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Biden Nominates Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court; U.S. Imposes Sanctions on Russian President Putin Himself; Interview with Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) about the Ukraine Crisis; NATO Response Force Activated for the First Time Ever. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired February 25, 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]

MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: There have also been questions where Joe Manchin, Kyrsten Sinema, the two swing votes, have been on this issue. For week they have been signaling they are open, if not supportive of the number of candidates on the short list. Manchin did not go that far today, saying he would just simply evaluate this nominee.

Then the question is going to be on the three Republican senators who did vote yes to get her on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. Those three senators, Lindsey Graham has criticized, as you mentioned, the selection of Ketanji Brown Jackson and not Michelle Childs, the district court judge. And instead, also Susan Collins offered some praise for the pick today. And Lisa Murkowski will be an interesting one to watch as well.

She is up for re-election. She is facing one opponent as a Trump- backed challenger. She did oppose Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. She's a moderate. She's aligned herself with Democrats on some issues but in a statement she issued today, she said her vote before for the lower court does not translate for a vote yes for the highest court in the land. She said there's a very high bar to clear and she plans to look at this nomination very closely.

So likely will get confirmed -- there could be some bumps along the way. Some Republicans may vote yes but not very many.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: OK, friends. Thank you very much. Great to get all of your impressions.

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: And stay with us. Sources tell CNN the U.S. is expected to impose sanctions on Vladimir Putin himself as soon as today.

CAMEROTA: Senator Chris Van Hollen who serves on the Foreign Relations Committee is going to join us next with what to expect.

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[15:36:11]

CAMEROTA: More breaking Ukraine news. Sources tell CNN that the U.S. will now impose sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin directly amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

BLACKWELL: CNN's Phil Mattingly is in Washington.

Phil, tell us what you know.

PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, according to multiple sources, the U.S., as soon as today likely -- rather soon, I'm told, will impose sanctions directly on President Vladimir Putin.

Now this is in escalation obviously we've seen over the course of the last several days. Two different rounds of sanctions targeting banks, targeting economic sectors. Really trying to attack the kind of economic wherewithal of the Russian economy and also targeting some of President Putin's inner circle, financiers, close to him as well, but they have not targeted Putin himself until now.

And guys, this will be an effort that is aligned with Western allies. The E.U. has already announced asset freezes tied to President Putin. The U.K. followed suit as well. The U.S. will. What it underscores more than anything else, I think it's worth noting, this will be largely symbolic. It's not expected to have a dramatic impact on President Putin's opaque finances that have long been very difficult to track.

But it underscores two things. One that the alliance is very much together and willing to escalate even if it's on a symbolic nature. But also that these sanctions themselves are a moving target. They will continue to escalate in the days and weeks ahead. What we've seen in the last three days is not it. There will be more to match up with what we've seen on the ground in Ukraine, guys.

BLACKWELL: Phil Mattingly in Washington, thank you.

CAMEROTA: Joining us now is Democratic senator from Maryland, Chris Van Hollen. He's a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Senator, thanks so much for taking the time. President Zelensky of Ukraine is beseeching the U.S. and the European leaders for more help. You know, he's already watching some of his military getting killed, civilians, he says, as well. And he says that the U.S. and Europe can do more. Here was his message today. "Europe has enough strength to stop this aggression. What to expect from European countries -- the abolition of visas for Russians, disconnection from SWIFT, complete isolation of Russia, the withdrawal of ambassadors, oil embargo, closing the airspace. All of this must be on the table today."

Can the U.S., can Europe do more today?

SEN. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN (D-MD): Well, Alisyn, the U.S. will be doing more today. As you said, I expect the White House to soon announce sanctions against Vladimir Putin directly, joining with our European allies. The sanctions the president has imposed today are very punishing on Putin and Russia's economy, and the good news is that we're doing them in concert with our allies. Not only European allies, but our Asian as well. This will have punch. But it's also important that we continue to

provide the Ukrainian military with supplies and the Ukrainian resistance with arms because ultimately, the challenge is going to be to make sure that --

BLACKWELL: Senator, we need to interrupt you. We'll be right back with you and go to the White House. They're discussing those sanctions right now.

JEN PSAKI, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I expect they'll have more specific details later this afternoon.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Thanks. And can you detail about the level of support the United States government has is currently provided operationally to the Ukrainian military as they try to fend off the Russian invasion? Is the U.S. continuing to send weaponry into Ukraine? Is it providing intelligence on Russian movements and actual communications and the like?

PSAKI: Well, without getting into too many specific details that sensitive for a range of reasons, we are continuing to deliver on the security assistance package that was announced earlier last fall. All that has not been delivered yesterday. We're continuing to provide that assistance. Obviously we remain in very close touch of course with President Zelensky.

[15:40:01]

I think you may have just seen the readout that we just put out that included the president spoke with him earlier today again, and we are in very close touch from our National Security Team with members of his team as well. And we continue to consider a range of options to provide additional assistance.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: President Zelensky last night said he was target number one of the Russian military. Does the United States sort of have a warning to Russia in the event that they were to target the Ukrainian president or attempt to capture him or to physically harm him?

PSAKI: Do we have a warning to them?

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Yes.

PSAKI: Well --

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Specifically regarding the head of state.

PSAKI: Well, let me first say that we have been warning for months that -- for weeks, if not months that Kyiv falling, that attempts to overturn the leadership of Ukraine as very much in the aspirations of President Putin. So his -- their attempts to do exactly that and their continued progress in moving toward Kyiv and moving toward Ukrainian leadership is aligned with what we have predicted.

Obviously, going after the head of state would be a significant, horrific act by Russian leadership but we remain in contact as you all have seen from the readout we provided with President Zelensky. He's made clear that he's still in Ukraine. Proudly and courageously standing up in the face of the Russian attack. And we are certainly continue to be concerned about the ongoing Russian assault on the country.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention right now announcing new federal mask guidelines that -- including 70 percent or so (INAUDIBLE) right now are no longer recommending to wear masks indoors and public settings. Is that guidance that will be followed here in the White House as Washington, D.C. is now an (INAUDIBLE) area? Recommended anymore for wearing masks.

PSAKI: Sure. Well, we're evaluating our --

BLACKWELL: All right. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki there answering some questions about support for Ukraine, also the sanctions. We still have with us Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland.

Senator, thanks for staying with us. I want to talk about what seems to be a significant disagreement within the party about the strategy that president should employ as it relates to sanctions. You have some in your party, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, who says that the sanctions should be focused on Vladimir Putin, that this is his war and not on the Russian people. We also have Congressman Eric Swallwel who says that the consider of kicking every Russian student out of the U.S. should be on the table. Where do you stand on the strategy that should be taken for sanctions?

VAN HOLLEN: Well, I think overall there's unity behind President Biden's position in the sanctions he's taken to date. I was glad to hear that they are going to impose sanctions on Vladimir Putin. I think that's an important additional step. But I do think it's important that we put pain on the Russian economy because we need to send a signal. Not just to Putin but the people of Russia that their leader have now attacked a sovereign country, a democracy with impunity, and I am heartened to see so many Russians taking to the streets in different cities throughout the country to protest Vladimir Putin's actions.

And the more the people of Russia experience the consequences of his bad decisions, the worse it will be for Vladimir Putin. So we need to sustain that pressure and I think the president's strategy today has been delighting.

CAMEROTA: It appears now that Vladimir Putin does want to make it to Kyiv and does want to install a puppet government of some kind. So far President Zelensky of Ukraine is showing bravery. He was outside with his cabinet. They were shooting a video talking about how strong they are. They are not going anywhere. You know, they were projecting an image of strength but how concerned are you for his safety and life, frankly?

VAN HOLLEN: Well, I am concerned for his safety and life. But I also want to salute his patriotic spirit. I was recently at the Munich conference but also met with the mayor of Kyiv, a former pastor, former soldier, who's in fighting spirit. That's what Putin doesn't seem to understand. That 40 million people of Ukraine are a proud people. And they're not going to tolerate a Putin-Russian occupation.

So yes, Putin can make advances to the Kyiv but in order to meet his goal, he has to hold that. He has to hold it forever. And the reality is that we will support Ukrainian resistance. And at the end of the day the Ukrainians are going to expel Putin and his (INAUDIBLE).

[15:45:03]

I have great confidence that it's the ultimate (INAUDIBLE) of this. How long that will take remains to be seen but we stand with the people of Ukraine.

BLACKWELL: Senator, on the domestic implications of these sanctions, the president has prepared the American people for an increase cost likely in gas at the gas pump. You have signed this letter that calls for the president to release more of the oil from the emergency reserves. The last time the president did that, it was a short, moderate impact, essentially a sugar high that lasted for a month or so. Is that really the best strategy? Will that last?

VAN HOLLEN: Well, that's not a long-term strategy. I agree with that. But at this point in time, we're going to see a spike in energy prices partly because of what's happening in Ukraine right now and so I do believe that we should use tools to address that fight. But (INAUDIBLE) and that is one of them. Some of our oil strategic petroleum reserve. So look, there are other longer term things that we can be doing but the president, I think, you know, recognizes and I think the American people agree that we're going to have to, you know, experience some short-term pain in order to send the signal that Vladimir Putin cannot invade a country with impunity.

He cannot over throw a democracy without any consequences. And so while the sanctions will really hit the Russian economy hard, yes, there's going to be some impact on us and our European allies. Our European allies will feel the economic, you know, little bit of the splash back even more than we will. But they like we believe that we've got to be united in sending a strong signal that this kind of aggression, unprovoked aggression has no place in Europe and no place in the world.

BLACKWELL: Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Thank you.

VAN HOLLEN: Thank you.

CAMEROTA: We have that breaking news. The U.S. will impose sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov. We have more details, next.

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[15:52:03]

BLACKWELL: Ukrainian officials say a convoy full of ammunition from Poland has just arrived. Now this is the first publicly known shipment of military aid since the Russian invasion began.

CAMEROTA: And for the first time ever, NATO's response force has been activated. President Biden joined a NATO summit today for leaders to create a plan of action.

Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman is the former European Affairs director for the National Security Council. He's also the author of "Here Right Matters: An American Story."

Colonel Vindman, thanks so much for being here. The idea that the NATO response force has been activated for the first time ever, what does that mean?

LT. COL. ALEXANDER VINDMAN (RET), FORMER EUROPEAN AFFAIRS DIRECTOR, NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL: Well, frankly, the question is if not now, then when? It was designed to be a rapid reduction force in response to a crisis situation, in response to what we call a contingency. And that's exactly what we have unfolding. We have a major buildup of Russian forces on the boundary of NATO and now there is a war that is going to have some consequences, both militarily and amongst the civilian population, with regards refugee flows.

And it would be irresponsible, it would be negligent to not activate the NATO response force to provide additional security for, again, the humanitarian issues but as well as warning off Russia, even casting an eye on the direction of NATO or challenging NATO Article 5.

BLACKWELL: We mentioned the weapons that are coming in from Poland. But you wrote a piece for the "Atlantic" recently about what more America could have done. There was a member of the Ukrainian parliament on CNN today asking for air cover. You point out that the U.S. did not supply the Patriot anti-aircraft missiles. We know about an amphibious assault potentially. The Harpoon anti-ship weaponry either. What more should the U.S. in your perspective do now that it hasn't done?

VINDMAN: All that and more. Frankly, there is an historical precedent for this. During World War II, even before the U.S. was involved, when the Soviets and the Brits were facing off against the Nazis, we provided all sorts of equipment to (INAUDIBLE). We provided -- really enabled Britain to stay in the war and the Soviet Union to survive. We should be doing the same thing now for the Ukrainian people, for the Ukrainian armed forces. Pushing as many supplies as they need. Whatever they want in terms of a wish list give them, so they can continue to fight, continue to defend themselves.

Frankly, to continue to defend NATO and European interests just outside of NATO because the next step is really right up against NATO's shores. That's where Russia would push up to. But we also need to think beyond that. We need to think the economic Marshall plans. Another historical -- precedence, rather. We give the Ukrainian people what they need to rebuild because there will be a time to rebuild. We should start talking about that now.

[15:55:02] The tens of billions of dollars that need to be poured into Ukraine to make sure Ukraine survives and that Russia's aspirations of achieving a failed state in Ukraine don't materialize. We deny that to Russia. That's what we should be thinking about, that what we should be talking about now. And what I am afraid of is I see a defeatist attitude that this is a foregone conclusion, the Russians are going to win. That there's not that much we can do.

I don't think that's true. I was quite pessimistic in the days before this started but the Ukrainians have been putting up a significant fight and this not going away. This is not going to be a withdrawal scenario. The Russians are going to have to stay because the Ukrainians will not be pacified. So this is going to be playing out over a long period of time unless there is a diplomatic solution.

CAMEROTA: Colonel, I want to hear more about that because you have a personal connection to all of this. I mean, you lived and worked, you had assignments in Kyiv. You know that city well. And so what are your thoughts as you've watched these past 72 hours unfold there?

VINDMAN: I mean, I get the chills right now just thinking about it. My family roots are from that part of the world. I left when I was 3 1/2 years old. I had the privilege of going back there as an army officer for some language immersion and then for a year working out of an embassy. I had a chance to travel and experience Ukraine extensively. It is a wonderful, warm people. I've had the fortune to come back to Ukraine as part of official delegations.

As part of the president's delegation to Zelensky's inauguration, when I first met him, President Zelensky. And he's a matured, pretty amazing individual. Resilient and mature. But I also take the opportunity every time I'm back there to visit my mother's grave. She passed away before we managed to leave when I was a toddler and my grandmother's grave. And this is where the fighting is occurring now on the outskirts of the city. And it's just -- it's really difficult to see, it's difficult to watch, and it's difficult to understand how we got to this point.

But that's why I wrote that piece in the Atlantic because we had some wishful thinking about our policy towards Russia. This is the opportunity to really start with a blank slate, understand what our challenges are, and move forward. Make sure that our national security doesn't get further undermined here in the U.S.

CAMEROTA: Yes, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander, we really appreciate getting your perspective, personal and professional on all of this. Thanks so much for being here.

BLACKWELL: Now, of course, the reporting that we heard from U.S. intel is that the Ukrainians are putting up a fight. We had the reporting that we've heard from our people there that they are taking up arms. There are people going to recruitment centers to get weapons. They can protect themselves. They're being told to make Molotov cocktails to protect their city.

CAMEROTA: But the truth is they're also outmanned and outgunned. BLACKWELL: True.

CAMEROTA: And our correspondents have been seeing horrible things already on the ground. So we're monitoring the situation on the ground in Ukraine, and our coverage continues on "THE LEAD" with Jake Tapper right after this quick break.

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