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One World with Zain Asher
Canada Unveils Tariffs On U.S. Goods; Trump Pauses Military Aid To Ukraine After Zelenskyy Clash; Melania Trump Urges Action Against Deepfake Revenge Porn; Zelenskyy Says He's Ready To Negotiate Peace; Trump Questions Whether Zelenskyy Wants Peace Deal; Vatican: Pope Francis Not Out Of Danger; Israelis Wrestle With Release Of Prisoners To Free Hostages; How USAID Cuts Are Affecting Americans; Aired 12:00-1:00p ET
Aired March 04, 2025 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[12:00:32]
BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN ANCHOR: Firing back. Justin Trudeau has just announced sweeping new tariffs on the United States.
ZAIN ASHER, CNN ANCHOR: Second hour of ONE WORLD starts right now.
JUSTIN TRUDEAU, PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA: Now I want to speak directly to one specific American, Donald.
Even though you're a very smart guy, this is a very dumb thing to do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Fighting words, Justin Trudeau's rebuke of Donald Trump.
GOLODRYGA: Also ahead, the rebel offensive in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues. We'll press the government on what's being done to protect
civilians.
And later.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MEGHAN MARKLE, DUCHESS OF SUSSEX: Let's go.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Meghan Markle is back. We've got a first look at the Duchess' brand- new show.
All right. Welcome back, everyone. Live from New York, I'm Bianna Golodryga.
ASHER: I'm Zain Asher, you are watching ONE WORLD.
Six weeks into his presidency, as America upends decades of foreign policy and international alliances, Donald Trump will address the nation.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. In a matter of hours, he will speak before a joint session of Congress during what is one of the most tumultuous times in recent U.S.
history. America's three largest trading partners are now retaliating after President Trump triggered a trade war by imposing steep tariffs on Canada,
Mexico, and China.
A short time ago, the Canadian Prime Minister called the move illegal, and he warned that his country will not back down. Then he made this
announcement.
TRUDEAU: Canadians are reasonable and we are polite, but we will not back down from a fight. Not when our country and the well-being of everyone in
it is at stake.
At the moment, the U.S. tariffs came into effect in the early hours of this morning. And so did the Canadian response. Canada will be implementing 25
percent tariffs against $155 billion worth of American goods, starting with tariffs on $30 billion worth of goods immediately, and tariffs on the
remaining $125 billion of American products in 21 days' time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Tonight's address also comes one day after the Trump administration announced it would pause military aid to Ukraine. That move, of course,
follows Friday's really contentious meeting at the White House, where the American president and vice president, J.D. Vance, essentially berated
Volodymyr Zelenskyy while the cameras were on in front of everyone.
A short time ago, Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the Oval Office meeting as regrettable. And he also said that it's time to make things right. We've
got the story from all angles. We're covering it from all angles, rather.
CNN's Paula Newton is in Ottawa for us. Oren Liebermann is at the Pentagon. And Alayna Treene joins us live now from the White House.
Paula, let me bring you in to talk about what Justin Trudeau said there in that press conference in front of the cameras. He spoke to the American
people. He spoke to Canadians. It was a very different Justin Trudeau compared to what we saw previously. It was very much, no more Mr. Nice Guy.
Obviously, he hasn't got that long left in office, but walk us through what the Canadian reaction to that speech is likely going to be.
PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: For sure, it was Justin Trudeau unplugged. And as you rightfully point out, Zain, he doesn't have long for this job.
He didn't need to be nice. And I think he got a lot of things off his chest about this administration and Donald Trump in general, so he chose to speak
to the American people directly and then Donald Trump.
But the language was just so direct and so clear, basically saying that this issue of fentanyl over the border, that this was a pretext, that
Donald Trump wanted to bring on this trade war. And that is directly, Zain, what they are calling it here in Canada, a trade war, with all of that,
that entails. That the fentanyl issue is a pretext, and that he's doing this in order to bring the Canadian economy to its knees.
I mean, just let that sink in for a moment. What he is saying is that the United States government, right now, in its current form, is a threat, a
clear and present danger to Canadian way of life and its economy. He also spoke to Canadians and said, look, this is going to be tough. I don't want
to sugarcoat this, but he said that they -- Canada and Canadians will stand up to the United States.
[12:05:12]
Speaking those so directly to the American people, he said, you can blame your administration, your government for why this is happening.
But then I also have to point out that he opened the speech by saying that the United States, instead of taking the side of an ally, a close friend,
that instead the United States, the Trump administration, was choosing to align itself with Russia, a murderous dictator, in Trump's words, in
Vladimir Putin.
And that really strikes to the heart of what's going on here, Zain. This is a complete wholesale detachment, decoupling, if you will, from the United
States and its closest allies. And Trudeau certainly had a warning about that as well later on in the press conference, when asked if he'd been
speaking to allies. And he was just in Europe, he was just in that meeting about Ukraine, and he made it clear that he was speaking to European allies
and others about what they can expect from, and I'll use the words of the Foreign Minister here, about an absolutely unstable, in her words, and
chaotic Oval Office.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. And he went on to say, try to make sense of that with the president of the United States aligning himself with a murderous dictator,
referencing Vladimir Putin. Paula, thank you.
Alayna, let's turn to you. These are tariffs that the president said would go into effect over the last few weeks. I know that many Americans and
Canadians, and let's be honest, countries around the world were hoping that they could stave off these tariffs, and yet, we see how the market is
responding.
And interesting to hear from the prime minister say that he had tried to reach out to President Trump, over the course of the last few days, to
speak with him. And the takeaway was that he didn't seem to be able to get a hold of him. How is the White House responding in the moments after we
just heard from the prime minister?
ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, we haven't heard yet from the president directly, Zain and Bianna, but I can say that this harsh
language that we've heard from the prime minister, as Paula pointed out, and both of you pointed out, some of the harshest language we've actually
heard from Trudeau, really ever since he's been in office. That is likely to get a response, particularly that part where he addressed him directly
saying, Donald, arguing that you are smarter than this, this is a very dumb move. That is likely to receive some sort of reaction, whether it's public
or private, you can expect they will be reacting.
But one key thing to keep in mind with all of this, is the domestic angle, because in my conversations with White House officials, Trump
administration officials, that is really going to be the thing that could change the president's mind on this.
I mean, look at the stock market in the United States, over the last two days. It has dropped some 1,300 points. We've heard from Target CEO today
saying that they are likely going to have to raise prices and that consumers are buying less in light of this news.
That is the opposite of what we have heard from the president and from the White House itself, saying that this actually shouldn't have an
inflationary effect, that this shouldn't really affect the economy in the long term.
So if and how this does change that is something to keep in mind. But again, it was very striking to hear that from Trudeau. He also did say
that, you know, he noted that he doesn't believe that the tariffs were about fentanyl.
Now, we did hear the president say yesterday that he believed there isn't room for Canada and Mexico to negotiate on this. And I think you're exactly
right. I think it's not even just Ottawa and Mexico City that we're hoping the president could back off, that they could do some sort of, you know,
continue these negotiations. Their actions would change what had happened.
But so was, you know, people on Wall Street and people on Capitol Hill hoping for this. I'm actually very curious to see what the reaction to some
of what the president will say at the joint address to Congress this evening when he talks about tariffs, he said. And I know from my
conversation with White House officials that tariffs is expected to be a focus of this speech.
How will that reaction from Republicans, both in the House and Senate, be to this? Because this is something that has made some Republicans as well,
not just Democrats, uneasy. But again, to get back to that relationship between Trudeau and the president. I mean, this is something that has
deteriorated, not just because of these tariffs, but in recent months we've really seen the breakdown of that relationship.
And, of course, I mean, keep in mind, Canada is one of the United States' long-has-been strongest fiercest allies, very much a change in what we are
seeing, and not very different from some of the rhetoric we've seen the president use with other countries, including Ukraine, which of course is
also going to be a major focus of that address this evening.
Because even though it is a joint address to Congress, we know that the entire world will be watching. And I know as well that the White House
recognizes that this speech will be given on a global stage.
GOLODRYGA: Alayna, thank you. And you've teed us up well for Oren Liebermann. Let's bring you in because in just the last few moments, we
have heard from Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in a tweet or a post on X say that he would like to reiterate Ukraine's commitment to peace, saying that
Ukraine is ready to bring this war to an end and ready to come to the negotiating table, saying that he is regrettable, that chaotic scene that
we saw at the Oval Office last week, and that Ukraine is ready to both sign the minerals deal and is grateful for U.S. military aid.
[12:10:32]
Is this viewed as a win for the White House now, given the public pressure and the harsh rhetoric seemingly only directed at one country, and that is
the country that was attacked, Ukraine, from the president tonight?
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: That's a very good question. We'll have to wait to see if the White House effectively turns the flow of
U.S. aid Ukraine back on, or whether they want to see something more dramatic coming from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Frankly, whether they want to see more, or whether they want to see some level of groveling coming from Zelenskyy towards the White House. We saw
how incensed and offended the White House claimed they were from that chaotic meeting last week at the White House between President Donald
Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and Zelenskyy.
They said they wanted to see much more of a partner for peace in their minds, somebody who could negotiate. Well, that's the message they just
heard. Is it enough or does the White House demand more? We'll see if we get a statement from the White House or from the Pentagon on whether the
flow of aid has been continued here.
Ukrainian officials, as well as American officials and analysts have said that Ukraine can certainly stay in the fight for now, perhaps for a matter
of weeks or some months into early summer, based on not only what they have so far, but also the continued flow of European aid, but even that too will
run out before long.
The U.S. provides about half of what Ukraine uses in the fight from foreign countries. Ukraine, of course, does have its own defense industrial base,
but the impact of cutting off U.S. aid will be felt and it will be felt before long.
An analyst from the Center for Strategic and International Studies here said the pause in aid will have a crippling effect if it continues.
GOLODRYGA: And not to mention psychologically as well. Oren Liebermann, at the Pentagon, Alayna Treene at the White House, and Paula Newton in Ottawa
for us. Thank you so much.
Well, let's get some perspective from "The Washington Post" columnist, Max Boot, who is also a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.
And sticking with Ukraine, Max, it is good to see you. By the way, welcome to the show.
What do you make of this post from Volodymyr Zelenskyy seemingly caving into a lot of the pressure from both the president and the vice president
and their top advisors who have known to be very hawkish against Russia just up until joining this administration, saying that they are -- said
that Ukraine's thankful, that they're ready to sit at the negotiating table, they're ready to sign the minerals deal.
This coming after the U.S. said that they would pause aid. I mean, what does that tell you about the relations between these two countries and the
type of support that Ukraine will be getting from the United States going forward?
MAX BOOT, COLUMNIST, THE WASHINGTON POST: Well, I'm not sure that I would say that President Zelenskyy is necessarily caving to President Trump and
Vice President Vance, but there is no question that the U.S. has a lot of leverage over Ukraine as the number one supplier of weapons to that
country. And that is something that President Zelenskyy is very cognizant of, even though I do believe that Ukraine can stay in the fight.
If it does not have U.S. supplies, the cost of that fight will soar astronomically. It'll be paid in Ukrainian blood. Ukrainian cities will be
hit by Russian attacks in a way they have not been up until now if Ukraine cannot get resupplies for its American-made Patriot air defense systems,
for example.
And so I think President Zelenskyy is very cognizant of that, but he is not backing off of what he stressed in the White House on Friday, which was the
need for Ukraine to have security guarantees if there is going to be any kind of lasting peace deal.
And that's something that President Trump and Vice President Vance don't want to hear, but that's the reality, unless they're just going to
negotiate something that will result in Ukraine's ultimate defeat. And, of course, President Zelenskyy is doing his damnedest to keep his nation alive
in the face of this continuing, unprovoked Russian invasion.
ASHER: Yes. It's going to be a difficult few months in this war against Russia, as you point out, without additional aid coming from the United
States. Our Oren Liebermann was talking about the fact that Ukraine can realistically afford to probably stay in this fight until about the summer,
for another sort of four to five, maybe six months, especially when you consider what they're getting from the Europeans as well.
[12:15:01]
So my question to you is, how does Putin react to this move, this move by the U.S. to halt military aid to Ukraine? Will he use this to possibly
delay negotiations and use this as an opportunity to strengthen his position on the battlefield first, before going to the negotiating table
with the U.S. and Ukraine? What are your thoughts on that?
BOOT: Well, if Trump's goal is to get Putin to come to the negotiating table and to produce a lasting agreement, the most self-defeating, most
self-destructive, most ridiculous thing that the president can possibly do is to cut off aid to Ukraine, because basically, when Putin sees that, what
is Putin's incentive to stop fighting, to stop advancing?
And in fact, the Kremlin has not given any indication that it is willing to do even a ceasefire in place. In fact, they've repeatedly said they won't
do that.
The only way to put pressure on Putin to actually get serious about negotiating is to make clear that if he doesn't come to the negotiating
table, Ukraine will be strengthened by the United States and its allies.
But right now, President Trump is sending the opposite message, suggesting that the longer that Putin waits, the weaker that Ukraine gets. So what is
Putin's incentive to negotiate under those circumstances? It doesn't make any sense.
GOLODRYGA: Even if you gave the president of the United States the benefit of the doubt by saying that he plays the role as a neutral mediator, all of
the headlines that we've been seeing in the moves that have only been apparently helping Russia in offering concessions from the United States in
dangling carrots from halting offensive cyber-attacks, so there's reports that the White House may be even considering lifting some sanctions.
And now Elbridge Colby, who is the Trump's nominee for the undersecretary of defense for policy, refuses to say that Russia was the aggressor here,
something that the president himself has refused to do.
Does that even suggest to you that the actions of a neutral mediator?
BOOT: No, I don't -- I don't see neutrality in what the White House is doing, because remember, Trump does not hesitate to attack President
Zelenskyy. He actually called President Zelenskyy a dictator, even though President Zelenskyy is democratically elected. But Trump refuses to call
Putin a dictator, even though he actually is a dictator. So he is not actually adopting a neutral posture. He is leaning in towards Russia. And
he is very clearly communicating that in his mind, Ukraine is the obstacle to peace which is an inversion of reality.
The reality is Ukraine was invaded by Russia, did nothing to provoke that invasion, and it's up to Russia to stop invading Ukraine. Russia could end
the war tomorrow simply by ending its continuing offensive and sending its troops home, so they're not illegally occupying Ukrainian territory.
So I think any objective observer recognizes that Russia is the obstacle to peace, it's not Ukraine. Ukraine is only an obstacle to a peace deal which
is very one-sided and leaves Ukraine vulnerable to future Russian aggression.
And I'm very concerned that's exactly the kind of deal that President Trump and his aides are trying to negotiate.
ASHER: Yes. Listen, we found out a number of times, or we found out during that press conference on Friday that Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin had
spoken a number of times, that it wasn't conveyed to the media at all. We didn't get any sort of readout. But that Trump and Vladimir Putin had
spoken several times over the past few days is what Trump said to a reporter.
So given what you said about Donald Trump refusing to call Vladimir Putin a dictator, but instead calling Zelenskyy a dictator, members of the Trump
administration, as well as Republicans, are also saying that they don't want Zelenskyy in that position anymore. They think that he should be
removed and that they should be negotiating with someone else.
Given all of that, is there anything realistically that Zelenskyy can do at this point to salvage the relationship with the United States so much so
that it actually changes the U.S.'s calculation about siding with Russia and also brings Ukraine to have some kind of meaningful role in the
negotiations going forward?
BOOT: Well, that's what President Zelenskyy is trying to do with his peace outreach today, making clear that he does want peace. And, of course,
nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians, because they're the ones who are getting killed, they're the ones who are seeing so many of their people
destroyed in this Russian offensive and so many of their cities destroyed in this Russian offensive.
So, obviously, President Zelenskyy wants peace. And I think he's trying to change the discussion by endorsing this French proposal for a limited
truce, at least calling off attacks on population centers, on energy supplies, and so forth, and trying to create some breathing space for
negotiations.
I don't have a lot of confidence that his gambit today will succeed, but at least he's sending a signal to global opinion and to American opinion that
he is not an obstacle to peace in the way that he's being portrayed by the Trump White House.
[12:20:09]
And I think that there is unease, even within the Republican Party, despite Trump's domination. I think there is unease among many Republicans with the
way that Trump seems to be siding with Putin over Zelenskyy. That is not what America is all about.
And I think a lot of Republicans, as well as independents and Democrats are offended by that stance. And I, you know, think there will be some pressure
on Trump to relent.
But how all that plays out, really impossible to say because, you know, President Trump is nothing of, if not unpredictable and mercurial. And so
you could certainly see a change, but right now, all the indications are, you know, very worrisome that the U.S. is applying pressure to Ukraine, but
not applying pressure to Russia and how President Trump thinks that's going to produce a durable peace accord. I don't know.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. Where is that pressure from everyone who called themselves Reagan Republicans? I see that biography, a great book, by the way, highly
recommended. I'm almost finished with it, Max --
BOOT: Thank you.
GOLODRYGA: -- behind you on Ronald Reagan.
BOOT: Appreciate it.
GOLODRYGA: -- who spoke truth to power when it came to what he called the evil empire. So many of these Republicans have long time called themselves
Reagan Republicans, including, I believe, the president himself.
And I can only imagine what Ronald Reagan would be thinking at this point now withholding aid to Ukraine, a democratic country that was illegally
invaded, not once but twice.
Max Boot, thank you so much for joining us.
BOOT: Thanks.
ASHER: All right. Still to come.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MELANIA TRUMP, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: Surely as adults, we can prioritize America's children ahead of partisan politics.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Melania Trump's first public remarks since her husband returned to the White House.
And later.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SADIE HEALY, TRACKING JOB LOSSES FROM FOREIGN AID FREEZE: Thirteen thousand Americans that just suddenly lost their job who didn't have a plan and
didn't know this was coming.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: How President Trump's funding cuts are taking a toll in North Carolina. We'll hear from out of work federal contractors who are now
facing hardship.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GOLODRYGA: Well chaos erupted inside Serbia's parliament Tuesday as opposition lawmakers threw smoke bombs and tear gas in support of
protesting students.
ASHER: Four months of student-led demonstrations have drawn in teachers, farmers and others to become the biggest threat yet to the Serbian
president's decade-long rule, with many people joining the protest to denounce corruption and incompetence in government. At least two lawmakers
were injured during Tuesday's incident, including one who suffered a stroke.
[12:25:17]
GOLODRYGA: It's not a scene you see every day. Meantime, Melania Trump has made her first public remarks of her husband's second term in office.
ASHER: Yes. The American first lady is lending her support to a bill aimed at protecting Americans from deepfake and revenge pornography.
Sunlen Serfaty reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): First Lady Melania Trump making her first solo public appearance in over a month since
her husband was inaugurated.
M. TRUMP: It is imperative that we safeguard children from mean-spirited and hurtful online behavior.
SERFATY (voice-over): Appearing on Capitol Hill today to advocate for a bill that would protect Americans from deepfake and revenge pornography,
the Take It Down Act would criminalize the publication of nonconsensual, intimate imagery, including A.I. generated pornography, and could require
social media networks to remove all content after being notified by a victim.
M. TRUMP: It's heartbreaking to witness young teens, especially girls, grappling with the overwhelming challenges posed by malicious online
content like deepfakes.
SERFATY (voice-over): In the president's second term, The First Lady has spent very little time in Washington, not seen at the White House for a
nearly month long stretch between January 24th and February 22nd, with very few public appearances.
M. TRUMP: That's so sad.
SERFATY: In January, the First Lady traveled with her husband to North Carolina and Los Angeles to tour communities damaged by natural disasters.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The First Lady is here.
SERFATY (voice-over): Bringing a film crew with her, detailing the trip as part of an Amazon documentary about her daily life that she is executive
producing.
D. TRUMP: She really wanted to be here, she said, no, I want to go. And, you know, she sees what happened and she felt very badly.
SERFATY (voice-over): Sources tell CNN the First Lady will be present for major events and would have her own priorities as first lady, but plans to
spend the majority of her time between Florida and New York, where her son Barron is attending college.
M. TRUMP: I will be in the White House. And, you know, when I need to be in New York, I will be in New York. When I need to be in Palm Beach, I will be
in Palm Beach. But my first priority is, you know, to be a mom, to be a First Lady, to be a wife.
SERFATY (voice-over): In the first Trump administration, Melania spearheaded the Be Best campaign aimed at online safety for kids.
M. TRUMP: When children learn positive online behaviors early on, social media can be used in productive ways and can affect positive change.
SERFATY (voice-over): A platform she is reviving today.
M. TRUMP: Every young person deserves a safe online space to express themselves freely without the looming threat of exploitation or harm.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLODRYGA: Melania Trump's guest list for her husband's congressional address tonight could offer some clues about what to expect from the
president's speech.
First Lady's guests include the mother and sister of Laken Riley, a young woman who was killed by an undocumented migrant.
ASHER: Marc Fogel, an American who was wrongfully imprisoned by Russia and released last month, and the family of a firefighter who was killed during
an assassination attempt on President Trump just last year.
GOLODRYGA: And do tune in to see President Trump's address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night.
ASHER: Our special coverage begins 8:00 o'clock in the evening, if you're watching from the eastern side of the United States or early Wednesday
morning if you're watching from London or Johannesburg.
GOLODRYGA: Pope Francis has been in the hospital for nearly three weeks now. We'll take you live to Rome after this break with an update.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:30:34]
ASHER: All right. Welcome back to ONE WORLD, I'm Zain Asher.
GOLODRYGA: And I'm Bianna Golodryga.
Now to fast-moving developments on Ukraine and that White House pause in military aid. Moments ago, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a
statement on X, saying, quote, I would like to reiterate Ukraine's commitment to peace, adding that no one wants an endless war.
He called Friday's disastrous Oval Office meeting regrettable and said he and his team stand ready to work under President Trump's strong leadership
to get a peace that lasts.
ASHER: In the last hour, Vice President J.D. Vance told reporters that the onus is on Ukraine to come back to the negotiating table for that rare
earths mineral deal as well.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JD VANCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're at a point here where neither Europe, nor the United States, nor the Ukrainians can continue this
war indefinitely. So it's important that everybody comes to the table and the president is trying to send a very explicit message. The Ukrainians
have got to come to the table and start negotiating with President Trump.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: The halt in aid could eventually cripple Ukraine's ability to respond to Russian attacks. Moscow unleashed a new round of drone attacks
just on Monday.
CNN's Nick Paton Walsh is in Kyiv and filed this report on Ukraine's reaction to Washington's stunning move.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, as Ukraine is still reeling from the seismic shock of President Trump saying
he is pausing U.S. aid to Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has done his best, it seems, to try and edge towards satisfying the pretty strident
demands from Trump's inner circle for him making amends after the scenes in the Oval Office on Friday.
In a social media posting, Zelenskyy has said that it is regrettable how the incident went down in the Oval Office. It's regrettable that it
happened this way. He also says that it's time to make things right. That potentially answers one of Trump's inner circle's demands that potentially
we see a public apology. That may meet the wording, perhaps.
He also answers another explicit demand of President Trump that he commit to peace. He doesn't exactly say what peace he would commit to and it
wasn't really clear what peace Trump would like him to commit to, but he does say that Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table and that
Ukraine, above everyone, wants peace.
In fact, he goes a little further and indeed begins to spell out parts of a framework for what the opening elements of a peace deal might indeed look
like. And he repeats a suggestion we've heard from the Ukrainian presidency in the past few days that perhaps there could be a more wide-ranging
exchange of prisoners between Ukraine and Russia.
[12:35:05]
And then he also echoes a suggestion from France's President Emmanuel Macron that we heard in the Figaro newspaper late on Sunday that there
could potentially be a partial ceasefire involving the sea, long-range strikes in the air, and also attacks that both sides are doing on each
other's energy infrastructure, essentially confidence-building measures that could then maybe, if successful, lead to a wider-ranging deal.
It is unclear if this post on x.com will be enough to make those around Trump and the president himself feel that Zelenskyy is a committed to peace
and also is apologizing for an Oval Office meeting that frankly most Ukrainians were appalled to watch as they considered that their wartime
leader being bullied by two of the most powerful men in the land.
But it is a bid I think certainly after the pausing of U.S. aid which is having already probably quite a bad impact on Ukrainian morale to try and
make things right. This puts the ball potentially back in Trump's courts, whether he considers this indeed to have been enough.
We are hearing from Ukrainian officials that the pause in aid will potentially in weeks impact the Patriot air defense missiles they so
urgently need to tackle Russian ballistic missile threats. And that by May potentially there could be a critical stoppage or shortage of artillery
ammunition that Ukraine so vitally needs.
Be no doubt there is a crisis here and that may be one that has fermented this response from Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Is it enough to get him back in
talking terms even? Forget the good graces with the Trump administration. We'll see, potentially, in the hours ahead.
But it's a remarkable whiplash seesaw here of emotions for Ukrainians upon whose the outcome of this, really, their lives do indeed depend.
Nick Paton --
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASHER: Vatican officials say Pope Francis is not out of danger following two respiratory episodes on Monday.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. They say the pontiff is undergoing oxygen treatment as his condition remains complex. We're told that he is awake and resting with no
visit scheduled for today.
The 88-year-old has been hospitalized in Rome since mid-February where he has been battling double pneumonia.
ASHER: Our Christopher Lamb has been following the Pope's health issues, joins us live now from Rome. So he's being treated with supplemental
oxygen. He's not breathing on his own. His situation is complicated. There's been so many ups and downs in the past week or so. What are doctors
saying about his prognosis, Christopher?
CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it has been a real rollercoaster following Pope Francis' health crisis. And it is the 19th day
that Francis has been hospitalized for pneumonia in both of his lungs. Of course, he's 88 years old with a history of respiratory infections.
Now, we had the concerning update last night that the Pope had these breathing crises, breathing failures. We were told this morning that the
Pope is off the machine ventilator, but still receiving oxygen at high flow.
Now I spoke to a medical expert about the Pope's condition. He likened it to having a fire in your house. You can put the fire out, but how much
long-term damage has been done?
And, of course, the question is how much longer can Francis remain in the hospital? The longer he's there, the more concern there is.
Now, of course, there's still hope in the Vatican that the Pope can make a recovery, can stabilize people, think his voice is needed more than ever
given events in the world. He's been a strong moral voice, a voice for peace.
And tomorrow is the start of Lent, a time of prayer and spiritual preparation for Easter, the high point of the Catholic Church's liturgical
year. The event tomorrow, Ash Wednesday, the service will be led by a cardinal, not Pope Francis.
And tonight, behind me in St Peter's, there will be another prayer service for the Pope, again led by a cardinal.
Now, all of these prayers happening behind me, beneath the balcony where Pope Francis appeared almost 12 years ago as Pope. And at that time, he
asked people to pray for him and that is what they are doing at this moment when the Pope is in hospital battling pneumonia in both lungs. We are
expecting a further update from the Vatican very soon.
ASHER: As you point out, Christopher, his voice needed now more than ever. You're right, he has been this sort of strong moral guide for not just
Catholics, but people around the world. And when you think about what's happening in the world right now from wars in the Middle East to what's
happening in Ukraine, yes, his voice is -- there is a void and his voice is missed right now.
GOLODRYGA: Everyone wishing him well now. We are paying close attention to this story. Christopher Lamb, thank you so much.
ASHER: All right. To the Middle East. One element of the ceasefire and hostage deal has created a unique pain point for some Israelis. The release
of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. Many of them were not convicted of crimes, nor were they put on trial. But some were convicted of murder or terrorism.
CNN's Jeremy Diamond shows us how their victims wrestle with their release.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
[12:40:04]
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At this cemetery in Haifa, Oran Almog reflects on what he calls the price of a deal to free
Israeli hostages.
This is the price?
ORAN ALMOG, ISRAELI: Yes.
DIAMOND: Right in front of you.
ALMOG: This really huge price for me.
DIAMOND (voice-over): 21 years after Oran's father, brother, grandparents and cousin were killed in a suicide bombing, the man who planned the attack
has been set free.
It is a price Oran says he is willing to pay. Three Israeli hostages are now free because of it.
This was the grisly scene at the Maxim restaurant in Haifa on October 4th, 2003, after a suicide bomber detonated an explosive belt. Oran had been
having lunch with his family. He was blinded by the blast.
Now standing at the memorial dedicated to the 21 victims of the attack, Oran recalls the moment he learned Sami Jaradat, the man who dispatched
that suicide bomber, would be released.
ALMOG: The first reaction has been sort of shocked. I was speechless.
DIAMOND (voice-over): But he says he soon started to see the bigger picture.
ALMOG: I understood that Sami Jaradat will stay in the jail forever. My family who were murdered in the terror attack, they will never return
alive. But living Israeli hostages still come back.
DIAMOND (voice-over): It's something Oran understands better than most. His cousin, Chen Almog-Goldstein and her three children had been taken hostage
on October 7th and were released as part of the November 2023 ceasefire agreement.
Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners have been freed during the first phase of the ceasefire, but most are not convicted murderers like Sami Jaradat.
Of the 1,735 Palestinians released during the first phase of the ceasefire, about 15 percent were convicted of killing Israelis, including soldiers.
Another 18 percent were convicted of attempted murder.
Nearly two-thirds, including 1,000 Palestinians detained in Gaza during the war, were being held without trial.
The remainder were convicted of lesser charges like incitement, a charge that has been used to jail Palestinians over social media posts.
That nuance is often lost on the Israeli public.
DAHLIA SCHEINDLIN, COLUMNIST AND POLITICAL ANALYST, HAARETZ: Israelis believe that a Palestinian that's being held in Israeli detention, by
virtue of being held in Israeli detention, must be a terrorist.
They don't understand that there could be people who are innocent of any charge, who were basically detained for the purpose of this very moment,
the hostage exchange and prisoner release.
DIAMOND (voice-over): Instead, many Israelis think of Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind of the October 7th attack, who was among more than 1,000
Palestinian prisoners released in exchange for the Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit.
Still, a majority of Israelis like Oran have consistently supported the ceasefire and hostage release deal, thinking of the hostages above all.
ALMOG: Maybe somewhere they will meet again. And they feel the full -- the full meaning of this deal and this price to me. Maybe someone.
DIAMOND (voice-over): Jeremy Diamond, CNN, Haifa, Israel.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[12:45:18]
GOLODRYGA: A top official at USAID has been put on leave after sending out a scathing 20-page memo claiming that the Trump administration is keeping
the government from doing life-saving work.
ASHER: Yes. CNN obtained a copy of the memo written by Nicholas Enrich, Acting Administrator for Global Health. He accused appointees of knowingly
placing obstacles in the group's way, preventing work like an emergency outbreak response to the Ebola virus in Uganda.
GOLODRYGA: Enrich says that the White House's actions will, quote, no doubt, result in preventable and threats to national security on a massive
scale.
ASHER: Yes. More than 90 percent of USAID's foreign assistance awards were terminated. That includes aids like this sent to Uganda. And when it's
gone, it's unclear when a new shipment would come next.
GOLODRYGA: Well, U.S. President Trump's efforts to shrink government spending and slash the federal workforce are already having an impact in
North Carolina.
ASHER: Yes. Voters in the swing state backed Mr. Trump in November, but North Carolina happens to be among the biggest recipients of funding from
agencies his administration is targeting. Here's our Kyung Lah with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RUTH GARFINKEL, LOST JOB WITH USAID CONTRACTOR: My job brings in about 75 percent of our household income, with two small children, one still in
daycare. We have a lot of child care expenses. So not a lot of savings.
KYUNG LAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ruth Garfinkel in Durham, North Carolina is not a federal employee. That didn't stop what happened.
LAH: Life changed in January for you?
GARFINKEL: Yes. I worked for a USAID contractor. And without USAID funding contracts, then there's no job for me.
LAH (voice-over): She's taken out a home equity line of credit on a North Carolina house to now stay afloat. Her family, part of an economic ripple
effect of federal cuts, felt acutely in the so-called research triangle of North Carolina, where a CNN review shows in the last fiscal year, USAID
agreed to pay more than $1 billion to groups based in the state.
LEONARDO WILLIAMS, MAYOR OF DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA: Real things are happening. People are losing their jobs now.
LAH (voice-over): Walk with Durham's mayor through the city's downtown, and you quickly learned there are a lot of Ruth Garfinkels here. People who
don't work for the federal government, but for the organizations that receive USAID funding.
LAH: FHI down the street furloughed how many?
WILLIAMS: I believe they furloughed about 200 employees so far.
LAH (voice-over): CNN found more than 300 people laid off or furloughed in the state from USAID-related cuts, but that may be just the tip of the
iceberg. The mayor expects local numbers to climb as subcontractors and other businesses report layoffs.
LAH: That's loss of income directly to the city.
WILLIAMS: The city, the county, the state, but most importantly, the families.
LAH: People think USAID is cutting funding to other countries.
WILLIAMS: It's happening right here in my city. When those jobs are gone, that means I have one less resident that could support the small businesses
here locally. That's one less resident that can contribute to the tax base right here in Durham.
LAH: Making it harder and scarier for some in North Carolina are the trolls celebrating these job losses.
One company that announced cuts in North Carolina shared with us emails like this. Hate letters sent by mail. And if you dare look on social media,
plenty of cheering for the suffering in the state.
BRIANNA CLARKE-SCHWELM, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NC GLOBAL HEALTH ALLIANCE: These are real businesses here in North Carolina. They support other
businesses.
LAH (voice-over): Brianna Clarke-Schwelm leads a North Carolina public health alliance.
CLARKE-SCHWELM: A lot of people are applying for unemployment right now. A lot of people are also pulling their kids out of childcare. They're also
thinking about their mortgages. They're thinking about if they're going to stay in North Carolina, if they can afford to stay living here.
[12:50:03]
HEALY: 13,124 jobs have been lost or furloughed.
LAH (voice-over): Sadie Healey and her business partner have been tracking the ripple effect of the individual U.S. job losses. Organizations and
workers are messaging them directly. Then they use that data and publicly post on their USAID stop work website.
LAH: Walk me through some of the hardest hit states.
HEALY: Yes. You have Florida, you have North Carolina, South Carolina.
LAH: In your perspective, especially having the messaging and the phone calls that you're getting, is this very much an American problem?
HEALY: This is 13,000 Americans that just suddenly lost their job, who didn't have a plan and didn't know this was coming. So maybe they have some
savings, but like, you make cuts and that's going to affect your local economy. Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If I can chat with somebody --
LAH (voice-over): Healey and her partner, Meg McClure, forecast that if all active USAID contracts and grants are cut, the group's base just in North
Carolina, could lose more than $2 billion, but it's already having an impact now.
GARFINKEL: I'd like them to know that they are harming ordinary people, and it's really shortsighted and, frankly, cruel.
LAH (voice-over): Kyung Lah, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARKLE: Let's go.
I've always loved taking something pretty ordinary and elevating it. Surprising people with moments that let them know I was really thinking of
them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Meghan Markle is back. The Duchess of Sussex's new, say that three times, the Duchess of Sussex's new Netflix show called "With Love,
Meghan," is a lifestyle program now available for viewing.
ASHER: Yes. There are eight episodes that offer helpful tips and tricks for being the ultimate hostess, cook, and homemaker. Everything that I'm not.
GOLODRYGA: Me too. Speak for yourself. Let's take a peek.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARKLE: You see where our rainbow is coming together here? And you don't have to do a big platter of this. You could do this with one small row for
your kids for breakfast, genuinely, and it makes the morning a lot more fun.
But can I just show you if you just made one?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please. Yes.
MARKLE: Just a little morning plate. It's a real delight in being able to be a present parent. And it's a luxury sometimes because we all have to
work. We all have a lot of stuff to do, but when you can take a minute to just.
[12:55:11]
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Saturday morning.
MARKLE: Yes.
Finding the fun in those moments makes for a really sweet start to the weekend.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: On Monday, Meghan delighted some of her longtime fans with this surprise appearance at a special screening of her new show. Her children
also paid tribute to their mother by making her a special handwritten card and a bouquet. Oh.
GOLODRYGA: You'll be tuning in, right?
ASHER: You're a huge fan. Bianna loves the Sussexes. Don't you, Bianna?
GOLODRYGA: We've got another hour of programming coming up for you. Do stay tuned to watch "AMANPOUR" in just a few minutes.
I love our two hours together.
ASHER: This doesn't feel long.
GOLODRYGA: No, it doesn't. It feels fun. Thank you so much for watching. I'm Bianna Golodryga, Zain Asher. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
END
