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Isa Soares Tonight
Chaos Erupts In Gaza As Palestinians Storm And Overrun U.S.-Backed Aid Distribution Center; Ukraine Endures Intensified Bombardment; King Charles Hails Strong And Free Canada In Speech To Open Parliament; State Dept. Addresses Controversial U.S.-Backed Aid Effort; At Two Killed In Latest Russian Attacks; Europe Lifts Range Restrictions On Ukraine Missiles; Europe's Growing Criticism Of Israel's War. Aired 2-3p ET
Aired May 27, 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, desperation and despair in Gaza as a
controversial aid distribution center is stormed by crowds. We bring you the very latest. Then Ukraine endures more deadly airstrikes. I asked
Latvia's Foreign Minister if sanctions on Russia go far enough.
Plus, a symbolic royal visit. King Charles shows support for a strong and free Canada as annexation threats from U.S. President Donald Trump loom
large. We go live to you -- to Ottawa. But first this hour, breaking news from Gaza. Palestinian NGO network calls it the big failure that we warned
against, saying what happened today at an aid site is both dangerous, they said, and unprecedented.
After living for months under total Israeli blockade of all food and aid, thousands of people overrun a new distribution site today, as you can see
there, backed by the U.S. and Israel. And you can see, look at it, men, women, children, desperately scrambling for food as they face a very real
threat as we've been reporting on the show of starvation.
And it was just the first day of operations for the widely-criticized new mechanism. Israel and the U.S. says it's keeping aid away from Hamas. An
IDF Arabic language spokesperson posted this map on social media, saying two of four new distribution sites began operating today around Rafah. No
sites, by the way, have been established yet for northern Gaza at all.
Meantime, the U.N. has repeatedly warned that the new plan is incapable of meeting the overwhelming needs of Gaza's 2 million people, and will put
civilians in danger. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JENS LAERKE, SPOKESPERSON, U.N. HUMANITARIAN OFFICE: It is a distraction from what is actually needed, which is a reopening of all the crossings
into Gaza, a secure environment within Gaza, and faster facilitation of permissions and final approvals of all the emergency supplies that we have
just outside the border, it needs to get in.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: U.N. also says the new mechanism facilitates Israel's mass displacement of civilians. Israel has ordered, as we brought you this image
yesterday as well, we brought you the story, sweeping evacuations and declared a no-go zone shown in your map, you can see there in orange and
blue. These are no go areas.
It's forcing civilians, civilians now into tinier and really tinier areas as it works to implement Donald Trump's plan to get Palestinians to leave
Gaza entirely. Our Jeremy Diamond has more for you from Jerusalem.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT (on camera): And what initially began as what pictures suggest would be an orderly distribution of aid to
Palestinian civilians within hours devolved into absolute mayhem as thousands of desperate, hungry Palestinians overwhelmed this aid
distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation in southern Gaza, in the Tal as Sultan area of Rafah.
You can see in videos from this scene, people who were climbing over barriers and sand berms, as well as breaking down fences in order to get
their hands on what little aid remains at that site. Following that, we do know that from several videos, you could hear gunfire erupting, I'm told by
a security source that the security contractors, the American security contractors on the ground did not fire a single shot.
The Israeli military, for its part, said that it did not fire any shots in the immediate area of that distribution site, but it appears that they may
have fired shots further away to try and disperse that crowd. The bottom line here is that this is, you know, just one part of the enormous
challenge that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is going to face, getting up on the ground.
And a lot of that and the images that we are seeing today stem from the lack of aid that has gotten into Gaza so far, even as Israel has allowed
limited quantities of aid over the last week.
[14:05:00]
Clearly, it has not been enough to alleviate the hunger crisis in Gaza and to avoid thousands of people flooding into one of these distribution sites,
forcing those American contractors to withdraw in what I'm told was the protocol for this kind of a situation, something that they had indeed
prepared for and anticipated, but certainly, something that they did not hope would happen, especially not on day one.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Jeremy Diamond there for us in Jerusalem. And one former Israeli Prime Minister says enough is enough. Ehud Olmert wrote a blistering op-ed
in "Haaretz", accusing Israel of, quote, "indiscriminate, limitless, cruel and criminal killing of civilians." He says Israel is committing war
crimes. Olmert spoke last hour here on CNN. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EHUD OLMERT, FORMER ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: What is it if not a war crime? I mean, how can a serious person representing the Israeli government can
spell it out in such an explicit manner that we should starve Gaza, that there should be no supply of basic, fundamental humanitarian needs to a
couple of million people living there.
They are terrorists that we need to fight. But this is not a war against Hamas. This looks more and more like a political war of the Israeli Prime
Minister and the cabinet, and the group of thugs which are now representing the Israeli government inside Israel and across the world are committing
actions which can't be interpreted in any other way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: We are also -- been hearing more and more criticism of Israel's war from leaders in Europe. Today, in a phone call with the king of Jordan,
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called Israel's expanded operation targeting civilian infrastructure, abhorrent. She also said,
quote, "the disproportionate use of force against civilians cannot be justified under humanitarian and international law."
Von der Leyen repeated the EU's call for Israel to lift its aid blockade. And then last week, this dramatic moment in the European parliament.
Slovenia's President received sustained applause as you can hear it there, when she said, quote, "we are witnessing genocide." Some members even gave
her a standing ovation.
Spain's Prime Minister has used a similar term, referring to Israel as a quote, "genocidal state". I want to go now to Israeli Prime Minister Amir
Tibon. He's a senior columnist with "Haaretz", an author of -- pardon me, a journalist with "Haaretz", and he joins me now. "The Gates of Gaza: A Story
of -- Survival -- "Betrayal, Survival and Hope on Israel's Borderlands".
Amir, go -- really appreciate you being with us. Let me really get your sense of what, you know, we have been hearing. We are starting to see, as
we saw there in our introduction, a growing chorus of criticism, I think it's fair to say, directed at Prime Minister Netanyahu. Yesterday, you
probably saw as well from German Chancellor, who had very strong words too, directed at Netanyahu.
But do these words, you think from European allies and the threat even of sanctions in what relates to U.K., France and Canada. Does that move the
needle at all? Does that have any influence at all on Netanyahu, you think?
AMIR TIBON, SENIOR COLUMNIST, HAARETZ: First of all, I was a bit scared for a minute when you upgraded my role. But in my position as a journalist and
as someone who has been writing about this from the first day of the war, I think it's true that we are seeing an uptick in the criticism directed at
the Israeli government.
And the more significant element of it is that the criticism is coming from allies and friends and supporters of Israel. Because from day one of this
war, from October 8th, you know, a day after Hamas committed the massacre of October 7th and kidnapped more than 250 people and killed and murdered
more than 1,200, there were people who were already criticizing Israel.
And Israelis don't take seriously that kind of criticism. What we saw on college campuses, and in some of the demonstrations, Israelis are immune to
that, if you will, because we assume that these people are against us no matter what. But when we hear friendly governments and people like the new
German Chancellor or like U.S. President Trump, who are supporters and friends of Israel, come forward and say this is beyond the line. This is
too much.
This has to stop. That definitely has an impact domestically in Israel, and of course, on the calculations of the Israeli government. But still, the
real question remains, will these words be followed by any action?
SOARES: Yes --
TIBON: Because if it is just -- if these are just words, then Netanyahu will call the bluff. If behind the words, there is also an intention for
action, then you will see this actually having an impact on how the war is conducted on the ground.
[14:10:00]
SOARES: Yes, and we have heard U.K., Canada and France, and they're talking about the threat of taking concrete action, potentially even including
targeted sanctions. We've heard also the EU saying it's reviewing the bloc's ties with Israel. But you know, we haven't seen any action on this
front yet.
But I -- we are starting to see also a growing frustration from President Trump, who probably has more influence than any of the other European
allies. Speak to the growing frustration we were hearing from him, because you write in your article in "Haaretz", but as you were talking about
frustration, he says he's letting Netanyahu set the terms on Gaza while we hear the frustration, nothing else has shifted. What do you make of what
we've heard then from President Trump?
TIBON: First of all, I do -- I do want to say one sentence before addressing Trump, and to mention that Europe and the U.K. and Canada and
Australia and other --
SOARES: Yes --
TIBON: Countries do have influence and do have leverage, and it would be a mistake for these governments to just say, well, it's all in the hands of
the U.S. and Trump, and what we do doesn't matter. That's not true. They have a lot of influence and leverage. The question is what do they choose
to do? By the way, it goes both ways regarding the Israeli government and also regarding Hamas through Qatar.
The question is, how committed are they to actually bringing this to an end? But of course, it's true that President Trump has more leverage and
more influence than anyone else. And what we're seeing right now from the administration is a growing sense of frustration and disillusionment and
disappointment from Prime Minister Netanyahu and his extremist government. But not yet concrete actions.
SOARES: Yes --
TIBON: And the most important question is how are the negotiations for a hostage deal being conducted? Is Netanyahu setting the terms of the
negotiation? Or is Steve Witkoff; President Trump's special envoy, setting the terms of the negotiation?
So far, the way I see it through the publications we're hearing, you know, and also all the statements coming from the administration, it's pretty
clear that despite their disappointment, despite their frustration, the administration is still allowing Netanyahu and his close aide, you know,
Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, to set the terms of the negotiations. In my analysis, is that until this changes, we will not see a
deal actually come through.
SOARES: That is very interesting indeed, to get that perspective -- your perspective on this, Amir. Despite what you're saying, we have started to
see -- maybe, I don't know, correct me if I'm wrong, move swift perhaps with mood change from some in Israel. You heard probably in the last hour
from the former Prime Minister of Israel, Olmert, who accuses Israel of commuting -- of committing war crimes.
He wrote, as we just said, you know, a pretty blistering op-ed in "Haaretz" --
TIBON: Yes --
SOARES: As you well --
TIBON: Yes --
SOARES: Know. We've also heard from Yair Golan; the leader of the Democrats who recently said that Netanyahu is turning Israel into a global pariah.
Are you -- are you seeing a shift in tone? Just speak to the mood in the country right now.
TIBON: No, I don't think these statements represent a significant change in the internal Israeli conversation. If anything, you're seeing a lot of
public anger directed at Olmert or Golan and others for saying this. I think the more important dynamic is the fact that Israelis are more attuned
to what they're hearing from friends abroad, from allies, from friendly governments, if anything, will drive a change. It is realpolitik.
It is the sense that we are standing alone after 20 months of war, and the support for what most Israelis and myself among them --
SOARES: Yes --
TIBON: Considered the most -- just, and, you know, important war in the history of the country. The world sees it very differently today because it
has been so long, because the death toll in Gaza has been so high, and because there is a sense that the Netanyahu government is no longer
fighting for the release of the hostages, which after October 7th, was a goal that pretty much the whole world could unite around and understand
that Israel has a just reason to go and fight for the release of its people, including, you know, a huge majority of among them civilians who
were kidnapped from their beds or from a dance, a music festival.
But now, there is a sense that a hostage deal can be achieved, and that we can get to a point where all the hostages are released. But the Netanyahu
government is putting up obstacles, and I think this is a major reason why we've been losing a lot of that international support.
SOARES: Amir, really appreciate you taking the time to speak to us. I did promote you ever so briefly there to President there, but I apologize
having to correct myself. Thank you very much --
[14:15:00]
TIBON: Yes -- no need for that. And let's hope for some good news, and because it's been too long. Thank you.
SOARES: Indeed, thank you, Amir Tibon on that. Appreciate it. Now, a private memorial service was held today in Kansas for the Israeli embassy
staff that was killed, if you remember, last week in Washington. Sarah Milgrim was shot outside the Capitol Jewish Museum alongside her boyfriend
and fellow embassy worker, Yaron Lischinsky.
U.S. President Donald Trump has called the attack, quote, "obviously anti- Semitic". A suspect Elias Rodriguez was arrested shouting free Palestine as police handcuffed him. The service was held at Milgrim's family's
synagogue. And still to come tonight, as chaos erupts in Gaza, Ukraine endures multiple aerial attacks from Russia.
Later this hour, discussed these ongoing wars with Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze. Also, the Trump administration versus Harvard. The two sides
face off in court amid a new threat from the U.S. President. Those two stories after this very short break. You are watching CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: We are learning new details in the Liverpool incident that left more than 60 people injured on Monday. Police have arrested the suspect,
who they believe followed an ambulance into a closed-off street in a car before hitting dozens of football fans celebrating Liverpool's Premier
League title.
Many questions this hour still remain unanswered. However, police say they don't think this was terrorism. Our Nic Robertson has more for you from
Liverpool.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR (on camera): Well, the very latest we have from the police in their most recent press conference,
they say that they have now arrested a 53-year-old British man who lives about 5 miles away from here. They say that they are charging him with
attempted murder for dangerous driving and for driving under the influence of drugs.
Very serious charges. We've also got an update now on the number of people who needed treatment at the hospital. Police saying 50 people required
treatment at the hospital, four of them had previously been reported with serious injuries, the police now saying that 11 people only remain in
hospital, and they are all in a condition of recovering.
So, the indications are that, of all the people injured, they are through the worst of it at the moment. The police are still appealing for more
information from the public, appealing for the public not to share videos on social media of the incident happening, but to share them rather with
the police, so the police can help build their investigations.
[14:20:00]
This remains an active crime scene behind me here, behind the police truck is the vehicle that crashed into the crowd, it's in a police forensic tent.
There's police forensic teams still on site here, still going through the evidence that they have, but they are beginning to sift through the
information and build a picture of what's -- of what happened.
And one of the things that have been raised as a question was, how did with hundreds of thousands of fervent Liverpool supporters on the streets
celebrating the 10-mile trophy tour through the city, did a vehicle manage to get into the crowd and mix with the crowd? And we've heard from the
police now, explaining how that happened.
They say on this street here, Wardour Street, where I am standing, that an ambulance was allowed onto the street through a cordon because there was
somebody suspected of having a heart attack, and they wanted to treat that person who was having the suspected heart attack. And the vehicle then
followed the ambulance onto the crowded street.
And that appears to be from what the police are saying, how the vehicle got into the crowd and how all this happened. Although, the police are saying
that this man is being charged with attempted murder, dangerous driving, driving while under the apparent influence of drugs, they don't have an
explanation yet of why he did this.
But it's come as an absolute shock in this city. So many people out celebrating the Liverpool Football Club, the second time they've won this
Premier League trophy. Of course, last time was during COVID times. The city couldn't come out and celebrate, so, this was a really huge day.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Our thanks to Nic Robertson there live, that was taped there, recording earlier from Liverpool. Well, it's a graduation week unlike any
other in Harvard's nearly 400-year history. President Donald Trump escalating his fight with the university, ordered agencies to cancel $100
million in federal contracts with Harvard.
That's on top of the more than $2.5 billion in recent federal cuts to the school. The two sides faced off in court earlier today after the President
demanded Harvard turn over the names and countries of its international students. In an interview on "NPR", the university's President was asked
whether he believes the White House is targeting Harvard. Have a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALAN GARBER, PRESIDENT, HARVARD: I don't know fully what the motivations are, but I do know that there are people who are fighting a cultural
battle. Harvard is a very old institution, much older than the country. And as long as there has been a United States of America, Harvard has thought
that its role is to serve the nation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Let's get more on this story. Our crime and justice correspondent Katelyn Polantz has been following this story from the beginning and joins
us now. Katelyn, good to see you. This was a hearing, of course, on Trump's efforts to ban international students. Give us a sense of what happened,
what occurred behind closed doors.
KATELYN POLANTZ, CNN CRIME & JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Just a short hearing in court, in federal court in Boston today. But it's setting up for a whole
week of really intense legal arguments and discussion over this fight. Trump v Harvard or in this caption of this case, Harvard versus Trump,
because they're the ones having to go to court here.
What happened today is about student visas and the ability for Harvard to host international students on their campus. The administration tried to
stop that program and essentially tell international students they had to leave the country or go to other universities. The judge stepped in
temporarily, and there's going to be a very big hearing on Thursday about the legality of that.
Can the judge make a more permanent block here? And should the judge put a more permanent block on what the administration wants to do with
international students at Harvard, with their immigration plans? But all of this is coming at the same time that the Trump administration, it keeps
taking issue with everything at Harvard, from what they're researching to who they're hiring, to the students they have --
(CROSSTALK)
SOARES: Katelyn, apologies to interrupt, sorry to interject. I want to --
POLANTZ: Sure --
SOARES: Go to the State Department, just listening in because they are taking questions on the situation in Gaza. Let's listen in.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No one had even told them about this foundation or given them --
(CROSSTALK)
TAMMY BRUCE, SPOKESPERSON, U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT: Well, Andrea, this is where -- this is where again, we -- there's certainly -- and this is
something the world is watching, something we've all cared about getting resolved. It is not an uncomplicated situation. This is however, the first
delivery of major aid, if not the only aid we've been hearing for months.
[14:25:00]
I wish that Cindy McCain had spoken up, that they had found a way to move food into Gaza, because that certainly hadn't been conveyed to us. But now
-- which if that's the case, that's great. What I do know is that the people on the ground now, as we're -- as the number I told you, I think
it's rather significant, 462,000 meals. You know, that's what we're focused on --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes --
BRUCE: And that, this is -- and I'm not -- I'm not going to address either gossip or complaints or people who knew or weren't included or would do it
a different way, or who is shooting at whom, that Hamas is not Hamas. I -- the real story here, the story is that aid and food is moving into Gaza at
a massive scale at this point when you're looking at 8,000 food boxes.
Was this going to be like going to the mall or through a drive-through? No, it wasn't. This is a complicated environment, and the story is the fact
that it's working. I find it difficult that there are people who would go on television shows to complain about a process that is working and moving
food into the area.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Tammy, one --
BRUCE: Will it improve --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One follow-up --
BRUCE: Over time? Would it -- would anything that we do improve over time? Yes, in all likelihood. And I think anyone would welcome someone like Mrs.
McCain or anyone else who has a method within which to contribute to this effort, to be able to do so instead of going on television and complaining.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Tammy, that's a follow-up, please --
BRUCE: The real story is that this is succeeding. And I think we should all at least have the courage to embrace that.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But until now, there has been a blockade, a blockade by Israel of the food. So, no one has been able to get through.
BRUCE: Well, I thought you just said Cindy McCain said that she was able to do that. But I would also say that this process managed to overcome that
dynamic, and the dynamic has changed. Whatever it was that was having a -- hindering the nature --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Israel was blocking it --
BRUCE: Of aid to the Gazan people has been overcome. It clearly needs to expand. I don't speak for this foundation, but clearly, we've got to
welcome any dynamic that allows getting aid and food into the region, which is happening right now, and that's the story. Nadia?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you, Tammy. Two questions. I understand this is the beginning of a process. For the time being, the delivery of food is at
two places, which is Tal as Sultan and the Murad(ph) Crossing. Is this any guarantee that people who come from the north to receive this food, are
they allowed to go back?
Because that's the fear that basically this is a way to move the population from the north to the south. And do you have any plan that they will expand
it to go to other places?
BRUCE: Well, it's not -- this, again, this is not a State Department effort.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes --
BRUCE: We don't have a plan. It's -- I can't answer that regarding the nature of how certain situations would be responded to. I'm not going to
speculate or say what they should or should not do. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has an e-mail. You can -- they should be reached out to, and
that's what I'd recommend regarding plans to expand, plans to make assessments of what's worked and what hasn't at this point, and what
changes they might make and what the goal is.
Clearly, the goal is to reach as many people as possible.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can I --
BRUCE: Yes, sir. Yes --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes --
BRUCE: Go ahead, please.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs is in town according to Israeli media. Has there been any meeting between him and
Secretary Rubio? And can you update us on the state of talks between Iran and the U.S.? Is there a new planning -- meeting planned ahead?
BRUCE: Well, I will not discuss, as you might imagine, any meetings or conversations the secretary is having --
SOARES: You have been listening there to the spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, addressing some of the questions related to Gaza, which
was our top story as we brought you at the top of the show. We showed you some pretty chaotic scenes, chaotic videos that we've had out of Gaza that
shows utter desperation as well as the hunger that so many have been facing for months as aid started to being distributed of course, by the Gaza
Humanitarian Foundation.
They said they distributed 8,000 food boxes totaling -- the spokesperson was talking about this 462,000 meals so far. This is one of four
distribution sites, no distribution as she was asked there in northern Gaza. She was taking some of the criticism, answering some of that, she
said it's the first delivery of major aid.
And she says that, and I'm quoting here, the stories -- it's that aid is now moving in and moving into Gaza at a massive scale. This is a
complicated environment. It is not at a massive scale. Important to point out, you know, it's only one of four sites, three in southern Gaza, one in
central Gaza, none in northern Gaza.
And then that's why we've had so much criticism. The U.N. Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs this month telling CNN, a document
obtained by CNN said, quote, "this mechanism appears practically unfeasible, incompatible with humanitarian principles and will create
serious insecurity risks, all while failing to meet Israel's obligations under international law. A Palestinian NGO telling us today, it's the big
failure that we warned against, calling it dangerous and unprecedented.
[14:30:19]
Yet, GHF, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, said the flow of meals will increase each day with a goal of delivering food to 1.2 million people, and
that is 60 percent of Gaza's population.
But the videos you've been seeing just shows just the utter desperation from men, women, so many families who've been scrambling for months for
food, of course, because of the blockade, many of them facing the real threat of starvation. We'll stay across this story. We'll have much more
news after this short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: Welcome back, everyone. What will it take for Russian President Vladimir Putin to accept a ceasefire deal? Many world leaders have been
asking that question as the Kremlin intensifies its aerial bombardment on Ukraine. Ukrainian officials say the latest overnight attacks killed at
least two people, wounded several more. And it comes as American led peace talks to fail to reach a breakthrough.
U.S. President Donald Trump's frustration with his Russian counterpart could evolve into new sanctions on Russia. CNN is told options have been
drawn up for Washington to apply new measures punishing Moscow. But so far Mr. Trump has not approved them. Have a listen.
[14:35:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: I don't know what the hell happened to Putin. I've known him a long time, always gotten along with him, but he's sending
rockets into cities and killing people, and I don't like it at all. OK? We're in the middle of talking and he's shooting rockets into Kyiv and
other cities. I don't like it at all.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Meantime, Germany and other Ukrainian allies are lifting their restrictions and will allow Kyiv to fire long-range weapons into Russia.
The Kremlin is slamming the decision as quote, "dangerous." My next guest is the foreign minister of Latvia, Baiba Braze. She joins us now from Riga.
Foreign Minister, wonderful to have you back on the show.
Let me start with that decision that we saw from Chancellor Merz just in the last 24 hours to remove restrictions on those long-range weapons. What
do you think this will mean for Ukraine realistically?
BAIBA BRAZE, LATVIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: I think it's long overdue. I think Ukraine had that right for self-defense under the U.N. Charter Article 51
to strike legitimate military targets in Russia. All this time, more than three years have passed. So, finally, some of the restrictions are lifted.
So, let's get the right weapons to Ukraine. Let's make sure that it can properly defend herself, because that is the best way one of the three
pillars how to get Russia to peace. The other two is to make sure that we, NATO, we nationally invest sufficient amounts in terms of money, but also
capabilities in defense and maintain the strong transatlantic link with the U.S.
And the second pillar is indeed weakening Russia. You mentioned sanctions before. It's not only about sanctions per se, it's about, you know, denying
the money, technology, and friendships to Russia. So, making Ukraine stronger, making sure it can defend herself, is defending herself. That is
the way it heads. That is the way to peace.
SOARES: Let's speak to that pressure then, because as you heard us saying there, we played a little clip from President Trump. He has -- he seems, at
least, Foreign Minister, to show that he's growing increasingly frustrated with President Putin, who of course didn't show up in Turkey for that
meeting with President Zelenskyy. Trump saying today that Putin, he said, is playing with fire.
That -- does that suggest at all to you that President Putin -- that President Trump is seeing President Putin for what he is? How do you
interpret these words and the shift in the tone?
BRAZE: I think President Trump and only President Trump can say what he feels and how he feels about it. Obviously, for us, it has been quite
obvious that Russia doesn't want peace. We very much welcomed peace efforts by President Trump. Peace through strength, which is exactly what we need.
So, both showing that there is a way to peace. That there is a way to ceasefire. There's a willingness by Ukraine, by European and U.S. leaders
to sort of advance on the (INAUDIBLE), but being also very strong and being very strict and making sure that actually there is also the push to peace
is the way ahead.
SOARES: Yes. Let's put -- let's talk on that -- about that push, because despite, of course, President Trump showing his frustration with President
Putin, and we've heard that repeatedly, he hasn't imposed any red lines. You know, I wonder whether you think that this diplomatic strategy that we
have seen so far from President Trump, whether you think it yields at the end and the results, whether you think this pressure is working? Because we
are now hearing from sources that President Trump is considering new sanctions.
Do you think President Trump should go ahead? I know you don't speak for him, but to speak to the pressure, how important is that pressure on
President Putin right now?
BRAZE: What we know is that sanctions work and pressure works. We know from sources inside Russia that indeed there is quite a bit of pressure on the
(INAUDIBLE) in Kremlin to change the strategy, even though the public polling doesn't show that, you know, there's dissatisfaction. Quite
clearly, the other polling shows that there is a high level of concerns both on the inflation, on the numbers of those who have been killed or
wounded. It's going to be a million this month, russian soldiers killed or wounded.
So, there's -- the pressure cooker is on. So, adding to that pressure is indeed the right way. Because the history shows that the deals can be
struck at those moments when Russia's imperialistic goals are limited, when they are struck down, when they are pushed back, and Russia is not in that
type of strong man's position.
[14:40:00]
It's going to take time. It's not going to be immediate, but Russian economies stalling, sanctions are working, going after Russian money,
through oil income, gas income, through other natural resources exports, keeping money frozen that Russia has in European banks, and so on and so
forth, that is the way ahead. Because, again, that is the cheapest way from one hand, but also the most efficient way.
SOARES: Let me turn to Gaza, Foreign Minister, if I may, because today you would've seen these comments we heard from the European Commission,
President Ursula von Leyen, who said that there's really offensive in Gaza, her words was abhorrent. We've heard similar comments and similar language
from chancellor of Germany, Chancellor Merz. Then we've had the U.K., Canada, and France, as you well know, threatening to take concrete action.
And then we -- the E.U. says it's reviewing the blocks ties with Israel over its actions in Gaza, and this of course a trade and corporation
agreement. Where does Latvia stand on this?
BRAZE: We had a long conversation about the situation among the E.U. foreign ministers last week, and there's a lot of points that we all agree
on, which is on, indeed, Israel does have the right to sell defense after the 7th October attacks by Hamas. It does have the right to try to
eliminate Hamas military wing and to make sure that there is no threat to its security. But also, Israel does have obligations under international
humanitarian law.
And very clearly, at this time and place of happening, providing aid to women, children, vulnerable groups, to those suffering, and there are
hundred thousands of those, without risking the sort of empowering Hamas or anything is possible.
So, in our view, Israel should do everything possible to ensure that innocent people don't die. And that is how we believe and Israel's own
interest, because again, two-state solution will require a viable Palestinian State alongside Israel that lives in peace.
So, we genuinely believe we are one of the most pro-Israeli countries, big community here, also, big community there. And in the same time, quite
clearly, while defending Israel's right to defend herself, there is also an obligation under international humanitarian law not to damage those who are
suffering and who are innocent civilians.
SOARES: Foreign Minister, really appreciate you taking the time to speak to us. Thank you very much, Foreign Minister.
BRAZE: Thank you for having me.
SOARES: Still to come tonight, a compilation of 12 short stories in from passing the challenges facing women and girls in Southern India. That book
is now the winner of the International Booker Price. My conversation with Banu Mushtaq just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:45:00]
SOARES: Turning now to the literary, I should say that again. Let me fix that. Literary worlds with two big firsts for the International Booker
Prize. The first short story collection and the first winner originally written in Kannada.
This year's winner, "Heart Lamp," is a compilation of 12 stories penned over three decades by Banu Mushtaq and translated into English by Deepa
Bhasthi.
In her acceptance speech, Banu describes winning the award as much more than a personal achievement. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BANU MUSHTAQ, WINNER, INTERNATIONAL BOOKER PRIZE 2025: This book was born from the belief that no story is ever small, that in the tapestry of human
experience every threat holds the weight of the whole in a world that often tries to divide us, literature remains one of the lost, sacred spaces where
we can live inside each other's minds if only for a few pages.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: If only for a few pages. Well, Banu explained how the stories provide a snapshot into of everyday lives, as well as struggles of women
and girls in Southern India when she and her daughter joined me in the studio. Have a listen in.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MUSHTAQ: In those stories, I have challenged patriarchy and that the same patriarchy challenged me throughout my life. And the main quality of the
patriarchy is to subjugate the women and to see that she's surrendered to the system. That might be true system or artificial system created by each
and every patriarchal person.
So, an author, in every story, he'll not give her or his autobiography. Autobiography is a different form. But in a very creative work. Some of his
autobiographical element will be present there. That way throughout these stories, some of the autobiographical elements are present.
SOARES: I also read, Banu, that some of your writing has made you a target of hate.
MUSHTAQ: Yes.
SOARES: Can you speak to that?
MUSHTAQ: Yes, sure. During -- when I wrote my stories, Sahitya Academic, Karnataka Sahitya Academy it awarded my newly published short story
collection. At that time, a journalist came and interviewed me and he asked me, after the stories were discussed, he asked me personal question and a
political question, and he said Dalit people there, they're fighting for their rights to enter a temple in the same way Muslim women is not allowed
to go to mosque here in these places. Do you fight for the same Cause? He asked me.
Then I said, there is no need. In Islam, women is not prevented from entering into mosque. She's allowed. It is only the patriarchy which is
prohibiting her to enter the mosque. That's all. So, I need not fight against Islam. It is only the patriarchy and I have to take and I have to
dialog with that patriarchy told. That irritated some of the persons who were -- I mean, administrators of a mosque, and they declared a fatwa
against me saying, she's not among us. Her body cannot be buried into our graveyard, and she should not attend our social occasions like marriage, et
cetera, feast, et cetera, everything.
And when that was declared, there was some commotion in our state. And then, after three months, they took back the fatwa.
SOARES: The fatwa. Can I take a moment finally to bring your daughter into the conversation? I mean, this must be an incredible moment to see your
mother be awarded the International Booker Prize.
LUBNA HIJAB, DAUGHTER OF BANU MUSHTAQ: Yes.
SOARES: A woman who has placed so much defiance, who has stood up for women's rights.
HIJAB: Yes.
[14:50:00]
SOARES: A real fighter. Can you just give us what this means to you? I mean, growing up with your mom and every -- all the challenge she's faced
and the people that she's fought for along those years.
HIJAB: Yes, sure. And -- but mom, she has been an inspiration to all of us with three girls and a brother. And from our very young age, we have seen
her always in her activist hat. And when we are young, we have seen her participating in protest march, getting arrested, coming back in the
evening. So, she has always been a bit of a firecracker at home, and we have learned a lot from her. And one of the things that we have learned
from her is to be resilient, to imbibe that fighter spirit in us.
So, I think that has turned us into very strong women in our own ways. And we are very proud to have her as a mom.
SOARES: Firecracker in person, a firecracker of a book. Thank you very much, Banu. Thank you very much for coming on. Thank you.
HIJAB: Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: And our thanks Banu and her daughter Lubna there. And in the next edition of our Book Club, journalist, James Longman joins me with his
memoir, "The Inherited Mind: A Story of Family Hope and the Genetics of Mental Illness." He tells me how his own experience of depression spurred
him on to explore how his family's mental health might have impacted his own. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAMES LONGMAN, AUTHOR, "THE INHERITED MIND": My father had schizophrenia and he ended his life when I was nine. His brother also had schizophrenia.
The father, my grandfather, also ended his life, although, we're not clear on whether or not he had any diagnosis. My mother has clinical depression.
And I have had two pretty serious bouts of depression myself. And so, it was that -- that was the fundamental premise of the book. Do I get sad, do
I get depression because of the knowledge of this family history or was there something deeper than that? Is it written in my code? Was this
inevitable?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: A discussion you do not want to miss in our next Book Club. We're going to take a short break. We're back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: The band The All-American Rejects is a favorite for many millennials with hits like "Move Along" and others.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: And now, they're reaching Gen Z music lovers by going back to basics. In recent weeks, the band has played popups at universities of
campus parties, and even a house party in Chicago. The lead singer recently spoke CNN about the excitement of reaching out to a new generation. Have a
listen to this.
[14:55:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TYSON RITTER, THE ALL-AMERICAN REJECTS: We put 50 grand of our own money together and said, let's just take a bet on people coming. We are beside
ourselves. We are rocking and rolling right now, man. This the dream.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: This a dream. But we should note, there have been a few issues. Police in Missouri recently shut down one of the band's house parties for
lack of purpose. But you know, ingenuity and all that's really important.
While the pandemonia, I'm sorry, is finally over and thankfully so are my puns and they know how much I love these. Hong Kong's first locally born
giant pandas now have their new names, Jia Jia for the female and De De for the male. It was announced today at a ceremony held at the theme park where
they live with their parents.
The cubs' traditional monikers were picked out of more than 35,000 entries. Jia Jia and De De's mother, Yingying, became the world's oldest first-time
panda mom when the twins were born last August.
And that does it for this hour. Do stay right here though. I'll have much more coming out with "What We Know" next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:00:00]
END
