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Spinal Cord Treatment Gives People With Paralysis Hope Of Walking; Biden Holds Joint News Conference With German Chancellor. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired February 07, 2022 - 15:30   ET

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

[15:30:00]

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN HOST: Here's a hopeful story. An experimental spinal cord treatment could give people who are paralyzed the chance to walk again. Researchers in Switzerland were able to implant patients with a device that allowed them to move and walk in a matter of days.

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN HOST: Elizabeth Cohen, CNN senior medical correspondent is here to tell us all about and how it works. This sounds fascinating. Remarkable.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: It really is. Imagine you've had an accident. You can't move your legs. You can't feel your legs and then you get a device implanted in your spine and all of a sudden you can move your legs. It's small study but generating a lot of hope.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COHEN (voice over): No one ever thought Michael Rocati would be able to do this, or this. In 2017 Rocati was paralyzed after a motorcycle accident.

MICHAEL ROCCATI, SPINAL IMPLANT RECEIVER: I tried to move the legs, tried to change my position. It was impossible to do nothing. I fixed in my mind that it was just a situation. So, I put my mind and my behavior to try to solve this problem. And I never stopped.

[15:05:00]

COHEN (voice over): Now he can walk about a mile without assistance thanks to this device. It sends electrical impulses to his spine. He can control it through his computer. Scientists have been researching electrical stimulation as a treatment for paralysis for three decades.

In 2014 I visited the University of Louisville where I saw patients using similar technology. They were able to wiggle their toes and move their knees.

COHEN: Oh, there you go.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

COHEN: Oh my gosh.

COHEN (voice over): And even stand up. And with months of assistance in rehab, some of them even began walking.

The newest simulator, this one from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology can reach more of the spinal cord and allow people to regain movement on the same day that they receive the spinal implant.

JOCEYLNE BLOCH, STUDY CO-AUTHOR AND SURGEON: This technology is so precise that immediately after the surgery, the patient can walk and stand.

COHEN (voice over): Within a week three patients, men between the ages of 29 and 41, including Michael were able to walk like this. Their cases detail in a study published Monday in the journal Nature Medicine. With hour and hours of rehabilitation for five months the patients were walking, riding bikes and even boxing.

The research is still early. They've tried it out on only three patients. They plan to test it out on 50 to 100 more to make sure it's safe and to see if it works better in some people than in others. They hope that if the device performs well in these tests that it will be widely used in the next three to four years. But these initial steps are still monumental.

ROCCATI: Walking is super important, I just stand up, can solve a lot of kind of problems in normal life just to do a simple shower, without crutches I can stand up and do a shower. With the walker I am free, I can walk wherever I want to at this moment.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COHEN (on camera): Now watching Michael walk, hearing him say I'm free, you might think why aren't they giving this to every paralyzed person now? And the reason why is any medical intervention can cause harm. It's possible. So, three people is not enough. You need to do it in dozens of people at least and to make sure that it really does work in more than just three people.

CAMEROTA: Oh my gosh, modern medicine is a miracle.

COHEN: It really does seem miraculous. Doesn't it?

CAMEROTA: Yes. Elizabeth Cohen, thank you.

COHEN: Thanks.

BLACKWELL: Any minute now President Biden is going take questions alongside the German Chancellor all while getting we're getting a better sense of the growing military threat Ukraine is facing from Russia.

[15:40:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) CAMEROTA: OK, as you know, we have been waiting for this joint press conference with President Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz about what they decided to do about Russian aggression against Ukraine.

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Good afternoon. I'd like to start by thanking Chancellor Scholz for making this visit to Washington. We had an opportunity to have a very productive meeting. I think our staff's wondering whether we were going to let them in at all.

We spent be first half hour or more talking together and it's been a very, very useful meeting. One of the things that struck me was the shared values that shape how each of us approaches leadership. Among them the foundational commitment to the dignity of workers and the need to treat all people with respect.

So, I enjoyed speaking with you, Olaf, and I know working together we'll continue to strengthen and deepen our alliance and the extensive partnership between Germany and the United States.

Of course, at the top of our agenda today was our united approach to deterring Russia's threats against Ukraine. And the long-standing principals of rule base international order. That's what we spent most of our time talking about.

Germany and United States together with our allies and partners are working closely together to pursue diplomatic resolutions of this situation and diplomacy is the very best way forward for all sides. We both agree, including best for Russia in our view. And we have made it very clear we're ready to continue talks in good faith with Russia.

Germany has also been a leader in pushing de-escalation of tensions and encouraging dialogue through the Normandy Format. But if Russia makes a choice to further invade Ukraine, we are jointly ready and all of NATO is ready.

Today, the Chancellor and I discussed our close cooperation and developed a strong package of sanctions that are going to clearly demonstrate international resolve and impose swift and severe consequences if Russia violates Ukraine's sovereignty and its territorial integrity.

And I want to thank Germany and all of our other partners in Eastern Europe and the European Union for their work in this united effort. We're in agreement that it cannot be business as usual if Russia further invades.

We also discussed our shared commitment to NATO's Article 5 responsibilities and reassured our Eastern flank allies. We're united in that as well.

Already the United States is sending troops to reenforce the alliance and I want to thank the Chancellor of Germany for hosting additional U.S. forces and for the long-standing hospitality to our women and men in uniform. We also discussed the challenges we're facing to the international

order from China along with Russia and other competitors that are pursuing more illiberal futures.

We've agreed that German and the United States will continue to work together to ensure that the rules and principles governing emerging technologies are geared to advance freedom of opportunity, not repression or authoritarianism.

We also reaffirmed our commitment to completing the work of integrating the Western Balkans into the European institutions. And to finally realize a Europe that is whole, free and at peace.

With Germany holding the presidency of the G7 we also talked about how that form can harness the world's leading democracies to advance a robust agenda on global challenges from ending the pandemic to addressing climate change.

[15:45:00]

So, the bottom line is this, whether allies in NATO, partners through the European Union, as leaders of the G7 and G20 or through our strong bilateral relationship, Germany and the United States are close friends and reliable partners and we can count on one another. There is no issue of global importance where Germany and the United States not working together to strength and applying and amplifying our efforts together.

So, I want to thank you for making the journey today. And I look forward to being the first of many opportunities we can spend together beginning this meeting and throughout the rest of the year and the rest of our terms. So, thank you and welcome. The floor is yours.

OLAF SCHOLZ, GERMAN CHANCELLOR (through translator): Thank you very much. Good afternoon from my side as well. I'm very grateful that we had the opportunity to talk in much detail today and that I was able to make my first official visit here and that we also could talk about the important questions that we're dealing with today.

We are in very difficult situation and it is a good thing that Joe and I were able to discuss what we need to do in this difficult context. Of course, there is a military threat in Ukraine against Ukraine that we cannot remain silent on that. We see the number of Russian troop along the Ukrainian border. And that is a serious threat to European security and this is why it is important that we act together, that we stand together and that we do what is necessary together.

It is important that all allies, the U.S. and Germany, the transatlantic partnership between the U.S. and Europe, NATO say the same things, speak with one voice and do things together. And we made it very clear if there was a military aggression against Ukraine, this will entail severe consequences that we have agreed upon together, severe sanctions that we have worked on together. So, there will be a high price for Russia.

This is a very clear message everybody has understood it and I think this message has been made clear again and again so that even Russia has understood the message now. What is important is that we also intensively work on preparing possible sanctions together.

We don't want to start once there is a military aggression against Ukraine. We have prepared a reaction that will help us to react swiftly, if needed. And we will do that. At the same time, it is important to use all diplomatic means we have. And I'm very glad about your great willingness to move forward together especially the bilateral talks between the U.S. and Russia and of course, the talks that we have agreed upon within the NATO/Russia format.

This is also important also because Russia needs to understand that NATO stands together and that NATO is prepared after so many years. There have not been any talks on this format. So, it is a good sign that they are happening now.

Of course, we have contraflow debates there but it's important that we talk and the same is true for the RSCE where we need to discuss about security in Europe. This is also a progress as tiresome as it may be. And we have not yet reached any very substantial conclusions yet, but it's good to see that this format plays a role now. And the same is true for the talk between Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany, the Normandy format.

We have this format but we haven't been able to really use it in a productive way over the last few years. So, now we have come back to that format. We are have having tough questions in that format and that shows there are ways that will lead us out of this difficult situation. And this dual track approach of clear announcements with regard to sanctions that will be taken if there is a military aggression and at the same time keeping all dialogue formats open.

I think this is the most promising strategy one can have and that is what we're doing together and we stand side by side in this approach.

We also talked about many other topics that are important for us today especially when it comes to the G7 presidency of the Federal Republic of Germany. We will work closely as strong economies, strong democracies and we also therefore have a special mandate to contribute to cohesion worldwide. And part of this is that we continue to do everything we can to make sure that the citizens of the world can be vaccinated not only in our rich countries but also in countries where people would love to have the vaccine but don't have access yet.

[15:50:00]

And these are initiatives that we have carried out together and that are of utmost important worldwide. The same is true for fighting man- made climate change. A big topic but keeps us all busy. Even though it is obvious that only a global solution can be successful because climate is a global thing. It doesn't stop at national borders.

As an industrialized nations, we have an important contribution to make, we have technological opportunities, economic opportunities, and have to use them in order to prepare a situation where we and others can enjoy prosperity without harming the climate. This is the big challenge that we and that is of great importance to us.

So, this is why we want to work together on this strategy and use a climate club of like-minded people and partners. These are some of the topics we discussed and once again, the personal discussion we had illustrates the excellent cooperation between our countries. The strong bond we have within our transatlantic partnership and the fact that both countries can rely on each other.

BIDEN: Thank you very much. We will now take a couple questions each. Reuters, Andrea, you have the first question.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you, Mr. President and thank you, Chancellor Scholz. Mr. President, I have wanted to ask you about this Nord Stream project that you've long opposed. You didn't mention it just now by name, nor did Chancellor Scholz. Did you receive assurances from Chancellor Scholz today that Germany will in fact pull the plug on this project if Russia invades Ukraine? And did you discuss what the definition of invasion could be? And then chancellor Scholz --

(through translator): If I may ask you, Chancellor Scholz, you said there was some strategic ambiguity that was needed in terms of sanctions. I just wanted to know whether the sanctions you are envisaging and you are working and the U.S. as well, are already finished, finalized, analyzed or is there still work on going? You're not really saying what the details are. Is this just an excuse for Germany maybe to not support the Swift measures?

BIDEN: Let me answer the first question first. If Russia invades, that means tanks and troops crossing the border of Ukraine again. Then there will be, there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But how will you do that exactly since the project and control of the project is within Germany's control?

BIDEN: We will -- I promise you, we'll be able to do it.

SCHOLZ: Thank you very much for your question. I want to be absolutely clear we have intensively prepared everything to be ready with the necessary sanctions if there is a military Russian against Ukraine. And this is necessary. It is necessary that we do this in advance so that Russia can clearly understand that these are far-reaching severe measures.

It is part of this process that we do not spell out everything in public because Russia could understand that there might be even more to come. And at the same time, it is very clear, we are well prepared with far-reaching measures. We will take these measures together with our allies, with our partners, with the U.S. and we will take all necessary steps. You can be sure that there won't be any measures in which we have a differing approach. We will act together jointly.

(In English) I say to our American friends, we will be united. We will act together and we will take all the necessary steps and all the necessary steps will be done by all of us together. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Will you commit today to turning off and pulling

the plug on Nord Stream 2? You didn't mention it. You haven't mentioned it.

SCHOLZ: As I already said, we are acting together. We are absolutely united and we will not taking different steps. We will do the same steps and they will be very, very hard to Russia and they should understand.

BIDEN: You recognize someone now, chancellor.

MICHAEL PRICHARD, DPA (ph) (through translator): Michael Prichard, DPA (ph), Mr. President, one question to you. The U.S., over the last few years have exported -- weapons to Ukraine and Germany excludes that, has only delivered 5,000 helmets to Ukraine. Don't you think that NATO should act unanimously in this respect and Germany as the strongest European NATO partner should also deliver heavy weapons to Ukraine, and Ukraine has asked Germany to do so.

And Nord Stream 2, I would also like to ask, don't you think with regard to the threat posed by Russia, Germany should already rethink its position on Nord Stream 2?

And the third question, if I may. Over the last few days and weeks, there have been severe criticism from the U.S. media and from Congress as well, vis-a-vis Germany about the reliability of Germany as an ally. This has been called into question. Do you understand this criticism? Is Germany a reliable partner from your point of view? And Mr. Chancellor, also a question to you. Nord Stream 2, you said all options are on the table. You are not mentioning Nord Stream 2 by name. Don't you think if you were to spell this out, you could win back trust as a strong ally here for the U.S.?

BIDEN: There's no need to win back trust. He has the complete trust of the United States. Germany is one of our most important allies in the world. There is no doubt about Germany's partnership with the United States. None.

With regard to helping Ukraine, one of the largest contributors financially to Ukraine has been Germany. Germany has been in the forefront of making sure, providing economic assistance. You also asked the question -- you asked so many. I can't remember them all. But in terms of the U.S. media saying Germany is not reliable. Germany is completely reliable. Completely totally thoroughly reliable. I have no doubt about Germany at all.

SCHOLZ (through translator): We are united and the transatlantic partnership between Germany and the U.S. is one of the permanent pillars of German policy and it will be relevant in the future as well. Just as relevant. And this will be one of our top priorities always. On behalf of NATO, we are the country in continental Europe that is doing -- making the largest contribution, financial means and also military power, and we are the country that contributes a great share.

We're not fully -- who pays the biggest part of financial support to Ukraine, as though since 2014, about 2 billion U.S. dollars, bilateral support, and an additional $3.8 billion that is made available. So substantial financial means to stabilize the Ukrainian economy and we are willing to continue with that sort of contribution.

So, this is the very strong and unbreakable friendship between our two countries. Part of this is that with regard to the difficult situation at the Ukrainian border, due to the Russian troops, we have made it very clear. We will unanimously act in terms of sanctions.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Mr. President, once again a question with regard to arms exports. Do you think it is OK that NATO partners have different approaches here? And on Nord Stream 2, once again, do you think the current positioning of Germany was, with regard to the Russian threat, is OK?

BIDEN: Look, there is no doubt in America's mind that Germany is an incredibly reliable ally and one of the leading physical powers in NATO. Number one. Number two, the notion that Nord stream 2 would go forward with an invasion by the Russians is just not going to happen.

Now, "Wall Street Journal," Sabrina.

SABRINA SIDDIQUI, REPORTER THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: Thank you, Mr. President. Based on everything you know now, do you think that President Putin will authorize an invasion of Ukraine before the end of the winter? And what is your message to the roughly 30,000 Americans who are currently in Ukraine? Do you think they should leave the country? ...