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U.S. Hits Russian Banks, Elites With Sanctions Over Ukraine Crisis; Germany Halts Key Pipeline With Russia; UN Expert Criticizes China, Russia For Arms Sales To Myanmar. Aired 1-2a ET
Aired February 23, 2022 - 01:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[01:00:41]
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world live on the ground in Ukraine. I'm Michael Holmes.
New images show Russia's increase of troops at the Ukrainian border. U.S. President Joe Biden says it is the beginning of a Russian invasion.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: And live from CNN world headquarters here in Atlanta. I'm John Vause, Japan and Australia among the latest to impose sanctions on Russia. But will they be enough to deter Vladimir Putin?
HOLMES: Welcome everyone, the U.S. and its allies moving to punish Russia with sanctions as Moscow escalates its military threats to Ukraine. Australia are among the latest to announce a new sanctions aimed at deterring Russia from further invasion.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCOTT MORRISON, AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER: Australians always stand up to bullies and we will be standing up to Russia. Along with all of our partners. The Australian Government will immediately begin placing sanctions on Russian individuals in response to the aggression by Russia against Ukraine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Now Russia has hit back calling some of the West sanctions illegal and saying that the impacts will be felt well beyond Russia's borders. Meanwhile, new satellite images showing more Russian troops and military equipment deployed to the Ukrainian border. So far, CNN cannot confirm that any troops have actually crossed into Ukraine but EU and NATO officials say Russian forces have already arrived.
Ukraine's president says Moscow is laying the foundation for further aggression in eastern Ukraine, near areas controlled by Russian backed separatists. But Ukraine's Foreign Minister says Kyiv is ready for whatever path Russia chooses. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DMYTRO KULEBA, UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: We have two plans. Plan A is to utilize every tool of diplomacy to deter Russia and prevent further escalation. And if that fails, Plan B is to fight for every inch of our land in every city and every village.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Bad diplomacy was dealt another blow on Tuesday as the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called off a meeting with his Russian counterpart.
At the White House President Joe Biden describing Russia's moves as quote the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, a sharp escalation in how American officials are framing the standoff. Mr. Biden also sharing some harsh words for the Russian President Vladimir Putin.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, U.S. PRESIDENT: Who in the Lord's named as Putin think gives him the right to declare new so called countries on territory that belonged to his neighbors. This is a flagrant violation of international law and demands a firm response from the international community.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Let's bring in CNN White House reporter Jasmine Wright. She joins me now live from Washington. Tell us more about the sanctions levied and also what might be still in the quiver.
JASMINE WRIGHT, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, Michael, this is the President's first steps, loving these sanctions sand trying both to punish Russia for their aggressive actions, but also trying to deter them from committing any more aggressive actions in Ukraine.
And so the President and giving that speech we just saw from him a few seconds ago. He said this would be the first tranche of sanctions and that he outlined them as sanctions on two large state owned Russian financial institutions with two large -- comprehensive sanctions on Russian sovereign debt and sanctions on five Russian elites and their family members.
The point he says is to cut off Russian government from Western financing as you can see, on the screen here. We have the banks listed two separate banks as well as those five rationally families and sovereign debt that I just spoke of.
And now four months, U.S. officials have been warning of these really dire consequences that Russia would face should it do what they are now saying that they are doing which is the beginning of an invasion.
[01:05:09]
They said they would be high impact. So that's what some of these sanctions are.
Now, I want to be clear, Michael, that the President also said that they have more sanctions, potentially to put on Russia, should they continue any aggressive actions, really trying to hold on to their most harsh sanctions to deter Russia from any more steps.
Now, the President, heard him just a moment ago, really condemning Putin for his efforts in Ukraine, of course for declaring independence in those two pro-Kremlin backed territories, saying that they can basically acquire more territory that is now under command of the Ukrainian government.
But he still the president did, he still said that he is hoping for a diplomatic solution is trying to find one, though it remains hard to be seen what that diplomacy actually looks like, especially as Secretary of State Anthony Blinken canceled his meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, that was supposed to happen just in a day on Thursday, because that was a meeting conditioned on the fact that Russia should not invade Ukraine. And of course, we hear that new language from US officials saying that this is the beginning of a Russian invasion into Ukraine, Michael?
HOLMES: All right, Jasmine, thanks so much. Jasmine Wright there in DC for us. Now, Russia seems determined, of course to keep the world in suspense on the timing of its military deployments to eastern Ukraine. And yet some leaders say Russian troops are already there, but more are certainly expected. And President Vladimir Putin is refusing to set a date on when they across the border.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Firstly, I didn't say that the troops would go there right after our meeting here. That's the first thing. Secondly, it's impossible to predict any specific outline of possible actions in any way. Everything depends on the specific situation that is developing on the spot on the ground.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: CNN Russian affairs contributor Jill Dougherty picks up the story from Moscow.
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JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN CONTRIBUTOR (on camera): There's a sense of inevitability here in Moscow of a plan unfolding. First, there was President Putin, recognizing those two breakaway regions in Donbas, then a series of televised votes in the parliament, giving President Putin the green light to deploy Russian troops outside of the borders of Russia in connection with the events in Donbas, then President Putin at a news conference, telling Ukraine it should simply give up any ambition to join NATO.
With the United States and Europe leveling more and more serious sanctions against Russia, a former Russian President fires back saying welcome to the brave new world where Europeans will have to pay more for gas.
So did the United States underestimate Vladimir Putin? The U.S. Secretary of State was asked that very question. And he said no, that the U.S. has laid out he said Putin's entire playbook, the playbook that he is now following. Jill Dougherty, Moscow.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
HOLMES: Robert, English, Director and Professor of Central European Studies at the University of Southern California joins me now from Los Angeles. And it's good to see you again, sir. I guess it's still not entirely clear if Mr. Putin is accepting that why the Donbas oblasts or provinces as independent states. More territory, though, than the separatists now hold a potentially then it would be a fight for that land. How do you see that unfolding?
ROBERT ENGLISH, DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL EUROPEAN STUDIES, USC: I see that as a threat that Putin hasn't acted on to make the West nervous that he will bolster the separatist regions where they already have Russian back control where they've already had some officers and troops and certainly providing financial support, but that any incursion beyond that will remain a threat to keep the Ukrainians nervous. Of course, that would involve a major confrontation, major fighting and loss of life.
So far, we're calling it an invasion. But it's really simply an escalation, right of support for a separatist territory that had already broken away. So Putin has raised once again, the tension, and he will endure the sanctions is my guess. He will bolster the elites that are being targeted these oligarchs, and frankly, the rest of the sanctions aren't going to hurt that much.
And so it's a waiting game. Will the economic impact the high oil prices the nervousness hurt the West and Ukrainians more than it'll hurt the Russians tension but no major invasion, but no major invasion.
[01:10:12]
HOLMES: Great point. I'm curious whether you see the Crimea model coming into play in the Donbas a referendum, everyone voting to become part of Russia? Or do you think he's going to be content to sit there with them as quote unquote, independent states?
ENGLISH: I think for the time being, he'll be content to sit there to strengthen them, and even to create a kind of buffer zone, right? Putin can claim that since Ukraine will not renounce its ambition to join NATO, and NATO, officially still has Ukraine in line to join. Putin can now say, well, in that case, I will build up eastern Ukraine, right, as a bulwark for Russia, where our people, where our brothers support us and create that security zone that you won't give me by lowering tensions and backing off with NATO.
I think we'll see therefore, troops, military equipment gradually increasing in the region, but not launching an all-out attack, again, that would bring the most ruinous sanctions, which so far, we haven't seen, we've seen relatively mild ones.
HOLMES: Right. It does seem that the standard strategy, as you say is to stay stagger these sanctions keep the toughest ones in reserve as a deterrent. The Ukrainian would like to see more. Do you agree with that strategy? As I say, the Ukrainian President says he would like a massive response and now.
ENGLISH: He would like it. I'm sure President Biden would like it. But everyone can see Putin chief among them, that they don't have full alliance unity on that point, it's one thing to suspend the Nord Stream pipeline, no one's tearing it up. It can be resumed at a moment's notice.
And if you really want to hurt Russia, don't stop a pipeline, that's only a future source of income. Stop buying all that Russian gas coming from multiple other pipelines now. Right. Europe is not enduring any financial pain. These are small sanctions. And Putin may be confident that NATO isn't ready. And maybe we'll never be ready if he holds back to impose more significant sanctions that will hurt them to.
HOLMES: It's a great point about Nord Stream 2, I mean, the pipelines laid there's no gas flowing, nobody's hurting at the moment. I want to go back to Putin speech, recognizing those provinces as independent, the tone, that the anger almost, but also the comments, chilling in some ways. I mean, he referred to Ukraine as a, quote, an integral part of our own history, culture, spiritual space. Modern Ukraine, he said, was entirely created by Russia, which most historians disagree with.
That doesn't suggest, though, that he's going to be happy with this, the Donbas, does it? Or do you think it was just theater for the home audience?
ENGLISH: I think that's a good point. It is in large measure theatre for the home audience. But it's also just enough, just enough unhinged and passionate, extreme Russian nationalism to frighten the West. When I think actually, he's coolly calculating that this will, again, keep us in suspense. Keep us worried about a real attack, when in fact, he doesn't want to do that and doesn't intend to do it. Because as I've said before, if Russia tries to swallow all of Ukraine, it will choke to death, but to give the impression of being unhinged and ready to go serves his brinksmanship purposes very well.
HOLMES: Yes, that that is such a good line. If he wants to swallow all of Ukraine, he will choke to death. I really appreciate it. Robert English, great to have you on have your expertise again. I will get you back.
ENGLISH: You're welcome.
HOLMES: Thanks, Professor.
ENGLISH: You're welcome.
HOLMES: All right, CNN's Fred Pleitgen is in southern Russia monitoring the country's military movements near the border of Ukraine's Donbas region. He's also meeting some Donbas evacuees in Russia, who say they're grateful President Vladimir Putin is intervening in Ukraine. Here's more from Fred in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don.
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FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): Russian forces the Rostov advancing towards Ukraine's border, moving columns of artillery pieces and tanks towards the separatists controlled areas called the Donbas, recently recognized by Vladimir Putin.
The Russian leader coy when asked if his forces had already crossed the border, and just how far they might advance. Firstly, I didn't say that the troops would go there right after our meeting with you here, that's the first thing he says.
[01:15:07]
Secondly, it's impossible to predict any specific outline of possible actions at all. It depends on the specific situation that is developing on the spot.
We traveled to the Russian region bordering Donbas and saw soldiers all around including long columns of troop carriers and heavy armor standing ready.
(on camera): The area close to the border with Ukraine on the Russian side is teeming with military equipment. We've seen armor. We've also seen self-propelled artillery as well. The U.S. says it believes that this could be a sign that a larger offensive could be looming, even as Moscow says it has no such plans.
(voice-over): Russia has green lighted troop deployments to the separatist areas, a clear breach of international law. NATO says.
JENS STOLTENBERG, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL: Moscow has now moved from covered attempts to deep stabilize Ukraine to overturn military action. This is a serious escalation by Russia.
PLEITGEN: Russian authorities say tens of thousands of Donbas residents have been evacuated to this area in Russia. Some we talked to praised Vladimir Putin for intervening in Ukraine. We are very grateful that this happened. If he helps us now we will live normally and free, this woman says. And she says of course we are happy. The entire camp didn't sleep all night. We watched it live, everyone was happy. And we even had a celebratory Tea Party in one of the camp buildings.
But the enthusiasm could be short lived as the US says Putin's moves to infringe on Ukrainian territory could be the prelude to a bloody devastating war. Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Rostov-on-Don, Russia.
HOLMES: Now we have heard a lot of course from world leaders about the crisis in Ukraine. But what are the people in Ukraine and Russia have to say? Well, CNN has just released the results of an exclusive poll carried out in both countries. This was from February 7 through to the 15th.
Now first, the poll asked Russians and Ukrainians if it would be right or wrong for Russia to use military force to accomplish various goals to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO.
NOw, 50 percent of Russians polled said it would be right to use military force, 25 percent said it would be wrong. Meanwhile, 70 percent of Ukrainians perhaps not surprisingly said it would be wrong. Just 13 percent said right. Well, how about using force to reunite Russia and Ukraine. A plurality in both countries says it would be wrong, 73 percent of Ukrainians think so compared to 43 percent of Russians. But more than a third of Russians we note said it would be right to do so.
Now both Russians and Ukrainians think their countries should be separate nations just one in 10 Ukrainians say the two countries should be one country but a third of Russians say so. Nearly two- thirds of Russians believe that Russians and Ukrainians are one people, while two-thirds of Ukrainians believe the opposite, that they are not one people.
And you can see much more of that exclusive polling@cnn.com. I will have more from Ukraine later this hour. For now, let's go back to John Vause in Atlanta with a look at the day's other news, John.
VAUSE: Michael, thank you. We'll take a short break. We'll stay with the story in Ukraine. When we come back, a closer look at the sanctions the West is now imposing on Russia, and will they be enough to deter Vladimir Putin?
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VAUSE: Well, German chancellor has announced a hold on Nord Stream 2 and that strong not only praise from Ukraine, Washington and NATO, but also a sigh of relief. For weeks, the German Chancellor (INAUDIBLE), when it came to using the pipeline as leverage against Russia. Still, this announcement does not mean the project will be scrapped. CNN's Nina dos Santos has details.
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NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN EUROPE EDITOR (voice-over): Nord Stream 2 is vast, stretching about 750 miles under the Baltic Sea, it's the longest underwater gas pipeline in the world. Together with Nord Stream 1, the route promises to bring 110 billion cubic meters of gas a year from Russia to its biggest customer, Europe via Germany.
A vital supply line for one side and a vital source of income for the other. It could be worth $15 billion a year. But the state owned Russian energy giant Gazprom but Nord Stream 2 also came with a hefty geopolitical cost by bypassing existing gas routes through Ukraine. It heightens Russian leverage in the region. OLAF SCHOLZ, GERMAN CHANCELLOR (through translator): No certification of the pipeline can now take place. And without the certification Nord Stream 2 cannot go into operation.
DOS SANTOS: Following Vladimir Putin's order to send troops into separatist held parts of eastern Ukraine. The German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that the risk of Nord Stream 2 is too great, much to the relief of several EU members, the United States and other countries who have opposed the pipeline since its inception in 2015.
URSULA VON DER LEYEN, EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT: North Stream two has to be assessed in light of the security of energy supply for the whole European Union. Because this crisis shows that Europe is still too dependent on Russian gas.
DOS SANTOS: Halting the project is one of the toughest moves that Germany could make. But the decision to block it came at the 11th hour. Ukraine's former acting energy minister and CEO of its state owned Naftogaz Company told CNN that the move will limit Russia's ability to abuse the European gas market.
YURUY VITRENKO, CEO, NAFTOGAZ: There is no direct connection between North Stream 2 and gas supplies at the moment to Europe because Nord Stream 2 is not operating.
DOS SANTOS: Russia seems to be saying that Europe needs to get ready to endure very high gas prices. Now as a result, do you think that that will be the case?
VITRENKO: I don't think that Gazprom and Russia in general at this point, can decrease flows of gas to Europe. So that's a bluff and somebody call -- needs to call this bluff. And that's exactly what Germany is doing at the moment.
DOS SANTOS: D (ph) relies on Russia for over 40 percent of its gas imports. As such, it's a tough habit to kick. Scholz's predecessor Angela Merkel championed the project, arguing that it was a necessary step away from other forms of energy like coal, especially after she turned her back on nuclear power a decade ago.
Putin on Tuesday pledged not to interrupt Russia's gas exports, not to turn the taps as the EU turns up the diplomatic heat. Nina dos Santos, CNN, London.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
VAUSE: Josh Rogin is a CNN political analyst and columnist for the Washington Post. He joins us this hour from Washington. Josh, welcome back.
JOSH ROGIN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Great to be with you.
VAUSE: OK, so let's start with Nord Stream 2 the fully constructed but yet to receive regulatory approval gas pipeline from Russia to Germany. Does it matter that the German Chancellor announced the project was essentially put on hold and not scrapped altogether? ROGIN: Well, it depends on who you talk to. I spoke with several Biden administration officials tonight to praise that move is a step in the right direction towards holding Putin accountable for his aggressions and also towards getting Germany on board with more punitive measures.
But in Congress and in other parts of Washington, there's a lot of skepticism because the move was only a suspension and not a cancellation and there are calls for the Biden administration to impose additional sanctions of Nord Stream 2.
But for right now, the administration is prioritizing unity amongst the U.S. and European allies over harsher measures and they feel like that's enough for now.
[01:25:02]
But you know, as Putin's aggressions get worse and worse, I think that incrementally punishing Nord Stream 2 will become, in and of itself an untenable position.
VAUSE: You and I talked last week about Germany wavering when it comes to using Nord Stream 2 as leverage against Russia. So is it surprising this move by the German chancellor, especially coming at a time when the cost of natural gas in Europe is about three times higher compared to a year ago, and Nord Stream 2 it came online, potentially could wrote those prices down?
ROGIN: Potentially, but you know, the fact is that the shortage of gas in Europe is not a result of lack of capacity. It's a result of Putin's coercive and punishing energy strategy. In other words, they could turn -- they could give Europe as much gas as it needs if they wanted to, but the Russians are holding it back in order to drive the prices up, and in order to screw with us all.
So, you know, Nord Stream 2 or no Nord Stream 2 the energy games that Putin is going to play are going to hurt Europe, and the sanctions will have blowback. So it's really not about Nord Stream 2. Nord Stream 2 is a symbol. It's a symbol of, first of all, Germany's willingness to acquiesce to Russian pressure and to move closer to Russia. And its Look East policy.
Now, it's a symbol of the thing that we're doing now, which is to pull away from Russia. But either way, the actual pipeline itself doesn't really make a big difference in the situation one way or the other.
VAUSE: If Russia has been bracing for financial sanctions have massive consequences, it seems these new sanctions that have been announced by the U.S., the EU and others, a bit like we tea, he even knows how to, you know, symbolism.
ROGIN: Well, I totally agree. I mean, first of all, the three major oligarchies that were sanctioned today, by the by the administration. All -- They were all already sanctioned. Now we're sanctioning them and their sons, OK, well, that's incremental, at best, you know, and the bank sanctions will have some effect, but they leave a lot of pressure on the table. But I think what everybody is sort of realizing is that when you have a system like Russia, under Vladimir Putin, he's not going to feel the pain, right? Even if you sanction the banks, even if you punish the Russian people, even if you punish the oligarchs, Putin may not care about any of that at all. So we may be just telling ourselves a story about how this pressure is really going to change this calculus.
But if we look at all the Putin's actions, it seems like he's not deterred at all, it doesn't seem like he's feeling the pressure at all. So we do a lot of these sanctions to make ourselves feel good about responding to regressions. But their system is not like our system. It's not like here where you sanction a bunch of things, and the people get angry, but Putin's people get angry, he just crushes them, or ignores them.
VAUSE: Yes, so making a move, Putin waits, you will then assess what the response to that move has been, and then calibrate his next move accordingly. So, if you look at the sanctions so far, and look at everything that's been done, there seems little in all of this, which would deter him from pushing on with the full scale invasion.
ROGIN: Well, that's exactly right. Now, Putin always leaves himself with a few options, right. And he has an option that if he faced stiff resistance, would allow him to withdraw pretty quickly is an option. If he faces medium resistance, don't have him stay put. And he has an option if he faces little resistance to keep pressing forward and maybe, you know, push devastating slaughter and destruction on the people of Ukraine and in the city of Kyiv.
That's what the by the administration thinks is going to happen. I talked to a senior administration official, just an hour ago, and she said they think he's going to go for the full invasion now. That should be an indication that the pressure is not enough. That should be an indication that the deterrence is failing, as you just said, but it doesn't seem like the West can muster up any stronger response, at least not in a unified fashion, at least not at this time.
VAUSE: Well, I wonder when if ever. Josh, thank you. Josh Rogin, appreciate your time.
ROGIN: Anytime.
VAUSE: A new UN report has found Russia and China has played weapons in Myanmar's military since overthrowing the civilian government and seizing power a year ago. Here's part of that report from UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews, despite the evidence of the military country's atrocity crimes being committed with impunity since launching a coup last year, UN Security Council members Russia and China continue to provide the Myanmar military junta with numerous fighter jets, armored vehicles, and in the case of Russia, the promise of further arms.
Andrew says the weapons supplied had been used against civilians as appealing to nations to stop such weapons sales. He's also urging the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on the manner.
After the break, we'll return to Ukraine with my colleague there Michael Holmes. He's following reaction to the EU decision to impose economic sanctions on Russia.
Also later this hour, Madagascar typically sees one of the major storms a year but right now it's getting hit by a fourth name storm and just a few weeks. We're tracking the very latest, I'll speak with a group working to help those hit hard by these storms.
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[01:32:19]
HOLMES: Welcome back everyone.
I'm Michael Holmes coming to you live from Lviv in Ukraine.
While the world waits for Vladimir Putin's next move, the president of the European Commission says she welcomes the E.U.'s decision to impose a first round of economic sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine crisis.
Ursula Von Der Leyen also condemns Mr. Putin's formal recognition of the two separatist regions in Ukraine and the movement of Russian troops.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
URSULA VON DER LEYEN, EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT: This decision violates the territorial integrity and the sovereignty of Ukraine. Russia is not respecting its international obligations. And it is violating core principle of international law.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Now Russia also drawing heavy criticism at the U.N. Security Council. Many members and the Secretary General condemning Moscow for violating international law.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANTONIO GUTERRES, UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL: The decision of the Russian federation to recognize the so-called independence of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions is a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: All right. Ukraine's foreign minister says he thinks Vladimir Putin's ultimate goal is to destroy Ukraine. He was in Washington to meet with the Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and the Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
Now he says Mr. Putin won't be satisfied just taking over paths of Ukraine and that the Russian leader wants the idea of Ukrainian statehood to fail.
Here's part of his conversation with CNN's Jake Tapper.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DMYTROS KULEBA, UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: No sanctions will be enough until Russian boots withdraw from Ukrainian soil. This is fundamental principle that we have to keep putting pressure on Russia.
And we in Ukraine proceed from the fact that the sanctions announced today by President Biden is just the beginning of the process of deterring President Putin and making him withdraw.
That's why I said in the press conference that we like what we saw today, but it certainly won't be enough, and this strategy has to be continued.
JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: I mean you like what you saw today but do you think today's sanctions will deter Putin from doing anything? From entering Ukrainian controlled parts of the Donbas territory from staging any other invasion of Ukraine? Will it stop him from doing anything at all?
[01:34:56]
KULEBA: President Putin questioned the result and the ability of the west to impose sanctions on him. His view, according to how we understand it, was that the west is talking the talk, but is not walking the walk.
So, today's sanctions are important as a message that it's real, it's happening, and there will be more of them. And it's not only the United States who imposed sanctions on Russia today. It was also the European Union, the United Kingdom. That's why we're talking about a broad international coalition that is focused on deterring Putin.
I don't know what is on his mind and how he will act overnight. But, it's important that he saw the readiness to adopt decisions swiftly, and the decisions which inflict damage on him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Now the U.N. Secretary General, he says Russia's recognition of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions is the death blow to the Minsk Agreement, that deal between Russia and Ukraine had been the framework for peace in the East of the country.
Antonio Guterres also took issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin's use of the term "peacekeepers", to describe Russian troops in Ukraine.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GUTERRES: I'm also concerned about the perversion of the concept of peacekeeping. I'm proud of the achievements of U.N. peacekeeping operations in which so many blue helmets have sacrificed their lives to protect civilians.
When troops of one country enter the territory of another country without its consent, they are not impartial peacekeepers. They are not peacekeepers at all.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Ok, more now from CNN's Alex Marquardt.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: The Kremlin is calling them peacekeepers. But that isn't convincing anyone that the Russian troops being ordered into the breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine couldn't soon do more.
Putin today didn't say when the troops would be deployed. But the head of NATO said a further invasion is underway.
JENS STOLTENBERG, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL: Russia has been present in different covert operations in Donetsk and Luhansk for many, many years. What we see now is additional Russian forces and troops moving in. And this makes the whole situation even more serious.
MARQUARDT: The Kremlin's recognition of the territories adds up to what could be, with Crimea, essentially a land grab of 7 percent of Ukrainian territory.
If you think his campaign stops here, more than 150,000 Russian troops and a modern arsenal of weaponry still surround Ukraine on three sides. To the north in Belarus, the Russian presence is apparently open-ended.
There are fears also for Ukraine's southern coast on the Sea of Azov, thought to be a potential target for Putin to further connect illegally seize Crimea to Russia.
MIKE ROGERS, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY COMMENTATOR: They want to cut off more of the Azov Sea. Strategically that's important for Russia. As well as it is this romantic notion of Putin's that Ukraine is really a Russian state, and it should have been all along.
MARQUARDT: And in eastern Ukraine, that frontline the past eight years has now suddenly changed, posing new dangers, a meandering, unmarked, unrecognized frontier, the prospect of Ukraine troops a few hundred meters from Russian troops.
The rebel enclaves that Moscow recognized are just one-third of the provinces that they're in. But Putin today said they believe the so- called republics can claimed the rest of the land. An issue, he said, that will be worked out in talks between Kyiv and the Kremlin-backed separatists.
JULIA IOFFE, FOUNDING PARTNER, PUCK: Just last week they said they were withdrawing troops. Turns out they weren't. They said they wouldn't. Putin last week said he wouldn't recognize these breakaway republics because it would violate the Minsk Accords. He recognized the breakaway republics.
MARQUARDT: Some observers believe the Kremlin may even have much of Eastern Ukraine in its sights, coming all the way here to the Dnieper River which divides west and east Ukraine. It's one of the few natural barriers and what is a largely flat country.
Some officials and experts fear that Putin's next move could be fast and heavy. Others believe it will be incremental and gradual. Either way, designed to weaken the Kyiv government and expand Russia's reach.
Alex Marquardt, CNN, Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Now, sanctions might not make Moscow flinch, at least not yet, but what about members of the billionaire boys club who are cozy with the Kremlin? What Russia's oligarchs stand to lose in the standoff. We'll have that when we come back.
[01:39:46]
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JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: Parts of the U.K. cleaning up and drying out after Storm Franklin brought heavy rain and strong winds. The storm burst river banks flooding city centers and shops. At one time, more than 140 flood warnings were in effect across England and Wales.
Franklin come just days after Storm Eunice killed several people, caused widespread destruction across the U.K. and parts of western Europe.
The fourth named storm in as many weeks is slamming into Madagascar right now. Tropical cyclone Emnati made landfall a few hours ago at midnight local time around the small port city of Manakara.
With heavy rain and sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour, Emnati arrived as the equivalent of a category 1 hurricane. And it's tracking in the same direction as the last cyclone, which devastated the southeast of the small island nation just over two weeks ago.
Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri joins us now.
18 days since that last one hit, and they got hit with another one. This is unprecedented.
PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It really is, you know. This is years worth of tropical cyclone activity in just a matter of weeks. John, some of the estimates put upwards of 150 fatalities in these four storms across portions of Madagascar.
As you noted, this was a category one equivalent, one of the weaker of the four storms that we've seen. But of course, when you're coming in on the heels of one storm after another, we know the impacts are going to be far more significant than the category would indicate, and there it goes.
It's a pretty impressive depiction on satellite imagery. Makes landfall right around midnight, so of course, coming in in these overnight hours, makes it a little bit more dangerous when it comes to potential impacts on folks there across this landscape.
But when you look at the tropical cyclone climatology across this landscape and again, on average, once per year do we see a landfalling tropical system equivalent to a category one.
Now four times in four weeks, only one other time have we seen this frequency of activity happen. And of course, these storms beginning on January 22nd, a week later we had Batsirai, and then Dumako (ph) coming in just a week after that. And in the past 24 hours of course Emnati making landfall across portions of south eastern Madagascar.
But 1975, that's the only other time we've had more tropical systems in one year, that was five. We've got plenty of months ahead of us here, a couple more months for tropical activity to brew, so certainly the records could be rewritten when it comes to 2022.
And what is left of the storm system as it moves across the landscape of southern Madagascar right now. It's going to be another round of heavy rains, potentially another round of maybe 200 plus millimeters before it's all said and done. But this system moves across this region.
This region has been very, very dry over the past ten or so years. In fact, when you take a look at the drought monitor across this landscape, they are in a severe drought going back to about 2010.
So this rainfall, some of it is beneficial, but unfortunately, so much of it has come down in such a short time period. And we know a lot of this goes to be runoff and also flooding, so of course, the destruction is going to be widespread as a result of this, John.
[01:44:42]
VAUSE: Yes, Pedram, thank you. Pedram Javaheri there with all the details on the storm.
Let's turn now to Madagascar.
Anjan Andriamorasata is with Humanity and Inclusion. He joins us now, live.
Anjan, thank you for being with us. Can you tell us, how closely did Emnati follow the path of the last storm? And what do you know about the extent of the damage to a region which was already so badly devastated?
ANJAN ANDRIAMORASATA, HUMANITY AND INCLUSION: Yes. Hello everybody.
As you know, the cyclone hit the country last night so it is still very early.
Ok. Hello, everybody. As you know, the cyclone hit the country last night and so it is still very early to make an assessment of its impact. But before the cyclone hit the Humanity and Inclusion team have already carried interventions in the affected areas including Manakara and (INAUDIBLE) all cities located in the east coast of the island.
The operation has already made including home visits and distributions of rehabilitation and equipment for houses. As those areas were also hit by the last cyclone Batsirai some people were (INAUDIBLE) benefit from donation of cash (INAUDIBLE) for emergency needs.
VAUSE: Sorry -- just explain if you could, the extent of the damage which Madagascar has sustained from these three storms and now this new cyclone?
Because it's been coming one after the other after the other, in such quick succession. It seems there's no chance to catch their breath to rebuild, to recover.
ANDRIAMORASATA: Yes. You know, that's a saddest thing about this cyclone is that it almost followed the same trajectory of the previous one and the other one. So, just out of Batsirai, the previous victims once again hit by Emnati. People are tired and depressed (INAUDIBLE) the effort of reconstruction after Batsirai, are (INAUDIBLE) by the arrival of Emnati.
And everything must be rebuilt. The population has lost everything. They're leaving their (INAUDIBLE) and their house. The most affected are certainly the vulnerable people, people with disabilities, children, women and babies and elderly.
Recently, we had heard of a person with reduced mobility, living alone and having to a ladies (ph) house to reach shelter with the rising level of water, food and (INAUDIBLE). He told us that this cyclone was more intense than the last one.
VAUSE: Right now, one of the big concerns though from this cyclone even though it is losing strength as it travels over land is the amount of rain it could dump on the region.
What are your expectations in terms of the problems that that will cause and what preparations have you made ahead of that?
ANDRIAMORASATA: Humanity and Inclusions team once the roads are (INAUDIBLE) will begin rapid emergency control (ph) assessment and provide our assistant on urgent needs, including household kits, stuff, hygiene care, wash care and COVID kits. The distribution of (INAUDIBLE) will also be in these areas.
On the other hand, we are in the process of having an Atlas logistic evaluator come to our headquarters. He should arrive tomorrow. His objective is to make an evaluation and evaluate after construction of the road after Batsirai and Emnati, plus evaluation for the rehabilitation of four (INAUDIBLE).
VAUSE: On average, Madagascar has seen about one tropical cyclone on average, every two years. So, if we are now looking at what could be the new normal, something close to four major storms in four weeks, how does that go to rebuilding, to restarting lives, to the future of the people on that island? ANDRIAMORASATA: Yes. It will be very difficult because, you know,
people are already tired, vulnerable and without means. For sure, it will take time to ensure that rehabilitation -- many NGOs and the states are already have politics with the National Bureau of Catastrophe Management.
But we have to start at the beginning, everything will have to be rebuilt. So it's a great challenge for us. And yes, yes.
VAUSE: One thing, which you need most?
ANDRIAMORASATA: -- as much as possible.
[01:49:50]
VAUSE: Right. So just very quickly, is there one thing which is needed most of all right now that you don't have, that you need? That this island nation needs from the rest of the world?
ANDRIAMORASATA: Sorry?
VAUSE: Is there one thing -- is there one resource. Do you need food? Do you need cash? Do you need electricity generators? What are you lacking most of that you really need right now that you do not have?
ANDRIAMORASATA: Yes. The most that we need right now is food and shelter, you know it's very -- the first necessary in their areas. Yes, food and -- basic needs, too.
I would like to tell you that, due to cyclone, we have a bad connection, so sorry if sometimes you can't hear or I make time to answer you.
VAUSE: Anjan you've done a great job, you are in a middle of a cyclone going there in Madagascar. We certainly appreciate you taking the time to be with us. We know it is difficult there. You're working under difficult conditions.
Thank you so much and best of luck for all you do there. Thank you.
ANDRIAMORASATA: Thank you CNN from the rest (ph) Humanity and Inclusion for this interview.
VAUSE: You are very welcome. Thank you sir.
That does it for me here in Atlanta. I will hand you over to Michael Holmes for more on our top story. And I will see you back here tomorrow. Michael.
HOLMES: An important interview there, John. Thanks for that.
All right. Well instead of math and biology, it is missiles and bulletproof vests. It's the new curriculum for some students in Ukraine as the threat of a Russian assault looms.
We will have more details on that after the break. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Welcome back.
Some of the Russian oligarchs who have become extremely cozy with the Kremlin are now facing sanctions from the west, some of them.
CNN's Tom Foreman has details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The west is hunting rich Russians -- their yachts, homes and hidden bank accounts. All the assets of Vladimir Putin's Billionaire Boys Club.
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We will also impose sanctions on Russia's elites and their family members. They share in the corrupt gains of the Kremlin policies and should share in the pain as well.
FOREMAN: Many Russian oligarchs, who often spend a lot of time outside Russia at their foreign properties have deep ties to Putin. Newly- named to the U.S. sanctions list Denis Bortnikov (ph), an official at a Russian bank and son of the director of the Federal Security Service, the modern KGB.
Peter Fredkov (ph), a banking official with strong ties to the Russia's Defense industry. Vladimir Kiriyenko (ph), son of Sergei Kiriyenko, the former prime minister who oversees defense policy, who has also been sanctions. And the list could grow.
ANTONY BLINKEN, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: Other Russian elites and their family members are on notice that additional actions could be taken against them.
FOREMAN: The Brits have named two.
BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: And we are sanctioning three very high net worth individuals -- Gennady Timchenko (ph), Boris Rotenberg (ph) and Igor Rotenberg (ph).
FOREMAN: Timchenko (ph) is one of the richest people in Russia with Forbes estimating his net worth at $24 billion. His business deals integrated the illegally seized Crimea into the Russian financial system. The Rotenberg have strong interests in gas and energy countries.
[01:54:50]
FOREMAN: And plenty of Russian banks and businesses are also on the list.
Edward Fishman was formerly with the U.S. State Department.
EDWARD FISHMAN, FORMER U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: These individuals have kind of a tacit agreement with the state. They support Putin politically and as a result they're allowed to benefit from kleptocratic practices.
FOREMAN: Some of Putin's pals were hit with sanctions when Crimea fell in 2014.
BARACK OBAMA, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The goal is to change his calculus.
FOREMAN: Analysts believe that did slow Russia's roll into Ukraine. And this time, many say the economic consequences for Putin should be steep. And for the oligarchs, their wives and mistresses and their assets that they shelter abroad.
FISHMAN: You are not going to turn a Russian billionaire into a pauper. What it will do though is create substantial frustration and annoyance in their lives.
FOREMAN: The sanctions could fry freeze assets for many of these superrich Russians. They could block new investments, stop them from traveling, maybe even keep their kids from attending western universities.
But will all of that rocking of the yacht be enough to make Putin change his direction? Smart Money says maybe.
Tom Foreman, CNN -- Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Now residents of eastern Ukraine, both those in government- held areas and those controlled by those pro Russian separatists -- well, obviously, they are preparing for what comes next.
Hundreds who live in the self-declared breakaway regions are evacuating to southern Russia after leaders in Donetsk and Luhansk ordered all women and children to leave to avoid possible conflict.
Despite the uncertainty and the fear of war, some residents are just happy their territories are being recognized as independent by Moscow.
Meanwhile in areas controlled by the Ukrainian government, students are getting familiar with bulletproof vests and explosives. Preparations for Russian assault also include evacuation drills and first aid training. Now, it doesn't seem to faze some of them, who say the skills are needed.
In Kosovo, the prime minister there says the people there stand in solidarity with Ukraine. This is a government building in Kosovo's capital city of Pristina. Their prime minister says it is lit up in the colors of the Ukrainian flag, blue and yellow to highlight Kosovo's support for Ukraine.
In a message on Twitter, the prime minister also adding quote, "No matter how dark the times or how hard the struggle, history favors the just."
Thanks for watching this hour of CNN NEWSROOM, spending part of your day with me, live from Lviv, Ukraine.
I'm Michael Holmes. I will be back at the top of the hour with much more on the tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
See you then.
[01:57:40]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
