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Isa Soares Tonight
President Trump Defends Sending Troops To Los Angeles; Austria Reels From Deadly School Shooting; Russia Unleashes Drone Assault On Kyiv and Odesa; Russia's War On Ukraine; UK Sanctions Two Israeli Minister; Colombia Tensions. Aired 2-3p ET
Aired June 10, 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 show, everyone, I'm Isa Soares. Tonight, President Trump ramps up military
presence in Los Angeles as anti-ICE rally spread across the country. One L.A. business owner tells me of the fear he is seeing among his workers.
We'll bring you that story.
Then Austria reels from a deadly school shooting after a former student kills ten and then shoots himself. We'll bring you the very latest. Plus,
Russia ups its attacks on Ukraine, including a strike on a maternity hospital ward. I'll speak live with a Ukrainian parliament member, Oleksiy
Goncharenko.
But tonight, we begin in Los Angeles where the situation is calm for now. But more protests are expected later today after the sweeping raids made by
U.S. immigration agents. And that is after President Donald Trump activated 2,000 additional National Guard troops as well as dispatched 700 Marines to
the city.
Still unclear this hour how many people have been detained and whether any of them have been deported. This hour, the President, who earlier appeared
to confirm his aggressive immigration crackdown, will continue in cities right across the country, will arrive at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, and
he'll kick off a week of celebrations marking the U.S. Army's 250th birthday, capped off by a massive military parade scheduled for Saturday in
Washington that happens to coincide with his birthday.
Well, just a short time ago, Mr. Trump defended his controversial decision to deploy the National Guard to L.A. and send in Marines without the
consent of California Governor Gavin Newsom. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Marines is -- a lot of people think, an escalatory step, though. These are guys who fight wars. Are you at all concerned that
things could get out of hand with Marines --
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: When I see people --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In an American city --
TRUMP: Throwing concrete into cars, when I see people -- the kind of people that I saw on your network doing danger to the police and to the military
and to the National Guard, no, it's OK. You know, you start running out of people when you have 2,000 people from the National Guard standpoint.
We have a very big military, but the National Guard, they needed a little extra help, and we sent them a little -- and we did a great job last night.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, state and local officials, meanwhile, including the Los Angeles police chief, say there was absolutely no need for military force,
and will only cause chaos. Our security correspondent Josh Campbell joins us now from Los Angeles. But first, I want to go to our Kevin Liptak, who
is at the White House.
And Kevin, we did hear -- we played a little clip there, we did hear from President Trump in the last hour or so, pretty much from what I heard,
doubling down on his decision to send in the National Guard and the Marines. Just walk us through what he said and the message that he tried to
send to those protesting, Kevin.
KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Right, I think you're hearing a variety of different things from the President today and over the
course of the last 24 hours. On the one hand, he wants to make the case that what he's done has brought calm to Los Angeles. He says, today, I
stopped violence in L.A., essentially taking credit for a calming of tensions in that city.
On the other hand, you still hear the President using the term insurrection, insurrectionist, trying to claim that's what's happening in
Los Angeles amounts essentially to a rebellion that would warrant some of these most extreme steps that he has taken, namely, deploying the Marines
and the National Guard over the objections of Gavin Newsom.
And so, I think you hear the President saying a variety of different things. It's that word insurrectionist that has caught so many people's
ears here in Washington. It has raised the question of whether the President will eventually invoke the 1807 law, the Insurrection Act, which
would greatly expand his ability to deploy military on domestic soil.
He stopped short of that so far, but there are sort of active conversations inside the West Wing about potentially taking that step which would be a
dramatic escalation even beyond what we've already seen. It's something that the President actually mused about doing during his first term in
office, but he was essentially talked out of it by his military officials at the time.
[14:05:00]
All of those guardrails no longer exist. The people who surround President Trump this time around are very much on board with some of his hard-line
agenda, and are not going to talk him out of this. And I think it just goes to show how this situation could potentially escalate even further as the
President identifies cities around the country where protests could potentially rise up, and where he could potentially do similar things to
what he's doing in Los Angeles.
SOARES: And was he pushed Kevin on that, on the insurrection -- on the Insurrection Act? Was he pushed on that at all by any journalists?
LIPTAK: Yes, I mean, he was asked what exactly he would define as --
SOARES: Yes --
LIPTAK: An insurrection that would lead him to sign this. But he has been very vague. He's been asked this at multiple points over the last 48 hours
or so, and he hasn't necessarily defined for the general public what an insurrection would actually look like in his own view. And so, I think he's
probably intentionally keeping his cards close to the vest in some ways as he leaves this option on the table.
On the other hand, you know, this would be a politically explosive move by the President. He's very cognizant of the fact that this would be a step
that would draw all sorts of reaction, potentially even from Republicans on Capitol Hill in opposition. It's not a step that he has wanted to take just
yet, but he's certainly reserving it as a possibility going forward.
SOARES: Stay with us, Kevin, let me go to Josh. So, Josh, just give us a sense really, not just of the mood right now and from those you're talking
to in L.A., but also, you know, what you're getting, how this is all being received in the National Guard, the Marines. How is that being received
there?
JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, if we start with local law enforcement, what the local police chief here in Los Angeles has said is
that the arrival of these troops, particularly U.S. Marines coming here, risk creating massive confusion and potential danger if there isn't maximum
communication between these different agencies.
Kevin just mentioned there that the President has been vague on what an insurrection is. He's also been vague on what the rules of engagement are
for these troops that are coming here to L.A., and any type of military operation. It's just a basic component that, yes, the troops have to know
when can we actually use force against the public?
In this case, it would be potentially using force against fellow American citizens. The White House hasn't said what those rules are, and we're
hearing from local police here as well, they don't know what the rules are. And so, again, that could create a very volatile situation if you do have
an instance where there's a violent protest, police are possibly trying to de-escalate.
If the military has a whole different set of rules of engagement, things could -- you know, that could be a recipe for disaster. And so, that's what
we're hearing from law enforcement circles, and of course, local politicians here in L.A. continue to tell us that they think the very
presence of military forces in L.A. is somewhat provocative and actually could fuel these protests even longer.
SOARES: A lot of vagueness, it seems, going around. But Josh, on that point that you were making in terms of the rules of engagement, is there any
coordination between the Marines, the National Guard, the Los Angeles police? How are they engaged? Do they -- do they communicate with each
other on this?
CAMPBELL: They do. We understand that there's now what's called a unified command, and that's all the different various police agencies here in L.A.
that have been addressing the nightly protests downtown. On the federal side, the National Guard troops actually fall under the President right
now. And for our viewers, every state in America has its own National Guard that reports to a governor.
What President Trump has done here now is federalize those forces against the will of local leaders here. And so, they're all operating under a
federal framework. So, we expect that there will be additional coordination. The problem here that we're hearing from local law
enforcement is that it's not enough just to have good enough communication.
It has to be maximum communication. Each side has to know exactly what they're doing, where their troops are, where officers are, what their rules
are, what their policies are as far as how they can actually engage with the public. Again, we've seen dark periods in the history of this country
where you did have military forces opening fire on protesters and rioters and the like, and thankfully, that's been rare. But that is front of mind
for security officials here. They don't want to see a repeat of something like that.
SOARES: Thank you very much, Josh Campbell, appreciate. Kevin Liptak, I want to actually want to go directly to Los Angeles because the mayor of
Los Angeles is speaking right now, speaking to reporters. Let's have a listen.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Talk to us about their concerns about just protecting their businesses --
MAYOR KAREN BASS, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Absolutely, yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And some of you even said, could we get even the National Guard to protect us? Your thoughts on that?
BASS: Well, first of all, again, the National Guard's mission is to protect the federal building. I -- that's why I said that we're in discussion as to
whether or not there should be a curfew, all of those things will help their business.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right here in the room.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you very much. Mayor Bass, obviously, you brought up border czar Tom Homan. He's always admonished sanctuary cities.
[14:10:00]
I'm wondering if you feel as if Los Angeles is being targeted because of this sanctuary city. And in that same vein, if you have a message for
Boston, Denver, Chicago, who could experience the exact same thing you're going through right now here in the city of L.A.?
BASS: Well, first of all, you know, the state of California is a sanctuary state. So, this could have happened basically to any of the cities. Now
cities, some have adopted the policy, but it is state policy. And so, yes, my concern with those cities that you named is look out, this could happen
to you. And if I'm not mistaken, at least, a couple of those cities, I think it's Denver and Boston have already been hauled in to congressional
hearings.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Final question today.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know you said that your office has not been given a heads-up about these raids. We were hearing reports yesterday that ICE went
to Exposition Park yesterday and took the street vendors into custody. This is a public property. The city has a swimming pool there. Can either you or
your staff tell us what you know about this? Is it in fact true?
And if it is true, what cautions is the city taking to safeguard the public at Exposition Park or any other public facility at this point?
BASS: Well, Dave, one of the yes, we did know about it, like anything else when it was occurring, we knew about it. Well, just what you said. I mean,
I had the same information -- I have as well that street vendors were arrested, that they went in and arrested or detained street vendors. But in
terms of what the city can do to protect public properties, you know, that we have no idea where they're going.
We would not have the capacity to have LAPD at every public facility. And so, I was in a room yesterday, yesterday morning, meeting with the
Immigrant Rights Organizations, and all of a sudden, everybody's cell phones started blowing up. That's when we all heard about a raid that was
taking place in Whittier.
So, part of the uncertainty and the instability that this creates is that we don't know. It's kind of like whack-a-mole. So, if the city hears of
something, they will go to it, but you know, there is no capacity that we could monitor all of the public facilities.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But the -- for just -- for our understanding, for example, if ICE shows up at the city side, the Aquatic Center or whatever,
does the city ask them to produce a warrant? Should they ask if they have a warrant to go on to the property?
BASS: Well, we can ask that. But at the end of the day, you know, it would be very difficult for city staff to tell armed ICE agents that they can't
come in somewhere. Nick -- oh, I'm sorry, I'm going to call on you --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, the military is right now -- oh, I was just going to say, yes, the federal military is now confined. What would be the
implications if they step beyond the federal building protection? And what would you tell those troops to think about before they took an order, or if
they were ordered to do something like that?
BASS: Well, I don't think -- I don't think I'm going to tell them. What I would tell them is go back and guard the building. That's what I would tell
them. But obviously, I have no authority over federal troops.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But what would be the implications for the city if --
BASS: Well, the implication -- it depends on what they would do. Again, there's nothing happening. So, if they wanted to just march up and down the
street, then that's one thing. But there's nothing going on right now. And when there is something going on, our law enforcement has the capacity to
address it. Yes, wrap us up.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I want to ask you about the Australian journalist who was shot earlier this week with a rubber bullet. The Australian Prime
Minister has spoken with the Trump administration about the incident. But I wanted to know, how do you feel about foreign media workers being hit like
this, impacted like this on the streets of your city?
BASS: Well, I mean, I think it's terrible. I think it sends a terrible message. As you said, the Prime Minister of a country had to respond. The
President of Mexico has responded. Again, I know what -- or maybe I don't, that these countries look at this, and I don't think they thought there was
some grand thing happening here that required ICE agents to come and disrupt workplaces or chase people through Home Depot parking lots. Thank
you very much, everyone.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you so much --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
SOARES: You have been listening there to the mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, addressing, of course, the fact, not just the protests, but the
sweeping raids that have been made by immigration agents, by ICE immigration agents. She was also addressing the fact that 700 Marines or so
have been mobilized to Los Angeles, the decision, of course, taken by President Trump.
She said she has no idea -- her words, what Marines will do -- what the Marines will do when they arrive. She also had a warning to other cities
that this could happen to you, she was then given the example of Denver and Boston. But she said that the violence, the vandalism that they have seen
will not be tolerated and those involved will be prosecuted. But she said, there's nothing going on. You heard her there. There's nothing going on
right now, our law enforcements have the capacity.
[14:15:00]
But she spoke in terms of the -- specific about the raids that she was asked whether she knows she's given a heads up in advance where those raids
are taking place, she doesn't. She said there's a lot of uncertainty. There's a lot of instability. It's a bit like whack-a-mole, she said. And
this is where I want to lead, continue our conversation because my next guest is a Los Angeles business owner who knows firsthand the struggles of
L.A.'s Latino community.
Carlos Gonzalez says he was brought from Mexico into the U.S. as a child by his parents, and is now a legal resident. This is what he told "NBC Los
Angeles" about what he faced growing up undocumented in America. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CARLOS GONZALEZ, LOS ANGELES BUSINESS OWNER: And when I was small, they would tell me, Carlos, make sure you do good in school. Make sure -- sorry
--
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No need to apologize.
GONZALEZ: Make sure -- make sure you try not to -- you know, shoot, even pay your taxes one way or another. Make sure that you're not a bull's eye.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Incredibly emotionally there from Carlos Gonzalez. Carlos, good to see you, I really appreciate your honesty and taking the time for being --
us here on the show. Look, I know you have your own business, I understand from my team, you had to close down your business for some time because of
the protests that are playing out across Los Angeles. Did you close the business because of the proximity to the protests or because of staffing
issues?
GONZALEZ: It was because of the -- well, first of all, hi, I hope you guys are having an amazing day. It was actually because of the proximity. I did
get a call -- I got a bunch of messages, all of a sudden that there was raids that were being conducted in the fashion district. Now, I kind of,
you know, first saw this happening a few days prior because I saw, you know, everything kind of building up and, you know, the whole fear-
mongering started increasing.
And you know, it was something that I was not necessarily prepared for, but I did kind of, you know, think about it. It was -- I know for a fact that
it was in the back of everybody's head. So, whenever -- as soon as I heard, you know, the comments and the messages and the calls, was like, hey,
Carlos, there's a -- there's a raid going on in the fashion district.
You know, I immediately rushed to our warehouse. Our warehouse is majority operated by, you know, by women, it's 98 percent operated by women. And so,
majority of them -- if not every single one of them, has no issues whatsoever. However, the fact that, you know, right now everybody's getting
rounded up just because of the color of the skin or just because of how you look.
You know, and reports of not only Ambiance, which was a vendor that got raided, you know, all the other vendors were going to continue to get
raided as well and surrounding warehouses. I did not want to have our staff have to deal with that, because we have been seeing reports as well of, you
know, raids happening, people getting detained even though they are citizens, even though they --
SOARES: Yes --
GONZALEZ: Have legal status, and they're not being -- you know, it's like, no, you're lying. And why are we lying? Just because we're Latino, we're
saying that we are legal here, and that makes us a liar. It makes no sense. And so, these people are getting rounded up, getting detained, some getting
released a couple of days later, some even weeks, if not longer. And I did not want to have our ladies go through that hardship. So, that's
essentially why I decided to send everybody home.
SOARES: And Carlos, is your business open again? Is it -- are you back open again?
GONZALEZ: So, we opened up yesterday. You know --
SOARES: Yes --
GONZALEZ: Business as usual. However, honestly, we only had two staff members that showed up, and that was after us, you know, talking to them
for like literally 30 minutes, nearly an hour and trying to explain to them, listen, we're only going to be there for a couple of hours, we
understand what's going on in the area.
You know, don't worry, we're going to be vigilant. We're going to try and, you know, be aware of -- as to, you know, what's going on around us.
Please, come in to just get some of the more urgent orders. But --
SOARES: Yes --
GONZALEZ: Everybody else, you know, even their kids, some of their kids, you know, they're grown adults as well, they work for the cities, and they
were sent home. And so, because they were sent home, they were telling their parents, our team members, why are you going to go to work, stay
home. So --
SOARES: Yes --
GONZALEZ: Everybody was literally scared. We have a second service that deals a lot with deliveries. A lot of our --
SOARES: Yes --
GONZALEZ: Delivery drivers, they call me, they're like, hey, Carlos, you know what? I have gotten reports that in San Fernando Valley, they're going
to do raids, you know, Hollywood, there's going to, you know, be raids, and a lot of other delivery sites that we, you know, provide our services to.
A lot of the drivers also called me and then said, hey, you know, we're not going to be able to show up because the situation currently, it is
something that we're scared of for ourselves --
SOARES: Yes --
GONZALEZ: And for our kids. You know, and it was -- it's been effective --
SOARES: Yes --
GONZALEZ: And right now, for example, we have about 2,500 packages that we haven't been able to move because the shortness of drivers. So, we're
trying to locate --
SOARES: And Carlos, on that -- on that, I mean, how many of your staff are Latinos? Can you speak to really the fears, because one of our reporters
was telling me that there is a sense of fear, but also of powerlessness right now as these ICE raids are taking place.
[14:20:00]
Just give me a sense, I understand you're Mexican, right? But give me a sense of what you're hearing from the Latino, the immigrant community about
these raids in particular, because we heard the mayor saying, you know, she doesn't know when they're going to happen. There's a lot of uncertainty.
There's a lot of instability. Can you speak to that?
GONZALEZ: Absolutely. I mean, as far as how many staff members or team members you know, that we provide work to. On a daily basis, we provide
work to nearly 90 to about a 100 people, on average, that's how many Latinos those are, 95 percent of those are Latinos. And so, whether, you
know, they have status, they're in process of status or they're citizens, everybody is literally scared.
And only a few of us are having the courage -- you know, and I've actually gotten a lot of, you know, messages. I've gotten calls like hate calls
already. And it's obviously, you know, it's for myself, it is fear. It's something that, you know, it does cause fear. But at the end of the day, we
weren't raised to be, you know, scared.
Although, you know, our parents right now, for example, are the ones that are the most scared. The people that are --
SOARES: Yes --
GONZALEZ: More vulnerable, the people that have -- that are powerless to speak out. And so, essentially, that's very thankful, for example, that you
guys gave me this opportunity because I do want to speak to that --
SOARES: Yes --
GONZALEZ: Community because, you know, we are scared. And -- but at the end of the day, I always keep saying it's like the hustle must continue
because, you know, that's exactly what they want.
SOARES: Yes --
GONZALEZ: They want everybody to be scared. They want everybody to kind of run away. They want everybody to --
SOARES: But Carlos, let me put this to you. Let me put this to you. I mean, because for international viewers --
GONZALEZ: Yes --
SOARES: Of course, who are following this. And we know that, the President has a mandate from the people. We know that immigration is one of his key
policies. We also know that about 42 percent or so of Latinos voted for this President.
GONZALEZ: Right --
SOARES: What do you say to those voters who voted for President Trump?
GONZALEZ: Well, I've actually -- you know, it's very sad to hear and to see, you know, all of the Latino community that actually voted for this,
and I say voted for this because, you know, a lot of the -- especially, a lot of the base that supports, you know, President Trump currently, a lot
of them are actually, you know -- they feel bad as to everything that's happening because they -- according to them, they did not vote for this.
Which to me, honestly, is like a --
SOARES: Yes --
GONZALEZ: Slap in the face because this is not his first -- you know, this is not his first rodeo. His -- he's --
SOARES: Yes --
GONZALEZ: Been in office before. You know, anybody that has -- to my -- you know, understanding, anybody that has some common sense --
SOARES: Yes --
GONZALEZ: Would understand and would see, you know, what his rhetoric and the --
SOARES: Yes --
GONZALEZ: Fear-mongering that has caused -- in his previous -- you know, his previous term --
SOARES: Yes --
GONZALEZ: It's something to the economy. It's the same thing that's happening right now. However, it's like bolstered to create even more fear.
I mean, this is something that happened in the 1930s when literally the Mexican --
SOARES: Incredibly scary, I imagine, for so many. And Carlos, I really appreciate your time. We're running out of time, but incredibly grateful
for your opinion. Do keep us posted on any --
GONZALEZ: Yes --
SOARES: Developments. Thank you, Carlos. Carlos Gonzalez there --
GONZALEZ: Absolutely, thank you --
SOARES: Thank you, appreciate it. I want to take you to Austria because a gunman opened fire at an Austrian school, killing at least ten people,
plunging the country into a state of shock. Video from outside the school in Graz surfaced on social media, and it is a warning, disturbing to watch.
Have a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(GUNFIRE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: And the victims were between 14 and 18 years of age. Austria's Interior Ministry says the suspect was a 21-year-old male who used to study
there, but didn't graduate. Police say the gunman took his own life at the scene.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GERALD ORTNER, DIRECTOR, STYRIAN STATE POLICE, AUSTRIA (through translator): This person was not known to us at the police. He owned the
weapons as far as we know at the moment, legally, meaning he had a gun ownership card. Our information at the moment, we know that a shotgun and a
handgun were used.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Let's get more from our Melissa Bell who is standing by. Melissa, what more do we know about how exactly this harrowing attack occurred?
MELISSA BELL, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it was at about 10:00 a.m. when these kids -- it's a secondary school, Isa, were beginning their
day that authorities began to hear those gunshots that you played just a moment ago coming from inside. The operation began, and he killed himself.
The gunman, as you said, the 21-year-old, we understand he was a former student who never graduated from the school. Was he disgruntled?
[14:25:00]
For now, authorities haven't said much about what his motives might be. But having carried out his rampage killing, we've just learned an 11th person
who'd been critically wounded in hospital. That person has died. So, the death toll is ten victims plus the assailant that have now -- we now know
have died. And it is a country very much in shock.
These kinds of shootings simply don't happen very often in Europe, and it could be the largest in the country's post-war history. So, this is a
country now in mourning, three days of mourning that will be marked from tomorrow. And there have been people lining up to try and give blood to
help those many wounded in this attack as well. Isa.
SOARES: Melissa Bell there with the very latest. Thank you, Melissa. And still to come tonight, some Ukrainian soldiers are returning home after
years in captivity. We'll have the latest on this week's prisoner swap. That's after this break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: We are tracking the latest prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine. Both countries say they have now exchanged an unspecified number
of sick as well as wounded prisoners. One day after initial swap of prisoners, prisoners under the age of 25. This exchange is the result of
last week's, if you remember, peace talks in Turkey.
And while those talks have shown some progress, overnight attacks tell a very different story. Ukrainian officials say Russia launched more than 300
drones targeting the capital and killing one person. A separate wave of attacks hit the southern port city of Odesa, killing at least two people.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's chief of staff says the Russian strikes hit a maternity ward.
Joining us now to discuss all the latest developments in Ukraine, Ukrainian parliament member Oleksiy Goncharenko live from Odessa, a well-known face
here on the show. Oleksiy, great to have you on the show. We are seeing -- I think it's fair to say, both the pace and the intensities of these
attacks by Russia increasing.
Give us a sense, first of all, not just of the damage, but also the terror that must have been felt just in the last 24 hours or so.
OLEKSIY GONCHARENKO, UKRAINIAN MP: Yes, hello, and unfortunately, this was a very difficult night for two -- first of all, for two cities, for capital
city Kyiv and for Odesa, my native city. And unfortunately, we have casualties. We have victims. There were hundreds of drones attacking from
all directions.
And what is so awful is that Russia, that this time, Russia in Odesa hit maternity house. It's very important place for me because both my sons were
born in this maternity house, and near the station of blood transfusion. So it's absolutely civilian infrastructure and health care infrastructure,
which was attacked by Russians and damaged.
[14:30:22]
The second thing, which is also very barbaric, is that Russia attacked Odesa cinema, means that Odesa cinema factory, or the place we can say
Ukrainian Hollywood, because Odesa was the first city where the cinema started in Ukraine a hundred years ago.
And also in Kyiv, the Saint 1Sophia Cathedral, which is more than 1,000 years old, which is part of UNESCO Heritage, was also damaged. So Russia
attacked health care institutions and also very important cultural institutions for Ukraine and for Ukrainian people.
SOARES: A nightmarish night, as I heard from some in Odesa. But look, Oleksiy, President Putin had told, if you remember in that call, President
Trump that he would retaliate. Do you believe that Russia's response to Ukraine's drone attack, Operation Spider's Web, as it was known, do you
believe this is it and it's over, or do you think there's more to come?
GONCHARENKO: You know, first of all, we're speaking of what retaliation. Russia started this war, absolutely unjustified, attacked Ukraine more than
three years ago, full scale and more than 10 years ago in general. And so, it's not retaliation. Russia is attacking us every day. Before we head back
or after, it doesn't matter.
Secondly, I think that President Putin feels himself very emboldened after conversation with President Trump. I think that President Trump should
change his tactics and his attitude towards Putin because Putin understands only one language of strength, language of force. And when Trump is saying,
President Trump is saying, oh, Russia will now attack. Oh, Ukraine gave reason.
I mean, Russia does not need any reasons. They're just attacking us every day. And the only thing which Putin would understand it would be if the
United States would say, after such awful attacks against maternity house, against cultural heritage, here are more severe and serious sanctions
against Russia. After this, Putin could stop.
SOARES: Look, Oleksiy, you know, the last time you and I spoke, we had a similar conversation. And I feel like we're going around in circles because
we're waiting, of course, for President Trump to make some sort of decision. He gave it a two weeks. Nothing has come of it.
Instead, what we saw was him using analogy, if you remember, next to the German chancellor, basically comparing the two leaders, President Zelenskyy
and President Putin as kids fighting out in the playground. So I don't know about you just speak to the mood right now, because how was that analogy
received in Ukraine? And do you feel that you're any closer to any sort of cease fire.
GONCHARENKO: I should be frank with you, it was received very badly because, you know, our kids, our children are killed by Russians almost
every day. It's not about fighting, it's not about Zelenskyy, it's not about just, I mean, Zelenskyy.
And I have a lot of questions to Zelenskyy, I'm not Zelensky supporter, but it's not about this. Russia attacked Ukraine. Russia is killing Ukrainian
children. Russia is destroying our civilian infrastructure. Russia is committing war crimes every day. Putin is a war criminal.
And we can -- if the world, other war criminals, other tyrants in the world will think that they can do whatever they want. That would be -- the world
would become a very, very bad place to live in. Awful place, horrible place to live in.
And we all hoped that United States will show leadership. I really believe that President Trump wants to end the war. But if he wants to end the war,
he needs to act, act seriously against Putin and imposing more sanctions against Russia, giving weapons to Ukraine. Because we are defending right
cause.
One more thing, the United States promised us to support our security when we voluntarily gave up our nuclear weapons 30 years ago. So it's something
which the whole world is watching. Is United States the country, the state you can count on? Is it a leader or not?
SOARES: Oleksiy Goncharenko, always appreciate you coming on the show. You're incredibly frank. We are very grateful. Thanks very much, Oleksiy.
Good to see you.
GONCHARENKO: Thank you.
[14:35:00]
SOARES: Thank you. And still to come tonight, the UK slaps to Israeli officials with sanctions over comments they made about Palestinians. What
the ministers now face, that is just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: The UK and four other Western allies have imposed sanctions on two far right Israeli ministers saying their comments incited violence against
Palestinians. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich will face a travel ban and an asset freeze.
Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Norway are also joining the sanctions.
Meantime, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his top ministers after there was some progress in negotiations towards a cease
fire deal. That is according to a statement from his office. US Special envoy Steve Witkoff says he believes understandings are now forming with
Hamas over a hostage cease fired deal.
Our Nic Robertson has more now on the sanctioning of those two far right Israeli ministers from London.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: So it's really hard to know exactly why this moment has been chosen to sanction these two hard
right Israeli ministers who are key to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu keeping his government on track, their support is vital for the success of
Netanyahu's government. It's hard to know why Itamar Ben-Gvir, the national security minister and Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister, had been
targeted this week by the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway.
[14:40:15]
But what we do know is that, in all those countries they have been seeing, the politicians have been seeing a much sort of greater sense of outrage
from populations, from their populations about what's happening to the Palestinians in the West Bank and in Gaza. And these five countries are
saying that this is -- this decision is to try to protect the possibility of a two state solution. And they say that the rhetoric of Smotrich and
Ben-Gvir is counter to that.
They accuse them of using extremist violent language. They say that they use extremist rhetoric, advocate advocating forced displacement of
Palestinian and the creation of new Israeli settlements, which is appalling and dangerous. That's the language that's being used by these five
governments.
And they're also saying that what they're accusing Ben-Gvir and Smotrich of cannot be seen. These governments say, in isolation to what's happening in
Gaza, the humanitarian situation there, the loss of civilian lives there. The governments also go on to say that this does not mean that they are
somehow abrogating their support, strong support of Israel's security or in any less condemning Hamas' violent action on October the seventh.
But the pushback coming from the Israeli government has been strong. The foreign minister, Gideon Sa'ar has said that the government will meet and
have a discussion about this next week, about how they'll respond. But he's already said that, you know, this is outrageous as the language is using,
that two government ministers of Israel could be treated in this way.
And both those ministers have pushed back on these sanctions. Smotrich was actually opening a new settlement in the West Bank when he was responding
on Tuesday to this latest news, these sanctions. And he said, well, this timing is very good, sort of not so much tongue in cheek, but it's a strong
pushback when he's opening a -- pierce to be a strong pushback when he's opening a settlement.
And Ben-Gvir has really indicated that this is not going to change his stance, he says. His stance is for the country, is for the people of Israel
and he's not going to change his position. These are very deeply entrenched politicians key to the Prime Minister, but this is a very strong message
now, an increased, clear message from these five governments that what's happening in Israel, what's happening in the West Bank, what's happening in
Gaza is something that they are taking heat on and they're putting markers down. And this is it, Isa.
SOARES: Thank you very much to our Nic Robertson. Well, for decades, the US has supported a two state solution to the conflict in the Middle East. But
now there is a noticeable shift in the messaging. Washington's ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, that man, says he does not believe a Palestinian
State is a US Policy goal any longer. And he actually suggests Israel's Muslim neighbors could give up their land.
Here's what Huckabee told Bloomberg News earlier. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE HUCKABEE, US AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL: Muslim controlled countries have 644 times the amount of land that Israel does. So when people say Israel
needs to give up something, you kind of scratch your head and say, OK, let me see if I get this right. They've got this, all the Muslim control
countries have this, and why should these people give way when these people have a lot of room that they could say we'll carve out something?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Mike Huckabee there. Well, a short time ago, a State Department spokesperson was asked about Huckabee's comments, and whether the US had
changed its position on a two state solution for Israel and the Palestinians. Her answer, Ambassador Huckabees speaks for himself.
Well, for the first time, Israel says it's carried out naval strikes on Yemen. The IDF says it targeted Houthi militants at the Hudaydah Port
earlier today. Israel accuses the Houthis of using the port to transport weapons. So far, all previous Israeli attacks against the Houthis have been
carried out by the air force. This latest strike has highlighted the long range missile capabilities of Israel's navy.
The next round of nuclear discussions between Iran and the US will take place this Sunday. The spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry confirmed the
news. The two sides will meet in the capital of Oman for what's being described as indirect talks. And this will be, if you remember, the fifth -
- the sixth round, I should say, of discussions between the US and Iran over Iran's civilian nuclear program.
[14:45:00]
And still to come tonight, at least three people killed as multiple explosions shake Cali, Colombia's third largest city. And it comes as the
country reels from the shooting of a senator. We'll have a live report from Bogota when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: Take you now to Colombia, where a series of explosions have rocked the city of Cali. The country's natural police tell CNN three people were
killed in the explosions and more than a dozen are wounded. Cali's mayor says some of the devices were detonated near two police stations. And you
can see the aftermath, really, in the social media video we're just showing you.
No word on who carried out the attacks. One police officer tells CNN, though, the initial evidence suggests motorcycles filled with explosives
were used in the attacks. And it comes just days after opposition Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay was shot in the head during campaign event in Bogota.
On Monday, his fellow lawmakers held a vigil and placed a Colombian flag and Uribe's photo on his seat. At last check, the 39 year old presidential
hopeful was in critical condition.
So let's go to our Stefano Pozzebon who is live for us in Bogota this hour. And Stefano, this attack in Cali really is sowing fear and terror. And so
many, and I have seen some of the comments that the mayor of Cali has put out. And he tweeted, they want to send us back to 1989. We won't allow it,
he tweets.
That is the fear, the return, a return to this bloody era, of course, of political violence that Colombia saw for so many years. What we know at
this moment about the attacks in Cali and who potentially is behind the historical.
STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the attacks are a, frankly, a wave of coordinated explosions all across the southwest of Colombia. And
the authorities say that there is only one group that has the capacity to operate such a widespread coordinated action. And those are the remaining
units from the FARC, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. So former left wing guerrillas who refused to lay out the arms when Colombia entered
and signed the peace process with the FARC in 2016.
They haven't claimed responsibility as of now. We are trying to assess these claims from the Colombian government. But I think that taking a step
back, that sentiment from the mayor of Cali don't want to take us back to 1989 is what is on the mind of many in Colombia.
This is a chapter of Colombian political history, social history that they thought, many here had thought to have put behind their backs. And now with
those two episodes, these two episodes in very close succession, one after the other, well, the feeling is that definitely something is happening.
Take a listen to what one analyst told me just a couple of hours ago.
[14:50:04]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SERGIO GUZMAN, COLOMBIA RISK ANALYST: It's unclear though, if the events are connected. But what is evident is that the situation in Colombia, the
security situation is rapidly deteriorating. Now, this doesn't necessarily mean that other cities are at risk because it is one organized group
attacking in one city. But it is yet to be determined how President Petro and his administration will react, as they had already broken previous
ceasefires with this organization.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
POZZEBON: But personally, if you ask me, it's too early to decide to assess who is behind these attacks. But at the same time, trust me, I think that
these are two separate episodes. The attacks that we're seeing today is 16 explosions, 16 explosive devices that take days, more than days, it takes
weeks to organize. So it's not a rapid response to what happened on Saturday.
SOARES: Yes.
POZZEBON: However, two episodes, one after the other, it means that something is happening. And what is happening, unfortunately, is the
deterioration of security. Isa?
SOARES: Yes, and that is the concern. I'm speaking to my mother in law in Cali, Stefano, and she was, you know, she wasn't. She's nervous. And she
was also telling me that Gustavo Petro, the president, is supposed to visit Cali tomorrow. Is he still going ahead and speak to the pressure that he's
facing as well, politically, not just from within the country, but also from the United States.
POZZEBON: Oh, huge pressure. Huge pressure on Petro. He has been accused, the person accused by the opposition of inflaming the rhetoric and looking
for political confrontation as a strategy to pass the reforms that he wants to do. He's trying to push a referendum to present further reforms.
And he's also trying to push a labor reform in Congress in the last couple of weeks. Both of those efforts have stalled and Petro has been accused of
inflaming the rhetoric. And many, especially after the Saturday attack on Miguel Uribe, we're looking at Petro as a unifying figure, as a person that
could unify the nation and sort of take a step back from that vitriolic confrontation with the opposition.
That hasn't happened. It's yet to happen. The agenda is changing by the hour. We know that the military is sending special forces to Cali, which
perhaps is also a relief to your dear ones.
One point, Isa, Cali used to be a safe city. I moved to Colombia in 2020. The assessment has always been the main urban areas are safe, the rural not
so much. In October, Cali was the headquarter of the COP 60, a massive biodiversity conference with hundreds of delegates in coming here to
Colombia. Now it's woken up by explosions and sirens.
SOARES: Stefano Pozzebon, appreciated, my friend. Thank you very much indeed. When I have a short break, we'll see you on the other side.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:55:32]
SOARES: And if you remember, we recently told you about the bald eaglet, Sunny, who left the nest. Well, now his sister, Gizmo, has as well. In
Southern California, the friends of Big Bear Valley caught the big moment. It was not, let's just say, quite as graceful as Sunny's first flight, if
you remember. Gizmo struggling a bit with the first jump.
After the rocky start, she managed to fly away to what's known as Big Bear Simba Tree. Parents Jackie and Shadow later stopped by to check in on her
and help her get her food. No doubt the parents are also celebrating now that both have left the nest.
That does it for us for tonight. Thanks very much for your company. Do stay right here. What We Know with Max Foster is up next. I shall see you
tomorrow. Have a wonderful day. Bye-bye.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
