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CNN on Front Lines of Russian Invasion of Kyiv; New Video Appears to show Bombing in City of Kharkiv; Russian Invasion Hits Stiff Resistance, Supply Line Problems; Ukraine, Russian Delegations in talks as Fighting Rages; U.S. Cutting Off Russia's Central Bank from U.S. Dollar Transactions. Aired 10-10:30a ET

Aired February 28, 2022 - 10:00   ET

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

[10:00:00]

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: Russian troops facing strong opposition in many parts of this country. The Russian President Vladimir Putin has put his nuclear deterrent forces on high alert.

The White House calls it a manufactured threat. However, it is important to note that the first use of nuclear weapons, including battlefield nuclear weapons is part of Russia's military doctrine. It's something that the U.S. military is watching closely.

Let's begin this morning here in the region CNN Senior National Security Correspondent Alex Marquardt. He is in Kyiv this morning. Alex said those high level discussions ongoing now between Russia and Ukraine. What are we hearing from there? And are their hopes from Ukrainian officials that they make some progress there?

ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well Jim, these talks have been underway for just about four hours now they are happening just across the border to the north of me in Belarus. That is notable because President Zelensky declined to go to the Capital Minsk because Belarus rather has been hosting those Russian forces for the past few weeks are now concerns that Belarusian forces could join in this invasion of Ukraine.

These are high level talks. Now these are not the two Presidents Zelenskyy and Putin who are talking to each other. It is just below that level, the Russian sent an aide to President Putin. The Ukrainian delegation has, among others an aide to President Zelenskyy, as well as the Defense Minister.

And Ukraine went into these talks with the demand of an immediate ceasefire and the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops, the Kremlin has declined to say what their main goal is. And of course, you could think that maybe they're trying to buy time or simply an excuse to say, oh, look, we tried to negotiate.

So it remains to be seen what comes out of these talks. But this fight is not going well for Russia right now. Remember, there were predictions that this capital city could fall within 28 to 48 hours. Here we are on day five, and there are still many miles outside of the capital. But we have seen fierce targeting of the two biggest cities in Ukraine, notably Kharkiv, which is the second biggest city just to the east of here in the northeastern part of the country, just across the border, from Russia, bombing by the Russians.

We've seen street fighting in the city between Ukrainian Russian forces, but evidence there of the stiff Ukrainian resistance to the Russians, literally in some video that we've seen and verified Russian forces walking and rolling backwards, literally being pushed back by these Ukrainian troops.

Obviously the Russians have a lot more fight in them. They're one of the biggest militaries in the world. Ukraine is throwing everything they have at these Russian forces to the extent that they're actually they've set up a formal international legion that foreign fighters can now join in this fight against Russia.

Here in Kyiv things have been relatively calm today curfew is lifted earlier this morning allowing residents back out onto the streets, they swarmed supermarkets, CNN went to a number of stores they were all flooded with people long lines out the door. Someone in one of those lines told our colleague - I think everyone in Ukraine is confused. I am between feelings - between feeling scared and totally angry, Jim.

SCIUTTO: Yes. We've heard a lot of that anger but also defiance, sacrifice as well. Alex Marquardt in Kyiv thanks so much. So we're going to go now to Kharkiv where some of the most intense fighting is taking place this morning. Justin Esiobu. He's a law student there also works as a correspondent for Jurist News.

Justin it is good to have you here. I want you to be safe, because based on what we're seeing, that is a very dangerous place to be you posted some photos of smoke rising, can you tell us what you've witnessed there today?

JUSTIN ESIOBU, LAW STUDENT IN KHARKIV, UKRAINE: OK, so today, it's been quite, quite intense, more much more intense than it was yesterday or day before because Russians, according again, to our military services, are using now indiscriminate bombs, like they used in Syria, but and that means that they have they planned an entire.

And today I've seen several bumps thinking right on our backyard, there are bombs shot our citizens right. The morning is the time when people get water, groceries and stuff, our supermarkets close at 12 pm and at 12 pm our negotiation between our Ukrainian and Russian delegation started.

And right at that time, there were indeterminate bombs blasts of civilians especially remarkable because of the fact that there is no military strategic objects in those areas that were bombed.

[10:05:00]

SCIUTTO: Justin I was going to ask you. Is there any evidence that those bombs that are falling perhaps rockets as well are aimed at military assets? Or are they just aimed from what you can tell or at least falling purely in residential areas?

ESIOBU: As I said, yesterday and the days before the world when war began, these bombs were directly aimed at such military objects as military bases, prior reports. And so today, it's been different because no military objects like we have - 23rd of August. And it's largely just a civilian region partly. There are no objects to attack strategically.

Well, as you've been there, and I know it must be difficult. And by the way, I don't want you to leave a safe place where you are. But with what you've seen so far, have you been able to tell what kind of weapons are being used? We had a Former American General on a short time ago, who said he suspects they are cluster bombs, as you know, where one rocket will open up and release perhaps 100 Grenade size weapons, have you seen any evidence of the use of cluster bombs?

ESIOBU: In the Russian - the Russian military machines that they're used, they're called Oregon, which is Hurricane interpolation. But they're used in Kharkiv. More hotter, much hotter areas, like Kherson and near areas they're used mostly but now in Kharkiv with U.S. military station - which, which is basically 20 - per second launched at specific objects covering 20 to 30 meters of area. That's what's used in our towns currently, like, even right now, I think they're probably.

SCIUTTO: Our reporter who's across the border from you in Russia has seen those grad missiles firing, like a fireworks display in the sky. I understand you volunteered for the reserves the Ukrainian military reserves in September. Have you been called up? And do you expect to fight?

ESIOBU: Well, one reason why I can go is the fact that I'm a full time - full time student in Kharkiv, that's why I'm not obliged officially to go to the army, although I can. But the second reason why I won't do that is because right now my father is in Estonia, and I'm, like, directly responsible for my family members, which are my mom and my sister.

And so I can physically, like even mentally leave them alone in such dangerous areas, even though I really, I would really like to go and help our army directly. But I contacted my peers who are from the Ukrainian students for freedom, in particular European Youth Parliament.

They're conducting several volunteer channels. They're using cyber war tactics to attack the Russian websites, Russian strategic points, Russian radios and stuff. And I tried to help this way, at least a distant, remote manner.

SCIUTTO: Well listen, I know everyone, you included, doing the best they can to do their part. Justin, you're in a very dangerous place right now. I would just say please stay safe. Take every precaution you can. And thanks so much.

ESIOBU: Thank you. ERICA HILL, CNN HOST: Remarkable. As we hear more and more of those stories, it's so important to hear from everyone on the ground there how they are handling this. Well meantime, we know the U.S. is ratcheting up the financial pressure on Russia cutting off the country from billions of dollars. It's just the latest in a series of surgical sanctions from the United States and its allies.

CNN's Natasha Bertrand is standing by in Brussels with John Harwood at the White House. John, I want to go first to you, President Biden holding a call with allies shortly. What can we expect from that?

JOHN HARWOOD, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: A lot to expect Erica. They're going to discuss both sides of this conflict that is the military side and as Alex Marquardt was reporting a few minutes ago.

[10:10:00]

HARWOOD: This is not going well for Russia. The bravery of Ukrainian forces standing up to defend their homeland is part of that. But you've also had a coming together of the Western alliance, NATO, the European Union, military aid flowing from the United States, Germany, even Sweden and Switzerland.

The other side of it, of course, is the economic side. And the last week they began the United States and the European Union to implement modest sanctions, which as the conflict went on, has gotten steadily more and more aggressive this morning, administration officials outlining very tough sanctions on the Russian Central Bank that prevents their ability to defend the Ruble.

We see immediate consequences for Russia, in terms of their economy; the Ruble is down substantially today. The Russians have kept their markets closed today because of the potential impact expectation of goods shortages and inflation surging in Russia.

But of course, another thing that they're going to be talking about is the blowback on the United States in the European Union themselves, they've tried to design these sanctions to minimize that exemptions for energy, for example, but you're going to see some effects on higher energy prices and American markets are down this morning as well.

So the challenge Erica is going to be sustaining that unity in the West, even as the consequences hit back on the economy here in Europe.

HILL: And meantime, in Europe, NATO Secretary General Natasha now says that the alliance is really stepping up its support of Ukraine. What specifically can we expect from that? What might that involve?

NATASHA BERTRAND, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: More weapons essentially. So what they're saying is that they're going to be sending anti-tank missiles, defense air defense systems to Ukraine, in order to give them even more of an edge over the Russian military.

The feeling now is that obviously the Ukrainians has been over performing. They have kind of defied expectations, and the Russian military has been underperforming. Well, the EU and NATO and the U.S. want to keep that momentum going.

And so we have seen over the last few days, for example, the United States, Joe Biden, the President said that he is going to authorize up to $350 million in additional security assistance to Ukraine, and that will primarily be defensive weaponry.

Germany, we saw from its own stockpile for the first time and a major shift here is going to be providing weapons directly to Ukraine in order to help them defend themselves. So the bottom line here is that NATO is not going to be as of right now sending military forces into Ukraine to help them fight this war.

But they're going to be doing everything that they can to give them somewhat of an advantage over the Russians. Obviously, it's a massive military, the Russian military, and they're conducting a major operation there. And so the Ukrainians really need all of the help they can get.

And so the hope is that by giving them ammunition by giving them these anti-tank missiles, these air defense systems stinger missiles, they that will allow them to maintain this momentum over the Russian military. The Ukrainians, of course, saying this is all very helpful. We appreciate this. But we still want an answer as to whether we will ever be able to join the European Union, or NATO.

HILL: Natasha Bertrand and John Harwood I appreciate it. Thank you both. Just ahead here we're going to take you directly to the frontlines as Russian forces face fierce resistance from Ukrainian fighters.

SCIUTTO: And an aggressive move from the Biden Administration ramping up sanctions on Russia we're going to speak about the U.S. strategy against Russia next with Senator Mark Warner he's the Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

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[10:15:00]

SCIUTTO: This morning, the Biden Administration is hitting Russia with aggressive new sanctions cutting off Russia's Central Bank also its sovereign wealth fund from U.S. dollar transactions. It's a move meant to curb Russia's ability to use hundreds of billions of dollars of money international reserves it had saved to help keep its economy afloat in the midst of all this.

Joining me now to discuss Democratic Senator Mark Warner of Virginia he's Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Senator thanks so much for taking the time this morning.

SEN. MARK WARNER (D-VA): Jim, thank you.

SCIUTTO: For first if I can I want to get your assessment of the battlefield. We're only five days in so it's early. But as you know better than me, the Ukrainian military has already outperformed. Russia continues to move troops forward. It is suffering losses, though. Where do you see this going from here? Can the Ukrainian military sustain this?

WARNER: Well again, I think we all have been amazed but also stand firmly with the Ukrainian people Ukrainian military. I mean President Zelensky has a better profile and courage reporting from Kyiv. And I think if we look at virtually every component, things have played out better than we hope.

Now first of all, I would say the American intelligence was spot on predicting this invasion predicting the extent of Putin's efforts that they would not simply be in the east that they would be trying to take the population centers all across the country.

[10:20:00]

WARNER: We've also seen all of the issues that some of my Republican friends wanted the president to move on we've all been successful. We sanctioned Nord Stream 2, we've seen personal sanctions against Putin where he now joins the likes of Qaddafi and Assad has been a few world leaders that have been sanctioned.

We've seen these financial sanctions at the level of almost an actual war if Russia builds up all these billions, but you can't settle in dollars, because that becomes the currency that generally these energy settlements are made in. That's a good sign.

The Ukrainian resistance has been much stronger. I think Putin underestimated in terms of sending in his best troops. He didn't do that. First of all, frankly, not watching major cyber incidents, where we go from here is really, again, a bit of uncharted territory, because I wish the Ukrainians would have gone ahead and mobilized their forces a few weeks back, but you are seeing now citizens step up.

And but we have to be realistic know that Putin still has about a third of his forces, some of his best troops that he's not thrown into the battle. So it's still going to be dicey for the next few days.

SCIUTTO: Yes. And some weapons, some horrible weapons he hasn't used yet. I want to ask you about Putin himself. Because going into this, there was a tendency to describe him as 10 feet tall, the brilliant strategist never makes a wrong move.

Clearly, as you say, this has not gone to plan, at least in the early stages. Do you believe him and there's been some speculation, frankly, about his decision making? What do you think went wrong here for him? And do you have questions about whether he's making rational decisions at this point?

WARNER: Well Jim, what we've seen out of Putin, and this is all in public reporting, is that over the last couple years with COVID, he's been extremely COVID phobic, he is not been in the Kremlin very much. He's been down in Sochi, or at a one of his many, many homes outside of Moscow.

And when you've got an authoritarian leader, who's been in power for over 20 years, and you have less and less inputs, and the people who are inputs, giving him inputs are sycophants, and people who don't want to give any bad news to the boss, you end up making bad decisions.

And you can see this again, I commend you and other American media, because we these images of some of the Russian military leaders clearly appearing shocked or not responding as Putin has demanded that we saw that with his Security Council efforts, Putin's Security Council efforts last week.

I think there's some to assume there's grumbling, maybe going too far. But the level of resistance even coming into the Russian population is, is a good sign. I am actually surprised when we - for a moment that that Putin has not tried to shut down the internet and these Western news sources because he is losing the information battle as well.

SCIUTTO: Yes, yes. And Russians will eventually see and learn if they are not already having the losses here. Let me ask you this before we go, because the Russian President put his nuclear deterrent forces on alert this weekend. I know the White House has described this as a manufactured threat.

But you and I also know that this is - this is a leader who does not like to lose, and that the Russian military doctrine does allow for the use of tactical nuclear weapons in response to conventional attacks. And I wonder how seriously, you're taking that statement from the Russian President.

WARNER: When you have an authoritarian leader that puts his nukes on a higher alert, we all have to be, we all have to be concerned. Obviously, this is not a hand of a strong leader. And this is grasping at straws. It does raise my continued concern that if we actually saw Russia, dramatically elevated cyber-attacks.

For example, if it were to shut down all the power in Ukraine, and consequently, that might bleed into Poland, where it could affect NATO troops or suddenly Polish hospitals are shut down and Poles are dying because of a Ukrainian - a Russian attack cyber-attack against Ukraine that bleeds into Poland.

With nuclear weapons on alert, you know, you're suddenly into a pretty scary potential Article Five violations whereas we all know it if you attacked one NATO nation, you attack all 30. So we are still in uncharted territory.

SCIUTTO: And in that case, you would have Russia direct, in direct conflict with NATO. Senator Mark Warner thanks so much. We appreciate the work you do and we appreciate you joining us this morning.

WARNER: Well, Jim, stay safe. Thank you.

SCIUTTO: Will do.

HILL: Still ahead of here as Vladimir Putin does put Russia's nuclear forces on high alert as Jim and Senator Warner were just talking about the U.S. is ramping up sanctions. So just what other tools do Western allies have at this point? We're going to discuss the Former Head of the CIA's Russia Operations.

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[10:25:00]

SCIUTTO: At this hour as the fighting continues, talks are ongoing between Ukrainian and Russian officials near the border with Belarus over the past several days. Just remarkable scenes as Ukrainian forces even ordinary citizens push back against Russian forces.