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One World with Zain Asher
Zelenskyy Meets With Trump's Russia-Ukraine Envoy; Sources: Putin Is Not Seriously Prepared To Engage In Peace Talks; Hamas Returns Of Four Israeli Hostages; A Mixed Bag In Trump's One Month Approval Numbers; Seven Men Charged In Burglaries Of Pro Athletes' Home; USA Versus Canada Thursday Night In 4-Nations Championship. Aired 12-1p ET
Aired February 20, 2025 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[12:00:46]
BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN ANCHOR: Friend or foe, Trump and Zelenskyy go head- to-head. ONE WORLD starts right now.
About-face, Donald Trump flips the script on the war in Ukraine.
Also ahead, a solemn homecoming. The bodies of the youngest hostages taken by Hamas are returned to Israel.
And later, contentious rematch. Team USA hosts Canada in hockey's four nations final. Last time they went head-to-head there. There were three
fights in the first nine seconds of the game.
Hello everyone, live from New York, I'm Bianna Golodryga. Zain is off today. You are watching ONE WORLD.
And we begin in Ukraine, in a crucial meeting there that could help diffuse tensions between Kyiv and Washington. Donald Trump's special envoy, Keith
Kellogg, is meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss an end to the Russia-Ukraine war.
Now, a joint news conference had been expected after the talks, but it was canceled at the request of American officials, according to Ukraine.
Now, the meeting comes as Donald Trump doubled down Wednesday on his staggering attacks on President Zelenskyy. On social media and at a
speaking engagement, President Trump again falsely called his Ukrainian counterpart a dictator, using Moscow's talking points.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He refuses to have elections. He's slowing the real Ukrainian polls.
Somebody said, oh, no, his polls are good. Give me a break.
The only thing he was really good at was playing Joe Biden like a fiddle. A dictator without elections, Zelenskyy better move faster or he's not going
to have a country left.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Now, some prominent members of President Trump's own party are stressing that it was Russia and not Ukraine that started the war. There
are even some who have cautiously pushed back on President Trump's criticism of President Zelenskyy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. LISA MURKOWSKI (R-AK): I would certainly never refer to President Zelenskyy as a dictator. It is quite clear who started the war. It was
absolutely Russia at Putin's directive.
SEN. SUSAN COLLINS (R-ME): I do not agree that President Zelenskyy is to blame in any way.
SEN. THOM TILLIS (R-NC): I'll let other people use their words. It's not a word I would have used.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Would you call Ukrainian President Zelenskyy a dictator as President Trump has?
SEN. JOHN THUNE (R-SD): Well, I -- like I said, the president speaks for himself.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Meantime, Russia is keeping up a wave of attacks on targets across Ukraine. These are airstrikes over the capital of Kyiv. Ukraine says
Russia launched missile attacks on critical infrastructure in the Kharkiv region while a guided bomb struck the city of Kherson, damaging a high-rise
building.
A barrage of more than 160 drones also hit cities across Ukraine overnight, some hitting the city of Odessa for a second straight day.
CNN's chief international security correspondent is in Ukraine, Nick Paton Walsh joins us from Kyiv.
Nick, tell us more about this meeting between General Kellogg and President Zelenskyy.
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes. I mean, something that have been awaited by the Ukrainian side for weeks. I
think it's fair to say they'd hoped it would happen earlier.
But yesterday, Kellogg arrived, met with the Foreign Minister, Chief of Staff of Zelenskyy, and today the big meeting with the president himself.
Journalists were called through a spray to see the two men together. I think there had been some expectation that they might address the press
later. That would be sort of standard in these situations.
But we were told by an aide to the Ukrainian president that the American side had asked for no press availability afterwards. Hard to know how much
to really read into that. So as I say, you would expect normally to see that sort of public addressing of how the meeting had gone to occur in
front of the press.
But Kellogg came here saying yesterday to listen, to talk about security guarantees. And I think it's fair to say that there's been a phenomenal
storm of rhetoric from Zelenskyy, but mostly from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has unleashed a litany faltered about Ukraine's president
suggesting he was a dictator, refusing elections, that half the money he'd got from the U.S. had gone missing, and even suggesting that he was asleep
when the U.S. Treasury Secretary tried to get him to sign a deal in which Ukraine would hand over half of its rare earth mineral and natural
resources in order to pay back the U.S. for previous funding.
[12:05:25]
So definite tensions between the United States and Ukraine existential ones. Frankly, I think we have heard from the national security adviser
Mike Waltz suggesting that at some point, there might be a rapprochement between the two men, that President Trump was a fan of the Ukrainian
people.
But he, too, said Ukraine had to sign the deal and sort of calm the rhetoric down. This idea that Ukraine has to give up half of its resources
to just pay the U.S. back for the past by the administration aid, echoing in Trump's talking points, along with the idea that Zelenskyy is somehow
flawed, unpopular, on the make himself, and refusing to hold elections here, Bianna.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. Not the actions or statements one would think a neutral, at best, mediator would be making between these two sides, and yet here we
are.
Nick Paton Walsh, thank you so much.
Well, U.S. intelligence believes Russian President Vladimir Putin is not prepared to seriously engage in peace talks with Ukraine. This is according
to three sources familiar with U.S. and Western intelligence.
Let's go to CNN's Natasha Bertrand with her new reporting. In this, obviously, Natasha, confirmation of what had been known for many years
since Russia invaded Ukraine, that Russia was determined, Vladimir Putin was determined to keep this war going and achieve what he set out for, and
that is control not only of the Donbas, but even perhaps one day, Kyiv itself.
NATASHA BERTRAND, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Bianna. And I think that the big takeaway here actually is that the intelligence
community's assessment about Putin's intentions and his motivations actually remains unchanged from the last several years of war here, despite
President Trump and his officials suggesting that Putin might actually now want to stop the war and might actually seriously engage in negotiations.
According to the latest intelligence that the U.S. has, that Western officials have as well, Putin is not interested in seriously engaging in
those talks because he believes that he can keep this war going. He believes that Ukraine is on the back foot right now, particularly because,
of course, we have seen no commitment from the United States to continue that military aid to Kyiv.
We have also seen President Trump attack Zelenskyy repeatedly, and now we see Elon Musk also attacking Zelenskyy repeatedly.
If they were to come to some kind of a ceasefire agreement, that also, according to Western officials, could just give Putin some time to rearm
and re-equip. According to one of our sources, quote, if you were to get a ceasefire, a ceasefire is just time for Putin to take a rest, rearm, and
come back and get the rest of what he wants. We have seen no indications whatsoever that his ambitions have changed.
Another source put it to me very simply, saying that Putin remains obsessed with Ukraine. We know that this has been a fixation of his for years and
years, even before he -- just before he launched the invasion of Ukraine. He gave a very lengthy speech justifying Russia's wanting to subsume
Ukraine as part of its own country.
And so this is not a fixation that has gone away. And in fact, according to our sources as well, the Russian economy can continue to sustain this war
effort for at least another year, despite all of the U.S. and Western sanctions that have been placed on the economy, because Putin has shifted
so much, the entire Russian economy, to this war footing. Bianna.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. He's completely all in. And what is -- one would think that at this point the strategy is to just buy time and wait everyone out.
Natasha Bertrand, thank you.
Well, while European leaders have been blindsided by the collapse in American support for Ukraine in the past week, Moscow is delighted by the
unexpected turn of events. Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the new U.S. attitude towards his country.
CNN's Fred Pleitgen is in Moscow with the reaction from there.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): Breaking news on Kremlin-controlled TV. Even the anchor can hardly believe
her eyes. U.S. President Donald Trump calling Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, quote, dictator in a social media post.
Attention, this is incredible, the host says. Trump is obviously angry. Having had modest success as a comedian, Zelenskyy, writes the U.S.
president, couldn't have won in the Ukraine conflict and the U.S. was giving him money in vain. Zelenskyy is doing his job poorly. Donald Trump
now called Zelenskyy a dictator. This is what he wrote.
[12:10:06]
Many Russians now hoping that Trump induced thaw in U.S.-Russian relations could bring fast sanctions relief.
At the Skazka Souvenir Shop in Moscow, boss Alexander is rearranging the Matryoshka dolls according to what many here hope could be the new world
order.
ALEXANDER TSUKANOV, OWNER, SKAZKA SOUVENIR SHOP, MOSCOW: Our president and American president, and also we have Mohammed --
PLEITGEN: Bin Salman.
TSUKANOV: -- bin Salman Al Saud also. So all friends of Russia.
PLEITGEN (voice-over): On the street, much praise for President Trump, sometimes maybe a bit too much.
PLEITGEN: What do you think about Donald Trump?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think, maybe small Stalin.
(LAUGHTER)
PLEITGEN: You think small Stalin. Why?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. Why, but character.
PLEITGEN (voice-over): Of course, I like Donald Trump, this man says. He's a positive president. He will change America and make it great again.
Moscow's leaders optimistic saying they believe the Trump Administration understands their view of the Ukraine war.
Where Russian troops continue to make modest gains, this Russian defense ministry video purporting to show drone units hitting Ukrainian positions
in Russia's Kursk region.
Russian Leader, Vladimir Putin, visiting a drone factory, also praising Trump, saying a face-to-face meeting is in the works.
We're not in a position where it's enough to meet each other, have tea or coffee, and chat about the future, he says. We need to make our teams
prepare issues that are crucial for both Russia and the U.S., including the Ukraine conflict but not only it.
Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Moscow.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLODRYGA: A lot to talk about with our guest, Susan Glasser. She is a staff writer at "The New Yorker" and co-author of "Kremlin Rising: Vladimir
Putin's Russia and the End of Revolution." She spent several years in Moscow.
Susan, it's great to talk to you in particular about this issue. And I'm just wondering, I'm still fixated on what we heard from that gentleman
speaking with Fred Pleitgen, who may be a better student of history than President Trump is, when he described Donald Trump as a small Stalin.
What do you make of the dynamics we've seen play out over the course of the last week and a half, and in particular this really public tit-for-tat back
and forth with false allegations and accusations stemming from President Trump against Vladimir -- against Volodymyr Zelenskyy?
SUSAN GLASSER, STAFF WRITER, THE NEW YORKER: Yes. I mean, it's pretty remarkable. I was also really amazed by that comment to hear someone
calling Trump a little Stalin.
And by the way, he meant it approvingly, you know, because one of the shocking and sad things about Russia, decades later, is that Stalin is
still revered by many Russians and their new strongman leader, Vladimir Putin, has been in power longer than any other leader since Joseph Stalin.
And it is really a mark of a head spinning moment in the world when the American president adopts what is essentially a pro-Putin foreign policy.
And that's happened with such speed this week.
Bianna, I really think that, first of all, it underscores the extent to which so many of Trump's more conventional Republican enablers were engaged
in gas-lighting the world. The idea that Trump was going to pursue some Reaganist peace through strength and shore up the Ukrainians.
His own envoy, Keith Kellogg, just a couple of weeks ago, was giving an interview to conservative media here in the U.S. saying that the U.S.
strategy was going to be to give more aid to Ukraine and to double down on sanctions against Russia.
Trump loves to make a mockery of his own enablers. And I hope that if nothing else, it's clarified for people what many have been warning about,
that Donald Trump, in fact, does not support Ukraine's cause, that he is overtly attempting to shift policy toward America's adversary and away from
its allies.
GOLODRYGA: It may be clarifying, but do you think that it will result in any sort of change in policy that the U.S. public, that a Republican-
controlled Senate, will demand of Donald Trump if he continues down this path?
GLASSER: Yes. Well, first of all, we've seen the Republican-controlled Senate roll over again and again and again for Donald Trump in just his
first month back in office. So if anyone is counting on the Republican Senate to stand up and take a stand against Trump, I would not count on
that or have that be the foundation of your policy analysis.
Number one, the main person who is sort of standing up for Ukraine in the Republican Senate conference, Mitch McConnell, just announced that he is
retiring and has essentially become a party of one inside the Republican Conference today when it comes to standing up to Donald Trump. So that's
first of all.
[12:15:10]
And then, second of all, look, you have a situation where Trump has basically said, throughout his policies in his return to office, I could
care less what the Constitution says or the U.S. Congress says. I'm going to act on my own. And, frankly, on foreign policy, he has wide latitude to
act on his own.
GOLODRYGA: How much of this do you think stems from personality clashes between President Trump and Zelenskyy, the fact that President Zelenskyy
went toe-to-toe and publicly spoke out, rebutting some of the comments that we heard from President Trump yesterday? And also the fact that he would
not sign a deal that had reportedly been really pressured upon him in terms of the rare earth minerals deal with Ukraine and the United States?
It had been reported that the Treasury secretary had presented him with a very lengthy and detailed plan, interesting that it was more detailed than
the peace plan we now know of at this point.
But it also said that this deal would not be reassurances from the United States in terms of security guarantees going forward. It would be ownership
of 50 percent of the rare earth minerals in the country as sort of payback for the military aid already provided?
GLASSER: Yes. I mean, there's no leader of independent Ukraine who could have accepted that deal and remain the leader of Ukraine. That was
politically impossible not to mention, essentially, something like a mafia shakedown from the president of the United States who has repeatedly
mischaracterized the amounts of U.S. assistance that have gone to Ukraine, inflating those numbers, and essentially is demanding far more than that in
a 500 billion dollar deal. So, you know, that was not a feasible proposal, first of all.
Second of all, I just think that, you know, what we're seeing here unfold is maybe happening in public because Trump has gotten his back up and is in
a, you know, kind of war of words with President Zelenskyy.
But the truth is that Donald Trump has always been an admirer of Vladimir Putin's and a skeptic of Ukraine, even dating to before Zelenskyy's
election as president partway through Donald Trump's first term in office.
In fact, I recall Trump meeting in the Oval Office with Petro Poroshenko, Zelenskyy's predecessor as a leader of Ukraine. And according to an account
of that meeting by his former ambassador to Ukraine, Masha Yovanovitch, Trump told Poroshenko in that meeting, essentially, you have no right to
Crimea. That was always supposed to be Russian and questioning the basis of Ukraine's independence.
So, you know, it seems to me that Trump has a predilection for Russia and more broadly for America's adversaries and has consistently made clear what
he thinks of Ukraine, which is not very much. He praised Putin's invasion three years ago, this week, as an act of strategic genius. And that was
before any public war of words with Zelenskyy this week.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. And then when Russia started to fail in its initial goals, then Donald Trump said that that was a big mistake. Vladimir Putin's also
acknowledging that Russia, in fact, did start this war, but then he follows up always by saying it would have never happened under his watch.
Susan Glasser, fascinating, scary, frightening times we are in right now. Thank you so much.
GLASSER: Thank you.
GOLODRYGA: Well, profound sadness is engulfing Israel. Just hours ago, Hamas returned the remains of four Israeli hostages held in Gaza. It's the
first time the group has released deceased captives since the Hamas-led terror attacks on October 7th, 2023.
Among the victims, the two youngest children kidnapped on October 7th. That's according to Hamas. The Bibas children became two of the most
recognizable victims of the terror attack. Kfir Bibas was only 9 months old. His brother, Ariel, 4 years old, when they were taken with their
mother Shiri from their kibbutz.
Today, Israel's president talked about the cruelty of the country's hostage ordeal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ISAAC HERZOG, ISRAELI PRESIDENT: My nation is agonized and it is reminding us of a national memorial day, if you ask me. It's kind of a home come to
the entire pain that we've endured since October 7th.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: CNN's Nic Robertson takes us through this somber day.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR (voice-over): In a convoy freighted with the pain of a nation, the bodies, Hamas says, are the
youngest October 7th hostage victims and their mother on their final journey home.
[12:20:05]
And in the fourth Red Cross vehicle, what Hamas says are the remains of one of the oldest October 7 victims, Oded Livshitz.
The early morning handover beginning against the backdrop of Hamas propaganda, turning dignified with a short service as the four caskets
handed over to the IDF.
A moment of closure beginning for the families and a nation hostage to the fate of the Bibases.
Shiri Bibas' fear, clutching 9-month-old Kfir and 4-year-old Ariel etched in Israel's collective memory. The young family from Nir Oz became icons
for hope over despair. Israelis riding an emotional roller coaster over their fate.
Worryingly, Shiri, Kfir, and Ariel not released with 105 other hostages freed during the first pause in fighting November 2023. Shiri's husband
Yarden's fate was also unknown. He too disappeared October 7th, believed taken to Gaza.
The first news of Shiri, Kfir, and Ariel coming late 2023, when Hamas claimed they were killed in an Israeli airstrike, releasing a propaganda
video, exploiting emotional sensitivities of Yarden blaming the Israeli government for their deaths. The IDF called it psychological terror.
Months later, this security camera video captured by the IDF appearing to show Shiri soon after her abduction, but until this day, the IDF unable to
confirm the fate of the family cautioning against Hamas statements.
When Yarden was finally freed by Hamas three weeks ago, everyone in Israel understood the heartbreaking news awaiting him. His father and sister
consoling him against the near certainty of his loss.
Along the convoy route Thursday, flag-waving Israelis paid their respects. Hostage Square somber, not celebratory as with previous releases.
White vans carrying the four on the last leg of their journey to a forensic institute for final identification.
The country, the Bibases, and the Livshitz fears closer to realization.
Nic Robertson, CNN, Jerusalem.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLODRYGA: We'll have more coverage from Israel in our next half hour.
And also still to come for us, how do Americans feel about the first month of Donald Trump's presidency? There is good news and bad news in a brand-
new CNN poll.
Plus, what Delta officials are offering the passengers involved in Monday's crash landing in Toronto.
And seven people are charged in the high-profile robberies of star pro athletes. Who they are and how they were caught, that's ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:25:00]
GOLODRYGA: Well, today, marks exactly one month into Donald Trump's second presidency. And a new CNN poll finds Americans disapprove of President
Trump by a narrow 52-47 percent margin.
Now, President Trump's approval numbers are still higher than any he got during his first term in office.
If there's polling news to talk about, that means we are bringing in CNN senior data reporter Harry Enten. It's just an excuse to have you on,
Harry. Literally, we were just curious about talking about polling just to get you on to talk about much more.
But walk us through these numbers in particular because, yes, they're higher than they were during the first term, but I'm looking at a lot
that's transpired within this short month. A lot has happened, a lot of executive orders, egg prices are still high, inflation is still a concern,
and I'm looking at the stock market right now and the Dow is down big.
HARRY ENTEN, CNN SENIOR DATA REPORTER: Yes. Let me ask you a question. Are you a fan of "The Little Mermaid?"
GOLODRYGA: I am.
ENTEN: OK. The reason I mention that is because "The Little Mermaid" went underwater and that's where Donald Trump is going with his approval rating.
So let's take a look here. All right. See I made that connection for you.
Trump's net approval rating. Look, we had the CNN poll that came out. He was five points underwater. How about Gallup also came out in the last 24
hours, six points underwater. How about Ipsos, seven points underwater. Quinnipiac, four points underwater.
The bottom line is that the last 24 hours of polling data that's come out has been the worst of Donald Trump's second term so far. You can see it
with all these negatives, negative, negative, negative, negative, but it's also the trend line.
You were mentioning, right, the idea that there's been a lot that has transpired. And I think the question is, how have Americans been reacting
to it compared to how they felt earlier on in this presidency? And we have three polls which we can look at, three of those four. CNN, this is our
first poll, but the other pollsters have had earlier numbers earlier on when Trump first took office.
Trump's net approval rating, the change since January. Look at this, Gallup, he's five points down. How about Quinnipiac? He's seven points
down. How about Ipsos? Thirteen points down. My goodness gracious.
The bottom line is Americans right now are reacting more negatively to Donald Trump's second term than they did at the beginning of it one month
ago.
Now the question is, what the heck is going on? Why are these numbers going downward? I think this will give you a good idea. You, of course, remember
James Carville. He said it's the economy stupid. In this case I'm going to tell you, it's the economy, smarty pants. You know a lot about the economy.
Trump's net approval rating on the economy. I want to compare where he was in his first term at this point to where he is in his second term at this
point.
Look at this, in February 2017, Ipsos, he was 16 points above water. Quinnipiac, he was six points above water. Compare that to where he is now
among these two pollsters. He's eight points below water on the economy, according to Ipsos. And he's four points below water according to
Quinnipiac.
So the bottom line is this, the economy has traditionally been one of Donald Trump's strongest points, right? It's a big reason why he won in
2024. He was going to solve that inflation problem that dogged the Joe Biden presidency.
But at this particular point, if the economy and inflation sunk, ate the Joe Biden presidency alive, it's very much a danger for Donald Trump at
this point that inflation can do the exact same thing, because the bottom line is folks are seeing Trump negatively on the economy. And that is a big
reason why his overall numbers are down and why he is in negative territory, underwater, just like "The Little Mermaid." See, I brought it
back for you.
GOLODRYGA: Harry, I can't wait to see what Disney movie you talk about next. I was all prepared to talk football but happy to discuss Disney films
as well. That's all I'm saying.
ENTEN: You never know with me. You never know. We could talk football. We could talk the "Little Giants" if you want to. That's a childhood favorite
of mine.
GOLODRYGA: A Disney film about football. Let's settle on that.
ENTEN: Sure.
GOLODRYGA: All right, Harry Enten. Always a pleasure. Thanks so much.
ENTEN: The pleasure is mine. See you.
GOLODRYGA: Well, crews have begun removing the wreckage from Delta Airlines crash landing on Monday. The passenger jet flipped upside down when landing
in Toronto.
Now, all 80 people on board survived the crash, with 21 people suffering injuries. Delta is now offering each passenger $30,000 for the incident.
The company says the money is offering has, quote, no strings attached and will not affect passengers' rights.
[12:30:10]
Well, still to come for us, Israelis are in mourning as the remains of four hostages return home. Now they're out in Hostage Square for a memorial for
those that who came back today.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GOLODRYGA: Welcome back to ONE WORLD. I'm Bianna Golodryga.
Well, it is 7:30 in the evening now in Tel Aviv, and Israelis are out in Hostage Square to pay respects to the four hostages whose remains were
returned from Gaza earlier today.
Thousands of Israelis observed a moment of silence. One of the hostages has been formally identified as 84-year-old Oded Lifshitz, according to his
family. Also among the victims, the two youngest children, kidnapped on October 7th, 2023, Kfir Bibas and his brother, Ariel, that is according to
Hamas.
The Bibas children became two of the most recognizable victims of the terror attacks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Two little boys who were taken from their home by savages and we couldn't bring them home alive. It's mind-boggling. It's --
I think it's beyond human comprehension.
[12:35:03]
It's not just four people, it's more than that. It's the sense of helplessness, the fact that this country could not bring back these people
alive. And it's a sense of national mourning, I guess.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: All right. Time now for The Exchange. And we want to go to a family member of one of those hostages who was just released last week,
Dalia Horn. She is the sister-in-law of recently freed hostage, Iair Horn. We've been talking about those that have been released, and we've been
covering their releases. We should also note, however, it is bittersweet because her brother-in-law, Eitan Horn, is still being held captive by
Hamas. Both of them were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz.
The four deceased hostages who will return to Israel today had been taken from that same kibbutz. And Dalia Horn joins me now live from Kefar Sava in
Israel. Dalia, thank you so much for taking the time today on such a somber, sad day, 503 days after the October 7th attacks.
As we noted, it is a bittersweet moment for your family. Your brother-in- law, Iair, is home. He was just released from the hospital. But obviously, there is so much more work to be done. There are 76 other hostages
remaining in Gaza, and one of them includes Iair's brother, Eitan, your brother-in-law as well.
Before we talk about your personal story and Iair, I do want to speak to the solemnness of today, why it is a particularly sad day for Israelis, a
nation that is still reeling from the October 7th attacks and those whose bodies return today. Oded Lifshitz, we noted, had been identified already
and confirmed that his body had been returned by his family.
But it is the Bibas family, in particular, and it is Shiri, Kfir, and Ariel, who's really captured the hearts and souls of the nation and frankly
the world as well. It's hard to go anywhere without seeing their images all over. The president of the country asked for forgiveness today.
Can you talk to us about what the Bibas family, in particular, came to represent over the last 503 days?
DALIA HORN, SISTER-IN-LAW OF FREED HOSTAGE IAIR HORN: Yes. I think the Bibas family has become, unfortunately, because I know them from before and
they were very private people. They have turned into the symbol of this massacre. Two redhead boys with their frightened mother being taken from
their home in a sovereign country, in an area where it is part of Israel in their pajamas.
Two redhead babies that were living the Israeli dream, you know, running around their kibbutz, their community playing, dreaming, dressing up as
Batman, wanting to reach out to others and save the world because this is what Ariel wanted to do. And that's all he was talking about.
And we saw the pictures from today and it's devastating. And it's not only the fact that they were murdered and abducted, it's also the fact that
Hamas used their bodies to do this cynical, horrible, evil ceremony.
I don't know if you looked at the pictures, I try not to, but I just looked at the crowd and there were mothers with young kids. They dressed up their
young kids and they said, let's go to do something fun today. And they took them to the ceremony to watch how our babies are being brought back.
We needed to fight for 503 days to bring those babies back home. They're using the bodies, the souls of our people. What kind of world we're living
in?
GOLODRYGA: Where cruel images that were displayed in Gaza. Frankly, every hostage release, we've seen a repeat of that cruelty, and we're not going
to show that to our viewers. But this is a personal story for you, not just as an Israeli, but obviously someone whose family has been impacted by
October 7th in the worst of ways.
Your brother-in-law, Iair, as we mentioned, was released last weekend. And today, he was released from the hospital as well. He suffered a number of
devastating health concerns while he was in captivity.
[12:40:14]
And he also released a statement today from the Hostage Family Forum has released this statement on behalf of your brother-in-law. I'd like to play
it for our viewers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(TEXT ON SCREEN)
IAIR HORN, RECENTLY RELEASED HOSTAGE: Everyone ask me, what do you need? And I answer them, I need only one thing, bring back my brother.
Bring back my brother and all the hostages.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: He also said, I was in the Hamas tunnels. I experienced it firsthand. And said the hostages do not have time.
We see how frail he is, how much weight he has lost. And you have said to him, he remains a hostage until his brother comes home.
Talk about your fight that continues to being not only Eitan home but all the remaining hostages.
HORN: We've been fighting since day one, before even knowing that they were abducted for the first month and a half. We didn't know exactly what
happened to Iair and Eitan, but we're fighting to bring all our people back.
I want to remind that at first they abducted 251 people, I think more than 30 were kids, younger than 12 years old. We've been fighting. We've been
going all around the world advocating for them, meeting with people, presidents, kings.
Since Donald Trump entered office, we've been working very closely with all his staff and his special envoy, Steven Witkoff, and they're helping us.
And I think they were the game changer. President Trump was the game changer in this current situation that we're living in. And he was pushing
towards a deal. And this is why I got to hug Iair on Saturday. And I get to hug him every day.
But I'm sitting and having a coffee with him here in Israel. And he looks at me and he says, Dalia, I am still in Gaza. I'm not free. It looks like
I'm here, but I'm not. Because he's talking about the starvation and the torture.
And, you know, he told me that every day for them was as if it's their last day, because every minute could have been, you know, those terrorists, they
just could have shut them because they were, you know, all the time playing with them and making them do things and torturing them and telling them
that they're going to execute them.
And I cannot even imagine living for 498 days because this is when Iair was released, knowing that every second might be your last one. And he left --
he left his brother there.
GOLODRYGA: It is the unimaginable. And Eitan, we should know, is part of phase two. His release is part of phase two, which is something that so
many, the majority of Israelis, support moving this fragile ceasefire hostage deal forward to make sure that all of the hostages, including
Eitan, come home.
Dalia Horn --
HORN: Can I add something about Eitan?
GOLODRYGA: Yes, please. Yes. Yes.
HORN: Very brief. Eitan suffering from a severe -- he suffers from a severe skin disease. And he is currently in a bad situation, very bad situation,
according to his brother who just saw him a few days ago. And this is why we need all the support and everything -- everyone and every government can
do. We need to bring back all of the hostages, the living and the dead one as well. We need to be able to close this circle and to finish this
nightmare.
GOLODRYGA: Dalia Horn, we are thinking of Eitan and all of the hostages and their families along with you right now. Thank you for the time.
HORN: Thank you.
GOLODRYGA: And we'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:45:57]
GOLODRYGA: Former Spanish football Chief, Luis Rubiales, has been found guilty of sexual assault against player Jenni Hermoso. The incident
involved a now infamous kiss that Rubiales planted on Hermoso after the Spanish national soccer team won the women's World Cup in 2023.
Rubiales claimed that he asked for Hermoso's consent before kissing her during the medal ceremony but Hermoso denied this.
Rubiales has been fined more than $11,000. He was acquitted of coercion charges and given a 12-month ban on contacting or going near the player.
Well, seven Chilean men are facing serious federal charges in the U.S., accused of stealing more than $2 million worth of property in a series of
burglaries. Their alleged targets included some of the biggest names in sports. As Polo Sandoval found out, the capers were well-planned, but then
came the selfies.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): While Milwaukee Bucks forward, Bobby Portis, was on the NBA court last November, authorities say
a team of burglars was stealing nearly $1.5 million worth of property out of his home. The hit is detailed in a newly-unsealed federal criminal
complaint.
In it, FBI agents share a selfie obtained through a search warrant showing alleged members of a so-called Chilean South American theft group. They
smile and show off their loot, including luxury watches in a safe.
Notice one wearing a Chiefs top. Investigators suspect some of these men also hit the Kansas City homes of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and
tight-end Travis Kelce in October.
Prosecutors suspect seven Chilean nationals of comprising a burglary ring targeting the homes of pro football, basketball and hockey players.
According to court records, they traveled around the country to the homes of pro athletes using fake IDs to rent cars and hotels.
PAUL VIOLLIS, CEO, VIOLLIS GROUP INTERNATIONAL: They conduct due diligence on who the marks are. Then they conduct surveillance to see what patterns
of behavior are.
They then go further and conduct a little bit more investigation into the building plans to see points of access. Is this an entire Wi-Fi system? How
do I get into the house? Does it have a backup generator?
They put these things together. They select the mark and the time, and that's how they have a high probability of success.
SANDOVAL: The property stolen during high-profile burglaries since to fuel lucrative demand on the streets. In a separate investigation federal agents
arrested two men in New York City's diamond district this month, they're suspected of buying goods stolen from an NFL star then reselling them in
their store.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLODRYGA: Well, still to come on ONE WORLD, the last time they met, the gloves came off seconds after the puck dropped. The U.S. and Canada getting
ready to take the ice again.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:50:11]
GOLODRYGA: Well, one of the biggest international rivalries in sports, the U.S. will face Canada tonight in the final of the 4 Nations Hockey
Tournament. The two rivals showed how much they dislike each other in their round-robin game on Saturday, when three separate fights broke out in the
first nine seconds of the match.
Now, the U.S. went on to win that game 3-1, but all that matters now is who takes the championship game.
Recent comments from Donald Trump about wanting Canada to become the 51st state have fueled even more animosity between the hockey neighbors.
The U.S. players say they are ready for another big match.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACK EICHEL, TEAM USA FORWARD: It's a game seven, right? Like it's for everything. And yes, I mean, I think it's a -- you know, you're going to
see desperate hockey. You're going to see everything you saw in the first game and more, I imagine.
NOAH HANIFIN, TEAM USA DEFENSEMAN: When we started this tournament, this is the game we wanted to be a part of. We wanted to be in this final game and
to be able to do it against Canada makes it even more special. So, you know, last Saturday was probably the most fun I've ever had in a hockey
game. And I'm sure it'll repeat itself again here Thursday.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Let's bring in CNN World Sports' Don Riddell with a preview to each their own. I'm a huge sports fan, but to call getting into three
fights within just a few seconds time a lot of fun, you know, maybe that's how one player describes it. I don't know how viewers reacted.
But, Don, walk us through what's at stake here.
DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORTS: Well, everything is at stake. These two countries don't get to play each other very often with kind of what they
call best on best, the best players available. So it's kind of unusual. This is a tournament that is brand-new. It's just been created this year,
the 4 Nations Face-Off.
As you can see from some of the pictures, the players have been aiming for the face as much as they have the goal. There's been so much tension and
animosity, not just because of the rivalry between these hockey teams, but also because of what's going on off the ice. You'd referenced the 51st
state, the talk of tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump. The U.S. national anthem is now being booed on a regular basis when hockey games and
basketball games are being played in Canada. And the anthem was booed roundly ahead of the game between these two countries in Montreal at the
weekend.
So, so much tension, so much at stake. This game is already being described as hockey's Super Bowl. And you can see why with the ticket prices up 450
percent. The average price now around $1,200. Certainly, every player involved is absolutely looking forward to it.
GOLODRYGA: And as you noted, extends far beyond --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DYLAN LARKIN, TEAM USA FORWARD: This hockey game is my Super Bowl and it means a lot to me. And, you know, I think with the ticket price and
everything, people are excited about it. And, you know what happened on Saturday night in Montreal. You know, it's got a lot of eyes on our sport
and, you know, I think it's great for the game.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[12:55:08]
RIDDELL: That's Dylan Larkin talking to a CNN World Sport on the eve of this game. So much at stake, as we say, so many amazing players. Canada, I
think, of course, they're going to be playing away from home. They're going to be playing in Boston for this game. Superstar players on their lineup
like Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid.
If the U.S. win, it will have a lot to do with their goalkeeper, Connor Hellebuyck, who is absolutely amazing. And I think everybody looking
forward to this.
When the NHL put this event together, this is the final they would have wanted and they got it.
GOLODRYGA: Well, the U.S. having home court advantage as well.
Don Riddell, thank you.
RIDDELL: All right.
GOLODRYGA: And that does it for this hour of ONE WORLD. I'm Bianna Golodryga. Thanks so much for watching. We'll have more news after a quick
break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[13:00:00]
END
