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No Breakthrough in Flurry of High-Stakes Talks about Russia; Russia's Kamila Valieva Doping Hearing Scheduled for Today; Olympic Dreams Slip Away for Athletes in Quarantine; Coffee Prices Hit 10-Year High. Aired 2-2:30a ET
Aired February 13, 2022 - 02:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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LYNDA KINKADE, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Welcome to our viewers, joining us from all around the world. I'm Lynda Kinkade.
Coming up on CNN NEWSROOM, world leaders aim for diplomacy, while gearing up for war.
And Olympic dreams are dashed while athletes are stuck in COVID quarantine.
Plus need a caffeine hit?
It will cost you. Supply chain issues and bad weather sent supplies of coffee soaring to a 10-year high.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Live from CNN Center, this is CNN NEWSROOM with Lynda Kinkade.
KINKADE: Fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine are so high right now that countries around the world are advising their citizens to get out while they can. The U.S. is one of the number of nations drawing down its embassy staff in Kyiv.
Florida National Guard troops, in Ukraine, are also being withdrawn. The Ukranian government says it's an overreaction. The armed conflict now seems more likely than ever. Both Washington and Moscow agreeing that Saturday's call between the two leaders did not yield any breakthroughs.
The Kremlin describes the hour-long conversation as businesslike. The White House says, President Biden has, again, warned Putin that the cost of further aggression would be swift and severe. The U.S. secretary of state, Antony Blinken, said the West has no choice but to stand up to Moscow's threats.
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ANTONY BLINKEN, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: When one country seeks to flout the sovereignty and territorial integrity of another, one seeks to change the borders of another by force, when it seeks to dictate to that country its choices, its policies, with whom it may associate, when it seeks to exert a sphere of influence to subjugate a neighbor to its will, that is profoundly corrosive and undermining of these very rules and norms that underscore our own security.
And again, not just in Europe but around the world. And if we allow that to go unchallenged, if we allow it to proceed with impunity, then we open a Pandora's box, again, not just in Europe but around the world.
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KINKADE: By contrast, inside of Ukraine, there is no sense of imminent danger. Large crowds, again, marched through the capital on Saturday, to show their defiance of the Russian threat.
Besides speaking with President Biden on Saturday, the Russian leader also spoke by phone with the French president, Emmanuel Macron. The top U.S. and Russian diplomats also had a call. CNN's Nic Robertson explains what came out of the flurry of high stakes diplomacy.
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NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: From any of these three big phone calls today -- President Biden, President Putin; President Putin, President Macron; Sergey Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, with secretary of state Antony Blinken -- really hard to see any diplomatic advancement.
The readout from the phone call, the Kremlin's readout from the phone call with President Biden, was that it was coming from a position of hysteria about this, supposed, Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The Russians, pushing back as well to what secretary of state, Antony Blinken, said on that particular issue, saying, this is, really, sort of a propaganda position, that this is allowing the Ukrainians the opportunity to try to start a war in Ukraine, start it with the pro- Russian, Russian-backed separatists, in the east of the country.
So in all of these diplomatic phone calls, talking past each other, it seems to be the case. The Kremlin, in all of these calls as well, making the point that they have not had their core issues addressed; those core issues being denying Ukraine to be able to have membership of NATO and NATO to go back to its 1997 lines and membership position.
So the Kremlin, just staying in their current position. I think one takeaway, certainly, from the phone call with President Macron and the phone call that secretary of state Antony Blinken had as well.
Both trying to get Russia to commit to a track of diplomacy. But by saying to get to that track, de-escalate the forces around Ukraine, show you are committed to moving forward with diplomacy. That is the way to go.
Really, just trying to test and see if Russia has actually an intention to try to talk this through.
Or, really, are they just building up their forces as a threat?
And then as the U.S. assesses, they say Putin hasn't made a decision but it's the U.S. assessment, increasingly looking likely of the possibility of a Russian invasion.
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ROBERTSON: Very hard to make a determinant read.
President Putin just not conceding any ground or developing a new position at all -- Nic Robertson, CNN, Moscow.
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KINKADE: With Russia and the West on the precipice of conflict, CNN's Pam Brown spoke with military analyst and retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, Cedric Leighton. He says Mr. Putin could order any number of potential attacks on Ukraine and it may not look like a typical ground assault.
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PAMELA BROWN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: And do you believe that he will invade?
COL. CEDRIC LEIGHTON (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: I do. I -- you know, based on everything that's out there. Now that invasion may look a little bit different than what we think it will look like.
For example, we are focused on the tanks and the missiles and the aircraft that are arrayed around Ukraine. It could involve other things as well, including cyberattacks, unconventional attacks, special operations forces being brought into the various parts of the country.
But one thing where I do agree with the U.S. administration's assessment is that one of the big things that could happen is a lightning strike, a lightning attack on Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital. And I think that is, very much, a possibility right now.
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KINKADE: Jill Dougherty is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University. She is also a former CNN Moscow bureau chief.
Good to see you.
JILL DOUGHERTY, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY AND WILSON CENTER: Hi, Lynda, good to see you.
KINKADE: Right now, Russia has surrounded Ukraine from three major fronts, from Belarus on the north, Crimea in the south and the Russian side of the Ukraine border. Despite weeks of diplomatic talks, this situation appears to grow more tense.
Many countries, urging their citizens to leave immediately.
How would you describe what we see right now?
DOUGHERTY: I would say, militarily, Russia continues to build up its forces. So it looks very threatening.
Then on the other side, on the diplomatic side, we have this extraordinary flurry of diplomatic action; in fact, just over the past couple of days. The first one would be President Putin and President Biden speaking.
But President Putin, also speaking with the French president, Macron, and with the Belarusian president, Mr. Lukashenko. Then we have the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, talking with his counterpart in Russia.
We have the foreign minister, Lavrov, speaking with Secretary Blinken. There has been a full court press. But it doesn't seem to go anywhere. So this raises the question.
Does Russia want to solve this diplomatically or are we doomed to a standoff for a longer time than we may have wanted?
KINKADE: As you point out, it doesn't seem to be going anywhere. President Biden and President Putin spoke for over an hour today. It doesn't seem like either side is willing to budge. Doesn't seem to be any room for compromise on the key demands from Russia.
When you saw the readout from that conversation today, what stood out to you?
DOUGHERTY: When I read it, it felt very strange. On the one hand, the language from Yury Ushakov, who is a very senior aide to President Putin, was almost over the top, saying, unprecedented attempts to whip up hysteria about the alleged Russian invasion. The hysteria has reached its climax.
So what he is saying there, obviously, is that the United States is raising the tensions and inducing, leading Ukraine into a state of heightened fury. And Ukraine might attack the Russian speaking areas in Ukraine.
So that is the translation of what he is saying. On the other hand, he said, it was a balanced and businesslike conversation. So I'm not sure what to read from that other than there will be another step.
Russia says that it, pretty soon, will be responding to the Western or U.S. and NATO's response to their demands. But overall, they say, the West is not listening to us and certainly they are not fulfilling or even taking seriously the main demand of Russia, which is to not expand NATO.
KINKADE: You have been watching Russian media.
How do you think Russia, legally, might make a case to take some aggressive action?
DOUGHERTY: I think that's an important word that you're using because President Putin, by trade, by education, is a lawyer.
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DOUGHERTY: And often, Russia wants to pin its actions legally and to say we were justified in doing that.
I think we should be watching very carefully what is going on in the Donbas region, the Russian regions, breakaway regions, in the eastern part of Ukraine. The Russian Duma, the lower house of parliament, is taking steps to try to have President Putin legally recognize those areas as independent states.
If they did that and it was, in the end, that Ukrainians attacked or there was a figment of an attack, a fake attack, it would give Russia the excuse and the justification, legally, to go in and protect those people.
And that could be the reason for an attack by Russia.
KINKADE: We will leave it there for now but, as always, great to get your expertise, thanks so much for your time.
DOUGHERTY: Thanks, Lynda.
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KINKADE: The U.S. has just deployed F-22 fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates. It is part of an American offense response to recent missile attacks, launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels, targeting the UAE.
One of those attacks, targeting a base where some 2,000 U.S. service members are stationed. U.S. and UAE forces were able to thwart that attack. The F-22s joining a range of coalition and allied aircraft, already based in the region.
In Canada, prime minister Justin Trudeau and other officials are discussing additional measures to break up the protests that are crippling cities and border crossings.
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KINKADE (voice-over): It comes after police in Windsor began an operation to clear a blockade from the Ambassador Bridge at the U.S.- Canadian border on Saturday morning. Several border blockades across Canada are taking a toll on the economies of both countries.
Business groups warn protests are putting further stress on an already struggling supply chain.
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KINKADE: Those protests are inspiring similar action in France. The so-called freedom convoy descended on Paris Saturday and blocked traffic at various locations around the city.
More than 7,000 police were deployed in advance of the convoy's arrival. They used tear gas to break up the demonstrations.
Still ahead, the Beijing Olympics reaching the halfway point.
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KINKADE: All eyes are on the doping scandal, overshadowing competition on the ice. A hearing is set to be held today to determine if Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva can continue to take part in the games.
Officials say a decision should be made by Monday afternoon, a day before the 15-year old is scheduled to compete in the women's singles events.
It is another day of intense competition at the games; 18 year old American skier Eileen Gu, competing for China, was supposed to compete on the slopes today but it's been postponed due to weather.
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KINKADE: For more on the Olympics, for some, the dream is slipping away because of COVID. Selina Wang has more on how quarantine may be the biggest hurdle on the path to glory.
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SELINA WANG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): From Olympic dream to quarantine, a nightmare scenario. Athletes who test positive, like Norwegian Olympian Jarl Magnus Riiber, whisked out of the Olympic Village in an ambulance into this dystopian reality.
Workers in hazmat sits carry his Olympic luggage into the isolation facility.
The overwhelming smell?
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JARL MAGNUS RIIBER, NORWEGIAN NORDIC COMBINED SKIER (through translator): Yes, it definitely smells of chlorine.
WANG (voice-over): A disinfectant.
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WANG (voice-over): They go through paperwork, take his vitals; feeling healthy but making it out in time to compete, he tells me, is a slim possibility.
The gold medalist in the nordic combined skiing event trapped in this room for more than a week, running back and forth, over and over again, just to stay in shape. His happiest day here, getting his bike delivered, the confinement ruining years of preparation. RIIBER: I hope for a miracle.
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RIIBER: Yes, it destroys a lot, because have tuned your shape so much into this event.
WANG (voice-over): But for it to end, athletes have to deliver two negative PCR tests with at least 24 hours in between. And then after that, seven more days of isolation at the Olympic Village.
For some athletes, it's already too late. American ice skating star Vincent Zhou telling fans he is out of the games because of COVID, even though he's taken every precaution possible.
In a heartwrenching video, he shares what he would tell his younger self.
VINCENT ZHOU, OLYMPIC ICE SKATER: Just the pain of it all is pretty insane.
WANG: More than 400 Olympic personnel have tested positive for COVID. Athletes tell me that isolation hotels like that one are getting full. But they could not feel more isolated or anxious knowing that their Olympic dreams could end in there.
WANG (voice-over): American bobsledder Josh Williamson, stuck in California after testing positive --
JOSH WILLIAMSON, U.S. BOBSLEDDER: I had kind of done everything I can. That's one of those things where, it is a hard pill to swallow when it's something like out of your control.
WANG (voice-over): Swedish curler Sofia Mabergs documents her roller coaster week for CNN.
SOFIA MABERGS, SWEDISH CURLING GOLD MEDALIST: I can finally start packing my stuff again. I'm like all emotional right now.
WANG (voice-over): After agonizing days of positive tests, she finally recovered, making her way to the games.
MABERGS: Get the Olympic experience started.
WANG (voice-over): For these Olympics, even the little things, like embracing friends, is a victory.
MABERGS: Can't wait to hug my friends and best teammates ever.
WANG: But not all of the athletes who tested positive for COVID-19 can be as lucky as Swedish curler Sofia Mabergs. I also spoke to an Estonian athlete in isolate who said he has given up on all hope.
He says even if he makes it out in time, with the quarantine conditions, he's already out of his peak physical condition. These athletes have done everything they can to avoid catching COVID and they've prepared their entire careers for this moment.
That positive test is heartbreaking. The Beijing organizers say that these rules are successfully keeping people safe from COVID-19 -- back to you.
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KINKADE: Our thanks to Selina Wang.
Many of us rely on a hit of caffeine to keep ourselves going. But coffee, like most goods right now, is rising in cost. The cost of a cup of java is now at a 10-year high. Stefano Pozzebon looks at why that is and who is most affected. That story when we come back.
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KINKADE: As I was just saying, most of us need a hit of caffeine but coffee is rising in price right now. The cost of a cup of java at a 10-year high. Journalist Stefano Pozzebon looks at why that is and who is most affected.
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STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The price of coffees are soaring, affecting customers.
NOAH WUNSCH, COFFEE CUSTOMER: I'm a man who likes a small coffee and it has always surprised me, the price increase for a small coffee.
POZZEBON (voice-over): And retailers.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I actually raised the whole bean coffee price last week, just because we have seen increase.
POZZEBON (voice-over): But what about the producers?
Meet Luz Andela, an indigenous coffee farmer in southwestern Colombia.
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POZZEBON (voice-over): For her, the price hike was very good news.
LUZ ANDELA, COFFEE FARMER (through translator): I bought a new bed. I had one already but we needed a new one. With better coffee prices, I could buy that and other small things.
POZZEBON (voice-over): The price of coffee nearly doubled since this time last year. One cose (ph) reduced output last year by the world's largest producer, Brazil, after first a drought and then frost related to extreme weather.
But Colombia's coffee, which grows at a higher altitude and is of a different variety than Brazil's, was spared. The result: good business for Colombia's producers.
ERVIN LIZ, FOUNDER, NATIVE ROOT COFFEE: Since the end of last year we have been able to start buying the coffee from 35 families, all of them production. So that has been a -- almost double the production that we were doing just about 8-10 months ago.
POZZEBON (voice-over): Native Root is a family run, specialty coffee company that purchases exclusively from indigenous producers like Andela. Online purchases, where customers can buy directly from the producers, doing away with middlemen, like in the case of Native Root, has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Independent farmers are being paid more for their product and, in rural Colombia, that has been even a more lasting effect.
Not far from Andela's field, another bush mixes with the coffee trees.
POZZEBON: This is a plant of coffee while this is a plant of coca, the main ingredient of cocaine. Now in this region, coffee is far more present than coca. But if the prices of coffee were to fall, the farmers could always switch to the illegal trade.
POZZEBON (voice-over): Many farmers here remember when coca was the most valuable plant. But that has changed. For years, Colombia financed projects to replace coca with other legal crops with mixed success.
Where the production of coca has grown in other regions of the country, here, the farmers abandoned coca because higher coffee prices brought better profits. And for now, social and economic interests are aligned -- for CNN, this is Stefano Pozzebon, Carabento (ph), Colombia.
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KINKADE: I'm Lynda Kinkade. Kim Brunhuber will be here in about 30 minutes with more CNN NEWSROOM. Stick around, "INSIDE AFRICA" is up next.
