Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

U.S.-Russia Talks Set for Tuesday in Saudi Arabia; Measles Outbreak in West Texas Doubles to 48 Cases; Pope Recovering After Being Admitted to Hospital Friday. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired February 17, 2025 - 04:30   ET

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

[04:30:00]

CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Christina Macfarlane in London. If you're just joining us, here are some of the top stories we're following today.

At least 10 people are dead after a severe storm system devastated parts of the eastern U.S. this weekend. The governor of Kentucky, one of the hardest-hit states, warns the death toll could grow as millions in the region remain under flood warnings.

We're now just one day away from the highly-anticipated negotiations between the U.S. and Russia over the war in Ukraine. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Riyadh in the last hour, with sources telling CNN those talks will begin on Tuesday.

The U.K.'s Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, says he's willing to put British troops on the ground in Ukraine to enforce a peace deal if necessary. He is among the European leaders who are holding an emergency summit in Paris today after getting shut out by the U.S.

Let's bring in Nigel Gould-Davies, the former U.K. ambassador to Belarus. He's also a senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Thank you for your time.

Now, as you can imagine, there's understandable concern about what the U.S. will agree to without Europe and Ukraine in the room as these meetings take place in Saudi Arabia, especially as U.S. officials have provided a flurry of contradictory statements in recent days, which has filled concerns that there is no strategy here for the U.S. and that President Trump may embrace as a result of that any deal with Putin. What are your expectations for what is going to come out of these talks in Saudi?

NIGEL GOLD-DAVIES, FORMER UK AMBASSADOR TO BELARUS: Yes, we really are in uncharted territory. The first thing to say, I think, is that even the Americans are not expecting an outcome, an end to the war, from these Saudi talks. They are envisaged as the first stage in a series of discussions in different capitals.

And I think President Trump has said that he expects to receive President Putin in Washington and maybe himself go to Moscow. So I don't think we can expect anything sort of decisive immediately. But they will be exploring the terrain, the outlines, of a possible agreement.

I think one of the worries here is that the United States is signaling undue haste, I would say, that they are anxious to reach an agreement. And if you are negotiating and you are showing that you're the one that wants to get this done as quickly as possible, that puts you in a weaker position. There's a lot for Putin to exploit here.

[04:35:00]

The second concern is, as you've already hinted, that it's the Americans alone who are negotiating with Russia, but the Americans are also saying it is Europe alone who will have to enforce and guarantee and pay for any agreement that the Americans make over their heads.

MACFARLANE: Yes, and that reality has forced European leaders, some not all, to convene this hastily arranged meeting in Paris today. Many believe this to be the biggest security crisis the U.S. has faced since the Second World War. What will need to come out of this meeting if they're to stay in the room and maintain their ground?

GOLD-DAVIES: I think that's right. It's no exaggeration to say this is the most serious crisis that the Transatlantic Alliance has faced, and Europe has been subjected to a barrage of diplomatic shock and awe over the past few days. This is a first opportunity for them to sit down together and take the measure of what has happened, to discuss more or less calmly with one another in an extended way what is going on, how to make sense of it. That's the first thing.

The second thing is that they will want to agree a diplomatic strategy, a response to what the United States is saying and doing. And also perhaps to side on the messengers because for President Trump, even more than for most leaders, the personal is the political and getting the right people to say the right things will be very important in getting into his thinking.

And the third thing that the Europeans will be doing is thinking about the resources that they can marshal to respond to this situation and in particular to meet the challenges of any peace agreement which, to repeat, seems likely to be agreed over their heads. What do they have? They've underinvested in defense resources for at least a decade.

They're catching up. What do they have on the table? What could they put in Ukraine?

MACFARLANE: Well, on your point about resources and the importance of the messenger, we know that Prime Minister Keir Starmer is due to meet with President Trump later this week. He has stated just yesterday that he is ready and willing to send British shoulders to Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping deal, the likes of which will be being discussed in Europe today. What are your thoughts on what a European security force deployed in Ukraine, you know, after any peace deal is arranged will actually look like? GOLD-DAVIES: You'll recall too that President Zelenskyy over the weekend called for a European army. Now that may be quite an ambition, but Britain and other countries, France too and others, are looking to see, you know, what they could feel in Ukraine itself.

One challenge there is that Pete Hegseth, the U.S. Defense Secretary, said that any European troops in Ukraine would not be protected by the United States, would not be subject to that sort of Article 5 of the NATO treaty.

The second concern is the sheer numbers involved. Now, you know, the best guess is that it would be something like maybe 100,000, 120,000 troops would be needed to sort of police and guarantee a line of contact across a frozen conflict. It's very difficult, especially in the short term, to see how Europeans could muster that sort of force.

Britain alone, for example, has the smallest army since around the 18th century. So we are looking into cupboards that are really quite bare. And so this crisis, like no other, is concentrating European minds on just what it is that they have available, and the messages they will need to send to their own domestic populations about the urgency of this crisis.

MACFARLANE: Yes, a lot to contend with. Uncharted territory, as you said at the top there. Ambassador, we appreciate your thoughts. Thank you.

Mourners laid flowers in Moscow on Sunday, one year after the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Supporters filed by his graveside expressing their sadness not only for themselves, but for the country.

Navalny died last February after collapsing and losing consciousness in a Russian penal colony. His mother also visited the grave and praised the bravery of his followers, who could risk possible reprisals by honoring her son.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LYUDMILA NAVALNAYA, ALEXEI NAVALNY'S MOTHER (through translator): I know how hard it is. I understand the fears of those who come here, no matter what. I sincerely believe that those who come here are, for me, the best people in Russia, because that's patriotism.

[04:40:00]

When you love your country and want to make it a little better, Russia should be happy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: Well, Navalny's widow, Yulia, encouraged people to continue fighting for a free and peaceful Russia, to make her husband's dream come true. She said she spent the last year trying to continue his work and says he's still an inspiration to Russians. Navalnaya has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of being responsible for Navalny's death, but the Kremlin has denied this.

Now 20 countries issued a joint statement marking the first anniversary of Navalny's death on Sunday.

It said we reiterate that the ultimate responsibility for his death lies with the Russian authorities. One year on, Russia's dire human rights record continues to deteriorate. The Kremlin crushes peaceful dissent, maintains a climate of fear and undermines the rule of law.

The United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and several European countries were among the signatories on the statement. The U.S. was not among them.

Up next, an update on the health of Pope Francis as he recovers from bronchitis in the hospital.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MACFARLANE: Western Texas is grappling with a health crisis as officials struggle to contain a measles outbreak. Cases have doubled in the last week. They're now at 48.

And the majority of them involve children 5 to 17 years old. CNN's Julia Vargas Jones has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JULIA VARGAS JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This outbreak started in Gaines County in West Texas but has now spread to neighboring counties as well. Wayne, Terry, and Yoakum counties now are part of this outbreak. They have vaccination rates lower than the recommended threshold for this area.

Experts say that the risk of further transmission remains high. But they are putting in measurements to try and curb the spread of this virus. Clinics have been open now in extended hours seven days a week. And last week about 80 people got their MMR shots, their measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines.

[04:45:00]

But this area, one in about five kindergartners is not vaccinated against measles. That is the highest exemption rate in the county. About 18 percent, according to the Texas Department of Health.

Measles is an extremely contagious virus that it spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. And in some cases, it can lead to blindness, pneumonia, and swelling of the brain. And it can be deadly, especially for those unvaccinated people or under- vaccinated, those who haven't completed their second dose of the vaccine, and for children under the age of five.

The CDC warns that once an outbreak starts in an area with low vaccination rates, it is extremely difficult to contain it. And now the virus spreading over to New Mexico after two adults were diagnosed with the virus after a teenager, unvaccinated teenager, was also diagnosed in Lea County, just across the border from Texas.

Authorities nationwide are warning parents to make sure that their children are vaccinated to check those vaccine cards and help curb the spread of this virus so it doesn't go even further.

Julia Vargas Jones, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MACFARLANE: The Vatican says Pope Francis is in a stable condition as he remains in hospital. The 88-year-old pontiff was admitted to hospital on Friday and has been undergoing treatment for bronchitis. Pope Francis has been suffering from the respiratory illness for a number of days.

Let's get more now from Rome. CNN's Vatican correspondent, Christopher Lamb, joining me. So, good news that his condition is stable, but not able to leave the hospital just yet -- Christopher.

CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Christina. This is the fourth day that Pope Francis will have been hospitalized at the Gemelli Hospital behind me in Rome, and we don't have a clear timetable from the Vatican about how long the Pope is going to be in hospital. It all depends on how well he responds to the treatment that he's been given for this respiratory infection.

Now, the doctors have told the Pope he must have complete rest, and that meant for the first -- sorry, for the second time in his almost 12-year pontificate he did not lead the Sunday Angelus prayer that he does each week.

He has been ordered to slow down and recover because the Pope, who is 88 years old, had been keeping up a relentless schedule of meetings and public events. In fact, I saw him on the day that he was hospitalized and it was clear in that meeting that he was struggling to speak for long periods because of breathing difficulties.

He has been asking assistants to read reflections and his addresses. He just hasn't seemed to have the lung capacity to speak for long periods of time.

The Vatican update saying that his condition is stable, but we're having to follow this very closely because it is unclear how long he will remain in hospital and we are awaiting further updates from the Vatican later today -- Christina.

MACFARLANE: All right, we shall watch this space. Christopher Lamb there live from Rome. Thanks very much, Christopher.

We'll be right back with some BAFTA's action after this quick break.

[04:50:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MACFARLANE: An update on our top story. Talks in Saudi Arabia aimed at reaching a peace deal for Ukraine. The Kremlin, a short time ago, confirming that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is traveling to Riyadh to take part in those talks. Sources tell CNN those negotiations will begin on Tuesday.

The U.S. delegation includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He just arrived in Riyadh after a two-day trip to Israel. He says the next few days and weeks will determine whether Russian President Vladimir Putin is serious about ending the conflict. And we'll have much more on this developing story in the hours ahead.

Team Shaq won the NBA's first all-star mini tournament on Sunday night. Now this was the biggest highlight of the night. Steph Curry nailing a half court shot. Nothing but nets. He was literally standing on the half court line when he pulled up for the shot. Curry was the game's MVP, helping Team Shaq post a 41-25 win over Charles Barkley's team, Chuck.

Now William Byron has won NASCAR's Daytona 500 for the second time in a row. The 27-year-old took the checkered flag after a series of wrecks on the race's final lap. Byron is the first back-to-back Daytona winner since 2020. The rain caused a three-hour delay after just 11 of the 200 laps. Superstar Danny Hamlin was in the lead coming into the final lap, but his car spun out after crashing into another racer on the back stretch.

And in the Czech Republic, a group of skiers took a trip back to celebrate the sport's history. On Saturday, skiers hit the slopes in vintage-style, donning wooden skis. The event -- very slowly, too. The event is meant to recreate the arrival of skiing in the country more than a century ago. Participants were seen using old-fashioned gear like wool sweaters, hats and ski poles.

I've actually done that myself, and it is very difficult. It's about as hard as it looks. The event began about 30 years ago with just a handful of people. Good to see them keeping tradition alive.

Now, in the spotlight this hour, the BAFTAs Awards saw "The Brutalist" win big for leading actor Adrian Brody and director Brady Corbett. But Papal Selection drama "Conclave" took home the gong for Best Film.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What happened?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They say a heart attack. You know how rumor spreads and one and a quarter billion souls watching.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, God no, Lawrence. It seems the responsibility for the Conclave falls upon you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: But heading towards the Oscars, predictions are still looking difficult. In addition to the favorites, there were some surprises. "A Real Pain's" writer, director, Jesse Eisenberg took the Best Original Screenplay award. He spoke to our Max Foster about the broad appeal of the movie.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JESSE EISENBERG, WINNER, BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY, "A REAL PAIN": I guess the unusual thing about it, but I can't even parse it because it's my own thing, is that perhaps it takes the kind of well-worn theme, which is like Holocaust-themed movies, and maybe comes at it from an angle that feels a little, I don't know, newer or more modern, more welcoming, less sanctimonious than a lot of the movies made on a similar theme. So maybe that's why.

[04:55:04]

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: And in the Best Actress category, Mikey Madison edged out the favorite, Demi Moore, who's been riding high on her comeback performance in "The Substance." Madison spoke to Max about the film she stars in, "Enora."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAX FOSTER, CNN ANCHOR: Why do you think the film hit a nerve? Have you got any feeling for that?

MIKEY MADISON, WINNER, LEADING ACTRESS, "ANORA": I mean, I think Sean makes films about humanity and touches on really interesting subject matter and I don't know. I mean, I think that there was just something really special in the air when we made this film.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: Well, "Captain America, Brave New World" is the number one movie at the U.S. box office.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're not Steve Rogers.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're right, I'm not.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: This is Marvel Studios' fourth Captain America film. It's expected to take more than $100 million on America's Presence Day long weekend, which will make it the fourth highest grossing movie for the holiday. "Captain America, Brave New World" stars Anthony Mackie and as you can see there, Harrison Ford.

It's the 35th movie of the -- 35th, goodness -- of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and it's helping 2025 get off to a better start at the box office. Things are looking up. Takings are up 22 percent so far this year. Superhero films often do well, even without a summer release date and Marvel features now make up all top four films for Presidents Day with 2018's Black Panther leading the pack. Good news if you like Marvel films.

And that is it for me here on CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Christina Macfarlane. Thank you so much for joining us. CNN "THIS MORNING" is up after this quick break. Stay with us.