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Jan. 24, 2026 13:08-13:55 - CSPAN
46:56
Washington This Week

Washington This Week examines Russian aggression in Europe, with a speaker warning of "ethnic missiles" deployed in Belarus and demanding unified sanctions against Moscow’s oil and arms supply chains—criticizing China, Taiwan, and U.S. allies for enabling the threat while Europe hesitates. Meanwhile, live from Minneapolis, Police Chief Brian O’Hara reports the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old white male by masked federal agents amid protests, clashing with Governor Tim Walz’s call for state-led accountability; activists denounce militarized overreach, framing it as a betrayal of democratic trust. The episode underscores how global crises and domestic unrest reveal stark divides in leadership, strategy, and public faith. [Automatically generated summary]

Participants
Main
v
volodymyr zelenskyy
ukr 13:05
Appearances
b
børge brende
nor 01:20
j
jacob frey
d 03:02
Clips
l
layne staley [aic]
00:00
|

Speaker Time Text
Sanctions and Missile Production 00:05:19
unidentified
I don't know if the individual that we were in contact with would or not.
This is a Saturday morning.
And just like it was for us, it was a scramble to do an emergency recall and to get people to the scene.
All right.
Thank you, guys.
We will have more information if we get any later throughout the day.
You've been watching live coverage.
We return now to our scheduled program.
We joined it in progress.
2020 is the example.
No one helped their people.
volodymyr zelenskyy
And now Russian or ethnic missiles are deployed in Belarus within range of most European capitals.
That would not have happened if the Belarusian people had won in 2020.
And we have told our European partners multiple times, act now, act now against those missiles in Belarus.
Missiles are never just decoration, but Europe still remains in Greenland mode.
unidentified
Maybe someday someone will do something.
The issue of Russian oil is the same.
It's good that many sanctions exist.
Russian oil is getting cheaper, but the flow has not stopped.
volodymyr zelenskyy
And Russian companies that fund Putin's war machine are still working.
And that will not change, that will not change without more sanctions.
And we are grateful for all the pressure put on the aggressor.
unidentified
But let's be honest.
volodymyr zelenskyy
Europe must do more so its sanctions block enemies as effectively as American sanctions.
unidentified
Why is that important?
volodymyr zelenskyy
Because if Europe is not seen as a global force, if its actions don't scare bad actors, then Europe will always be reacting, catching up with new dangers and attacks.
We all see that the forces trying to destroy Europe do not face a single day.
They operate freely, even operate inside Europe.
Every victor who lives off European money while trying to sell out European interests deserves a smack upside the head.
And if he feels comfortable in Moscow, it doesn't mean we should let European capitals become little Moscows.
We must remember what separates Russia from all of us.
The most fundamental line of conflict between Russia and Ukraine and all of Europe is this.
Russia fights to devalue people, to make sure that when dictators want to destroy someone, they can.
unidentified
But they must lose power, not gain it.
volodymyr zelenskyy
For example, Russian missiles are produced only because there are ways to bypass sanctions.
unidentified
It's true.
volodymyr zelenskyy
Everyone sees how Russia tries to freeze Ukrainians now, our people, Ukrainians to death at minus 20 degrees Celsius.
But Russia couldn't build any ballistic or cruise missiles without critical components from other countries.
unidentified
And it's not just China.
volodymyr zelenskyy
Too often people hide behind the excuse that China helps Russia.
unidentified
Yes, it does.
But not only China.
volodymyr zelenskyy
Russia gets components from companies in Europe, the United States, and Taiwan.
Right now, many are investing in stability around Taiwan to avoid war.
But can Taiwanese companies stop contributing electronics to Russia's war?
unidentified
Europe says almost nothing.
volodymyr zelenskyy
America says nothing.
unidentified
And Putin makes missiles.
volodymyr zelenskyy
And I thank every country, of course, and every company that helps Ukraine repair its energy system.
unidentified
This is crucial.
Thank you to all who support the Pearl program, helping us buy Patriot missiles.
volodymyr zelenskyy
But wouldn't it be cheaper and easier to just cut Russia off from the components it needs for missiles production or even destroy the factories making them?
Last year, most of the time was spent talking about long-range weapons for Ukraine.
And everybody said that the solution was designed within range.
unidentified
Now no one is even talking about it.
volodymyr zelenskyy
But Russian missiles and Shahis are still here.
And we still have the coordinates of the factories where there are made.
unidentified
Today they target Ukraine.
Tomorrow it could be any NATO country.
Tomorrow's Threat 00:18:03
volodymyr zelenskyy
And here in Europe, we are advised not to mention tomahawks, not to mention tomahawks to the Americans, not to spoil the mood.
And we are told not to bring up Taurus missiles.
When the subject is Turkey, diplomats say don't offend Greece.
When it's Greece, they say be careful with Turkey.
In Europe, there are endless internal arguments and things left unsaid that stop Europe from uniting and speaking honestly enough to find real solutions.
And too often, Europeans turn against each other leaders, parties, movements, and communities instead of standing together to stop Russia, which brings the same destruction to everyone.
Instead of becoming a truly global power, Europe remains a beautiful but fragmented kaleidoscope of small and middle powers.
Instead of taking the lead in defending freedom worldwide, especially when America's focus shifts elsewhere, Europe looks lost trying to convince the US President to change.
unidentified
But he will not change.
President Trump loves who he is.
volodymyr zelenskyy
And he says he loves Europe, but he will not listen to this kind of Europe.
One of the biggest problems in today's Europe, though it's not often talked about in the mindset, some European leaders are from Europe, but not always for Europe.
And Europe still feels more like a geography, history, a tradition, not a real political force, not a great power.
unidentified
Some Europeans are really strong, it's true.
volodymyr zelenskyy
But many say we must stand strong, and they always want someone else to tell them how long they need to stand strong, preferably until the next election.
But that's not how great power works, to my mind.
Leaders say we must defend European interests, but I hope someone else will do it for them.
And speaking of values, they often mean valueless.
They are all like we need we need something to replace the old world order with.
But where is the line of leaders who are ready to act?
Act now on land, in the air, at the sea, to build a new global order.
unidentified
You can't build the new world order out of words.
Only actions create real order.
volodymyr zelenskyy
Today America has launched the Board of Peace.
unidentified
Ukraine was invited.
volodymyr zelenskyy
So was Russia, Belarus, though the war hasn't stopped and there is not even a ceasefire.
unidentified
And you have seen who joined.
Everyone had their reasons.
volodymyr zelenskyy
But here is the thing Europe hasn't even formed a united position on the American idea.
Maybe tonight, when the European Council meets, they will decide something.
But the documents were already signed this morning, and tonight they might also finally decide something on Greenland.
But last night, Mark Rude had spoken to President Trump.
Thank you, Mark, for your productiveness.
America is already changing its position, but nobody knows exactly how.
unidentified
So things move faster than we.
Things move faster than Europe.
And how can Europe keep up?
volodymyr zelenskyy
Dear friends, we should not degrade ourselves to secondary roles, not when we have a chance to be a great power together.
We should not accept that Europe is just a salad of small and middle powers seasoned with enemies of Europe when, united, we are truly invincible.
And Europe can and must be a global force.
Not one that reacts late, but one that defines the future.
That would help everyone from the Middle East to every other region in the world.
That would help Europe itself, because the challenges we face now are challenges to the European way of life, where people matter, where nations matter.
Europe can help build a better world.
unidentified
Europe must build a better world and a world without war, of course.
But for that, Europe needs strength.
volodymyr zelenskyy
For that, we must act together and act in time.
And most of all, we must have the courage to act.
unidentified
And we are actively working to reach solutions, real solutions.
volodymyr zelenskyy
Today we met with President Trump and our teams are working almost every day.
unidentified
It's not simple.
volodymyr zelenskyy
The documents aimed at ending this war are nearly nearly ready and that really matters.
Ukraine is working with full honesty and determination and that brings results and Russia must become ready to finish this war, to stop this aggression, Russian aggression, Russian war against us.
So the pressure must be strong enough and the support for Ukraine must grow even stronger.
Our previous meetings with President of the United States brought us here defense missiles and thanks Europeans, they helped also.
And today we also spoke about protecting the skies, which means protecting lives, of course.
And I hope America will continue to stand with us.
unidentified
And Europe must be strong.
volodymyr zelenskyy
And Ukraine is ready to help with anything needed to guarantee peace and prevent destruction.
We are ready to help others become stronger than they are now.
We are ready to be part of a Europe that truly matters, a Europe of real power, great power.
Today we need that power to protect our own independence.
But you need Ukraine's independence too, because tomorrow you may have to defend your way of life.
And when Ukraine is with you, no one will wipe their feet on you.
And you will always have a way to act and act in time.
unidentified
This is very important.
Act in time.
volodymyr zelenskyy
Dear friends, today is one of the last days of Davos, though definitely not the last Davos, of course.
unidentified
And everyone agrees on that.
volodymyr zelenskyy
Many people believe that somehow things will work out on their own, but we cannot rely on somehow for real security.
unidentified
Faith is not enough.
volodymyr zelenskyy
Faith in a partner, in a lucky turn of events.
No intellectual discussions are capable of stopping wars.
unidentified
We need action.
World order comes from action.
volodymyr zelenskyy
And we just need the courage to act.
Without action now, there is no tomorrow.
unidentified
Let's end this ground hog day.
And yes, it's possible.
Thank you.
Slava, Ukraine.
The president
børge brende
wanted me to sit, but I think you deserved every part of that standing ovation.
unidentified
Thank you so much.
børge brende
Mr. President, it is very good to have you How does that your meeting with President Trump go?
unidentified
Honestly.
børge brende
Of course, honestly.
But of course, in the interest of your country.
unidentified
Yes, it was in the interest of my country.
Yeah, the meeting was...
børge brende
I would never question that.
unidentified
No, no, no.
The meeting was good.
volodymyr zelenskyy
Thanks to the President and thank you that he found time for us.
And it's really, you know, today I saw my team and they spoke with American team.
And before my meeting with President Trump, my team spent a lot of time with Americans.
And even I wanted to ask President Trump to give them American passports because I think that they, yes, really spend a lot of time.
But be honest, I think that the meeting is very important.
We need in our boat, I hope this is the boat, this is ship to peace.
unidentified
And we need very much to have the United States.
volodymyr zelenskyy
For the future, for security guarantees, we understand that Europe has to be more stronger, but Europe will need time.
unidentified
And today, America is very strong.
volodymyr zelenskyy
And I think that our teams worked well and come, you know, like I think it's like last mile, which is very difficult.
During any dialogue with any president, I have to defend the interests of my country.
That's why the dialogue is maybe it's not simple, but it was today it was positive.
unidentified
That's enough.
børge brende
I think that's a good answer.
unidentified
Thank you.
børge brende
We know that Jared Kushner and also Special Representative Steve Witkov is traveling this afternoon to Moscow.
I think that I think now it all is also about when Russia is ready to stop the war.
And it's hard to really understand what is in the head of Mr. Putin too.
But what do you think are the current calculations in Moscow?
unidentified
First of all, yes, American team will go to Moscow today.
volodymyr zelenskyy
Yes, they waited for our meeting with President Trump.
unidentified
And now they will go.
volodymyr zelenskyy
And my team will meet the American team.
And I think that it will be the first trilateral meeting in Emirates.
unidentified
It will be tomorrow and the day after tomorrow.
Yes, it will be two days' meetings in Emirates.
I hope that Emirates know about it.
volodymyr zelenskyy
Yes, sometimes we have such surprises from American side.
unidentified
But in any way, they will go there.
And I think this is good.
volodymyr zelenskyy
If on the technical level we'll begin this trilateral meeting, I hope that we will find some.
unidentified
I don't know.
volodymyr zelenskyy
Russians have to be ready for compromises because, you know, everybody have to be ready, not only Ukraine.
And this is important for us.
unidentified
So we will see what the result will be.
volodymyr zelenskyy
But that Russians will meet, that our guys meet today with Americans.
Then Americans will meet with Russians tomorrow.
unidentified
Today is at night.
I don't know when.
I don't know.
Maybe Putin is sleeping.
You said that nobody knows what is in his head.
Yes.
børge brende
But they might have to wait a little bit for the meeting.
unidentified
I don't know.
I don't know.
volodymyr zelenskyy
And tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, we will have trilateral meetings.
unidentified
Our guys will have trilateral meetings.
It's better than not to have any kind of dialogue.
So we are under attacks.
volodymyr zelenskyy
People live without electricity and we are in a difficult situation.
unidentified
But Russians also in a difficult situation.
We are answering on their attacks.
And God bless.
The war will stop.
I hope so.
børge brende
And what is now the most difficult part for Ukraine?
We know it's an attack on your whole energy system and electricity.
unidentified
Let's go, let's go.
Come on, let's go.
Okay.
Let's go.
Watch the watch.
Keep going.
Okay.
I'm behind you guys.
behind you.
Oh, there he is.
There he is.
You said a concussive grenade?
That's not the right term.
Helping Hands 00:10:15
unidentified
Basically, it's designed to make a really, really nice space.
Yeah, it is.
can you get a water?
I'm helping it.
I'll help you feel better, honey.
Be brave!
The ones in front of being brave!
Let's be brave!
Come on!
Water here!
Here we go, here we go, okay I'm going to turn over to Chief to provide an update and some of the details based on the limited amount of information that we have thus far this morning, and then I will try to comment myself.
Minneapolis Shooting Incident 00:13:17
unidentified
Chief my name is Brian O'Hara, B-R-I-A-N, O Apostle H-A-R-A, and the Africa Police Chief.
Approximately 9:03 a.m. this morning, Minneapolis police received the report of a shooting involving federal law enforcement in the area of East 26th Street and Nicholas Avenue on the south side of the city.
Officers arrived and found an adult male with multiple gunshot wounds when they arrived.
Life-saving aid was being rendered, and he was transported by ambulance to Hennepin County Medical Center, where he was later pronounced deceased.
Based on the information that we have, which is very limited, this is a 37-year-old white male who is a Minneapolis resident, and we believe he is an American citizen.
We have not been told any official reports of what has led up to the shooting, but we have seen the video that is circulating on social media.
Our demand today is for those federal agencies that are operating in our city to do so with the same discipline, humanity, and integrity that effective law enforcement in this country demands.
We urge everyone to remain peaceful.
We recognize that there is a lot of anger and a lot of questions around what has happened, but we need people to remain peaceful.
In the area, we have an unlawful assembly at this time.
Minneapolis police have given multiple warnings for the crowd to disperse.
We are asking for people to avoid the area and to leave if you are there.
We have requested mutual aid from the Minnesota State Patrol and from all our local and county regional partners.
We ask everyone to remain calm and to please do not destroy our own city.
jacob frey
I just saw a video of more than six masked agents pummeling one of our constituents and shooting him to death.
How many more residents, how many more Americans need to die or get badly hurt for this operation to end?
How many more lives need to be lost before this administration realizes that a political and partisan narrative is not as important as American values?
How many times must local and national leaders plead with you, Donald Trump, to end this operation and recognize that this is not creating safety in our city?
As you'll hear from Director Sayre in just a second, we have seen these kinds of operations in other places in other countries, but not here in America.
Not in a way where a great American city is being invaded by its own federal government.
I'm done being told that our community members are responsible for the vitriol in our streets.
I'm done being told that our local elected officials are solely responsible for turning down the temperature.
Just yesterday, we saw 15,000 people peacefully protesting in the streets, speaking out, standing up for their neighbors.
unidentified
Not a single broken window, not a single injury.
jacob frey
Those peaceful protests embody the very principles that both Minneapolis and America was founded upon.
Conversely, the mass militarized force and unidentified agents who are occupying our streets, that is what weakens our country.
That is what erodes trust in both law enforcement and in democracy itself.
unidentified
So to everyone, listen, stand with Minneapolis.
jacob frey
Stand up for America.
unidentified
Recognize that your children will ask you what side you were on.
Your grandchildren will ask you what you did to act to prevent this from happening again.
jacob frey
To make sure that the foundational elements of our democracy were rock solid.
unidentified
What did you do to protect your city?
What did you do to protect your nation?
This is not what America is about.
This is not a partisan issue.
This is an American issue.
jacob frey
This administration and everyone involved in this operation should be reflecting.
They should be reflecting right now and asking themselves: what exactly are you accomplishing?
unidentified
If the goal was to achieve peace and safety, this is doing exactly the opposite.
jacob frey
If the goal was to achieve calm and prosperity, this is doing exactly the opposite.
unidentified
Are you standing up for American families right now?
Or are we tearing them apart?
jacob frey
The invasion of these heavily armed mask agents roaming around on our streets of Minneapolis, emboldened with a sense of impunity, it has to end.
unidentified
This is not how it has to be.
So, to President Trump, this is a moment to act like a leader.
jacob frey
Put Minneapolis, put America first in this moment.
unidentified
Let's achieve peace.
jacob frey
Let's end this operation, and I'm telling you, our city will come back.
unidentified
Safety will be restored.
jacob frey
We're asking for you to take action now to remove these federal agents.
unidentified
My name is Rachel Sayer, and I am the Director of Emergency Management Department for the City of Minneapolis.
I took this job to keep us safe because I live here, and this is my community.
We are doing everything we can to mitigate.
We're taking you live now to Minneapolis, where protesters have been on the streets after a shooting death by a federal agent.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Cara said the victim is a 37-year-old millennial link to the U.S. citizenry.
We're waiting for an official briefing from police officials.
Until then, here's a look at the scene.
Say!
Look out in the eye!
Shame!
Shame!
Shame in the eye!
Shame!
what you're doing right now?
You're not good.
Ice out now.
Ice out now.
Now.
Ice out now.
Ice out.
How do you go home and hug your children after you do this bullshit?
You protect people who cause body count.
I hope you don't.
This is what community will say.
This is what community looks like.
You're a terrible boy!
You're a terrible boy!
And once again, these are live pictures from Minneapolis where another federal agent-involved shooting has taken place.
This is local news coverage.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has posted this: I told the White House the state must lead the investigation.
Let state investigators secure justice.
As we process the scene, stay peaceful and give them space.
The state has the personnel to keep people safe.
Federal agents must not obstruct our ability to do so.
We don't need you.
Harry, it's motherfuckers' ice.
I saw these motherfuckers in there earlier.
You're ice, motherfucker.
I saw you, and I sure shot some fat fucking ass.
I know it's you, baby.
I know it's you.
He's doing ice and all warnings.
And I can fucking challenge you, basically.
He's hit me.
I can tell.
We peace will be protesting, right?
Listen, y'all can stay down here.
Listen, I'm with you.
Let me say this.
Ice gotta go.
I'm with you 100%.
These cops gotta go too.
Listen.
They're protecting them, man.
I'm gonna be on the streets.
I'm not gonna have it in 2020 because I'm just here in today.
We peacefully protest.
Yeah, I met you.
You know, that's a good question.
Do you mind one?
Would you mind wandering over to the corner of 26th and Nicola?
This is kind of the choke point right here.
We are on 26 and a family on a place on the big southeast corner of 26th and Nicola Place right now.
Okay, my brother, thank you.
layne staley [aic]
Yeah.
unidentified
Yeah.
I'm going to lick that asshole, man.
I'm gonna lick that asshole!
I don't need you.
I'm hard.
All that shit out of me, bro.
All that shit out of me, bro.
Get that shit out of here, bro.
And once again, these are live pictures from Minneapolis where another federal agent-involved shooting has taken place.
This is local news coverage.
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