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U.S. and Allies on Full Alert for Russia's Next Move; Russia Diverts View of Their Action; V.P. Harris and Entourage Meets European Leaders; More Troops Added to Estonia and Lithuania; Passengers Evacuated from Cruise Ship; Omicron Not Done with South Korea; No Gold for Kamila Valieva; Russia-Ukraine Tensions, Russian Troops Could Attack; U.S. President To Host Call With Key Leaders And Allies; Moscow Lays Out Its Red Line Security Concerns; Russia Not Done Negotiating With U.S. And NATO; Kyiv Primary Target If Russia Invades; United Kingdom Braces For Another Storm; World's Rarest Blue Diamond Up For Auction. Aired 3-3:45a ET

Aired February 18, 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, coming to you live from Ukraine. Coming up, shelling between Ukrainian armed forces and separatists had some in the west fearing it could give Russia an excuse for war.

KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Kim Brunhuber, live at CNN's world headquarters in Atlanta with our other top stories. I'll take you to Beijing where we are following developments at the Olympics including the latest on the Russian doping scandal, and how a Chinese American skier just made history.

HOLMES: Now a sharp increase in fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine is adding to the fears of all-out war in eastern Europe. Ukraine says shells fired by the rebels hit this kindergarten. This was in Luhansk in the east. Wounding three people, and fortunately no children.

The two sides have been finding of course since 2014. Western officials warning that Russia could use a scenario just like this to justify an invasion. The U.S. President Joe Biden, meanwhile says that all indications are that an attack from Russia could come in the next several days. A source says he is going to be holding a call with a number of world leaders in the coming hours including NATO's secretary general.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JENS STOLTENBERG, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL: So, we are concerned that Russia is trying to stage a pretext for an armed attack against Ukraine. It is still no clarity and no certainty about the Russia intentions. We don't know what will happen, but what we do know is that Russia has amassed the biggest force we have seen in Europe for decades in and around Ukraine.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES (on camera): Meanwhile, Russia releasing more videos claiming to show troops wrapping up their military exercises and returning to their home bases. The U.S. and British defense secretary say Moscow is however actually increasing its presence around Ukraine.

And the U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken says he will meet with the Russian Foreign Secretary Sergey Lavrov next week in Europe. Of course, that's as long as Russia hasn't invaded by then. At the U.N. meanwhile on Thursday Lavrov's deputy calling western predictions of an invasion, hysteria.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SERGEY VERSHININ, RUSSIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): I would like to finally say that you will be able to resist the temptation to play to the cameras and we'll not make this meeting of ours into a circus. We'll not present here baseless accusations saying that Russia allegedly was going to attack Ukraine. I think we've had enough speculation on that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES (on camera): More now from CNN's Matthew Chance in Kyiv.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Ukraine's president in full battle fatigues greeting troops on the eastern front. He could soon be facing a Russian onslaught according to U.S. officials.

Senior Ukrainian source tells CNN they have already been briefed by U.S. intelligence to expect an attack if not a full invasion in days.

"No doubt we need to be ready for any scenario," the Ukrainian foreign minister says. "Over the recent weeks, the president and the government have all worked to prepare the country for any event. And Ukraine's position is strong," he adds.

It will have to be if Russia decides to unleash the powerful military force its massed near Ukraine's borders. These rockets were fired in neighboring Belarus where Russian defense officials say joint military drills are still underway and fueling U.S. concerns that Russia is poised.

UNKNOWN: Mr. President, how high is the threat of a Russian invasion right now?

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: It's very high.

UNKNOWN: Why?

BIDEN: It's very high because they have not -- they have not moved any of their troops out. They have moved more troops in. Number one. Number two, we have reason to believe that they are engaged in a false flag operation to have an excuse to go in. Every indication that we have is they are prepared to go into Ukraine and attack Ukraine.

CHANCE: It was a dire warning repeated at the U.N. Security Council by the U.S. Secretary of State. U.S. officials seeming to make a strategic decision to go public with intelligence as Russia in Secretary Blinken's words, steps down the path to war.

[03:04:59]

ANTONY BLINKEN, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: First, Russia plans to manufacture a pretext for its attack. This could be a violent event that Russia will blame on Ukraine, or an outrageous accusation that Russia will level against the Ukrainian government. We don't know the exact form it will take. It could be a fabricated so-called terrorist bombing inside of Russia. The event a discovery of a mass grave, a staged drone strike against civilians. Or a fake or even real attack using chemical weapons.

CHANCE: It's an extraordinary list of possibilities and one being wholly rejected by the Kremlin, which is accusing the U.S. of hysteria and releasing more defense ministry images of Russian troops returning to their bases after completing drills near Ukraine.

"Our military has camped on its own territory, says the Russian foreign minister, held drills and took down their tents, boarded the trains then loaded their hardware and started leaving," he says, "but the hysterics are still going on. And this is where the real escalation is," he adds.

But there is dangerous escalation on the ground as well. This is what Ukrainian officials say was a preschool hit by artillery shells fired by Russian-backed rebels. The rebels say Ukrainian government forces pounded their residential areas too. And now Ukrainian officials say there's more shelling from the rebel side. Sending CNN this video of what they say is a hit on a residential building as tensions near the front lines threatened to spiral out of control.

Matthew Chance, CNN, Kyiv.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES (on camera): Now the Vice President Kamala Harris is leading the U.S. delegation to the Munich security conference which gets underway in a few hours.

CNN's Scott McLean live this hour in London for us with a preview. And what are the expectations for the vice president in Munich?

SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Michael. Well, as you said, Kamala Harris is on the ground now in Germany. But I don't think that there are a lot of people expecting her to show up and somehow solve this crisis on the Ukrainian border. Even the tweet that she put out after she arrived late last night seem to indicate that our presence there was symbolic to demonstrate the unity of U.S. allies in the face of Russian aggression.

She is leading a rather large American delegation including some names like Antony Blinken, the secretary of state, John Kerry, Nancy Pelosi, Lindsey Graham, the list goes on and on. And she has some high-profile meetings as well.

She's going to be meeting with the NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg, along with the leaders of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, along with, as well, the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, a man that she has yet to meet face to face.

Tomorrow morning she is also going to be giving a moderated talk to the broader conference. And her team says that her priorities are really three things. Number one, to keep an eye on what's happening on the ground. Number two, to make sure that all of the allies are on the same page. And number three, to send a message one that we've really heard ad nauseam for the last couple of weeks, which is that the U.S. prefers the diplomatic route but it's ready to respond with severe sanctions in the event of Russian aggression.

The problem with that last point, though, is of course the Russians aren't even going to be there. The Russians announce last week that they would not take part in this because as they see it the Munich security conference has become what they described as a purely Transatlantic form, losing its inclusivity and objectivity.

And it doesn't seem like the west is really in a rush to dispel that perception either. Germany says that it will be hosting a G7 meeting of foreign ministers on the sidelines of the conference. The G7 used to be the G8 including Russia, that is no longer the case.

It's not real clear though, that even if Russia were there that there will be a lot of progress made considering that the sides have been talking, putting out messaging -- messages and it doesn't seem like they are anywhere close to seeing eye to eye.

What they can likely do though, or what they can likely achieve though here is getting on the same page, especially on some outstanding contentious issues on how they might respond. The big one being the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline. The U.S. and the U.K. have been lobbying Germany to put that project to rest, to not go ahead with that project in the event of Russian aggression. Germany though has yet to commit to that in plain language, Michael.

HOLMES: All right. Scott, thanks for the wrap up there. Scott McLean for us in London.

Now while a diplomatic solution remains the hope and the dream, well, western leaders will soon be mapping out military scenarios in Munich. And NATO members are already lining the region with more troops. Partly because Ukraine's neighbors, former Soviet Republics are also feeling some pressure.

[03:09:57]

Now Germany meanwhile sends hundreds of NATO reinforcements and a convoy of artillery to Lithuania which shares a border with Russia's strong ally Belarus. One of NATO's newer battleground -- battle groups was formed in Lithuania after Russia annexed Crimea.

And another was set up in Estonia which shares a border with Russia. Britain announced this week that it's doubling its deployment of troops to Estonia and sending additional equipment as well. Estonia's prime minister says what happens next is really up to Russia.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAJA KALLAS, ESTONIAN PRIME MINISTER: The only one who can de- escalate this is Russia. So, Russia has created this situation and can also take a step back. I'm very cautious of any kind of negotiations of, you know, offering Russia something because we -- we shouldn't forget the big picture which is that the gun is pointed at Ukraine really, and you can't have negotiations at gunpoint.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES (on camera): Now joining me from Moscow, Alexander Gabuev is senior fellow and chair of the Russia program at the Carnegie Moscow Center. Good to have you with us. Do you think Vladimir Putin is thinking perhaps now a full invasion isn't worth the cost? Or perhaps as easy as he might have thought? Or do you see a worsening atmosphere?

ALEXANDER GABUEV, SENIOR FELLOW, CARNEGIE MOSCOW CENTER: Michael, I don't think that Vladimir Putin is very much afraid of the sanctions. The sanctions are the only tool but the impact of sanctions is mitigated by Russia's long-term preparations since 2014. Russian companies have been paying down debt, less relying on the government debt e that the U.S. is trying to sanction.

And the economy will definitely absorb a lot of cost and pain will be there and a lot of disruption. But the Kremlin looks like is convinced that Russia can dodge all of the sanctions bullets. And then second point is that the current energy crunch is also removing some of the most powerful sanctions instrument from the western toolkit. In particular, embargo given the current energy prices is impossible against Russia.

HOLMES: Some have suggested that Putin might be stringing this out or might turn rather than invading just destabilization. What are your thoughts?

GABUEV: I don't have a crystal ball into Vladimir Putin's mind. And unfortunately, it's only him and a couple of his closest advisers and Polish diplomats like Sergey Lavrov don't do that circle. They just take marching orders from the hard man in the Kremlin.

So we don't know what the plan is, but given the rhetoric and given the Russian written response yesterday to U.S. proposals for talks on Russian security concerns. And the U.S. is ready to give some significant concessions and talk about topics that were form -- like previously not on the table. What of course the U.S. cannot give are legal assurances that NATO's

door is closed forever for any country that can join. And definitely like Russian demand to withdraw U.S. military personnel in Europe to 1997 line is also absolutely impossible. Russia knows that but still pushes for those unrealistic demands which is very, very worrying. It doesn't look like diplomacy. It looks like something else.

HOLMES: Yes, yes exactly. You mentioned those punitive sanctions on Russia if it does move in. Many people have said that China might help Russia out if that happens. What might that help look like?

GABUEV: I think that given the previous patterns how China has worked with Russia following 2014 annexation of Crimea and war in Donbas. Chinese companies won't touch the sanctions, companies that are put on treasuries as the enlist but they can definitely work around with all other Russian institutions. And the crucial help might come in the area of semiconductors and chips.

Russia is very weak on this. And if the U.S. is to impose exports controls, Russia is very vulnerable to that. China is the only country that is developing indigenous chips and semiconductors that will be crucial for the development of Russian energy sector, its defense sector, maritime, aviation. Since Huawei China was really -- poured billions of dollars into development of indigenous tools and probably China will very (Inaudible) to share them with Russia.

[03:15:00]

HOLMES: Yes, yes. A good point. Still on China. I mean, President Xi's support for Putin amid the Ukraine crisis it led a growing number of observers in Washington to warn of a Russia/China, they call it an alliance of autocracy. Is that a fair comment or do you think the relationship is actually more transactional?

GABUEV: The relationship is more transactional and it's indeed a marriage of convenience. But as we all know marriages of convenience can be very durable and strong partnerships.

Russia and China are described by (Inaudible) not always with each other but never against each other. So, China won't support Russia's further military moves officially but it won't criticize either. And then material support on chips and semiconductors will be really crucial in strengthening Putin's hand.

HOLMES: Yes. Great analysis. Alexander Gabuev in Moscow, I really appreciate it. Thanks so much.

GABUEV: Thank you, Michael.

HOLMES: All right. OK then. I'm Michael Holmes in Lviv, Ukraine. I'll be back with more at the bottom of the hour. Right now, though, let's head back to Atlanta where Kim Brunhuber has the day's our other stories for us. Kim, back to you.

BRUNHUBER: All right. Thank you so much, Michael. We want to update you now on a story out of Greece. Passengers have been evacuated from a cruise ship after a fire broke out on board. The Europeferry Olympia was carrying 237 passengers, 51 crew members and heading to Italy from a port in western Greece. The coast guard said it was notified about the fire about 4.30 in the morning and mobilize teams to head to the ship as it burned north of Corfu.

So once again, a fire on a cruise ship off the coast of Greece. The passengers evacuated and safe.

All right. Coming up on CNN Newsroom, we are entering the final days of the Beijing Olympics but there is still plenty of competition -- competition in store. The events to keep an eye on, next.

And parts of Asia are battling a rise in COVID cases as Omicron refuses to subside. We'll have the latest on a live report from Seoul just ahead. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BRUNHUBER (on camera): The Olympic Games are entering their final days but there is still lots of competition happening in Beijing. And we are covering it all for you.

CNN's Coy Wire and Steven Jiang are both live for us with the latest headlines. But first, after days of uncertainty, the Olympic medal ceremony for the women's figure skating competition will go ahead after all. The event would have been canceled had the Russian skater at the center of a doping scandal ended up on the podium.

But 15-year-old Kamila Valieva had a disappointing performance on Thursday and finished fourth.

CNN's Steven Jiang is live in Beijing with more on that. So, Steven, take us through what happened and the reaction there.

[03:19:57]

STEVEN JIANG, CNN BEIJING BUREAU CHIEF: Kim, you said disappointing, some said disastrous. It was just painful and heartbreaking to watch Valieva compete on Thursday night. It was such a stark contrast from the near perfection she displayed. Just a little over a week ago at the team event.

Now the dark cloud of doping allegations seems to be hanging over not just her but her teammates as well. Even though two of them actually won medals on Thursday night. There was just so much tension, drama, and a lot of tears. And not necessarily tears of joy from these young athletes.

Thomas Bach, the IOC president actually held a press conference just a little while ago. And he said that he felt so disturbed watching Valieva compete on Thursday. Because he could clearly see how much mental distress she was under. But what upset him more he said was the treatment from the adults on the Russian team Valieva received after she competed. Here is what Bach said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) THOMAS BACH, PRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE: When I

afterwards saw how she was received by her closest entourage with such a, what appeared to be a tremendous coldness. You -- it was chilling to see -- to see this. Rather than giving her comfort. Rather than to try to help her. You could feel this chilling atmosphere.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JIANG (on camera): So, like so many others Bach is now turning his fire towards those adults surrounding Valieva who are indeed under investigation for their role in all these doping allegations. Now Bach has also said doping rarely happens alone by athletes. It usually involves their entourage.

He also said he had heard so many lies and excuses about doping from those adults over the years. Coincidentally, the Court of Arbitration for Sport just released its summary from -- of the hearing from last week. They said even though the adults around her claim all sorts of reasons for this positive test result they have yet to see concrete proof.

So, the saga is really far from over, Kim, with the IOC itself under growing scrutiny what some critics say it's being given the Russians a pass for too long. Kim?

BRUNHUBER: Yes. We'll keep following that story for sure. Steven Jiang, thank you so much. A much happier story. Superstar Eileen Gu has just become the first freestyle skier to win three medals in a single Olympic Games. The American born athlete who is competing for China earned gold in the women's halfpipe adding to her goal in big air and silver and slopestyle.

So, for more on that let's bring in CNN's Coy Wire live just outside of Beijing. Coy, an incredible feat capping off what's been an incredible story throughout these games.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: yes, Kim. Coming into these games her first Olympic Games. Hopes of medal in three different events, and she's done that in historic fashion as you just mentioned. Just 18 years old, you could imagine the pressure she might have been feeling. Born and raised in San Francisco but choosing to compete for her mother's homeland China, instead.

But Gu, she was -- we were there to see her and she's, Kim, she is like a calm amidst the storm of flashing lights cameras and microphones, seemingly unfazed and poised amidst all of the noise surrounding her. She has said all along that this is about something much bigger than her.

She is here to promote common understanding and to unite and forged new communications between nations. She said that, again, this is about so much more than her sport. Here she was, Kim, following her historic gold in which -- which saw her become the first free skier to win three medals in a single game.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) EILEEN GU, FREESTYLE SKIER: My biggest, biggest goal is one, to have fun for myself, but also, too, to be able to break the boundaries of the boxes that people get put in. So, in terms of extreme sports, yes, it's a huge honor to be able to be the first free skier to podium in three events as a woman, and also yes, it makes me very hopeful about what the next generation will be able to accomplish.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE (on camera): All right. Now, Kim, coming up in just a few hours, figure skating continues with the Paris competition. And history will be made when Timothy LeDuc takes the ice for team USA. Becoming the first non-binary athlete to compete at a Winter Games. When they talk with us ahead of these games, they, not he or him or she or her.

When they, they said they were not taking this opportunity for granted making history. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TIMOTHY LEDUC, SKATER: I stand on the shoulders of amazing queer athletes that have come before me that have laid the groundwork so that I can be out and open now. Because queer people have always been a part of sport. Trans and non-binary people have always been a part of sport, which is I haven't always able to be open.

[03:24:55]

Hopefully, that the narratives shift to now people watching us can feel like they can lead with authenticity, that they don't feel like they maybe have to change things about themselves in order to reach their success in sport and to chase their dreams.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE (on camera): Team of Timothy LeDuc, Ashley Cain-Gribble an inspiring team fun to watch, Kim, especially when you consider LeDuc almost walked away from it all complete -- completely. Even performing on cruise ships for a short time. Now they and Cain-Gribble are making their Olympic debut. So, we will watch them and wish them luck.

Kim, I will be remiss if I did not mention your team Canada women's making a huge statement on these days taking down team USA in the women's ice hockey for gold. Taking down a defending champ. Congratulations to you and all of Canada.

BRUNHUBER: Thank you so much. I watched it with my son. It was great stuff. I really appreciate that. Coy Wire, thank you so much.

And we will have more from all of the day's events from the Winter Olympics coming up on World Sport with Patrick Snell. That starts about 20 minutes from now.

Coronavirus cases are soaring across parts of Asia fueled by the Omicron variant. South Korea topped 100,000 new daily infections for the first time Thursday. Infections in Hong Kong are climbing fast with thousands of new cases reported every day.

So, for more on all of this I'm joined by CNN's Paula Hancocks in Seoul, South Korea. So, Paula, before we get to Hong Kong just give us an update on what's happening where you are in South Korea.

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kim, the number of new daily cases is over 109,000. It is a record yet again. We've heard from health officials that they say that cases at this point are doubling each week and they don't know when the peak will come. They assume it could come either the end of this month or the middle of next.

Then at one point they thought we can get to about 170,000 cases a day. But the way it's going it could actually be more than that. But they are not too concerned even though those cases are of a record because they say that the medical system is stable. They have enough ICU beds, and the number of deaths and critical cases, although they are rising, they are still relatively low.

They also eased restrictions just a tiny bit. The curfew on restaurants, entertainment venues has gone from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. The prime minister is saying they are really trying to kickstart the economy again and they are listening to those small business owners who have been struggling so much.

So, certainly the cases we are seeing are particularly high here but they are able to cope within the QR system, for example, the contact tracing that has been such a staple of the way South Korea has dealt with the COVID situation. That has now effectively been scrapped. So they are realizing if you got over 100,000 cases simply you can't contact trace everybody.

But it is in comparison to what you see, for example, in Hong Kong. They are also seeing record levels of new cases and yet they are sticking to their zero COVID strategy. We also heard from the chief executive, Carrie Lam saying that they are considering testing every single person within Hong Kong. That is some seven million people with PCR's. They say that it will take some, it will be some kind of an operation take some time to set that up.

But what we are also seeing is that they are still insisting on sending everybody no matter the severity of the symptoms either to hospital or to some kind of a facility. And just on Thursday you had 6,000 new cases, so that is putting a severe strain on the medical system there.

CNN is seeing images of people on gurneys outside in the parking lots of hospitals. CNN has spoken to a couple of doctors as well who are expressing frustration, saying that they have these patients who are cold outside asking for blankets and they simply have nowhere to put them.

BRUNHUBER: Yes. Shocking situation there. Paula Hancocks, thank you so much. I appreciate it.

Canadian police appear to be going after the organizers of the so- called freedom convoy which has paralyzed parts of Ottawa for weeks. Their attorney say Tamara Lich was detained in Ottawa Thursday along with Chris Barber. They are facing counseling to commit mischief and other charges.

The arrest came as officers swept into the protest site near Canada's parliament Thursday. Earlier in the day they also put-up fences and barriers to seal off the protest site. Protesters against COVID restrictions have paralyzed Ottawa's downtown for three weeks now. And similar protests on Canada's border with the U.S. have largely ended this week.

Well, the threat of a Russian invasion in Ukraine is forcing some families to leave their homes behind. Our Michael Holmes will be back after the break to tell us about the sacrifices one family had to make. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:30:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): And welcome back to our viewers all around the world, I'm Michael Holmes. I appreciate your company. Reporting to you from Lviv in Western Ukraine.

Now it is about half past 10:00 in the morning in Lviv on a blustery cool day where we are covering what feels like a growing risk of war. The U.S. president and his top diplomats said they believe the Russian forces massed along Ukraine's border could launch an attack within the next few days.

Antony Blinken telling the U.S. Security Council that intelligence indicates Moscow is trying to manufacture a reason for an invasion. But that he hopes that the Kremlin will ditch that plan while there is still time.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden preparing to discuss the crisis in the coming hours with key allies. Among them the leaders of Germany, Britain, the E.U., and NATO. The Pentagon says in just the past few days Russia has been adding to its already massive buildup of troops. Russia denies that, claims all week that it is moving some of its forces back to their bases and away from Ukraine's borders.

These new images from the Russian Defense Ministry appeared to show tanks being taken away. Moscow blaming the U.S. for what it calls an escalation in quote, "hysterics."

Jill Dougherty explains what Russia might be after.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The Russian handed over to the U.S. ambassador an 11-page document in which it says once again there is no plan for a Russian invasion of Ukraine. This document essentially is a response to the United States response to the original Russia draft treaty.

And in it, essentially Russia is saying, look we want a package deal. These are red line security concerns that Moscow has that the United States is trying to pick it apart to pick and choose among the issues that are being discussed. But we need the entire deal or they say Russia will be forced to employ perhaps military technical means.

Now in the document there is essentially three parts to it. The first would-be, stop NATO enlargement. And that includes, of course, withdrawing any pledge to Ukraine or to Georgia that they might eventually join NATO. Also removing military infrastructure from the formerly Soviet republics that had become countries that are now members of NATO.

And then finally, returning to the agreements that they had back in 1997 when Russia and NATO signed their Founding Act. Now this is very different the way this type of diplomacy is being conducted by Russia than the way diplomacy usually is. It has been extraordinarily public. The answer has been published in newspapers and websites almost immediately.

[03:35:03]

What does it mean? Is Russia serious? Is this more for show? Russia, of course, would say, it is very serious. The good thing here is that Russia is not saying negotiations are over, we will not talk with you. They do intend to continue to talk even about those individual issues that the United States and NATO are concerned with. But it is a continuing dialogue and no resolution.

Jill Dougherty, Moscow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Many people are now choosing to leave Ukraine's capital fearing for their safety. I spoke to one family here in Lviv in the west of the country. So worried about their kid's safety, they chose to leave their home behind.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES (voice over): In an apartment in Lviv in Western Ukraine, Natalia and Dymtro Kolesnyk play with their three young children. This is where they live but it is not their home. That's because until just a few days ago home was the capital Kyiv, 600 kilometers to the east. Now a potential Russian target.

DYMTRO KOLESNYK, FATHER: Kyiv is also could be attacked by missiles or maybe some key factory or key of energy base.

HOLMES: According to American intelligence, Kyiv would be a primary target if Russia invades. And that is why the Kolesnyk family decided they couldn't risk staying.

NATALIA, KOLESNYK, MOTHER: It was never in my head that this could happen but having this experience right now talking about this part of Ukraine, I can think that this basically could be the situation. That's why I'm considering the fact that we are not sure and safe anywhere.

HOLMES: Lviv is a vibrant historic city, as close to Poland, Slovakia. It feels very European. It is also, thanks to Russia, become a refuge for Ukrainians fleeing their homes. And not just from this crisis.

They have come too from the Donbass in the east where Russian-backed separatists for eight years wave war on the Ukrainian government. And from Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014.

Oxana Nobokiva and her family know well how the Kolesnyk feel. In 2014 when the Russians came to Crimea, she knew she had to leave and now runs this bakery in Lviv.

Many people went missing or were in prison when Russia occupied Crimea, she says, I didn't want to end up like them, so I left.

The motion that the massive and powerful Russian military might actually cross the border again is almost surreal for Ukrainians. But while they might be concerned. They are defiant too.

Oxana says, right now I feel calm, be we, Ukrainians have more confidence in ourselves. We are a united country.

For the Kolesnyk family they will stay here in Lviv until the standoff, the threat of war recedes. Then they say they'll head home to Kyiv.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES (on camera): A powerful weather system is approaching parts of the U.K. When we come back we will go to London for the latest details on storm Eunice. Stick around, Kim Brunhuber is back after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:40:00]

KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN ANCHOR (on camera): Well, just days after storm Dudley hit parts of the U.K. the region is now bracing for another powerful storm. A rare red whether warning has been posted warning that storm Eunice could bring significant and damaging winds and be a threat to life.

Joining me now from London is CNN's Nina Dos Santos. And Nina, we are hearing it could be one of the worst storms in decades.

NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Yes, that's right. Good morning to you, Kim. It is being reflected in the fact that we have had not just one but two of those rare red weather warnings issued by the office here in the United Kingdom. That means that there is real significant potential threat to life. Especially if people are hit by things like falling and flying debris. We are expecting disruptions -- major disruptions to transport

networks across the United Kingdom and also potentially telecommunications and power lines as well.

As you can see this is a storm that will be felt first in the coastal areas of the United Kingdom. It is making landfall across the British Isles as we speak. Likely to pass through Ireland but also then to southwest of England where we have got high tides already because this is the spring season and we are expecting potential storm surges.

Across Southwestern England but also parts of Wales as well at these types of communities where people have been urge to stay indoors at all costs and try to batten down the hatches if you like.

And we are also expecting this storm to hit London. The British capital later on today. And in light of all of this, the government are having an emergency cobra meeting. This are sort of a special situation type -- situation during tight meetings that they had at the U.K. to deal with emergency situations.

That will be going on as they are going to try and take stock of how badly this storm is battering the U.K. At the moment I have to say across London we haven't seen too much evidence of it. But the real concern is that as the winds pick up later on throughout the course of the day this could get even nastier.

And remember as you pointed out this is a country that has been battered by another storm, storm Dudley, just a few days ago. So the real concern here is that areas particularly in the northeast of England, that are still trying to recover from that storm with roofs having been blown off and so on and so forth, might get battered yet again by an even more risky storm with stronger winds. Kim?

BRUNHUBER: Yeah. Some serious sight. Stay safe there. I appreciate that. We want to bring you this story about a rare diamond. It's a rare blue diamond for sale and it could go for more than $48 million at auction. It is called The De Beers Cullinan Blue, it's the largest gem ever appear at Sotheby's auction. At over 15 carats, the diamond is exceptionally rare for its size, color grading, and polish. The Gemological Institute of America graded the diamond the fancy vivid blue, a title only 1 percent of blue diamonds receive. The diamond was discovered in 2021 at the Cullinan Mines in South Africa. It is scheduled for auction at Sotheby's Hong Kong in April.

Alright, I'm Kim Brunhuber. I will be back in about 15 minutes with more "CNN Newsroom." "WorldSport" with Patrick Snell is up next. Stay with us.

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