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WH: Biden to Prohibit New Investment, Trade, Financing in Separatist Areas of Ukraine that Putin Just Recognized as Independent; Interview with Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA), Russian Sanctions, Rising Oil Prices; Putin Signs Decrees Recognizing Separatist Areas of Ukraine as Independent; Six New York Coty Subway Stabbings, Attacks After Mayor Unveils New Safety Plan; Canada Freezes Financial Assets of Key Figures in Truckers Protests. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired February 21, 2022 - 15:30   ET

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

[15:30:00]

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN HOST:

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN HOST: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has discussed the events of the last few hours with President Joe Biden. The White House press secretary sent out this statement in response to President Putin signing decrees that recognizes two separatist self- declared republics in the Donbas region as independent. I'm going to read a bit of it here.

We have anticipated a move like this from Russia and are ready to respond immediately. President Biden will soon issue an executive order that will prohibit new investment, trade and financing by U.S. persons to, from or in the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine.

Of course, that's the Donetsk People's Republic, the Luhansk People's Republic. CNN's Tom Foreman joins me now. Tom, so what more could the administration do targeted towards Russia because this, of course is Ukrainian territory?

Yes, they can do a whole lot more if they want to. And very clearly, Victor, what they've done is put a big sign outside of Ukraine that says you break it, you bought it. That's what they are aiming for here.

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Look at the sanctions that the White House has proposed against Russia if they feel like they have to go further along. First of all, they would identify Russian elites. They've already done this -- who would be sanctioned if Russia invades Ukraine. The goal here is to attack the oligarchy.

[15:35:00] The big, big business people who are close to Putin who benefit from Russia operating the way it does. This would be saying you can freeze their money overseas. You can stop their family members from moving around doing business. You can prevent their children from going to school in the West, at universities. Big very direct strikes at those people. The EU has said they will cut off access to international financial markets potentially in all of this. There are also financial sanctions in export controlled for Russia and of course there's been talk about sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 gas line coming out of Russia -- Victor.

BLACKWELL: So, which are most likely? I know those are the options. But what do you expect we will see based on what we've heard first?

FOREMAN: I think what you're going the see based on what officials have said is first of all, they're going to try to keep it as proportional as possible. Look at this statement that came out today. It was aimed very much at the Donbas region, the very thing that Putin talked about. But if you listen to what the National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said this morning, the goal is to make sure whatever they do actually has some contact with and affected these people in Russia who are calling these shots.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAKE SULLIVAN, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR: The goal here, over time, is to ensure that Russia and its defense industry and its capacity to wage war on its neighbors or on anyone else in the world is weakened. Week by week, month by month, year by year. So, we are determined to settle in for a sustained period of imposing costs on Russia so they do pay a price.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOREMAN: So, we'll see if they can stick that line. What they're talking about is a long-term campaign here and as you know, Victor, a lot of these sanctions against Russia have not resonated very big. But these do seem to be very much targeted at Putin himself and his pals to see if you can make them hurt enough to say do you really want to mess with Ukraine that much.

BLACKWELL: Tom Foreman from Washington, thank you, Tom.

FOREMAN: You're welcome.

BLACKWELL: Congressman John Garamendi is a Democrat from California and a member of the House Arm Services Committee. He joins us now from Brussels. We will talk about why you are there, Congressman, in just a moment. But first, I want your reaction to this breaking news that the president will sign an executive order soon that will prohibit new investment, trade and financing by U.S. persons to, from or in the so- called now separatist Republics as they are acknowledged by President Putin.

REP. JOHN GARAMENDI (D-CA): I think it is a step. Frankly, I think it's about a half step. I think it's time for the administration to come in strong with some much stronger sanctions against, not only Putin and his cronies but also the military and put in place sanctions that go directly to Russia. This is a good step. It's nothing wrong with what he's suggested to do or is doing but it's not going be enough.

BLACKWELL: That's exactly what we heard from President Zelensky over the weekend at the Munich Security Conference. What he said, if you are telling me that there's a 100 percent chance that there's going be an attack, do something now.

Do we have the sound from President Zelensky? OK, we don't have that sound. But what would you like to see? You said there's to be something stronger, what do you want?

GARAMENDI: Well, let's recognize that Zelensky was getting a little ahead of the game. Now the game is on. And now the Russian bear has taken a big bite -- or you know, taking a big bite out of Ukraine. So, what do we need to do? Well, there's a whole line of sanctions out there. Some of which Mr. Foreman just mentioned a moment ago.

The economic sanctions and the access to the national markets of the world, that should be put in place right now. And that could be done step by step, sector by sector. For example, going after the Russian military. Their military is dependent upon imported parts and pieces for their various tanks right now and planes. Stop that. Give the military something serious to think about.

Germany, the European Union announced just a moment ago here in Europe and on the televisions in Europe that the European Union is calling for serious sanctions immediately. I know that NATO and NATO countries are also on board for that to happen. So, it's time to ramp up the sanctions.

I wouldn't be pushing or flirting around about it right now and I don't think Europe will want that to happen. For example, Nord Stream, the German Chancellor was very, very clear in his words about what Russia did or what Putin did in recognizing these two parts of Ukraine. And he was very, very strong. We should move on that strength. We should impose those sanctions that I just mentioned and get ready for additional sanctions going after the oil and gas industry in Russia.

[15:40:21]

BLACKWELL: And some of these sanctions were reserved for if there were tanks or troops crossing the border and the strategy, up to this point had been, if that happens then there will be the sanctions. But you say that now with the signing of these decrees it's time to impose those sanctions. Why did it take so long to get to this point? I mean, are you considering that this will be the deterrent? Nothing has deterred Putin up to this point.

GARAMENDI: Well, I think we need to make it clear that the sanctions are going to be imposed one upon the other. I'm not suggesting all of them being done immediately but together with Europe, United States, Canada and the NATO allies should pick among the options the next very strong sanction and put that in place immediately in addition to what the White House just decided to do. And that deals only with the trade in and out of those two areas that Putin thinks should be independent.

Then So, pick another one. Take which one you want and come back in a day or two and pick up another one. In other words, this is a drip, did I drip it, it's a bang, bang and bang again until Putin hears c that is not going to get away with what he got away with in Crimea.

This is a very similar situation to what happened in Crimea. Little green men, which were all Russian military, took over, invaded if you will, Crimea and then Crimea said, oh, we want to be independent. And they were absorbed into Russia.

I suspect this is the first step of absorbing these two areas of Ukraine into Russia. And we need to be very, very cognizant of Putin's speech. His speech didn't stop with these two parts of Ukraine. He wants it all. And I think he intends to take it. That's why I'm saying good. The president has taken a step. Now take one more step together with the European Union and our NATO allies and make it a strong step. Not just a little one but bang Putin across they had with a two by four. More is coming. Here is the first two by four. Now you're going to get another and another one and another one until you back off.

BLACKWELL: And I know that is why you are there in Brussels to reassure NATO member states that the U.S., that the entire organization will be there to support them through this.

Let me ask you about a domestic matter here that relates to it. You represent a district in California where today, according to AAA, the average cost for a gallon of regular is $4.74. Is the administration -- are you, is Congress doing enough to prepare the American people for the cost that may come as a result of putting this pressure on Putin?

GARAMENDI: Probably not enough. But the American people need to understand who is making the big profit on the gas. Right now, I would call for Congress, Senate and House to conduct immediate hearings on the profitability of the oil industry. There is clearly price gouging going on here. They will whine and say it's not us. It's the Saudi Arabians or somebody else. But the profits of those industries have gone through the roof.

(CROSSTALK)

BLACKWELL: But independent of the profit of the companies, Congressman. It is your expectation -- and I should form this as a question. Is it your expectation that gas could go above $5 a gallon in California considering what we've heard from the White House there could be a cost? It will likely be a cost.

GARAMENDI: Yes, there is likely to be a cost. Exactly what the cost is going to be will be in the pockets of the Americans. There is no doubt about that. Will it be a lot or will it be a little? We don't know.

But what we do know is that if Russia gets away with this, then I can assure you the next country that's going to be threatened will be Latvia. Which is about 50 percent Russian already. And so, it's going to go until Putin learns a serious lesson. And that lesson is not going to be free. Democracy is not free.

Democracy has to be attended to and we have to stand now and we have to accept that there will, there will be some costs spread out across the Western world. Not just here in America but in Europe. There are things that we can do, the rest of it I just gave you one. But the Europeans there is another one and that is that the United States is one of the principle exporters of natural gas. Those ships should be turned around and sent to Europe to back field the loss of Russian gas which is likely to be one of the sanctions that is coming down the line.

[15:45:03]

BLACKWELL: Understood, understood. Congressman John Garamendi of California thank you so much for your time, sir.

GARAMENDI: Thank you.

BLACKWELL: All right, New York police say at least six people were stabbed this weekend in separate incidents in the city's subway system. A new plan was launched today to keep people safe. We'll tell you about it, next.

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BLACKWELL: At least six people were stabbed, slashed or attacked in New York City subway stations and trains over the weekend. On Friday New York City's mayor and the state's governor announced a plan the fight subway crime. The city's new safety initiative just went into effect today.

CNN national correspondent Brynn Gingras is here. So, first let's talk with these attacks, what do you know about those?

BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, so there was a number of attacks as you said, six incidents just from when this plan was announced on Friday, one actually happened just hours after that. Then there were two additional incidents that happened on the subway that weren't stabbings or slashings but they were attacks. One actually involved a hatchet if you can believe that. Another was a lead pipe.

So, we're talking about some serious incidents that are happening on these subway systems. And the mayor is essentially saying he's got a zero-tolerance policy for it right now.

And he laid out this plan along with the governor and other city officials on Friday that basically is going to band together not just the NYPD but also some social service teams, 30 response teams in fact that's going to be a mixture of people with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene with the Department of Homeless Services along with the NYPD to kind of combat not just the crime but also help with the issue of homelessness. Which is major concern for riders and people who take the transit system. Also, those who are you know have mental illness problems who might need some help in a hospital or who might need shelter.

[15:50:00]

So, these are the issues that they want to combat. It's not just getting the crime off of the subway systems. But the mayor is being very -- saying, you know, being proactive about this. But also, just taking a firm stand. Because of course, as you know, you know, in his opinion, to get this city back to where it was, pre-pandemic levels, people got to be able to feel safe on the subway systems. They want people coming back into the city to work but also tourism, they want to bring that up too.

So, he says it is not, you know, it's not going to be a one size fits all for the people that are in the subway systems sleeping, doing drugs, issues that people sometimes are turning a blind eye to. But certainly, he's trying to hopefully take this multipronged approach to getting this problem, you know, cleared up.

BLACKWELL: All right, we'll see if it is effective. Brynn Gingras, thank you.

Police in Canada say that they are now trying to take back Ottawa from hundreds of people protesting COVID mandates. The demonstration has crippled Canada's capital for weeks. And we'll tell you what's next for that Freedom Convoy.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: Canadian authorities are using more aggressive tactics to calm protests in Ottawa over COVID-19 mandates.

[15:55:00]

Besides making hundreds of arrests over the weekend, Canadian authorities have now frozen the finances of key people and companies believed to be helping the protesters.

CNN's Paula Newton is in Ottawa. So how is this legal? And do we know how long this will be enforced?

PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, two important questions there, Victor. The first one, it's legal because there is an emergency act in place right now in Canada. And it means that that what you were describing there about freezing accounts, its unprecedented and apparently, police say it is effective.

So that means if you were one of these protesters let's say that brought a semi down to Ottawa, they traced your company and maybe froze your company's accounts or even your personal accounts which meant you couldn't get money out of the ATM. You couldn't pay your mortgage. Now police say more than 200 such accounts have already been frozen. There have been other financial measures.

But at issue too, Victor, were scenes here in Ottawa out of what is largely thought of as one of the most comprehensive and aggressive, quite frankly, police operations in Canadian history. I want you to listen now to Justin Trudeau and have him explain why he

thinks those emergency powers need to stay in place. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JUSTIN TRUDEAU, PRIME MINISTER, CANADA: You can disagree with elected officials. You can certainly disagree with me but you can't harass your fellow citizens who disagree with you. You can't hold a city hostage.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: You know, what's really worrying Trudeau is that this will happen again. Now the streets of Ottawa right now are peaceful but it is a bit like a fortress. You're talking places, Victor, where you used to be able to throw a frisbee right on the lawn of Parliament and now for a few square blocks you can't even get into the place unless you can prove that you work there.

And it is an extraordinary situation which Trudeau is saying must continue. There's a vote tonight at 8:00 p.m. Eastern. We'll see what happens -- Victor.

BLACKWELL: Paula Newton, with latest for us. Paula, thank you so much.

Of course, we'll continue the breaking news. Those decrees from President Putin on "THE LEAD" with Jake Tapper starts after a quick break. Pamela Brown in today.

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