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Isa Soares Tonight

U.N. Calls For Investigation Over Shooting At Aid Distribution Center In Gaza; Ukraine Surprises Russia Again With Another Devastating Attack; Fears Heightened As Canada's Wildfire's Plumes Of Smoke Heads To Central And Eastern U.S.; Ukraine Strikes Bridge Connection Russia To Crimea; "Operation Spiderweb" Inflicts $7B In Damage; Erin Patterson Questioned For Second Day; Combs Paid $100,000 For Hotel Video. Aired 2-3p ET

Aired June 03, 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, Palestinians desperate for aid once

again come under fire as the U.N. calls for an urgent investigation. Ukraine pulls off a second stunning attack in just a few days, showing the

world, especially Washington, it's not letting down against Moscow.

Plus, more than 100 wildfires burning out of control in Canada as dangerous smoke streams across North America. But first, tonight, the U.N. says

Palestinians in Gaza have the grimmest of choices. Die from starvation or risk being killed while trying to access food. For the third straight day,

Palestinians heading for U.S.-Israeli-backed aid distribution site have come under fire.

Gaza's Health Ministry, as well as medics, say at least 27 people were killed today. The IDF says Israeli troops opened fire as several suspects

moved toward them, deviating from designated routes. This boy's mother was among those killed. A mother of eight, she was laid to rest today. One of

her other sons described what happened. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AHMED ZAIDAN, SON OF WOMAN KILLED WHILE WAITING FOR FOOD (through translator): We haven't eaten in two months. Everything has been under

siege. Of course, we were going to go get aid. Today, my mother was telling my brother, lean over, lower your head. Do what I'm doing. My brother

turned his head, and then a bullet went into her head.

We're supposed to be able to eat with dignity, we're supposed to receive aid without humiliation, without being disgraced.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: My goodness. Well, a doctor at a hospital treating injuries says other people were shot in the head as well, including the mouth, saying

their faces were smashed. The U.N. is calling for an immediate as well as independent investigation, warning the attacks directed at civilians are a

war crime. Palestinians say the aid sites have become death traps, luring people into militarized areas, instead, of course, of delivering food where

they are.

But the U.S.-Israeli-backed foundation running the handful of new sites says the model is working, and it says it has delivered more than 7 million

meals without a single incident. Those drops, there's a red dot there in your screen shows where those sites are and where the latest incident was,

is to the left of that map.

Well, Israel says it is not preventing Palestinians from accessing the aid sites, but instead is encouraging them to come. As we mentioned, Israel

says it fired at suspects today. A government spokesman insists troops do not target civilians. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID MENCER, SPOKESPERSON, GOVERNMENT OF ISRAEL: Our troops diligently issued warning shots, and as some of the suspects continued, despite these

warning shots advancing towards the troops in a threatening manner, further fire was directed near these specific individuals. The IDF is very much

aware of reports of casualties and is reviewing the incident.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: Dave Mencer speaking there. Let's bring in Jeremy Diamond in Jerusalem for more. And Jeremy, this is the kind of incident, to be quite

frank, that the U.N. has been warning about. Just talk us through what the IDF is saying, because of course, this is the third day of these fatal

shootings.

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right. This is indeed the third day in a row that Palestinians desperate to get a food aid

from this controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation site in southern Gaza. It is the third day in a row that they have now been fired upon by the

Israeli military, according to eyewitnesses on the ground.

Today, the Israeli military has indeed acknowledged that it did indeed open fire on Palestinians about a half a kilometer away from this aid site. They

insist, as you just heard from that Israeli spokesman, that there were individuals moving towards the troops in a threatening manner. They haven't

provided any evidence to back that up.

And what we know from the scene is that there were at least 27 people killed, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health and doctors, and

among them that there were certainly innocent civilians, including a mother of children.

[14:05:00]

You know, I saw one video of this boy crying over his mother's body, talking about the fact that she was just trying to get aid, food aid, to be

able to feed him and their family. As it relates to -- you know, Sunday's incident, we understand that the -- an Israeli military official

acknowledged to us that there was a shooting about a kilometer away from that distribution site, and that does indeed match despite the Israeli

military not officially acknowledging it.

That does indeed match with where Sunday's shooting took place as well. And as you mentioned, Isa, this is exactly what humanitarian aid officials have

been warning about. They said that if you make, you know, thousands of Palestinians walk several miles in some cases, in order to get to one of

the very few aid distribution sites, walking through dangerous declared combat zones by the Israeli military, walking through Israeli military

lines, that you are going to have the scenarios that we have seen unfold these past three days happen, and that is exactly what is unfolding.

SOARES: Indeed, and we are starting to hear the growing alarm even before this, of course, that the way this aid is being distributed, and now we're

hearing also, Jeremy, that a U.S. consulting firm which helped design and run the business operations of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has

withdrawn its team from the delivery program.

I mean, is this forcing the Israeli government at all to rethink this distribution? What more are you hearing on that front?

DIAMOND: No, the Israelis are very much standing by this distribution mechanism. We just heard today the Israeli military spokesman, you know,

touting this effort, minimizing the notion that Palestinian civilians have been killed while trying to get aid. And the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation

itself also doesn't appear to be changing course in any way.

And you know, initially, when this humanitarian foundation was set up, they very much made an emphasis on trying to establish themselves as independent

and autonomous. I interviewed Jake Wood; the executive director at the time, who has since resigned over a sense that he would not have the

autonomy that he needed.

And indeed, this last week and these last few days in particular have really shown us, A, how closely this foundation coordinates with the

Israeli military on the ground, how much they have been parroting Israeli military talking points about these various attacks. Just today, the Gaza

Humanitarian Foundation minimized this shooting that happened half a kilometer away from their aid site, suggesting that it was, you know, well

outside the bounds of where their aid site is distributing aid.

When the reality is, the only reason that people are in this area in the middle of the night at a very -- you know, dangerous location is because

this is the only aid site that GHF currently has operational, and they're only there in order to get aid from this site --

SOARES: Right --

DIAMOND: If not, they would be closer to their homes, they would be getting aid from UNRWA, from the World Food Program which distributes -- you know,

does what is known as last mile deliveries, you know, to ensure that Palestinians don't have to walk these long distances in dangerous

conditions to get fed.

SOARES: Jeremy Diamond laying it all out for us there. Thanks very much, Jeremy, as always, appreciate it. I want to bring in Dr. Tom Potokar,

British doctor who has volunteered multiple times in Gaza, and I believe he joins me now from Amman in Jordan. Doctor, great to have you back on the

show.

You and I spoke, I think it was mid-May or so. I know you're now in Amman, but give us a sense -- I don't know from my team how -- when you left Gaza.

But can you give us a sense just in the last few days what you have seen whilst you were there, as we get, you know, as we hear yet again of this

aid delivery and 27 -- at least 27 people killed after, of course, being warned multiple times by NGOs that this was perhaps going to happen.

TOM POTOKAR, BRITISH SURGEON WHO HAS VOLUNTEERED IN GAZA: Yes, thank you very much. I mean, I've just literally arrived in Amman, I was in Gaza this

morning, so, I've just left. And there's no doubt that the last three days, as we've just been hearing, there have been these repeated attacks on

people trying to access food and the situation when I first arrived a month ago with the team that I was with -- was already extremely dire and far

worse than I've ever seen it in Gaza before.

And it has just got increasingly worse over the last month. And this is a combination, of course, of the starvation and the -- you know, people are

absolutely desperate. And this is what happens when you're desperate. People are absolutely risking their lives.

[14:10:00]

I do think -- I mean, as we heard from your last report, this is three times now that this has occurred, and it's entirely disingenuous for the --

for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation to -- I mean, I saw yesterday, they said that everything went fine and there was no injuries and no deaths. You

know, I mean, this is frankly nonsense. You know, there's plenty of people that were there.

We were in the hospitals. There were other hospitals that were getting these patients. There were a lot deaths and there were a lot of injuries.

Whether they happened inside the compound or half a kilometer from it is irrelevant. It was clearly people that were going there to get food. And it

is -- you know, it is just one more tragedy on top of a -- you know, a really an apocalyptic situation.

SOARES: Yes, and, doctor, I believe you are at Nasser Hospital. Let me put this to you on this point, because I heard one of the government spoke --

the Israeli government spokesman speaking today, and I jotted down, he said, the accusations that they shot at the Palestinians -- accusations are

false and baseless, and that media is amplifying lies from Hamas. And let me put it to you. You were one of the doctors that -- in Nasser Hospital.

Can you tell us what kind of injuries you saw?

POTOKAR: So, the emergency department was absolute carnage. There was -- there was, you know, I can't give you an exact figure. I wasn't counting

the number of patients --

SOARES: Yes --

POTOKAR: Or anything. But -- yes, it was completely full. There was -- I think there were somewhere my intensive care colleague said, I think around

6 to 8 patients who were intubated, meaning a tube into the lungs to help their breathing in the emergency department. We had -- I was operating in

the department alongside, we had to stop our operating to enable emergency case to come in, which was a wound to the abdomen and chest that required

emergency surgery.

Then upstairs, all five operating theaters were running full block -- full pace. Three of them had what are called laparotomy. So, it's exploring the

abdomen for gunshot wounds. Another one was again a chest wound, and then one was a a leg wound with a vascular injury. And this was just in the sort

of short period, if you like, that I was in that area.

Then, you know, and this was -- this was going on at that time, and these patients had come from that event. Now, you know, those are facts. You

know, I can tell you that as facts. They were -- the patients there, I can't give you exact figures, but I have no reason to disbelieve the

figures of 28 or so dead, which is what I've heard, and somewhere between 150 to 200 wounded.

And I know, you know, they were going to other hospitals, and we've heard from the International Committee of the Red Cross, they've received

significant numbers in two mass casualty events in two days now at their hospital as well. So, you know, these are facts. These are facts from

people who are on the ground seeing it.

SOARES: And we are grateful that you are providing the facts very clearly for us this evening, doctor. As you heard from our correspondent, he was

saying that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is going to continue with its system despite, of course, the criticism and the loss of life. They are

going to continue delivering food the way that it's being done right now.

Do you -- do you -- can you speak from a hospital, from a doctor, as a doctor, a professional, have you seen any difference in terms of deliveries

that you are getting in, in terms of trucks being delivered? Have you seen an impact at all in your day-to-day job?

POTOKAR: No, not at all. But I mean, in terms of the food being delivered, you know, that's -- it's -- you know, even if it's a meal a day for a

family, you're not going to see any change in kind of chronic malnutrition that's been going on for months and months after a couple of days anyway.

And you know, when we were driving out today in the convoy, you know, every time we stopped people, were banging on the doors, you know, asking for

food, begging for food. People are still desperately hungry and starving there. And as I say, risking their lives on a daily basis to get -- to get

it.

And you know, I can only repeat what the U.N. --

SOARES: Yes --

POTOKAR: All humanitarian agencies have been saying, which was, you know, there was a system that was functioning extremely well beforehand, and that

is the system that should be used. It's based on evidence. It works and it doesn't have these extremely concerning side effects.

SOARES: Yes, and the U.N. saying today that Palestinians have to make the grimmest of choices, die from starvation or risk being killed while trying

to access this food. Incredibly dire indeed. I don't know how many times we can -- we can -- we can say this on the show. Dr. Tom Potokar, really

appreciate you taking the time to speak to us and thank you for your service, doctor.

POTOKAR: Thank you.

[14:15:00]

SOARES: Now, thank you. Now, the U.N. Agency for Palestinian Refugees says these scenes that we are seeing on our screens, on our phones, if these are

not enough to prompt action from the world, then we are lost. We're joined now by UNRWA Communications Director Julia Touma, she's live in Amman.

Julia, great to have you back on the show, I'm not sure whether you were able to hear Dr. Tom Potokar there, very clearly laying out what he has

seen in the last few days.

Of course, at Nasser Hospital. We really goes to show very clear language that, you know, this food distribution method is not working. Like you told

me a couple of weeks ago, like repeatedly, agencies of aid agencies have been telling me.

JULIETTE TOUMA, COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, UNRWA: No, it's not working. It's bringing havoc --

SOARES: Yes --

TOUMA: And it's as if you're inviting people for their own death. The third incident, very high number of casualties, including injured and killed

people and the doctor's testimony, which I have heard, sums it up.

SOARES: And Julia, when, you know, when you hear the IDF saying that, you know, this has to be done this way to try and make sure that Hamas does not

steal the food. What is your gun? What is your -- what is your answer to that -- to that response? Is there any proof that Hamas is stealing food

here?

TOUMA: When did the Israeli army become an expert in the delivery of humanitarian aid? We know how to do this. We have been doing this for

decades on end in Gaza, and in many other crisis, conflict situation and context, we deliver aid directly to people who need it most. We've not had

aid diversion especially in particular not to armed Palestinian groups.

We need to get evidence enough with claims and claims and claims and spreading disinformation. Enough with that. People are being killed.

They're being trapped in a death point begging for food. That's not how aid should be distributed. This is not how we do it.

SOARES: Yes, well, you had a system in place that worked perfectly over many years. That is clear. This is clearly not working, 20 -- at least, 27

people dead and dozens injured. And they say, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, Julia, say is going to continue. They're going to continue with

the system which really just -- really makes me think that this is going to be -- we had three consecutive days of attacks.

We might continue to see this or hope it doesn't, of course. But as you were talking, we were playing video of some men -- I think it was mostly

men, who had gone to these sites carrying food sacks in their back, the other concern, and I remember you telling me, there we go, I think it's

mostly men. I remember you telling me this, Julia, I think it was last week or the week before, that the problem is, so many people can't get to these

distribution sites.

So many people won't have access to this food. This is a huge concern, and parts of the population just don't have access to it.

TOUMA: Precisely so. I mean, this model is flawed. You have on the one hand only a limited number of people, mostly young men who would be able to make

that very long journey. So, that excludes women. It includes people with disabilities. It excludes people who are injured. But also, how will this

so-called aid foundation vouch for the aid it is distributing and make sure it doesn't go to Hamas?

Do they have any monitoring mechanisms? Why is this better than the United Nations system that delivered directly across 400 areas of distribution to

people in need directly? How come this is better?

SOARES: And they haven't, because our journalists has put that very question to them, and we've got no response on that clarity. This is

something that we have been asking for some more transparency, and we have not gained so far. Juliette Touma, as always, appreciate it. Thanks,

Juliette. Now, we turn to Europe because political chaos is unfolding in the Netherlands.

The Dutch Prime Minister has stepped down from his post after the leader of the far-right Freedom Party toppled the country's governing coalition over

immigration policy. Geert Wilders says a lack of support from other government members for strict asylum reform is why his party is withdrawing

support for the most right-leaning government in Dutch history.

The party's move means the Netherlands will likely have new elections in the coming months. I'll have more on that story on the next hour right here

on CNN.

[14:20:00]

Well, exactly six months after it was plunged into chaos under martial law, South Korea has a new President. Liberal Democrat Lee Jai-Myung is on track

to win the country's presidential election. Kim Moon-soo, if you remember, the ruling conservative party conceded a short time ago, official results

have not yet been announced. Here's the President-elect just a short time ago. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEE JAI-MYUNG, PRESIDENT-ELECT, SOUTH KOREA (through translator): I will uphold the mission of fully overcoming the insurrection, and ensure that a

military coup that threatens people with weapons would never happen again. I will work to restore democracy in this country, to build a society where

our citizens are respected as sovereigns, and a society where we live together not with hatred and hostility, but with cooperation and

solidarity.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: Well, last December, Democratic lawmakers pushed past police into the legislature and voted to block the decree declaring martial law from

then President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was soon impeached. And still to come tonight, while Ukraine leans into new technology, Russian forces advance

within range of a major city. We'll have the very latest details on that.

Plus, smoke from out-of-control wildfires in Canada pours south, heading for central as well as eastern parts of the U.S. Details just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SOARES: Welcome back everyone. Air quality is taking a hit in parts of the central as well as eastern United States. The smoke from out-of-control

wildfires in Canada pours south. More than a 100 wildfires continue to rage across Canada, all the way from British Columbia to Ontario.

Two provinces are facing the worst blazes, forcing thousands to leave their homes over the past week. Now, a plume of dust from Africa's Sahara Desert

is tracking west across the Atlantic Ocean, which could mix, of course, with the wildfire smoke to deteriorate the air quality even further. Paula

Newton is keeping track of everything for us and joins us now. More than a 100 wildfires, Paula, that is incredibly concerning. Just bring us up to

date with the very latest.

PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And those are just the ones that are uncontained, Isa. I mean, at last count, I just looked at the website, more

than 200 fires burning in Canada at this point. Again, on track to be unfortunately quite a serious and critical wildfire season again here in

Canada.

[14:25:00]

We have more than 25,000 people who have been evacuated, Isa, already. The Emergency Preparedness Minister here in Canada was just out with some new

measures, making sure that those evacuees are taken care of once they get evacuated, but also, the military has been helping for several days to try

and get some of those residents who are stranded to safety.

I mean, to say that the situation is critical, self-evident, right? We are at the highest risk level here in Canada. Risk five. And you see that

smoke, that pervasive smoke now with gusty winds coming in the next few days, that smoke will again push further into the United States and also

further east. It's not inconceivable that it would make its way to Europe at some point.

But I confess, Isa, every time we go through this in every season, I just get a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach because it is indicative of how

much is burning out of control. So, think about it, at this hour, right now, burning in Canada is a mass half the size of Switzerland, and that is

just this year. I will point out as well that study after study has concluded that these wildfires are worse, perhaps as much as two times

worse, because of the differences in climate change over the past few decades.

Look, North America has been talking for a long time about having a standing force, a standing wildfire force that would be able to deploy to

the United States, Canada or Mexico. Nothing yet. There is some help coming, though, from the United States to Canada. Again, many people

wondering if their communities will survive at this hour, and as you indicated, that smoke will now affect so many people right across the

continent.

Again, pushing as far south as Georgia and Florida and then out into the northeast.

SOARES: And also, I mean, it looks and poses no doubt some risk, health risks, of course, to many people. But speak, Paula, to just the scale as

well as the complexity of trying to evacuate so many people.

NEWTON: We had a situation just a few -- a few days ago, 2,300 people. So, think about it. So, you've got --

SOARES: Yes --

NEWTON: Twenty-three hundred people, families, elderly, babies in this community, absolutely stranded, no way to get out, smoke in the air, so the

airport was closed. You couldn't get out that way. And so, the military had to be called in, and seeing some of the footage that have been put out by

the government of Canada here, you can see that even Chinook helicopters, large helicopters that are used to move troops in wartime, you know, these

pilots really, what they have to navigate to be able to get on the ground, get people in those large helicopters and then away.

Just absolutely critical evacuations going on at this hour. I'm glad to report that those 2,300 are now out. But new evacuation orders continue to

pop up in Canada. They need rain, Isa, they got some cooler temperatures, but they need rain. Forecast looking OK over the next few days, but cooler,

a little bit more rain, but they need the deluge, which right now is still not in the forecast.

SOARES: Stay safe everyone, Paula, appreciate it. Thank you very much. Paula will stay across this story for you. And still to come tonight, could

this be the turning point for the war? We'll take a look at Ukraine's latest surprise attack on Russian forces. Our Nic Robertson joins me after

this short break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:31:51]

SOARES: Welcome back, everyone. In the last 48 hours, Ukraine security service has managed to blindside Moscow. Its latest attack, striking the

bridge that connects Russian -- Russia to Crimea. As you can see that's the Kerch Bridge.

I want you to have a look at this moment when the SBU claims a detonated explosives planted underwater. This bridge serves as a critical supply

route for Moscow's military and symbolizes Russian President Vladimir Putin's objective to bind the Ukrainian peninsula to Russia. And it comes

after Kyiv's daring drone attacks, if you remember, on Sunday, which caused an estimated $7 billion in damages.

Even with the morale boost, Ukraine still faces growing losses on the frontlines.

And there you see emergency crews in northern city -- in the northern city of Sumy rushing to help the wounded. Ukrainians officials say today's

Russian rocket attack as killed at least four people. Let's discuss all of this with our Nic Robertson who joins me here in the studio.

Nic, just put the latest developments we've seen in perspective for our viewers, and let's start right here in Crimea, and in particular, if we go

to the next map on the Kerch Bridge. Because we know how important that is for the Russian supply chain, of course, supplying military weapons, of

course, to the war and what it means for Russia. What do we know? What is your understanding of what occurred here, and the planning it took to get

to do something like this?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Well, months in the process of making it happen, the third time Ukraine has hit the bridge, the

first time it hit this bridge, it tried to blow up the roadway. It's a road and rail bridge, 12 miles long, cost $3.7 billion to build. Hugely

important for Vladimir Putin when he illegally annexed Crimea in 2014, the first thing he did was build that bridge. Of course, in 2022, he took this

whole land corridor. So, the bridge became slightly less important, but it's still vital to quickly get military supplies from Russia into Crimea,

which is a sort of a bridgehead, if you will, a forward launching point for Russia's war in Ukraine.

But as I say, the first time they hit the bridge, they tried to blow up the roadway. The second time they did it by sea drones hitting it at sea level.

This time they tried something different to blow up those big concrete columns that hold the bridge up. There's sort of nine meters of water. They

used 1,100 kilograms of explosives.

SOARES: Wow.

ROBERTSON: Because they absolutely refuse that Russia is going to continue to annex and hold Crimea. That's a red line for them. And they're trying to

find ways to disconnect it.

SOARES: Disconnect. And this comes on the heels, of course, of attack, that surprise attack by Ukraine. If we bring up the map of where it hit a

hundred or so, some a hundred drones, I believe. Just some of the Ukraine targets in military bases in Russia. You know, put this in context with the

bridge just now. Is this -- you know, in terms of damage, what is the message that Ukraine is trying to send to, not just to Russia, by the way,

but also to the West, to President Trump?

[14:35:00]

ROBERTSON: Yes. Look, I think President Zelenskyy has two people who he is playing this message for, if you will. Look here, Ukraine has done

something the Russians would never have expected from over 400 kilometers away, been able to target bases and the Spiderweb's drone attacked, these

drones that were hidden inside huts that the lids popped open, the drones came out, didn't have to fly far, hit these strategic bombers, almost one-

third of Russia's strategic bomb capability, which is a big problem for Ukraine, intercepting those -- the missiles that come from those planes.

But, you know, message to Vladimir Putin that Ukraine can supply -- surprise Russia. Russia can grind away at the frontline. You were talking

about Sumy today? Russia's making small, small incremental gains. Can shell the center of the city. But Ukraine can put real significant damage. So,

strategic strikes there, strategic strike on the coast base.

For Trump, the message is very clear. President Trump has said, well, you don't have any cards.

SOARES: Well, clearly --

ROBERTSON: He's saying, we've got cards to play. We are in the game. And the fact that these come hard on the heels of each other right now, Trump

is in a position of having to decide, well, Putin is not going for the ceasefire that he wants. So, what's his next move? And Ukraine is clearly

signaling to him, we are strong, we are in the game. Don't give into Russia at this moment.

SOARES: We still have cards to play, especially with NATO summit taking place. I want to go to the eastern front -- the map of eastern front.

Because, of course, we've seen these bold attacks by Ukraine, in Crimea as well on the Kerch Bridge, but we also know that this continues to drag on,

where is the movement? How much has that frontline moved?

ROBERTSON: The place that it seems to be moving fastest at the moment is sort of up around here in the Sumy region, which is close to the Kerch area

in Russia that Ukraine had taken but got pushed out of. And now, Russia is pushing in towards the town of Sumy.

Now, there's a forest between them and the town. So, they may not be able to sort of take the town, but what they can do is make life for the people

that live there absolutely miserable. Not because they have to use drones or they have to use long-range missiles. It's now in artillery range.

When I looked at the video, the people and the cars that were shelled in the city early this morning, the people killed and injured, reminded me so

much of the siege of Sarajevo in the 1990s where the aggressor sits on the hills nearby and just shells into the city and turns it into a miserable

place for the population, even if they can't take it.

So, this is psychological, it's a war of attrition, and that's one of the places where Russia's made the most land gains, about 30 square kilometers

in the past couple of weeks. It's slow. It's grinding. But the obvious conclusion is Ukraine isn't able to hold it back. It is grinding, grinding,

grinding forward.

SOARES: And trying to put pressure all the other ways as well as we've seen. Nic, appreciate it. Thank you very much.

Well, my next guest is the former U.S. ambassador to NATO, Kurt Volker. He joins us now from Barcelona in Spain. Ambassador, wonderful to have you

back on the show. Let me start really with what Nic Robertson, our diplomatic correspondent, which is saying, and this is attack on the Kerch

bridge. A bridge that, as Nic was saying, you know, is a prestige project of the Russian president. What do you make of this attack by Ukraine and

the covert attacks that we have been seeing in the last few days?

KURT VOLKER, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO NATO: Well, I think that this is something that the Ukrainians have wanted to do for a long time, getting

the means to do it and do it effectively has been difficult. But they seem to have had a good strike today. As Nic pointed out, it's the third time

they've attacked this bridge. It is an effort by Vladimir Putin to connect Crimea to Russia as though it is part of the Russian Federation. And it's

also a vital supply route. So, knocking this out has been important to Ukraine from the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

And the other thing is, as you connect to the attacks over the weekend on the Russian air bases, this is indeed important for Ukraine to demonstrate

right now that they have cards, they are able to do things in this war that matter to Russia. So, it is not all one sided. So, when we talk about a

ceasefire and a settlement and where things go, people should not be writing off Ukraine's agency in this.

SOARES: Indeed. And I think Nic made that very critical point. It's not just the physical damage, of course, and the cost, but the message it

sends, Ambassador, not just to Russia, but also to western allies, in particular, to President Trump.

What do you think that message is then to President Trump? Is it, we still have some cards? We are still in the game? Don't, you know, cut us out just

yet?

VOLKER: Well, I think it's a couple of things. I think that's part of it, is that we, Ukrainians are still capable and we can do things here. So,

don't write us off.

SOARES: Yes.

[14:40:00]

VOLKER: It's also a message that we understand that Putin is not accepting our calls for a ceasefire. We, Ukraine and the United States, we are in

alignment calling for an immediate ceasefire. But because Russia is not accepting that, we will go ahead and take out some of those Russian assets.

SOARES: So, where then does this leave? You know, clearly may carry -- I'm guessing it may carry some weight when it comes to those negotiations, you

know, holding your ground, stating that Ukraine still has some cards despite of what we heard, of course, in that meeting with President

Zelenskyy at the White House. Where then does this leave the negotiating position? Because, you know, President Putin continues to drag his feet,

continues to demand extreme requirements, of course, maximalist position. It hasn't shifted. So, where does that leave that negotiate -- the

negotiations here?

VOLKER: Right. That is exactly right. Russia has never been and is not now serious about negotiating. We shouldn't have any illusions. They may send a

few low-level diplomats to Istanbul to read out what people in the Kremlin have written, but there is no serious effort to negotiate an end to the

war. So, we just need to be clear about that.

The only way we get to that point where Russia might be serious is to put significantly more pressure on Russia. So, that they are not able to

continue the war, and that's both military and financial, especially as it affects the state budget, oil revenue, gas revenue. And that's what these

secondary sanctions that people are talking about would be aimed at.

So, that is what we make these negotiations serious. Until then, it is very important for Ukraine to keep showing that we can hit you if we want to.

Therefore, you had better start getting serious.

SOARES: So, where does this leave then President Trump? What does he do now? Because the last time you and I spoke you -- I remember -- you can

correct me if I'm wrong, I remember you telling me there ought to be a tactic of diplomacy, of course. President Trump pushing for President Putin

to come to negotiating table, but also having the political in terms of policy, Congress, trying to push through some support, further support for

Ukraine. Are you still in that belief or do you think that President Trump ought to be applying sanctions here?

VOLKER: Well, I still believe that, and I think we are closer to that day. So, we have now legislation sponsored by Senator Lindsey Graham and Senator

Blumenthal that would impose strict sanctions on the secondary actors, secondary sanctions. So, that those who are helping Russia to evade the

primary sanctions would themselves be sanctioned and thereby drying up the well of people who are willing to do that. That is already happening.

And Senator Graham, who's a Republican, would not be pushing this if he didn't have a green light already from the White House. So, I think he has

President Trump's tolerance or acceptance that you go ahead and do this, you deliver 80 plus votes, and then that strengthens Trump's hand in

negotiation saying, look, I got the Senate and the House pushing this. It's going to happen. Vladimir, you need to stop this war. So, it is both going

to happen in the Congress and it also strengthens Trump's position in negotiations.

SOARES: Ambassador Kurt Volker, as always, appreciate your insight analysis. Thank you, Ambassador. Good to see you.

VOLKER: Thank you.

SOARES: And still to come tonight, new revelations in what's called the mushroom murder trial. The woman accused of killing her in-laws takes the

stand once again. We have the very latest, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:45:00]

SOARES: Erin Patterson appearing as a witness for her own defense in Australia. She is accused of killing three of her estranged husband's

relatives by serving them poisonous mushrooms at a firmly lunch. Patterson was on the stand for a second day. CNN affiliate, Seven Network's Estelle

Griepink has more from outside the courthouse in Morwell, Australia.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ESTELLE GRIEPINK, SEVEN NETWORK: Well, it's been a big day of evidence here in the Morwell courts in Victoria where Erin Patterson has been giving

evidence in the witness stand for her own triple murder trial. She has just told the jury that she accepts there must have been death cap mushrooms in

the lunch she served to four family members back in 2023.

She has also told the jury that she picked up the habit of foraging wild mushrooms back during the 2020 pandemic lockdowns and that she had taken to

drying mushrooms in a dehydrator, and then adding those mushrooms to a container that's sometimes already contained other dried mushroom.

Now, Erin Patterson has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one of attempted murder relating to this lunch. Her defense team have long

maintained that this was a tragic accident. Now, other evidence that we have heard today in court includes that Erin Patterson now admits that she

did not have ovarian cancer. That's after the jury was told that she invited those four lunch guests over to her home to share a health

diagnosis. But today, she said she has never had ovarian cancer.

Other things we heard from the accused triple murderer include an explanation of why she has a mistrust of the health system. She also spoke

about her relationship with her in-laws who she's accused of murdering. She said that they treated her like a daughter-in-law and still loved her even

after her marriage with their son, Simon Patterson, broke down.

So, Erin Patterson is expected back in the witness stand tomorrow for another day of evidence. It's been a highly anticipated murder trial here

in Australia, and certainly, one that a lot of international media have also been paying attention to.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES: Our thanks to Estelle from Seven Network there. Well, Portuguese police have launched a new search for clues in the disappearance of

Madeleine McCann. The British toddler went missing in 2007 when her family was on vacation in the country. Officers are combing through Portugal's

southern Algarve region looking for traces of McCann. German authorities requested the search. They've named Christian Brueckner as a suspect in the

three-year old's disappearance. The search areas is close to where Brueckner used to live. He is in a German jail for the rape of a woman in

the area. Brueckner has denied any involvement in McCann's disappearance.

A former hotel security officer was on the stand in the Sean Diddy Combs sex trafficking trial today. Eddie Garcia said Combs gave him a hundred

thousand dollars in exchange for the infamous hotel surveillance tape, which showed him beating his ex-girlfriend. Garcia then split the money

with his colleagues. A former head of the Combs' enterprises finance department also testified, saying assistance carried cash for Combs. Sean

Combs is accused of charges that include racketeering and sex trafficking. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

And still to come tonight, it's the moment bird watchers have been waiting for. The famous bald eaglet has left the nest. We'll show you the big

moment. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:50:00]

SOARES: After weeks of anticipation, Sunny, the bald eaglet, has officially left the nest. Friends of Big Bear Valley set up these popular webcams and

we've been pair -- we've seen parents, Jackie and Shadow, take care of the eaglets as they have grown. And then on Monday, the cameras captured

Sunny's big first flight. Here's Joy Benedict from my sister station, KCAL, KCBS.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOY BENEDICT, KCAL KCBS REPORTER (voice-over): It is a moment every parent knows is coming as Sunny, one of Big Bear's most famous eagles spread her

wings, took a step and soared.

CHRISTOPHER SANDEN (PH): I couldn't believe my eyes.

BENEDICT (voice-over): Christopher Sanden (ph) was at this park in (INAUDIBLE), binoculars ready when it happened.

SANDEN (PH): It's kind of epitome for everybody's life, you know, just something I really look forward to. Take the jump, take the risk, and let

her rip.

BENEDICT (voice-over): In fact, bird watchers have been flooding this tiny park for weeks, hoping for an in-person peak at Jackie and Shadow and their

two Eaglets, Sunny and Gizmo. But most have been watching online to see them fly.

BENEDICT: Is it wrong that I'm sad?

SANDY STEERS, FRIENDS OF BIG BEAR VALLEY: No, I feel the same thing. It's like I'm celebrating and at the same time it's like, oh, you're going.

You're really going.

BENEDICT (voice-over): Sandy Steers is one of the original bird watchers up here and founder of Friends of Big Bear Valley, which got the nest cams

installed years ago. She says this year has been the most popular by far because it has been nonstop eagle excitement for months. Three eggs instead

of two. All of them hatching and then one dying in a snowstorm. All leading up to this moment.

BENEDICT: Always the big fear is she's going to spread her wings and fall.

STEER: Right? Yes.

BENEDICT: But she didn't do that.

STEER: No, she didn't. She spread her wings and she was feeling something. And all of a sudden, she jumped and went for it.

BENEDICT (voice-over): And even though this was the first flight for Sunny, she is still nearby.

STEERS: Flew around to the roost tree that Jackie and Shadow like to be on.

BENEDICT: Does this mean that she's never coming back?

STEERS: Not necessarily. It could mean that, but usually they come back and they -- that's their home base. And so, they know to get food there if they

get lost.

BENEDICT (voice-over): Even after Gizmo takes off too, the eaglets are expected to stick around for a few more weeks, which has eagle watchers

even more excited.

REGGIE QUINTANA, BIRD WATCHER: So, I'm hoping to see him fly even down to the water to teach them how to hunt, you know, and get their stuff, how to

be an eagle.

BENEDICT (voice-over): But we know eventually they will go, leaving Jackie and shadow the lake and the nest behind and finally ending our bird's eye

view of our favorite feathered family.

BENEDICT: We don't know if we'll ever see them again.

STEER: We don't. No and it's -- that's why it's so sad and so happy all at the same time.

[14:55:00]

BENEDICT: I guess that's why they call it empty nest syndrome.

STEER: I think that's it. Yes.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES: Not exactly. And Jackie and Shadow, the parents, must be absolutely thrilled and excited to see Sunny fly away. That must be beautiful.

Well, from cute little animals to ones you probably don't see every day. You might think this video of a zebra or zebra is straight out a safari,

but the truth isn't so black and white. This runaway zebra is actually in Tennessee on the loose in Rother County after its owners acquired it just

one day earlier, according to local media. Reports said on Monday that the animal is still unaccounted for.

And finally, if you are thinking about the throwing out that old cheese, you know, the one right at the back of your fridge. Well, think again, the

record for the oldest wheel of Parmesan cheese has officially been broken. There is a record, as you know. And it is, for those of you wondering, it

must be yucky, it's still edible. The winning wheel is an incredible 27 years old and weighs 36 kilograms, but this Italian cheese is no cheap eat.

As you can imagine, it's estimated to cost a whopping. $22,000. Hey, but it's Reggiano Parmigiano. You pay for that, right? It's fantastic.

That does it for us for this hour. Do stay right here. I'll be back with what we know next. I'll see you again in just a few minutes.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:00:00]

END