Scotland's Ex-First Minister Charged; Pleitgen Interviews Sergei Ryabkov Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia; Ryabkov Dismisses Suggestion That Trump Is An Agent for Russia; Airbus Warns of Harmful Decisions In Case of No Deal Brexit.
GORANI: Well, more on Venezuela's power struggle from another angle. Russia is a long-time backer of President Nicolas Maduro, whose legitimacy is now being challenged. Our Fred Pleitgen spoke with Russia's deputy foreign minister about Venezuela, among other things. Fred is joining me now live from Moscow. What did the Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia say about what's happening inside Venezuela to you?</s>FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Not surprisingly, he was squarely on the side of Nicolas Maduro. He said it's no secret Russia is an ally of Maduro. In fact, tonight there was a phone call between Vladimir Putin and Maduro. Once again, Vladimir Putin pledged his support for Nicolas Maduro and his government. So. it's no surprise that the deputy foreign minister criticized the United States for its posture and its position in saying that the U.S. was, quote, pouring gas into the fire. Let's listen in.</s>PLEITGEN: Do you think that there's the danger that the U.S. could intervene in Venezuela, and what do you think that would mean?</s>SERGEI RYABKOV, DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER OF RUSSIA: Yes, I truly feel there are dangerous signs of something going on along these lines. We warn everyone, not just the U.S., but some others who may entertain these ideas, from this type of action. The resort to military power would be catastrophic. It would be a huge -- another huge blow to the international system. We face now a scenario that may lead to that type of action. The resort to military power would be catastrophic. It would be a huge -- another huge blow to the international system. We face now a scenario that may lead to further bled shed -- bloodshed in Venezuela. We ask the international community to refrain from actions and try not to, you know, meddle. That would be a terrible thing. The government in Venezuela should be given the chance to continue dialogue. I know the situation is a dramatic one. But, so what. Is it just because of this that others should go there and think of using military power? I think it will only deepen the crisis.</s>PLEITGEN: President Trump just recognized the head of parliament as the real interim President. Do you consider that meddling?</s>RYABKOV: For sure. I mean, it's just pouring, you know, gas on the fire. It equals to this. We have said what we think on this formally through the statement of the Russian foreign minister, which is out there. It is a strong statement. We, you know, do not try to sugar coat anything. This is a very, very dangerous moment, and everyone should show utmost responsibility.</s>PLEITGEN: So, there you have the pretty clear position from the Russian side. Of course, there's a lot of influence in Venezuela. They even sent two strategic bombers over to Venezuela a few months ago.</s>GORANI: And also, in terms of influence, they have a lot of influence in Syria as well. And you asked him about Iran and how much -- and whether or not they consider Iran to be a Russian ally inside Syria. What did he say?</s>PLEITGEN: Yes, that was by far, I think, the most surprising thing they heard from the Russians today. One of the things, of course, we've been hearing over the past couple of months, really years, was that Russia, Turkey, and Iran were basically going to be the countries that were going to decide the future of Syria and that Iran and Russia, of course, are fighting essentially on the same side. But the deputy foreign minister told me when it comes to security, they don't consider the Iranians their allies. Here's what he had to say.</s>PLEITGEN: You're Iran's ally on the ground, aren't you in Syria?</s>RYABKOV: I wouldn't use this type of words to describe where we are with Iran. We are working together with them. They were very helpful when we convened a National Congress of the People of Syria in Sochi. But we do not see at any given moment completely eye to eye on what happens.</s>PLEITGEN: So, they have a very clear commitment from the Russians, also to Israel's security. The Russians also claiming that the Israelis know exactly that the Russians stand behind them and say they're in communications with the Americans as well.</s>GORANI: And what I found interesting is you asked him that one question that I think a lot of people would want to ask anyone at a high level in Russia, which is, is Trump basically an agent of your country? I presume he denied it, obviously. But how did he respond to that?</s>PLEITGEN: Yes, I mean, absolutely, of course he denied it. I wouldn't say he was taken aback by the question, but he did think that the thought of that was somewhat outrageous, as he put it. Let's listen in.</s>PLEITGEN: Sort of questioning whether President Trump is an agent of Russia. What do you make of that?</s>RYABKOV: I mean, it's completely, completely out of touch with anything that could be conceived as, you know, anywhere close to the reality. I'm amazed. I'm embarrassed by what I see and hear from the U.S.</s>PLEITGEN: The other thing I asked him, Hala, is, you know, with the fact that U.S./Russian relations are still so bad, despite the fact that President Trump obviously wants to improve them, whether Russians are disappointed in President Trump. He said they aren't. He said he believes a lot of the heat coming from America comes from those opposed to President Trump.</s>GORANI: Fascinating. Thanks very much. Fred Pleitgen with that exclusive interview in Moscow. We will hear more from Fred in the coming hour. One of the sharpest Brexit warnings to date has now come from Airbus. The aircraft manufacturer says it may move future business out of the U.K. if the country crashes out of the European Union. In the event of a no-deal Brexit, Airbus' CEO says, "potentially harmful decisions would have to be made. It could impact business in the U.K. because, of course, it's a cooperative corporation." Our CNN business reporter Hadas Gold is in Davos at the world economic forum. Tell us more about what Airbus is saying. Are they essentially saying that if there's no deal, that the part of the company that has operated with the help of the U.K., that they would not hesitate to shift some of that activity away from Britain?</s>HADAS GOLD, CNN BUSINESS REPORTER: Yes, Hala, this is a really unusual video message that was really strong from that CEO. He was pretty much threatening if there was a no-deal Brexit, they would leave the United Kingdom. This would be a huge issue because Airbus employees, at least 14,000 people in the United Kingdom, and thousands more based off of their supply chain. This is clearly putting pressure on Theresa May and all the politicians to get their acts together and really make a plan for Brexit. Tom enders say that he encouraged Theresa May and the other politicians to not listen to the Brexiteers' madness, which says they'll not move and always be here. He said they are wrong and that they would potentially leave the United Kingdom if there was a no-deal Brexit.</s>GORANI: And leaving as in leaving some of the manufacturing facilities, shifting them elsewhere?</s>GOLD: Yes, leaving their factories. He said that a lot of countries are clamoring, fighting to get their business, to have them move into their countries. So, he's really throwing out -- this is a really strong sort of threat that he's giving to the United Kingdom, telling them get your act together on Brexit, otherwise literally tens of thousands of people could be out of a job in the United Kingdom.</s>GORANI: Some hard-core Brexit supporters would call that project fear, but it's more and more often that we're hearing this from big business leaders. Ford is also saying a no-deal Brexit will cost them a lot of money and potentially hurt business.</s>GOLD: Yes, and Sony has also just announced they're moving their headquarters to Amsterdam because of the uncertainty over Brexit. We're seeing more and more companies -- just today we saw from Land Rover/Jaguar they're going to extend the shutdown of their factories for another week because of the uncertainty over what will happen with Brexit and their supply chains with the borders, customs checks. Things that could be held up. This is the business community really gearing up for a no-deal Brexit and steeling themselves, spending millions, billions of dollars on these preparations because they're taking it very seriously.</s>GORANI: But you're at Davos. You're around the big corporate bosses and the world's billionaires. Are they saying these things but then privately saying, oh, but the U.K. will never allow itself to fall off a cliff without a deal, or are they genuinely concerned that even if accidently, potentially, they could just slip into some disastrous scenario, like leaving the EU without any deal in place?</s>GOLD: Hala, I have to say they seem genuinely concerned. This is really something they don't like. They don't like the idea of a no-deal Brexit. They want to avoid it. In fact, they don't like Brexit at all. I haven't heard honestly one pro Brexit voice speak to me directly yet. In fact, an audience at a panel today was asked whether they would want a second referendum on Brexit. The answer was pretty overwhelming. Take a listen.</s>MARK CARNEY, GOVERNOR OF THE BANK OF ENGLAND: I think the point I would make is there's a limited amount that many businesses can do to prepare for if there are going to be substantial delays on the logistical side. Obviously, these would eventually be worked out over time.</s>GORANI: That was the Governor of the Bank of England, who's issued many, many dire warnings before.</s>GOLD: Yes, and actually, there was a moment in that panel where the audience was asked whether they'd like a second referendum and, in fact, the entire audience pretty much raised their hands. Mark Carney abstained. He did not raise his hand. We're hearing from a lot of world leaders today. The Prime Minister, Angela Merkel gave a speech where she really was saying she was going to work until the last minute to try to keep this exit orderly. We've heard it described potentially as a rock rolling off the Dover cliffs. There's a lot of dire warnings coming out of Davos, coming out of these business leaders, these politicians, these academic leaders about what a no-deal Brexit could mean to the United Kingdom and could mean to really the economy across Europe and across the world. It's not looking very positive. This is all putting a lot more pressure on Theresa May and on the politicians in the United Kingdom to get everything together. As we know, time is ticking down closer and closer to March 29th.</s>GORANI: Absolutely. March 29th. And January 29th, which is next Tuesday, we will be anchoring a series of special programs. Perhaps you'll be back for that. Parliament will be voting on a number of measures. One of them could force the government to go to Brussels and ask for an extension. We'll see if that goes through. Hadas Gold, in Davos, thanks very much. Still to come tonight, we're just minutes away from a Senate vote that could end the U.S. government shutdown. We'll tell you why today's effort to get the government open again, though, might just be doomed. Plus this --</s>TROY SEARS, TRUMP SUPPORTER: I think it's a waste of time and money. And it's causing way more problems than it's helping anything.</s>GORANI: As the shutdown rolls on, are Trump supporters standing by their man? We'll be right back.