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U.S. and Allied Countries Don't Trust Putin's Words; NATO Countries Plan Their Troops Movement; Kamila Valieva Under Heavy Scrutiny; Prince Andrew Settled Case with Giuffre; Hong Kong Seeing COVID Cases Increase. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired February 16, 2022 - 03:00   ET

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

[03:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR (on camera): Hello, everyone. I'm Michael Holmes live in Ukraine, where Russian claims of a troop pullback are being met with skepticism.

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Rosemary Church here in Atlanta. Following a settlement in the sexual abuse lawsuit against Prince Andrew.

UNKNOWN: Live from CNN center, this is CNN newsroom with Rosemary Church.

HOLMES: Hello, everyone. We begin with the looming threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, despite Moscow's claims that some of its troops have finished their military drills and are returning to their home bases.

Ukraine, NATO and the U.S. are all greeting the news with some skepticism it has to be said. The U.S. President Joe Biden warning that a Russian invasion is still very much a distinct possibility. But he says there is plenty of room for diplomacy too, to avoid a conflict in Eastern Europe. Mr. Biden also warning that Russia would pay a high price and face international condemnation for invading Ukraine.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: The Russian defense minister reported today that some military units are leaving their positions near Ukraine. That would be good, but we have not yet verified that. We have not yet verified that Russian military units are returning to their home bases.

Indeed, our analysts indicate that they remain very much in a threatening position. And the fact remains, right now, Russia has more than 150,000 troops encircling Ukraine and Belarus and along Ukraine's border. An invasion remains distinctly possible.

(END VIDEO CLIP) HOLMES (on camera): Now President Vladimir Putin welcomed the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to Moscow on Tuesday. Diplomatic shuttle diplomacy continues. Now he called western interference in measures in Eastern Europe, he called them an immediate and direct threat to Russia's security. But said he is still open to negotiation.

Mr. Putin also claiming the human rights of Russian speakers in eastern Ukraine are being violated.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): According to our estimates, what is happening in the Donbas today is genocide.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES (on camera): Now here in Ukraine, it is officially a national Unity Day, with the president encouraging people to fly the country's flag and wear blue and yellow ribbons. Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to visit the coastal city of Mariupol, a key port to mark the occasion.

CNN's Melissa Bell is live for us this hour in Brussels, Belgium where U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is set to meet with NATO leaders. But first to our Fred Pleitgen who is in Moscow with more on the Russian troop drawdown. What are you hearing, Fred?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Michael. Well, it is still very difficult to see whether or not that troop drawdown that the Russians are talking about, whether or not that is for real, or whether or not that some common rotation that might be taking place. It was something that was announced by the Russians yesterday. There was also some video that was put out as well.

So, we're going to wait and see whether or not that will lead maybe to a larger troop drawdown in not-too-distant future. Obviously, the U.S. also saying that they still want to verify that as well.

Meanwhile, on the diplomatic front, we did have that meeting between Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor and Vladimir Putin. And certainly, I have to say that in their press conference afterwards, it did get a bit testy sometimes between the two gentlemen especially when it came to the west saying that Russia needs to show signs of de-escalation.

And of course, one of the things that the U.S. says is leverage that Germany holds in its hands is the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline. And in a press conference after the meeting with Vladimir Putin, I ask Olaf Scholz whether or not he had talked that about Vladimir Putin, here's what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PLEITGEN: First of all, did you make clear to Vladimir Putin that if there is a further invasion of Ukraine, that the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline project would most probably be dead, but would be dead according to the Americans? And then second of all, do you think that any headway was made today to make sure that war will be averted?

OLAF SCHOLZ, GERMAN CHANCELLOR: We have a very clear strategy. And this is first saying that if there would be a military aggression against Ukraine, that this would have hard consequences.

[03:05:00]

And we are well prepared to decide united on the necessary sanctions. We already prepared them. And we are ready to decide on them if this case would happen. But on the other hand, it is absolutely clear, that we do all necessary -- that is necessary to avoid the situation. And this is what we are doing.

PLEITGEN: But you did talk a lot about Nord Stream 2, didn't you? It was a large part of the press conference.

SCHOLZ: It was of the press conference. So, you might -- I mentioned that we also discussed them in our meeting. It's absolute -- all understand what the situation will be then.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PLEITGEN (on camera): All understand what the situation will be then. Obviously speaking about if there is a further invasion of Ukraine. Again, of course, we have to point out that the Russians continue to say that they have no such plans, and indeed, Vladimir Putin also saying that he believes diplomacy needs to be the way forward, Michael.

HOLMES: All right, Fred Pleitgen there in Moscow. I appreciate it. Let's turn now to Melissa Bell. And Melissa, update us on NATO's military preparedness. Where are they, and what are they doing?

We lost Melissa Bell unfortunately. But our thanks to our Fred Pleitgen there with the latest.

Now joining me from Kyiv now is Peter Zalmayev, he is director of the Eurasia Democracy Initiative, working to promote the rule of law in Russia and other post-Soviet states.

So, a good guest to have on this. First of all, what do you make of the drawback of these Russian troops? It's not significant in the overall number compared to Russian forces that are around Ukraine. But is it significant, perhaps as a message?

PETER ZALMAYEV, DIRECTOR, EURASIA DEMOCRACY INITIATIVE: Well, indeed. You know, there's a little bit of a message there. Vladimir Putin has probably indicated that he is just simply not ready for what the west, what the White House has been saying he's been ready to do all along, and that's like a full country invasion with tanks rolling over the border.

There's a case being made that, you know, he never, that it would never had it in his plans, you know, from the get-go. Now when we talk about, you know, his -- the decision to withdraw some of the troops, you have to look back at the events in last spring when we had a very similar situation with 80,000 troops around Ukraine's border. And Vladimir Putin pulled them back and he put them, you know, and then he brought them back pretty quickly.

They are still uncertain as to what exactly kinds of troops are being withdrawn from exactly which stretches of the border. The troops that were moved from the far-off parts of Russia, from Siberia, are staying.

So, there is -- I wouldn't read too much into it. I think that we still have to be very, very concerned with certain military action from the east to Ukraine. This is what I believe all along. It's been Vladimir Putin's plan. And now that Russian Duma has voted to recognize these great republics of Luhansk and Donetsk and Vladimir Putin has hinted that he may accept that decision.

We may be looking at the real scenario, which Vladimir Putin had in line all along. And that would be a military incursion from the east of Ukraine. That would destabilize the political situation in Ukraine and may cause the downfall of the government here in Kyiv.

HOLMES: Yes. The theory being that if he does accept that they are independent states, then they will be able to call on him for help. Saying that, you know, the Russian, ethnic Russian population needs his assistance. So, it's an opening of a door for him.

What -- do you think that Vladimir Putin didn't expect the pushback that he has gotten from the west? What do you see as his possible options right now?

ZALMAYEV: Well, he probably hasn't. You know, he never expected this sort of pushback that he has indeed received. I think his options, you know, remain wide. You know, they are along, I think still along political lines. I think Vladimir Putin wants to achieve victory through other means other than a whole country invasion.

I think there is some justification for Biden's strategy of this megaphone policy that trying to prevent Vladimir Putin from any aggressive moves at each step of the way. And so, Vladimir Putin is looking at the situation and he is seeing that he has really brought about the opposite of what he has really set up to achieve. And that would be the decrease of NATO presence on Russia's borders. Instead, he's invited more NATO closer to Russia's borders.

So, I think what we're also looking as a potential scenario and as a potential face-saving measure for Vladimir Putin is he will keep the 30,000 troops he's currently has in Belarus and then be able to say, well look, you know, this is a symmetrical response.

[03:10:07]

You brought more troops to our border. We are keeping troops in Belarus which has essentially turned into a protector of Russia under military occupation.

HOLMES: Right. What do you think that Putin is thinking right now? What do you think is going on in his head? I mean, he's always wanted to be a major global player. And certainly, he's got the world's attention with what he has done. What do you think he will do with that?

ZALMAYEV: Well, you know, he's, you know, he's looking at, he's casting his net pretty wide actually. You know, his accolades and Vladimir Putin himself has said that broadening relations in Latin America. Vladimir Putin has, at each step of the way has tried to pinpoint what he views as western hypocrisy.

That the United States as the so-called Monroe Doctrine. Whereby, it does not allow foreign troops anywhere near its borders in Latin -- we're talking about Latin America. Well, Vladimir Putin, you know, has noticed that this would probably be a very, very irritating idea for America if he, you know, talks about stationing potential troops in Cuba and Venezuela.

And you know, Russian officials have gone so far as to suggest that they might be considering nuclear weapons in those countries. As we speak, the president of Brazil, Bolsonaro, is visiting Russia. So, Vladimir Putin wants on the one hand to show that he is not isolated, he's got support far and wide. And he wants to continue poking America in the eye.

HOLMES: Yes. Fascinating analysis. Peter Zalmayev, thank you there in Kyiv. I appreciate that.

ZALMAYEV: Yes.

HOLMES: All right, I want to go back now to Brussels. CNN's Melissa Bell is live this hour there where they're going to be meetings going on at NATO. Melissa, what do we know about NATO's positioning of its troops, where they are, what they're doing?

MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, what we have been hearing off of the record from NATO officials so far, is that there has been a pretty impressive response. You're talking about large deployment, extra deployment that have been pledge from 25 to 30 countries according to NATO officials.

Now if you look just at the American deployment, it is an extra 5,000 troops, in addition to the 8,500 that have been placed on a heightened sense of what. So, NATO, it says, is ready. Today there will be meeting with different defense ministers here in Brussels to look really, Michael, at the nuts and bolts of how those troops would be deployed should Russia decide to invade Ukraine.

So, even as those diplomatic tracks and negotiations continue, even as the hope for diplomacy remains, and we heard yesterday from Jens Stoltenberg himself, the secretary general of NATO, saying look, we hope that diplomacy will prevail.

But in the meantime, it is NATO's job of course to shore up the defenses of its eastern flank and that is exactly what it's been doing. Now of course, it will only deploy its response force if either a NATO country is directly at attacked, or if there is some kind of cyberattack on a NATO country, or if the crisis in Ukraine leads to a flood of refugees sufficient to need military help at the border coming over the border and out of Ukraine.

Those are -- those are the circumstances in which NATO's actual defense force would be deployed. But look, there's been a substantial increase in the number of allied troops deployed. If you look just at the country of Poland, Michael, they have already been deployed east of the Vistula River. So very close with that border with Belarus where those military exercises are ongoing.

And there is of course, always that fear those concerns about a possible accident. Those are all of the kinds of things that they will be keeping an eye on. And that will be at the heart of their discussions today.

HOLMES: All right. Fascinating. Melissa, thank you. Melissa Bell there reporting there for us.

That will do it from here in Lviv in western Ukraine. I'll have more at the bottom of the hour. For now, though, let us toss it back to Rosemary Church in Atlanta. Rosemary?

CHURCH: All right. Thanks so much, Michael. I appreciate it. We'll be back to you soon.

And this just in to CNN, Russia's defense ministry has released video that it says shows military equipment crossing the bridge from Crimea to Russia. Now it's unclear where the units are headed. This comes one day after Russia said that some of its troops were being sent back to base after drills near Ukraine's border. Western officials have expressed skepticism following that announcement.

New information shows three different substances which can be used to treat heart conditions were found in the testing sample for Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva back in December.

[03:15:04]

The 15-year-old is at the center of Russia's latest Olympic doping scandal but was clear to compete in solo events. The New York Times reports that on top of the heart drug Trimetazidine, the Court of Arbitration for Sport says hypoxen and L-carnitine were also found. Those two substances are not banned. Valieva came in at the top of the women's singles skating short program on Tuesday and is the favorite to win another gold medal this week.

Our Coy Wire is outside Beijing with the latest at the Winter Games. But first, let's go to Beijing bureau chief Steven Jiang with the latest on the Russian doping scandal.

Good to see you, Steven. So, three heart medications were found in Valieva's sample, and now we are hearing a very strange explanation for how that happened. What is being said about all of this?

STEVEN JIANG, CNN BEIJING BUREAU CHIEF: Rosemary, there are quite a few different claims reportedly made by the doubts around her including how one substance was used by her grandfather, and another used by her mother to treat her heart condition. But what's clear here is the New York Times revelation that she tested

positive for three substances is really throwing even more doubts over this argument made by her entourage that the whole thing was just a one-off accident.

It's really painting an increasingly damning picture of these doubts around her, and convincing experts and critics of course of her being part of Russia's longstanding systemic doping problem. And here's what the head of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency said to us just a few days ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRAVIS TYGART, CEO, U.S. ANTI-DOPING AGENCY: Having these three, you know, two declared, and one obviously testing positive that wasn't declared, the one that is prohibited just raises, you know, significant red flags and alarm bells that there is someone behind, whether it's the coach, doctor, the state that's helping this young athlete and teaching this young athlete to use the substances in order, ultimately, to increase and enhance performance.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JIANG (on camera): And Travis Tygart also pointed out that even though only one of the three substances is banned, the other two have long been on the radar of anti-doping agencies around the world for their performance enhancing capabilities.

And there were already attempts in the U.S. back in 2017 to ban one of the two substances called hypoxen but that ban was never implemented. And he also added that the banned substance known as TMZ as we mentioned, the amount found in her body was more than just trace level.

So, all of this according to him is consistent with an intentional use, instead of just an accidental intake. So, all of this obviously creating even darker clouds hanging not just to Valieva, but also her team, the Russian sports system and the Olympic Games as a whole, Rosemary?

CHURCH: Yes. Absolutely. And Coy, while the doping scandal has been dominating the Winter Olympics, there has been a whole lot of other action on this day. So, what's been happening?

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Yes. We have temperatures well below freezing, creating tricky slopes for the men slalom, Rosemary. Thirty- four of the 88 competitors didn't even finish the opening leg, but the tall machine-like 24-year-old Frenchman standing six foot three, or 1.91-meters, Clement Noel slithering his way through the gates.

It was six heading into the run two, but his combined time have won him 44.09 seconds is enough for his first Olympic medal, and as it's a gold one. His long legs were like pistons navigating the course. For France's first Olympic gold in Alpine skiing since 2006, Noel is screaming and pumping his fist as he edge out Johannes Strolz of Austria by six tenths of a second. And Norwegian world champ Sebastian Foss-Solevag taking the bronze. Now in free ski slopestyle final action, it's team USA taking the top two spots on the podium. Alex Hall goes for gold, Nick Goepper takes silver, Jesper Tjader of Sweden wins the bronze. The 27-year-old Goepper is a three-time Olympian, three-time medalist now with two silvers and a bronze. He's overcome alcohol abuse, depression, and has become an advocate for mental health.

The 23-year-old Alex Hall born in Alaska, grew up in Switzerland with parents who are professors at the University of Zurich didn't even get coached until he was 16, now here he is winning the gold medal in these Olympic Games. But just further proof that the Americans absolutely dominate these events dating back to its debut in 2014 games. They've now won six of the nine medals awarded.

And huge day for Slovakia in their men's hockey team defeat of the previously unbeaten American team. They advance to the semifinal, a dramatic finish. Slovakia tying the game with just 44 seconds to go. That sent the game to a shootout, Rosemary, the youngest U.S. men's hockey team in the decades going 0 for five on the shootout. Goalie Patrik Rybar rising to the occasion for Slovakia, denying the Americans their admirable run furthering.

[03:20:00]

And Slovakia was the lowest ranked team heading into knockout play, ranked ninth in the world, Rosemary, now here they are one step closer to an Olympic medal.

CHURCH: So impressive. Great wrap there. Coy Wire, Steven Jiang, many thanks to you both for joining us. I appreciate it.

And for more Olympic overage, be sure to tune into World Sport with Patrick Snell in about 30 minutes from now. That's 8.45 in London, 4.45 in Hong Kong.

And still to come, a sudden turnaround in the sexual abuse lawsuit against Prince Andrew. The British royal has now settled the case.

Plus, some patients in Hong Kong are being treated outdoors as the city reels under a COVID surge. We are live in Hong Kong, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH (on camera): Welcome back, everyone. Well, Britain's Prince Andrew has agreed to settle Virginia Giuffre's lawsuit against him. She claims he sexually abused her when she was a teenager, and says Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died in prison had trafficked her to the British royal.

One of Giuffre's attorneys says she is very pleased with the resolution of the lawsuit. Prince Andrew has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

For more on this, we want to bring in CNN's Anna Stewart who joins us live from London. Good to see you, Anna. So, Prince Andrew reach this out of court settlement with his accuser for an undisclosed sum. What more are you learning about this? And of course, what happens now to the prince going forward?

ANNA STEWART, CNN REPORTER: Well, it is an extraordinary turn of events if you consider that Prince Andrew is settling with a woman he says he had never met up to this point. Now we don't know what the sum is for the settlement. We do know, though, that Prince Andrew is also going to be donating to a charity of Virginia Giuffre's which help victims.

The statement that was given yesterday in relation to the settlement was absolutely fascinating, very carefully worded, particularly, I believe from Prince Andrew's legal team. He says, Prince Andrew has never intended to malign Ms. Giuffre's character, they also say that he accepts that she has suffered both as an establish victim of abuse, and as a result of unfair public attacks. That is a huge shift in tone.

Prince Andrew's legal team until very recently have called her claims baseless, they're called them frivolous, they tried to get the whole case thrown out twice. Once saying that the papers hadn't been served correctly. Other times saying that a statement that had been previously reached with Virginia Giuffre and Epstein essentially removed any liability from Prince Andrew.

Failing that, they said they wanted this to go to trial. Prince Andrew's team said they wanted to have their day in court, that was supposed to happen sometime after September this year. And he had agreed to a deposition taking place next month.

[03:24:54]

So, a huge turn of events. I don't think we'll ever going to get much more detail in terms of just how much the settlement was, who's going to pay it, will he require the help of his mother, the queen, to reach that settlement. And I suspect we won't see a return for Prince Andrew to any kind of public life.

His military and royal titles were stripped from him. Just one month ago, the royal family very much distanced themselves from the scandal. And I suspect that is the last we will hear of it, at least in terms of official statements like this.

CHURCH: All right. Anna Stewart joining us live from London, many thanks.

Well, Chinese President Xi Jinping is asking Hong Kong's government to take necessary measures to control the growing COVID-19 outbreak in the city. A major surge in infections has several hospitals operating at more than 100 percent capacity, and some are treating patients outdoors.

CNN's Kristie Lu Stout joins us now with more on all of this. So, Kristie, what necessary measures is President Xi suggesting that Hong Kong take to control the surge in cases, and what's his message to the government? KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rosemary, the Chinese

president, Xi Jinping, is urging the Hong Kong government to, quote, "take the main responsibility in stabilizing and controlling a growing COVID-19 outbreak here as soon as possible."

This, according to local pro-Beijing Hong Kong media athletes this Wednesday. Let's bring up an excerpt from it. And what it does is, it quotes the Chinese as saying the following, that, quote, "the Hong Kong NCR government should take up the main responsibility that it should mobilize all forces and resources that can be mobilized, and take all necessary measures to protect Hong Kong people's lives and health, as well as ensure Hong Kong social stability," unquote.

Now the report also add that Beijing will help Hong Kong by boosting treatment, boosting testing capacity, as well as quarantine capacity. The government of Hong Kong's top leader Carrie Lam quickly responded to these articles these quotes by Chinese President Xi Jinping by saying that she welcomes President Xi's concerns and that Carrie Lam will work to unite Hong Kong society to defeat the virus.

Now, all these comments come as Hong Kong is grappling with a really serious fifth wave of infections. On Tuesday, Hong Kong reported over 1,600 new cases, new daily cases of COVID-19 on top of that, 5,400 preliminary positive cases. We're waiting the latest numbers to come out today. In just moments, they expected to represent another exponential rise.

Meanwhile, public hospitals across the territory reported that they don't have enough beds outdoor treatment centers have been set up. You're looking at vision from outside the (Inaudible) medical facility here in Hong Kong where patients are waiting outside for help, and you have a parking lot of a hospital, again, here in Hong Kong being turned into a field hospital, and then isolation facility.

Now temperatures here in Hong Kong in the northern hemisphere are -- can get quite comfortable, cold at night, especially for vulnerable elderly patients who are receiving or waiting care. Rain is also in the forecast.

And amid this worsening situation here in the territory, the top leader Carrie Lam on Tuesday during a press conference, she insisted that she remains committed to pursuing this dynamic zero COVID policy, a policy design to somehow just eradicate and defeat the virus. Back to you.

CHURCH: All right. Kristie Lu Stout, joining us live from Hong Kong, many thanks.

LU STOUT: Thank you.

CHURCH: Well, amid weeks of protests against Canada's COVID-19 regulations, Ottawa's police chief is out of a job. Peter Sloly received widespread criticism over his department's handling of the protest that have paralyzed Canada's capital.

Officials say they reached a mutual agreement for him to leave. He released a statement on Tuesday, saying he had done everything he could to keep Ottawa safe. Before stepping down Sloly had repeatedly said he did not have enough resources to manage the large-scale protest. Deputy chief Steve Bell is now the interim police chief.

Well, if diplomacy with Russia fails, some Ukrainians are ready to take up arms to protect their towns. A look at their training, that's ahead.

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(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES (on camera): In Ukraine, with the latest on our top story. Russia's defense ministry has just released video that it says shows military equipment crossing the bridge from Crimea to Russia. Pulling back. Now this comes as one day after Russia said some of its troops were being sent back to base, after drills along the Ukrainian border.

Western officials have expressed skepticism following that announcement though. Now on Tuesday, U.S. President Joe Biden delivered a direct and urgent message warning an invasion of Ukraine remains distinctly possible, 150,000 Russian troops are amassed at the border. And he made it clear that Russia -- that if Russia makes a military move, it would be a war of choice.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: The United States and NATO are not a threat to Russia. Ukraine is not threatening Russia. Neither the U.S. nor NATO have missiles in Ukraine. We do not, do not have plans to put them there as well. We are not targeting the people of Russia. We do not seek to destabilize Russia. To the citizens of Russia, you are not our enemy. And I do not believe that you want a bloody and destructive war against Ukraine.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: The U.S. President also urging Russian President Vladimir Putin to give diplomacy a chance. Mr. Putin, who met with the German chancellor in Moscow on Tuesday, indicated he is open to other negotiations. But wants his security concerns, his Russian demands addressed, he says, Russia does not want a war.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): We want it or not?

Of course not. Our intention is and we strive to negotiate with our partners on the issues, which we raise to resolve through diplomatic means.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Now, amid the Russian, the continued diplomacy and claims of Russian pullbacks, some Ukrainians are leaving nothing to chance. Erin Burnett now reports on civilians training to protect their

communities if there is an invasion.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ERIN BURNETT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): This group of men meets to shoot. It was just a hobby. Now it is for something bigger, their country.

SVIAT KIVACHUK, PRACTICA SHOOTING CLUB: And they are prepared to kind of work in case of a full invasion. So their main responsibility will be to secure the streets. To secure the -- like core buildings and stuff like that. Together with army and Ukrainian Special Forces.

BURNETT: But it is -- these are civilians that are willing to step into that role and do that in a street if necessary?

KIVACHUK: Yes, exactly. So, it is something similar to a militia.

BURNETT: Sviat is a trained philologist. He now works in cloud computing I.T. here in Lviv. Like many here, he has U.S. base clients, so the time difference allows him to practice shooting in the mornings and go to work afterwards. Timor is also in I.T. Demetrio, is a doctor.

[03:35:00]

Mikaelo is a graphic designer. Ordinary citizens, in a city of more than 700,000 now practicing tactical advances, in case they ever need them on the city streets. Sviat and his friends take this motto on display at the shooting club literally. Lviv, people of action.

KIVACHUK: If you look into Ukrainian history, throughout the 20th century, we were fighting against the USSR. So we had like local guerrilla forces, especially here on Western Ukraine. And we were willing to fight. So I guess that is like kind of our heritage.

BURNETT: The president of the Practica Shooting Club, which has groups across Ukraine, tells us, he used to get five calls a week from people wanting to learn to shoot. Now, as Putin's army sit on Ukraine's borders, he says he gets more than 10 times that many.

The Lviv Shooting Club, adding more training, with 350 people coming this past weekend. People of all ages. Ready to defend themselves if needed. Sviat says he taught one boy who was only 11 years old. Sviat's friend have multiple guns. There's no limit on the number of guns you can own in Ukraine.

Sviat says his second will be an AR-15. He's hoping he will only need it for target practice.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: That was Erin Burnett there reporting on civilian preparations going on here in Ukraine. And a lot of concern obviously among the population here. Worried what Vladimir Putin's next move is going to be.

I'm Michael Holmes in Lviv, Ukraine. We are going to take a quick break, more news when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH (on camera): Trees mud, cars and all sorts of debris have been surging through the streets of a municipality near Rio de Janeiro. Torrential rain set off the deadly deluge, which has claimed at least 18 lives in Petropolis.

Brazilian authorities are urging people to move to shelters and other safe areas, while emergency crews use boats to search for survivors. Other parts of the region have also been affected by the extreme weather and have first responder standing by.

Israel and Bahrain are strengthening ties and pledging mutual respect and understanding after a landmark visit by Israel's Prime Minister. This week, Naftali Bennett became the first Israeli head of government to visit Bahrain and now the Bahraini Crown Prince is promising a trip to Israel.

CNN's Hadas Gold has our report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HADAS GOLD, CNN POLITICS, MEDIA AND BUSINESS REPORTER (voice over): A scene that might have been unthinkable for many people just a few years ago. The Israeli Prime Minister being welcome to the Kingdom of Bahrain, with honor guards upon his arrival at the airport, as well as upon his arrival at the royal palaces. This is the first time in Israeli Prime Minister has visited Bahrain, since the two countries signed those historic normalization agreements in 2020.

[03:40:03]

And so much of these trips are about the symbolism and about building personal relationships. The Prime Minister met with the Crown Prince and also with the King of Bahrain. Take a listen to what the Crown Prince said about their batting relationship earlier today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SALMAN BIN HAMAD AL-KHALIFA, BAHRAINI CROWN PRINCE: I think that if we seek a wider Middle East that is free from conflict, that is based on principles of mutual respect, understanding and a shared responsibility towards security, we must do more to get to know one another and build upon the Abraham Accords of which have been such a historic agreement, concluded in the last year.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLD: Top of mind likely in those talks behind closed doors is Iran. Which lies just about 200 kilometers from where we are in Manama, the capital of Bahrain. They shared security concern for both countries, and what help push them together in signing those normalization agreements in 2020.

And although Bahrain is a very small island country, it is very strategically important in this region especially for Israel. Not only because of its proximity to Iran, but also because of its proximity and relationship with Saudi Arabia.

The U.S. Navy also has its fifth fleet here. Who the Israeli Prime Minister met with also during this trip. And for the first time ever, an Israeli military officer will be posted in Bahrain, the first time an Israeli military officer will be posted in an Arab country.

Just a couple of weeks ago, the Israeli Defense Minister, benny Gantz also made his inaugural visit to Bahrain, where he signed a formal security agreement. A formal security memorandum between the two countries, which will open up cooperation between the two militaries.

Importantly, paving the way potentially for Bahrain to one day start purchasing some Israeli missile defense systems. Potentially one day, like the Iron Dome.

Hadas Gold, CNN, Manama, Bahrain.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Honduras is on the verge of extraditing a former president to face corruption charges in the United States. The country's Supreme Court has appointed a judge to hear the case of Former President Juan Orlando Hernandez, and this came hours after Hernandez, who left office last month, surrendered to police and agreed to cooperate with the court.

The U.S. issued an extradition warrant on allegations Hernandez took part in corruption, drug trafficking, and using the proceeds to fund his political campaigns.

We are learning new details about what led the United States to suspend all avocado imports from Mexico. Sources familiar with the matter tell CNN a U.S. safety inspector received a credible threat to his life, after he denied permission for an avocado shipment to be sent to the United States.

As a result the U.S. suspended the license of the only state Mexico allowed to export avocados to the U.S. It is not clear who made the threat, or when the shipments will resume. U.S. Officials are in Mexico, investigating. In the meantime, the supply chain disruption is expected to lead to higher avocado prices. And could impact hundreds of thousands of jobs.

Well, for the first time ever, three women will host the Oscars. Comedian entertainers Wanda Sykes, Amy Schumer, and Regina Hall have been named host of the 94th Academy Awards, scheduled for March 27th. There were no host for the past three years. A trend that began in 2019, when actor Kevin Hart chose to step away from the role amid controversy.

And thank you so much for joining us, I'm Rosemary Church, enjoy the rest of your day. "WorldSport" is up next with our Patrick Snell. You are watching CNN.

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