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U.S. deploying 3,000 Troops to Eastern Europe Amid Crisis; New Satellite Images Show Steady Russian Military Buildup; Turkey's Erdogan to Visit Ukraine's Zelensky in Kyiv; First Olympic Events Kick Off Ahead of Opening Ceremony; Austria Vaccine Mandate Compliance Checks to Begin March 15; Several European Countries Easing Restrictions. Aired 1-2a ET
Aired February 03, 2022 - 01:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: Ahead here on CNN, counter move, the U.S. deploys 1000s of troops to Eastern Europe to reassure NATO allies concerned that Russia's military might not stop at Ukraine.
Living with COVID from Denmark to New Zealand high vaccination rates means pandemic restrictions are being lifted, a new normalcy, taking hold.
And at the Omicron Olympics, COVID cases on the rise inside the closed loop system designed to protect athletes from COVID.
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Center, this is CNN Newsroom with John Vause.
VAUSE: Thank you for joining us. We begin with the crisis over Ukraine which continues to escalate militarily amid a flurry of diplomacy. U.S. now deploying 1000s of combat ready troops to Romania and Poland, a move designed to reinforce NATO's defense and deterrence on its eastern flank. At the same time, European leaders continue to try and negotiate a diplomatic solution with Russia.
French President Emmanuel Macron expected to talk with Vladimir Putin in the coming hours. That follows an earlier conversation between Macron and Joe Biden, through which they agree to coordinate their response to Russia's military deployment around Ukraine, which continues to expand.
New Satellite images show more Russian troops and equipment now in multiple locations surrounding Ukraine. The Kremlin though now says it's worried by the surprise deployment of 1000s of American troops once again, accusing the U.S. of escalating tensions in Europe. Details now from the Pentagon and CNN Correspondent Oren Liebermann.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The U.S. military is on the move. President Joe Biden deploying troops to Eastern Europe to meet a growing threat of Russian aggression against Ukraine.
JEN PSAKI, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Russia stays on an escalatory path which they clearly have. We will make force posture adjustments to deter and defend against any aggression.
LIEBERMANN: The Pentagon deployed 2000 U.S. troops to Poland and Germany, another 1000 troops already in Germany heading to Romania. The Pentagon made it clear that U.S. troops would not deploy to Ukraine. But this deployment would further show Russian President Vladimir Putin that NATO stands united.
JOHN KIRBY, PENTAGON PRESS SECRETARY: We want to make sure that he knows any move on NATO is going to be resisted and it's going to be -- it's going to trigger Article Five and we're going to be committed to the defense of our allies.
LIEBERMANN: The Pentagon has another 8500 troops on heightened alert if NATO activates its rapid response force. But this is the U.S. moving military forces on its own as the Russian buildup near Ukraine steadily continues. One day after defense secretary Lloyd Austin spent hours at the White House, the Biden administration briefing the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, followed by briefings to all of Congress Thursday.
WILLIAM TAYLOR, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO UKRAINE: Part of being ready is to deter him is to show that the United States is willing to take active measures, is willing to move troops in the direction of the eastern part of the NATO alliance to deter him.
LIEBERMANN: New satellite images from Maxar Technologies show the latest Russian military deployments to Belarus on Ukraine's northern border, and Russia has added housing for troops in occupied Crimea. A comparison of images from September and now shows new tense for troops, which suggests an increase in readiness, a Tuesday phone call between Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and his Russian counterpart didn't yield any breakthroughs. But the option of diplomacy isn't dead yet.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are engaging in dialogue and diplomacy just as we pursue the path of defense and deterrence.
LIEBERMANN (on camera): Even as we begin to see these troops heading over to Eastern Europe, one thing we will not see or rather hear from the administration is the word imminent. That's because the White House explained that it seems to imply that Vladimir Putin has made the decision to imminently invade Ukraine and that they say is a decision they don't believe he's come to yet. Oren Liebermann, CNN at the Pentagon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE: CNN Military Analyst General Wesley Clark, served for three years as NATO Supreme Allied Commander, he is with us this hour from Little Rock in Arkansas.
General Clark, thank you for being with us. OK, so we have 3000 U.S. troops now heading to Romania and Poland. 1000 deployed from Germany, 2000 from Fort Bragg in North Carolina. They are combat ready, but they're not heading to Ukraine. They're not heading to countries which border Russia. So why are they going, explain the chest move here? And why would the Kremlin now be worried as CNN is reporting?
GEN. WESLEY CLARK, (Ret.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Well, they're going to just show U.S. resolve and support for NATO and to reassure our NATO partners that the United States is committed to their defense. Now, Ukraine is not a NATO partner. These troops really don't have much offensive capability. And there's no reason for the Kremlin to be worried. So, let's not accept that the criminal is worried. Let's say this is part of the information war that's currently ongoing. The truth is that Mr. Putin and his Russians lost very badly in the session at the United Nations on Monday.
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They were exposed as liars. They were exposed as those who were provoking conflict. They screamed, they yelled, they squealed back. And Mr. Putin continued with his statement yesterday. And now we're the criminal is concerned about the fact that he's troops. He's mobilized 120,000 troops directly on Ukraine's borders, and it's a direct threat to Ukraine. We're sending a few 1000 troops into our NATO allies. These troops lack offensive capabilities in general. And they're there for reassurance to show that the United States is committed to the defense of our NATO partners. That's it.
VAUSE: Well, as far as Russia's military presence in the region continues to grow, I would like you to listen to the Pentagon spokesman, John Kirby. Here he is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KIRBY: Mr. Putin continues to add forces, combined arms offensive capabilities. Even over just the last 24 hours, he continues to add in western Russia and Belarus. And again, as I said, in the Mediterranean and the North Atlantic, he has shown no signs of being interested or willing to de-escalate the tensions. And it's not just the United States that's noticed this, our NATO allies have noticed this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: There are also new satellite images, which appear to show a new stage in this troop build-up, Maxar which provided the images told CNN troops, tents, shelters for personnel have been seen at virtually every deployment location in Belarus, Crimea and western Russia, which suggests that the units are now accompanied with troops and have increased their overall readiness level. So how long can Putin leave more than half his military camp on Ukraine's border? What are his pressure points here for deciding when and if to invade?
CLARK: Well, he can leave them there. You know, for a long time, Russian troops are trained in winter warfare. So, they've got the right boots, they've got the right heating, whatever food they're going to get, their equipment is designed to operate in a below freezing temperatures for long periods of time. So, I don't think you can start the clock ticking that this is somehow going to end necessarily, but it is expensive. It is -- he's continuing to provide reinforcements there. And the Pentagon looks at this and says, you know, you can set an end date, he's still building up forces. So, most observers believe that he won't strike during the Olympics, which starts in a couple of days. So that's two weeks, can those troops stay there for two weeks? Absolutely.
VAUSE: Well, at that point, the Ukraine's Foreign Minister had an assessment of where the Russian forces are right now in terms of launching a successful invasion. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DMYTRO KULEBA, UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: Despite Russian statements on some kind of limited withdrawal, which we saw a few days ago, we cannot confirm any real decrease in the number of troops at this moment, by assessment of Ukraine and its partners, this number and composition of forces is not sufficient for a full-scale invasion.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: So, Ukraine's Foreign Minister says it's not sufficient for full scale invasion from what you know by the Russian deployment as well as Ukraine's military defense. Is the foreign minister correct? What do you see it says the troop level here for a full scale invasion?
CLARK: Well, we don't -- none of us know what the detailed intelligence is. And even if we were talking at the classified level, there's a range of uncertainty when you're dealing with experts in camouflage and deception, like the Russian military is. So, they certainly have the airpower to strike. They have the missile forces to strike. They can strike at any moment. Do they have enough forces to occupy the whole country? No, they don't have enough power to take Kyiv probably and may never have enough power to take Kyiv, because the people in Kyiv were furiously resist them.
VAUSE: That's a very good point for us to leave in. General Clark, thank you so much for being with us. I really appreciate it.
Just this week, the British Dutch Polish Prime Ministers have traveled to Kyiv offering support to Ukraine and standoff with Russia, foreign ministers from Germany and France without on Wednesday. Now, the president of Turkey who has a close personal relationship with Vladimir Putin expected to touch down on Thursday for talks with Ukraine's president.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan has offered to work as a mediator to help end this crisis. For the record he warned Russia against invading Ukraine and opposes annexation of Crimea in 2014. Live to Istanbul CNN's Arwa Damon joins us. So Arwa Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the rescue?
ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Who knows at this stage, really, John, but there are a few interesting things to point out as President Erdogan prepares to depart very shortly for you Ukraine at the stage and that is his relationship with both countries, very strong economic ties.
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In fact, Turkey and Ukraine are set to later today sign a free trade agreement. And then of course, is perhaps what might end up being the most critical point. And all of this, and that is Erdogan's relationship with Putin, the two have not always seen eye to eye. In fact, they have been on opposite sides of a number of conflicts throughout the Middle East. And yet they have always, for the most part maintained a relationship. They have always been able to have dialogue. They have always maintained these economic ties. And Erdogan, most certainly, given the history of how they have been on opposing sides of many conflicts in the Middle East does know how to deal with Putin not just as an ally, but also to a certain degree as an adversary.
And so potentially could all these skills come in handy when trying to negotiate a way out of this? I mean, look, that's for something that only time will tell. But Erdogan most certainly is in a very interesting position, when it does come to potentially at least try to mediate between both sides. He has also had some fairly straightforward words for NATO and the West. Remember, Turkey is a member of NATO, but still in this unique position. And Turkey is also a close ally of the United States, barring those instances, you know, when they are not, but all of that, you know, being said and done, Erdogan and the government's line up until now has yes, been that Russia should not invade, but that also the West should respect and understand what Russia's concerns are at this stage.
So suffice to say that I think many of us who are watching this would love to be a fly on the wall in those discussions that are coming up in Ukraine, but also worth noting, John, that the expectation is that after the Winter Olympics, President Putin barring any sort of COVID concern, or any other drama that might potentially come up is also expected anticipated to be making a trip to Turkey to visit with President Erdogan as well.
VAUSE: In the grand scheme of things, we know that Turkey is a member of NATO, but you know, Erdogan's closer to Russia. So where does Erdogan sort of fit in? Where does he lean towards? If you look in the big picture here, does he lean more towards Putin in Russia, is he lean towards NATO in this instance, where is he sort of, what indications has he given as to where he stands in this crisis?
DAMON: Well, it really seems as if he's treading this sort of very delicate, middle line. And that's not an easy task at this stage. And Turkey has a lot of concerns when it comes to geopolitics and a potential fallout from any sort of Russian invasion of Ukraine, because instability, there will potentially quite possibly lead to instability in the Black Sea region. And of course, Turkey does also have a vested interest in that.
The rhetoric has been quite something to begin to follow because he hasn't actually come out for one side or the other, per se. Yes, they have warned against a Russian invasion. But as I was saying, he's also been telling the West that they need to take Russia's concerns into account that they need to understand where Russia is coming from.
And so, one does get the sense that he's not going to try to go in into this completely placed himself in either camp in fact to do so, would perhaps, you know, defy logic to a certain degree because he is going to try to play this role of mediator. He is going to try to place Turkey at center stage of all of this, not just because Turkey has a potential vested income investment in the direct outcome of all of this, but also because this would place Turkey and Erdogan as a highly strategic global player when it comes to potential future conflicts that may erupt.
VAUSE: Arwa, thank you. Arwa Damon live for us in Istanbul, I appreciate it.
Can you feel it? The excitement just over a day down to the opening ceremony with the Winter Olympics one day five hours. Competition, though already underway in curling, alpine skiing and ice hockey. Earlier, the Olympic torch relay passed the Great Wall on its way to the Olympic Stadium. Chinese President Xi Jinping hopes these Olympics will be wonderful, simple and safe.
CNN's Beijing Bureau Chief Steven Jiang is with us now for more and the model of these games together for a shared future. Well, that might just refer to China and Russia when it comes to the Ukraine crisis.
STEVEN JIANG, CNN SENIOR PRODUCER: That's right. This is, you know, obviously an increasingly tall order in terms of, you know, describing Olympics as this unifying global event not only there was a diplomatic boycott going on launched by the U.S. and joined by a few of Washington's close allies. But as you mentioned, there is potentially a war in Ukraine launched by a man Mr. Xi is increasingly close to now Mr. Putin obviously is due to arrive here fairly soon for a whirlwind trip on Friday, he's likely to be on the ground for less than 24 hours, flying in, having lunch with Mr. Xi and then a bilateral meeting before going to attend the opening ceremony and then flies out.
[01:15:36]
But this is obviously taking place at a crucial time. You know, as the U.S. is really trying to maximize its pressure on Russia to ostracize Russia, Mr. Putin is likely to seek and also receive reassurances from Mr. Xi, when it comes to Chinese support for the Russian position on this issue. China obviously has already voiced support for Russia's demand for security guarantee from the U.S. China has also joined Russia, in trying to block U.N. actions on this issue. But probably most importantly, China and Russia has increasingly close economic ties is going to reduce or even minimize the impact of sanctions that the U.S. has already pledged to impose on Russia and its ruling elite. That's probably why Mr. Putin, in the article written for Chinese state media really emphasized the fast growth with bilateral trade, bilateral trade actually grew more than 30% last year, according to Mr. Putin exceeding $140 billion covering an increasingly wide range of area, not just in energy, but also in manufacturing and infrastructure and agriculture. So, this kind of close ties, of course, is what he's trying to boast or further doing this trip. But the two men obviously also increasingly seeing eye to eye on dealing with a common adversary, the U.S. because they're both very resentful and increasingly hostile towards this idea of U.S. building alliances in their respective region to contain and to encircle them.
And for China, obviously, this could also offer benefits on multiple fronts, not only pushing Russia, ever closer to China, but also, you know, distract the U.S. from focusing on dealing with a rising China in this region, especially when it comes to Taiwan. So, all of this is probably why the two men are meeting for the 38th time. Mr. Xi and by the way, has met Mr. Putin more than any other foreign leader. But John, one burning question we're probably not going to get an answer from Mr. Putin is of course whether or not he will hold off military actions during the Beijing winter games to remember the last two major Russian offensives in a foreign land happened during the Olympics against Georgia during the Beijing Summer Games in 2008. Then, of course, again in 2014, invading and annexing Crimea, during the Sochi Games. John.
VAUSE: Steven, thank you. There for us in Beijing.
Still to come, with the Omicron variant much less severe and also seemingly on stumbled and why try, a growing number of countries ending pandemic restrictions, despite record high infections.
Also ahead, the anti-vaxxers prepared to go on the lam in Austria and defy a mandate to be vaccinated. This comes on Friday.
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VAUSE: In Germany hundreds gathered in Munich Wednesday to protest COVID restrictions. They chanted freedom and booed in response to words projected on city hall.
Words like science, solidarity and democracy. Protesters were not wearing masks in Germany said a New Delhi record for infections with more than 230,000 in the last 24 hours.
Blockade by truck drivers at the U.S. Canadian border now entering its sixth day, drivers are protesting requirements they be fully vaccinated to enter Canada for testing and quarantine rules. The trucks are near a border checkpoint in Alberta and drivers are now vowing not to move until all COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. Meantime, a separate truckers protest in the Canadian capital Ottawa has been declared unlawful by city officials.
Austria is set to become the first European country to mandate COVID vaccinations for all adults. The move expected to be approved in the coming hours and will go into effect on Friday. But not all Australians are happy with these new requirements. Many are prepared to live on the lam, go on the run. CNN's Isa Soares has our report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In a small town in northwestern Austria, one mother of six says she plans to soon live outside the law.
KATHARINA TEUFEL-LIELI, AUSTRIAN OPPOSED TO VACCINE MANDATE (through translation): We have done a lot I think to protect the people who are at risk. But solidarity stops for me where it concerns one's own body.
SOARES: The 49-year-old harpist she won't bow to pressure from the Austrian government. As the country becomes the first in Europe to mandate vaccines for adults nationwide, starting Friday, a phased rollout begins. First unvaccinated citizens will have the opportunity to get the job. But by March 15, when compliance checks begin, those without vaccination records or an exemption could face fines of up to 3600 euros or just over $4,000 up to four times a year. Still, some residents have been preparing to skirt the new law.
TEUFEL-LIELI (through translation): There are ways to find hairdressers even, there private meetings. There is actually already a parallel society. It is there already. It is already being built up.
SOARES: A parallel society built on anti-vax sentiment, after failed attempts to stop what's imminently coming into force. Since November, 10s of 1000s have protested the mandate as well as other COVID restrictions. But government officials insist the new law is needed to help boost vaccination rates in Austria, with just over three quarters of the population have fully inoculated against Coronavirus.
Now, as Austria's mandate goes into effect, other European nations will likely look on hoping to close vaccination gaps of their own.
In Germany, lawmakers are debating similar mandates to Austria hoping at least 80% of the population will soon have the job.
In Italy vaccinations are required for those over 50 years old. In Greece for anyone over 60 but until this week, European nations had stopped short of a mandate is sweeping as Austria's such strict measures previously reserved a handful of non-western countries.
Across much of Europe, hospitalizations and deaths have eased as seemingly less severe Omicron variant dominates, but infection levels are soaring. Stopping the spread still essential challenge of the pandemic as one country puts Europe's most stringent mandate yet to the test. Isa Soares CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE: Meantime with falling hospital and ICU admissions and with most simply let exhausted by all of this, COVID restrictions are being totally lifted or eased around the world. In France, sports and cultural venues can return to maximum capacity both indoors and outdoors, providing masks are worn. Nightclubs, love to reopen from February 16.
Working from home no longer mandatory in Norway. That is unless someone is sick or affected. Neighboring Finland will allow restaurants to serve alcohol until 11 p.m. They can stay open until midnight that starts February 14, a week from now.
Switzerland is dropping work from home and quarantine requirements with vaccinations there, on the rise.
Dr. Jorge Rodriguez is a board-certified internal medicine specialist and viral researcher. He is with us this hour from Los Angeles. Good to see you.
DR. JORGE RODRIGUEZ, BOARD CERTIFIED INTERNAL MEDICINE SPECIALIST: Thank you, John.
VAUSE: Jorge, earlier this week, the head of the WHO had a warning about a total relaxation of all pandemic restrictions with the Omicron variant. Here he is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TEDROS ADHANOM GHEBREYESUS, DIRECTOR-GENERAL, WHO: We're concerned that a narrative has taken hold in some countries that because of vaccines Because of Omicron is high transmissibility and lower severity. Preventing transmission is no longer possible and no longer necessary. Nothing could be further from the truth. More transmission means more disease.
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VAUSE: And yet, that's precisely what's happening from Denmark to New Zealand. And I've seen so many countries, which have high vaccination rates and these falling hospital admissions, it seems the right thing to do, because COVID, at least there in those countries is generally considered a critical threat. How do you see this?
RODRIGUEZ: Well, I think he's absolutely right. The fact that I think it is a test of wills, and I think the wills are losing, I think people don't have the resolution in many places to really stick this out. And what they don't realize is that they are making matters worse. It's been shown that if you're vaccinated, you actually spread less virus. You're less likely to get it. So, John, unfortunately, people are tired. And that is not any reason to change what is scientifically correct, which is that there should be vaccinations. And every time we release these requirements to soon, we always get into trouble that happened here in July, when we released the mask mandates, and there were breakthroughs. So, I'm more cautious. I think we need to wait a while to make sure that nothing is progressing before you release those, those mandates. All those requirements.
VAUSE: Absolutely. I mean, vaccination is a key here, right? Because if you look at the U.S., the numbers are pretty grim. On Tuesday, almost 400,000 new infections, more than three and a half 1000 debt that's in one day, this country is on track for 900,000 dead in the next couple of days. About 65% of population has been vaccinated. So, does that low vaccination rate alone account for the death toll? And would you say that, you know, COVID remains a critical threat here in the U.S.?
RODRIGUEZ: COVID remains a critical threat here in the United States. There's no doubt about it. We have become numb to 3000 deaths a day, every day 10 full airplanes crash. Can you imagine the scandal and how everybody would be scared to fly under those conditions? But at the end of the day, people are wanting to live normal lives, but they have to realize they are prolonging the abnormality of our lives right now by not just hunkering down for a bit, you know, for getting vaccinated. It's frustrating, at best.
VAUSE: Against the vaccines because when -- there's a new study which came out about the lockdowns and the effectiveness of these lockdowns, there was an analysis done by Professor John Hopkins University and they found lockdowns have had little to no effect on COVID-19 mortality. More specifically stringent index studies find that lockdowns in Europe and the United States only reduced COVID-19 mortality by 0.2% on average. The study is not been peer reviewed. But, you know, as we head into the third year of this pandemic, if nothing else, it makes sense to go back and take a closer look at what works, what doesn't work and to reassess.
RODRIGUEZ: Absolutely. And at the end there was a very interesting what's called a meta-analysis compared to many different studies and it I think it was pretty conclusive in showing that in order to decrease deaths, lockdowns don't work. Don't work very well anyway. But it didn't say anything about the spread. But we know that in order to decrease deaths and hospitalizations, it is vaccination that is the key.
John, I hate to ramble on like this. But I find that ironic, you know that people are so against these vaccinations, but trust me if they wanted to holiday in some place in Africa, on safari, you have to take vaccines to get in. How come people didn't object to it then. This has become and has been from the word go almost a political issue not a scientific one.
VAUSE: Yeah, the politicization has been the problem, but very quickly, much of the world learning to live with COVID, China being the notable exception signifies zero-COVID policy, and nowhere in the world is that more strictly enforced at the Winter Olympics in a closed loop system. But yet those numbers continue to rise, a number of infections. Here's one of the IOC doctors. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRIAN MCCLOSKEY, CHAIR, BEIJING 2022 MEDICAL EXPERT PANEL: We see that people that only recently arrived have a slightly higher at positive rate than people who've been here for a week or more. And we get going to have very, very low positive rate was in the loop. We hope that not and expect that will be sustained throughout the games.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: So, we're just about to start competition. Can they beat Omicron? RODRIGUEZ: No, they cannot beat Omicron. Omicron is coming in. It's already there. I mean, I follow a few of the athletes on Instagram and when I see the conditions in the Olympic Village, it's crowded, they are, you know, they are sort of communing with each other and they're having social activities. And even though they're wearing masks, you know, the gen is already out of the bottle. So, I think that the cases will increase. It may not be a huge amount, but it's already there.
VAUSE: Jorge Rodriguez thank you so much for being with us, we appreciate your time, sir, thank you.
RODRIGUEZ: Thank you, sir.
[01:29:31]
VAUSE: We have some major news to report about our own network. CNN president Jeff Zucker is resigning, that's effective immediately. Zucker says he was wrong for not disclosing any consensual relationship with a close colleague.
His announcement comes less than two months after he finds CNN anchor Chris Cuomo for improperly advising his brother, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on sexual misconduct allegations.
CNN executive Allison Gollust says she regrets not disclosing her relationship with Jeff. She is remaining at the network.
Well, under fire from the U.S., NATO and the, West Vladimir Putin is finding comfort and support with his BFF, China's Xi Jinping. How China is coming to Russia's rescue. That's next.
Also, even the excitement of the Olympics gets overshadowed by international disputes. CNN's speaks with a Ukraine athlete trying to keep the focus on taking home the gold instead of tensions on the border with Ukraine.
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VAUSE: Welcome back. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM. I'm John Vause.
Well, with more than 100,000 Russian troops camped just across Ukraine's border, and with the threat of an invasion looming, Russia is claiming it's the one that should be worried.
A Kremlin spokesman criticized the U.S. decision to send an extra 3,000 troops to Eastern Europe, accusing the U.S. of increasing tension.
The White House and Pentagon insist the troops will not enter Ukraine, will not engage Russian forces. The move announced Wednesday is meant as a show of support for NATO allies.
Meantime, a Democratic senator told on the Arms Services Committee told CNN's Erin Burnett that new sanctions for Russia are overdue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL (D-CT): We should really begin sanctions yesterday. And in fact, I've advocated that we start those sanctions right away because Putin will not be deterred by words alone. He's a KGB thug, he understands force, military or economic force.
And he's going to be meeting with Xi. Together, they represent a threat to the world order, the biggest threats since the world war.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: The Russian and Chinese presidents are scheduled to have lunch on Friday, before the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. During an interview with Chinese state media, Vladimir Putin said, quote, "President Xi Jinping and I have known each other for a long time as good friends and politicians who have largely the same views on addressing the world's problems. We maintain close and frequent contact."
Before that meeting though, President Putin will speak with the leaders of Argentina and France.
[01:34:51]
VAUSE: CNN's Nic Robertson has details on a flurry of diplomacy.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: So on Thursday, a busy day for President Putin. He is expecting to have another phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron. That will be the third between the two leaders in less than a week.
President Putin on Tuesday indicated during his press conference, that he was looking forward to perhaps soon meeting president macron face to face. An indication perhaps emerging that a line of diplomacy could be beginning to open up between the leaders here. Not clear on that yet at all.
Later Thursday, President Putin preparing for his departure for Beijing for the opening of the Winter Olympics. While there, he's expected to meet with President Xi of China, and have a conversation about a range of trade and security issues.
Also the United States, their reply to Russia and NATO's reply as well, that now being made public, an indication that some of the details of confidence-building, if you will, measures that the United States was offering to Russia as part of their proposal about how to de-escalate the situation right now and find a track for diplomacy.
And that was inviting Russian officials to come and look at U.S. missile systems based in Romania for the Russians to come and look at them and see that they're not threatening to Russia. That's been a concern of Russian officials.
But the reciprocal side of that, the reciprocity end if you will, that U.S. officials could go to Russia to two missile sites there and inspect those missile systems.
But as yet, no official answer to that U.S. or NATO letter sent to Russia a week ago Wednesday.
So, right now, President Putin, holding his fire, keeping his troops around Ukraine in place, and not answering those letters.
Nic Robertson, CNN -- Moscow.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE: Looking at all the turmoil back home, Ukrainian athletes in Beijing for the Olympics might be struggling to simply focus on their events.
CNN's Selina Wang sat down with a Ukrainian bobsledder.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SELINA WANG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The Olympic Games are meant to unify, build bridges between groups in conflict. But as tensions between Ukraine and Russia mount, not all Olympic athletes can embrace that message.
Ukraine's sports minister said its athletes should stay away from their Russian rivals at the winter Olympics, and that Ukrainian athletes have been briefed on how to behave in case of provocations.
Lydia Gunko, Ukraine's first bobsledder at the winter Olympics is prepared to follow that guidance.
LYDIA GUNKO, UKRAINIAN BOBSLEDDER (through translator): We are clearly not friends with the Russian athletes. We have to train and perform with them. But because their country wants to violate our integrity, we cannot have easy contact with them.
WANG: Satellite photos and intelligence reports show Russia has amassed about 120,000 troops near the border of Ukraine.
GUNKO: You try to distance yourself from all of those during competitions and training. Of course, in real life, you can't isolate yourself because many friends and acquaintances have suffered from Russia's actions.
WANG: Gunko has family in Ukraine and Russia.
(on camera): Are your relatives on both sides? Are they going to be watching and cheer you on?
GUNKO: Of course. We are one family, and we must support each other.
ANATOL LIEVEN, QUINCY INSTITUTE FOR RESPONSIBLE STATECRAFT: Many Russians have relatives in Ukraine, and being, you know, forced to draw apart in this way and, you know, engage in frankly, a rather stupid symbolic behavior. WANG: But embracing a Russian rival has already gotten a Ukrainian
athlete in trouble. At the Tokyo Summer Olympics last year, Ukrainian high jumper, a bronze medalist and junior army sergeant was photographed with the Russian gold medalist.
Ukraine's deputy defense minister called the embrace careless behavior and even suggested it was a way for Russian intelligence to infiltrate the Ukrainian military.
Gunko has been training and self isolating as much as possible ahead of the games. Held under the strictest COVID countermeasures in the world. Even her bobsled had to get COVID tested when it arrived in China.
GUNKO: We have to agree to their terms, but, it's a bit crazy.
WANG: But Gunko Google said it was all worth it.
GUNKO: It is an honor for me, this is extremely important for our country, and for the development of the sport in Ukraine.
WANG: As Gunko makes a way into Beijing, she plans to block out all the distractions. Something she says she applies to bobsledding, and life.
Selina Wang, CNN -- Beijing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[01:39:46]
VAUSE: We have this just in. The U.S. military says it carried out a successful counter-terrorism raid in northwest Syria. A statement from the Pentagon did not identify the target of the operation or other details. He did say there were no U.S. casualties. The U.S. has conducted numerous operations targeting Al Qaeda and affiliates in Syria.
Madagascar was just devastated by a deadly cyclone. Now another is on its way. We'll have details after a short break.
Also ahead, can natural gas and nuclear power be considered sustainable energy sources? The E.U. says yes, and that's angered a lot of people.
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VAUSE: The island of Mauritius being pummeled by the strongest storm on the planet at the moment, the tropical cyclone with strong winds, heavy rains as it passed on Wednesday. The cyclone now moving west, expected to hit Madagascar this coming weekend.
Madagascar still reeling from another tropical storm Anna, which killed dozens just a week ago.
CNN's Pedram Javaheri keeping a close watch on the cyclone, he joins us now live from the CNN Weather Center with more.
1-2 punch like no other, right?
PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: You know yes, and this particular one John, could be one of the strongest we've seen in recorded history, one of the top strongest with the intensity that is forecast.
I want to show you what Batsirai has in store here because this again is equivalent to a category four tropical cyclone, and it sits there across portions just east of Madagascar.
You know, the region certainly no stranger to tropical systems. On average, once a year we see a tropical system make landfall across Madagascar. But once you get to the equivalent of a category four system, that is far more rare when it comes to landfalling storms in this part of the world.
In fact, we peel back the archival data, look at data from 1911 to present day and found only 12 tropical cyclones that had reached intensity such as Batsirai as it approaches land. So again, extremely rare to see one of this magnitude approach land and the last one that occurred was back in 2017. (INAUDIBLE) made landfall across northeastern areas of Madagascar. Left behind $50 million in damages and also took over than 80 lives.
So anytime you see storms of this magnitude, you know the potential for devastation is significant.
250 kilometers per hour wind -- very slow moving, barely moving faster than when an average human would kind of walk and you see this perspective here.
(INAUDIBLE) amount of rainfall into Mauritius, and certainly the island of Reunion, renowned region here for some of the wettest spots on our planet on that particular island. The storm system soaking that region with well over a meter of rainfall over the next few hours.
But you'll notice, as the system migrates towards the west, the concern is Friday night into Saturday morning. We expect the system to sustain this intensity of category four equivalent, as it makes landfall somewhere on the east coast of Madagascar.
Model guidance, do not really do a great job on exactly where this system will end up. We do know it will be somewhere from say areas to the north around Toamasina (ph) which is one of the larger port cities across the region. Great exporter there for coffee, vanilla, peppers. They certainly would be significantly impacted.
And Manaca, to the south also could also be impacted by the storm system and of course, the capital of Antananarivo, it's about 150 kilometers inland, so impacts there are going to be more indirect, quite a bit of wind, quite a bit of rain.
[01:44:59]
JAVAHERI: But those coastal communities could be devastated. Historically speaking, category four systems making landfall anywhere in the world, even if you're accustomed to taking the brunt of such storms will leave that area uninhabitable for a period of weeks or months, power outages could be widespread. This is the time to make all the proper precautions in about 36 hours before the storm makes landfall, John?
VAUSE: Not a lot of time. Pedram, thank you. Pedram Javaheri there with the very latest. Appreciate that.
The European Union is facing growing outrage over a move to declare nuclear energy rather and natural glass sustainable.
Germany, which relies heavily on natural gas, says it strongly opposes including nuclear energy on the E.U. green list.
Other member states prefer nuclear over gas. E.U. officials defended the decision on natural gas, calling it transitional until greener technology come on line.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAIREAD MCGINNESS, E.U. FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMISSIONER: It is a signpost towards the private investment markers on our road towards sustainability. And we know we need to move away from particularly harmful energy sources like coal, which today still accounts for 15 percent of electricity production in Europe. And this is something we need to change.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: With us now from New York is Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University and author of "The Price of Civilization".
Jeffrey Sachs, good to see you.
JEFFREY SACHS, DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY: Good to be with you, John. Thank you.
VAUSE: Ok. I think we should start with the view from 30,000 feet, you know. What is the purpose of E.U. taxonomy (ph) and the SNP Global Group, which provides financial research and analytics says this, "The E.U. Taxonomy's definitions and rules determine which economic activities are environmentally sustainable. As a classification system, the taxonomy was created to address greenwashing by enabling market participants to identify and invest in sustainable assets with more confidence."
So just broad brushstrokes here, what is the purpose. What is it meant to do and how is it meant to do it?
SACHS: The big picture is, Europe has chosen a path to get to zero emissions of greenhouse gases at mid century -- zero by 2050. This is part of what is called the European Green Deal.
This taxonomy is to help businesses, by setting standards of what does it mean to be consistent with this path to decarbonization. And these are guidelines for disclosure, or monitoring business activities, or businesses being able to say that they are investing or directing funds consistently, with a Paris Climate Agreement, that's the overarching global agreement, and with the European Green Deal.
VAUSE: Ok. So now we get to this decision to categorize natural gas and nuclear energy as green, according to the E.U.'s taxonomy parliamentary climate delegated act -- just rolls off the tongue -- the gas and nuclear activity selected are in line with the E.U.'s climate and environmental objectives, and will allow us to accelerate the shift from more polluting activities such as coal generation towards a climate mutual future mostly based on renewable energy sources.
If you look at the details, it seems the decision to include both gas and nuclear, it was made more of a (INAUDIBLE) a pragmatic decision?
SACHS: Well, there is a difference of nuclear and natural gas. Nuclear power does not emit carbon dioxide. It does not emit greenhouse gases. In this sense, nuclear energy is consistent with decarbonization.
It is opposed by many activists and by some countries as being too dangerous for a variety of reasons, accidents, or radioactive waste. But the fact of the matter is, that a lot of Europe uses nuclear power. France uses nuclear power for most of its electricity generation. And it is completely consistent with the decarbonization mandate.
Now, natural gas is different. Natural gas is a fossil fuel. It emits less carbon dioxide per kilowatt hour that is generated, than say using coal.
So, what the commission did with this gas standard is to say, well, if you are using gas to take away coal-fired power, on net, you are making a contribution to decarbonization.
That raised a lot of hackles. Well that may be true, it's cleaner than coal, but it is not green.
And so, there was a rip-roaring debate, which will continue in Europe. This is not the end of the story. This is the commission's report, and the European parliament may vote against it for example.
[01:49:47]
SACHS: Nuclear is a highly charged issue, because of different views about nuclear energy, but not because of its climate effect. In that, I think the commission made a lot of sense.
And practically speaking, because nuclear energy is used so much in Europe, it is about a quarter of the total power generation right now. This is understandable.
Gas, that's where a lot of people were rolling their eyes. Yes, it's true, taking out coal and replacing it with natural gas, that is a plus. But it does not get you to decarbonization. So I think the commission still has a lot of explaining to do.
VAUSE: They had 15 member countries, including France, which were pushing for the inclusion of nuclear in this definition of green. In Germany, which was opposed to nuclear, Austria as well. Germany had a big win with the gas inclusion, as well. So how much of this is politics now?
SACHS: Well, there is some politics in this, to be sure, and the decarbonization is a real challenge because there are vested interests and different countries are taking different pathways -- nuclear or not nuclear, for example.
But, I think in the big picture, once again, Europe is doing something quite amazing. It is, in a very nitty-gritty way, really getting to the essence of decarbonization.
Even the gas carve out here is rather limited, I'm not convinced by it, but it's actually rather limited, it's not opening the door to natural gas by any means. I don't think they should've even opened the door the small bit that they did.
But the real story for Europe is they are on a pathway for very deep reductions of greenhouse emissions, even by 2030. And to get to zero by 2050, and I wish we could say the same thing in the United States, but in the U.S. we're nowhere near as far along as Europe's is on making all these rules, all these timelines, all these principles, all the plans, and the actual financing. Because Europe has also put that into place.
VAUSE: They seem way ahead of the game, certainly takes the United States and other countries like Australia as well.
Jeffrey, good to see you. Thank you.
SACHS: Nice to be with you.
VAUSE: And we'll take a short break. When we come back, prepare to enter the closed loop of the Beijing winter Olympics. Nowhere else on earth is a zero COVID policy more strictly enforced.
VAUSE: Well, mandatory daily tasting, totally isolated from the outside world, this year's winter Olympics demand a commitment like no other from both athletes and reporters.
CNN's Coy Wire is the latest CNN reporter to show us the long journey to Beijing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Beijing 2022, nearly 3,000 athletes from 90 nations going to China chasing dreams. Our journey from the United States started with an approval process that took weeks, be fully vaccinated, show to negative PCR test, acquire a green health QR code and so on. It's not like anything I've experienced in the U.S., where some places have hardly any COVID protocols. We are headed to one of the most locked-down places on the planet.
Team USA, chartered flights for its athletes for the first time ever.
MAAME BINEY, TEAM USA SPEED SKATER: I know that I've done everything in my power to not get COVID. And I've done everything right.
[01:54:53]
JAMIE ANDERSON, TEAM USA SNOWBOARDER: Life has just been so strict lately. Definitely makes things like going to the Olympics not as enjoyable.
WIRE: Our plane ride via Paris was packed with Olympians from France, Brazil, Netherlands, Monaco.
This is my neighbor, Clement Perry (ph), bronze medal skier for France at the last winter games. He says these are crazy times, no family allowed, and one positive test could squash his dream of a second Olympic medal. Seeing a flight attendants doing random temperature checks on sleeping fellow Olympians made it even more real.
Deboarding a plane, being greeted by people in hazmat suits was a bit shocking, like a pandemic paradigm shift. Everyone here has been exceedingly kind. They take their jobs very seriously.
The COVID test upon arrival, it's been called the brain scraper, and let's just say it's thorough.
China's zero COVID strategy is a harsh contrast to the packed arenas of screaming, mask-less fans in other countries, no tickets being sold to fans here. Athletes are being asked to mask up, and not even cheer for their teammates out loud. It is unsettling.
While here, you can get a knock on your door at any time with a hazmat messenger, revealing you tested positive. You have 15 minutes to gather your things before being taken away and put on lockdown at a designated isolation facility for an uncertain length of time. Like Hong Kong's Audrey King, one of the Olympians who has already tested positive.
They are very serious about COVID protocols here. It's a process we have to respect. These Beijing Games are a lot different than the Tokyo Games just six months ago. Daily COVID testing, being confined to a well defined closed loop system, and instead of closed loop, you could say, fenced in.
If there's any doubt about how strict Chinese authorities are in regard to preventing the spread of the virus, these heavily branded chain link walls say it all.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE: Britain's Duchess of Cambridge is taking her new patronage very seriously -- I can't say that right now.
Kate Middleton showed off her rugby skills with England women's team at Twickenham Stadium on Wednesday. It was her debut as patron of the Rugby Football League and Rugby Football Union, after taking over the role from her father-in-law Prince Harry (SIC) -- enough said on that.
England is set to play Wales later this month. That's put her in direct opposition to her husband Prince William, who is a patron of the Welsh Rugby Union.
I'm John Vause. Thank you for being with us.
Rosemary Church takes over in just a moment. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM.
[01:57:18]
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ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. You are watching CNN NEWSROOM. And I'm Rosemary Church.
