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Isa Soares Tonight
Trump Arrives in Qatar After Saudi Arabia Visit; Gaza Aid Crisis Deepens As Border Closure Worsens Plight of Gazans; Zelenskyy Insists He will Only Join Ukraine-Russia Talks in Turkey This Week If Putin is Present. Ukraine is Ready for Any Negotiations; Russia and Ukraine's Peace Talks in Turkey; Worsening Humanitarian Situation; Cassie Ventura's Second Day of Testimony. Aired 2-3p ET
Aired May 14, 2025 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[14:00:00]
ISA SOARES, HOST, ISA SOARES TONIGHT: A very warm welcome to the show, everyone, I'm Isa Soares. Tonight, a complete overhaul for U.S. relations
in the Middle East as President Trump cozies up with Qatar and sips tea with Syria's Jihadist-turned President. Plus, Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu
says we're going all the way in Gaza. We'll speak with an aid official in Rafah, starvation devastates the population there.
And we could be hours away from a consequential meeting between Russia and Ukraine. But President Vladimir Putin is yet to RSVP. We're live in Kyiv
and Moscow with all the details for you. We'll begin this hour, though, with President Donald Trump's visit to Qatar, and what appears to be a
seismic shift in U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.
The 180 degree turn on full display, highlighted by Mr. Trump's openness to the region, consider his stance on Qatar. The President was welcomed to
Doha today amid a lavish backdrop which included red cybertrucks, white horses and camels. In fact, you are looking right now at live pictures out
of Doha, Qatar.
And we have been showing there, the President as well as the Emir of Qatar, greeting various guests there ahead of the state dinner. And they've been
there for a while because it was a very long queue, inside, outside the palace doors of people eager to meet both leaders. Lots of handshaking
there with the Qatari Emir.
We've seen -- we need pomp, we've seen opulence. That -- from what I believe from the back, that looks -- is that Elon Musk? Is there as well.
Clearly, a lot at stake in this trip. And of course, there's the $400 million luxury jet that Qatari government is gifting the President who
plans to accept it despite mounting criticism that it represents a major conflict of interest and a national security threat.
The White House, as we look at these live images, says Mr. Trump signed a deal with Qatar to buy 210 jets from U.S. manufacturer Boeing, worth $96
billion after the President earlier said the agreement was worth more than twice that amount. Either way, it's a major about-face from eight years ago
when, during his first term, he railed on the Qatari government, accusing it of funding terrorism. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The nation of Qatar, unfortunately, has historically been a funder of terrorism. The time had
come to call on Qatar to end its funding. They have to end that funding and its extremist ideology in terms of funding.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: And then this, Syria, before leaving Riyadh earlier, Mr. Trump had tea with Syria's new President, you can see there, praising him as a young,
attractive, tough guy with a strong past. Well, Ahmed al-Sharaa strong past included his time as a Jihadist, who until recently had a $10 million U.S.
bounty on his head for leading an al Qaeda affiliate in Syria.
Let's go through all the strands as we look at these live images, and hoping that we still have them if we -- if we do. I'm just going to ask my
producer, Kate, to bring them up because our CNN politics senior reporter, Stephen Collinson joins us now from Washington. And Stephen, we are
starting to see the handshakes continue.
It has been going for what? I would say about 20, 25 minutes, a long Q of of guests. But, you know, it's clear for this -- for this President,
there's plenty of wins specifically on the commercial side, but some geopolitical success, too, with the lifting of sanctions on Syria, we saw
him meeting with Syrian President, that quite frankly, happening that -- last -- yesterday at roughly at this time, took many by surprise. How
should we interpret, Stephen, this reversal in U.S. policy. Just help us make sense of this?
STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN POLITICS SENIOR REPORTER: I think there's quite a few layers to this one, particularly with Syria. On the one hand, the
President is giving something to Mohammed bin Salman. This is something that he had lobbied the United States to do. The Saudis are concerned about
instability in Syria. They want to stabilize it.
[14:05:00]
There's always this political, geopolitical game over Syria. Iran, of course, would like to reconstitute some of its influence they lost with the
fall of the Assad regime. That's another reason why the Syrians and the U.S. really are lining up now behind al-Sharaa. They are hoping that he can
unify the country, stop it splintering. The U.S. wants him to drive out remaining ISIS fighters.
So, you're seeing a lot of these geopolitical wishes come together, and at the same time, you know, there are people in Washington who believe this is
a humanitarian gesture. The U.S. sanctions are causing -- you know, or make it much more difficult for Syria to reconstitute its economy.
There is massive poverty. Many of its cities still lie in ruins. They can't get investment. They're cut out of the international banking system. So,
this gesture by the United States may not unlock a lot of U.S. investment, but it's sure to see money flowing into Syria from Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
One interesting wrinkle of all of this is, this is yet another occasion in the recent past when the President has done something that Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel wouldn't agree with.
We saw him break with Israel on Iran nuclear talks, for example, they went without Iran -- it didn't go through Israel on the freeing of this last
American hostage in Gaza this week. So, really interesting developments.
SOARES: Yes, and on the Houthis, too, it seems that --
COLLINSON: Right --
SOARES: Israel was also sidelined on this. But you write in your latest article, I'm just going to bring it up on cnn.com for our viewers.
"Washington lawmakers have frequently called on administrations to sever ties with Qatar for allowing extremists belonging to the Taliban, Hamas and
the Muslim brotherhood to live and work there.
But its open door has often benefited U.S. foreign policy. Qatar can talk to belligerents that a U.S. government could never approach. It's become a
proxy diplomatic toolbox for U.S. presidents, and it reflects a region on the rise." How is the warming, then, of relations with Qatar? That's just
been such a -- played a big role, of course, crucial role in the question of Gaza.
How does -- how has that shifted? Because now we're talking about also an offer of a 747 being received. How is -- how is that being received in
Washington?
COLLINSON: Well, Qatar has been very useful to United States, not just this administration, but the Biden administration, too, through its offices
in getting hostages released, not just in the Middle East, but in places as far afield as Venezuela. It was a conduit to the U.S. and the Taliban, it's
obviously got ties with Hamas.
If there's ever to be a resolution in Gaza, it will be deeply involved in that. So, it's made itself useful to the United States. This question of
the jumbo jet that Qatar wants to gift to the President, however, has caused an absolute storm in Washington. Anybody who understands the
constitution and security and the risk that this plane could be compromised is very concerned about this.
The idea that the President would take a gift from a foreign nation raises questions of conflict of interest and ethics, which the President really,
as we've seen over the last three months, doesn't really care about that much. So, it's becoming a real political issue here. And you know,
politically, it's getting harder and harder to see how the President can accept this jet, although in the middle of the night in the Middle East, he
was on Truth Social, saying he'd be a fool not to take it because it's a free gift to the United States.
SOARES: An issue on both sides of the aisle. This question of impropriety, or mostly -- or mostly by Democrats here?
COLLINSON: No, there have been some prominent Republicans --
SOARES: Yes --
COLLINSON: Who have raised questions about this in the Senate. I think there's real concern there. House Speaker Mike Johnson kind of shrugged it
off today. The Republican leader, who is a close ally of the President, I think just what people are saying publicly and reading between the lines is
almost every Republican in Washington would like this to go away, and for the President not to accept this jet.
SOARES: Stephen Collinson, appreciate you taking the time to speak to us. Thanks --
COLLINSON: Thanks --
SOARES: Stephen, of course, we'll continue looking at those images out of Qatar ahead of the state dinner as we've seen, of course, the Emir of Qatar
as well as President Trump continuing to greet a long line of guests before they sit for that state dinner. We'll keep an eye on those images as soon
as there are any developments, we will, of course, bring it to you.
But we do want to stay, continue in the region because, of course, Qatar has been playing a crucial role in talks to secure a ceasefire as well as
hostage deal for Gaza as we heard Stephen say there. An Israeli delegation is now in Doha. But just yesterday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said
in no uncertain terms, and I'm quoting him here, "there will be no situation in which we stop the war. A temporary ceasefire might happen, but
we're" all -- "but we're going all the way."
Indeed, we are seeing an escalation of deadly strikes in Gaza, and this is the aftermath of overnight attacks in Jabalya. A nurse tells CNN most of
those killed were women and children, and that strike came hours after Israel bombed the European hospital in Khan Younis.
[14:10:00]
Sources say the target was Mohammed Sinwar, who is the de facto leader of Hamas. We don't know at this hour of his fate. The Palestinian Health
Ministry says 28 people were killed in that attack. More than 50 others were wounded. Well, French President Emmanuel Macron has some direct as
well as personal criticism for Prime Minister Netanyahu.
He says what he's doing in Gaza is, quote, "shameful". In an interview with French television network "TF1", he called -- also called Israel's total
aid blockade unacceptable. But Mr. Macron said the most effective pressure on Israel won't come from Europe. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EMMANUEL MACRON, PRESIDENT, FRANCE (through translator): We have tirelessly fought to stop this conflict, and today, we need the United
States because in reality, the one who has the leverage is President Donald Trump. I've had very harsh words. I got angry with Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu.
But France alone, and even with other European allies, can put all the pressure in the world. It does not depend on us. It depends on American
weapons.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Let's get more from our Jeremy Diamond, who is in Jerusalem for us this hour. And Jeremy, it seems the IDF is intensifying strikes, at least,
we have seen in the last 24 hours. What can you tell us about the civilian toll and any further information on Sinwar, as you and I were discussing
this, a story broke this time yesterday.
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Isa, there's still no confirmation from the Israeli military of whether Mohammed Sinwar was in
fact, killed in that enormous airstrike that we saw on the European Hospital in Khan Younis just yesterday. That was indeed, according to my
sources, targeting the de facto leader of Hamas.
It could take days, perhaps even weeks, before the Israeli military is able to confirm whether or not he was killed. Very similar case occurred over
the Summer when Mohammed Deif was killed by the Israeli military. It took about a month for them to actually be able to confirm that. But in the
meantime, we are getting confirmation of the death toll of other people who were killed in this strike on the European Hospital.
At least, 28 people, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, more than 50 others were injured. And we see from the aftermath of that scene,
these enormous craters that were left by what appears to be the use of these very heavy bunker-busting bombs designed to target infrastructure
underground, which is exactly what the Israeli military said that they were doing.
But it has damaged the hospital itself at a time when hospitals in Gaza are really buckling already under the strain of a lack of fuel and a lack of
medical supplies getting into Gaza, as this Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip now stretches nearly 11 weeks. We are also seeing a number of
civilian deaths in those strikes in northern Gaza as well, that you just referenced with bodies of small children coming into that Indonesian
hospital in northern Gaza.
And it's clear that even as we are seeing these negotiations happening in Doha right now with the Israeli Prime Minister actually phoning in to Steve
Witkoff, who is in Doha, engaging in these negotiations, that the Israeli military is continuing and in fact, escalating it would seem, these strikes
in the Gaza Strip.
SOARES: And as you're talking, I'm seeing here, and I wonder if you can shed more light on this, Jeremy, the Israeli military has ordered the
evacuation of Gaza city neighborhood, of course, where thousands are sheltering. And I think this includes the Al-Shifa Hospital and several
schools. Do we know when they're going to start? When they need to evacuate, where they're going to go to? What more can you tell us?
DIAMOND: That's right. The Israeli military has issued an evacuation order for a large swath of the Ar-Rimal neighborhood in Gaza city. This is in the
western part of Gaza city, and it includes, as you rightly note, the Al- Shifa Hospital, as well as several schools which have now become make-shift shelters for thousands of displaced Palestinians.
The Al-Shifa Hospital, once this evacuation order was issued, we're told by a doctor at the hospital that patients began to leave the hospital in panic
because the Israeli military actually issued an infographic that specifically mentioned that hospital, accusing Hamas of using that hospital
and some of those schools that I mentioned for their military purposes.
The Israeli military then phoned the hospital and said that the hospital was not included in the evacuation order, but there is still an enormous
sense of panic around that hospital and in those schools that were -- that are now being used as shelters. You know, these military evacuation orders
sound, you know, from a distant observer as the right thing to do, as a way of getting civilians out of harm's way.
[14:15:00]
The reality on the ground is so much more complicated. You have to try and figure out, are you located within one of these numbered blocks on an
Israeli military map that has these very small areas listed on a map, then they have to decide, OK, is it worth trying to leave this area where I am
to try and get to safety when you don't know at what time the Israeli military is actually going to carry out these airstrikes?
And so, what we're seeing, according to people on the ground, is some individuals who were in those schools have gone simply into the streets,
hoping that they can be safer there than if they remain in these schools. Others choosing to simply stay in place because they don't know if they
have the time to get to a safer area.
If the Israeli military could strike while they are out in the open, so much fear, so much panic, so much uncertainty. And again, we don't know
when the Israeli military is going to carry out those strikes, but it certainly does seem like they are preparing for something quite
significant, perhaps tonight. Isa?
SOARES: Yes, indeed, absolutely terrifying as you laid it out for us there. Thanks very much, Jeremy, as always. And in about 20 minutes time
right here on the show, we'll go live to Gaza for the perspective on the ground. I speak with Adrian Zimmerman(ph), who is the head of the
International Committee of the Red Cross sub-delegation in Gaza. That's roughly in 20 minutes time right here on the show.
I want to continue, though, in the region. I want to get more from Colin Clarke, who is the Director of Policy and Research at the Soufan Group, and
author of "After the Caliphate, The Islamic State and the Future Terrorist Diaspora". Colin, great to have you back on the show. I want to --
COLIN CLARKE, DIRECTOR, POLICY & RESEARCH, SOUFAN GROUP: Thank you --
SOARES: Get your thoughts and analysis on the second leg of President Trump's trip to the Middle East. He's in Qatar. He's been greeting
alongside the Emir, I don't know if he's continuing -- he is continuing -- as I see live images at the moment, continuing to greet a whole host of
guests. But first, can I get your take on what we just heard from Jeremy here?
And this -- you know, this intensification of these strikes by Israel, but also to try to target Mohammed Sinwar, no confirmation as we heard from
Jeremy there on whether this was successful. How much of a blow, though, would this be for Hamas? Because we have seen numerous Hamas casualties,
right? Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif. Just your thoughts as all this unknown is transpiring now as Israeli military ordering further evacuations now.
CLARKE: Well, thanks for having me, Isa. Look, I think it's largely symbolic, even if they're able to get him. At this point, you know, they're
rolling through high-value targets. But you have to think about the cost to public opinion, to what's happening on a global stage, and just the
mounting death toll of Palestinian civilians, even going after a high value target in Hamas causes so much devastation and destruction, that it's
really the law of diminishing returns in my opinion at this point.
February 2024, I wrote an article in foreign affairs warning against an Israeli occupation and Israeli counterinsurgency that loses sight of the
goals. It's very slippery slope, and now we're seeing some of the far-right ministers like Ben-Gvir, like Smotrich, coming out and saying that's
exactly what the Israelis want to do is occupy Gaza, which is really just disastrous for Gaza and the entire region.
SOARES: And in the mean -- in the meantime, what we are seeing is a high level delegation, Israeli delegation, I should say, in Qatar at the same
time, the IDF is intensifying its attacks in Gaza before it expands its offensive, which it promised to do, I believe it was last week. All this
while President Trump says he would like to see the Saudis join the Abraham Accords.
I mean, do you think we're anywhere near this normalization? Because the Saudis have made their position very clear when it comes to Gaza?
CLARKE: No, I think what Netanyahu is pursuing right now is antithetical to any kind of agreement. You had Trump meeting with Ahmed al-Sharaa, the
interim leader of the Syrian government, obviously, the head of HTS, and a former al Qaeda member in Syria. That takes tremendous -- you know, it
takes tremendous optimism on the part of President Trump.
And it's a big risk to go out and meet al-Sharaa to announce the relief of Syrian sanctions and to put out, you know, a kind of blueprint of what
Syria needs to do to reintegrate within the international community. At the same time, one of the United States' closest allies, Israel, continues to
bomb targets in Syria, continues to rattle sabers in Gaza.
So, it's a really kind of working at cross-purposes with what President's Trump -- President Trump's visit is attempting to accomplish. And I think,
you know, day-by-day, we're seeing more daylight --
SOARES: Yes --
CLARKE: Between Trump and Netanyahu.
SOARES: Two great points. Let me break those apart. Let me start first on Syria, because obviously, it's such a different relationship, of course,
that these -- both sides have had, not just with Syria, but also the Qataris, who, of course, have played a pivotal role in negotiations.
[14:20:00]
But now, seeing as we look at these images of President Trump meeting, of course, with the Syrian President. I mean, that took many, Colin, by
surprise, seeing this reversal of U.S. policy vis-a-vis not just Qatar, which as we play this little clip earlier, had a different view. President
Trump had a different view of them in 2017. But what do you make of this reversal on Syria from this administration? What does it tell us about the
region and how he sees the region?
CLARKE: So, two points, first, on Qatar. I think, you know what the current policy is a reflection of everything that Doha does for the United
States. It's an active mediator in multiple conflicts, from Ukraine to Venezuela to Chad to Gaza and beyond, and is instrumental in helping the
United States recover U.S. hostages.
So, I think it's really a realization of that. Beyond that, I think, you know, what we're seeing with the meeting with al-Sharaa, that was largely
the byproduct of pressure or conversations with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish leader Erdogan, right? And so, that's --
SOARES: Yes --
CLARKE: Taking their viewpoint over Netanyahu's, which is really a big sea change in the way that the U.S. approaches the Middle East. And I think
we're going to see more of that in the near future.
SOARES: I wonder what you make as just was -- we wrap up of, you know, some of the changes, because so far, what we've seen from this
administration is an olive branch to Syria, open nuclear talks with Iran, announcing a ceasefire with the Houthis, freeing -- the freeing of Edan
Alexander; the American-Israeli hostage.
All this without Netanyahu's involvement. So, Israel being sidelined. How do you read then, Colin, these diplomatic moves?
CLARKE: So, I think this is actually just the realization of America first, right? America first doesn't mean Israel first. It means America
first. And for a long time, United States and Israeli foreign policy were inextricably linked. I think we're starting to see some separation there.
And some of the moves we've seen in the past couple of days and weeks is really just a recognition of that on the ground.
And again, I think, you know, we're going to see more of that heading in the future, especially if Netanyahu and some of these far-right ministers
continue to dig in their heels to be obstinate, and to continue to pursue the strategy they're pursuing in Gaza right now, which is largely
counterproductive.
SOARES: Colin Clarke, always great to have you on the show, good to see you, Colin. Thank you.
CLARKE: Thank you --
SOARES: And in the next hour right here on CNN, my colleague Becky Anderson speaks to the Qatari Prime Minister live in Doha. Do stay tuned
for that coming -- conversation coming up in about 40 minutes or so from now. Still to come tonight, Ukraine's Foreign Minister calls out the
Russian President on the eve of potential peace talks in Turkey. We have all the latest for you.
And then later, an urgent plea to Israel from the U.N.'s humanitarian chief immediately lift the siege and follow aid into Gaza. We are live in Rafah,
next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:25:00]
SOARES: Well, we are hours away from potential peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, and we still don't know who could be there. Ukraine's Foreign
Minister is calling on the Russian President to stop avoiding face-to-face talks. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his participation on Thursday is
dependent on Mr. Putin's attendance.
U.S. President Donald Trump says he's open to attend, and that Russia's Vladimir Putin would like him to be there in Turkey. Meantime, Germany's
new Chancellor Friedrich Merz, is ramping up rhetoric ahead of the talks. In his opening speech to the Bundestag, the chancellor said a dictated
peace deal from the Kremlin would be unacceptable.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FRIEDRICH MERZ, CHANCELLOR, GERMANY (through translator): This war, ladies and gentlemen, dear colleagues, and its outcome will determine not only the
fate of Ukraine, the outcome of this war will determine whether law and order will continue to prevail in Europe and the world, or whether tyranny,
military force, and the sheer right of the strongest will prevail.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, let's look ahead to tomorrow, CNN's chief international security correspondent, Nick Paton Walsh is in Kyiv. And Nick, Putin
clearly holding his cards very close to his chest. We don't know at this stage whether he's going to attend, but just lay it out for us. If he
doesn't show, what are the implications here for Ukraine and indeed for Russia and its relationship with President Putin?
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY EDITOR: I think in terms of how Ukraine views diplomatic process if Russia doesn't turn up to this
meeting or indeed declare a ceasefire, like we heard yesterday when speaking to President Zelenskyy doing a press conference, that to Ukraine
would potentially signal an end to negotiations.
Although Ukraine's position does appear to be as flexible as it can be. Potentially, the Russian position is exceptionally hard to define, frankly.
Publicly, they're very maximalist in what they indeed want, and we don't know who they currently intend to send to Istanbul. We know that Zelenskyy
is flying to Ankara tomorrow, potentially in the morning, to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
They may then end up in Istanbul if indeed there is a sign of a meeting. There have been indications, according to "Reuters", that Steve Witkoff and
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, national security adviser Marco Rubio attend to both, go to Istanbul maybe on Friday, potentially widening the
window for these talks.
We just heard, though, in the last hour or so from Zelenskyy, in terms of how they would respond to a Putin no show, that, he says I'm waiting to see
who comes from Russia, and then I will determine what steps Ukraine should take. The signals from them, he means Russia in the media are still
unconvincing.
He also says I'm also hearing Trump is considering coming to Turkey, this could be the strongest argument. A week can change a lot, but it also can
dot-dot, everything is being decided right now. So, look, this is a very complicated moment to remind everyone on Saturday, European powers and
Ukraine demanded an unconditional ceasefire on Monday to last 30 days.
That was kind of swept aside by Russia, who focused on a Thursday meeting in Istanbul, that may or may not happen. There appear to be delegations
from both sides planning on being in Istanbul round about that time. Who it is, though, is the most important. The Americans appear to be seized upon
this.
Trump has said he wants to, quote, "two leaders there." He recently just said that he'd like -- he's heard that Putin would like him to be there to
help the meeting happen. Look, this is a high stakes moment in diplomacy in the largest land conflict in Europe since the 1940s. And it does appear
that Zelenskyy is willing to put himself physically into the mix.
Putin's presence is undetermined. Trump is saying he'll be there if there will be consequence from that. And so, a lot essentially pointing towards
the Kremlin, whose spokesperson in the last few hours said maybe nobody will know who's going to go until the whole thing even starts. So, a lot
is currently in flux, and I think this is a moment where potentially Trump could upset Putin -- sorry, Putin could upset Trump, if for some reason,
the White House head feels he's been snubbed in some way.
Zelenskyy, if he doesn't show enough patience and wait there long enough, that could potentially give the White House ammunition in terms of their
feeling that Ukraine isn't adequately delegated to peace here.
So, much on the table. So, little really known about who's going to potentially attend. And obviously, here in Ukraine so much at stake. Isa.
ISA SOARES, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: Indeed, a delicate diplomatic dance for sure. Nick, thank you very much indeed. Live for us in Kyiv in Ukraine.
And while the Kremlin, as you heard Nick say there, pretty much appears on the fence over Russian President of Vladimir Putin's attendance for
Thursday's meeting. Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, says Moscow will only reveal who it is sending to Turkey once Mr. Putin gives the order to
do so. This uncertainty comes as Moscow faces growing international pressure to agree to the U.S.-backed plan for a 30-day ceasefire in
Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the European Union has unveiled a new round of sanctions against Russia, this time targeting what it calls Moscow's shadow fleet of oil
tankers. Our Fred Pleitgen has the latest from Moscow. And Fred, I mean, the silence coming from the Kremlin probably says more about domestic
politics in Russia. Speak to the constraints in Russia and how Putin can sell this at home. Can he?
FRED PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think he certainly can. I think right now the Russians here are portraying this,
certainly the Russian media are portraying this, and certainly the Russian government, of course, as well, as the Russians essentially being in the
driver's seat and doing all this on their own time and in their own way, because, of course, it was Vladimir Putin himself who proposed this meeting
in Istanbul on the 15th.
He did this on Saturday, very late at a press conference where he said he would then call Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey for direct negotiations
between Russia and Ukraine. But I think one of the things that's very different from what the Ukrainians want and possibly also what the White
House wants, so that's the Trump administration has sort of been going back and forth on what they're actually expecting from any sort of talks and
what the Russians want.
The Russians have consistently been saying that they are not after a short- term ceasefire, certainly not after this 30-day ceasefire. Vladimir Putin saying on Saturday, he believes that the Ukrainians would use that, as he
put it, to retrench and regroup, as right now, they are of course under considerable pressure from the Russians on many frontlines.
The Russians are saying that they want these to be very large negotiations towards a full-on ceasefire and addressing, as the Russians have
consistently said, the root causes, as they put it, of the conflict in Ukraine.
So, they'd obviously want to talk about Ukrainian possible leadership in membership in NATO, which is, of course, something that they don't want.
Territories and the like as well. And of course, also the Ukrainian military. But these are negotiations that if they go down the way that the
Russians want them to, could obviously take a very long time to get to any sort of agreement if an agreement can be reached.
But of course, one of the things that's also clear in Moscow here, Isa, is that who will go is obviously very key as well. And there it is absolutely
correct to say that the Russians have been extremely coy the entire day. What we've been keeping an eye on is sort of Russian state media who are
inside the Kremlin, asking several Kremlin officials about who might go, what the topics might be.
One of the senior Kremlin aides, Yuri Ushakov, was asked about this. He was asked whether he was going to go, didn't answer that, and whether the
president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, would go, he didn't answer that either.
So, right now, the Russians are saying Putin at some point is going to make the decision, and then at some point it will be communicated and then,
we'll know who is going to go to these talks.
But again, one of the nuances that we picked up from that senior Kremlin aid, Yuri Ushakov, as he said, there's a lot of technical details that need
to be worked out, which sort of seems to indicate that the Russians are after larger negotiations to move towards what they believe could be a
larger peace agreement or an agreement in general with the Ukrainians, but certainly, not that ceasefire that the Ukrainians keep talking about.
So, right now, completely unclear whom the Russians are going to send. But certainly, it seems as though the aims that they have are very different
than the aims that the Ukrainians have. And the Trump administration, of course, as we know, has been going back and forth. You've had Trump --
President Trump saying that he wants that ceasefire. However, Vice President J. D. Vance saying that the U.S. has sort of moved away from
that. Very interesting to see what's going to happen in the next couple of hours, Isa.
SOARES: Yes. The mixed message is perhaps not helping, but we are seeing that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has touched down in Turkey, of
course, ahead of these talks, possible face-to-face talks between both leaders. Fred, as always, thank you.
And still to come tonight, Israeli strikes killed dozens in Gaza overnight. I speak light to a Red Cross official on the ground in Gaza. That is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:35:00]
SOARES: Welcome back, everyone. Returning now to our top story, the renewed effort in Doha to secure a ceasefire as well as hostage deal for
Gaza, just as U.S. President Donald Trump visits the region. Even though Israel is attending those talks, it also insists it will intensify the war
until Hamas is destroyed.
Israel acknowledges blocking all aid into Gaza as a pressure tactic. An Israeli official told CNN reports of starvation are, quote, "complete
lies." But The New York Times reports in private some Israeli military officials admit that Gaza is on the brink of starvation, and that is no
secret, of course. To aid groups who have been sounding, of course, the alarm for months. Many of them here on the show. A U.N.-backed report just
yesterday said, one in five people in Gaza are now facing starvation.
Gaza's Health Ministry says 57 children have died of malnutrition since. The blockade began, and the World Health Organization says the real number
is likely higher.
Well, the U.N. humanitarian chief is accusing Israel of prioritizing, quote, "the depopulation of Gaza over the lives of civilians." Tom Fletcher
made an incredibly powerful appeal for action at the U.N. Security Council, warning the world that history is watching.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOM FLETCHER, U.N. HUMANITARIAN CHIEF: I ask you to reflect for a moment on what action we will tell future generations. We each took to stop the
21st century atrocity to which we bear daily witness in Gaza. It is a question we will hear, sometimes incredulous, sometimes furious, but always
there for the rest of our lives. We will surely all claim to have been against it. Maybe we will say we issued a statement or that we trusted that
private pressure might work despite so much evidence to the contrary.
[14:40:00]
Or pretend that we thought a more brutal military offensive had more chance of bringing the hostages home than the negotiations which brought so many
hostages home. Maybe some will recall that in a transactional world we had other priorities, or maybe we will use those empty words, we did all we
could.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, despite that impassioned plea, Israel is planning to move Gaza's entire population south, saying it will hold onto the land it
captures. It says it will distribute aid through a new mechanism that will bypass Hamas. No timeline, I should say, was given.
And we have some new footage from the attack we told you about earlier in the show on that European hospital in Khan Younis. Sources say the target
was a de facto leader of Hamas. We don't know if Mohammed Sinwar was among the 28 killed. Gaza's Health Ministry released a video showing the moment
the strike hit. But I do want to warn you, it is extremely disturbing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Now, the director of Gaza's Health Ministry, says if that footage were from a hospital in U.S. or London, quote, "the world would be on
fire." But he says Gaza has become a zone where international law is suspended and human life is treated as expendable. He says Gaza has, quote,
"been erased from the moral map of the world."
I'm joined now by a native official who's seen the humanitarian crisis in Gaza firsthand. Adrian Zimmerman is the head of the sub delegation of the
International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza, and he's in Rafah for us tonight. I believe. He's with us on the phone because of the top quality of
the signal.
Adrian, I really appreciate you taking the time to speak to us. We are seeing, as we've just laid out for our viewers yet again, the IDF
intensifying the strikes in Gaza. They say they're after the Hamas leader, but we know the majority of those who have been killed so far are women and
children. What more can you tell us, Adrian, about the strikes that we've seen in the last 24 hours?
ADRIAN ZIMMERMANN, INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS COMMITTEE, RAFAH, GAZA: Good evening from Gaza. Pleasure to be with you. You know, what I can tell you
is that the healthcare system in the Gaza Street is under enormous pressure, and it has been so since the beginning of the conflict. And
anything that kind of puts healthcare, hospitals clinics out of order just contributes to the suffering of the people.
Healthcare infrastructure must not be targeted, must not be misused for military purposes. But the people who are suffering are the Gazans in the
end. They're afraid to go to a hospital, they're afraid to go to a clinic, because at the end of the day, they think it might be struck. They think
something might be happening there. And therefore, the health of the people here in the Gaza Street is suffering from the situation.
SOARES: And, Adrian, you know, these strikes have come as U.N. has warned that one in five people in Garza strip are facing starvation, of course,
after 10 weeks of a blockade. Can you speak to what your team, you and your team are seeing on the ground? Because the Israeli government have
repeatedly said that there is no hunger in Gaza, that the Hamas is stockpiling food. What are you seeing? How is your team operating?
ZIMMERMANN: What we're seeing on the ground is indeed that the markets are largely empty. Prices have come up very, very much since the beginning of
March, since those 10 weeks that you mentioned, indeed. It becomes very difficult for people to find food, to find any kind of necessities. And
there's simply also no money around to buy the few things that are around that can still be bought.
So, we see that on a daily basis that the supplies are simply not sufficient. Nothing is coming in and the situation gets more critical by
the day and humanitarian aid or commercial supplies should come in order to alleviate that separation
SOARES: And speak then to the impact of that. Are you seeing higher numbers of malnutrition among women, children? Just speak to that.
ZIMMERMANN: I think we see roughly, what you mentioned before, the same situations that the U.N. is reporting. We don't have any separate surveys
of stats from our side, but yes, indeed, what we're seeing is that it's getting worse and it's getting increasingly worse over time. Of course, the
longer the situation lasts.
[14:45:00]
And yes, it -- please, sorry, go ahead.
SOARES: No, finish your thought. Finish your thought there, Adrian.
ZIMMERMANN: No, I was just thinking that, you know, it's -- it should -- humanitarians should be allowed to kind of do our job again and supplies
should be allowed to come in again. And it should be possible to help the people because it's only going to get worse over the next few days and
weeks.
SOARES: I wonder then, Adrian, what you make of this aid proposal that's been put forward by the U.S. and Israel. Tom Fletcher, and we played a
little clip from him speaking yesterday, he called this plan, this proposal, he said, it makes starvation a bargaining chip. It is a cynical
sideshow. A deliberate distraction. A fig leaf for further violence and displacement. What are your thoughts on that? Do you agree with that?
ZIMMERMANN: I would think that, you know, humanitarian aid should stick to its principles and humanitarian aid must be neutral. It must be impartial,
and it must be conducted in an independent manner. So, humanitarian organizations must be themselves able to establish the needs to do surveys,
to go out to the people. Humanitarian organizations has to be able to deliver to the needy themselves. And humanitarian agencies have to be able
to monitor what they're doing. So, that is what we, from our side, from the ICRC, are pushing for, that this being maintained.
SOARES: Adrian Zimmermann, live for us there from Rafah in Gaza. Adrian, really appreciate you taking the time to speak to us this evening.
Incredibly important at this juncture.
We're going to take a short break. Be back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: Well, the ex-girlfriend of Sean Diddy Combs, Cassie Ventura, is back on the stand today testifying in his sex-trafficking trial.
Prosecutors showed sexually explicit image today as Ventura spoke about alleged abuse and Combs's so-called group sex freak offs. Ventura has said
Combs threatened to release video of her in those freak offs when he was angry or wanted her to be afraid. And she's testified the infamous footage
of Combs attacking her in a Los Angeles hotel showed her trying to leave a free off before it was over.
Joining us now with the very latest from court CNN's Leigh Waldman. So, Leigh, just bring us up to date in terms of what we have heard today,
probably a very emotional, yet another emotional day.
[14:50:00]
LEIGH WALDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Isa, very, very emotional. The jury just coming back from a lunch right now, and they're starting to get their first
time that they're able to see still images from some of these so-called freak offs. Cassie having to actually talk through what they're seeing on
these images.
Those images are being blocked from the public inside of the courtroom, but some of our team that's inside said that the defendant, Sean Diddy Combs,
was seen leaning over his lawyer to get a better look at the photos being shown in the binder there, and members of the jury are having strong
reactions to this.
A woman who viewed the photos, who's a female juror, she let out a deep breath and put her hand on her chest. A male juror looked away quickly.
Another male juror taking note of what he saw. Ventura is talking them through what she said she endured frequently throughout the course of her
more than 10-year long relationship with Sean Diddy Combs, but also diving into the violent aspect of their relationship, specifically after that 2016
hotel surveillance video she said she left, once the security guard intervened, she was able to get out of there and she had a bloodied lip and
a black eye. When she got back to her home, she said two of her friends saw her and called the police.
Now, she did speak with the police, but she did not tell them who was the person who did this to her. She said, just in that moment, I didn't want to
hurt him in that way. It was just too much going on, saying that she simply wasn't ready at that time to tell people who was doing this to her. And
those stories continue and continue year after year, different stories about how he was physically violent with her and about the very first time
he was physically violent with her less than a year into their relationship. Isa.
SOARES: Yes, and as jurors -- as the juries now so -- is shown those sexually explicit images, one female juror, from what I understand, let out
a deep breath and then rested hand on her chest as an image was placed on a monitor before her. So, incredibly potent, of course, as you can imagine,
these jurors see these images. Thanks very much, Leigh Waldman. Appreciate it. We're going to stay on the story, as you expect we would, and we're
going to take a short break. We'll be back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: Well, it was politics and the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in France. Robert De Niro received the Lifetime Achievement Award
on Tuesday. The 81-year-old Hollywood legend took a moment during his speech to criticize U.S. President Donald Trump, calling him a philistine
president. He slammed Mr. Trump's plan to place tariffs on movies produced outside of the U.S., which would affect the entire film industry. Have a
listen.
[14:55:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT DE NIRO, ACTOR: In my country, we are fighting like hell for the democracy we once took for granted. And that affects all of us. That
affects all of us here because the arts are democratic. Art is inclusive. It brings people together. Tonight, art looks for truth. Art embraces
diversity. And that's why art is a threat. That's why we are a threat to autocrats and fascists.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, De Niro ended his speech calling all people to stand up to president. The president saying, quote, "without violence, but with great
passion and determination."
And finally, this hour, Eurovision fans got a special treat from a very familiar face. Celine Dion made a surprise video appearance at last night's
show in Switzerland. She had won, of course, the contest for this year's host Switzerland back in 1988. Eurovision rules don't require contestants
to be citizens of the country they are representing.
And she told the crowd, Switzerland will forever hold a special place in my heart. Well, after her message, some of last year's singers performed a
cover of her winning song. And Eurovision is a big deal for many, including our director in London. The Manzi household hosts this spectacular party
annually. Bets are on that Sweden's going to win. And this what it looks like at, this party. I'm still waiting for the invite.
That does it for us. "What We Know with Max Foster" is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:00:00]
END
