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CNN Looks At Aftermath Of Fierce Battle Near Kyiv; Massive Russian Convoy Nears Kyiv As War Enters 6th Day; Indomitable Spirit Of Ukrainians Shines Through Amid War; Many Internally Displaced Ukrainians Trying To Flee; Russian Economy Hit By Severe Sanctions From West; Russian Economy Hit by Severe Sanctions from West; Biden to Deliver State of the Union; China Calls on Parties to Exercise Restraint. Aired 12:00-1a ET

Aired March 01, 2022 - 00:00   ET

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

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[00:00:14]

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN Breaking News.

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us all around the world. I'm Michael Holmes coming to you live from Lviv in Western Ukraine.

As the country enters day six of a Russian invasion, a massive Russian convoy bearing down on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. Satellite images show it stretches for more than 40 miles, that 65 kilometers and includes tanks and artillery. Russian troops have breached the Kyiv suburbs before and met fierce resistance. You're having a look there at social media video purportedly showing what's left of another Russian column set to be -- said to be Chechens, which was laid to waste by the Ukrainians.

But this latest convoy looming to the North, stoking fears the worst maybe around the corner. CNN has learned U.S. lawmakers were given a classified briefing saying Ukraine could soon be overwhelmed. One source said they were given a timeframe for when Ukrainian cities could fall and they called it alarming.

And it's not just Kyiv, Russian troops are pouring in by land, sea and air. Ukraine's second largest city Kharkiv became the scene of intense shelling on Monday and you can see one of the barrages here, buildings being blasted as thick smoke rises into the air.

The mayor says at least nine civilians were killed in this. And all of this the same day Russian negotiators were meeting a Ukrainian delegate -- delegation on the Belarus border.

Now, Ukraine's president says the Russians sitting at that table there were thinking up attacks with negotiations. He's accusing them of a war crime.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): It was clearly a war crime. Kharkiv is a peaceful city. There are peaceful residential areas, no military facilities.

Dozens of eyewitness accounts prove that this is not a single false volley, but deliberate destruction of people. The Russians knew where they were shooting.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: CNN's Matthew Chance is on the ground near Kyiv reporting from an area where a fierce battle between Ukrainian forces and Russian troops had just taken place. And a warning, some of the images you're about to see may be disturbing for some viewers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Right within the past few hours, there has been a ferocious battle here on the outskirts of Kyiv.

This is the front line in the battle for the Ukrainian capital. The Russian column that has come down here has been absolutely hammered.

Trucks and armored vehicles reduced to twisted metal as Ukrainian forces dig in, catching the Kremlin and its invasion force off guard.

And this is one of those Russian Soviet era vehicles which is completely burned out.

You can see this is a bridge, actually is an access point to the northwest of Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital. And the Russian column that has come down here has been absolutely hammered.

Actually, I was crouching down right by a grenade there, look, and I didn't see that. So let's move away from that.

Look at this, I mean, what kind of munitions does it take to do that to a car, to a vehicle? You know, I know that I've just been local Ukrainian commanders here. They've been saying that they were using Western anti-tank missiles to attack these columns.

Look. So recent, the battle, this vehicle is still smoking, there's still smoke coming out.

Commanders like Alexander of the Ukrainian army wouldn't give me his rank or full name. The Russians thought they could just march into Ukrainian lands in a triumphant parade, he tells me. They were mistaken. It will never happen, he says.

I mean, this is a bit of almost a cliche, but obviously, somebody has brought a memento from home. You know, and now it's scorched and lying with the debris of there, in this case, failed attack.

An attack that's left Ukrainian forces who repelled it confident, perhaps overconfident that victory can be repeated across the country as Russian troops advance.

Absolutely, Ukraine will win this war, Alexander tells me. Of course, we'll win, the Russians will roth here, he says.

This vehicle here is obviously from the Russian military, it's got the letter V, door on the side looking tape putting paint, that -- I think that stands for Vostok, which is the Russian word for East, which implies that these military equipments, they came from the Eastern divisions of the Russian military. Whatever saying that, look, there's evidence and I'm going to show you this too much, but there's a body there. That's a Russian soldier that is lying there dead on this bridge.

[00:05:09]

You can tell they're Russian, because they've got this. This black and red and orange George Ribbon dogged across them, which is a sign, symbol of the Russian army.

Oh, my God. There's another one there. It's terrible to see the grim inhumanity of a war for the Ukrainians and of course, for the Russians as well. The sacrifice that is being paid by all sides in this complete waste of life is here for us all to see.

Matthew Chance, CNN, Kyiv.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: And for more, I'm joined now by Malcolm Davis from the Australian strategic policy institute. He's a senior analyst at the think tank working on defense strategy and capability. So, a great voice to have on this.

When you look at this 40 miles, 65 kilometer long Russian convoy outside Kyiv, what does it tell you that perhaps we're looking at an escalation about to happen by the Russians?

MALCOLM DAVIS, SENIOR ANALYST, AUSTRALIAN STRATEGIC POLICY INSTITUTE: Thanks, Michael. Look, I think we are. I think the Russians have realized that their initial approach to the war where they committed their first echelon forces fairly haphazardly, with little air support and not correct logistics has failed.

So, they're now reverting to their traditional approach of warfare, which is overwhelming force, large numbers of forces swamping a defender. And I think what we're going to see is that escalation in fighting and the intensity of the fighting of the brutality of the use of long range firepower, directly against Kyiv for the Russian's attempt to seize Kyiv itself.

HOLMES: In a traditional military sense, we know as you point out what Putin is capable of, from what happened in Ghazni, in Chechnya, and in Syria. You know, do you think that there's about to be a potentially ferocious escalation in Kyiv? I'm talking about mechanized units moving into an urban warfare situation, and what could that look like? I was in Fallujah, after the battle there. It is not pretty. DAVIS: (INAUDIBLE). And I think what you'll see is large scale use of long range firepower, so artillery and missile fires, you could see the use of thermobaric weapons against Kyiv.

But certainly, I think given the Russian's willingness to use multiple rocket launch technology against Kharkiv last night, you'll see the same thing meted out to Kyiv in the coming days.

So, they'll go through an approach of overwhelming, brutal firepower to create shock and all to blast the Ukrainians into surrender. And Ukrainians will not do that. I think Ukrainians will fight as long as they can. And then, they'll switch to an insurgency into a war of resistance from the West. And I think that's the strategy for the Ukrainians going forward.

HOLMES: Yes, what is your assessment of how Russia has prosecuted this war so far? You know, many suggesting overconfidence in how things would go, what's your take on how they've moved, how they've supplied, how they've maneuvered around so far?

DAVIS: Well, you know, we feared the Russians during the Cold War that they would overwhelm us along the inner German (PH) border. Looking at them today, it's amateur hour. The Russians have not thought through their logistics. And you know, logistics is critical to winning war.

And so, you've had situations where armored fighting vehicles and tanks have literally run out of fuel on the road and had to be abandoned. They haven't gained control of the air, which is once again critical to winning a war.

Instead, you have a situation where Russian aircraft are being shot down. There's an apparent lack of electronic warfare and cyber support for forces. And then, most importantly of all, which has been the biggest surprise is there's been no effective combined arms operations. You had individual units or small groups of units going out ahead being exposed to fire, being overwhelmed rather than a coordinated approach between artillery and long-range fires, armored vehicles and infantry aircraft.

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HOLMES: As you would know, I mean a motivated enemy, an underdog if you like but motivated can often seriously challenge and undermotivated army and there's a lot of 19-year-old Russian conscripts out there.

Is that -- is that what's happening here given the Ukrainians are fighting for their very nationhood?

DAVIS: I think so, certainly, from what I've seen, the Russian morale is very low. A lot of the troops don't know really why they're fighting and that is always fatal towards the success of a campaign.

So, morale, fighting Spirit is simply not there. You look at the Ukrainians is quite the opposite. They are fighting for their survival literally. Because they realize that if the Russians do win, then Ukraine as a country ceases to exist, and many of their people would be killed. So, they are fighting for their survival. And I think the morale is all on the Ukrainian side.

HOLMES: Malcolm Davis, always great to have your expertise. Really appreciate you taking the time. Thank you.

Now, as the war rages on in Ukraine, the United Nations High Commission of the Human Rights says more than 400 civilian casualties have now been reported so far, at least, but he warns that the real number could be considerably higher.

Now, this coming as the International Criminal Court has announced it will open an investigation against Russia for possible war crimes. The ICC's prosecutor says that they will begin their probe "as rapidly as possible". The Ukrainian ambassador to the U.N. says he welcomes the move.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SERGIY KYSLYTSYA, UKRAINIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N.: We welcome the statement issued today by the ICC prosecutor Karim Khan on the situation in Ukraine.

In particular, he's satisfied that there is a reasonable basis to believe that those alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed in Ukraine.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Now, the Kremlin has said Russian forces would not attack Ukrainian cities but Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy says war crimes are being committed as Russians targets civilians and residential areas in his country.

All right, still to come here on the program, how Ukrainian civilians and volunteers are playing a critical role in helping to defend their country from Russian forces.

But others desperate to escape the commotion, the panic the frustration at a train station in Kyiv in Lviv. We'll be right back.

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HOLMES: Hello, everyone, I'm Michael Holmes coming to you live from Lviv in Western Ukraine.

While Russian troops press forward with their military campaign, many Ukrainian citizens making it clear they are eager to defend their homeland even though they are obviously outgunned by Russian forces.

CNN's Clarissa Ward shows us the indomitable spirit of some civilian volunteers in Kyiv.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The people of Kyiv are mobilizing. Across the capital, volunteers are pouring in, building up the city's defenses with whatever they can. Women bring in empty Boston to be made into Molotov cocktails.

The leaders of this militia say Ukraine will win this war, emboldened by recent successful operations to repel Russian forces.

One shows us his passport. I am Ivanoff (PH). I am originally Russian, he says, but no Russian boots will stand here.

Do you have a message for President Putin?

It's a popular sentiment on the streets. This man's sign is too vulgar to translate. Another billboard warns invading forces. Russian soldiers leave. How will you look your children in the eye?

Ukraine has borne the brutality of this invasion with patient, grit and determination.

Outside every supermarket, there are long lines and scarce supplies but no one is complaining. It's amazing to see the optimism of people here. They've been waiting in this line about 40 minutes to get into the supermarket.

But still they're saying, everything is going to be OK. You can feel a growing confidence among people that they do have a chance to defeat Russia.

In an Eastern suburb of the city, Raisa Smatko's (PH) front yard has turned into a staging area. So you can see, they're collecting things to donate to people. Sleeping bags, sleeping mats, pickles, foods.

Smatko is a grandmother and a retired economist. Now, she spends her days preparing for battle.

OK. This is where they make the Molotov cocktails. She said she's going to show us them now.

These are the only weapons she has, but she says she's ready to fight.

Let those Russian shits come here, she says. We are ready to greet them.

How did you learn how to make Molotov cocktails? Google help, she tells me.

You Googled it?

Of course, she says.

If Russian forces push into the capital here in Kyiv, what will you do? We will beat them. They won't come, she tells us. I believe in our Ukraine. I believe in Ukrainian people.

[00:20:08] WARD: Moments later, she's off. Russian forces are still moving forward. And there is much work to be done.

Clarissa Ward, CNN, Kyiv.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Now, the U.N. estimates that more than half a million people have already fled Ukraine. Border Control says many of them heading West of course, that's the easiest way out of this country, they're surrounded on other borders. Hundreds of thousands from the first wave of refugees have arrived in parts of Poland, others going to neighboring Hungary, Moldova, Romania, and some are making it as far as Berlin.

Now, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees says the number of people leaving Ukraine is rising exponentially by the hour.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FILIPPO GRANDI, U.N. HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES: I regret to say that unless there is, as American said an immediate halt to conflict, Ukrainians will simply continue to flee. We're currently planning -- I repeat, planning for up to four million refugees in the coming days and weeks.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Inside Ukraine, there's a growing number of people trying to escape. CNN's Scott McLean shows us what's happening here in Lviv.

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SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At the train station in Lviv, no one knows when the next train to Poland will come. They wade into the frigid temperatures just in case.

Suddenly, an announcement sends people rushing for platform five. Some cross the tracks to get there but police turn them away.

Please keep calm and go down the stairs, shouts the officer. How can I not panic? Let us in. My kid has a disability. He's downstairs with our bag, she tells us. We traveled three days from Berdyans'k.

I'm nervous, another woman, traveling with a toddler tells us.

How are you feeling now?

This mother pushing a stroller says everything in just a single glance.

Under the platform, it's a free for all, but sometimes gets tense. People push their way to the front but police allow only women and children. Men are told not to bother.

This woman is offered a place on the train with her baby but not her husband, and she won't go without him. No, I can't, she says. He has everything. He has friends there. And how will he get there? Not by train.

At the top of the stairs, police usher women and children through the crowd, tossing suitcases and pulling children up by their coats. It's all a bit overwhelming for kids and for mothers.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Very bad. My child cry, very bad.

MCLEAN: They are packing as many people as they can into these trains. But there are still many people, including women and children, who likely will not make it.

This Nigerian woman who came from Kyiv two days ago is one of them.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm overwhelmed. It's insane. I never want to be in this position in my life.

MCLEAN: Your tired?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, (INAUDIBLE) I couldn't sleep for days. I'm so happy at least I could get into the train.

MCLEAN: With most Ukraine men barred from leaving the country, the men turned away are almost entirely foreign.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We find to that taxi but he told us we need a lot of money, $500, $600.

MCLEAN: For the waiting families, the next train is due a few hours later. Many who traveled for days just to get here, it can't come soon enough.

Scott McLean, CNN, Lviv, Ukraine.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Incredible scenes there. All right, coming up here on the program, severe sanctions from the West are slamming Russia's economy. The latest on the economic turmoil in a live report, coming up.

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HOLMES: Welcome back, everyone. I'm Michael Holmes live in Lviv in Ukraine.

Bitter fighting still underway across the country as Ukrainians tried to hold off a Russian invasion. Deadly explosions rocked Ukraine's second largest city Kharkiv on Monday, Ukrainian officials accusing Russian forces of carrying out strikes in a residential area and apartment building and a supermarket.

Now, a video posted online shows what appears to be rockets raining down outside some apartment homes. This is also in Kharkiv as people run to safety. Officials say it was one of several attacks on that city Monday. It is a key strategic place being hard fought over.

In all, Kharkiv's mayor says nine civilians, including three children killed in those attacks.

I want to show you some scenes playing out the same day Ukrainian and Russian officials are meeting for negotiations at the border with Belarus to discuss a possible ceasefire. No breakthroughs, though, but officials did indicate that more talks could be on the horizon.

Meanwhile, the U.S., E.U. and other allies are making the sting of sanctions even worse for Moscow.

On Monday, the U.S. barring Russian banks from trading in American dollars. Vladimir Putin responding with some harsh words of his own.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): I gathered you to speak on the economic and financial issues that we had been discussing, naturally, bearing in mind the sanctions that the so- called Western Community, as I called in my speech, the "empire of lies" is now trying to implement against our country. President Vladimir Putin holding crisis talks with his top economic advisers as Russia's economy reels from crushing western sanctions.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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HOLMES: CNN's Anna Stewart with more on the economic impact.

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ANNA STEWART, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Like for ordinary Russians just got much more expensive.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Prices are rising, of course. Savings are shrinking. And stocks are falling.

STEWART: Russia's financial system is reeling from crushing sanctions imposed by the West. The Moscow Stock Exchange was closed Monday after the Russian ruble crashed to a record low against the dollar. At one stage, it was down more than 30 percent, worth half of what it was at the start of the year.

TIM ASH, SENIOR EM STRATEGIST, BLUEBAY ASSET MANAGEMENT: I think what's clear is Russia's going to be frozen out of the international markets and businesses for a long time to come. That means hiring costs, less investment, less growth, lower living standards. Because of this crisis, Russians are going to be a lot poorer.

STEWART: The turmoil has led to long queues outside banks as people try to withdraw their savings.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Since Thursday, everyone has been running between ATMs to withdraw cash. Some get lucky, some don't.

STEWART: On Monday, Russia's central bank more than doubled the key interest rate from nine and a half percent to 20 percent. But its power to shore up the currency has been severely curtailed.

Russia has built up a financial war chest ever since it illegally annexed Crimea in 2014. You can see here how its foreign reserves have swelled by some 28 percent over that period, now totaling $630 billion.

Now, that includes foreign currency, gold, assets that could be sold to shore up the Russian ruble. However, the U.S., the U.K., E.U., Canada, Switzerland, they have all sanctioned the central bank, and as much as 50 percent of its assets are frozen, backing the central bank into a corner.

Life isn't just getting more expensive; it's getting increasingly isolated. Multiple airlines have canceled flights to Russia. And in response, Russia closed its airspace to 36 nations on Monday.

ASH: Putin is making Russia an international pariah. I mean, did they personally -- when they -- even if they get to travel, do they want people to kind of see them as international bullies against this kind of poor Ukrainian nation? I'm not sure.

So Putin is more than double than he's been for a very long time.

STEWART: The sanctions are starting to bite Russian oligarchs, too, sparking a surprise call for peace from two of the country's richest businessmen. Mikhail Fridman, chairman of Russia's Alpha Group and the country's largest private bank, wrote in a letter to staff that he wanted the bloodshed to end.

Putin ally and billionaire Oleg Deripaska tweeted Sunday, "Peace is the priority. Negotiations must start ASAP." Their voices adding further pressure on the Russian leader as the economic backlash of his war hits home.

Anna Stewart, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Joining me now to discuss the latest developments is CNN European affairs commentator Dominic Thomas. Always good to see you, Dominic.

I suppose holding talks is something looking to the next round, as well, but do you see any sign of real hope? I mean, the Russians have already shown in this conflict they will just talk to string things along.

DOMINIC THOMAS, CNN EUROPEAN AFFAIRS COMMENTATOR: I think at this juncture, and certainly if we saw, you know, two weeks ago the relationship between Ukraine and Russia was a David and Goliath type relationship. Extraordinarily asymmetrical. I think Ukrainians came to the table, the negotiating table strengthened and emboldened today. But while this was going on, there were massive troop build-ups

throughout the country, especially outside the capital, Kyiv. The world "nuclear" was used, and this tremendous concern as to how this is going to unfold, especially around the capital. So, ultimately, at this juncture, those talks went nowhere and reassured nobody.

HOLMES: Yes, I think you're right about that. Putin, he almost certainly -- well, he did factor in the sanctions. He knew they were coming. He baked them into his strategic calculus. But did he bake in this much of a western response, do you think?

THOMAS: I absolutely don't think he did. I think if you look at what happened then unfolded over the past few weeks, the sort of succession of western leaders, I think he was sort of testing the waters in some ways, attempting to divide and rule, especially over Nord Stream and Germany and so on and so forth.

I think ultimately, his dream was to rekindle a kind of bipolar world, in which he would strengthen his position around Belarus and Ukraine, and create this antagonistic relationship with the West.

[00:35:11]

And ultimately, it's not just the solidarity of the West that has gotten by surprise. It is this extraordinary global reaffirmation of multilateralism the we have witnessing, with leaders from across the planet, including Japan, speaking out in support of Ukraine. And that is something that he could not have anticipated.

HOLMES: Yes, and you make a good point, because you know, we expected sanctions. But some countries have gone a lot further than many expected. I mean, Germany is a great example of that. Others, too. What does that tell you about just how angry most of the world is at Vladimir Putin and how isolated that makes him?

THOMAS: Yes. Well, when you especially look at the European context, and I think Germany, as you mentioned, is the ultimate example. This is a country that essentially, since the end of the Second World War, almost 80 years now, has been defunding defense, defunding the military.

And as with the European Union, essentially getting going in 1957, organized around the two pillars of peace and prosperity. Both are being threatened by what's happening in Ukraine right now.

And ultimately, what we see is western governments realizing, and all importantly, with the support of the people, that at this particular historic crossroads, in order to keep Pilar No. 1 going, which is peace, which ultimately leads the prosperity, they're going to have to revisit their current priorities.

And that is going to ultimately mean rethinking the way in which they go about working on defense domestically, but also coordinating with organizations like NATO, the European Union, and so on. So it's giving them, in some ways, a new kind of oxygen to support that particular perspective and agenda. HOLMES: Yes. And to that point, I mean, we talked about western unity

in general, but in terms of NATO and specifically, Putin clearly wanted a fracturing. I think he counted on it in some ways. But he's actually strengthened it. I mean, how far could that strengthening go? Do you think countries like, you know, Sweden and Finland, they could be tempted to sign onto NATO?

THOMAS: I think you're absolutely right. I mean, it's actually pointed to the fact that -- that going alone is a real problem. And that organizations like NATO, like the E.U., that for the last four or five years or so, especially under the Trump presidency, were undermined, where the multilateral order was constantly threatened, criticized, including by Brexit and so on, have now proved that they are indispensable organizations. And they also have been strengthened through this particular process, not just militarily, but also because of the military protection they provide to a very specific understanding of a way of life. And that's so much of what this story is about, here.

HOLMES: Absolutely. A great analysis as always. Dominic Thomas, really appreciate you taking the time. We'll talk again soon, I'm sure.

THOMAS: All right. Take good care, Michael.

HOLMES: Much more from Ukraine. Thank you very much, Dominic. We're going to have much more from Ukraine ahead this hour.

First, though, I want to bring in John Vause at CNN's world headquarters in Atlanta. Over to you, my friend.

JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: Michael, thank you. We'll take a short break, but when we come back, on the eve of a pivotal moment, we'll take a closer look at how Ukraine will loom large in his first State of the Union.

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[00:42:27]

VAUSE: The U.S. president and almost a dozen other world the leaders have promised continued support for Ukraine, including security, economic, and humanitarian assistance.

During a one-and-a-half-hour-long secure call Monday, they stressed the importance of a unified and coordinated response to hold Russia accountable for the unprovoked invasion. And President Biden also expected to focus on the crisis in Ukraine during his first State of the Union address Tuesday night.

Live to Washington now. CNN White House reporter Jasmine Wright. Jasmine, this will be a very different State of the Union address, compared to what Biden may have been planning just a few months ago.

JASMINE WRIGHT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right, John, and I think that when you talk to officials, they had assumed that a few months ago, this would be a perfect platform for President Biden to really talk about a domestic reset when it came to the problems that the U.S. is facing.

But fast forward to right now. Things look a lot different now. And so he will have to address the -- the crisis in Ukraine in this critically important speech.

So on Monday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki, she said that President Biden will talk about a few different things when it comes to Ukraine.

First, he will tout NATO's and western allies unity, something that he helped build in the last few weeks and months, especially as we have seen them be really unified, particularly in this last week when it comes to sanctions on Russia trying to cripple the economy, put the ruble in free fall, as well as punishing them for their continued aggression. So that's something that he will speak about.

And that he's also going to talk about all of the military assistance that NATO and allies, including the U.S., have sent to Ukraine trying to prop them up, trying to support the resistance there as they fight amid these concerning warnings from lawmakers and U.S. officials alike that things could become more challenging for the Ukrainians in the future.

Of course, they've spoken about how pleasantly surprised they've been with the Ukrainian assistance so far, but they're seeing that, you know, things can become more challenging down the road.

And now a third thing that he's going to talk about is he's going to bring it back to the homeland here, talk about all of the ways that his administration is trying to make things less impactful for the American people when it comes to constraints with what is happening in Ukraine.

Of course, one of the things that was first identified, John, was gas prices and how oil could spike, and how Americans could be paying more at the pump. Something that this administration, over the course of the last year and a half, has really had a laser focus on trying to keep gas prices down. So that is something that Biden is also going to talk about.

Now, of course, we can expect them to still hit those domestic issues, like the ongoing pandemic, like inflation, things that his office has struggled with, the White House has struggled with for quite some time since at least the beginning of last summer.

[00:45:14]

So, those will be on the agenda. But really back to Ukraine. That's going to be a main, main focus of the president here in this critically-important moment, in his first State of the Union speech of his presidency -- John.

VAUSE: Jasmine, thank you, pulling late shift there at the White House. We appreciate that. Thank you.

To much of the world, Vladimir Putin is now a pariah. Yet another wannabe tyrant, determined to take by force what is not his. A move by a growing body count of innocent men, women, and children, murdered in his unprovoked, unjustified war.

But in China, state media parrots the line from Moscow that this is special military operation, that only military targets are attacked. And Putin is heard talking about NATO's actions leaving him no choice.

Live to Hong Kong, where Anna Coren has more on this. And Anna, it's not entirely one-sided, though, when it comes to how China's state- controlled media has covered this conflict, and that carries some significance.

ANNA COREN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Certainly, John. And as you were saying, while the rest of the world is condemning what Russia is doing in Ukraine, Chinese state media, Chinese Internet users, are saying the complete opposite. You know, the sentiment very much pro- Putin, pro-Russia, pro-war.

We obviously know that for China, Russia, and China, are these very close allies. China would have to be Russia's most powerful ally. These are two countries, mutually aligned in their disdain for the West, in particular, the United States.

And that was concreted last month when they signed that joint statement; when Putin flew to Beijing to see Xi at the Winter Olympics, signing that statement, saying that their countries' friendship has no limits.

Now, the government is yet to condemn the actions of Russia. Nor will they. They're remaining impartial. But certainly, we are seeing this conveyed through state media.

Let me read to you some of what we are learning from CCTV. They're saying that NATO is the source of the Ukraine crisis, that the Ukraine people saying that they're feeling abandoned by the United States, and that oil depot explosion that was hit was by Ukrainian rockets.

And also, the world's largest plane, an Astonov-225, was destroyed on an air field near Kyiv, as destroyed by Ukrainians, and not by the Russians.

They are just parroting the same lies that are coming out of Russia. And the misinformation, John, it continues. "The Global Times" is reporting that the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has fled the capital. They've said, "Zelenskyy hastily left Kyiv. He was not in the capital of Ukraine yesterday. Together with his entourage, he fled to the city of Lviv, where he and his assistants were equipped with a place to live."

It goes on to say that the social media posts that Zelenskyy is putting out, though, were pre-recorded before he fled. CNN can certainly confirm that Zelenskyy is in Kyiv. The capital, rallying his citizens, and inspiring them to fight back against the Russians.

Now, was the overwhelming majority of people on the Chinese Internet are very much pro-what is happening right now in Ukraine, as far as the Russian invasion. That is because, you know, they believe that Russia has this historical claim to Ukraine, the same way that China has this historical claim to Taiwan.

There is a very brave group of Chinese academics, who have posted a joint statement online. It's since been taken down. But I want to read it to you, because the Ukrainian embassy in Shanghai has put it up on their Facebook page. And it's quite extraordinary.

They wrote, "We categorically oppose the war that Russia started against Ukraine. We strongly support Ukrainians in their quest to protect their country. We strongly urge the Russian government and President Putin to stop the war by negotiating to resolve the contradictions."

I mean, John, as you well know, these are incredibly brave people to be speaking out against the state.

VAUSE: Absolutely. And good for them. Anna, thank you. Anna Coren, live in Hong Kong.

We'll have breaking news coverage of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, continues in just a moment. Coming up, the two countries met for talks on Monday, but Russia's continued assault on Ukraine overshadowed those negotiations. We'll have more on that with Michael Holmes, live in Ukraine, in just a moment.

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[00:53:58]

HOLMES: And welcome back, everyone. I'm Michael Holmes, live in Lviv, Ukraine.

A quick recap now of the situation here. Ukrainian forces continue to mount a fierce resistance to the Russian invasion, which is now in its sixth day. The mayor of Kyiv says the city is under a non-stop attack by Russian troops.

On the outskirts of the capital, a massive Russian military convoy stretches for more than 40 miles, 65 kilometers. Satellite images show plumes of smoke, meanwhile, rising from homes and buildings in the areas near where the convoy is traveling.

As though it is not -- at the moment, it's not clear what exactly is causing that smoke.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's president accusing Russia of synchronizing Monday's negotiations with a new wave of attacks. Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia committed war crimes by bombing Kharkiv and attacking civilians. The city's mayor says the rocket attacks killed nine civilians.

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[00:55:03] VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): There can be fair negotiations if one side does not hit the other side with rocket artillery, at the time of negotiation. So far, we do not have the result we would like to get. Russia has stated its position, and we have declared counterpoints to end the war.

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HOLMES: Now, one matter Russian does not have a say in is football. Both FIFA and UEFA suspending the Russian national team and professional clubs from competition, saying they stand in full solidarity with Ukraine.

The groups were backed into a corner, though, after at least 11 countries refused to play against Russia in matches leading up to the World Cup.

FIFA had previously ruled the Russian national team would have to compete under a different name, with no flag, national anthem, or fans present at their matches.

Reporting live from Ukraine, I'm Michael Holmes. Our breaking news coverage continues, after the break.

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