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Battle For Kyiv Underway As Russian Troops Close In On Capital; Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Says Fate Of Country Being Decided Right Now; U.S. President Joe Biden Orders Release Up To $350 Million To Support Ukraine; Ordinary Ukrainians Forced To Flee; Active Fighting Now In Streets Of Kyiv. Aired 2-3a ET
Aired February 26, 2022 - 02:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): This is CNN breaking news.
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. I am Michael Holmes, coming to you from Lviv, in western Ukraine, with our breaking news on the battle for control of Kyiv.
The Ukrainian interior ministry warning citizens at this hour to take cover from, quote, "active fighting."
An adviser to the Ukrainian president says Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups, as he put it, are inside the capital. Now this after a night full of explosions and bursts of gunfire.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE).
HOLMES (voice-over): Ukraine's military says those blasts were part of an operation that destroyed Russian tanks.
Meanwhile, a mayor of a town just south of Kyiv says it has been, quote, "completely occupied" with fighting. Clashes were said to be going on in eastern suburbs of Kyiv earlier. But now, a presidential adviser claims the areas in question surrounding Kyiv are, quote, "under control."
Ukraine's president shared a new video message from the streets of Kyiv. Have a listen.
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VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Good morning, Ukrainians. Currently, there are a lot of games appearing on the internet, like I am asking our army to put down arms and evacuate.
So I am here. We are not putting down arms. We will be defending our country because our weapon is truth. And our truth is that this is our land, our country, our children. And we will defend all of this. That is it. That is all I wanted to tell you. Glory to Ukraine.
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HOLMES: Now here in the historic city of Lviv, we have been hearing this.
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HOLMES (voice-over): It's become a familiar sound here, Air raid sirens going off and announcements warning people to take cover and go to shelters.
The Russian invasion is in its third day; it began Thursday, of course, with Russian forces attacking from three sides, by land, sea and air. Ukraine's defense ministry says 18,000 guns with ammunition have now been distributed to reservists in the Kyiv region.
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HOLMES (voice-over): This was the scene at a Kyiv railway station Friday, civilians desperately seeking to get out, to evacuate, escape the fighting. Ukrainian troops received a loud round of applause as they walked by.
And new satellite pictures, showing the Ukrainian border with Romania, traffic backed up for miles, as many tried to leave. The United Nations says more than 50,000 Ukrainian refugees have already fled the country. And many of them now seeking refuge in Poland and Moldova.
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HOLMES: CNN's Alex Marquardt is in Kyiv. I spoke with him a short time ago.
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ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: It really is, Michael. A flurry of developments and activity in the past few moments. Just before we came on the air, we heard those air raid sirens that you also heard in Lviv.
But right here, as the sun's coming up in Kyiv as well, now we have heard those throughout the evening but it had been quite some time. Those air raid sirens ending just moments ago.
And again moments ago, we also heard some gunfire, loud gunfire, coming from that direction. That is the east where, as you also mentioned, we have heard about fighting in the suburbs of Kyiv.
We have a very solid sense now that this fighting is really encircling the city, that the Russian troops are proceeding in their goal to make their way all the way around this city.
But Michael, possibly the most significant fighting that we saw overnight was in the western part of the city, within the city limits. For the first time, we heard explosions within the city limits, just about five kilometers or just over three miles away.
We believe that is near a military installation and the Ukrainian military is saying that they were able to take out two cars, two trucks laden with ammunition, as well as a tank with an anti-tank missile. So that is what we believe those explosions to have been.
So we have that fighting in the west as well as the east. Now we have also been told that there is significant fighting in a town about 20 miles or 30 kilometers south of here as well.
So when you add all those three orientations to the fact that we know the Russians have been coming in from the north --
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MARQUARDT: -- although that front has been relatively quiet all night, for much of the night, the encirclement of Kyiv is very much happening, Michael.
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HOLMES: Alex Marquardt there.
Now CNN White House reporter Jasmine Wright joins me from Washington.
Good to see you, again, Jasmine.
So what does the White House know as it's monitoring all of this happening?
What are you hearing?
JASMINE WRIGHT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Michael, the president is spending his weekend at his home in Delaware. But a White House official tells me he is being regularly updated and staying in close communications with his national security team while away from D.C.
But no doubt, White House officials are watching what is happening on the ground in Ukraine, these developments, with great concern. We know that over the past few weeks, warnings from them have intensified as to what they could predict could happen in Ukraine, based on updating intelligence.
And so far, a lot of things right now have come into focus in terms of their predictions. And so, of course, officials are concerned about Ukraine as a country, for the people and also the nation's stability in terms of their government.
But there also is great concern for President Zelensky from White House officials today. And we know that President Zelensky and President Biden spoke today on a phone call. White House officials said it lasted about 40 minutes. And in a readout they released afterwards, they said that President Biden commended the Ukrainian people for really defending their country but also that he spoke with Zelensky about support and about defense assistance.
And just about an hour or so ago, we got a memo from the White House, saying Biden instructed the State Department to release up to $350 million in assistance for Ukraine, their third such payment, totaling to a little over $1 billion, really trying to show that support for Ukraine, for its sovereignty as it goes through these high tensions times.
Going forward, we know that he will have a rare Saturday morning call with his national security team and the vice president, as he looks to get more updates on the situation, what happened overnight, of course, in Ukraine -- Michael.
HOLMES: All right. Jasmine, before I let you go. President Biden he is planning to take sanctions even further. Tell us what's going on in that regard.
WRIGHT: That's right. The White House announced that President Biden will impose sanctions on President Putin himself. This marks the highest-profile person that the White House has sanctioned, as it tries to punish Russia and deter Russia; although, it kind of seems that President Putin is not really buckling under that determent effort.
Still, no doubt, that this comes, the White House says, of after 24 hours of really unity, trying to negotiate things with allies. And this comes after, of course, we know that the E.U., U.K. and Canada put in place similar sanctions against President Putin and also against Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov.
So this comes as the president is trying to ratchet up pressure on Russia, knowing that it may not really squeeze them immediately. But it will instill permanent pressure on them for the long term and, of course, their finances. Michael.
HOLMES: All right. Jasmine, thanks. Jasmine Wright there in Washington for us.
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HOLMES: Now Vladimir Ashurkov is a leading figure in the opposition movement in Russia. He helped to found the anti-corruption foundation and was forced to leave the country because of politically motivated prosecution by Russian authorities.
Good to see you, sir. He joins me now from New York.
First of all, did you think it could come to this?
Russia, about to enter, militarily, a major European capital.
VLADIMIR ASHURKOV, RUSSIAN DISSIDENT: It really was unthinkable until three days ago. Sincerely, I thought that it was Putin's bluffing and when the full-scale invasion started, I was really shocked and most Russians were as well.
HOLMES: Now we know, of course, that Putin controls most media in Russia.
I am curious, what are you hearing about what ordinary Russians are hearing about this invasion?
What are they being told?
ASHURKOV: Well, I -- I talked to people in Russia and I -- I see the reaction on social media. It really is disbelief. It's unthinkable happening. Our countries, our people, that used to be, you know, so together, that share common legacy.
And now, we see tanks, we see blood, we see Russian military attacking Ukraine. It's really hard to process that.
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HOLMES: We have seen the images of protesters in Russia arrested for opposing this war.
I am curious, what risks does Putin take, domestically, by doing this -- this operation?
He's had broad appeal, of course; not surprising, given the role of state media in messaging.
But what can he do to appeal as the invasion goes on?
ASHURKOV: Well, over the last few years, especially over the last year, it has become very difficult to participate in mass protests. People are arrested. People are beaten up. They are detained.
And despite all that, we see protests in major Russian cities. Over the last two days, over 2,000 people have been detained in different cities of Russia. And we see this consistent wave of people -- of dissenters coming to streets of Moscow, St. Petersburg, day after day.
So it is quite amazing that people are taking to the streets despite all the oppression.
HOLMES: But how can -- can that eat into his popularity?
What is keeping him in power?
What could hurt him at home?
ASHURKOV: Well, this war is very unpopular. You see it on social media. You see it from the fact that many people take to the streets. You know, it's -- has been just two days but I believe that popularity of Putin, of regime is really plummeting.
And that's -- we haven't seen, yet, the coffins with Russian soldiers coming back. I think this is going to be a very unpopular exercise.
HOLMES: I -- I'm curious.
What is your take on who Vladimir Putin listens to?
There's been a lot of talk about how isolated he's been, particularly during the pandemic.
Who -- who is advising him?
And is there anyone who dares to tell him that he might be going down the wrong path?
ASHURKOV: Unfortunately, Vladimir Putin does not answer to a parliament, to a electorate. Over the last decade, all the checks and balances have been eliminated. So it's -- has, for a long time, been just a close circle of advisers.
And it has been exacerbated by COVID, when Putin is saying even less people. We have seen this footage of him, talking to French president Macron over a table, with a length of 5 meters.
And it -- it's the same situation with, you know, his -- people who talk to him in Russia. So he, indeed, is in touch -- is -- is out of touch with the reality. And I think that's the reason for this miscalculated military step.
HOLMES: You know, I've been discussing this with a lot of people. I would like your thoughts, too. I mean, there was obviously a disparity in the forces. Russia is likely to win the -- the conflict itself.
But how do you think it will win the peace?
I mean, the thing is that, you know, this is, by and large, a pro- Western society and they have already thrown out a couple of pro- Moscow presidents.
It would be a tough thing to subjugate these people, wouldn't it?
ASHURKOV: Yes, indeed. I think it's miscalculation. It seems, from the rhetoric of what Putin has said over the last few days, that he thought that this military escalation, this aggression will not meet that much resistance.
At the same time, we see Ukrainian people fighting quite hard, despite the overwhelming force of Russian military. And we see the fighting, that now takes place in Kyiv, in other major cities. I think Putin miscalculated that this would be a walk in the park for Russian military. But clearly, it has not been.
HOLMES: All right. Vladimir Ashurkov, really appreciate your insights. Thanks for taking the time.
ASHURKOV: Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE) HOLMES: And this breaking news just in from the Ukrainian capital. An
apartment building near one of Kyiv's airports has been hit by missile or rocket fire.
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HOLMES (voice-over): Difficult to tell which. Just have a look at those images there. Kyiv's mayor said emergency services were at the scene. The extent of casualties is unknown at the moment. The cause of the strike, not yet clear but, obviously, some significant damage done to what is a civilian apartment building.
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HOLMES: Meanwhile, thousands of Ukrainians are fleeing to safety amid the Russian onslaught. What they have to say about the journey and what aid groups and neighboring countries are doing to help. That's coming up.
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QUESTION: I see that you are alone here with (INAUDIBLE).
Where is your husband or partner, family?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He fights for Ukraine. That's all.
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HOLMES: Welcome back, everyone. The United Nations says more than 50,000 Ukrainians have now fled the country in the two days since the Russian invasion. More than half of them are heading to Poland.
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HOLMES: That is the closest border really to where we are here in Lviv, in the west of the country. Polish officials say the Ukrainians will be considered war refugees and reception centers are being set up all along the border. United Nations stepping up capacity. One refugee described her situation and harrowing journey getting out.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My husband is still in Lviv as a -- they do not allow men to cross the border. We're hearing bombing everywhere. All military bases in big cities were shelled or -- or attacked.
(END VIDEO CLIP) HOLMES: Now earlier, we talked to several people outside a train station here in Lviv, who say they are uncertain about their future and their safety.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We don't know what is going to happen here next. We just still being safe. (INAUDIBLE) is not be here. We're not sure what happened tomorrow or next weeks. So just be safe and (INAUDIBLE) should go home (INAUDIBLE) online (ph) and until (INAUDIBLE) figure out how to come back later.
VLADYSLAV, LVIV RESIDENT: In Odessa is also my girlfriend's family. So they -- it's not so easy for them to come here. So she pushes for them to come. But we'll see who will live with us, who will live somewhere else.
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HOLMES: Russia's invasion of Ukraine is causing outrage and protests, even inside Russia. Thousands taking to the streets, again, to voice their anger at their own government and, in many cases, risking arrest. CNN's Nic Robertson reports from Moscow.
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NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Well, a second night of anti-war protests against Russia, more than 2 dozen cities involved. By midnight Friday, more than 500 people across Russia arrested, almost 200 of those in St. Petersburg.
More than 200 arrested in Moscow. The day before, Thursday, more than 1,800 people had been arrested at anti-war protests; more than 1,000 of those arrested in Moscow. These are relatively big numbers for short-notice protests.
Not clear why the protests weren't as big and heavily attended on Friday evening; the police crackdown just as brutal and strong as it was on Thursday.
The government saying that these protests were not authorized, that people could face criminal prosecution, that criminal prosecution could bring, in essence, damage their ability to get work, damage them for the rest of their lives.
A very clear message from the government that they didn't want people to turn up. Nevertheless, significant numbers of people being arrested.
On Friday, one of the country's top officials, the main Kremlin spokesman, the spokesman for President Putin, Dmitry Peskov, his own daughter posted a "stop the war" message on Telegram. Now hers is a verified account. She has more than 180,000 followers.
The post has now been taken down. But it just goes to show the reach and depth of feeling and the number of people that actually are opposed to the war. It would be ridiculous to think it's a number that's going to change President Putin's opinion at the moment.
More than 50 percent of the country are estimated to support his current war in Ukraine. But the protests haven't stopped. That is still a significant number of people arrested on the second night -- Nic Robertson, CNN, Moscow.
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HOLMES: Now the overwhelming military operation is putting the skills of the Ukrainian president to the test. The charismatic comedian swept into power nearly three years ago with little political experience. CNN's Nina dos Santos takes a look.
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NINA DOS SANTOS, CNNMONEY EUROPE EDITOR (voice-over): He was the comedian who once played Ukraine's president on TV before winning the office, for real, in 2019. Since then, events have changed dramatically for Volodymyr Zelensky and his people. No more laughter. Instead, it's tears he shed on screen. His countryfolk, meanwhile, shedding their blood on the streets.
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ZELENSKY (through translator): Today, Russia began an attack on Ukraine. Putin began war against Ukraine, against the entire democratic world. He wants to destroy my country -- our country. Everything we have been building, everything we were living for.
DOS SANTOS (voice-over): With little political experience defending Ukraine's fragile democracy against increasing aggression --
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DOS SANTOS (voice-over): -- from a neighbor that had already seized parts of the country was always going to be a big ask.
JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We have reason to believe the Russian forces are planning to -- and intend to attack Ukraine in the coming week.
DOS SANTOS (voice-over): But as Russian forces began amassing along Ukraine's borders, Zelensky voiced his frustration with these foreign powers, saying they were they were inciting panic.
ZELENSKY (through translator): We cannot say on the daily basis that war will happen tomorrow.
What kind of state is it going to, what kind of economy is it going to be?
How can you live in the state when, on the daily basis, you are being told tomorrow the war will happen?
DOS SANTOS (voice-over): Just two days before Russia began its assault, Zelensky was still pursuing diplomatic ways out of the crisis. After continued warnings from abroad, he declared a state of emergency and called up his reservists.
ZELENSKY (through translator): On the issue of security and defense, there is no need for a general mobilization. We do need to promptly replenish the Ukrainian army and other military formations.
DOS SANTOS (voice-over): Two days after that, he ordered a general military mobilization. A CNN poll conducted earlier this month found that less than 40 percent of Ukrainians saw their president as trustworthy or decisive.
And just 29 percent thought of him as reliable. And of all the regions in Ukraine polled, none believed that Russia and Ukraine should be one country.
With a question mark hanging over his future and that of his nation, Zelensky and his cabinet emerged in a video, staring down Europe's despot and appearing to be standing strong -- Nina dos Santos, CNN, London.
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HOLMES: Explosions and gunfire ripping the darkness in predawn Ukraine earlier. When we come back, the latest on the fighting and the defiance of the Ukrainian president. You are watching CNN NEWSROOM. We'll be right back.
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HOLMES: Welcome back. I am Michael Holmes, coming to you live from Lviv in Western Ukraine. And just minutes ago, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky appeared in a new video, speaking outside his Kyiv office with a defiant message.
He said this. Quote, "I am here. We are not putting down arms. We will be defending our country because our weapon is truth and our truth is that this is our land, our country, our children. And we will defend all of this."
Now that comes after a night of this --
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HOLMES (voice-over): -- explosions and gunfire in and around Ukraine's capital of Kyiv. A mayor of a town just south of the capital says it's been, quote, "completely occupied with fighting." There were reports of clashes in Kyiv's eastern suburbs as well.
But now, a presidential adviser claims the situation in areas surrounding the capital is, quote, "under control." Now near one of Kyiv's airports, however, an apartment building has
been hit by a missile or perhaps rocket fire. Kyiv's mayor said emergency services were on the scene. The extent of casualties unknown at the moment.
The exact cause of the strike not clear. But you can see the damage done.
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HOLMES: Peter Stano is the European Commission spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy. He joins me now, live, from Brussels.
And thanks so much for doing so.
A question many have been asking for days -- weeks even -- including the Ukrainian president is why haven't sanctions been even tougher?
Existing sanctions -- while tough -- have not given Putin a reason to blink.
Why haven't they been even tougher?
PETER STANO, EUROPEAN COMMISSION SPOKESPERSON FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND SECURITY POLICY: Good morning (INAUDIBLE). There is nothing good about this morning, especially for people in Ukraine and let me first (INAUDIBLE) and acknowledge and admire the courage of the Ukrainian freedom fighters in the light of this brutal aggression (INAUDIBLE).
And when it comes to sanctions, this one part of our response. But one has to take into account this response was very, very fast. We managed to unite 27 member states at the table in agreeing an unprecedented massive package that was (INAUDIBLE) in a record speed.
And this package is the biggest and hardest hitting ever the European Union has ever introduced. Now it includes also Mr. Putin and Mr. Lavrov in the -- in the sanctions. And the European Union is not a military alliance. So our means includes political pressure, political instruments and economic pressure.
And we are applying now the economic pressure. We will make it very, very (INAUDIBLE) for Putin to continue with his campaign. And we want to cripple his ability to finance his aggression against Ukraine.
And also, on the other track, we are working politically to isolate him internationally. And the latest vote in the United Nations Security Council this night has shown that Russia stands internationally isolated.
(INAUDIBLE) not only sanctions by 27 E.U. member states but sanctions by partners, like United States, United Kingdom, Norway, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada.
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STANO: So we have 4 dozen of the most democratically and economically advanced countries who are united and working also with other partners so that they can join us in this international, not only condemnation of this aggression but also response and (INAUDIBLE) will hurt Putin and his associates very hard.
HOLMES: The president of this country says it is not enough -- but I appreciate what you were saying.
In a broader picture, has what has happened here exposed the limits, in many ways, of the West's ability to truly stop someone, like Putin, when he wants to wage war on a neighbor?
Essentially, he just ignores it and he gets away with it, isn't he?
STANO: This is a question for the whole international community because we saw that in Europe or in the world of 21st century, we have certain amount of rules that is are respected.
In Europe, we have both security architecture (INAUDIBLE) international agreement. And Russia decided to play a role (ph) and to basically ignore not only its signature under this agreement but basically ignore any rules of civilized behavior.
And they attacked a neighboring country, which is so close in many terms to -- to Russia in terms of language, (INAUDIBLE), religion, history, it is a very close nation. And the Russian political leadership (ph) decided to do so.
So of course, this is not something we wish to see. This is not something that belongs to the modern world. (INAUDIBLE) Putin continues to think in the outdated categories of the past of the Cold War and confrontation (ph) and using brute power.
But this is for us, not only for us in the E.U. and in the United States to adjust to it (ph) and to find the most efficient means to contain him, to stop him and to prevent him to undermine the European and the international stability even more.
HOLMES: Right. I wanted to ask you this before we run out of time.
How concerned are European leaders about former Soviet states, who have moved westward over the years?
How concerned are they about those places going forward, Baltic states and so on?
Should they be worried Mr. Putin might turn his attention to them to continue what he wants, which is obviously an expansion of his sphere of influence?
STANO: Well, we have a major nuclear power that disregards and shows contempt for all the international agreements it signed. In this regard it shows contempt for the U.N. Charter of the United Nations (INAUDIBLE). They are attacking secretary general of the U.N. verbally. They are
really turning their back to all the rules of civilized behavior, of all the rules of international community. So of course, it can do anything. This is not about Ukraine. This is no longer about Ukraine. This is about security and stability in Europe.
And this is about security and stability of the international community because, here, we have a guy, who is determined to break any rules if it suits him and if it fits into pursuing his interests.
That's why he needs to be stopped in joint efforts of international community. And of course, we are concerned that he will not stop at Ukraine once he succeeds. But we hope that he will not, thanks to the really harrowing (ph) resistance of the Ukraine freedom fighters.
And if he would succeed, then, of course, he would not stop in Ukraine. This is the thinking right now.
HOLMES: Peter Stano in Brussels, appreciate you taking the time. Thanks so much.
STANO: Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: All right. Well, countries around the world turning up the economic pressure on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. But what some call the economic nuclear option has not been exercised so far. We will look into that when we come back.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): My life will change, as there will be restrictions on movement around the world. But, overall, I will survive.
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HOLMES: Now that's how some Moscow residents reacted to a wave of new sanctions unleashed on the Russian economy. On Friday, the U.S. and its allies upped the ante, slapping sanctions directly on president Vladimir Putin and foreign minister Sergey Lavrov.
But so far, these countries are holding off on what some call a financial nuclear option, which is cutting Russia out of the so-called SWIFT financial payment system. Anna Stewart is in London, joins me now, live, to tell us more about that and what it all means -- Anna. ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Morning, Michael. Yes. This week, we have seen unprecedented sanctions against Russia imposed by Western allies. Of course, it started with a targeted list of sanctions at the beginning of the week, very limited; really as a deterrent to stop Russia invading Ukraine.
Now of course, it is looking at crippling Russia's economy. And we have seen sanctions against oligarchs, individuals; including, of course, President Putin himself; banks, defense companies in Russia, even export restrictions.
But the most damaging measure of all would be disconnecting Russia from SWIFT. And that measure has not, yet, been implemented. Here's why.
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STEWART (voice-over): Ukraine's western allies are cutting Russia's banking ties to the global financial system. A bigger blow would be disconnecting Russia from SWIFT, the high-security messaging network, that underpins transactions across the world.
Without SWIFT, Russian companies would struggle to get money in or out of the country. It is an option that was considered in 2014 in retaliation for Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea.
Then, a former Russian finance minister said it could shrink their economy by 5 percent in the first year alone. The measure wasn't implemented then. Ukraine says it must happen now, the foreign minister tweeting, "I will not be diplomatic on this. Everyone who now doubts whether Russia should be banned from SWIFT --
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STEWART: "-- has to understand that the blood of innocent Ukrainian men, women and children will be on their hands, too. Ban Russia from SWIFT."
And yet, this measure has met resistance, as U.S. President Joe Biden made clear.
JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It is always an option. But right now, that's not the position that the rest of Europe wishes to take.
STEWART (voice-over): SWIFT is headquartered in Belgium and must comply with E.U. regulations but the bloc is divided. Senior E.U. sources tell CNN that, as of Thursday, the day the invasion began, world countries like Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania supported the SWIFT option; others, seemingly didn't, including Italy, Hungary, Cyprus and the largest economy and most notable holdout, Germany.
Buying oil and gas from Russia would become much more difficult and, in recent years, Germany has relied on Russia as the main source of their natural gas. And yet, there are calls from some German lawmakers to risk the blowback. "SWIFT is our sharpest sword and was announced to hit in case of an
attack. The SWIFT exclusion of Russia must not fail because of Germany."
The U.K. would also support this measure, according to defense minister Ben Wallace.
BEN WALLACE, U.K. SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE: We would like to go further. We would like to do the SWIFT system; that is, the financial system that allows the Russians to move money around the world, to receive payments for its gas.
STEWART (voice-over): The E.U. hasn't ruled it out entirely, according to French finance minister Bruno Le Maire.
BRUNO LE MAIRE, FRENCH MINISTER FOR THE ECONOMY AND FINANCE: This is the very last resort, SWIFT. But this is one of the options that remains on the table.
STEWART (voice-over): It raises the question, though, with a full- scale invasion of Ukraine underway, if Western allies don't disconnect Russia from SWIFT now, then when?
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STEWART: Western allies have worked in lockstep over sanctions. We have seen it pretty much every day of this week, including, of course, the decision yesterday to personally sanction President Putin from the U.S., from the E.U. and from the U.K.
They also want to show this unity, bolster their support, of course, for Ukraine. And just last night, the president of Ukraine once again tweeting that he would like to see this measure enacted.
So pressure is really mounting behind the scenes, particularly, of course, on holdout countries like Germany within the E.U. And we will have to see, within the coming days, that pressure will win out in the end -- Michael.
HOLMES: All right. Appreciate the reporting. Good to see you, my friend. Anna Stewart there in London.
And I will be back at the top of the hour to bring you the latest from here in Ukraine. For now, though, let's go to Anna Coren in Hong Kong with some of the day's other top stories -- Anna.
ANNA COREN, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Michael, appreciate it. Thank you.
Sport can play a powerful role in international diplomacy, something Europe's top football body knows all too well. Coming up, UEFA strips St. Petersburg of the Champions League final.
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COREN: We're getting new pictures in from Kyiv of an apartment building struck by a missile or a rocket. The city mayor says emergency services were at the scene. But the extent of casualties is not yet known.
Ukraine foreign minister tweeted about the strike, calling on the international community to embargo Russian oil and ruin the country's economy.
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COREN (voice-over): That's gunfire you can hear. Russian troops are closing in on the Ukrainian capital. Fighting is reported to the north, west, east and the south as well as inside the city.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict is even reaching into outer space. The head of Russia's space agency warns that U.S. sanctions could destroy cooperation on the International Space Station and even endanger the orbiter itself. CNN's space and defense correspondent Kristin Fisher with the details.
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KRISTIN FISHER, CNN SPACE & DEFENSE CORRESPONDENT: Right now there are four U.S. astronauts, two Russian cosmonauts and one German astronaut, all living and working together onboard the International Space Station.
But shortly after President Biden announced these new sanctions on Russia and specifically on Russia's space sector and Russia's space program, the head of Russia's space agency said that those new sanctions have the potential to destroy this cooperation and partnership between the U.S. and Russia at the International Space Station.
Essentially the way this works is that the space station is divided into two sections, U.S. and Russia. You can't just pull them apart. The U.S. section provides all the electricity. And the Russian module and section provide all of the propulsion, the engines which keep the space station in the right orbit, essentially the right place in space.
Everybody at NASA and certainly NASA's leadership, they are hoping for the best and they say that this cooperation continues. They said in a statement that NASA is continued working with all of the international partners, including Roscosmos, for the ongoing safe operations of the International Space Station.
The new export control measures will allow -- will continue to allow U.S.-Russia's civil space cooperation. So NASA certainly hoping for the best here. But without a doubt, this partnership between the U.S. and Russia at the space station is being tested right now like never before -- Kristin Fisher, CNN, Washington.
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COREN: The sporting world is also condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine and that includes Russian athletes, like tennis player Andrey Rublev.
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COREN: After his match in Dubai on Friday, he had this message to everyone writing on the camera lens, "No war please." The world's number 7 men's tennis player says it is important to have peace in the world.
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ANDREY RUBLEV, TENNIS WORLD NUMBER 7: My match is not important so it is not about my match, how it's affecting me because what is happening is much more terrible.
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COREN: His fellow country man, Daniil Medvedev, said he is all for peace and that is the most important thing right now.
If you would like to help people in Ukraine who may be in need of food and shelter, please go to CNN cnn.com/impact. Breaking news coverage of Russia invasion of Ukraine continues after the short break.
