Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Los Angeles Rams Win Super Bowl; Russian Olympic Skating Star Cleared to Compete; Russian Invasion Threat. Aired 2-2:30p ET

Aired February 14, 2022 - 14:00   ET

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

[14:00:00]

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN HOST: Hello. I'm Victor Blackwell. Welcome to CNN NEWSROOM.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN HOST: And I'm Alisyn Camerota.

We are waiting on three critical briefings about the potential Russia invasion of Ukraine. The Pentagon, the White House and the State Department are expected to give updates in this hour.

A senior U.S. official briefed on the intelligence says that Russia could invade this week, as Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to position more troops along the Ukraine border, despite months of diplomatic pleased to de-escalate.

BLACKWELL: U.S. intelligence indicates Russian air and missile attacks could begin as soon as this week. The U.S. believes that Russia could target key Ukrainian military infrastructure. We're talking air defense, early warning systems.

And then the Russians would further invade by entering from multiple points in the east and from the north. Now, that would include encircling the capital of Kyiv within one or two days from the start of the invasion.

CAMEROTA: CNN's Erin Burnett is live for us in Ukraine. She's in the town of Lviv.

Erin, Ukraine's president just released a complicated statement. We have been trying to parse it here. It says that he's been informed that an attack could happen within two days, so meaning this Wednesday. But Ukraine's national -- his secretary of national security and defense counsel says the situation is -- quote -- "under control."

So what do you know?

ERIN BURNETT, CNN HOST: Yes, I mean, look, you're definitely getting mixed messages.

And I would say, when you look at the timing here from where we sit, 9:00 p.m. in Ukraine, you would be looking at just over 24 hours before that -- the date where President Zelensky says that there could be an attack.

And, obviously, the defense minister says literally, as you say, don't worry, we are protecting, not panicking. So there are conflicting messages.

But it has been a shift from Zelensky, where, here on the ground, just talking to some people, there's been some frustration that they don't want Ukrainian media to find out what's going on. They have to look at European media, that they feel that there's been this sort of calm, calm, don't worry about anything a little bit too much from Zelensky, that they do have concerns and they have fears and they want to see this more addressed.

So it is a bit of a shift, as you point out, from him. But it goes in line with what we have been hearing, obviously, from the U.S., as we all well know as we await these briefings, right, imminent, on the edge, crescendo and words like that they have been using again and again.

And it's a sort of a situation where I think there's a lot of fatigue of waiting and waiting for what may be something horrific, but may not happen. And they still don't know.

BLACKWELL: So, we have also learned that the Ukrainian national police, they're in what's called this enhanced mode, increasing street patrols, critical infrastructure protection.

What's it like there?

BURNETT: So we were actually able -- we called them tonight here, because that just happened after dark, to find out how -- if that was nationwide, and they did confirm, indeed, that it is nationwide that they're changing that.

So they're stepping up police patrols, Victor and Alisyn, and they also say that they're going to be doing more monitoring and patrolling of critical infrastructure on a 24-hour basis, which is a shift.

I will tell you on the ground, at least in the hours leading into that pronouncement, you really didn't see any sort of a noticeable stepped- up presence in police. You just didn't see it.

But, again, it's -- when you talk to people, they will tell you, look, I'm gathering canned goods. Look, I was planning ahead a week or two for vacation. And now I'm looking at only planning a day or two days, and a lot of worry and a lot of stress.

So it seems that what you're seeing now, in terms of the shift in police positioning and the shift for the president, actually reflects what many people were already feeling on the ground.

CAMEROTA: Erin, tell us what all of this means for people in the United States. What does it mean for the prices here, for the economy and everything else?

BURNETT: Well obviously, there's all the democratic and moral reasons that people care. There's the United States as a world superpower reason that people care.

One of the biggest reasons, I would say, though, is what we saw at the Olympics, right? You saw Vladimir Putin and President Xi meeting. It was the first in-person meeting that President Xi had had for a world leader in two years since COVID. And he had it with Vladimir Putin.

They put out a 5,000-word joint statement that talked about common cause and no forbidden zones. And it is very much seen in U.S. intelligence and the U.S. government that President Xi sees what is happening here in Ukraine as a proxy for what they can do with Taiwan and retaking Taiwan, which has become -- it's very clearly a goal of China.

They have stepped up their overflights, their sorties since really tightening their grip on Hong Kong. So it is not just one place. It is a place that could be a domino effect and, for that reason, obviously crucial.

[14:05:06]

Also, on the energy front, incredibly important. Part of the reason, as you all know, the frustration of how Germany is sitting in a position where it finds it so hard to go along with sanctions, is because Germany has not diversified its energy supply from Russia successfully.

The United States obviously could become one of the largest suppliers of crucial energy to Germany. We have that supply. We have that ability. There hasn't been the political will in the United States. But that alone would be a huge economic benefit for the United States and also completely change the game here in terms of the sanctions that Europe and Germany specifically would be willing to even impose on Vladimir Putin.

BLACKWELL: All right, Erin Burnett for us there in Lviv, giving us pictures of the climate there and also the influence and the carryover, the overlap here in the U.S.

Erin, stay with us. We have got breaking news now.

The U.S. is closing the embassy in Kyiv and temporarily relocating the small number of remaining diplomatic personnel to exactly where Erin is there in Lviv.

CAMEROTA: CNN's Kylie Atwood is at the State Department with more.

What do we know, Kylie?

KYLIE ATWOOD, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Secretary of State Antony Blinken just announcing that the United States will be closing their embassy in the capital city of Ukraine, in Kyiv. They are going to be, in his words, temporarily relocating the embassy to Lviv.

That is a city on the Western side of Ukraine. It obviously brings those small number of diplomats that are still in the country to a location that would be further away from any Russian invasion over the borders into Ukraine. Now, of course, over the weekend, we know that the State Department already sent home most of the diplomats in the country.

And Blinken said in this statement about this decision to close the embassy that it's not a signal of lack of support to the United States for Ukraine, but it's a reflection of the reality and the need to keep American diplomats safe.

And because there are accelerating concerns about Russia's buildup along the Ukrainian borders, that's why the United States is doing this now. Now, he says the U.S. looks forward to putting back folks at that embassy as soon as the conditions allow for it.

But it's significant that the Biden administration is taking these steps on the same day that Ukrainian president is saying that they have been told that there will be an invasion. And so this is just another piece of the puzzle here, as we look at the concerns growing from the United States' position -- guys.

CAMEROTA: Yes, Kylie Atwood, thank you very much for that breaking news.

Let's quickly go back now to CNN's Erin Burnett. She's on the ground in Lviv.

So the fact that they're closing embassies, none of this feels like de-escalation.

BURNETT: No, no. And they're sort of moving, moving, as they can, westward bit by bit, obviously closer to the borders.

It is interesting. That reflects what people are saying and what you hear. I mean, someone today just a few moments ago was telling me, well their friends were able to get a second passport and go to Israel. And people are -- some people are leaving. I think a lot of people, local people, are waiting, and they're waiting and hoping and hoping that they don't have to.

But they are coming up with what we're being told a plan A, plan B, a plan C. And there are very close eyes on the Americans, who are seen as obviously close allies, but that's an indicator that people really pay attention to, is what the Americans are doing.

BLACKWELL: All right, Erin Burnett reporting in Lviv for us.

Erin, thank you very much.

President Biden had a call today with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson about the crisis.

CNN senior White House correspondent Phil Mattingly is here with us with that part of the story.

So, what are we learning about that conversation, Phil? PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: You know,

Victor, it's the latest in a flurry of phone calls the president has had with world leaders over the course of the last several days.

And the phone call with the prime minister expected largely to line up with several of the calls the president had towards the end of last week, ensuring that the Western alliance that is so critical to what the administration has planned for, pushed for, to be prepared for should Russia across the border of Ukraine with military forces stays aligned, to make sure that they're aligned both on an alliance front, but also in terms of what they're seeing and hearing on the intelligence side of things and what the planning will be should what seems to be largely expected at this point end up happening in the days or weeks ahead.

Now, Victor, this phone call follows a weekend of phone calls from the president while he was at Camp David, obviously, on Saturday, speaking for more than an hour with Russian President Vladimir Putin. White House officials saying there was no dramatic shift to posture or the dynamics of play, though the two teams were told to continue communicating, and then the president speaking on Sunday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, briefing him on his call with President Putin, reiterating that the U.S. supports the sovereignty of Ukraine.

And all of this underscores the flurry of calls, the behind-the-scenes that we have seen, national security officials over at the White House today earlier, the public statements you have heard from administration officials, which have been explicit, more forward- leaning than I think I have ever heard when it comes to any looming crisis over the course of the last several administrations, underscoring the very palpable concern both by what they're seeing through their intelligence.

[14:10:18]

But also what they're expecting based on what you can see with your own eyes when you look at some of the satellite images of the border surrounding Ukraine at this point in time and the Russian military buildup.

Now, guys, at the same exact time, the national security adviser has been briefing members of Congress, this morning briefing House leadership and key national security chairmen and ranking members. In about an hour, Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser, will be briefing the Senate leadership and the key committee chairs and ranking members there as well.

And as part of that briefing, a classified briefing, we are told by sources that Jake Sullivan did lay out that not only is it security assistance, did lay out what the U.S. is seeing right now, but also the economic assistance that the U.S. has provided up to this point and is weighing providing going further in the days ahead.

Included in that package would be $1 billion in loan guarantees. It's something the Ukrainian government has asked for. But it underscores the reality here. It's not just on the military side, guys. It's the economic side as well, just a series of very serious, very palpable concerns right now across the administration.

CAMEROTA: Yes, it sounds like it.

Phil Mattingly, thank you very much for that reporting.

Let's bring in Kimberly Dozier, a CNN global affairs analyst and a contributor to "TIME" magazine, and Michael Bociurkiw. He's our global affairs analyst who served as a spokesman for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

Michael, I want to start with you.

It feels this hour as though things are escalating at an alarming pace. However, then there's all these confusing countervailing details and developments that we get. For instance, we had heard earlier today that Ukraine might be open to promising that they would not join NATO if it would make all this go away. But then they denied some of those things.

So, are you seeing any off-ramps at this point?

MICHAEL BOCIURKIW, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: Good to be with you again.

Well, first of all, it's a very big split-screen going on right now between what Erin described, which is very accurate, but between what you see on the streets here in Kyiv.

I mean, it's Valentine's Day here. Restaurants are full of couples on their Valentine's dates. Life is going about as normal, but underneath that, talking to a lot of friends and contacts, a lot of anxiety.

Listen, on the NATO thing, I know the former foreign minister of Ukraine, Prystaiko -- he's now the U.K. -- sorry -- the Ukraine ambassador to the U.K. -- floated the idea of Ukraine temporarily halting its ascension to NATO.

He kind of contradicted himself later on. But I have to tell you, Alisyn, this would be a political death trap for the Zelensky administration. For the past few months, polls here indicate very, very strong support among people for Ukraine joining NATO.

Should that be suspended even temporarily, I mean, this kind of puts a chill down my back to say it, but it could bring people out onto the streets to the same levels as 2013 and 2014, when the then-president suspended that European trade deal.

So it's very interesting to watch Zelensky. I think the one -- the only way you can say he's consistent, he's consistent with being inconsistent. One day, he will tell the Ukrainians, don't worry, go out and barbecue, but then the next day, he will say, well, probably the city of Kharkiv will be invaded.

So it's very frustrating for people here. BLACKWELL: Well, Kim, on Ukraine joining NATO, it's more than

something that people in Ukraine really support.

In 2019, under Petro Poroshenko, it was added to the constitution. So it is something that is part of the foundation of this country. And before the Ukrainians walk back that potential appeasement -- let's call what it is -- if you back away we will stop in our attempt to join NATO, there was a top U.K. official who supported it, who endorsed it.

Is there potentially a greater appetite for an appeasement like that in NATO than maybe we had considered before now?

KIMBERLY DOZIER, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: Well, I'm Ukrainian ambassador U.K. got -- ordered from head office to clean that up.

And in his second interview with the BBC, he's again hinted at what might actually be going on. He said, no, no, we would never withdraw our desire to join NATO. It's part of our constitution, but we are in talks with Russia. And it's things like Eastern Ukraine, the Crimea that we would be talking about.

So that's a hint that just maybe Ukraine is considering giving to Putin what he's been working for all along, which is access to Crimea and to the disputed Donbass areas, but also that Ukraine would no longer object to those territories being under Russian control.

[14:15:01]

In that way, if Putin manages to wring that out of the now practically under fire Ukrainian government, then, without firing a shot, he's gotten from this massive troop buildup what he couldn't get at the negotiating table through the Minsk process.

And, in that way, if Ukraine blinks and allows him control of those territories, then that would also rob some of the sanctions that are on Russia right now of their legal basis. So, that would be a way of avoiding war. But in the end, that would be the Moscow bully getting what he's been pushing for since he first invaded Ukraine, which is salami-slicing of Ukrainian territory under Russian control without Ukraine objecting.

CAMEROTA: OK, Michael, very confusing statement number two that we're trying to understand, this is from the Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov.

He said today: "It seems to me that our possibilities are far from being exhausted. Of course, they should not continue indefinitely, but, at this stage, I would suggest that they be continued and increased."

He's talking about diplomacy. And diplomacy is, it sounds like, continuing or was over the weekend, France, Germany, the U.S. all trying to talk to Russia.

So -- but troops are amassing. So is that true that they are still open to diplomacy?

BOCIURKIW: It's hard to know what to believe coming out of Mr. Lavrov's mouth, but I did watch Russian state TV, the live coverage of that meeting between Lavrov and Putin today.

And, to me, it indicated that they're willing to hold off -- excuse me -- on a possible military solution to their Ukraine issue. There are more foreign ministers coming later in the week, I believe, including Italy. So that was their way of saying, we're open to more dialogue.

But, look, at the end of the day, the Russians are not going to give much ground, and neither can the West. Excuse me. And I'm fearing that external decision may have to be made for Ukraine by the West, which will cause a lot of controversy here.

I mean, Ukraine, giving up sovereignty of the Eastern Donbass would be another political death trap for Zelensky.

BLACKWELL: All right, Michael Bociurkiw and Kim Dozier, thank you so much.

A Russian figure skater has been cleared to compete in the Olympics, despite testing positive for a banned substance leading up to the Games. The reasoning behind the decision and how this impacts other athletes, we have that next.

CAMEROTA: And a headline-making performance, a proposal and a new baby. There was also a football game going on called the Super Bowl.

BLACKWELL: Really?

CAMEROTA: We will break down all the highlights next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:22:13]

CAMEROTA: Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva will be able to compete in the women's figure skating competition tomorrow.

The 15-year-old has been at the center of a doping controversy after it was revealed that she tested positive for a banned substance back in December. But that test result was not reported until last week.

BLACKWELL: The IOC said the medal ceremonies for her events will not happen until it's determined if she violated anti-doping regulations.

David Culver is following this story for us from Beijing.

So this decision to allow her to compete really is a punt.

DAVID CULVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And it's not going over well, Victor and Alisyn. There's anger. There's frustration. There's disappointment from many.

Of course, on the Russian side, they see it as validation of sorts. But this is nowhere near over. Yes, Valieva is going to get that chance to compete again really just a few hours from now right here in Beijing. And it comes a day after that Court of Arbitration for Sport decided against reimposing her suspension, despite testing positive for a banned substance.

Russian Olympic officials have said that Valieva actually tested negative multiple times before and after that December testing question. And the court said on Monday that the young skating star really has had not enough time to defend herself.

So the issue, Victor, as you pointed out, kicked on down the road .The court showed lenience in part due to her young age. She's only 15. And so there is now an investigation into those around her. We're talking coaches, trainers, other adults. And it's possible here that she may have even unknowingly taken the drug.

Now, the team could still be stripped of her medals in the coming months. But there's a lot of anger internationally with this scandal nonetheless, not targeted necessarily at the team, but at Russia.

Let me read you through some of what's being said right now, starting with Team USA not holding back. In a statement, they say -- quote -- "This appears to be another chapter in the systematic and pervasive disregard for clean sport by Russia."

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency saying: "Russia has hijacked the competition and stolen the moment from clean athletes."

Meantime, the Russian Figure Skating Federation labeling the court's decision as a celebration of common sense and justice.

Interesting to note, though, state media here in the host country, China, it's hardly been covering this scandal at all, Alisyn and Victor. I mean, they're really kind of staying off it altogether. If anything, they're showing support to their neighbors to the north, perhaps the geopolitical lens in all of this.

CAMEROTA: Really helpful context, David. Thank you for the reporting.

Joining us now is the former deputy director general of the World Anti-Doping Agency, Rob Koehler.

Rob, thanks so much for being here.

Why do you think the Court of Arbitration decided to let her skate tomorrow?

Well, I think it's been the history of what we have seen from the International Olympic Committee, the Court of Arbitration of Sport and the World Anti-Doping Agency, where, continuously, they have chosen politics over principle and Russia interests over athlete interests.

[14:25:06]

Athletes have been calling for reforms for the past seven years of these organizations, and they continue to be cast aside. The status quo is no longer acceptable.

CAMEROTA: What about the argument that Russia is trying to make, which is that she tested positive on December 25, the results weren't revealed until February 7?

Since then, she's tested negative, including at the Games. So she's not doping right now?

KOEHLER: Yes, I mean, the fact that she has a positive test, it's a strict liability rule. And with a strict liability rules, she has to pay the price for doping.

Look, she's a 15-year-old child. And that's why we asked for Russia to be suspended from the Olympic Games, because when you're part of the Russian team, you really don't have a choice. So, instead of suspending her, the IOC, the victim, is now being more victimized by putting her back on the ICE, when the world is looking at her, 15, the psychological damage they're going to do this young girl, let alone what they're doing to protect the lack of integrity of sport.

Every single athlete that deserves that podium is being robbed of it. And I think that's where we need sponsors, we need the governments to stand up the support athletes, and demand reform from all of these organization. The status quo is no longer acceptable.

(CROSSTALK)

CAMEROTA: Rob, when you say she doesn't really have a choice, do you think she knows that she was doping? Is this one of these situations where it's possible that she was fed something, given something called a vitamin that was, in fact, this drug?

KOEHLER: We have talked to whistle-blowers for former athletes and current athletes of Russia. And the word is, you're either part of the system or you're out of the system. And being part of the system is, you're required to take prohibited substances.

So, yes, she's part of the system. She's been involved the system, but she's a 15-year-old child, been part of the system. And I think that's a glaring example where the IOC has to make a decision on what type of athletes should be at these Games. Should minors be competing or should there be an age limit?

CAMEROTA: And, Rob, what about the idea that she was tested on December 25 and we didn't know the results, they didn't come out until February 7? Whose fault is that?

KOEHLER: It's a combination. It's a combination of the Russian Anti- Doping Agency, the World Anti-Doping Agency, who has oversight and should be following up on these, and the IOC, who does pre-Games testing program.

So it's a combination of people not doing their jobs. And what we're seeing is, everyone's pointing the finger at each other, and no one's taking accountability. And that's why we said the system, both the sport system, the IOC, and the anti-doping world, needs a complete overhaul, because the status cannot continue.

CAMEROTA: Rob Koehler, thank you very much. Really interesting to get your perspective.

BLACKWELL: The Los Angeles Rams are the new Super Bowl champions, defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20.

Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp was named the most valuable player after catching the game-winning touchdown with fewer than two minutes ago.

And let's talk about the halftime show. Some are calling it the best ever, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent, Kendrick Lamar. Eminem took a knee at the end of the performance.

With us now -- I'm just watching more of the show.

With us now, Cari Champion. She is the host of the new CNN+ show "Cari & Jemele: Speak.Easy," which will highlight the biggest stories in sports, entertainment, politics and culture.

So, good to have you.

CARI CHAMPION, CNN+ HOST: Hey.

BLACKWELL: Listen, I don't even watch football like that. But that was a good game.

CHAMPION: That was a great game.

BLACKWELL: Right.

CHAMPION: Yes.

It's interesting. You guys talk about the halftime show. I know, first off, I have to say I'm happy to be here. Thanks for highlighting the show that we're going to have, "Speak.Easy," on CNN+.

But the show, to me, the halftime show, had to be one of the best odes to California, Los Angeles, West Coast rap that I have seen in so long. So I hope you all enjoyed it. That's our gift to the world.

CAMEROTA: Yes, I thought it was great too.

A friend of mine today sent me a meme that said, if you recognize all these artists, and they put up everybody from the halftime show, it's time to schedule your colonoscopy.

(LAUGHTER)

CHAMPION: Secret's out. Yes, it is. Go do that.

CAMEROTA: But that's why I loved it. My kids didn't exactly know who everybody was. But I loved it. It was nostalgic. We could sing along. It was just a great halftime show, super high energy and fun to see everybody together. BLACKWELL: Yes.

CHAMPION: Yes, it was definitely a win for Generation X.

And I will say this, Gen X folks here. What I did -- you mentioned Eminem taking a knee. What I thought was interesting about that was that he purposefully did that. And we're hearing that the NFL knew that he was going to do that.

But that celebration, what we saw was very significant in so many ways, on the heels of Brian Flores filing this very damning lawsuit.

[14:30:00]