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Ukrainian President Zelensky Speaks Live; Russia Intensifying Attacks on Cities Across Ukraine; Supreme Court Allows Kentucky Republican Attorney General to Defend Controversial Abortion Law. Aired 10-10:30a ET

Aired March 03, 2022 - 10:00   ET

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

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[10:00:00]

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN NEWSROOM: Just moments ago, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking. Let's listen in.

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT: If you are hungry and if you're thirsty, they will bring you food and drink. That's why I am so confident with our military and with our people defending our state, because our state is very special and our people are very special and I don't want them destroyed. I want them all to remain, not only in history.

I don't want Ukraine's history to be a legend about 300 Spartans. I want peace and I want peace in my country. We are on our land, we are ready for anything, and we're definitely ready for your questions. Let's go.

REPORTER: President Zelensky, ABC News, thank you very much for talking to us today.

I just have two questions. The first is you slowed the Russian advance. There's been fierce Ukraine resistance. But, nevertheless, Russian forces are advancing. They're encroaching on five major cities. What is your honest battlefield of how long you can hold on?

And, secondly, what are your red lines in terms of these negotiations? What is acceptable for you? Is it demilitarization? Is it recognition of the DPR, the LNR in the east, Crimea? What are your red lines?

ZELENSKY: So many questions.

REPORTER: Sorry.

ZELENSKY: And you need only -- REPORTER: I'm sorry, I know your voice is fading.

ZELENSKY: So many questions, and I think nobody who is here doesn't know direct, exactly future or real answers in the question.

So, the first part of your question was (INAUDIBLE)?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Should I slow down or have they stalled?

ZELENSKY: The Russian army is many times bigger. The Russian army is not twice or three times bigger. In terms of tanks or the strength of troops, five times bigger. The Russian people dying here, nobody is counting them, people dying in this war. Do you know they have brought a cremation chamber with them? So, they know they're not going to show bodies to their mothers, their family, they're not going to tell the mothers that their children died here. They came here to kill us, and we are defending our freedom and our homes and that's why they're dying, we don't want to kill them.

Why are we taking them prisoners and then our doctors treating them even though yesterday, our doctors were saving our soldiers dying of their wounds? But they're doctors. They're, first of all, human beings before they feel revenge.

And that's the reality, that's the difference between those who are sending cannon fodder and brought a cremation chamber, they are bringing a cremation chamber, and these guys are carrying that cremation chamber for themselves and they know that.

[10:05:00]

That is horror. I don't understand what kind of person can plan such acts. This is genocide and Nazism. And I am ashamed that we are in the 21st century, in 2022, and we are seeing acts where people are told, forget apocalypses and the end of the world, forget Maya predictions of the end of the world. This is the end of the world, if the Russian's actions, this world is at an end for people like that.

The issue that we are the border defends between them and the civilization. I am not cutting off the ordinary people of Russia. They are people, same people as us, but they're afraid to go to the streets and tell their president, just as the way I am told, when people are happy with me, they come here at the Bankova Street to my office and we have had demonstrations and they tell me, we don't like it. We don't like some tax changes, and that's normal because they elected me to have access to me.

You're not a czar. You did not get this power from somebody up high. You're not a monarch. This is a democracy. You are a president. People elected you and you are the CEO of your country, not a tyrant, not a furor, not somebody, you are the manager, CEO of your country, who must do everything you can to make your country successful, like a company, so that people are proud of your company and proud of --

SCIUTTO: We've been listening there to the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, with an ominous warning to the world. He says that Ukraine is, in effect, the border between Russia and civilization. He says, if Russia were to succeed, were to be the victor here, the end of the world, says the Ukrainian president, in his terms there, an ominous warning.

And, Erica, he says those words as his country is being, in the words of the Pentagon, slowly annihilated. I'm not making those words up. That's the Pentagon description of Russia's new military strategy here. And the fact is, as we see civilian areas bombed, the use of just some just horrific weapons here, that strategy seems to be playing out.

ERICA HILL, CNN NEWSROOM: Yes, and that is the concern too, that we've heard, that we're hearing from officials but we're also hearing from even General Wesley Clark talking about his concerns with us earlier this morning. You just asked Senator Bennett, what happens if Ukraine is not the end here, and there is concern that maybe it wouldn't be. And that is why there's so much attention and why that there is so much focus and so much need, Jim, as you know all too well having been there now for the better part of three weeks.

SCIUTTO: I got to tell you, it's sad to watch. It is. It's the year 2022 and it's war in Europe. And we have refugees. And we have cities being bombed and people dying based on a false justification from the Russian president.

CNN International Security Editor Nick Paton Walsh, he is in Odessa, Ukraine, in the south. We've seen, Nick, particular progress by Russia in the south. We see the city of Kherson falling to Russian control. Odessa would be quite a major, major prize. Tell us what you're seeing there in terms of a build-up of forces, particularly the possibility of an amphibious assault.

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY EDITOR: Yes. I mean, this city has been on edge about that possibility for quite a period of time. We have not seen overt signs of Russian ships edging towards here, although Ukraine defense officials have talked persistently about a number of them being along the coastline here, possibly those still close to their ports in Crimea.

It doesn't stop fortifications here. It doesn't stop deep edginess. It doesn't stop local officials talking about a missile strike or shelling on the far outskirts of where I am, one of those sort of land bridges that connect parts of this coastline towards its western neighbors.

A lot moving around here, but clearly not at this stage a full on Russian onslaught towards this city yet. Where we are seeing uglier images is Kherson to its east. I was speaking to a resident there talking about utter chaos, frankly, people running out of medicines, like insulin, looting done by Russians but also locals too just desperate to get some kind of food in the collapse of the society there.

[10:10:03]

And also a chilling video that's emerged backing up a statement by local officials showing trip wire mine laid on one of the roads there. They're unclear who laid it. The statements suggest it was Russian troops but that's another sign of how dark it's frankly getting for residents there.

As well too, you head further east on the other side of the Crimean Peninsula, in the Sea of Azov, I'm on the Black Sea here, in the Sea of Asov, around Mariupol, Mariupol does appear to be encircled at this point. And its mayor giving an equally chilling quote, the scum have found no other way to break us. They are blocking the supply and repair of electricity, water and heat. Essentially a city under siege there with separatist forces coming in from their areas to the east, possibly, obviously, Russian reinforcements coming in from the west as well, and a bid to try and get full control for Russia of that port city on the Sea of Azov.

In the south here, Jim, more broadly, we have been seeing broader Russian progress in their moves. The resistance fiercer to the north of the country, but still, when they move into these cities, it is not a finite moment for Russian forces. They see resistance, they pockets of trouble for them, that shows how dark the weeks and months ahead could be, Jim.

SCIUTTO: Nick Paton Walsh, witnessing the ruthless application of military power here, including against civilians, thank you so much.

Joining me now to discuss more, Illia Ponomarenko, he is a defense reporter for the Kyiv Post. Illia, I want to describe based on your knowledge of the Russian plan here, what you're seeing and speaking to Ukrainian military sources, what is the status of the Russia's advance on the capital? Is it progressing?

ILLIA PONOMARENKO, DEFENSE REPORTER, THE KYIV INDEPENDENT: Well, just a bit of a direction, I am defense reporter with the Kyiv Independent, not the Kyiv Post. It's the Kyiv Independent.

SCIUTTO: Apologies.

PONOMARENKO: And speaking of Russian onslaught on Kyiv -- yes. Speaking of Russian onslaught in Kyiv, yes, it's been that the Russian movement has been slowed down and stopped in many locations -- in all key locations, actually, from the northwest and from the north. And the airborne operations to the south to take key airfields for airborne forces have also been failed by Russians.

So, right now, I am sitting in my Kyiv apartment and then listening to the booms come on my window. That's Ukrainian artillery working against the troops. Apparently, we have another onslaught in the city of Bucha, which is one of the key points northwest of Kyiv. So, it's a brutal battle right now, right here.

But, in general, the massive enemy advancing has been stopped and all they can do right now is to send the minor groups that try to penetrate the city defenses. And, in general, the city has been prepared for defense, and each and every day, it gets stronger.

SCIUTTO: Let me ask you this, because Russia has proven in previous military conflicts, and there's some evidence already here in Ukraine, but it's proven in the past, its willingness to use horrible, horrible weapons and weapon systems, thermobaric weapons, basically almost a long-distance flamethrower. They used chemical weapons in Syria.

Are Ukrainian officials concerned that Russia will use similar weapons to get its prize, right, a city of 3 million people, the Ukrainian capital, to get Kyiv?

PONOMARENKO: Of course, Ukrainian officials are concerned and Russians are already on the path of indiscriminate warfare against civilians and the use of weapons. And we have evidence, pieces of evidence, saying that Russians have already applied weapons, such as vacuum bombs, as we call them. And we have multiple pieces of evidence of Russia using ballistic and cruise missiles against clearly civilian targets in Kyiv, in Kharkiv, in Chernihiv, in (INAUDIBLE). And I'm not even talking about multiple launch rocket systems, such as GRAD, are used against civilian residential blocks.

So, as we understand this, the initial tactics of blitzkrieg, of the drive to get Kyiv and Kharkiv within two or three days have failed, so they switched tactics terrorizing the population, in order to demoralize the Ukrainian people and to force into a sort of negotiations and surrendering. So, that's why they switched to these terrorizing tactics.

SCIUTTO: Yes. Slow annihilation is how the Pentagon described it. Illia Ponomarenko from the Kyiv Independent, thanks so much and please stay safe.

PONOMARENKO: Thank you.

HILL: Joining us now, retired Army Major General Paul Eaton, former Commanding General of the Coalition Military Assistance Training Team in Iraq.

[10:15:05]

Sir, good to have you with us this morning.

As Jim just pointed out, the shift in strategy, which we're hearing referred to as this slow annihilation, chilling words. We have also heard repeatedly about the need for more support, the need for air support. We know the complications, the limitations that come with that, but yesterday, Jim, on this program, was speaking with a member of Ukraine's parliament who said very clearly to him that some partners need to bend the rules. She said, without air support, we will not be able to win. Do you agree with her assessment?

MAJ. GEN. PAUL EATON (RET.), FORMER COMMANDING GENERAL, COALITION MILITARY ASSISTANCE TRAINING TEAM IN IRAQ: I absolutely agree with that. You know, somebody else was talking earlier about the republican brigades who came to fight the fascists in Spain and the advanced parties that went to war with France and Great Britain in the air, in particular, before the United States declared war during World War I.

So, I see an opportunity here for the NATO nations to do like, to insert forces of varying types under no flag and perhaps under the Ukrainian flag, and conduct combat operations in support of Ukraine.

SCIUTTO: Let me ask you this, Major Paul Eaton, Major General, there, the tactical concerns of this battle under way, then there's the larger strategic one, as to what are Putin's, what are Russia's broader intentions in terms of rewriting the map on Europe here. Is it correct to think of Ukraine as a first rather than a last battle, that Putin wants more, that just as Putin doesn't believe Ukraine is a country, he doesn't believe the Baltics should be independent, that he pushes further?

EATON: Jim, I believe this is step one. This operation makes absolutely no sense unless he has greater ambitions. And the whole idea, the very large European country with 40 million people that will take -- if you do the insurgency math, if he takes down the better part of the combat powers that we have in Ukraine, you now have an insurgency. Insurgency math brings you to something on the order of 800,000 Russian soldiers necessary to keep a very, very tough population.

Ukrainians, I'm very proud of their leadership. I'm very proud of their ability to come together as a nation and fight. These are a very tough people, and this is going to be a very, very long, tough operation and I think it's a bridge too far for the Russians.

HILL: As we look though at what could possibly happen, you have the prime minister of Estonia just saying that NATO needs to step up its defense of the Baltic States. How vulnerable do you think some of these other areas are right now? We talk a lot about Moldova as well. And is there enough in place in terms of defense should, perhaps, an attack be launched somewhere else?

EATON: Well, I've heard various numbers, but I believe that The Wall Street Journal reported a few days ago indicated that Putin has got 60 percent of his combat power tied up on the Ukrainian operation. Russia is a very large country. They've got interior lines, but those are very, very long interior lines. So, I believe that we do need to outpost the Baltics, I do believe that we need low combat power into Poland and I believe that we have plans to do just that. That is a requirement. Article 5 is sacrosanct and those countries are signatory to that pledge.

So, at risk, yes, but we have mobile combat power and we need start thinking about reforger (ph), return of forces to Germany, but this time, further east.

SCIUTTO: Yes. It's a brave new world, a harrowing new world. Major General Paul Eaton, thanks so much for joining us.

EATON: My pleasure. Thank you very much.

SCIUTTO: Still to come this hour, another Ukrainian voice. His rock anthems were part of the Ukrainian rallying cry before this invasion and his words are still inspiring people as he walks among buildings ravaged by Russia's attack.

[10:20:07] Calling our next guest, a Ukrainian advocate, a politician or a rock star, all those labels are correct.

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HILL: Just in to CNN, the Supreme Court just cleared the way for Kentucky's attorney general to defend the state's controversial abortion law, this after the state's Democratic governor refused to keep defending it.

[10:25:01]

CNN Justice Correspondent Jessica Schneider joins me now. So, Jessica, what is this law and how does this move or how could this move, I should say, perhaps make it easier for states, Republican states, who are looking to restrict abortion rights?

JESSICA SCHNEIDER, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: So, it could make it easier, Erica, because in a state like Kentucky, where the administration is split between Republican and Democrats, Republican attorney general, Democratic governor, that means that in those states like Kentucky, a Republican attorney general could really split with the administration and defend, step in to defend any number of controversial laws, this one being an abortion law.

So, this was an 8-1 ruling. Only Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissenting but saying here that the Republican attorney general can step in to defend this controversial abortion law that has since blocked by the lower courts, even though the Democratic attorney general previously declined the defendant, as did the current Democratic governor.

So, this is a Kentucky State abortion law. It has not gone into effect yet. It has been blocked by the lower courts. But restricts what is a standard second semester abortion method. It's typically only used after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

So, the justices not ruling here on the constitutionality of the law itself but instead, really, on a procedural issue here, whether this Republican attorney general can step in to defend the law when the Democratic administration will not.

And this issue came up because Kentucky is, like I mentioned, one of several states where the attorney general is elected and that could give rise to conflicts when the attorney general, the governor are different parties as here.

So, in this case, the Republican attorney general will be able to go back to the lower courts to try to challenge this law that has already been blocked. So, Erica, no ruling on the bigger law itself but only that this case can move forward.

And just to note here, the Supreme Court also issuing an opinion in a separate case this morning regarding the right of the government to restrict evidence going toward a terrorism suspect who's been detained at Guantanamo Bay. This was an alleged associate of Osama Bin Laden who wanted to get state secrets. The Supreme Court here saying, no, cannot get those state secrets in a case where he's challenging his alleged torture after 9/11. So, two cases this morning. Erica?

HILL: Jessica Schneider, I appreciate it, thank you.

SCIUTTO: Right now, several major Ukrainian cities are under deadly assault by Russian forces. Kharkiv in the northeast of the country among the hardest hit cities so far where dozens of civilians killed just in the last 24 hours. Hundreds more have been injured.

HILL: As the attacks intensify there, Ukrainians understandably desperate to escape. Earlier today, hundreds of people were seen piling into trains.

Slava Vakarchuk is a Ukrainian activist, he's the lead singer of the Ukrainian rock band, he's also staying in Ukraine. He's been traveling around the country.

And, Slava, I know you have been in Kharkiv since the shelling began there. Just tell us what are you seeing on the ground and what are you hearing from the residents there?

SLAVA VAKARCHUK, LEAD SINGER OF UKRAINIAN ROCK BAND, OKEAN ELZY: Yes. Good morning, America. Thank you for having me here. I never could imagine a very bad dream or nightmare that me, a big rock star playing in stadiums all over the country and the world, would go to a city where I played the stadium last two years and go there, being afraid of being shot or being killed, to see how damaged this city was and then the people.

Kharkiv looks like the stadium of World War II. Kharkiv looks like a city bombed by the deadliest enemy after probably three years of standoff. And I'm not exaggerating. The city council is gone. The regional council is done. The main police station is gone. The hospital is gone. Many neighborhoods, including just ordinary neighborhoods, where people live, potentially are destroyed, thousands have been killed, including children and women. And it's a nightmare.

I couldn't imagine that your neighbor who always told themselves to be a brother would do that. I mean, it's the biggest crime since World War II, without any exaggeration, I'm convinced. (INAUDIBLE) feels spiritually and emotionally very bad. But from the point of military, from military point, all of our defenders and armies are very confident, they will not give up, they will be not encircled, they are ready to defend the city and they say the Russians will never take it. And I believe it.

SCIUTTO: Slava, you have called this invasion the biggest war crime since World War II. You're not alone.

[10:30:00]

There are European leaders who echoed that same thought. Are you getting enough help? Is Ukraine getting enough help?

VAKARCHUK: First of all --