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U.S. Warns Again Russian Invasion Possible "At Any Time"; ITA Confirms Russian Olympic Skater Failed Drug Test; Paris on High Alert as "Freedom Convoy" Approaches. Aired 3-3:30a ET
Aired February 12, 2022 - 03:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Hello, welcome to all of you, joining us from around the world, I'm Kim Brunhuber, live at the CNN Center in Atlanta.
Just ahead on CNN NEWSROOM, an urgent message from the White House to Americans in Ukraine. Why U.S. says the situation has reached a pivotal moment.
Plus, will Russia's top figure skater get to take the ice at the Beijing Olympics again?
A judge will soon decide.
And Canadian officials threaten to get tough on the truck drivers protesting vaccine mandates by blockading the busiest land crossing in North America.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Live from CNN Center, this is CNN NEWSROOM with Kim Brunhuber.
BRUNHUBER: The U.S. and other countries, have a dire warning for their citizens, still inside of Ukraine. Leave the country, immediately.
This call comes as the U.S. military directs 3,000 additional forces to Poland, to assist American evacuations from Ukraine. U.S. National security adviser, Jake Sullivan, says the latest intelligence suggests that a Russian invasion appears more likely than ever.
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JAKE SULLIVAN, U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: We are in the window when an invasion could begin at any time, should Vladimir Putin decide to order it. There are very real possibilities that it will involve the seizure of a significant amount of territory in Ukraine and the seizure of major cities, including the capital city.
It could begin during the Olympics, despite a lot of speculation that it would only happen after. (END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: The White House confirmed, U.S. President, Joe Biden, speaking with the Russian leader around lunchtime in Washington. Putin also expected to speak today with the French president. The head of NATO telling CNN, Putin could decide to act at a moment's notice.
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JENS STOLTENBERG, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL: Russia is increasing, both the number of troops but also, their readiness and their capability to act and to conduct aggressive actions on very short notice. So the number of troops is going up, while the warning time is going down.
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BRUNHUBER: More than 100,000 heavily armed Russian troops, now encircling Ukraine on three sides, from Belarus in the north, to annexed Crimea in the south. And a short time ago, we heard from U.S. secretary of state, Antony Blinken, again, warning that any invasion on Ukraine would result in harsh sanctions on Russia and bolstered support for Kyiv.
Blinken adds, he will speak with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, ahead of the call between Presidents Biden and Putin. CNN's Nic Robertson, covering the latest developments in Moscow. But we begin our coverage with Sam Kiley, in Kharkiv, which lies very close to the Russian border.
Sam, what is the latest?
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Kim, finally, in a weird way, there is a little bit of a sense that the Ukrainians, now, are beginning to respond with the same level alarm that we have been hearing from the Western powers for some time with an announcement, coming out of Kyiv, with the mayor there saying, reminding his population, that they have plans in place for evacuation and for emergency electrical supplies, for communications and, indeed, for the use of Soviet era bunkers, ironically, developed and designed for protections against a potential NATO war between the Soviet Union and NATO.
Now of course, being revivified for protection against a potential Russian invasion. Here in Kharkiv, the head, effectively, of what is Ukraine's national security council, giving a press conference yesterday, saying that the city, which is vitally important strategically, only 30 miles from the Russian border in the east of the country, very much is the center of part of the industrial backbone of Ukraine, would be defended.
There haven't yet, however, been activation of reservists or National Guard members, who have been training in relatively small, numbers in the cities and villages, across the country, so far.
Of course, we have also heard from Antony Blinken, who answered a question in Australia, when asked about the evacuation plans for the U.S. embassy. He said that is something that is being focused on. And we get more information about that, in the coming hours -- Kim.
BRUNHUBER: Thank you so much. Sam Kiley, in Eastern Ukraine.
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BRUNHUBER: As we mentioned, the Russian president, expecting to speak by phone on Saturday, with both French president Emmanuel Macron and U.S. President Joe Biden. CNN's Nic Robertson is in Moscow, with the latest.
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NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: The Kremlin spokesman has reacted to all of this, saying that they repeatedly reject the accusation that they intent to invade Ukraine.
He says this is a provocation and the provocation will be used by Ukrainian forces to attack the pro-Russian separatists in the Donbas region in the east of Ukraine.
The ministry of foreign affairs spokeswoman taking an even harsher note, saying that this shows hysteria at the White House, that this is provocation, disinformation, threats even, to cover problems in the United States.
If all of this sounds a little bit familiar, it is, because this is sort of language we've been hearing from Russian officials over the past month, every time the issue of their intention -- or not -- to invade Ukraine comes up.
And it does seem to indicate what we've seen all along that President Putin has not yet responded to the United States' and NATO's letters, telling him they reject his demands, that Ukraine be rejected from NATO, that NATO roll back to its 1997 levels.
There is no movement at the top. The officials are saying the same line, still space for diplomacy. President Macron expected to have a call with President Putin earlier in the afternoon Moscow time and, early evening, President Biden having a phone call with President Putin -- Nic Robertson, CNN, Moscow.
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BRUNHUBER: Let's go to Beijing where the Olympic future of one athlete is up in the air, following a doping scandal at the Winter Games. The International Testing Agency, confirmed Friday, the Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva failed a drug test ahead of the Olympics.
Now the head of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency says that the United States can prosecute any Russian individuals, allegedly, involved in the case. The 15-year-old was crucial in the Russian Olympic Committee's gold medal win in Monday's team event.
That medal ceremony has been put on hold until the controversy is resolved. Officials say, they should have a resolution by Tuesday. CNN is covering the Winter Games from every angle. "WORLD SPORT's" Patrick Snell, joins us from Atlanta. First let's go to Kristie Lu Stout, live in Hong Kong.
Kristie, any more clarity on this developing doping situation?
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Clearly today from the International Olympic Committee, the press conference that took place earlier today, in Beijing, where we heard from an IOC spokesman, who had said that there will be a resolution to the case by February 15th.
That is on Tuesday, on whether or not there should be suspension. Tuesday is the day when she is expected and, scheduled, to compete. This comes after what we learned on Friday.
That was when the International Testing Agency had announced that she had failed a drug test. It took place in December, she tested positive for a banned heart medicine, that can be used to enhance performance.
But that test result only came to light in the last week, during Olympic competition in Beijing. At this hour, there are a number of open-ended questions.
One, what will happen next for her and her team?
The ROC and the gold medal that they won, last Monday, in Beijing, for team figure skating, will that be revoked?
Will that be taken away?
Also, what is next for her herself?
Will she be allowed to compete on Tuesday?
She has emerged as a Russian skating sensation. Her grace on ice has been celebrated. She also did an incredible maneuver, the first woman to land quadruple jumps during Olympic competition, only 15 years old.
To be caught up in this controversy, it has generated a lot of anger and a lot of ire, directed mainly, at Russia and Russia's enablers. I want to share with you the statement that came out overnight.
This is from the Global Athlete Movement, quote, "Valieva's positive test shows the severe ramifications of the international community's failure to hold Russia accountable -- a 15-year-old athlete, testing positive for a potentially harmful prohibited substance."
She is one of the youngest Olympic athletes, ever to test positive for a banned substance. Her gold medal, her Olympic future, all hanging in the balance. Back to you.
BRUNHUBER: A developing story and we will continue to follow that. Thank you so much, Kristie, we appreciate it.
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BRUNHUBER: Still ahead, we will get you up to speed with the latest on the Russian military presence or the pressure on Ukraine.
Then, we talk to an expert about why President Putin has become so aggressive.
Anti COVID demonstrators swarm France this weekend, despite the fact that mask rules will, soon, be loosened in some places.
We will explain what is going on. Stay with us.
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BRUNHUBER: The U.S. and other countries urging their citizens in Ukraine to leave immediately, because a Russian invasion could happen at any time.
The warning comes as the U.S. military directs 3,000 additional forces to Poland to assist American evacuations from Ukraine. The White House confirming U.S. President Joe Biden will speak with the Russian leader, later today. Putin also expected to speak today with the French president.
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BRUNHUBER: For more on this, we are now joined by Peter Zalmayev, the director of the Eurasia Democracy Initiative. That is a group promoting democracy and the rule of law in the former Soviet states. He is speaking to us from Kyiv.
Thank you so much for being here with us. The warnings from countries like the U.S., are becoming more urgent, telling their citizens to get out. As you've said before, for Putin, all options are on the table.
What is your sense?
Do you get the impression an invasion, indeed, could be imminent?
PETER ZALMAYEV, DIRECTOR, EURASIA DEMOCRACY INITIATIVE: Obviously, Vladimir Putin wants to continue making a credible threat. So everything that is happening could be interpreted as either a sign of an imminent invasion or Putin's bluffing.
But part of his bluff is once again to make it seem like an invasion can happen at any moment. This is done by negotiations are happening, just took place in Berlin, as part of the Normandy talks, to try to renegotiate the Minsk agreements, et cetera.
And I think Vladimir Putin believes this brinkmanship will finally produce fruit. He is already seeing what he thinks are cracks in the resolve of Western countries, to be a united front against Vladimir Putin.
President Macron's personal initiative to negotiate with Putin, it can be taken as a sign like that. There is a precedent for French mediation, in 2008, with the war between Russia and Georgia, where the French side helped the Russian side cement some of its gains, at the expense of Georgia.
So Vladimir Putin, definitely, wants to achieve his goals, the main goal, and that is, to keep Ukraine on a short leash, to keep it from drifting ever closer to NATO and the European Union.
He would rather choose less painful measures, such as a full-blown invasion. And I think, he is still hoping that this kind of show of force will bring him what he needs.
BRUNHUBER: But there are cracks, as you, say but no concessions yet. Many experts have noted Putin's approach to diplomacy has changed over the past year, becoming more confrontational and more aggressive. He's acting as if he's in a hurry.
Do you agree with that assessment?
If so, any idea why?
ZALMAYEV: You could also look at it from the perspective of a game of chicken. It's political economy 101, whereby the two sides are careening toward each other on a highway and each driver is expecting the other driver to swerve.
So it is a game of nerves, obviously. While the White House is engaged in preemptive, informational warfare, trying to warn about Russia's escalation over imminent invasion, Russia is saying, they're warmongering and it may look like they're just looking for a pretext, to say that is the West that started the war all along.
Once again, I think that Vladimir Putin has an arsenal at his disposal that is much wider than a full country invasion, which will cost untold misery for both Ukrainians and Russians and will lead to political, economic and financial crisis.
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BRUNHUBER: On that front, let me ask you, if there were an invasion -- Putin seems to have a hope that Russian forces might actually get some support from Ukrainians. Polls suggest, at least nationally, that resistance is very robust.
What sense do you have?
Have attitudes in Ukraine hardened, since, say, 2014?
Or do those attitudes change based on geography?
ZALMAYEV: Well, if that is Vladimir Putin's calculation, that the Ukrainians will come out in droves and support Vladimir Putin --
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ZALMAYEV: -- that is a big miscalculation. Compared to 2014, when that was the case in the Crimea, that Russia occupied; that was kind of a case in the east of Ukraine, where Russia instigated a war.
Ukraine is much, much, much more antagonistic toward Russia and it will not be an easy way to just waltz into Ukraine and expect some kind of support. Ukrainians are digging in for the long haul.
They've been in it for eight years, they're kind of hardened. It will be much, much harder for Putin to expect any sort of warm welcome from Ukrainians.
BRUNHUBER: So they are hardened to this.
But do they have the sense that they have been abandoned?
You've put it, many feel the West is willing to flush them down the toilet.
But despite all the military supplies sent, despite all the effort Western leaders have expended on diplomacy, does that feeling still persist?
ZALMAYEV: It does persist, because, up until now, most Western leaders, like Joe Biden, has drawn a red line; that is to sending troops on the ground. They have made it clear it's not going to happen; the Ukrainians are aware of it.
They know that they will be getting military supplies. So once again, they are digging in for the long haul. They know that there is no one else who will protect their sovereignty from Russia but them.
BRUNHUBER: All right, we will have to leave it on that note. Peter Zalmayev, thank you very much, we really appreciate it.
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BRUNHUBER: Coming up on CNN NEWSROOM.
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BRUNHUBER (voice-over): Despite threats of arrest and stiff fines, Canadian protests over vaccine mandates don't seem to be slowing down. It is crippling trade across the border. More when we return. Stay with us.
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BRUNHUBER: Police in Windsor, Canada, warn that they could start making arrests as demonstrators appear to be ignoring a judge's order to stop blocking a bridge, that is critical, for a link between the U.S. and Canada.
The Friday injunction, issued in the hopes of ending a blockade of the Ambassador Bridge, the busiest international crossing in North America. Canadian officials say it's time for the border blocking demonstrations to stop.
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DOUG FORD, ONTARIO PREMIER: It is illegal and punishable to block and impede the movement of goods, people and services along critical infrastructure.
DOMINIC LEBLANC, CANADIAN MINISTER OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS: I think that that will help remove the illegal blockades at border crossings that have threatened not only the Canadian economy but thousands of jobs, that depend on that very active cross-border trade.
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BRUNHUBER: The protests have been so disruptive, a state of emergency for Ontario was issued on Friday. The mayor of Ottawa says he expects to see more demonstrators in the Canadian capital this weekend.
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BRUNHUBER (voice-over): This was the scene in northern France Friday, scores of noisy protesters, demonstrating against vaccine requirements and pandemic restrictions. Paris is on high alert, as the French version of the so-called freedom convoy moves toward the capital.
More than 7,000 law enforcement personnel have been deployed for the weekend, when protests are expected to take place.
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BRUNHUBER: These protests are happening, despite the fact that masks will, no longer, be mandatory indoors, in many places in France, starting February 28th. Establishments where a vaccine pass is required for entry, will no longer, will also require masks. They will still be mandatory on public transportation and spaces where the vaccine pass is not necessary.
Germany's top court is rejecting emergency petitions blocking a targeted vaccine mandate for health care workers. It's set to go into effect March 15th.
Hong Kong, reporting an all-time record number of COVID-19 cases, Friday, 1,325; all but two locally transmitted. Hong Kong's previous pandemic high reported two days earlier, on Wednesday. About 4,000 New York City municipal workers are facing termination as
of Friday, after refusing to get vaccinated. That is less than 1 percent of the city's workforce. The mandate was announced in October and went into effect November 1st.
At least 20 people are dead from a bus accident in the Peruvian region of Pataz. More than 30 others are injured. Officials say that the tour bus came off the road and fell down a ravine on Wednesday.
Another worker for the tour company, telling local news, the accident was a result of poor road conditions, saying, the roads in the area have been in a very bad state, for a long time. The local mayor says, authorities are working together to solve the problem.
Humans could very soon be traveling to Mars, if SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has his wish. Musk gave a much anticipated update, Thursday night, on his Starship vehicle, which the company hopes will one day take humans to Mars.
He didn't share many new details like a road map or a timeframe. Musk reiterated he wants to pursue a city on Mars and Starship will be the vessel to take people.
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ELON MUSK, CEO, SPACEX: Starship is capable of doing that. It is capable of getting 1 million tons to the surface of Mars and creating a self-sustaining city. This is the first point, in the 4.5-billion- year history of Earth, that it has been possible.
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BRUNHUBER: NASA, awarding SpaceX a contract to take astronauts to the moon. Musk did hint, there will be more Starship sales announced in the future.
Europe's highest and most active volcano erupting in spectacular fashion, late on Thursday.
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BRUNHUBER (voice-over): This was a scene from Mount Etna in Italy. Plumes of smoke rose to 8 kilometers over Sicily. Lava flowing from the crater, nearly 3,000 meters above sea level. Geologists in the area said activity had ceased by the evening. No reports of injuries. It last had a major eruption in 1992.
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BRUNHUBER: Thank you for watching CNN NEWSROOM, I'm Kim Brunhuber, "AFRICAN VOICES: CHANGEMAKERS" coming up next.
