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Biden and Putin to Hold Video Call in Coming Hours; U.S. Will Not Send Delegation to Beijing Olympics; Top Pence Aide Cooperating with January 6 Committee; France Grappling with Fifth Wave Amid Omicron Fears; Anger Over Omicron Travel Bans on African Countries. Aired 4:00-4:30a ET

Aired December 07, 2021 - 04:00   ET

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

[04:00:00]

MAX FOSTER, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and a very warm welcome to our viewers joining us in the United States and around the world. I'm Max Foster in London. Just ahead on CNN NEWSROOM.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Today the United States is rolling over in the face of Russia's aggressive actions are over.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't think he wants to invade. Putin is not reckless in that way.

JOHN KIRBY, PENTAGON SPOKESMAN: Diplomacy and leadership can still make a difference here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: President Biden faces a crucial foreign policy test in a call with Russia's Vladimir Putin and the tensions with Ukraine.

Plus, a CNN exclusive, an aide close to former Vice President Mike Pence is cooperating with the lawmakers investigating the January 6 insurrection -- what it could mean for Donald Trump.

And the CDC tells Americans not to travel to France. We'll go live to Paris where new restrictions are in place to curb a fifth wave of coronavirus.

ANNOUNCER: Live from London, this is CNN NEWSROOM with Max Foster.

FOSTER: It is Tuesday, December 7th, and we're just six hours away from a high stakes call between U.S. President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. As tensions remain high over Ukraine, Russia's military buildup on the border is expected to be a major issue during today's talks. U.S. intelligence estimates that Moscow could invade Ukraine as soon as next month.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN KIRBY, PENTAGON SPOKESMAN: What we continue to see is added capability that president Putin continues to add, added military capability in the western part of his country and around Ukraine.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: Well, in an exclusive interview, Ukraine's defense minister spoke with CNN's Matthew Chance about what could happen if Russia invades his country.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Do you believe Russia will invade?

OLEKSIY REZNIKOV, UKRAINE'S MINISTER OF DEFENSE: REZNIKOV: I'm not believe that -- I will not believe that Russia will have a victory in Ukraine. It's a different, because it will be a really bloody massacre and Russian guys also will come back in the -- coffins, yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: We're also following a U.S. diplomatic boycott. The Biden administration says it won't be sending an official delegation to the Winter Olympics in Beijing. Jeff Zeleny has more from the White House.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Biden preparing for critical talks Tuesday with Vladimir Putin as the U.S. weighs new sanctions in hopes of deterring Russia from invading Ukraine. The president speaking with European allies to present a united front on imposing those economic sanctions against Russia as new U.S. intelligence obtained by CNN estimates Moscow could invade Ukraine as soon as next month.

JEN PSAKI, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: This is the moment for Russia to pull back their military buildup at the border. That diplomacy is the right path forward here.

ZELENY (voice-over): The Russian president is expected to issue an ultimatum of his own. A written guarantee from Biden to oppose NATO and weapon systems from the military alliance from expanding into Ukraine. Putin has called this a red line and an urgent threat to Russian sovereignty.

The virtual meeting between Biden and Putin comes at a low point in relations between the two countries. It's their first conversation since July, following their face-to-face June summit in Geneva.

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I did what I came to do. ZELENY (voice-over): Since then, tensions have soared. Based on these images obtained by CNN, new U.S. intelligence reports now estimate Russia could amass as many as 175,000 troops on the Ukraine border with half already there. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki saying the sanctions are aimed at Putin's inner circle and critical sectors of the economy.

PSAKI: We have consulted significantly with our allies and believe we have a path forward that would impose significant and severe harm on the Russian economy. You can call that a threat, you can call that a fact, you can call that preparation. Whatever you want to call it.

ZELENY (voice-over): The escalation of troops on the Ukraine border is reminiscent of Russia's 2014 invasion of Crimea. A brazen move alarming U.S. and western leaders.

BIDEN: What I am doing is putting together what I believe to be -- will be the most comprehensive and meaningful set of initiatives to make it very, very difficult for Mr. Putin to go ahead and do what people are worried he may do.

[04:05:00]

ZELENY (voice-over): Tensions also escalating with China as the U.S. takes a rare step of imposing a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

PSAKI: The athletes on Team USA have our full support. We will be behind them 100 percent as we cheer them on from home. We will not be contributing to the fanfare of the games.

ZELENY (voice-over): Psaki said the president is intent on calling out forced labor and human rights abuses in China, but the White House stopping well short of a full boycott like the U.S. did in 1980 when President Jimmy Carter protested the Moscow Olympics, keeping American athletes from taking part in the games.

PSAKI: I don't think that we felt it was the right step to penalize athletes who have been training, preparing for this moment and we felt that we could send a clear message by not sending an official U.S. delegation.

ZELENY: And by not sending a U.S. delegation, that is certainly a symbolic move. But the timing of it is very important as well. Certainly, going to complicate the already tense relationship between the United States and China. But it is that meeting that is scheduled to happen Tuesday morning here in Washington at the White House, a video call between President Biden and President Putin. Diplomatic alternatives are on the table, but so are those economic sanctions. That's why President Biden spent much of the day Monday talking to European leaders trying to get everyone on the same page.

Jeff Zeleny, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE) FOSTER: CNN reporters are covering both developing stories for you. Ivan Watson is following the diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics. Fred Pleitgen is tracking the tensions of the Ukraine in today's high stakes summit. Fred let's begin with you in Berlin. With sanctions already on Russia, what difference will more really make? How will it affect these discussions today, do you think?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think it's the main tool really that President Biden has in his arsenal. Certainly, the main one he wants to talk to Vladimir Putin about. And I think the sanctions that the Biden administration has been talking about and has really been talking to allies about as well and also Ukrainians are far stronger or would be far stronger than anything that we've seen so far. Even in the past couple of years with all the things Russia has been doing in and around Ukraine.

A lot of it could lead to some severe economic penalties for Russia, could make it difficult. But could also, quite frankly take a pretty big toll on European countries that have economic relations with Russia. One of them, of course, being Germany, getting a lot of gas from Russia. So, in general, these sanctions could have a pretty large effect. And I think that's something that President Biden has said he wants to make absolutely clear to Vladimir Putin, that the reaction would be fierce by the United States.

However, right now the U.S. still saying that that reaction most probably would remain an economic one rather than a military one. Although the U.S. is also saying that if an invasion were to take place, that for instance, more U.S. troops in eastern European countries, should eastern European countries demand them, that is also something that would be on the table as well.

So, we are talking about, I'd say, almost a different dimension than the economic sanctions that we've seen on Russia so far. And that's certainly something the president said he wants to make clear to Vladimir Putin. The Russians, of course, for their side saying they want guarantees from the U.S. and from NATO that Ukraine will never become a member state of the alliance. However, so far NATO is rejecting that. Ukrainians, of course, rejecting that, and the U.S. has rejected that as well -- Max.

FOSTER: OK, Fred, thank you. And, Ivan, on the diplomatic boycott of the Olympics. What response do we have from Beijing and are they concerned that other countries will do the same?

IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Beijing is irritated and clearly frustrated. A little bit more than two hours ago the spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry came out and basically accused the U.S. of a self-directed political farce and of a cold war mentality. Take a listen to what else that official had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ZHAO LIJIAN, CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN (through translator): Out of ideological bias and based on lies and rumors, the U.S. attempts to disrupt the Beijing Winter Olympic Games. This will only expose its malicious intention to the world and will lead to a greater loss of moral authority and credibility.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON: Beijing has threatened counter measures, but this official, when asked whether China would conduct a similar boycott of the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics, did not specifically say whether that measure would be adopted. He accused the U.S. of politicizing sport and the Olympic games.

[04:10:00]

The International Olympic Committee which is co-hosting the upcoming Beijing winter Olympics said that the presence of government officials at the games is a purely political decision, reasserted the IOC's political neutrality, and said that this announcement from the White House makes it clear that the Olympic games are beyond politics, somewhat undermining the Chinese government's argument that this is politicizing the games.

So, the White House has been asked whether or not it's urging American allies to follow suit with this diplomatic boycott. Jen Psaki, the White House spokesperson, she said effectively no. That they're sharing this decision with allies and it's up to them whether or not they go through with this.

I want to underscore what a dramatic difference the run up to these Winter Beijing Olympics are from the summer games that were hosted in Beijing in 2008. Because in that case there wasn't just a U.S. official diplomatic delegation present. It was led by then the U.S. President George W. Bush, who was on hand, enthusiastically participating, accompanied by the first lady, as well as his father, the former President George H.W. Bush, who was the honorary captain of the U.S. Olympic team. You know, fast forward 14 years, and the ties between the world's two largest economies are much more strained right now -- Max.

FOSTER: Absolutely. Ivan in Hong Kong, thank you.

Earlier Olympics sportscaster Bob Costas spoke with CNN about the International Olympic Committee's relation with China. It could be harmful for those who choose to speak out against Beijing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BOB COSTAS, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: We might have said in the past that it was questionable and it was discouraging or disappointing. The IOC's affinity for China and for other authoritarian regimes, I think it has now reached a point where it is disgraceful. But this is, this is tricky terrain now for NBC and for other Americans. We don't know what sort of peril anybody might be in if they speak forthrightly.

Houston Rockets were taken off when their then-GM Daryl Morey tweeted something to the effect of Stand with Hong Kong. And just a week or so ago when Enes Kanter of the Celtics who is a Turk and is well-aware of what happens in authoritarian regimes when he criticized China boom, Celtic games taken off the air.

They broke no criticism. They double down and they threatened consequences. And in some cases, there are at least economic consequences and here we have all of these American sports entities and individual sports stars who are invested in this giant Chinese market and are loathed to offend it by stating the obvious.

Given its size and given its resources and given its intentions, no matter what else is happening around the world as tragic as it may be, China has to rank as the number one human rights violator on the planet, and so much of America is, at least business wise, in bed with it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: Bob Costas there. Do stay with CNN for more coverage on this story throughout the day.

Now to CNN exclusive though. Sources tell us a senior aide to former Vice President Mike Pence Marc Short is cooperating with the House committee investigating the Capitol insurrection. CNN's Ryan Nobles has more from Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RYAN NOBLES, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Marc Short, who is the former chief of staff to the then Vice President Mike Pence, is cooperating with the January 6 Select Committee. That was information exclusively learned by CNN as we are certain to get some insight into exactly what the committee is learning about what happened here on January 6th.

And Short is a key player in all of that. This was someone who is and remains very close with Mike Pence. He was with the Vice President during January 6, was part of a group of aides and advisers that were evacuated from the Capitol with Pence's on that day. So, Short has unique insight into everything that happened on January 6th. It's not just January 6th that will be of interest to the committee though, because Short was one of the former Vice President's closest advisers as he was facing a major pressure campaign from the former President Donald Trump and other conservative leaders who believed that Pence had legal authority to prevent the certification of the November election. That certification, of course, was scheduled to take place on January 6th.

Now, Pence had a meeting in the Oval Office with President Trump and John Eastman, who is a controversial conservative lawyer. He was the first author or architect, I should say, of this theory that Pence had the ability to prevent the certification of the election.

[04:15:00]

And Marc Short was in the room during that meeting. Of course, Pence did not take that step. He ultimately did not attempt to intervene in the certification process, saying that he believed he did not have the constitutional authority. That led to a lot of anger from the former President Trump, of course, and a lot of his supporters that were here on January 6. Many of them came here to Washington specifically to look for Mike Pence. Some even saying that they wanted to execute him.

So, Marc Short's recollection of what took place on that day and the events leading up to it are of great interest to the January 6 Select Committee. And after issuing him a subpoena, which we learned for the first time, Short has agreed to cooperate.

Ryan Nobles, CNN, on Capitol Hill.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: The late Senator Bob Dole will lie in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on Thursday. He died on Sunday at the age of 98. Dole had announced in February that he was being treated for advanced lung cancer.

In a joint statement, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called Dole an extraordinary patriot who devoted his entire life to serving our nation with dignity and integrity.

18 years ago today, one of the most pivotal moments in world history was playing out in Hawaii. That's when a surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor killed more than 2,000 Americans, gutting the Pacific fleet, and joined the U.S. into World War II. Events are now planned this week in Hawaii around Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Survivors of the attack will attend, many of them now centenarians. This is a change from last year when events were curtailed due to COVID-19.

Still to come, details of the new restrictions being put in place across Europe as the Omicron variant of the coronavirus spreads.

Plus, South Africa's COVID positivity rate has jumped since the Omicron variant was detected. How the country is preparing in the face of another COVID surge. That's next.

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[04:20:00]

FOSTER: More U.S. states are reporting cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant. On Monday, Texas and Mississippi became the latest states to confirm the case of a variant. While Delta is dominant in the U.S., Omicron has now been detected across at least 19 states. It comes as COVID cases and deaths are rising across the U.S. The country is now averaging more than 100,000 cases a day and more than 1,500 people are dying each day. Those are some of the highest numbers we've seen in more than a month.

The situation has grown so alarming in one part of New York state that officials have now declared a state of emergency. Meanwhile, New York City is set to implement one of the strictest vaccine mandates in the country. Starting on December 27th, all private sector employees will be required to fully vaccinate. Mayor Bill de Blasio making the announcement on Monday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILL DE BLASIO, NEW YORK MAYOR: This is how we put health and safety first, by ensuring that there is a vaccine mandate that reaches everyone universally in the private sector. A lot of folks in the private sector said to me they believe in vaccination, but they're not quite sure how they can do it themselves. Well, we're going to do it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: The U.S. CDC is urging Americans to avoid traveling to France over Omicron concerns putting the country on its list of very high- risk destinations. This comes as France is planning to closed all night clubs and implement masking and social distancing measures in primary schools. Officials say the country is now in the grip of a fifth COVID wave.

Meanwhile, Italy's new super green pass is now mandatory to get into bars, restaurants, theaters and other entertainment venues.

And all inbound travelers here to the U.K. must take a pre-departure COVID test regardless of their vaccination status. This comes as England reports community transmission of the Omicron variant.

Now, in South Africa, new data reveals the COVID positivity rate has jumped by 24 percent since the Omicron variant was detected there, initially two weeks ago. The country's president says the variant appears to be dominating new infections and pushing the country towards a new fourth wave.

CNN covering the story from all angles for you. Larry Madowo is live in Johannesburg, but let's begin with our Melissa Bell in Paris. Because Melissa, these are tough new restrictions. We've seen how other countries are unsure. There's been demonstrations and pushback because of restrictions. Do you think the French are willing to accept this?

MELISSA BELL, CNN PARIS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Jean Castex, the Prime Minister was very clear when he made the announcement yesterday evening, Max, that he did not want to introduce measures that he called disproportionate. And this despite the fact that when you look at figures, when you look at the numbers, the rise in the number of cases, and we've seen several days of rises above 50,000 cases in a 24-hour period.

This is a wave that is according to French authorities much steeper than the second or third or fourth waves that we've had here in France. This is the fifth wave that is really threatening to challenge and overwhelm hospitals, say authorities, by the end of January, if things continue unchecked. And so, these announcements not disproportionate, said the Prime Minister, and yet enough -- say French authorities, they hope to try and bring those numbers down.

So, yes, night clubs closed from Friday for a month, but also in schoolchildren. Because schoolchildren have been in important part of the transmission of this particular fifth wave fueled as it is by the Delta variant, fresh measures inside schools, Max, to keep children apart, more social distancing. But also, a fresh effort to get the youngest vaccinated with the opening of vaccinations to children under 12.

Will it be enough? Certainly, French authorities trying to strike that balance between trying to preserve the end of year holidays, allow for the economy to stay as open as possible. But again, the rises we've seen, Max, over the last couple of weeks have been so staggeringly high it is unclear whether this is going to be enough. And bear in mind as you mentioned a moment ago, the Omicron variant as well also now present here in France with community-based transmission as well. Something to worry about, no doubt, looking ahead -- Max.

[04:25:00]

FOSTER: Yes. Larry, all eyes on South Africa because this is where the Omicron was first detected at least, and it's spreading pretty fast.

LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It has gotten quite far in the last two weeks. Two weeks ago, in South Africa it was only 2.3 percent, Max. In the test data on Monday, the positivity rate was 26.4 percent. The highest since Omicron variant was detected. And that has led to all those travel bans around the world. That's why you see the people about to board an Emirates flight going to Dubai, and hopefully being able to get to whatever part of the world they were going to. And on the other side is the flights to Addis Ababa, a heart in the African continent and then they they'll be trying to get, again, to the other part of the world if they are allowed to come in.

There are many countries have travel bans affecting South Africa and other South African nations which have been criticized around the world including by the leadership here in South Africa that consider them selective. And President Cyril Ramaphosa has called this travel apartheid. Because they expect only this majority black nations and not any of the countries in Europe that have also reported similar cases of the Omicron variant.

So, you see how many people are trying to get on just this one flight to Addis Ababa and then to the rest of the world. Look at the cue all the way back there. And there's a lot of concern and anger, frustration about the travel ban here in South Africa. One expert I spoke to a moment ago told me it's time for Africa to stop depending on the rest of the world.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

THEBE IKALAFENG DIRECTOR OF SOUTH AFRICA TOURISM BOARD: If Africa is going to rise, Africa is going to have to look to Africa and to Africans. This is a reminder of the selfishness of the West when it comes to issues like vaccine, sharing their vaccines or sharing their knowledge. So, a reminder that for Africa to thrive again, Africa must look to itself and to not -- and in time we need to get over this need to get validation from the rest of the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MADOWO: The impacts of the travel bans will be devastating on South African tourism. This is a top destination in Africa, and it lost about 70 percent of our arrivals because of the pandemic. It was just beginning to recover before these latest travel bans. But here, the government encouraging people to get vaccinated even though there's some hesitancy. They say the reasons are compelling because even though the early data, Max, seems to indicate that this variant is more transmissible but less severe, nobody wants even a mild COVID infection because you might still end up with long COVID and that is the worst thing you need -- Max.

FOSTER: Absolutely, Larry and Melissa, thank you both very much indeed.

Now over in the U.S. the opening bell is about five hours away as Wall Street looks to extend the rebound. The Dow jumped more than 600 points on Monday. Helping to make up for last week's losses. Markets have been just reopened with concerns of the Omicron coronavirus variant. The weaken expected November jobs report hasn't helped. But right now, things are largely looking up for U.S. futures as you can see.

Now, still to come, Michigan police search the home of the man who helped the parents of the suspected school shooter. We'll have the latest on that investigation.

And actor Jussie Smollett takes the stand in his trial. Ahead, how he's tried to convince jurors he didn't stage a hate crime attack. The men lied to police about it.

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