Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

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 Of Up To $350 Million To Support Ukraine; Ordinary Ukrainians Forced To Flee; Active Fighting Now In Streets Of Kyiv. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired February 26, 2022 - 03:00   ET

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

[03:00:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): And welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. I'm Michael Holmes coming to you live from western Ukraine with our breaking news on the battle for the control of Kyiv at this moment.

Ukraine president defiant in the face of advancing Russian troops, sharing a new video message a short time ago from the streets of Kyiv. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

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.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: His message with warnings from the country's interior ministry for people in the capital to take cover from what was described as active fighting. An adviser to the Ukrainian president says Russian quote "sabotage and reconnaissance groups" are actually inside the capital. Now this is after a night full of explosions and bursts of gunfire.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Ukraine's military says the blasts were part of the operation that destroyed Russian tanks. We can't independently verify, of course. Meanwhile, a mayor of the a town 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.

Now a presidential adviser claims that the situation in areas surrounding Kyiv are quote, "under control."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES (voice-over): Have a look. An apartment building near one of Kyiv major airports has been hit by a missile, perhaps rocket fire. Kyiv's mayor says the emergency services were at the scene. The extent of casualties still as yet unknown. And the exact cause of the strike not clear.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: But you can see the damage done. Here in west of the country, we have been hearing this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES (voice-over): The sounds of air raid sirens going off and announcements, warning people to get their documents and check on neighbors, take cover and go to shelter. Many people seeking to evacuate the country.

And you see refugees crossing into Romania. Satellite pictures showing traffic jams backed up for miles along the Ukraine Romania border. United Nations says more than 50,000 Ukrainian refugees have already fled the country, not only into Romania but Poland and Moldova.

We have correspondents across Ukraine and around the world to bring you latest on this breaking news. Anna Stewart covering sanctions from London. Jasmine Wright is in Washington. With reaction from the White House. Hadas Gold in Jerusalem on how Israel is being asked to get involved in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. And Alex Marquardt is live for us in Kyiv.

ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: 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 --

[03:05:00]

MARQUARDT: -- that we know the Russians have been coming in from the north, although that front has been relatively quiet all night. The encirclement of Kyiv is very much happening, Michael.

HOLMES: Alex Marquardt there and CNN White House reporter Jasmine Wright joining me now live from Washington.

Good to see you. Update us on the what the White House knows as it's been watching what's going on in Kyiv overnight.

JASMINE WRIGHT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, the president spent his weekend in Delaware at his home there. But a White House official told me a short time ago that he remains being regularly updated on the events happening on the ground.

Of course, in close touch with his national security team. No doubt, White House officials are watching what is happening right now with great concern. We know that warnings from officials have intensified over the past weeks.

And now some of the predictions are really coming into focus. When it happens when it comes down to the situation in Ukraine. No doubt officials are worried about Ukraine as a country. The Ukrainian people and, of course, the government's stability as we know troops are encircling around the capital.

Also officials are concerned about President Zelensky and his own safety. Just today, the White House said that President Zelensky and President Biden had a phone call. It lasted 40 minutes, according to the White House.

In a readout afterwards the president Biden commended the Ukrainian people for continuing to fight for their country and also that he spoke with President Zelensky about support and about defense assistance.

And now just a few hours ago, we learned from the White House that the president instructed the State Department to release up to $350 million in defense assistance for Ukraine, really trying to show that support for the Ukraine sovereignty as they go through these heightened tension times.

When it comes to what comes forward we know that the president will speak to his national security team and his vice president in the morning and a phone call, a rare Saturday morning phone call, as he hopes to get updated about the situation on the ground.

HOLMES: All right. Appreciate it. Jasmine Wright live in Washington.

All right. Let's get more of an inside perspective on what residents are experiencing. Joining me from Ukraine is Ivan Melobensky.

You are a regular citizen of the country.

What is it like where you are and what you have been seeing and hearing?

IVAN MELOBENSKY, UKRAINIAN TEACHER: Hello, everyone. On the first day of the invasion, it was like 5:40 am, when my friend from the United States called me, saying that the invasion had started, wake up.

I was really shocked. I ran to my parents' room and I told them that the war started. And my mom told me that she has already heard three explosions so far.

And during that day (INAUDIBLE), we heard six of the explosions. And yesterday, in the evening, we heard antiaircraft warfare (ph) and in the evening. But now Odessa is more or less calm. And the Ukrainian soldiers and people are brave and ready to protect it at any time.

HOLMES: I'm curious; I suspect I know the answer.

But did you really expect that this would actually happen?

I know a lot of Ukrainians tell me they didn't.

MELOBENSKY: I never expected it. I didn't believe it. When I first read in the news that the invasion had to happen on the February 16th and it didn't happen, I was a bit skeptical, as most of the Ukrainians. But I was always thinking that Western scientists that discover all this, they can't be wrong. There is -- something must happen.

So I was really shocked when it actually happened.

HOLMES: Yes. I'm not surprised. And our thoughts are with you. I have asked a couple Ukrainians this, too.

Can you even imagine in perhaps weeks from now, if Putin gets his way, there could be a new government, a pro-Russian government, installed in your country potentially?

How does it feel to even contemplate that --

[03:10:00]

HOLMES: -- and how it might change your life?

MELOBENSKY: Honestly saying, I don't believe that it will happen because Ukraine and Russia have been fighting for the last like 350 years (INAUDIBLE) an independent Ukraine right now.

So I think that, with Western help, if the West acts really tough and with Ukrainian soldiers, strong and brave sons of Ukraine, Ukraine will win. Ukraine will be in the (INAUDIBLE) European Union with Crimea and Donbas. And everything will be good. That's my opinion.

HOLMES: There's a lot of talk about an armed insurgency if the traditional war is lost. Ordinary citizens are taking up arms.

Are you seeing that happen?

And how do you think Ukrainians will fight back in this?

MELOBENSKY: I think that usual Ukrainian citizens, they will go take weapons. And they will protect Ukraine. And this is now actually happening in every city. People go and protect, even usual citizens. So I think that nothing bad will be the future for Ukraine and everything will be good.

HOLMES: I -- our thoughts are with you, Ivan. A lot of people watching this around the world right now. Quickly, to the people watching you right now, what is your message from Ukraine?

MELOBENSKY: Yes. My message is people from all the countries, please go to the demonstrations. Please demand from you government to protect Ukraine, to send weapons, to enforce sanctions on Russia, to isolate it from every organization, a trade embargo, everything to stop Russian aggression because it will cost many lives.

And it can go further if the West doesn't stop Russia from attacking Ukraine. It will be a huge tragedy for the whole world. So please go and support Ukraine. And I'm very thankful already to all the Western countries that help Ukraine, that sent us weapons, financial support. Thank you so much.

And all Ukrainians really support you and appreciate the help.

HOLMES: Ivan, Our thanks to you. Our thoughts are with you. And we wish you well. Ivan Melobensky, thanks so much, there in Odessa.

MELOBENSKY: Thank you very much.

HOLMES: All right. Ukrainians are fleeing the country, meanwhile, by the thousands, as Russian troops advance. I speak to a U.N. representative about the potential refugee crisis unfolding in Europe right now.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:15:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SERGEI ZALANKOV, UKRAINIAN EVACUEE: Most people -- they just didn't have the tickets, so they just stormed the train. I mean, it was almost like a stampede. People were, like, trying to get inside, no matter what. It was chaos. It was chaos. It was a lot of people, like, pushing

around. But I mean, people run to escape, to run for their lives. So I don't blame them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: And crowds of evacuees there at a train station. This is in Poland, as people desperate to find any way out of Ukraine do their best. But the fighting has been increasing as Russian forces advance and battle to take control of the capital.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES (voice-over): There was even more chaos in the capital, Kyiv, people clambering to board trains there, with shots fired in the air as you can hear, in an attempt to maintain order. The toll has been heartbreaking on families with many forced to separate.

Men aged 18 to 60 are technically not allowed to leave the country at the moment. Many are trying to get their families to safety, then return to fight if needed.

The U.N. Refugee Agency says over 50,000 Ukrainians have fled the country already. That number is expected to grow a lot in the coming days. Many were waiting for hours in freezing conditions on Friday just to be able to leave.

And U.N. aid agencies says the war could drive up to 5 million people to flee abroad. Secretary General Antonio Guterres explaining how the U.N. is responding to the growing crisis.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANTONIO GUTERRES, UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL: Today in Ukraine, despite growing operational charges, U.N. is scaling up the delivery of life saving support, including in the eastern part of the country, on both sides of the line of control. Military needs are multiplying and spreading by the hour.

[03:20:00]

GUTERRES: Civilians are dying. At least 100,000 Ukrainians have already reportedly fled their homes, with many crossing into neighboring countries.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Now for more on this let's bring in Kelly Clements, the deputy high commissioner for refugees at the UNHCR. She joins me from Switzerland.

Give a broad picture.

How worried are you about a potential humanitarian crisis as people flee the war? KELLY CLEMENTS, DEPUTY, U.N. HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES: I have to

say we already have a humanitarian crisis. We have had a crisis in this country for the last eight years. And it's just become a lot worse.

In addition to those 850,000 internally displaced, primarily in the east, we know over 100,000 people are already on the move. And I can already update the number you just gave, Michael, in terms of those who crossed borders into neighboring countries.

We now see over 120,000 people that have gone to all of the neighboring countries. And I have to say the reception they're receiving from local communities, from local authorities, it's tremendous.

But it's a dynamic situation. It's -- we're really quite devastated obviously with what's to come. And we would say that up to 4 million people could actually cross borders if things continue to deteriorate, which they have until now.

HOLMES: These are staggering numbers, just horrible. We're here in western Ukraine. We have seen people pouring into here from Kyiv and other parts of the country.

Right now, we were told last night, there is a 37 kilometer long line of vehicles at the Polish border and it's not moving very fast, just people getting out in a safe, orderly way.

Could itself be a problem if it isn't already, right?

CLEMENTS: Yes. And there are queues at other border crossings as well. We've got people in country looking at those situations. There are a large number that have crossed into Moldova but many more to follow. And so far the borders are open. This is something that's tremendously important in a dynamic situation like this.

As you mentioned and as you are reporting off the top, we have to see civilians protected. We have to see civilian infrastructure protected. International humanitarian law demands it. And people's lives, as we have seen, are quite literally being taken in this conflict.

HOLMES: Yes, I want you to try to give people a sense of what the people go through. We have talked a lot about numbers. We talk about logistics throughout.

What happens to these people in terms of their emotional upheaval and pain as they flee their homes?

CLEMENTS: Well, in a situation like this, I have to say, knowing, having talked to our colleagues. Even this morning and our humanitarian workers and their families being devastated by what's happening now in the capital city, this is something, they're making life or death decisions.

They're deciding what do they take, who goes, how do they cross, what is essential items do they take with them with almost no notice. And some have not been able to leave. They are bunkered and trying to be as safe as possible but figuring out escape routes.

Most, if they cross a border, want to stay close to the home country. In this case obviously will not want to leave or be too far from Ukraine. They maybe separated. They may have loved ones that remain in country.

And this is something in terms of when they cross, local authorities providing them some place to sleep, some food, water, other core items to help them survive in those early days. And they won't be able to take too much with them.

So really trying to make a difficult situation just a little bit easier. We try to make sure that families are kept together, those that are separated that, somehow there's a way to be able to keep them connected. And in these early days that becomes quite important, especially when you are talking about young people.

HOLMES: It's so important that you put that human face on it. People who watching us right now, put yourself in their position. Pack up and go with what you can carry. And get out of your own country and your own home.

Kelly Clements, important work being done, thanks so much.

CLEMENTS: Thank you.

HOLMES: All right. If you would like to help people in Ukraine who might be in need of shelter and food, water, the basic necessities of life. Go to cnn.com/impact. And you'll find resources and several ways to help.

Coming next, a diplomatic appeal.

[03:25:00]

HOLMES: Ukraine's president reaches out to Israel to help facilitate talks with Russia. You're watching CNN live from Ukraine. We'll be right back.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:30:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

HOLMES: Welcome back, everyone, I'm Michael Holmes, coming to you live from western Ukraine, let's bring you up to date on the latest, on the intense battle for Ukraine's capital.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Heavy fighting -- and you can hear it there. Ukraine's president, though, says his nation is not putting down its arms, even though fighting has reached the streets of Kyiv. The interior ministry said that "active fighting," in their words, is

underway in the city and urged residents to take cover. A presidential advisor says the situation in suburbs and surrounding areas, though, is in his words, "under control."

But he did say Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups have entered Kyiv. And Ukrainian police are fighting them.

Meanwhile, have a look at this apartment building, hit by a rocket or missile, on Saturday morning. Still unclear if the attack caused any casualties. Ukrainian president also says that he is in touch with Western leaders, at the moment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): We are also fighting on the diplomatic front lines. It's easier to count who among the world leaders I haven't spoken to, yet.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Meanwhile, the Russian president appealed to the Ukrainian people and condemned their government with provocative allegations.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VLADIMIR PUTIN, PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA (through translator): Do not let vanderites (ph) and neo-Nazis use your children and wives and old people as human shields. Take power into your own hands.

It looks like it will be easier for us come to an agreement than with this gang of drug addicts and neoNazis that have settled in Kyiv and taken hostage the entire Ukrainian people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Now earlier I spoke with two Ukrainian political analysts who, are now just outside Kyiv and they told me, despite the ferocity of the Russian assault, Ukrainians are fighting back with everything they've got.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PETER ZALMAYEV, DIRECTOR, EURASIA DEMOCRACY INITIATIVE: We had to smuggle our families out of Kyiv. We had a note of warning, a very urgent warning that our lives were in danger for a variety of reasons.

So we finally were able yesterday to get our folks to safety. We're now heading back to Kyiv. There's fighting around the city, around the perimeters. They're trying to surround the city. We're trying to find out which routes we can take to reach the capital and join up with resistance there.

But we witnessed and it's important to know, the entire country -- and we haven't seen anything like this since 1940s -- has risen up. You have kids. You have teenagers. You have old men. You have grandmothers, arming themselves in units of territorial defense, which simply means that Vladimir Putin shall not pass.

HOLMES: And Taras, I didn't realize you were in the same position until just now.

What are your plans?

TARAS BEREZOVETS, UKRAINIAN POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, like Peter said, we're heading back to Kyiv. Whatever happens, Putin is not going to win. We see it as putting forward -- invading our country from all directions.

They will try and use his control over our capital, Kyiv, using every inhuman technique. Well, everybody in the world should understand, Putin is a murderer. Yesterday, he gave an order to start a rocket launch attack against orphanage near Kyiv, effectively killing several kids.

I think it's just the right time for the whole world to act, act now. Save Ukraine now, because we see the only thing which Putin understands is force.

And according to Ukrainian authorities, the Russian military forces, for the last two days, 3,500 people killed. And we see that Ukrainian armed forces have been very effective in repelling Putin's attack against Ukrainian cities. Not a single Ukrainian big city has been captured so far.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Extraordinary situation for those two men.

Now Eurasia Democracy Initiative director, Peter Zalmayev -- that's one of the men there; he was on the left, speaking with me about the situation in Ukraine, we talked about what sanctions should be brought up against Vladimir Putin and whether they will have an effect.

You'll see the full interview with him next hour, don't miss, it quite a situation they're in. All right, Ukraine's president has asked Israel's prime minister to host and mediate talks with Russia.

[03:35:00]

HOLMES: Ukraine's ambassador to Israel telling CNN, that President Zelensky believes that Israel is the only democratic state that has good relations with both Russia and Ukraine.

Hadas Gold is in Jerusalem, for us. Good to see you.

So what is President Zelensky hoping to accomplish by bringing in Israel's prime minister to broker peace talks?

And why would Putin go into Jerusalem as a venue to do it?

HADAS GOLD, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: So, Michael, last time I spoke with Ukrainian ambassador to Israel, he said in that call yesterday Zelensky made the request to Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett to host mediation talks in Jerusalem because they believe that Israel's the only democratic state, that has great relations with both Russia and Ukraine, that could facilitate these negotiations.

Now this conversation was first reported by Con11 (ph) news. The past peace talks have been held in Belarus. But the Ukrainians believe that should no longer be on the table, because Belarus is such a close ally of Russia.

I should note that is not the first time that Zelensky has made this the request to the Israelis to host mediation talks. The ambassador told me that they made these requests for months now and they've been asking Israel to host negotiations.

The last time they made his request was before Naftali Bennett went to Sochi to meet Vladimir Putin. According to the Ukrainian ambassador, Bennett brought it up to Putin, in Sochi but Putin dismissed the discussion.

Now it's not clear whether the Israelis have, since the conversation yesterday, brought this up to the Russians, again, asked for the Israeli response to that request, the ambassador said that they are considering it. And that's a positive sign.

On the Israeli side a spokesman for Naftali Bennett would not comment further, beyond the initial readout, where they expressed support for the Ukrainians. And said they would be offering aid. We'll see whether the Israelis will bring this up to Vladimir Putin, to the Russians, and whether these potential peace talks will actually take place in Jerusalem. Michael.

HOLMES: Interesting aspect of this and I'd love you to play into it.

How is this conflict playing out in Israeli communities, where former Russian and Ukrainian residents are living side by side?

What are they saying?

GOLD: Yes. So there are huge Jewish populations in both Ukraine and Russia. And as a result, huge populations in Israel of people who have emigrated from Ukraine and Russia and now live in Israel side by side.

In fact, there are certain areas in Israel you can go, where the signs are in Russian or Ukrainian. And you hear that on the street, it's everywhere. Most of them that I've spoken, to they do not want war, they see each other as brother nations. They eat the same food and they understand that Israel is walking a delicate diplomatic tightrope, with competing interests between the two countries.

They want Israel to stay out and they just don't want a war.

HOLMES: That is a fascinating aspect of this, Hadas Gold live in Jerusalem, appreciate the reporting, thanks so much, let's see what comes from that.

That will do it from Lviv in Ukraine. For now, we will go back to Kim Brunhuber in Atlanta. And I'll check in with you later, Kim.

KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: All right, thanks so much Michael.

Countries around the world turn up the economic pressure on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. But what some call the economic nuclear option hasn't been exercised so far. We'll look into that when we return, stay with us.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:40:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. ADAM KINZINGER (R-IL): I think the fate of the West is being designed and determined tonight. I don't believe Vladimir Putin will be able to hold Ukraine. We have seen, in their fighting spirit, that, even if the troops basically take over Kyiv and all of their strategic positions, the Ukrainian people are not Russian.

The Ukrainian people do not identify as Russian and they will fight Russian troops in the streets, until Russian troops, similar to what they did in Afghanistan, will tuck their tail and go home.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: That was Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger, now whether the Russian troops will tuck their tail and go home is still up in the air. But it has been a violent night across much of Ukraine.

Explosions and gunfire were reported in many cities, including the capital of Kyiv. And just a little while ago, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky appeared in a new video with a defiant message. Saying, quote, we're not putting down arms, we will be defending our country. This is our, land our country, our children and we will defend all of this.

Now Russia is facing a tidal wave of economic sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine. Some of them are now targeting President Putin himself. But so, far the U.S. and its allies 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 with more.

So, Anna, since you and I spoke yesterday, more sanctions have been piled, on so let's talk about those imposed on Putin, what are they and what sort of effect they're likely to have?

ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This was absolutely fascinating and was a decision made by the U.S., the E.U., U.K. and Canada, targeting President Putin and his foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, personally with sanctions.

Now unlike some of the sanctions we've discussed so far, which have been very targeted and damaging to Russia's economy, this is largely symbolic. When we look at oligarchs across your Europe, they make it very clear that -- it's very different with President Putin, his finances both inside and outside of Russia are so opaque.

[03:45:00]

STEWART: So we don't expect to see big asset freezes here. The U.S. may include a travel ban, which would make any further diplomatic measures quite difficult. But really, this is symbolic.

President Putin is now joining a very unpleasant, exclusive list of world leaders, who have been personally sanctioned. It includes the late Libyan leader Colonel Gadhafi, North Korea's Kim Jong-un Syria's leader Bashar al-Assad, dictators, people accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity.

This is a message, I think, not just to President Putin but for all of Russia. This is what the West thinks of your leader.

BRUNHUBER: So now with the 30 seconds or so we have left, what is left on the table in terms of possible sanctions?

STEWART: Well, with 30 seconds to go, there is still quite a few measures left on the table. Anything that would target oil, gas, wheat, metals, the big commodities that Russia makes, it makes a vast majority of its revenue.

But also that is so damaging to the West. That's why SWIFT, most extreme measure on the sanctions spectrum, has yet to be implemented. There is growing pressure for that to happen, both inside and outside the E.U.

One of the biggest holdouts, of course, remains Germany. They are so reliant on Russia for their energy. Pressure is mounting. So that is really the big measure we could see, in days to come.

BRUNHUBER: Yes, we'll be watching for that. Anna Stewart in London, thank you so much.

All right, after the break, we go back to Ukraine and rejoin my colleague, Michael Holmes. He looks at the role sport is played in the Russian invasion into Ukraine, including why Russia is no longer hosting the prestigious chairmanship game. The details. Next stay with us.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:50:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

HOLMES: You're looking at a powerful display of solidarity there, with Ukraine, as people filled the streets of Georgia's capital, Tbilisi, on Friday night. Georgians know all too well the impact of Russia's military might after their war back in 2008.

It was just one of the many vigils and protests taking place around the world. These are pictures from Madrid, where people rallied for Ukraine and expressed outrage over what is happening.

Now while this picture was across the U.S., where there have been calls for the Biden administration to take stronger action against Moscow, one protester has family in Ukraine and spoke of her anguish, right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NADIA BERG, PROTESTER: This is horrible. Our families are there, little kids are there. Last night I pretty much didn't sleep at all, because how can you sleep?

How can you sleep, knowing that there are airplanes flying and dropping bombs on a city where your family is?

Your friends?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Meanwhile, in Russia, hundreds of antiwar protesters have been arrested across more than 40 cities. Authorities have warned citizens that participating in antiwar protests, could lead to prosecution and criminal charges.

And the world of international football is also coming out against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The war has prompted one of the sport's most prestigious events being pulled from Russia.

(WORLD SPORT)

HOLMES: Thanks for, watching I'm Michael Holmes live from Lviv, Ukraine, our breaking news coverage continues after the break.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:55:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): This is CNN breaking news.

HOLMES: Hello and welcome to our viewers in the U.S. and all around the world. I'm Michael Holmes coming to you live from Lviv, Ukraine. And we're following the breaking news.

It is 11 a.m. in the Ukrainian capital.