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Trump at Arlington Cemetery; Macron and Putin Hold News Conference After Meeting; Tiger Woods Arrested. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired May 29, 2017 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Order. Present, present arms.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Order.
ROBYN CURNOW, CNN HOST: It is Memorial Day in the United States of America. U.S. President Donald Trump there walking away from the Memorial
to the tomb to the unknown soldiers, which is in Arlington National Cemetery.
He paid just their respect and his respects to them. And the thousands of other men and women who've lost their lives in wars that America has
fought.
It is a somber occasion. There was a minute of silence. And we do know that this is a president who will be returning in about 20 minutes or so to
give comments, to make a speech at this location.
And we will bring that to you when it happens. But -- but for more on the symbolism, the heavy symbolism of this powerful, powerful image that you're
seeing on your screens right now, let's go to the White House where Athena Jones is standing by.
This -- this is a president, for all intents, purposes, has been controversial, unorthodox.
[11:05:04]
But this is a very formal and traditional rite of passage for any American president.
ATHENA JONES, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. You're -- you're right, Robin. This is a solemn day. The president has already been
tweeting this morning, not about Russia or the media but about this day that he's marking, Memorial Day.
He said earlier that he looked forward to paying his respects to the brave men and women on this Memorial Day there at Arlington. And he said,
"Today, we remember the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in serving. Thank you.
God bless your families. God bless the USA. Those are the kinds of remarks we expect to hear from him a little while from now when he delivers
his Memorial Day address there at Arlington.
The speech is not expected to be very long. It's scheduled to be about 10 minutes. He'll be speaking after his defense Secretary, Jim Mattis.
But yes, this president has been controversial. But one thing that he -- that has been pretty uncontroversial is that he's had a lot of praise for
the military.
We saw him speak to troops just before leaving Italy, praising the brave men and women of our Armed Forces. And so we expect to hear that sort of
thing from him today.
CURNOW: Athena Jones there at the White House. And I want to take you to another spectacular building this time in France. Here is the Palace of
Versailles.
And the French and Russian presidents are about to give a press conference. Let's listen in.
EMMANUEL MACRON, PRESIDENT, FRANCE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): .begin by thanking President Putin for having responded to the invitation which I
gave to him only a couple of days ago since I came to power myself and in this symbolic venue where today, we are commemorating the 300 years almost
to the day of the visit of Peter the Great to France, and to that, to understand the secrets of a realm which had astonished the world. And he
remains several weeks here.
And he stayed in Versailles itself in France, which was really at the apex of achievements, preparing for the enlightenment of the 18th century. And
he was able at that time to discuss things with architects, archivests (ph), scientists.
And he came back to Russia with great ideas, convictions, sketches. We're going to see them very shortly.
And he was elected an honorary member of the Royal Academy of Sciences. And it was there really that he was inspired to modernize his country.
Peter the Great is a symbol of this Russia that wants to open up to Europe and which wants to attract everything which they believe is great and
strong in Europe. And we talked about that just now, particularly in our private conversations.
And what is important in this three-centuries-long history is the dialogue between Russia and France which has never been interrupted between
intellectuals, cultural figures, which have a mutual, friendly relations and which has been continued by our greatest artists, thinkers and
successive statesmen. And you will see the sketch for the commemoration of the sculpture -- the commemorative sculpture of Peter the Great for St.
Petersburg, which is your native town, Mr. President.
Here, you will give (ph) -- find the sketches for it. This Russia that opens up to Europe, the Franco-Russian friendship that I want to share with
you by inviting you here today in Versailles was the foundation for our discussions today, this history which is ours and which really seals our
friendship between France and Russia.
And France has committed itself to Europe and to the destiny of the world. No real question can be treated on these subjects today without dialogue
with Russia.
And it is for that reason that I hope that we could together talk about, as we did for quite some time, all the agenda items which affect the future of
our two countries. We've had the opportunity, therefore, with President Putin overlooking at all these on Syria.
[11:10:05]
I reminded him of what our priorities are. I think that we can work together very closely in the upcoming weeks. It's certainly my wish.
Other absolute priority is terrorism and the management (ph) of the terrorist groupings, particularly Daesh or ISIL. This is the real light
(ph) my team (ph) of our work in Syria, the kind of framework of our coalition.
And I think that here, we can act in partnership with Russia. Afterwards, I hope very much that we will be able to organize a democratic transition
but by also preserving a Syrian state.
I'll just say (ph), in the region, there are many failed states, which are a threat to our democracy. And we've seen many times that they actually
progress terrorist groups.
They're conducive to them. We have (ph) very much -- be able to stabilize the situation, the democratic development of the country. And I affirm
that in my dialogue with President Putin, the first point is a very clear red line to ban any kind of use of chemical weapons.
And any use of chemical weapons will be retaliated by -- by France. And we hope very much that we will be able to work together there and exchange
intelligence on the ground.
Then France will be vigilant also that all the humanitarian arrangements are observed throughout the operation areas in the region because here, the
situation is very complex. And it is essential that the civilian population should not be a victim here.
It's in the framework of these kind of arrangements that I hope that cooperation between our two countries can be reinforced with the will to
find in the long run a political solution which is inclusive, comprehensive and which will bring back peace to the country. As to the situation in
Ukraine, we talked about that in great detail.
And the implementation of the Minsk agreements, our wish -- I think I can say this under the control (ph) of President Putin, is to have another
Normandy (ph) format exchange together with Ukraine and Germany, and make sure that all the elements are shared and that we can, in that format, have
access to a detailed report of the OEC (ph), which is a very important element in the whole region. So this is a process which is a long-term
one.
But both of us exchanged views on that. And I reminded him of my wish to make sure that there is de-escalation of this conflict within the Minsk
agreements.
And finally, on more bilateral issues, I reminded President Putin of the importance of a number of subjects, which are about our values. And -- and
I reminded him of the importance for France of the respect of all peoples and all minorities, all sensibilities in civil society.
We mentioned the LGBT population in Chechnya but also the NGOs in Russia. And on that subject, I very precisely pointed out to President Putin the
expectations of France.
And we agreed to follow that through together. President Putin pointed out moreover that he had actually taken some initiatives with regard to the
LGBT population in -- in Chechnya and is trying to get to the bottom of what is happening with the local authorities and particularly, the most
vulnerable elements.
And I think that that really corresponds to our values as well. We also shared the wish to create a more intensive dialogue between our civil
societies, which will take part in the whole process and also a constructive dialogue.
As far as Russia and Germany's concerned, I am absolutely convinced that for our youth, it is essential that there should be dialogue between our
thinkers, our intellectuals and so on.
[11:15:06]
And there should be a Franco-Russian civil society forum, freedom (ph) of dialogue perhaps, if I could call it that, given the exhibition which --
which is going to inaugurate now. So that will involve our youth and also our research communities.
As far as the bilateral aspect is concerned, I hope very much that we will be able to follow that through and expand it culturally speaking. This
last year was marked by very important events organized by the museums of the Hermitage and the Pushkin Museum.
I want to make sure that our creative people, our musicians, painters and so on can work in the very best conditions. And on that, our ministers of
culture will work on that roadmap.
And I'm delighted, Mr. President, that our recently appointed minister was previously a very great editor. And she was able to list a whole number of
very important Russian writers.
And our wish is to make sure that they are translated, just ask Jekhov (ph) Pushkin as well as the modern writers. We need to intensify our bilateral
relations economically as well scientific projects, partnership projects in the aerospace and energy industries, which in the last couple of years have
lagged behind.
We have to be vigilant that they progress. I hope very much that we will be able to fund these projects between us.
So Mr. President, that is essentially what we talked about from my point of view. And I -- we have talked, we have referred to the fact that we are in
the front of history here.
The battles and victories which are depicted here, we must never forget that they have actually been responsible for the perishing of many men.
You come from a town and a country which has really fought for the freedom of Russia and of Europe indeed.
And it is that entire historical sweep that we are in front of. And I hope very much that we, together, will be able to construct pragmatic and
demanding solutions, which will allow us to overcome the vicissitude of everyday life. Thank you.
VLADIMIR PUTIN, PRESIDENT, RUSSIA (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Distinguished Mr. President, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I should also like to thank,
for my part, the president of France for inviting me to France and to this absolutely extraordinary palace of Versailles, which I haven't yet been to,
which really impresses one, particularly with the grandeur of France and history of France. And Russia and France here very much are closely
related especially in the light of the exhibition to be visited about the reformist Peter the Great's visit to France.
But of course, that wasn't the beginning of Franco-Russian relations. It has much deeper roots. Your -- the enlightened French public opinion knows
about the younger daughter of our czar (ph) Gera Swazterweiss (ph) who was given (ph) in marriage to the king of France and who was at the beginning
of the Bourbon (ph) and another dynasty.
But we talked more, I must say, about bilateral relations, the relations between Russia and the E.U., about the problem areas in the world and tried
to find, together with the French president here, some shared approaches to these very complex issues. And I believe that the interests of France and
Russia are much deeper here than the climate at the moment on the question of Franco-Russian business, while French business, that is still thriving
in the Russia, just like, say, here that not one of the more than 500 enterprises in Russia -- French enterprises, has left Russia despite the
difficult circumstances.
[11:25:26]
Moreover, we see the vested interest of our friendship, friends in progress of enterprise, the trade turnover (ph) actually increased by $250 billion.
Trade is returning.
It's increased by four -- four percent. And this quarter, it was 3.75. So the French president talked about the humanitarian assistance which we
have.
And I believe that we absolutely must multiply youth exchanges. We must have more Russian students in France and vice versa to understand the
history, the languages of our countries.
I noticed that in the entourage of the French president, there were quite a few people who know Russian. I hope they're not all specialists of Soviet
Union but of Russia.
And they brought (ph) a sense of that world and I -- word and I mean, the language and history, the culture of Russia. And I hope that we will be
more advocates, more people who know us better and who can feel us better.
And of course, they will be able to discuss things of mutual shared interest. At the exhibition, which we are going to see now, we have some
of the most valuable exhibits from the state Hermitage Museum, which relate to the visit of Peter the Great here in 1717, which I think is really a big
landmark as I was saying to the president just now in Franco-Russian relations, laying the basis for friendly relations.
I've already talked about the economy and the cultural aspects of our bilateral relations. We talked about the Korean crisis.
We talked about the settlement of the Syrian conflict. And we didn't miss out the very complex, and to my mind, very dangerous situation with regard
to the nuclear issue of North -- North Korea, the missile program.
We have to make sure that we find joint decisions to solve that and to improve the situation. And we agreed that one of the most important tasks
before us today is combating terrorism.
The president proposed that we set up a working group and exchange delegations to visit Moscow and Paris practically -- practically to get
together to work against terrorist threats of which is certainly is extraordinarily important for us and for France, I would say. As far as
other issues are concerned, our situation now absolutely clear.
And it is impossible to combat terrorism by devastating, destroying the state mechanism of a country. And -- but I am absolutely sure that by
concerted efforts, we can get positive results and crush the enemy.
But we can only do it if we will really practical -- in practical terms, unite our efforts to combat this plague -- plague of the 20th and 21st
centuries. I was talking to the president about Peter having stayed in France for a couple of weeks.
But since diplomatic relations are all reciprocal, I have invited the president of France to come to Moscow in return.
MACRON (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Thank you, Mr. President.
[11:25:02]
Questions now, if you wish.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So today, we are commemorating the tercentenary Russo-French relations so that recently, it hasn't been that good. There
have been very positive signals from both of you.
You talked about the setting up of a humanitarian forum. And so could you talk about the renewal of other kind of Franco-Russian -- organization
trips haven't been very successful recently.
And we are also being accused -- Russia is being accused of interfering in French elections, the French electoral campaign. Are you satisfied with
the explanations which have been given? Thank you.
PUTIN (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): You said that we're commemorating the visit of Peter the Great to France. This visit was a very significant element in
the history of our bilateral relations.
How could we not commemorate it? And if there's a wish to do so, we will always find the wherewithal, all the more so because the trade turnover is
reviving.
And we are looking for ways to converge on the international agenda. And we actually have identified ways forward.
And we are trying to find a kind of shared approach to the key problems of today. As far as the interference of Russia in anybody's elections, then
we have already talked about that.
Mr. President shared no interest in that largely, I think, because there is no real basis.
MACRON (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Well, on what you said, we are re-activating, re-launching and have been for some time now, a year, the strategic and
economic dialogue. And we shall be following that through.
We also talked about the joint working group on Shagen (ph). And we agreed and we'll be telling the chancellor of Germany about what we agreed with
regard to the Normandy format and the discussions with the OEC.
I think those are concrete results of our discussions. But (ph) of course, great projects are for the long haul. We began on a very good foot when
President Putin congratulated me in a telegram on my election.
I am very practical man. He told me what he had to say. I told him. And we must move forward.
What is important is to settle specific issues, specific important issues which we talked about during this press conference. So when I say one
thing -- something once, I don't go over -- stack (ph) over it again.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Good afternoon. Mr. Putin, in March, you received or hosted the candidate of the National Front. And you
gave him -- her at least tacit support for the presidential elections.
And there was also the suspicion that Russian hackers have been involved in the French elections. So seeing you both at the podia today, it doesn't
actually seem that Russo-French relations are terribly warm (ph).
But can we talk about them warming up? There's also the question of human rights. You did mention them.
Did you really talk about that in detail? Could you actually make any progress on that? I'm thinking about the Russian journalist, Roman
Sushchenko (ph), for example, and the French journalist.
MACRON (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Well, I'm sure that President Putin will be able to supplement what I'm saying. But I certainly don't, on the first
point, wish to comment on Marine Le Pen's visit to Russia earlier this year.
[11:30:05]
But essentially, it is the French people that decided the issue. The rest is only literature to quote the point (ph).
As far as the campaign is concerned, we talked about that in our first contact with President Putin. But it is certainly not up to me to talk
about -- or diplomacy shouldn't be talking about thermodynamics or things like that.
I think that there is warmth here in this room. Climate is around us. And I think that what we had was a very frank, direct discussion with many
things said.
And for my part, I told him exactly in full what I thought about the various situations. There is a part which is confidential, which I won't
tell you about because that is called good politics.
But I think that we sold -- we told each other absolutely everything. We have shared views. And above all, we can see how to build a shared
activity.
We have to do so because if we don't create the conditions for it, we will never move ahead on those matters. If we don't have a frank, sincere
discussion which is obviously sometimes full of divergences, we will not -- not (ph) any progress either on the Ukraine or Syria or any other conflict.
And then on the question of human rights and the different matters, I told you just now, we spoke about that. We talk -- we talked about detailed
cases.
We must talk about them again. But I don't think it's the case that we should talk about it in public. I am particularly committed to making sure
that there is a specific move forward on all these issues and that they should reflect the values which we defend and are -- which are dear to us.
PUTIN (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Well, the first part and the second part is about -- or conclusive part is about hackers. And I am very interested --
by the way, you put the question -- or at least I got that through the interpretation, you said that people say that maybe Russian hackers are
involved.
Colleague, how can you comment on such a thing? They say -- who was it? On the basis of what? Can't understand that.
And then you said maybe Russian hackers. Maybe it wasn't Russian hackers. And can you make conclusions on that kind of basis?
The press obviously can venture any kind of conclusions. The press exists to comment and put forward various points of view.
But that's not the business of politics. I think that it would be very dangerous to base your approach on something which hasn't been confirmed or
proven.
And then the first -- then the visit about Marine Le Pen, it wasn't the first time that she came. She regularly came to Moscow.
She talked a lot about the emergence of the identity of European peoples. And I don't think that it would have been a good idea to refuse to meet
her.
I also expressed -- I always expressed to her very clearly my views. I'm prepared to welcome anybody always. If Marine Le Pen wanted a visit, why
should I refuse her?
And what is most important for us is that she publicly always was in favor of developing relations with our country. It would have been strange for
us, I think, to kick away European politicians who want to develop broad- based -- develops -- broad-based relations with Russia.
But that doesn't mean to say that we try to influence the elections in France because we realize the reality of French political life. Who is to
understood (ph) really what was going on?
[11:35:00]
And we -- we -- we saw what was going on but as observers. And the last thing, we're not children, you know.
We are in the serious business of politics. And there are fundamental interests of the peoples of both Russia and France.
And this is what will guide my work with France with the president of France.
MACRON (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): On Syria, it is very difficult to get a decisive settlement for one country. Do you think that there is a real
future for France and Russia to work on the Syrian settlement?
And I'd just like to know if the president of France could actually tell us more about facilitating access of our journalists to the electoral
campaign, for example. Well, let me give -- begin by the second question.
And I would just like to say I have excellent relations with journalists, particular foreign journalists. All the politicians have the
responsibility of saying things, deciding things.
And when press bodies put forward fake news, they are not journalists. They are lobbyists. And I believe that the Sputnik (ph) journalists
actually put forward proof which was not right, nothing to do with my person or the campaign, whereas the totality of Russian journalists had
access to my campaign.
And it is there -- it is true, though, that some press bodies did, indeed, interfere with my campaign. But I -- I would like to say that Sputnik (ph)
can't -- Russia did not behave like the press but influence and propaganda organizations.
That is absolutely clear to me. As far as your first question is concerned, I replied to that just now. There are obviously -- will be a
lot of cooperation between our two countries on Syria.
It's just (ph) absolutely indispensable. And that is the basis of the decisions which I -- and proposals I put to President Putin.
I wish -- want for a very strong cooperation because our main priority is fighting terrorists. This is absolute, fundamental. And it is the
priority of all priorities.
The next thing that I want to pursue is to exchange intelligence to be more efficient on the ground. And afterwards so that we can avoid the
dismantling of the Syrian state, the fragilization (ph) of the region with the two red lines that I mentioned, first of all, in transit (ph) with
regard to -- by the use of chemical weapons and secondly, making sure that the humanitarian organizations get access.
And I think there, we can work together. So I want that way to both win the war against the terrorists and to build a political stability in Syria.
And that can only be done by a concerted effort which we have laid foundations for today.
PUTIN (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Well, as you know, France certainly is making its contribution to fighting in Syria, in the framework of the coalition
led by the United States of America. In as much as France is independent in terms of its decisions as to operations, well, I don't actually know
about that because we are not in the picture.
But in our discussions today, we felt that many things -- we assess more or less in the same way from the same standpoint, although, of course, there
are some divergences. But what unites us gives us the ground to suppose that we can actually improve our cooperation.
MACRON (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Well, thank you very much. We will carry on now by inaugurating the exhibition.
[11:40:02]
Thank you very much for your attention. I said four questions. All right, go ahead, the last one.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): I'd like to come back to the question of Syria and like a precise answer from you about the political
process. You said at (ph) G7 that Russia, Turkey and Iran, who have already worked on the Syrian settlement, have worked together.
But you didn't like it. And it was a defeat for the West. I think that's exactly what you said.
So are you visiting a -- more talks with the Syrians to avoid chaos in the state? Are you prepared to open our embassy in Damascus, the first
question?
Second question is about the Ukraine. You also mentioned a process, the Minsk process and the normative (ph) format, but at the same time the G7,
mentioned sanctions -- possible sanctions against Russia -- new sanctions on the Ukrainian issue.
Is that not a contradiction? On the first issue, obviously, we have to invent the framework for this diplomatic process that I talked about, which
I mentioned just now.
But I'd just like to confirm to you that -- that with regard to the de- escalation -- military de-escalation at the region, you cannot satisfy us because we know that, for example, there are terrorists groupings which are
striking us and which are -- are (ph) priority targets. We know there are consequences of that.
And then there's a very big immigration, which have struck Europe. We talked about this with President Putin. And what I want is that we have a
diplomatic framework to build peace.
And in that context, it is absolutely essential to discuss with all the players -- the situation with all the players. And in that process, we
have to begin with an exchange of intelligence with a number of partners and to discuss with all the players in the Syrian conflicts, including the
representatives of Mr. Bashar al-Assad.
For us, the opening of our Damascus embassy is not a priority. As you know, there are lots of people making declarations about -- embassy is not
my obsession.
What I want is a diplomatic roadmap which allows us to build peace and to stabilize this region, at the same time as combat terrorism -- a lot of
pragmatism there. I would just like to remind you of the two demands that we put there, that -- that there should be no weakness with regard to the
use of chemical arms.
There will be an immediate response, and then to make sure that there is humanitarian access throughout the whole theater of operations. That's on
the Syrian issue.
And that is what we'll be working on in the upcoming weeks and months. As far as Ukraine is concerned, I'd just like to say at this stage that I wish
that there shouldn't be any escalation.
We have to work in the framework of the Minsk agreements. And we want to make sure that there is a de-escalation between the Russian and the
Ukrainian sides.
And this is a situation which we talked about together. It is in that context that in the upcoming days and weeks, we will be having a discussion
in the Normandy (ph) format to get full evaluation, assessment of the situation.
It is for that reason that we required a very detailed report from the OEC, which talks about the presence of arms on the frontier, and also, the whole
question of access to these militarized areas and that is very specific. All those points are very specific that I mentioned.
We need a stabilization of the situation but also a de-escalation in the Minsk and Normandy formats.
PUTIN (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): For my part, I would like to thank you for particularly the second part of your question. You asked us how the
sanctions against Russia would help to settle the situation in Eastern Ukraine.
[11:45:10]
They won't help at all. And that's why I would like to urge you and also the media in France to try and get rid of restrictions in trade through the
world. Only free trade, which is free of cultural instruments and political lobbying will help us to overcome unemployment and to increase
the standard of living -- to improve the standard of living for our existence.
MACRON (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Thank you. I think that's it. Now, I apologize. Thank you very much.
CURNOW: President Putin, President Macron holding quite an impressive press conference there at the Palace of Versailles. Let's go straight to
France where Melissa Bell is on the ground of Versailles.
We also have Clare Sebastian in Moscow who was also listening to that.
Melissa, to you first. I mean, I think they're in a gallery there called the Gallery of Battles, which is supposed to immortalize French military
history. What we have here was a freshman president standing in front of France's greatest generals with the Russian president.
It was a very, very symbolic moment. Quite powerful, wasn't it?
MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A very symbolic, a powerful one. And of course, Emmanuel Macron understands how important images are.
We've been talking a great deal about handshakes. He had another firm one, if cordial one, with Vladimir Putin today.
And then of course, this press conference, and you really sense this political novice (ph) really until he was elected France's president, he
had only served as economy minister for a couple of years. Otherwise, he never really been involved in politics at all, Robyn.
And so it was quite impressive to stand -- see him stand there by Vladimir Putin and so firmly take on a number of different issues. For instance, on
the question of allegations of Russian interference in France's election, Vladimir Putin batted them away.
Emmanuel Macron didn't really allow that, pointing out that he'd already said what he had to say to Vladimir Putin on the matter when Vladimir Putin
had congratulated him on his win. And then once he said something once, he didn't say it again, also talking very clearly about the fact that he
believes that certain Russian media outlets were not acting as ordinary press during his election campaign but as machines of propaganda.
And this was a man who did not mince his words in front of the press, far more vague, of course, were on the questions of substance that is about
(ph) Ukraine and Syria, what in concrete terms this meeting here today is going to lead to.
We can expect, I think, on the question of Ukraine to see a gathering once against of the Normandy group. That is France, Germany, Ukraine and
Russia.
And that would be an important step because that was really the only show in town as far as this concrete discussions about how to bring peace to the
country if they have -- even if they have stalled over the last couple of years. So I think that might be one concrete evolution that will come from
this today.
And on the question of Syria, the fact that France believes that it is time, that the rest of the world beyond simply Russia, Iran and Turkey
should become involved once again in the search for peace in Syria and in particular, with the questions of how civilians are treated and
humanitarian access is brought.
Robyn?
CURNOW: Thanks so much. And I want the perspective from Moscow as well. Melissa, thanks for that.
Clare, to you, again, President Putin actually thanking his host, saying he had never been to Versailles. In just a few minutes, they're going to be
touring through an exhibition of Peter the Great -- big focus paid on the historical connections between Russia, between France.
And that's important, particularly there in Moscow, isn't it?
CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Robyn. I think the optics of this really matter here in Moscow. You know, Russia wants to be
included in discussions concerning its national issues.
It wants a seat at the table. And being seen in Paris just days after the G7 summit, which, as you know, it was booted out of three years ago over
the conflict in Ukraine, this is extremely important.
And I think Russia will be focusing on what appears to be an offer of almost a clean slate from President Macron. He said, you know, that we
need to move forward, that Russia really needs to be involved, and -- and part of the conversation in resolving issues like Syria, that combating
terror and things like that are much more important.
And -- and you know, there was -- there was only very fleeting references to things like, you know, the alleged hack by Russia on the election in
France. And -- and you know, even issues of -- of human rights, that wasn't -- I will say, we had a little more from Macron than we've ever
heard from Putin on the issue of Chechnya and the treatment of gays there.
He said that President Putin had -- had -- had said he will look into it. We've certainly not heard that from the Kremlin before.
But I think it was a particularly interesting moment where they do disagree at the very end of that question about sanctions.
[11:50:05]
Putin took the opportunity to get in very strongly and say, they absolutely do not help in the -- in the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine. That
was something that we hadn't heard before in that conversation.
And so you can see that there's -- there's certainly a lot of positive here for Russia but still areas where the two sides disagree.
CURNOW: Yes, President Putin saying we're not children, you know, where (ph) this is a (ph) serious business of politics. Certainly, a fascinating
piece of political theater that has played out before us in the last 45 minutes or so.
To Melissa and to Clare, thank you so very much. I'm Robyn Curnow, and more news after the break. Stay with us. You're watching CNN.
[11:50:41]
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CURNOW: You're watching CNN. This is "Connect the World." I'm Robyn Curnow at the CNN center. And I want to bring you up to date on a story
that has just been breaking.
We understand that golfer, Tiger Woods, was arrested on Monday morning on suspicion of driving under the influence. This was in Florida.
Let's go straight to Alex Thomas for more on this.
Alex, what are you hearing?
ALEX THOMAS, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: We know precious little more information than what you've just told our -- our viewers, Robyn --
arrested for driving under the influence. We don't know if it was (ph) alcohol or if it was drugs.
And we also don't know if there was anyone else in the car. It seems like he was detained for around seven hours, released after 10:00 o'clock in the
morning, local time.
But if true, as it appears to be, we've had it confirmed now, it certainly summed up a pretty miserable year for Tiger Woods. He's had to have yet
more surgery on his back.
This really looks like it could possibly be the end of one of the greatest golf careers in the history of the sport. He said only last week, that
"I've never felt better."
But if we take a look at the -- the mug shots that's come out from this arrest for DUI in Florida in the early hours of the morning, we can see
that really, his expression tells us a very different story. As I said, this is a man who has been arguably one of the greatest golfers of all
time.
There's one or two names that could be put above his. But in terms of his achievement in the sports, there are very few that can match what he has
done.
And we don't want to put two and two together. But if this is someone that's really contemplating whether or not he'll ever get to play at the
highest level of golf again, when it's been his whole life, well, who knows the reasons behind his alleged drunk-driving offense.
We'll have to wait and see when more details come out. But yes, a -- a sorry episode for Tiger in what's been a miserable few years for him.
CURNOW: Yes, we heard from the police that it's unclear, as you said, if he tested positive for alcohol or drugs. And we're -- we're asking what
the consequences of something like this is.
And also, this is not the first time he's got into trouble.
THOMAS: Well, yes, you could say that his career went into a bit of a spiral from 2008. That's when his injuries first got the better of him.
He actually won a major golf championship, the U.S. Open that year, almost on one leg. Such were his injuries, that bad.
And then later that year, you had the incidents where his wife appeared to find out about the number of extramarital affairs he later confessed to.
And he fled their home in Florida and got into a car and appeared to back into a fire hydrant.
Pictures that were broadcast around the world and eventually led to him confessing as to how unhappy he was with what his -- with what he'd been up
to during his marriage. And of course, he and his wife have since split up.
Tiger Woods is now ranked world number 876.
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He was world number one for so many years. He's won 79 PGA tour titles. Only one person, Sam Snead, has ever done better than that.
But his last victory, we have to go back to August 2014, the Bridgestone invitational (ph) there. So it's very unlikely he'll ever add to the title
of 14 majors he's got in his resume.
Robyn?
CURNOW: Yes, and I just want to reiterate for our viewers, Tiger Woods, iconic golfer and sportsman, has been arrested according to Florida police
for driving under the influence. Now, this was at 3:00 a.m. in the morning U.S. time in Florida.
And he was transported to Palm Beach County jail according to the police spokesperson. And he was booked at 7:18 a.m. on May the 29th.
There are a lot of details in terms of times and what might have happened, but not a lot of details on the consequences of this.
Either way, Alex, you say, though, this is a very sad, you know, sad moment for a man who certainly defined golf for many, many years.
THOMAS: Yes. He has done (ph) -- he revolutionized the game of sports. I mean, this is a player who -- the sports where giant Nike seized upon when
he was a very, very young man.
They -- you know, I guess he came along just as the Michael Jordan era was ending, the hugely famous NBA icon in the 1990s. And here was tiger, a man
who looked just as athletic as Jordan or anyone else in the NBA or the NFL, but instead was playing golf, previously seen as a -- a white old man's
sport.
But those days are gone. And he's now struggling to recover from injury and to recover his career.
CURNOW: Alex Thomas on this breaking news that Tiger Woods has been and was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. You're watching
CNN.
Thanks so much, Alex. We'll continue to keep you updated on that story and many more. This is CNN. More news after the break. Thanks so much for
watching.
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