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Flurry of Diplomacy Over Trump Ukraine Deal; Kyiv Residents Talk to CNN After Latest Russian Attack; Ukrainian Drone Attack Kills Three People in Russia; Judge Dismisses Cases Against James Comey, Letitia James; Bondi Vows to Appeal Dismissal of Cases Against Comey and James. Aired 9-9:45a ET
Aired November 25, 2025 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[09:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: Well, this is the scene at the White House where U.S. President Donald Trump is hoping to get his Ukraine
deal over the line. It's 09:00 a.m. in Washington, 06:00 p.m. here in Abu Dhabi. I'm Becky Anderson. You're watching "Connect the World" from our
Middle East programming headquarters.
Also coming up this hour, a U.S. official says Ukraine has agreed to the framework of a deal, but the Ukrainian President says there is still work
to be done. The very latest on where things stand right ahead. Plus, the cases against two of Donald Trump's political enemies tossed out by a
judge.
Will explain why and what might happen next. And refugees under review, the U.S. plans to re interview those who entered the U.S. under President Joe
Biden. A live report from Washington. Stock market in New York opens about 30 minutes from now. Let's take a look at what the futures are indicating.
Very little change on the open is the indication, last hour we heard that U.S. retail sales rose in September, albeit modestly. We're going to check
back in on the open, see how investors are digesting those numbers, of course, at 09:30 local time, when the markets open.
Well, a U.S. official says Ukraine has agreed to end to a deal to end Russia's war. The official saying only minor details need to be sorted out.
Ukraine's President, who has voiced optimism over peace prospects in recent days, says much work still lies ahead. And Russia's position as of now is
unclear.
This news coming as U.S. and Russian officials meet here in Abu Dhabi to discuss the U.S. peace plan. And it follows what is another deadly night of
attacks in Ukraine. Russia launching a barrage of missiles and drones on Kyiv, killing at least seven people.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the attacks hit residential buildings and civilian infrastructure. And Ukraine launched its own deadly drone
attack into Russia, killing three people. Meantime, residents the Ukrainian capital forced to take shelter underground during what is the latest of
these Russian attacks.
Another sobering reminder that despite all the hopeful talk war now well into its fourth year, rages on. Here's what some of them told us earlier
today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I had a car, onions, potatoes and homemade preserves in my garage. There was nothing else there. There was nothing military at
all. It's terrible. What kind of peace agreement can we talk about we see the consequences, but what happened here is terrible and very scary.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't believe what they say on TV, unless it will be something good or bad. It seems to me that this is all some kind of circus
that is all being done for them and not for us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, Clare Sebastian following all of these developments for us from London. You heard those Ukrainians they're speaking to CNN. And Clare,
lots of back and forth on the status of this U.S. peace plan for Russia and Ukraine, of course, has been a flurry of global diplomacy from the right
White House right here to Abu Dhabi.
And we're hearing a U.S. official says that Ukraine has agreed to a framework of a deal. Zelenskyy, though sounds less ready at this point.
Where do things stand? Is it clear?
CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's not 100 percent clear at this point, Becky, but on the face of it, the comments that we're getting from
that U.S. official saying that Ukraine has agreed to a peace plan with a few minor issues outstanding. It's not 100 percent clear what those
changes, really.
We heard from the U.S. Secretary of State on Sunday after those talks in Geneva, saying that they've made a lot of progress and that there were some
issues still outstanding, but none of them were insurmountable. So perhaps it signals a little bit of progress from that point.
But we don't know what exact plan Ukraine has signed up to here, what version of that original 28-point peace plan that came out last week that
has now been whittled down and revised after those talks in Geneva? So, look, and I think for Ukraine, as you said, Zelenskyy has come out and
said, yes, there are paths to peace here, but a lot of work has still got to be done.
There are quite a lot of missing pieces here. Ukraine's allies are set to meet virtually this afternoon, the so-called coalition of the willing to
discuss what's on the table there. There's also the issue of a potential meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump. Zelenskyy said that he hopes to
discuss the most sensitive issues in the peace plan with the U.S. President.
[09:05:00]
And one of his top aides came out on X this afternoon calling for that meeting to happen at the earliest possible date, in November. So, it's
clear that they want that to happen soon. And then, of course, the biggest issue of all, and perhaps the most difficult part and all of this Becky, is
Russia.
ANDERSON: Well, all eyes now on Russia and how they may react, what they are going to say at this point? What are officials at least they're saying
to date?
SEBASTIAN: Well, I think Russia has made its position quite clear, Becky, over the last few days. We heard from President Putin on Monday, who said
that the 28-point plan, the text of which Russia had seen that came out last week and that we believe arose from talks between Russia and the U.S.
over the past few weeks, that, that could form the basis for negotiations.
I think it's clear, given that it involved territorial concessions from Ukraine and things like a commitment never to join NATO, that certainly are
those, certainly are points on Russia's wish list there. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a press conference today, and he fleshed out that
position even further. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SERGEY LAVROV, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: We have channels of communication with our American colleagues, and they are being used. And we are awaiting
their version, which they consider an interim version, in terms of completing the phase of coordinating this text with the Europeans and
Ukrainians.
Then we will see, because if the spirit and letter of Anchorage are lost in the key understandings we have documented, then of course, the situation
will be fundamentally different. But so far, I repeat, no one has officially communicated anything to us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SEBASTIAN: So, there's a few things to unpick there, Anchorage he's referring to the talks in Alaska between Trump and Putin in August, the
Russian side have made it clear that their various understandings were made there, and they expect those to be reflected in the deal.
So that's where they stand at this point. Lavrov also made it clear that he doesn't think Europe should have any part of this. He said they've had
their chances to be involved, and essentially, they've blown it. And I think we have a strong element here of slow balling the process that they
haven't got the document yet.
They've said lots of work needs to be done. They've even said Lavrov said today they're not hurrying the U.S. to hold negotiations with Ukraine. They
waited long enough after Alaska to get to this point so they are willing to keep. I think we can say playing for time in this and all the while, we see
those attacks on Ukraine stepping up.
ANDERSON: Yeah, and we spoke to people earlier on today in Ukraine. I mean, you can see just how tired they are of all of this and how frightened they
are. Tell us more about these deadly attacks in Ukraine and indeed, on Russia overnight.
SEBASTIAN: Yeah. I mean, look at that tiredness, that exhaustion, that is the point here, right? This is an attritional war. Russia's aim is to
outlast Ukraine and to weaken the resolve of the population to keep fighting. And while, I think the timing of this latest attack by Russia,
involving some 460 drones and 22 missiles, is significant, given that it comes during this intensive phase of diplomatic negotiations, piling the
pressure even further on Ukraine.
It is not different from the normal pattern of this war that we see where these kinds of attacks on this scale happen, you know, several times a
month, on a fairly regular basis. So that is key. This was not only targeting civilian areas, but also the energy grid. We're hearing power
outages in five different regions, affecting 100,000 households as of this morning, extensive damage, as you saw there.
But Ukraine still has its own to quote the U.S. President cards to play here, and they launched their own attack on Russia, involving their own
long-range drones. Some 249 of them shot down, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. So, look, I think on both sides, it's an exchange of
fire, and clearly all of that forming the backdrop to these negotiations, Becky.
ANDERSON: Good to have you, Clare, thank you. Well, despite all the talk of finally ending the war. There is still a good deal of skepticism in
Ukraine's government about the peace proposal on the table and what it would mean for both Ukraine and indeed for Russia.
Here's what a Ukrainian parliament member told CNN about peace prospects, a little bit earlier today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
INNA SOVSUN, UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENT MEMBER: The biggest issue here still is not so much the Ukraine's position, Ukraine is willing to negotiate to stop
this nightmare we're living in. The biggest question is, if Russia is ready to move away from, you know, from some of their demands, if they would be
willing to compromise at least on anything.
And we have not seen that as of yet, and we have not seen the strong enough pressure on Russia to do so, like, what is pressure in Russia now to do
anything? Well, they are pressure in Ukraine, the attack over this night was terrifying again, seven people killed in Kyiv.
Majority of the city doesn't have heating or electricity or water right now, since the very morning, they are pressuring on the east.
[09:10:00]
They're not feeling the pressure from the U.S. in terms of sanctions. They're not feeling pressure from the EU in terms of, you know, seizing
their sovereign assets. So, at the moment, the biggest question is, who is pressure in Russia to accept any, you know, any compromises? We only see
pressure on ourselves.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, a lot more on Ukraine later in this show. Still ahead, I'll speak to Andrei Illarionov, a Former Adviser to the Russian President
Vladimir Putin, and an expert on the Russian economy that is still here on CNN, on "Connect the World". Still to come.
Well, the U.S. Justice Department is planning to appeal a federal judge's decision on Monday to dismiss the cases against two of President Donald
Trump's political foes. CNN's Marybel Gonzalez reports the judge ruled the prosecutor overseeing both cases had been unlawfully appointed as interim
U.S. attorney.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAMES COMEY, FORMER FBI DIRECTOR: I'm grateful that the court ended the case against me, which was a prosecution based on malevolence and
incompetence.
MARYBEL GONZALEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A federal judge has dismissed the indictment against Former FBI Director James Comey, accused
of lying to Congress five years ago, and New York Attorney General Letitia James, accused of mortgage fraud.
Both had pleaded not guilty to the charges, which James today called baseless. The court ultimately ruling the appointment of Lindsey Halligan
as interim U.S. attorney in these cases was unlawful because she wasn't confirmed by the Senate. The White House disagrees.
KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: But the Department of Justice will be appealing very soon, and it is our position that Lindsey
Halligan is extremely qualified for this position, but more importantly, was legally appointed to it.
GONZALEZ (voice-over): Halligan, a Former White House Adviser, was selected for the role after the Trump Administration pushed out the previous interim
U.S. attorney amid increasing pressure to bring cases against Comey and James.
AREVA MARTIN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: The Justice Department failed to take the steps necessary after the 120 days of her interim appointment ended to
make her a lawful U.S. Attorney General. So, this is not a shocking decision by this court, and in fact, I would say it was anticipated.
GONZALEZ (voice-over): Comey and James' case were dismissed without prejudice, meaning the cases could be refiled, but the court acknowledges
that for Comey, such a move may not be possible, since the statute of limitations for his charges has passed. I'm Marybel Gonzalez reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, the rulings by the Federal Judge considered a major political blow to President Donald Trump, but as we just reported, the
Trump Administration isn't done fighting. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi now says that the Department of Justice DOJ will appeal the rulings
dismissing the cases against both Comey and James.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAM BONDI, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: We have made Lindsey Halligan a special U.S. Attorney, so she is in court, she can fight in court just like she
was, and we believe we will be successful on appeal. And I'll tell you, Lindsey Hall again, I talked to all of our U.S. attorneys, the majority of
them around the country, and Lindsey Halligan is an excellent U.S. attorney. And shame on them for not wanting her in office.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well CNN's Katelyn Polantz has a closer look now at what is this developing story.
KATELYN POLANTZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: It's chaos and a lot of questions now in the Eastern District of Virginia prosecutor's office,
and also, what may happen next with the federal court in the cases against James Comey and Letitia James that are now dismissed.
The Justice Department has said they are going to appeal the judge's ruling yesterday, that judge, Judge Cameron Currie said that Lindsey Halligan, the
interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, the person who had taken both of those indictments against Trump's political foes through
the grand jury on her own.
She is invalid as the U.S. attorney because she has not been confirmed by the Senate, and the judge had found that Halligan also had no lawful
authority to bring these indictments. They're now closed those cases, while the Justice Department hasn't yet filed their notice of appeal.
In these cases, there is the possibility that they will, that's what they said they will do, and there also is some question about whether they may
try again to potentially indict James Comey or Letitia James another round following this dismissal. So, a lot of questions still on the table there.
We also are watching to see exactly how the prosecutor's office responds. Sources were telling me yesterday that initially there was very little
guidance from the Justice Department about what this meant for other cases, or other filings, other ongoing investigations the prosecutors were working
on in that there was no U.S. attorney this judge had just ruled.
[09:15:00]
There also has not been a finalization yet of what happens next. Does the district court appoints someone, swear them in as soon as today. That's
something we're also waiting to see. What happens this judge is ruling, judge Cameron Currie's ruling in the James and Comey cases.
She said that the authority, the authorization of an interim U.S. attorney that will be coming from the district judges of the Eastern District of
Virginia at this time, because it has been so long for the administration to go without someone who is Senate confirmed in that position.
So, the state of play is really in flux. It could be another very busy day out of the Eastern District of Virginia. We're watching very closely, and
we're also watching exactly what the just departments next moves might be. However, James Comey's team and Letitia James' team both celebrated the end
of the cases yesterday.
And a lawyer for James Comey specifically said they believe there can be no further indictment at this time, that the too much time has passed and the
Justice Department can't try again to try and prosecute the Former FBI Director for alleged false statements to Congress. Back to you.
ANDERSON: And thanks to Katelyn Polantz for that report. Well, you're watching "Connect the World" with me Becky Anderson. Still to come, it is a
huge blow to one of the world's most vulnerable populations. The Trump Administration moves to reopen the cases of tens of thousands of refugees
who sought protection in the United States. More on that is after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: It is an unprecedented step in President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown. The Trump Administration moving to re interview
certain refugees who were admitted to the United States under Former President Joe Biden. An internal memo says it's part of a comprehensive
review of their cases and necessary to ensure that they don't pose a national security or public safety threat.
Well, some 235,000 refugees entered the U.S. between 2021 and 2025. Trump officials have long scrutinized the Admissions Program, arguing that the
previous administration didn't sufficiently vet the people who entered the country. Well, CNN's Priscilla Alvarez is live in Washington.
First question is a very simple one, do we have a timeline? Any timeline on this re interview process and how it is expected to work at this point?
PRISCILLA ALVAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, according to this internal memo that we obtained, the administration plans to at least start
a list within 90 days of who they consider priorities. So, while we don't know exactly when they would start the re-interviews for those that they
select, the anticipation.
Or rather, what is anticipated here is that it could be a few months off. What is not a few months off, however, is another part of this memo that is
also equally important, and that is that pending applications for adjustment of status in the United States have been put on hold.
[09:20:00]
Now this is something that is specific to the refugee population who again comes to the United States, under U.S. law, they are required to adjust
their status for permanent status in the U.S. after they have been here for at least a year. So, this certainly delivers a blow to those refugees who
have been waiting that time and have submitted their applications as they try again to obtain that permanent status in the U.S.
And Becky, it bears repeating that not only is this one of the most vulnerable populations in the -- in the world that again, must show that
they have been persecuted or may face persecution in their home country, it's also a population of immigrants in the United States who have already
been heavily scrutinized before they even arrive to the country.
These are refugees who are abroad, who must go through vigorous vetting and checks, an entire process that takes years, not only to even be considered
to come to the U.S., but then in addition to that, to go through the vetting to come to the U.S. So, this is what has been so stunning for the
refugee advocates who work with these populations, because when they arrive to the U.S., it is determined that they have been that they are safe, that
they are do not pose a public safety or national security threat.
The Trump Administration is taking a different approach. They are essentially saying that the idea behind the re-interview here is to ensure
that refugees did indeed meet the definition before they were admitted to the United States, and that status could be terminated by the agency U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services, and that the individual wouldn't have an opportunity for appeal.
So, all of this taken together, can put refugees who are already in the United States and have already gone through again that years long process
in this limbo.
ANDERSON: Yeah.
ALVAREZ: Now, one refugee advocate who I spoke with said this quote, just the threat of this unspeakably cool just isn't really cool, and to threaten
refugees with taking away their status would be re traumatizing and a vicious use of taxpayer money. So certainly, that has been the response
I've received from multiple advocates.
ANDERSON: Yeah. Priscilla, a significant proportion of these refugees who went to the U.S. last year, for example, came from places like the
Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, and we've got the list of the top five on the screen as we speak. You've said that refugees must show
that they were persecuted or face persecution in their home countries.
So, this is a process which is quite stringent. You know, you've talked about these refugees being vetted before they get to the U.S. What is it
that the Trump Administration is criticizing then, in this process? Is it the process in its entirety, or that it isn't robust enough.
ALVAREZ: So, it would really be the latter. It's not robust enough. But Becky, to your important point there, this isn't just a process that is
done by the United States. In fact, it is an admissions process that is done with international partners. It includes, for example, referrals of
people that the international NGOs have found to be facing that persecution, to be in a vulnerable situation, who should be considered to
come to the U.S.?
It is already a robust program, but the Trump Administration's approach about almost all things immigration has been casting doubt and scrutinizing
anyone who came to the United States under the Biden Administration, because their argument has been that the Biden Administration didn't do
things correctly.
Therefore, they have to retrace their steps and review all of these cases again. Now, if you speak to Former Biden Officials, they say that they did
do everything by the book. So, for them, it's unclear why the administration, the Trump Administration, would take this on.
Also, Becky, the refugee admissions program has had bipartisan support, historically, Republicans and Democrats have fully supported the refugee
admissions program because it is also seen as a diplomatic tool. It's a way for the U.S. to show leadership in the world.
Trump administration has always taken a different approach, even during the first term, and currently, refugee admissions are really on pause, except
for those Afrikaners who they have allowed into the United States. So really, it is targeting a program that has historically been supported by
both sides of the aisle in the United States.
And has been one that has had multiple resources put behind it to ensure that anyone who does eventually enter the United States has met the
necessary checks and vetting.
ANDERSON: Understood. Good to have you. Thank you. Well, the White House considering direct talks between the U.S. President and the Venezuelan
President Maduro. That's according to sources telling CNN. Right now, any talks between the two countries are said to be strictly back channel.
This coming after the Trump Administration designated Maduro and his allies as members of a foreign terrorist group. Officials accuse Maduro and his
regime of having ties with a vast drug trafficking cartel which Venezuela denies.
[09:25:00]
The U.S. has a dozen warships and 15,000 troops on standby in the region for what the Pentagon calls operation southern spear, which it says is to
combat drug trafficking. Well after the break, for you, I'm going to speak to a former adviser to Vladimir Putin about the latest round of peace talks
and what the Russians might be willing to give up, if anything, in the latest proposal on the table.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back. I'm Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi. You're watching "Connect the World" from our Middle East programming headquarters here.
These are your headlines. U.S. Officials say the Ukraine has agreed to the main parts of its revised peace proposal with only minor details
outstanding.
Prior to those comments, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that there is still much work to be done before an agreement is reached. The
U.S. Attorney General says that the Justice Department will now appeal a judge's decision to dismiss the cases against James Comey and Letitia
James.
The judge said President Trump's appointment of the interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan seen that here in the middle, who was leading the
prosecution was invalid. She left opens the possibility that Comey and James could be charged again. Well, Sources tell CNN that officials are
looking at direct talks between the U.S. President Donald Trump and Venezuelan President Maduro.
This after the U.S. formally labeled Maduro as a member of a foreign terrorist group with alleged ties to a drug cartel. The Trump
Administration says the designation gives it more options to combat the flow of drugs from inside Venezuela. Well Thanksgiving approaches in the
United States, temperatures are expected to drop.
A blast of Arctic air will cross the country, lowering temperatures to well below average. Gusty winds will also make temperatures feel colder. The end
of Thanksgiving weekend will be met with colder temperatures as a second potentially stronger push of Arctic air will hit.
OK. Those your headlines. Let's get us a new back to what is our top story today. U.S. and Russian mediators sitting down here in Abu Dhabi to discuss
President Trump's peace plan for the Ukraine war. The Kremlin has said it had nothing new to report on these talks.
The first draft of President Trump's 28-point plan, as it was originally conceived, leaked last week, was seen as widely favorable to Russia.
[09:30:00]
Now it's been reportedly reduced to 19 points dropping some of the points deemed unacceptable to Ukraine. My next guest brings more insight on the
Russian perspective. Andrei Illarionov is a Russian Economist and a Former Adviser to Vladimir Putin, though he has since become a vocal critic of Mr.
Putin. He joins us live from Washington, D.C.
It's good to have you, sir. Thank you. We heard earlier from the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov that any changes to any plan must be in the
spirit and the letter of what he called the Anchorage talks. So, what do you take that to mean? What do you read into that position suggested by the
Russian Foreign Minister.
ANDREI ILLARIONOV, RUSSIAN ECONOMIST: Hello, Becky, thank you for inviting me. This is a very interesting development right now, since the meeting in
Geneva between U.S. and Ukrainian delegations and announced work on this 28-point plan that is now been reported to read to be reduced to at least
19 points, and which is now is much better, satisfies interest of Ukraine.
We hear avalanche of statesmen from Moscow, from Kremlin, from Lavrov, from Peskov, from other people from Kremlin saying that it is not good.
ANDERSON: Right.
ILLARIONOV: They are very nervous. They're saying that 28 Trump plan is very good for Russia, and they are happy with the so-called Anchorage
talks, and they don't -- they say they don't know what is nuclear documents.
ANDERSON: Right.
ILLARIONOV: And that is why they are trying to make statements that they would not ready to accept any revisions to this original plan that appears
to be, as we all know, to a very much extent, Russian plan.
ANDERSON: Right. So, what are Vladimir Putin's motivations, if any, to accept any sort of deal right now that includes concessions that weren't
originally included in that first plan, which clearly, you know, the Russians light. I mean, what is this motivation at present? Do you see one
for him to go for a plan, go for peace at this point?
ILLARIONOV: Essentially what you have called it a Russia light plan. It is actually Russia heavy plan. That plan is substantially, if not fully, has
been written in Kremlin, has been passed via Dmitriev to Witkoff to U.S. Administration. And it appears from the text of this document, and from all
what we can hear from Kremlin over the last few days.
They are really interested in signing and accepting exactly this 28th plan, which is, by mistake, being called Trump plan, but essentially it is put in
Trump plan.
ANDERSON: Yeah.
ILLARIONOV: So, what we can hear around that it's a little bit of negotiation tactics. It's some kind of trying to, maybe to extract some
more concessions from not only Ukraine, but from the United States and from Europe. But essentially, they are extremely happy.
Would be extremely happy if this particular document would be accepted, and they, once again, they're extremely nervous that this plan that has been
written by Kremlin, in Kremlin, by Kremlin people, but just by mistake, has been announced, and strong plan would not be accepted, but would be
rejected or would be substantially revised to more line of international war.
ANDERSON: OK. Yeah, and we wait to get further response to Russia as we understand it, there are talks being held between the U.S. and Russia here
in Abu Dhabi as we speak. So, we'll effort further information from those I spoke to the EU policy chief yesterday about Europe continuing to buy
Russian oil revenues used, of course, to fund the war. Take a listen to just part of that conversation, if you will.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAJA KALLAS, EU FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF: It is true that it's kind of strange that we are still buying oil from Russia that is funding this war and on.
You know, many member states have already ended it, whereas some haven't, and that also gives revenues for Russia, which is definitely not a good
thing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[09:35:00]
ANDERSON: So bottom line, how much of an impact would it make, if Europe completely stopped purchasing Russian oil?
ILLARIONOV: We need to distinguish between different Europe. At this moment, only two European countries do still buy Russian oil, it is Hungary
and Slovakia. And Hungary has received a special permission from President Trump to continue this business for one more year.
So that is why, if somebody must be asked about the continuation of Hungary buying Russian oil, this question should be asked in the White House, in
the U.S. White House. So, all the rest of Europe stopped to buy Russian oil. Europe still continue to buy some gas from Russia, but they are going
to finish it by the end of April 2026 according to the latest EU decision.
ANDERSON: Right.
ILLARIONOV: So that is why, essentially, this big problem that existed for previous three, four years.
ANDERSON: Understood.
ILLARIONOV: It is going to be east in a very short period of time, the only two issues are Hungary and Slovakia, and they apparently received some
permissions from the U.S. Administration.
ANDERSON: Understood. Good to have you, sir, your analysis extremely important to us. Thank you. Well move us to the diplomatic efforts to stop
the war in Sudan now, fighting between the Sudanese armed forces and a powerful paramilitary group called the Rapid Support Forces, or the RSF,
has become the world's largest humanitarian crisis.
Now, there is a new ceasefire plan on the table to end the violence that has destroyed so many people's lives, and the RSF says it has agreed to the
truce after the world's outrage at evidence of atrocities in El Fasher last month. Well, the basic plan is a three-month humanitarian truce followed by
a nine-month political process.
But the Head of Sudan's Armed Forces is rejecting it, accusing the mediators of bias over the latest proposal. Well, high level delegations of
two of those mediators, the UAE and the U.S. met today in Abu Dhabi, the UAE widely accused of arming the RSF, which they deny.
And the general of the armed forces level that accusation in his refusal to sign on to the ceasefire. Well, I asked top Diplomatic Adviser, Anwar
Gargash, to clarify what exactly Abu Dhabi's interests in Sudan are, and what if any ties the country has with the RSF?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANWAR GARGASH, DIPLOMATIC ADVISER TO UAE PRESIDENT: -- interests, depending on the day, with many of these criticisms are shifting, but our real
interest in Sudan is seeing a major, major Arab country stable without any sort of Muslim brotherhood influence that will destabilize the region.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, you have Mr. Gargash, referencing the Muslim brotherhood there. Some chapters of which the Trump Administration has just designated
as terrorists. Worth noting that the Head of Sudan's Armed Forces denies that the military is controlled by Islamists.
But I asked President Trump's Senior Advisor for Africa, Massad Boulos, about the designation in the context of this conflict. This is what he told
me.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MASSAD BOULOS, U.S. SENIOR ADVISER FOR ARAB AND AFRICAN AFFAIRS: -- designating the Muslim brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization is a
very good decision, and should come at no -- as no, so -- at no so -- as no surprise, the decision is not directly linked to the Sudanese conflict.
However, it will definitely have some interpretation, or at least, or probably some ramifications.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: -- interview Mr. Gargash, one on one after this press conference. And I'll get you that in the -- that interview in the next hour you're
watching "Connect the World" with me Becky Anderson. We will be right back.
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[09:40:00]
ANDERSON: Well, this is something you don't see very often, a red card for hitting your own teammate, but that is exactly what happened on Monday
between Everton and Manchester United. Amanda Davies is with me now. What was that all about?
AMANDA DAVIES, CNN WORLD SPORT: Yeah. I mean, it takes me all the way back to 2005, Becky, to remember Lee Bowyer against Kieron Dyer for Newcastle,
which, you know, the pictures that were beamed around the world. This has only happened people rack and three times in the Premier League.
ANDERSON: Yeah.
DAVIES: And fascinatingly, this was a game where Everton had the upper hand against Manchester United, but Idrissa Gueye and his teammate, Michael
Keane, not liking what was going on, defensively, and Idrissa Gueye saw red and the team went down to 10 men.
We don't ever condone fighting, do we? But fascinatingly, both the managers, David Moyes and Reuben Amorim was saying they quite like it. They
think it shows heart and toughness from their players.
ANDERSON: Wow.
DAVIES: But it wasn't only in the Premier League last night as well. It happens in the NFL, and we've got some of that coming up in just a couple
of minutes in "World Sports".
ANDERSON: Oh, my Lord, good stuff. Well, I will be with you, not just in spirit, but in body and mind today. I will be watching that as coming up.
After this short break, we will be back in 15 minutes with "World Sport". Sorry, with that, "Connect the World". "World Sport", of course, is up
next.
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[09:45:00]
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