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Ukraine Fights Back Against Russian Invasion for 6th Day; Zelensky: Russia Synchronized Attacks with Negotiations; Eight EU Countries Call for Talks on Ukrainian Membership; Interview with Gitanas Nauseda, Lithuanian President, the Effects of Western Sanctions on Russia's Economy; Ukrainian Mother Living in Bomb Shelter with Three Children. Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired March 01, 2022 - 04:00   ET

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

[04:00:00]

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: And welcome to our viewers joining us in the United States and all around the world, I'm Michael Holmes coming to you live from Lviv, Ukraine. Appreciate your company. We are continuing breaking news coverage of the Russian invasion of this country. Ukrainians battling on two fronts. At home and abroad as hundreds of thousands of people have fled the country. More on the way. The U.N. says more than 400 civilians have been killed since Russia launched its attack and it looks like the worst could be just around the corner.

And just in the last hour we've learned that a large blast has taken out a government building in Kharkiv, which is Ukraine's second largest city. The state emergency service says six people have been injured including a child in that explosion. Kharkiv of course has been the scene of intense Russian barrages. The mayor says at least nine civilians have been killed by rocket fire on Monday and that excludes this attack on the government building which is right in the center of Kharkiv.

Now all of this as a massive Russian convoy is bearing down on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv where air sirens have been going off today. Satellite images shows the convoy stretches for more than 40 miles. That's around 65 kilometers and includes tanks and artillery. That convoy near Kyiv coming from the north and to the south Russian forces have moved into the contested city of Kherson. Russia appears to be gaining ground but a Western official telling CNN Russia is, quote, well behind the schedule it set for the invasion and that there was a failure to take out Ukraine's air defenses on the first day of the war. The Pentagon praising Ukraine's defenders.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN KIRBY, PENTAGON PRESS SECRETARY: What we also have seen is Ukrainians resisting quite effectively around Kyiv and continuously. They have made it a tuff slog for the Russians to move further south. Make no mistake, Mr. Putin still has at his disposal significant combat power. He hasn't moved all of it into Ukraine but he's moved a majority of it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Now despite the Ukrainian resistance, there are fears the country will face evermore intense fighting. CNN has learned U.S. lawmakers were given a classified briefing saying Ukraine could soon be overwhelmed. One source said the rate at which cities could fall is alarming.

Now they were negotiations between the Russians and Ukrainians on Monday. But the assault on Ukraine has continued unabated. Ukraine's president says the Russians were, in fact, syncing up attacks with those negotiations.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Today with the Russian side's initiative, we had the first round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. These negotiations took place with the shelling and bombing of our territory on the background. Shelling of our cities. Synchronization of the shelling with the negotiations was obvious. I think that with this simple-minded method Russia is trying to pressure us. Do not lose time. We do not accept these tactics.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Now the barrage of Russian shelling may have been intended to intimidate Ukrainians as Mr. Zelensky suggested. But in reality, it seems to be having the opposite effect. You're looking at video there of a group of Ukrainians using their cars and their bodies to stop the advance of Russian forces. Incredible courage. Eventually that line of Russian vehicles starts turning around.

And then there's this which happened in another town nearby. Residents there built barricades and laid out metal spikes on the road to try to stop the advancing Russian convoy.

[04:05:02]

And in Kyiv Ukrainian forces used heavy duty weaponry to stop an approaching Russian convoy. CNN's Matthew Chance has our exclusive reporting on this. But a warning some of the images you may see could be disturbing to some people.

(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.

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

CHANCE (voice-over): Trucks and armored vehicles reduced to twisted metal as Ukrainian forces dig in, catching the Kremlin and its invasion force off guard.

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

CHANCE (voice-over): 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.

CHANCE: I mean look, I mean it's 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.

CHANCE (voice-over): 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 rot here, he says.

CHANCE: This vehicle here is obviously from the Russian military, it's got the letter V, door on the side looking tape or in paint, that -- I think that stands for Vostok, which is the Russian word for East, which implies that these military equipment, 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.

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

Yes, ammunition. Alexander.

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: Now the presidents of eight European countries are pushing the EU to immediately grant Ukraine candidate country status and begin negotiations on its formal acceptance into the bloc. Now this is a major step and one that Ukraine of course has wanted for years now. I'll interview one of those EU leaders, Lithuania's president in just a few minutes. But first a reminder that on Monday Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on bloc to grant his country immediate EU membership. Here's part of that plea.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENSKY (through translator): Europeans realize that our soldiers are fighting for our country and for all of you, for peace, for peace for all, for all the countries of the European Union. For lives of children, for equality, for democracy. And this gives us the full right to do the following. We call on the European Union for Ukraine's immediate accession under a new special procedure.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: CNN's Natasha Bertrand joins me now from EU headquarters in Brussels. So, tell us more about how the EU is responding to this request?

NATASHA BERTRAND, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, Michael, the president of the European Commission did say that they consider Ukraine to be part of the EU. They feel like they are one of us, those were her words. And so, the process now though is what's going to be very difficult obviously.

[04:10:00]

It is enormously complex process to have a country apply for and be admitted into the European Union.

Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, has said he wants that process to be expedited. Obviously, considering the circumstances. But there has yet to be a vote on that, there has yet to be consensus on whether that will actually happen. However, many EU states, as you pointed out, are pushing for that candidacy to be expedited in light of the events and the war that Russia has waged on Ukraine. But it remains to be seen whether that will actually happen.

In the meantime, though, the European Union has really stepped up its assistance to Ukraine. For the first time they approved over $500 million worth of security assistance to the country that includes weaponry. Germany has for the first time taken from its own stockpile weapons that it will now be sending to Ukraine to help them fend off the Russian advances. And so, we're seeing the, you know, the EU has closed off the air space to the Russians. They are looking to ban Russian media from the bloc.

So, a lot going on here to make sure that Russia can't spread propaganda within the European Union, it's war propaganda. Making sure that they are penalized for this act of aggression against Ukraine by closing off that air space. And by arming the Ukrainians with an enormous amount of weaponry including air defense missiles, including anti-tank missiles that they believe can keep the momentum going in Ukraine's favor. As you can see, the Ukrainians have been over performing here contrary to all expectations. And the Russians have not been doing so well. Officials caution us though that that could change. There could be a second wave of a Russian attack coming. And therefore, the Ukrainians really need all of the help they can get at this moment -- Michael.

HOLMES: All right, Natasha Bertrand in Brussels. Appreciate the update on that. Could be significant going forward.

Now in response to the EU's decision to support Ukraine with weapons and sanctions on Moscow, Russia's foreign ministry says the country will continue the realization of its national interest. But Japan says G-7 members and allies will urge the international community to unite against Russia. And the White House Press Secretary says the Russian President has given NATO countries a common goal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEN PSAKI, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: President Putin has been one of the greatest unifiers of NATO in modern history so I guess that is one thing we can thank him for.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Joining me now is one of the eight presidents calling for the immediate acceptance of Ukraine as a candidate to join the EU, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda. And thanks so much for being with us. First of all, your comments on why you chose to call for this now?

GITANAS NAUSEDA, LITHUANIAN PRESIDENT: This is our moral duty to participate in this process, to be active, to be in the first throes of Ukrainian supporters. Symbolically that I visited Ukraine together with the Polish President Andrzej Duda, six days ago, it was last day of the peace.

And, you know, now having in mind these horrible events in Ukraine I would like to remind also our common history with the Ukrainian nation. In 14th and 15th century there was so called Grand Duchy of Lithuania, very large state. They are whole nations, Ukraine, Belarusians, Lithuanians. And other nations fear these countries living together shoulder to shoulder. So, our friendship, our close relations, they are very deep historical roots and we feel special empathy to Ukrainian nation. So, this is the reason why I am so actively engaged as it comes from my heart.

HOLMES: And that makes sense from where you sit. Vladimir Putin made it clear that, you know, separate from Ukraine, he has his eyes on former Soviet states, Baltic states like your country. Do you take him at his word? Do you fear he could turn his attention to your country, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia and others at some point?

NAUSEDA: Unfortunately, this scenario cannot be excluded. And probably nobody and no country in European Union, in Europe can feel safe right now. Yes, Ukraine is target number one. But it will not support Ukraine. If Ukraine will fall be sure that you'll be next. Russia will stay a powerhouse.

[04:15:00]

This is the reason why we have to be united and I think this is very good idea I hear nowadays that Putin probably this is the most important unifier of Europe and NATO. I think this is true and I see a big shift in the minds of the people, in the minds of my colleagues. They are from Western European countries and I think Europe understands very well how this are the threats to our security. And how important that is to support Ukraine and to be with them in this very complicated moment of history.

And our support has been viewed also not only military support but economic, financial support because there is a need to restore the country after this terrible war. But first of all, this war should be -- we have to win this war and we have to expel the Russians from the territory of Ukraine.

HOLMES: I wanted to ask you about something I know you are concerned about and that is the role of Belarus allowing Russian troops to invade Ukraine from its territory. And now changing the constitution to allow nuclear weapons on its land. What do you think of the role President Lukashenko has played?

NAUSEDA: I think we have to name the processes of the events as they are and since the event after the presidential elections in Belarus, unfortunately Belarus is not independent state anymore. We can talk about one more guberniya of the Russian federation. And this is the reason why our military cooperation in NATO has changed dramatically. Belarusian territory, Belarusian soil can be used as a place for deployment of Russian troops and they can land operations towards Ukraine, or towards Slavic nations, to our sovereign neighbors first of all Poland and Lithuania. And you mentioned a very important legal framework, amendments of legal framework after the referendum, so- called referendum. Now we have amendments of constitution which allow do deploy military air, nuclear weapons in Belarusian territory. And this is one more very serious threat to our security we have to keep in mind.

HOLMES: Let me ask you this. You have told the NATO secretary general that it is now crucial to strengthen the security of the Baltic region. Strengthen in what way specifically? And for example, I mean, do you want a permanent presence of U.S. troops in Lithuania?

NAUSEDA: We see that this process -- this process is for us a complex process. We are talking about strengthening of the Eastern flank of NATO. It includes of course Baltic Black Sea region but includes the Baltic region, too. And I am happy and I welcome very much recent decisions to strengthen very materially, to strengthen the Baltic countries and first of all I would like to tell that Germany has a leading country of the enhance for our presence in Lithuania send 350 troops additionally, Netherlands also increase the presence. And Norway and other countries which participate in our security system.

But, yes, United States as our very close ally has to take more responsibility, too. So, this is the reason why we are asking our colleagues in the United States to strengthen the presence of the United States, not only in Lithuania but also in other Baltic countries.

HOLMES: It's a significant request, too, Mr. President. Let me ask you, the world, of course, has united against this invasion with sanctions, then tougher sanctions, extremely tough financial steps and yet the fact is Putin is carrying on. He might be hurting and he might hurt a lot in the future, but he seems willing to bear the pain. What would it take to stop him doing what he is doing right now today?

NAUSEDA: I think those sanctions which were imposed recently and which will be imposed in the nearest future are very serious.

[04:20:00]

This time they are very serious. It was not the case during the last sanctions packages. Of course, where they were probably not so effective and it didn't make big harm for Russian economy. But this time the situation is totally different and I expect that it will bring some additional movement from their bottom of society that something has to be changed in Russia because their people they will suffer. And we are not only talking not only about oligarchs, we are talking about middle class. We are talking about possible drop of GDP which will be measured in several or even more percentage points.

We are talking about fall of exchange-rate of Russian ruble, official reserves. All these sanctions are this time very painful and the Russian Federation has to pay the price. This was the initial intention if Russia starts this war, the price of this action should be as high as possible. And I think this is a case and this is how to say first of all of our defense against power aggression of the Russian Federation.

HOLMES: Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, thanks so much for your perspective. Appreciate your time, Mr. President. Thank you.

NAUSEDA: Thank you very much. Save Ukraine.

HOLMES: A salute there for Ukraine. Now after Russia invaded of course, a young Ukrainian mother and her children took refuge in a bomb shelter. And she says their new reality is very hard to accept.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My husband was at work and life was nice and normal here, absolutely. And the Russians have started the war.

(END VIDEO CLIP) HOLMES: What she wants the rest of the world to know about their situation and why she says Vladimir Putin must be punished.

[04:25:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It started was crying. It was all I know. I think my house destroyed.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Your house is destroyed?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, I didn't see it. But people who live there, they told me yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: And she is just one of many Ukrainians escaping or trying to escape the dangerous situation at home. Refugees battling blizzards and enduring long lines for a chance to feel safe again. Many of them heading to neighboring countries. We're talking about Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary as well. The U.N. estimates more than half a million Ukrainians have fled so far. And it is clear why we have told the fighting has caused more than 400 civilian casualties in less than a week since the war began. That's likely an underestimate.

Now in the hours ahead the U.N. will launch a humanitarian appeal to help the people in Ukraine as well as a, quote, regional refugee response plan for those outside the country.

Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court has agreed to open an investigation into the Russian invasion saying it is reasonable to believe alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed.

Now we are about to hear from just one of the many people seeking safety in the Ukrainian capital. The mother of three has been in a bomb shelter since Thursday with her children who says are being forced to grow up way too quickly. Her youngest who is only four months old has a cough and her husband who is a local journalist volunteered to fight for his country in Kyiv. She spoke earlier to CNN's Anderson Cooper.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OLENA GNES, UKRAINIAN CIVILIAN IN KYIV BOMB SHELTER: So today we have about 100 people in this bomb shelter. And you call it the bomb shelter, but in fact, most of the places where people hide, they are not really bomb shelters, they just the basements of the building. So, they're not very well prepared for any kind of bomb shelling.

So, if the missile hits directly this building it will not stand. And it will be a trap. But at least it will protect from some tiny explosions. If there is a safe place on this planet anymore after Putin invaded,

at least in Europe and like in the West. And it's yes, it's very scary. But we have to understand like, what, what happens because we are in denial. And urgently to something to prevent Putin for killing more people, because I know that many attempts are moving right now in this very moment to Kyiv, and they send to Kyiv but and yes, it's not happening on your land, but it's happening with you, too.

We in Ukraine, we will do whatever there is needed to protect our own land because it's our responsibility, our love. And we are Ukrainians. We are being killed by Russian, Russians. But guys, you can be the next and it's obvious. So, let's stop within well, he is on the territory of Ukraine. And if you are afraid to escalate the conflict, yes, recently in Ukraine, we're not escalating any conflicts at all, not provoking anyone.

You see, he just decided to stand here his troops and airplanes and to bomb my city and kill my people simply because he wanted. And for this Putin has to be punished. And for this Putin has to be imprisoned, he -- to take him to Hauge International Court. Because what he has done is an international serious and awful crime.

I don't like how the world is talking to Putin right now to negotiate with him to discuss something, because how can you discuss anything who is a criminal, who is lying all the time? He was saying it's just a military training. And then he invaded. He was saying they will not touch civilians and they bombed all this sleeping districts and apartment blocks and hospitals and schools. And now he says I want to have negotiations ...

[04:30:00]