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Crisis in Ukraine Rattle Global Markets; U.S. Protesters "Putin out of Ukraine"; Snow, Ice Pound East Coast Again; Hollywood Stars Shine at the Oscars

Aired March 03, 2014 - 10:30   ET

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

JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Jake Tapper. Welcome back to this special edition of NEWSROOM.

Washington says some 6,000 Russian troops have mobilized across Crimea surrounding Ukrainian military bases there and effectively seizing control of the entire peninsula. It is Russia's biggest defiance of the West perhaps since the end of the Cold War. And in Washington, D.C., the condemnation has been swift and scathing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN KERRY, SECRETARY OF STATE: It's an incredible act of aggression, it is really a stunning willful choice by President Putin to invade another country. It is a 19th century act in the 21st century.

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: Stop going on television and trying to threaten thugs and dictators. It is not your strong suit. Every time the President goes on national television and threatens Putin or anyone like Putin, everybody's eyes roll, including mine. We have a weak and indecisive President that invites aggression. President Obama needs to do something.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: The crisis in Ukraine is forcing stocks around the world to plummet. This morning the Dow is down about 160 points. Let's bring in CNN's chief business correspondent Christine Romans -- Christine.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: It started overnight. I mean you had huge selloffs in Asia and European stocks and the Russian, the main Russian stock market fell 13 percent. That is a huge, painful move for anybody who is an investor in Russia or a business person in Russia.

Let me show you the other markets that are moving because clearly all of that selling overnight has spread into the U.S. market but it's happening in a lot of different places. You've got oil prices; gas prices have spiked higher, about two percent higher here. That's a big move. Grain prices are higher. Corn prices up two percent. Wheat prices up something like five percent. There you go. Gold prices, that's of course a global safe haven. Gold is up 2.3 percent.

So you can see markets around the world are moving. Really closely watching those energy markets because as you know, Jake, Ukraine is a big pipeline for Russian energy to European markets. These are some of those major pipelines through Ukraine. There are a lot of other small ones. But these are the main big pipelines; 70 percent of Russia's exports are energy and a big destination of that energy is Europe, through Ukraine.

So this is a small country relatively speaking, 45 million people in the Ukraine. The economy is less than $200 billion. It already had an economic crisis. Now, it has a political crisis and it is incredibly important geographically speaking where it sits between Europe and the United States and Russia. All of that uncertainty really, really roiling markets.

I've got to tell you a 13 percent decline in the Russian market is a very big move. The ruble, the Russian currency, at a record low against the U.S. and against the Euro -- the U.S. dollar and the Europe. And the country had to raise interest rates unexpectedly last night to try to protect itself the Central Bank did in Russia. It just shows you what a shock all of this has been to the Russian economy as well. That could be a powerful, powerful silent diplomat at the table here as we go forward.

TAPPER: Christine Romans, thank you so much.

Let's get the latest now from Crimea. CNN's Diana Magnay is there -- Diana.

DIANA MAGNAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Jake, if this is an invasion it certainly on the ground feels like a very low-key invasion. We know that 10 Ukrainian military and naval bases are now surrounded by troops, the Russian troops, even though they are not wearing any kind of insignia. In fact our own Ben Wedeman was just up at a border post of (inaudible) which surrounded by Russian troops. And one of them told him that he had come from the Black Sea Base at Sevastopol. They had orders to leave their base on Saturday. So they've been there a couple of days and that the locals had welcomed them with open arms, they were bringing them food and Ben saw that when he was there and offering them a place to sleep and stay. And that they were there to defend their Ukrainian brothers.

And we've been wandering around the town of Simferopol which is the capital. Again it seemed very calm. You see these soldiers circling government buildings, patrolling the streets here and there. But it does not feel like an invasive presence.

That said, I now quote, Interfax, the Russian news agency who says that Ukraine -- that Russia will -- has given an order to Ukrainian bases here to surrender by 3:00 a.m. GMT. That's 5:00 local time here tomorrow morning or they will storm -- so two quite conflicting messages.

That said, I don't know how much you can trust their offer they are pushing one very strong message to the pro-Russian contingency here. And it's certainly not the message that the government from Kiev is putting out -- Jake.

TAPPER: Diana Magnay with some alarming news. Thank you so much. The former prime minister of Ukraine is imploring world leaders to do everything they can to keep Crimea a part of Ukraine. Yulia Tymoshenko was freed from prison just over a week ago.

She met with CNN's Christiane Amanpour earlier today for her first international TV interview since her release. And Christiane joins us now from New York. Christiane what did she have to say?

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Jake, she you know further added a lot of uncertainty into what's going on. You just heard what Diana is saying, these conflicting reports from the Russians and Ukrainians.

Well now apparently according to press reports and according to what Tymoshenko told to me, the Russian parliament is deliberating a bill that would call for the annexation effectively of Crimea. And she is now begging literally using the word "begging" the international community to step in immediately and stop the disintegration of Ukraine. And I pushed her on whether she meant that it would be you know a military or not. This is what she had to say that she said the time is absolutely running out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

YULIA TYMOSHENKO, FORMER UKRAINIAN PRIME MINISTER (through translator): But in hard times, Ukraine is left on its own and is given to Russia. And when Russia is allowed to take away Crimea, then the world will change and then not only politics and life in Ukraine will change, the politics and life will change practically everywhere in the world. And then we have to accept, to state that in 21st century, one country, an aggressor, can violate all the international agreements, take away territories, whenever she likes.

We can't afford this in the world. That's why if the instruments of diplomacy won't work, if all negotiations or instruments won't work and personal relations with Mr. Putin won't work the world has to apply strongest means.

AMANPOUR: Miss Tymoshenko you sound like you are raising the stakes and you are calling for the West, the United States, Britain and Europe to use military force against Russia. Am I reading you correctly? Is that what you're calling for?

TYMOSHENKO: I am asking all the world, personally every world leader, to use all the possibilities in order to avoid Ukraine losing Crimea.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AMANPOUR: Now what's also very worrying to not just the Ukrainians but also to the world leaders who are now engaged as you know in heavy diplomacy is the possibility that Russia extends what is its now de facto control of Crimea into part of eastern Ukraine itself. And everybody is trying to work overtime to make sure that Russia doesn't do that and also that the Ukrainian authorities and the people there don't somehow miscalculate or give any kind of further pretext for Russia to expand its military intervention -- Jake. TAPPER: All right Christiane Amanpour thank you so much.

Coming up next, protesters across the United States hitting the streets and demanding action in response to Russian troops in the Crimean Peninsula -- that's coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TAPPER: Protesters in the United States from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. gathered in the streets this weekend. They are calling for action in response to Russia's actions in the Ukraine. Some urging the U.S. to intervene others just wanted a peaceful resolution before lives are lost.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He just invaded, invaded all in and he needs to get out as soon as impossible before the war will start. We don't want people to die.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It starts in Crimea. We should -- you know we should stop it there and stop it only peacefully.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: CNN's Ted Rowlands is live in Chicago where the largest Ukrainian community in the United States resides. Ted what kind of reactions are you seeing this morning?

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Jake you might imagine we are in the Ukrainian village neighborhood of Chicago. And as you might imagine people are very worried. They are watching very closely what is going on in the Ukraine. They are worried for family and friends that are there.

It's interesting. You ask them what do they want to take place and they don't know. They don't want military action necessarily. But they are absolutely worried, they are heartbroken. Take a listen to how emotional, extraordinarily emotional as some people reacted when we asked them their feelings about what's going on in their home country.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm sorry. Well, like I said, I think Ukraine going to survive; United States behind them -- hopefully.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is not just upset. It is scared. It is scared and horrible. It's just unbelievable that it looks like a new Hitler in Europe.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it's a -- it's very sad. It's very sad and because our country, very peaceful country. The people always welcoming the guests, everybody who would like to come to other country with open heart. And today, they see what's going on in Ukraine -- it's a big tragedy for each Ukrainian. It broke my heart and 24 hours I can watch on Internet what's going on in Ukraine.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROWLANDS: A lot of people not getting a lot of sleep here, Jake, because they are monitoring the situation there 24/7 online. And you heard it -- a lot of people having their hearts broken. A lot of worry here for their friends and family in the Ukraine.

TAPPER: Ted Rowlands, thank you so much. We will, of course, be watching the tense situation in Ukraine. Ambassador Nicholas Burns says, "Russian President, Vladimir Putin, saw an opening and he took it." The question is will he stop at Crimea?

For now let's go back to the CNN Center where Kyra Phillips is standing by with some of the day's other top stories -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Jake thanks.

Still to come it was a blockbuster night for Hollywood's biggest actors. Up next, we're going to have the winners and the losers from last night's star-studded Academy Awards. Oh, yes and we'll talk about the dresses too.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, I'll tell you what -- the eastern U.S. is getting pummeled again; this monster storm pushing its way from the Midwest leaving a trail of ice and sleet and snow. For drivers, it's pretty much a travel nightmare right now. And that's where our Brian Todd joins us. He's actually on I-95 south near Beltsville, Maryland. Brian, give us a description of what you are seeing.

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, very dangerous conditions here along I-95 between Baltimore and Washington, D.C. You can see me in this vehicle. We'll show you a shot out our front windshield here. There were near whiteout conditions a short time ago and very low visibility.

The snow has let up a little bit but as you can see, the conditions are still very treacherous. They have freezing rain and sleet and a little bit of ice that built up on this road before the snow came. The snow is not over yet, we're told. There is still going to be more coming through.

We've had a state trooper complain to us that drivers are not heeding warnings to stay off the road; that they're going way too fast for these conditions. We have seen spinouts along the road and some other treacherous conditions.

I just talked to a tow truck operator who was hauling a pickup truck out of a ditch. He complained that a lot of these cars are just coming way too close to disabled vehicles on the side of the road. He has almost gotten hit a couple of times, he says.

So those are the conditions that we are dealing with here. You know, part of the problem that was happening earlier today and it may happen later, is that the snow was coming too fast for the salt truck and the tow truck and the plows to operate. And they just couldn't get the roads cleared fast enough.

Here is some of our interview with tow truck operator, James Williams just a short time ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES WILLIAMS, TOW TRUCK OPERATOR: Basically it's dangerous right now. The situation where I have to pick this truck up from the rear and turn my truck facing the direction of the traffic, which makes it very hard because people come and they can barely see. They are coming awfully close. So all I ask is that everybody just slow down.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TODD: We're going to show you just what we're dealing with here a along I-95. I'm going to get out of the vehicle now and we have -- we can switch our cameras over to our photojournalist, Oliver Jenny (ph) who can show just what we're dealing with.

A lot of the times you can't tell where the shoulder starts and where the road ends. And as we said, a lot of volume along this road, a lot of people not heeding warnings and the state troopers really complaining about vehicles going too fast.

I have to keep an eye on this traffic while Oliver is shooting here because some of these vehicles coming fairly close and we've seen a lot of spin outs, Kyra. So, some very dangerous conditions along I-95 between Baltimore and Washington, right now.

PHILLIPS: I'll tell you what, Brian -- it is pretty phenomenal what we can bring to our viewers now with technology. I mean you are driving in a car. We're seeing it live. You are able to step out and go right to another camera.

I mean this is your territory. This is where you live. Can you kind of put it in perspectives for folks what it is going to be like today and the next couple of days and flights are delayed and travel is not easy right now. I mean this is really impacting major parts of the country.

TODD: It really is -- Kyra. It is impacting this region to a great degree and all along the Eastern Seaboard. This is really a massive storm as you know. And what it does to people around here is it really snarls traffic in a horrible way. Because people here just are not used to this kind of volume of snow. The icy conditions are very treacherous right now. And what they have warned people, from yesterday to today, was that don't be deceived by something like this where you see kind of a black patch of highway. There is sleet and freezing rain underneath it. Ice that's built up and what we're told now is that the temperatures are going to start to drop. All of this is going to be freezing over.

And again you can see right behind me, a lot of motorists aren't really heeding the warnings to either slow down or really just stay off the road. We were noticing more vehicles on the highway as we did in the last snowstorm. So I'm not sure why that is but people are not heeding warnings.

PHILLIPS: Well, I'll tell you what -- I would feel a lot better if you got back in the car. We will just take it live from inside the vehicle. Brian Todd out of Maryland there for us. Brian -- thanks.

I'll tell you what -- it's a night of glitz and glamour at the Academy Awards if you stayed up late to watch it all. I mean there were star- studded acceptance speeches that were phenomenal. And then, of course, the stunning red carpet looks. The Oscars proved to be a pretty awesome party in Hollywood.

Joining us now to talk about last night's winners, losers, dish on everything, film producer for the "Hollywood Reporter", Tatiana Siegel; also celebrity stylist and fashion expert Robert Verde. Guys, let's go ahead and start with "12 Years a Slave" which took home best picture. A lot of people woke up this morning want to know, ok, what film won.

Let's take a listen to that just emotional Lupita Nyong'o, who won Best Supporting Actress -- puts it all in perspective.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LUPITA NYONG'O, ACTRESS: Thank you so much for putting me in this position. It has been the joy of my life. When I look down at this golden statue, may it remind me and every little child that no matter where you are from, your dreams are valid.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: I'll tell you -- Tatiana, that entire speech, just the way she put her words together, beautiful. Were you surprised that this film did so well last night?

TATIANA SIEGEL, "HOLLYWOOD REPORTER": Not at all. I think that this was the film that came in as the favorite even though "Gravity" was kind of in the mix. It was "12 Years a Slave" to lose. I think Lupita was also pretty much the one that people just thought was going to win because Jennifer Lawrence was -- she won last year. And she was sort of the biggest threat to Lupita but Lupita gave a performance that was hard to overlook by the academy.

PHILLIPS: Yes, she exudes grace and beauty.

Robert, let's go ahead -- speaking of beauty, let's talk about red carpet glam, shall we.

ROBERT VERDE, STYLIST: Yes.

PHILLIPS: I know you want to talk about who wore it best.

VERDE: Yes. Well, we can certainly talk about Lupita. She looked amazing. Certainly, there is a sherbet colored trend that women want to know about right now. So invite some sherbet colors into your closet and you'll be fabulous this season. That dress was a Prada dress that Lupita wore -- a custom Prada dress.

And of course, you know, Lupita is a watershed moment in beauty also, not just in fashion. She loves fashion. She looks amazing in it. She has a real girl's body, there's a little curve to her. She is not one of the familiar, very skinny, unrealistic models we have seen on the runways. But she also is a natural beauty.

You know for women of color who have looked up to all of the amazing women like Beyonce, who in many ways are fabricated with wigs and weaves and have a lot of makeup on, Lupita is a breath of fresh air because she is natural and there is something really intoxicating when a young girl is not covered with all of the tools that fabricate false beauty.

PHILLIPS: Point well made. Oh, yes -- simple and so elegant.

VERDE: And dramatic and glamorous.

PHILLIPS: Yes. Amen.

All right. Well, we have to talk about the selfie seen around the world. Ellen was a trip last night. And this photo has become the most shared photo on Twitter ever. It has already been re-tweeted I'm told, more than two million times now. What do you think? Does this go down as the best selfie ever? I want you both to weigh in.

VERDE: Yes. The best part of this photo was actually another photo that was taken from the opposite side. You can see all the people who didn't make it in and one of those people is Liza Minnelli trying to like push her way to the front of the image.

PHILLIPS: It's true. Tatiana, everyone wanted to be a part of that selfie.

SIEGEL: Yes, I think that's a great point like the photo from behind was sort of the more telling photo because it's like everyone in that natural moment of trying to jostle their way in. And, you know, I think it was a really cute moment. I don't think it was entirely spontaneous. I think it was scripted but it came off as one of the more spontaneous moments of the night.

PHILLIPS: Like that one kid on the team that says, hey, coach, put me in, put me in. They were back there just trying to jump in on that photo.

Guys -- thanks so much.

VERDE: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: Tatiana Siegel, Robert Verde -- fun talking with you.

SIEGEL: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: All right. And thanks so much for joining me today. I'm Kyra Phillips.

"@THIS HOUR" with John Berman and Michaela Pereira starts right after a quick break.

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