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Biden Agrees 'In Principle' to Putin Summit; Russia and Belarus to Extend Military Drills; Britain's Queen Elizabeth Tests Positive for COVID-19; Hong Kong Struggling to Contain Fifth Wave of Virus; 50 Years after Nixon Visit, China and U.S. are Intense Rivals; U.S. Intel Shows Russia Readying for Invasion; People in Small Ukrainian Town Worry about Invasion; Landslides in Brazil Leave at Least 157 Dead, Hundreds Displaced. Aired 12-1a ET
Aired February 21, 2022 - 00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Michael Holmes, live in Ukraine. New satellite images show intense Russian activity near Ukraine's northeastern border. And now the U.S. president and his Russian counterpart agreeing to meet, but with conditions.
[00:00:35]
LYNDA KINKADE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: And hello. I'm Lynda Kinkade, live at CNN's world headquarters in Atlanta.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth has tested positive for the coronavirus. We'll go live to Windsor.
HOLMES: Hello, everyone.
World leaders in a race against time to stave off war in Ukraine. We've now learned that the U.S. president, Joe Biden, has agreed in principle to a summit with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin. But the White House says it will only go forward if Russia does not further invade Ukraine.
Now, the meeting was proposed by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, according to his office. This is the latest diplomatic effort to de-escalate tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
But, of course, it comes as new satellite images show increased activity among Russian forces massed near Ukraine's northeastern border.
And the Belarusian defense military says joint military drills between Russia and Belarus that were supposed to end Sunday have now been extended.
We're also learning that the U.S. has intelligence indicating Russian commanders have received orders to proceed with an attack on Ukraine. Not sure when, however. That's according to several officials who spoke with CNN.
Meanwhile, Ukraine says this video shows pro-Russian separatists launching fire against our own territory in an attempt to falsely accuse Ukraine's armed forces of carrying out an attack.
CNN's Arlette Saenz is at the White House with more details on that possible meeting between Mr. Biden and Mr. Putin.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: The White House says President Biden has agreed, in principle, to a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. But it comes with one major caveat. It will only be held if Russia does not invade Ukraine.
Now, this proposed summit was brokered by French President Emmanuel Macron, who spoke with President Biden earlier on Sunday for 15 minutes. And it was later confirmed by White House press secretary Jen Psaki, who says Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his counterpart, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, will discuss the parameters of such a summit when they meet on February 24.
Psaki added in a statement, saying, "President Biden accepted, in principle, a meeting with President Putin following that engagement, again, if an invasion hasn't happened. We are always ready for diplomacy," she said. "We are also ready to impose swift and severe consequences, should Russia, instead, choose war. And, currently, Russia appears to be continuing preparations for a full-scale assault on Ukraine very soon."
The White House has long said that they are open to President Biden engaging with President Putin when it would be useful and if it could help avoid a war between Russia and Ukraine.
But the administration has also been clear-eyed about Russia's intentions, in recent days, stepping up their warnings about Russia's ability to attack Ukraine, including President Biden himself saying that he is convinced Putin has made that decision to launch an invasion.
So while this proposal of a possible summit could mark a major breakthrough in those diplomatic talks, the administration is still being very clear-eyed and wary of Russia's intentions, as we've seen these military buildups around the border of Ukraine.
But they have long insisted that they think that there is a diplomatic path available to avert such a crisis, even if Russia is making some of these moves that suggest an attack could be imminent.
Arlette Saenz, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Now, while we wait for more details on that potential summit between the U.S. and Russian presidents, CNN contributor Jill Dougherty is in Moscow following Russia's decision to extend military drills in Belarus.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: For Moscow, the most significant military development is that Russia and Belarus, after holding those major military exercises, will not be sending their troops back home or back to their bases. Instead, they will be remaining on the border with Ukraine.
Why? They say because of the aggravation of the situation in the Donbass region. That's the eastern part of Ukraine, close to the Russian border; Russian-speaking breakaway regions.
Now, in Donbass, more people continue to be bussed from Ukraine into Russia. They say fearful that they will be attacked by the Ukrainians. The Ukrainians saying they have no intention of doing that.
And finally, on the diplomatic front Monday, the Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, will be speaking with his counterpart, the French foreign minister.
Jill Dougherty, Moscow.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Let's bring in Melinda Haring. She's the deputy director of the Atlantic Councils Eurasia Center. It's great to have you on.
I was reading something you wrote a few days ago, that the Russian play, for now, is to, quote, "turn the overriding concern over the invasion and the megaphone of global communications into a weapon." Explain what you mean by that.
MELINDA HARING, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, ATLANTIC COUNCIL'S EURASIA CENTER: Hi, Michael. Thanks. It's great to be with you.
So I am one of the analysts who think that Putin is going to roll in, but I've rethought that in the last couple of weeks. I think Putin's smarter play is to sit on the border.
He's currently in the north, east, and the south, and just menace Ukraine. He can drive the economy into the ground in three to six months, and he will try to break the will of the Ukrainian people. I think that's what's most likely at this point.
HOLMES: Yes, yes. I'm hearing that, as well. As you point out, if the Russians don't invade, the world pretty much moves on, doesn't it? But Ukraine's economy is wounded.
And do you think that was, perhaps, Putin's aim all along? Not to crack Ukraine with military might, but with economics, or without firing a shot? Do you think that was his plan all along, or is he having to pivot because of how united the West has been?
HARING: No, I don't think Putin wants international sanctions. Right? If he can get the same outcome, without avoiding international sanctions, that's what he's going to do.
I think he's considered a lot of different options. I don't think anything is off the table at this point. No one knows which way he's going to go, but if he can destroy Ukraine's westernizing tribe, if he can destroy the unity of NATO, if he can humiliate the United States, and if he can rewrite the rules of the European security architecture, he's going to do it, without -- without those new, punitive sanctions that the west has ready to roll.
HOLMES: Yes. Good point. I want to ask you about the Donbass.
Even -- even if the Russians, you know, miraculously backed off, that region, it's hardly likely to turn around and, you know, happily rejoin the rest of Ukraine, is it?
HARING: So that's a great question. The Russian-backed separatists occupy about 7 percent of Eastern Ukraine, the Donbass, in two different provinces, in Luhansk and Donetsk.
And these areas are really, really awful. They have had their economies destroyed. Anyone with any economic ability has left. It's a bunch of old pensioners, and the quality of life is miserable there.
So yes, you're right. They're not eager to rejoin Ukraine proper. But if you look at the Telegram channels and the messaging about what's going on out there, they're not super gung-ho to join Russia, as well.
Russia is trying to evacuate people, in these people's republics and get them to Russian proper. They don't want to go. They don't want to get on buses. And they don't want -- they want their lives to remain where they are. So, I think that's sort of interesting and one thing I'm watching, as well.
They're afraid that the Russians will use these buses as a pretext, fire on the buses, and that will stage, you know, real hostilities.
HOLMES: Yes. And to that point, I mean, lots of false flag attacks, talk of false flag attacks. The separatists, you know, so dramatically moving civilians for no apparent reason and choreographed, it would appear. Speak to the role and power of propaganda in this crisis.
HARING: So Russian TV is extremely powerful. And Russian TV acts like the war is already happening.
When you watch Russian TV, it will talk about the escalation of forces around Ukraine. But it doesn't indicate that they are responsible for it.
You know, Russian TV is a mind-bending experience. I was watching it a few weeks ago, and the claim was that Ukraine was poised and ready to invade one of these people's republics. Nothing could be further from the truth.
HOLMES: You know, if there is an invasion, do you think the world has any understanding how potentially enormous the humanitarian situation would be? The sheer numbers of people, possibly millions, pouring into neighboring countries and so on? Do you think that's fully understood?
HARING: Not at all, Mike -- Michael. So there's three problems I see. The refugee crisis in Europe. If Putin rolls in in a big way, there's two to three million -- experts are telling me that they expect two to three million refugees from Ukraine going into Poland and the European Union. So we could have a massive refugee crisis underway.
[00:10:17]
If -- if things get out of hand, and there's a major land war, this could develop into a major world war. No one wants that, obviously.
And then the third thing that I am worried about is the precedent this sets for other regions. So if Putin is allowed to take Ukraine, that's going to send a really nasty message, that might makes right and that China can do what it wants in the South China Sea, and it can do what it wants with Taiwan, as well.
That's why this matters. It's not just about Ukraine. It's about who gets to make the rules and who gets to decide the foreign policy and the priorities of every country. So it's ultimately about -- about freedom, and the decisions of individuals to choose their own destiny.
HOLMES: Yes. Great point. You know, we've touched on this, and you're right, Putin is all about trying to weaken NATO, create fractures and disunity. But in that sense, has he miscalculated? Has he, you know, sort of increased NATO's relevance and strength and unity?
HARING: Yes, he has. That's a great point. So Putin hasn't gotten what he wants. And this is why, I think, it's going to be very hard for him to stand down.
We're talking about a Biden and Putin meeting in a summit. But Putin hasn't got what he wants, so he has more NATO troops in Eastern Europe. He has a revitalized NATO. He has Finland and Sweden kind of interested in NATO membership for the first time.
And, you know, NATO has purpose and drive. So Putin has not gotten what he wants, and the west is unified. I don't see an obvious exit ramp for Putin, at this point.
HOLMES: Yes. Which is worrying. Great analysis, Melinda Haring, thanks so much. Appreciate it.
HARING: Thank you.
HOLMES: All right. I'm Michael Holmes, here in Lviv in western Ukraine. I will be back with more a little later in the show, as the sun comes up here.
For now, let's turn to Lynda Kinkade at the CNN Center with today's other stories. Back to you, my friend.
KINKADE: Thanks so much, Michael. Great conversation there. A lot of insight. Good to hear that.
Well, still to come here on CNN NEWSROOM, after the British monarch tests positive for COVID-19, we going to go live to Windsor for the latest on the queen's condition. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[00:16:33]
KINKADE: Welcome to CNN NEWSROOM.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth is said to be experiencing mild symptoms after testing positive for COVID-19. Buckingham Palace says the 95- year-old monarch plans to continue light duties this week.
According to U.K. media, she is fully vaccinated. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is wishing the queen a swift recovery, and many in London are concerned about her health.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She has to get better. We can't afford to lose her just yet.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It feels very sad. I mean, she's always been there forever, as far as we're concerned, and yes, without her, it's shocking, really.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She's an icon. She's an icon of the U.K. She's the epitome of the U.K. in some ways. I mean, most people in the country have never known any monarch other than her.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. She's old. Her immune is probably weaker than others. I just -- yes, I wish her the best.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: CNN's Anna Stewart joins us now from Windsor with the latest. And obviously, a lot of concern in London and around the world. So how is the queen doing? I understand she is expected to continue working?
ANNA STEWART, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: She is. We were told by the palace yesterday that the queen will continue with light duties in the coming days.
And actually, just a couple of hours after this news broke, she tweeted her congratulations to the GB women's curling team for winning aerial medal at the Winter Olympics.
So as you say, the palace have said her symptoms are mild. They are cold-like. They don't sound very serious at this stage. She has a whole team of medical staff looking after her.
And added to the statement we had yesterday from the palace, they said she will continue to receive medical attention and will follow all appropriate guidelines.
Now, Lynda, some people question what medical attention means. Is it possible the queen has been given antiviral drugs on account of her age, which of course, means that she's at higher risk for COVID-19. We really don't know, and I doubt we're going to find out. We believe she is triple-vaccinated, but we weren't even told that.
She had her first job very publicly, but in recent months, the palace have been very tightlipped when it comes to matters of health and the queen.
In October, she was unwell and spend a night in hospital for testing. We don't really know what for. She had to cancel a number of engagements. Her health has been poor in recent months.
And actually, just last week, she admitted to feeling frail in one of public engagements, which is very unlike the queen. She doesn't like a fuss, though, so I'm not surprised that she's put out this statement, and she will continue on with some light duties, if she can -- Lynda.
KINKADE: Yes. She certainly is known for her keep calm and carry on sort of attitude. Are there any other staff or royal family members in isolation or quarantine?
STEWART: Yes. So, actually, there have been concerns the queen could catch COVID-19, for the last couple of weeks. Ever since Prince Charles tested positive. And that was just two days after he saw his mother. And a few days after he tested positive, so did his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.
So, there has been some COVID within the royal family. Also, within the HMS bubble, we understand, which is really what's happened since the pandemic. That is a very limited staff looking after the queen, to try and protect her, really. Social distancing in place within the castle.
And we were told by a royal source that there has been some COVID within Windsor Castle. We don't have the specifics of who, though.
So perhaps surprising, given she's 95 years old, given Omicron is so transmittable, and given restrictions have lifted here in the U.K., that the queen has COVID-19 -- Lynda.
KINKADE: Yes. We hope she continues to do really well. Anna Stewart for us in London, thanks so much.
Well, despite the queen's positive case, England is moving forward, as Anna Stewart said, with plans to end all isolation requirements for those testing positive for the virus.
[00:20:09]
The prime minister's office says an announcement is expected this week, rolling black all restrictions, as the country moves to treat COVID-19 as a virus that's here to stay.
Israel is lifting restrictions, as well, allowing all tourists, regardless of vaccination status, back into the country starting March 1.
Travelers won't have to present proof of vaccination, but instead, we'll have to take a PCR test before and after their flight. And Hong Kong is ramping up testing, trying to contain the spread of
the region's fifth wave of the virus. Hospitals are stretched to the limit, with reports of people stuck outside in the rain, due to a lack of hospital beds.
Our Kristie Lu Stout joins us now from Hong Kong with more on all of this.
Kristie, police are now being recruited to control the growing outbreak in Hong Kong. Just explain how they'll be deployed.
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Lynda, well, Hong Kong is reportedly mobilizing its police to help contain this growing COVID-19 outbreak here.
And the "South China Morning Post" is reporting that the police will help prepare mandatory testing in the city, as authorities weigh and consider mandatory testing for a population of 7.4 million people.
"The Post" is also reporting that 1,000 retired police officers are being recruited to, potentially, staff and man isolation centers here in the city.
This comes shortly after the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, urged Hong Kong to take the main responsibility to contain and stabilize this growing fifth wave of infection.
On Sunday, the city reported 6,000 new daily cases of COVID-19. Fourteen new deaths from the virus. Already, help is coming in from mainland China in the form of experts. Expertise in testing, in treatment, as well as how to boost capacity for quarantine and isolation centers.
At this moment, mainland teams are helping with the construction of new isolation and treatment centers in Penny's Bay. That's a corner of Hong Kong, located near Disneyland. As well as the Kai Tak Cruise terminal. They say that these facilities will be able to provide 10,000 more isolation beds, but when you talk to health experts, that's not enough. I want you to listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. KAREN GREPIN, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF HONG KONG SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH: The models do suggest that we could very easily be reaching tens of thousands, if not even larger numbers of cases, sometime in March.
More worrying is that we're also seeing that many of these models suggest that our capacity to hospitalize with severe cases might very easily, and very soon, be exceeded. And that means that we will be facing a very large number of deaths here in Hong Kong.
STOUT: Lynda, researchers at the University of Hong Kong say that the number of daily COVID cases can soar as high as 28,000. Talk about daily cases: 28,000 by March. Hong Kong will desperately need far more isolation centers and beds to cope with that surge. Back to you.
KINKADE: Wow. Hard to -- hard to understand how things went so wrong there. Kristie Lu Stout for us in Hong Kong, thanks so much.
STOUT: OK.
KINKADE: Beijing closed down the 2022 Winter Olympic games Sunday with a dazzling spectacle. Fireworks lit up the city's skyline after weeks of hard-won victories and elite competition.
By the end of it all, Norway finished with a record number of gold medals.
The closing festivities were held at the Bird's Nest Stadium, and had a snowflake-themed ceremony with plenty of music, singing, and flag waving.
The International Olympic Committee president called for peace and unity in his farewell speech. Thomas Bach thanked organizers and the people of China for hosting the games in the midst of the pandemic.
And with that, the Winter Olympics now heads to Italy for the 2026 games in Milan and Cortina.
Well, China's president, Xi Jinping, was there for the Olympic closing ceremony in Beijing. The Chinese government was heavily invested in hosting a successful Winter Games. For both its tightly-controlled internal public image and on the world stage.
And it comes as Monday marks an historic moment in China's ties with the international community. CNN's David Culver reports from Beijing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID CULVER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Beijing Winter Games, closing on the eve of a momentous anniversary, one that paved the way for a new era in U.S.-China relations.
February 21 marking 50 years since the historic visit of President Richard Nixon, the first U.S. leader to visit the People's Republic of China.
Before that, the rural agrarian nation struggled on the home front. After its founding in 1949 under the Chinese Communist Party, disastrous policies led to millions of deaths in the Great Famine and the cultural revolution.
[00:25:07]
For more than two decades, China remained largely closed off to the west, with millions of Chinese being told every day to prepare for war with their No. 1 enemy, U.S. imperialists.
Nixon's trip changed that. He called it the week to change the world. This really gave Chinese and Americans permission, for the first time
since 1950, to encounter each other across the whole scope of their humanity, and it really opened up the floodgates for the period of engagement for Chinese and Americans working together.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The gate to friendly contact has finally, been opened.
CULVER: Nixon traveled along with the first later, and Henry Kissinger, his top aide. He met the country's supreme ruler, Mao Tse- Tung.
Premier Zhou Enlai, Mao's long-time lieutenant, showed Nixon around. The president taking in a ping-pong match at the capitol indoor stadium, the same venue repurposed to host the recent Olympic figure skating competitions.
This is Nixon, getting up close and personal with China's iconic pandas. As a parting gift, China sent two of the beloved creatures back to the U.S. after the presidential visit.
(on camera): Nixon's visit sparked off panda diplomacy between the United States and the People's Republic of China, something that has continued 50 years later.
(voice-over): On his visit to China's Great Wall, Nixon noted the symbolism.
RICHARD NIXON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Whether they are physical walls, like this, or whether they are other walls of ideology, or philosophy, it will not divide peoples in the world.
CULVER: But, today, barriers are back up. From a digital great firewall, restricting Internet access in China, to the COVID controlled bubble that hosted the Olympic games, it seems both ideology and philosophy are dividing once again, amplified under current President Xi Jinping.
ROBERT DALY, DIRECTOR, KISSINGER INSTITUTE OF WILSON CENTER: Fifty years after the opening, we are in a position in which relations are, at least as bad as they were then.
CULVER: Xi bringing a return to the undisputed leadership held by Mao during the Nixon years.
Under Xi's control, China's flexed its military might in the South China Sea and around the self-governing democratic island of Taiwan, which China considers part of its territory.
Domestically, China has become a surveillance state, monitoring people's every move. Censorship is at an all-time high, and it's accused of suppressing its own people, including ethnic minorities, like Tibetans and Uyghurs.
Economically, Beijing continues to tighten his grip over the domestic private sector, while there is an ongoing trade war with the United States.
DALY: We need wise leadership now in both countries to figure out how to manage this competition such that it doesn't descend into conflict.
CULVER: Likely not the path envisioned by Nixon as he prepared for his visit 50 years ago.
NIXON: That is why I have taken initiatives in several areas to open the door for more normal relations between our two countries.
CULVER: Five decades on, that open door appears to be closing, and some argue it's now China who holds the key.
David Culver, CNN, Beijing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Well, after the break, we return to Ukraine with Michael, with Michael Holmes. He is following a last-ditch effort at diplomacy for a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine crisis. Stay with us. You're watching CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[00:31:54]
HOLMES: Welcome back, everyone. I'm Michael Holmes, coming to live from Lviv in Ukraine.
The White House says U.S. President Joe Biden has agreed in principle to a summit with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, over Ukraine. The French-brokered summit represents a last-ditch effort at diplomacy as the military crisis intensifies.
But the White House warns the meeting can only take place if Russia does not invade Ukraine, and would occur after U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, meet on Thursday.
Meanwhile, sources telling CNN the U.S. has intelligence that Russian commanders have received orders to attack Ukraine. It's not clear when, exactly. CNN's Jim Sciutto following that part of the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT/ANCHOR: According to the latest U.S. intelligence assessment, orders have been sent to Russian tactical commanders to proceed with an invasion.
This according to officials with direct knowledge of the intelligence, telling myself and my colleague, Natasha Bertram.
We should be clear, however, that the U.S. is looking for multiple indicators that an invasion is coming. This is one of them. But others, such as electronic jamming, or massive cyberattacks against Ukraine, have not yet been observed. It is also worth noting that orders such as this could be rescinded,
or this could be part of a misinformation campaign, intended to mislead the U.S. and its allies.
However, this intelligence comes as we've heard public statements from the most senior U.S. officials, including the president, the vice president, and the secretary of state, saying in recent days that the U.S. now believes Putin has made a decision to invade.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying today, in his words, that the Russian playbook is moving forward.
Jim Sciutto, CNN, Lviv, Ukraine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Now meanwhile, CNN's Sam Kiley visited a town in Eastern Ukraine that shares a name with a vastly different American metropolis. As Sam explains, many residents in Ukraine's New York, fear a Russian invasion is imminent.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SAM KILEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In a small town called New York in eastern Ukraine, and a short flight for a mortar bomb from rebel territory, lies Sobyanska (ph) Street.
After eight years of war, so close to the front line, homes here are almost worthless. These houses have been smashed by war. They've been destroyed by the poverty conflict brings.
Torn down and sold as recycled bricks and tiles, locals tell us that these houses sell for about 70 bucks.
(on camera): This is the end of Sobyanska (ph) Street. Now, just down there, the checkpoint, and beyond that is rebel-held territory. Within the last hour or so, we've heard at least eight explosions.
(EXPLOSIONS)
KILEY (voice-over): Lilly is 3. She's out amid the shelling with her mom, lending a hand. Playing with the family pup through game riddled with shrapnel holes from a shell that landed before she was born.
[00:35:03]
Her parents tell her that the latest barrage is thunder, but it is something to worry about.
LUDMILA PONOMARENKO, RESIDENT OF NEW YORK, UKRAINE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
GRAPHIC: She does not understand. But very soon she will understand, because she is three. So we are now thinking about whether we stay here. So we are now thinking about whether we stay here. KILEY: Andrey is a rescue worker. He's acutely aware of the surge in recent shelling. According to Ukrainian authorities, at least over at least 70 strikes along the front line that Saturday.
(on camera): So what kind of life do you think your daughter's going to have?
ANDREY PONOMARENKO, RESIDENT OF NEW YORK, UKRAINE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
GRAPHIC: How could I know? There is no stability in the country. I'm doing my best to provide all that's needed. But still, I can't change reality.
KILEY: The increased Russian-backed, rebel shelling that killed two government soldiers on Saturday is being seen as a possible prelude to a Russian invasion, perhaps along this very street.
Across the road, Maxim draws water from a well. This community is sliding back into the 19th Century, and fear bears down on everyone.
(on camera): Is there much shelling?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
GRAPHIC: There, you hear it. Yes.
KILEY: You've had this for a long time. Are you feeling frightened now, then?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
GRAPHIC: Yes, I'm scared. Very scared.
KILEY: But many living in Ukraine's New York are trapped by these wartime blues.
A. PONOMARENKO: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
GRAPHIC: Where should we go? Why? Nobody cares. And where should we get money to live and rent? So that is why we are staying in this house.
KILEY: Sam Kiley, CNN, New York, Ukraine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: All right. I'll be back at the top of the hour with more from Ukraine. Lynda Kinkade picks up after a quick break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[00:40:03]
KINKADE: Well, rescue operations are ongoing in Brazil, but the death toll is rising after those deadly landslides, which rocked a mountainous area north of Rio de Janeiro last Tuesday.
The number of fatalities rose slightly on Sunday to 157. More than 150 are missing, and hundreds have lost their homes, or have been displaced.
The rainfall total in the area Tuesday afternoon alone was higher than the historic average for the entire month of February.
Two incidents involving police and protests are under investigation after a violent weekend of protests and nearly 200 arrests in Canada.
Ontario's special investigation unit is looking into a serious injury, reported by a woman who interacted with a police officer on a horse.
The group is also investigating the use of anti-riot weapons during the protests. No injuries have been reported so far, but the special investigation unit is asking anyone who may have been hit by a projectile to contact them.
Well, thanks so much for joining us for CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Lynda Kinkade. WORLD SPORT is coming up next, and we'll have much more news at the top of the hour.
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[00:45:23]
(WORLD SPORT)
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