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Europe Left Out of Peace Talks With Russia; Pope Francis Cancels Appearance; Panda Twins to Make Their Debut. Aired 3-3:30a ET

Aired February 16, 2025 - 03:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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ELENI GIOKOS, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Welcome to all of our viewers watching from around the world. I'm Eleni Giokos live in Dubai.

Ahead on CNN Newsroom, Europe left out. The peace talks to end the war in Ukraine will involve Russia and the United States, but not America's key allies.

Pope Francis will not lead today's Angelus prayer. The ailing pontiff is still in hospital. We'll have a live report from Rome.

And Pandamonium in Hong Kong, these twins get ready for their public debut.

Welcome the show, everyone. And European leaders will hold an emergency summit on Ukraine in Paris on Monday. And that's according to Britain's P.A. media, which says U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer will be there. France has not confirmed the event so far. The meeting will come after Europeans found out they'll be left out of the future of Ukraine talks between the U.S. and Russia.

Now, multiple sources say the talks will be held in Saudi Arabia, possibly in the coming days. The U.S. envoy for Russia and Ukraine says Kyiv will have a seat at the negotiating table. He also says Russian President Vladimir Putin will have to make concessions.

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KEITH KELLOGG, U.S. ENVOY FOR RUSSIA AND UKRAINE: To me, there's going to have to be things like territorial concessions as well, okay? Some of it is unrealistic to expect where you'd want to go to, but it's territorial, it's subterritorial. It could be the engagement of refusing to use force, renouncement of the use of force into the future from a political side. He's not going to downsize his military forces, hopefully get rid of them.

What we're going to try to do is basically force him into actions. And what you want to do is force him to actions maybe he's uncomfortable with.

GIOKOS: Well, the possible talks follow a startling warning to Europe by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He told the Munich Security Conference on Saturday that the days of guaranteed U.S. support for the continent are over and that Europe needs to create its own united army and foreign policy. Mr. Zelenskyy cited two things to back that up. One was the speech by U.S. Vice President. J.D. Vance in Munich, where he slammed the state of European democracies, but not autocracies in Russia and Belarus. The other was Mr. Zelenskyy's recent conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump.

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VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT: A few days ago, President Trump told me about his conversation with Putin. Not once did he mention that America needs Europe at the table. That says a lot. The old days are over when America supported Europe just because it always had.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GIOKOS: Well, President Zelenskyy is now urging Europe to band together.

CNN's Alex Marquardt has more from Germany.

ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: This speech by President Zelenskyy here in Munich was really a rallying cry, a call to arms for Europe, arguing that the United States can no longer be counted on, that Europe cannot depend on American support. Zelenskyy argued that there could come a day when Europe is threatened, and the United States could simply say no to them.

He pointed directly to the speech given by the U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance on Friday that criticized European democracies, went after European political leaders, and Zelenskyy said that that speech showed that the decades of the old relationship between Europe and the United States was ending, and that Europe now needs to adjust.

Here's a little bit more of what Zelenskyy had to say.

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ZELENSKYY: Some in Europe may not fully understand what's happening in Washington right now, but let's focus on understanding ourselves right here in Europe. We must give strength to Europe first. Does America need Europe as a market? Yes. But as an ally, I don't know.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARQUARDT: So, as a result, Zelenskyy is now arguing that Europe needs to create a joint army, essentially what he's calling an armed forces for Europe, not to replace the NATO alliance, he says, but to bring Europe up to the same level of military influence as the United States.

We also heard some remarkable comments from Trump's envoy for Russia and Ukraine when asked what role the Europeans would have in negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.

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And he said, none, that the Europeans would would not be at the table, that these are negotiations between Ukraine and Russia spearheaded by the United States, that the European positions and stances would be taken into consideration. But at the end of the day, it is just those three countries that would really be taking part here.

And that is going to have significant ripple effects. President Zelenskyy was asked about that. He said generally there can be no conversations about Ukraine without Ukraine being involved, and that really it is Ukrainians who should decide because it is the fate of their country that is at stake.

Alex Marquardt, CNN, in Munich.

GIOKOS: Three Israeli former hostages have reunited with loved ones in Israel. Hamas released the three men as part of Saturday's ceasefire agreement with Israel. This is one of the freed men. Alexandre Trifonov (ph) was welcomed home by his girlfriend and his mother. He and other two newly released hostages spent 498 days in captivity, more than 300 Palestinians released from Israeli prisons returned to their loved ones in Gaza and the West Bank on Saturday.

Now, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet with Israeli officials today amid the strange ceasefire with Hamas. Earlier in the week, Hamas accused Israel of violating the agreement. That dispute appears to have been resolved for now.

CNN's Salma Abdelaziz joining us from London with more. Salma, good to see you. A lot of anxiety this week in terms of the hostage release when we heard the news that Hamas didn't want to release the hostages because accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire. How fragile is the ceasefire right now if everything went to plan, but honestly, at the 11th hour?

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: At the 11th hour. And of course, there's the overarching President Trump of it all, if you will. But yesterday, I think mediators, diplomats, those who worked behind the scenes to make things happen will point to yesterday and say, yes, it was a success. You saw three hostages come home. You mentioned one of those dramatic stories. Of course, there was yet another story that of Dick Ohen (ph), whose daughter was born while he was in captivity, a one-year-old girl who he met for the first time.

So, yesterday, Israeli is really celebrating these homecomings. This is the sixth exchange that's happened, so hostages for Palestinian prisoners have been exchanged six times so far yesterday, more than 360 Palestinian prisoners released again in this exchange. But you have to remember, as you mentioned, this is phase one of the deal, 19 hostages total have been released. There's an expectation that 33, among them are some who are dead. So, those will be bodies passed on.

But 33 are supposed to be released in this initial phase. And while there is hope that this phase continues, as you mentioned, there was a back and forth with Hamas accusing Israel of violating the terms of the ceasefire agreement by not allowing crucial aid into the enclave. Diplomats scrambled, of course, last minute to bring Hamas back to the table to make this exchange happen. But you have that looming deadline.

Again, this is the first phase. This is supposed to be the easy part, Eleni. That's what's so concerning. Once you talk about the second phase of the deal, which is supposed to start around March 1st at the beginning of the month, if a deal is made, you're now talking about the really complicated stuff. Where are Israeli troops going to be stationed, if stationed at all? How do you handle the rest of the remaining hostages? What does the future, the political future of Gaza look like? Serious questions that are now possibly not even on the table with President Trump's proposal, if you will, of buying Gaza, owning Gaza, whatever is the latest statement.

And you now have, of course, Secretary of State Marco Rubio on his first visit to the Middle East. He is right now supposed to be meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, Eleni.

GIOKOS: Yes, and we'll be hearing from Marco Rubio later today after these crucial meetings. It's his first trip to the Middle East, and as you say, after that controversial plan by President Trump and his words were to take Gaza, a lot of news around Iran as well. What are we expecting?

ABDELAZIZ: Well, look, he's absolutely going to be welcomed with open arms, of course, by Prime Minister Netanyahu, who has called Trump's plan the first good idea he heard. That was his statement after sitting alongside President Trump when he shocked the world with this statement. So, he is absolutely on friendly territory.

What is most telling about the secretary of state's trip is who he is not seeing. It does not appear that he is meeting with any Palestinians for the agenda that's been provided to journalists. The question is, is there something there that we don't know about?

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That's possible. The latter part of this trip, again, this is a regional trip, so on Monday, he's supposed to be in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. And then he's also supposed to go to the United Arab Emirates. There, of course, he's going to face some serious pushback. No Arab nation has said anything but outright condemnation for this plan. So, he is on welcome ground now, but the question is, when he goes to these Arab capitals, how is he going to sell something they absolutely do not want to hear. Eleni?

GIOKOS: Absolutely a really good point there. Salma Abdelaziz, good to see you.

All right, moving on now, in the world's largest religious gathering marred by yet another tragedy. More than a dozen people, including several children, are dead after a stampede at a New Delhi train station.

Plus, prayer and care for Pope Francis as he fights the respiratory infection in hospital in Rome. Those stories and much more coming up after this short break. Stay with CNN.

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GIOKOS: Welcome back. And at least 18 people, including five children, were killed in a crowd crush at a New Delhi train station Saturday night. That is according to local media reports. Officials say the stampede occurred as part passengers boarded trains headed to the world's largest religious gathering.

This news comes just weeks after dozens were killed in a crowd crush at the gathering itself. A staggering 400 million people attend the festival over six weeks. India's prime minister expressing his distress at the latest deaths on social media and sent his condolences to the victims' families.

Pope Francis is recovering in hospital in Rome right now and no longer has symptoms of fever, and that's according to the Vatican. He's not only receiving care, but also prayers while being treated for a respiratory tract infection.

Joining us live from Rome with more is CNN's Vatican Correspondent Christopher Lamb. Christopher, great to have you with us. Pope Francis will not be reciting the Angelus prayer today, but the news is that he is recovering easy over the worst.

CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Eleni, we just don't know that. Pope Francis behind me here in the Gemelli Hospital in Rome on the tenth floor with a special suite of rooms for him to receive this treatment for a respiratory tract infection the pope admitted on Friday to the hospital, and the Vatican updating last night with some information saying that he no longer has these symptoms of fever. But as you pointed out, will not be leading the Angelus prayer that he does each Sunday.

Now, Francis has in the past led the Angelus from behind me in the Gemelli from the balcony on the tenth floor, but won't be doing this time because the doctors are saying to the pope, he must take complete rest.

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He has to slow down and recover from this infection. The pope is 88 years old and has been keeping up an intense schedule of meetings and events meeting sometimes just six or seven people up to six or seven people in the morning alone and then having other meetings. For a man of his age, it's been really a huge amount for him to do. And he has been suffering from bronchitis for over a week. He was asking aides to read his speeches because he simply wasn't able to speak for long periods of time.

I actually saw him before he was admitted into hospital in the Vatican and it was clear that he was struggling to speak for long periods because of the breathing difficulties. I saw him when he received the CEO of CNN, Mark Thompson, in a private audience. But, clearly, the medical team here at the Gemelli are saying the pope must rest, he must recover, and he must have the necessary treatment to try and overcome this infection. Eleni?

GIOKOS: All right. Christopher Lamb, thank you so much for that update.

Well, U.S. President Donald Trump and Elon Musk's DOGE team are testing the limits of executive power. They are attempting to terminate thousands of workers across several agencies. Federal judges paused some of President Trump's sweeping actions in a series of rulings on Friday.

In a new social media post, the president said, quote, he who saves his country does not violate any law. Now, that's a quote attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte before he declared himself emperor of France.

For more on how federal workers are reacting to these massive layoffs, CNN's Rafael Romo reports for us.

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There's a lot of fear and anxiety, especially given what one CDC employee, who would like to remain unidentified for obvious reasons, told me that this may only be the beginning and that the cuts may be deep and widespread at the CDC alone. About 1,300 employees may have lost their jobs. According to a CNN source, one of those departments is a unit that has investigated public health threats here in the United States and abroad, including COVID-19.

We have also learned that at least one member of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency visited the Internal Revenue Service offices in Washington on Thursday as part of its mission to downsize government agencies.

Trump administration officials fired more than 300 staffers Thursday night at the National Nuclear Security Administration, the agency tasked with managing the nation's nuclear stockpile, although an Energy Department spokesperson disputed the number of personnel affected, telling CNN that less than 50 people were dismissed. The terminations were rescinded Friday after the full scope of their critical mission became clear.

For obvious reasons, many federal employees we got in touch with are afraid to speak on camera about what they're going through. But earlier, we had a chance to speak with someone who has already received the fork in the road email and wanted to make clear that she was talking to us in a personal capacity and not on behalf of any agency or union. Let's take a listen.

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M.T. SNYDER, FIELD EXAMINER, NLRB: Well, so I was one of many workers who received an email from the office of personnel management that said, resign now or get fired later. That's not a choice. That's a threat. That's a coup. That's a hostile takeover of the government by billionaires. (END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMO: We have obtained several internal emails from the CDC about the lay of some deal with the terminations, but others target diversity, equity and inclusion programs that the Trump administration is terminating.

One message, it's a not so veiled threat against some workers. It reads in part, we are aware of efforts by some in government to disguise these programs by using coded or imprecise language. There will be no adverse consequences for timely reporting this information. However, failure to report this information within ten days may result in adverse consequences. There has been no comment so far from the CDC.

On Tuesday, Elon Musk defended his actions by saying that, quote, the people voted for major government reform, and that's what people are going to get.

Rafael Romo, CNN, Atlanta.

GIOKOS: And still to come on CNN, if there's anything cuter than a baby panda, it's twin baby pandas. After the break, an early glimpse of the cubs ahead of their public debut today in Hong Kong. We'll bring you that story right after this.

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GIOKOS: As you can see, huge crowds braving the scorching heat in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday to dress up, drink and dance the day away at a special Block Party. Its name expresses love for the written press. Legend has it that the party was founded by journalists who met at a bar. Not an unusual stereotype, of course. Now 30 years later, the Block Party draws thousands of revelers and it's one of the parties leading up to the Rio de Janeiro Massive Carnival Festival which kicks off in full on February 28th.

Hong Kong's Ocean Park is showcasing a truly rare sight and it's happening today, the public debut of twin baby pandas.

CNN's Kristie Lu Stout got an early glimpse of the twin cubs and their journey into the spotlight.

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KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Excitement is building for the public debut of super adorable twin panda cubs.

They are so adorable, you just want to squish them.

The first giant pandas born in Hong Kong, they're affectionately known as Elder Sister and Little Brother.

The caretakers here at Hong Kong's Ocean Park say that the six-month- old twin cubs are healthy. They're sleeping right now, but they're walking, they're playing, and they're learning how to climb. Occasionally, they can be a little bit clumsy.

The twins are born in August to Ying Ying, who at the time became the world's oldest known first time panda mom. Since then, they've received round the clock intensive care and have been cared for like human babies, fed by bottle, even burped after feeding.

Hong Kong is a total of six giant pandas, including the twins, their parents, and An An (ph) and Ke Ke (ph), national treasures recently gifted by the Chinese central government. In September, elite police escorted them to their new home, an honor usually reserved for heads of state.

In addition to the six giant pandas at the park, thousands of panda sculptures have been installed across the city, all in a bid to create a sense of pandamonium and help Hong Kong regain its position as a top Asian tourism destination.

PAULO PONG, CHAIRMAN, OCEAN PARK: We see a great uptake from Philippines, from Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia as well. The citywide panda promotion has really generated a lot of excitement.

STOUT: But for now, the twin panda cubs are the star attraction, even while they are asleep. Members of the public can see them in all their cuddly glory, starting from February the 16th.

Kristie Lu Stout, CNN, Hong Kong.

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GIOKOS: There's nothing like a cute panda story to make you feel good.

Well, moving on, Britain's top honors will be handed out in just a few hours. David Tennant will host the star-studded BAFTAs in London, and although there are many favorites, the awards are still anyone's game.

Conclave, a movie about the secretive and tense process of choosing a new pope, is leading with 12 nominations, including best film and best leading actor for Ralph Fiennes. It will be facing off against The Brutalist and Emilia Perez for best film.

Now, space agencies are monitoring a newly discovered asteroid that they say could collide with Earth in the year 2032. While scientists' projections show a high probability for a near miss, experts are concerned that the chance of direct impact has grown in recent weeks.

CNN's Derek Van Dam has the latest.

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DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: As if 2025 hasn't had enough anxiety already, there is one more thing to add to your list of things to worry about. How about a potential asteroid strike in the year 2032? That's right. Scientists have found an asteroid with a low probability, a low likelihood of impacting the planet, and that's what we're going to the year 2032.

Now, NASA says that the chances of a collision are extremely low but here's what's interesting. They have noticed that those chances have nearly doubled since January, and it's gotten the attention of astronomers to and scientists, rightly so.

So, enter in Asteroid 2024 YR4. There it is darting across the T.V. screen there. We've circled it in that green circle. It's moving at a roughly 38,000 miles per hour as well, and it's got a trajectory that could bring it into Earth's orbit. Here's an artist's rendition of what the similar asteroid could look like, 2024 YR4. And this particular asteroid is roughly estimated to be about 130 to 300 feet wide or roughly 40 to 90 meters wide.

Now, asteroids of this size do impact Earth every thousand years or so and it can cause devastating localized impacts. But let me be clear. This is not an extinction-level asteroid strike event. So, we need to make that very, very clear. But nonetheless, this has certainly got the intrigue and the curiosity of scientists and astronomers.

Now, what we do know is that the asteroid is moving away from the Earth's orbit as we speak. It will be visible through about early April and then return into the Earth's vicinity by 2028. And in order to capture data about this asteroid, we have to use larger and larger telescope as it moves away from the Earth to actually gain some of that valuable, valuable knowledge and fine tune exactly how close this thing will reach the planets in 2032.

Now, I look at the world in a positive light, glass half full versus glass half empty. So, even though there is a 2.2 percent chance of hitting Earth, I believe that we still have a 97.8 percent chance of this particular asteroid doing a near miss and being a nonevent. That's my two cents. Back to you.

GIOKOS: All right. Thanks to Derek Van Dam for adding to our anxiety about the fate of the world. The fact that the calculations are dynamic and things are changing in terms of probabilities is something to worry about, but perhaps they'll move in the other direction.

Well, thanks so much for joining us. I'm Eleni Giokos in Dubai.

Quest's World of Wonder is up next, and then I'll be back with more CNN Newsroom in around 30 minutes. So, join us for that. See you later.

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