approached record highs during the war, as high as they were. They were not at the 140 levels

that we saw in 2008 or even the 122 levels that we saw in 22.

The other thing is demand, and this is what really surprised people, is that China, in particular, but throughout Asia, demand collapsed for oil

because it wasn't available, but also because China switched over to coal- firing plants and electric vehicles at a rapid pace that really killed demand.

ANDERSON: Yeah.

[09:35:00]

GOLDMAN: And the last thing, and this is so important, and you mentioned this is that President Donald Trump is the X factor here. He has almost

willed the strait to reopen, and the market anticipates that because inventory levels in the United States, in particular, are so low.

He understands the strait can't close again, no matter how many drones are being fired at one another or at ships that they believe the strait will

stay open for the time being, Becky, I hope that's the case. We'll see.

ANDERSON: Yeah, well, there is definitely some cautious optimism in this part of the world.

GOLDMAN: Yeah.

ANDERSON: And I'm broadcasting from our Middle East programming headquarters here in Abu Dhabi, in the UAE, so I mean, I hope that helps in

settling your nerves somewhat.

GOLDMAN: Thank you.

ANDERSON: And we will continue to watch these markets. Always good to have you. David, thank you very much indeed. Well, Comcast splitting up its

media empire in the latest major shake-up in the entertainment and news business. The company says it will spin off NBC Universal and its European

media business Sky into a new publicly traded company.

That new entity will include NBC, Peacock, Universal Studios, theme parks, and cable brands, including Bravo and Telemundo. The deal still requires

regulatory approval, with Comcast expecting the spin-off to be completed in about a year. Right, I want to take a very short break. Back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Well, the championships at Wimbledon are underway. One player focused on a bigger goal than simply winning her match. Cheers. Ukraine's

Oleksandra Oliynykova is using her Wimbledon platform to speak out, saying the sport can no longer stay silent about Russia's war in Ukraine. My

colleague Christina Macfarlane has her story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OLEKSANDRA OLIYNYKOVA, UKRAINIAN TENNIS PLAYER: I don't know where to go. I want to go somewhere but I don't know where. I don't know where the shelter

is.

CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Oleksandra Oliynykova is the only professional women's tennis player competing on tour who lives

and trains full time in a war zone.

MACFARLANE: Why do you stay? Because other Ukrainian players on tour have chosen to base themselves in Europe.

OLIYNYKOVA: For me, not all the things are only about tennis. What I learned, that the time is very important. Maybe if I was thinking only

about my career, then of course I would choose to focus just only on practicing, but I need to spend this time with someone I love, and I need

to, yeah, I need to be around my people in my country.

MACFARLANE (voice-over): Before the war, her father was her coach, but now his regiment's flag is all that comes on court with her. They endured many

years together on tour, sleeping in cars, airports, and train stations to finance her career.

[09:40:00]

Last month her father, Denis, was given a rare permission from his drone unit to leave Ukraine and see his daughter compete at the French Open for

the first time in two years.

OLIYNYKOVA: It was so meaningful, and also, you know, when I started to play these big tournaments, always when I'm coming, I'm thinking about, oh,

my dad will love this tournament, if he would be here, he would be so happy, he would be so proud, and he did so much for me to be here.

MACFARLANE (voice-over): Oleksandra is now ranked among the world's top 50 in women's tennis. She feels tennis has been too silent about the invasion

of her country and intends to change that.

OLIYNYKOVA: This war is very long, and I think people are losing their attention after so many years.

MACFARLANE (voice-over): Key to her claim is that prominent Russian and Belarusian players have showed support, liked the posts of key Putin

propagandists on social media. After taking her concerns to the Women's Tennis Association, she says they have done nothing to investigate.

OLIYNYKOVA: They don't want me to say any names of the players. They don't want me to explain the connection of the propaganda and the sport, because

this is something what, in their opinion, will affect their players.

MACFARLANE (voice-over): The WTA told CNN in a statement that it remains unequivocal in condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and have

consistently supported Ukrainian players, and at the same time is committed to maintaining a professional and respectful environment for all athletes.

MACFARLANE: Is speaking up for Ukraine more important to you than your tennis career?

OLIYNYKOVA: Yes, absolutely. Because this is my country, because I see people are dying there, and my future and my dreams.

MACFARLANE (voice-over): Christina Macfarlane, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Well, the knockout rounds of the World Cup are now underway. Canada kicking off this part of the tournament. Amanda Davies joining me

now, and a dramatic late win for Canada over South Africa, Amanda.

AMANDA DAVIES, CNN WORLD SPORT: A late win, Becky, but they will take it to make history with Canada, not only making it out of the group stage for

their first time, but now their first ever victory in a knockout round of the World Cup. A new generation of heroes is how Coach Jesse Marsch has

described his players.

But if people were maybe a bit frustrated that Sunday only had one match of football, the good news is we're back to three on Monday, and they are

three fantastic games. A battle of two Qatar 2022 semifinalists, the Netherlands against Morocco to come, and we also have Carlo Ancelotti,

Brazil up against Japan.

And we're looking ahead to that one in just a couple of minutes in "World Sports". I hope people will be able to join us.

ANDERSON: A feast of football, all teed up by my colleagues there at "World Sport". And Amanda Davies in the hot seat. Thank you, Amanda. More coming

up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:45:00]

(WORLD SPORT)

END