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Russian Forces Raining Bombs on Ukraine; Russian Convoy Stalled; Russian Forces Targets Everything in Ukraine; Kherson City Now Under Russian Troops; A Million Refugees Left Ukraine; NATO Countries Sending More Weapons to Ukraine; U.S. Plans of More Sanctions to Russia and Belarus. Aired 3-4a ET
Aired March 03, 2022 - 03:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[03:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR (on camera): Welcome, everyone. I'm Michael Holmes coming to you live from Lviv in Ukraine. Coming up this hour, Russia ramping up its aerial assault on Ukraine after apparently taking control of a key city.
ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Rosemary Church live from CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.
As the war escalates, one million refugees have fled Ukraine in just one week. Experts warn the humanitarian crisis may get worse.
UNKNOWN: This is CNN breaking news.
HOLMES: Well, more than a week now into the invasion of Ukraine, it appears Russia is moving into a more brutal military campaign, escalating attacks on major cities. Air raid sirens rang out earlier in Kyiv, where it is now 10 a.m. You can hear them there. And there was at least one explosion today on the outskirts of the capital.
Dramatic images there as fighter jets on Wednesday scream overhead just seconds before a jarring blast on the western edge of Kyiv. Meanwhile, the Pentagon says that long Russian military convoy north of the capital remains stalled while the Kremlin tries to regroup.
The Ukrainian president who is holed up in a bunker claimed that some, as he put it, occupiers are fleeing back to Russia, and he called the everyday Ukrainians resisting the assault on his country salvation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE (through translator): Our military, our border guards, our territorial defense, even ordinary farmers capture the Russian military every day. And all the captives say only one thing. They do not know why they are here. Despite the fact that there are dozens of times more of them, the morale of the enemy is constantly deteriorating.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES (on camera): Now to the south, Russian forces finally in control of a key Ukrainian city with the fall of Kherson marked in red on that map there. Officials there say that fierce fighting has left dozens of people dead. In Ukraine's second largest city Kharkiv, Russian strikes hit at least three schools and a cathedral this week. No word on casualties there yet.
And on the diplomatic front, a new round of talks between Russia and Ukraine could get under way in the coming hours. Expectations, though, of a breakthrough and surprisingly are low.
Meanwhile, CNN's Jim Sciutto takes a look at the battle raging on the ground as Russian troops try to take key Ukrainian cities.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR & CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Russia's invasion of Ukraine is gradually gaining ground. The mayor of the city of Kherson in the south of the country with a population of 300,000 has said that the city has now fallen under Russian control. Adding, Ukrainian forces are no longer present.
The devastation inflicted across Ukraine is only growing. Russian strikes increasingly targeting civilians. President Biden says it's deliberate. Russian forces moving on the capital Kyiv from the north have stalled due to Ukrainian resistance and their own shortages of food and fuel, say U.S. officials.
The Russian military has increased its rocket and artillery attacks against the capital and other cities. Russian forces hit a television tower in Kyiv. A school in the city of Kharkiv, buildings in the town of Irpin.
TATA MARHARIAN, MEMBER, UKRAINIAN VOLUNTEER MEDICAL BATTALION: I'm seeing dead children. I'm seeing hospitals being bombed. I'm seeing churches being bombed. It's difficult. I'll do anything in my power to stop -- stop this aggression.
[03:05:03]
SCIUTTO: The Ukrainian military has not let up its resistance, nor have civilians. Here a man waved Ukrainian flags in front of Russian tanks in Kherson. And the west is keeping up sanctions pressure on Moscow.
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: We're coming for your ill-begotten gains. SCIUTTO: President Biden announced a new Justice Department task
force to investigate Russian oligarchs during his State of the Union address. And today the U.S. announced sanctions on the Russian defense industry and export controls on Belarus as well. From where Russia staged a large part of its forces for the invasion.
ANTONY BLINKEN, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: Twenty-two Russian defense related entities will be designated, including companies that make combat aircraft, infantry fighting vehicles, missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, electronic warfare systems, the very systems now being used to assault the Ukrainian people.
SCIUTTO: On the battlefield, the Ukrainian military has now lost more tanks, aircraft, armored personnel carriers and artillery than Russia has. However, by Russia's own admission, their losses are mounting as well. The defense ministry claims nearly 500 Russians killed. But Ukraine says that number is actually nearly 6,000.
ZELENSKYY (through translator): Russian mothers are losing their children in a completely foreign country.
SCIUTTO: Ukraine and Russia are still engaged in some diplomacy. Delegations heading to Belarus for a second round of talks. But both the U.S. and Ukraine remain skeptical that Russian President Vladimir Putin would negotiate for peace.
BLINKEN: We, of course are open to pursuing any reasonable path. But it's very hard to see any path when the bombs are dropping, the planes are flying, the tanks are rolling.
When he is saying I want peace, this means get your Kalashnikov and prepare to war.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES (on camera): Well, Jim Sciutto reporting there for us. Now one million refugees have fled Ukraine in just one week. That's according to the U.N. high commissioner for refugees. Poland's ambassador for the U.N. says many of those crossing the border are unaccompanied children as families are being separated at checkpoints.
More than half of those evacuating have fled west into Poland. The European Council president meeting with refugees at a border crossing on Tuesday. And he pledged Europe would do everything possible to support them.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHARLES MICHEL, PRESIDENT, EUROPEAN COUNCIL (through translator): Our moral task, the European task is to be at the front line to support. And that is what all these teams who are here to bring a bit of humanity to the people who are fleeing bombs, who had to leave relatives behind. We will do everything possible to bring help to welcome Ukrainians in a dignified way.
(END VIDEO CLIP) HOLMES (on camera): And CNN's Scott McLean joins me now here live in
Lviv. I know you spent -- you've been covering the border. It was chaotic there for so long.
SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes.
HOLMES: What is the latest on conditions?
MCLEAN: So, it seems to be getting easier to get out of the country. So, for instance, at land borders at Medyka into Poland, that's where I was a couple of days ago, that's where you saw line of people reporting, standing in line in frigid temperatures outdoors for 12 plus hours. The latest report we have is that maybe there's 150 people waiting that line.
Obviously, it's going much, much quicker. In cars, you might wait for several hours, but obviously it's a lot easier to sit in a car for several hours than it is to stand outside. That seems to be taking some pressure off of the train stations here. Like in Lviv, for instance, many people are boarding buses.
I've also kept in touch with some of the stranded men that I've met at the stations over the last couple of days, and most have managed to get out fairly easy from land crossings, knowing that they wouldn't be able to get on the trains. At the stations itself, things are much less chaotic than they've been in the past couple of days. It's not exactly a well-oiled machine. People are still waiting for trains that they're not certain if they'll actually come.
But things are much more organized. There's volunteers giving food there. There's police officers to help keep things a little bit more orderly. They are still prioritizing women and children, though it seems that some foreign men are able to get on some trains, at least in limited numbers.
And yesterday I met one man who was in line with his wife and older daughter, and he wasn't trying to get on the train. He was Ukrainian. But he was just in the line to spend, you know, those last couple of hours with his family.
HOLMES: Yes.
MCLEAN: You know, anyone who has kids can obviously relate to how that man is feeling. And it was an emotional moment. He walked them right up to the door of the train. He said goodbye to them. It was obviously an emotional moment because he doesn't know when he is going to see them again. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNKNOWN: This is war. And for me it's better that they will be safe. And that's why I have another feelings because I have to understand that they are in safety.
[03:09:50] UNKNOWN (through translator): It is very difficult. I don't feel any emotions. I hope I'll come back. I don't think it is going to be for a long time. I think everything is going to be fine while we wait, I believe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES (on camera): Wow.
MCLEAN: So, this morning, he is going to a military recruitment center to enlist to follow his orders to join the military. He is not sure whether he'll be serving here in Lviv or Kyiv where he is from. And he told me, look, of course he is scared. Anyone would be scared.
But he is not panicking at this point. He still holds out hope that this war could end really at any hour of the day. But he's obviously feeling relieved that he no longer has to worry about the safety of his wife and daughter so he can just solely focus on defending his country.
HOLMES: Yes, such a huge aspect of this. Good to have you here, Scott. Thanks so much.
MCLEAN: You bet.
HOLMES: We'll check with you later. Scott McLean here in Lviv with me.
All right. Joining me now is Helena Krajewska who is press officer for the Polish Humanitarian Action. And we're going to look at live pictures of the border now. We do have a feed coming in and we'll show people what's on going on there. You describe what is happening on the Polish side of the boarder in terms of arrivals of Ukrainians. How is the system working?
HELENA KRAJEWSKA, PRESS OFFICER, POLISH HUMANITARIAN ACTION: Well, first of all, good morning. Thank you for having me. So, the situation on the Polish side of the border is very, very dynamic. Because sometime you have people going in big groups. Then you have only a couple of people crossing.
Also, the situation differs if you have somebody to pick you up, like family member or a friend to pick you up to Poland or other E.U. countries. But many people have nowhere to go. So, these people will go to their section centers where local government is organizing transfer to other cities or places to sleep or even just bunk beds straight in the reception centers to catch some sleep. Because many of the people didn't sleep for two or three days.
The state of the people is very different. There are some people who got out very early. There are some people who got out already from the bunkers, already from under the fire. So, also their psychological situation is very different.
HOLMES: Yes, look, I can only imagine. And you know, it's heartbreaking to hear you say, you know, they've left their homes, they've left their country. They get to safety, and then they don't know what they're going to do. Tell us more about what they're telling you. I imagine they're exhausted. They're understandably upset. What sort of things are you hearing?
KRAJEWSKA: Well, listen. Nobody leaves home unless the home is the mouth of the shark. I mean, these words are very president today. So, people are telling us stories of fear, of anxiety, of leaving their loved ones behind because they had to leave husbands and fathers and, you know, also grandfathers behind, because the men cannot get out of Ukraine right now.
And also, they're telling us stories of very long journeys through Polish border, but also for different cities. If somebody comes from east of Ukraine or central Ukraine, they would pass through different cities first. Also, they haven't sleep for a long time. They couldn't eat anything nutritious on the way. They usually have a headache. They have flu. They're also telling us the majority of them, they want to come back to Ukraine as soon as possible.
HOLMES: Of course, there were already humanitarian needs in Ukraine over the last eight years of war. So, I mean, this is really adding to what was an already a bad situation, isn't it?
KRAJEWSKA: Yes. Even before this current war erupted, there were severe humanitarian needs. We were working as a humanitarian organization in Ukraine for the last eight years, and right now, I mean, just before the invasion, the needs were estimated to be 2.9 million people in the east of Ukraine. Right now, they are much, much bigger.
But, I mean, the basic, it's the same because access to, you know, to dignity, to humanly conditions to live, to electricity, to water, to psychological help, support. To food, to medical help. So this will grow bigger and bigger. There will be billions of dollars to rebuild Ukraine --
HOLMES: Yes.
KRAJEWSKA: -- and address the needs for the next few months.
HOLMES: Yes. I wanted to ask you this, though. I mean, so many Ukrainians have told us -- told me they never expected this to happen, to be in this position. You work in this field of helping people. What about you and your organization? Could you have imagined a few months ago you'd be helping Ukrainians escape a Russian invasion?
[03:15:05]
KRAJEWSKA: Well, nobody could have imagined that. But we for the past weeks, we have been preparing for different scenarios with other NGOs and international NGOs and international donors for some kind of bad scenario. We didn't know for weeks scenario. This is the worst scenario possible. But we were preparing.
The other thing is of course the situation couldn't go on for a long time like this for much longer, because it was already going on for eight years. Something had to happen. Either a very bad scenario like this, or, you know, easing up and maybe, maybe rejoining the country. So, really, I think something like this had to happen. But I'm very, very, very sorry that it had to happen in such a scale and right now and for these people.
HOLMES: Yes, it is truly heartbreaking. Helena Krajewska, thank you so much for what you and your organization are doing for the people who do cross into Poland. Thank you so much for your time.
KRAJEWSKA: Thank you.
HOLMES: All right. For more on how you can help the people of Ukraine, go to cnn.com/impact. Plenty of resources and information there. Much more from Ukraine coming up. But first, let's go back to Atlanta and Rosemary Church. Rosemary?
HOLMES: All right. Thank you, Michael.
Well, U.S. President Joe Biden will meet with his cabinet today to chart out the next steps on Ukraine. The latest moves from the White House in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. That's next.
[03:20:00]
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CHURCH (on camera): America's top diplomat will soon be on his way to Brussels for the first leg of a European trip to meet with NATO allies. Antony Blinken's visit comes as Russia intensifies attacks on Ukrainian cities. He says there is no path forward unless Russia pulls back its forces.
And U.S. President Joe Biden will convene his cabinet in the coming hours from a meeting that is expected to largely be about the crisis in Ukraine. Mr. Biden says Vladimir Putin has made a big mistake.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BIDEN: You thought the west and NATO wouldn't respond. You thought they could divide us at home, but he was wrong. And now the free world is holding him accountable. Putin is now isolated from the world more than ever. And we'll continue to aid Ukrainian people as they defend their country and help ease their suffering in the process.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH (on camera): Meantime, E.U. home affairs ministers are meeting in Brussels to discuss how to help those fleeing Ukraine.
Natasha Bertrand joins me now from Brussels and Kevin Liptak is in Washington. Good to see you both. So, Natasha, what is the latest on this E.U. meeting and what can we expect when U.S. Secretary of State Blinken meet with NATO allies in Brussels later this week?
NATASHA BERTRAND, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: So, the E.U. home affairs ministers are meeting today as well as the justice ministers to discuss implementing this temporary protection directive that would essentially give refugees fleeing the Ukraine war this temporary protection inside the European Union. It would allow them to work, have access to education, have residency for up to three years.
And essentially what it means is there would be a lot less red tape for refugees trying to flee that war. Because of the massive influx of people trying to flee Ukraine at this moment, the E.U. is kind of overwhelmed at the moment. And when that happens, when there is this massive influx of refugees, they look at, the E.U. looks at invoking this temporary protection directive, which increases kind of the coordination among the entire European Union and allows it for a much swifter process.
We know that almost a million people have already fled Ukraine. So, it's really created a burden on the system that they're hoping to ease in the coming days. That is when they hope to implement this directive.
With regard to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, he will be in Brussels on Friday, meeting with NATO allies there, and they'll be discussing upping security assistance to Ukraine. More weapons, more Javelin anti-tank systems, more air defense systems that they hope will allow Ukraine to maintain its momentum over at the Russians.
The Ukrainians of course have been over performing but they need more ammunition. They need more fuel. And part of the discussions are going to be read how do we actually get that equipment to the Ukrainians given that the airspace is of course contested at this moment. What are the land routes? How are we going to coordinate all of the countries and all of the member states of the E.U. now that are deciding to send equipment and lethal aid into Ukraine.
He will also be discussing the increase of financial penalties and sanctions on Russia with E.U. foreign ministers when he meets with them on Friday as well. There are a lot of obviously moving parts here. And this is a chance for Blinken to kind of get together with the ministers and discuss how they can all be on the same page here.
CHURCH: All right. And Kevin, President Biden is holding a cabinet meeting in just a few hours from now. What decisions could potentially be made about Ukraine?
KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, Rosemary, we don't expect this to be a decisional meeting. But it is an opportunity for the president to collect his team and kind of get on the same page about how they are responding to this crisis.
And we do expect this to be the main focus of this cabinet meeting. He only holds them about once a quarter or so. And when you look at the officials who will sitting around that table, it really is a goof illustration of how this is consumed the Biden administration over the last several weeks. So, you'll see the defense secretary.
And today, we learned that the U.S. was sending Stinger anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine. And that's something that the Pentagon is working on. You'll see the treasury secretary and the commerce secretary, and of course they have been coordinating these sanctions along with other western allies.
And we did learn today that the U.S. is imposing new sanctions not only on Russia, but also on Belarus which of course has been Russia's ally in all of this. You'll see the transportation secretary. And it's his department that he is in charge of enforcing this been on Russian aircraft over the United States.
[03:25:08]
You'll see the energy secretary. She, of course is working on how to mitigate the effect on gas price here is in the United States. And she announced yesterday the United States would join other allies in releasing barrels from their strategic oil reserves.
And you'll see the attorney general. And that's something interesting we heard from the Justice Department today. And it followed on something that the president said in his State of the Union, you'll remember. He said he wanted to go after oligarchs and what he called their ill-begotten gains.
He wants to look for their private jets, for their luxury apartments here in the United States. And the Justice Department today announced this task force that they're calling KleptoCapture that will bring together these components of the law enforcement community in the United States to sort of go after these assets that Russians hold here in the United States.
Now this is all coming as Americans -- American officials warn that this conflict could be entering quite a bloody phase. One official called it a slow annihilation of the Ukrainian military. President Biden said today he did believe that Russia was targeting Ukrainian civilians. But he did stop short of accusing them of war crimes. Rosemary?
CHURCH: All right. Kevin Liptak and Natasha Bertrand, many thanks to you both. I appreciate it.
Well, we have new developments now on the investigation into the capitol riots. In a new court filing the January 6 committee alleges that former U.S. President Donald Trump and right-wing lawyer John Eastman were part of a conspiracy to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
The filing states evidence and information available to the committee establishes a good faith belief that Mr. Trump and others may have engaged in criminal and/or fraudulent acts. The committee alleges Eastman helped to orchestrate the plot and they're attempting to obtain his e-mails. So far Eastman has refused to hand them over, claiming attorney/client privilege.
Well, civilians in Kyiv increasingly in harm's way as Russia changes up its invasion tactics. We'll take a closer look at the aftermath of an attack on a TV tower.
Plus, how Israel is trying to end the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We're live in Jerusalem with that. [03:30:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Welcome back, everyone. I'm Michael Holmes live in Lviv, Ukraine. We are of course following the breaking news of Russia's intensifying attacks as its invasion of Ukraine stretches into its eighth day.
And it appears that Russia has taken its first big prize, the strategic port of Kherson. Its mayor says the Ukrainian military is no longer in the city. Local officials say, dozens of people lost their lives in the battle for control of Kherson.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(AIR RAID SIREN)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Air raid sirens now a common sound in cities all around the country. This was all over the capital where explosions were heard Wednesday night and early this morning. And I want to show you the scene in Southwestern Kyiv earlier as blasts lit up the sky there.
Meanwhile, the U.S. says the march of Russian forces towards Ukraine's capital has slowed to a standstill. The Pentagon says that large military convoy on the road to Kyiv remains stalled and not made any appreciable progress in the last 24 to 36 hours.
Now as more explosions rock the capital Kyiv, U.S. officials warn that Russian forces are turning to their old and brutal tactics of laying siege to cities while targeting civilians and infrastructure from afar. Just like the Russian missile strike on a T.V. tower in Kyiv on Tuesday, which CNN's Alex Marquardt reports could be an ominous sign of much worse to come.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALEXANDER MARQUARDT, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Russia has launched a new phase of this war on Ukraine's communication and information. This was the moment a Russian missile struck Kyiv's T.V. tower. Today we walked through the rubble of the buildings below it.
Shown around by Rostislav, who joined the civilian territorial defense forces just last week when Russia launched their invasion. The 38- year-old is normally a hot air balloon pilot. His wife and daughter have fled the country for safety. The Russian rockets on Tuesday landed all around Rostislav.
ROSTISLAV, CIVILIAN TERRITORIAL DEFENSE FORCES (through translator): First two, followed by two more. I saw them personally where they were coming from. I was standing next to the wall over there.
MARQUARDT: As Russia ramps up its bombardment of both military and civilian targets in Ukraine, it warned that Ukraine security services, communication facilities would be hit, to quote, "Suppress information attacks against Russia."
Russia can't help but see that it is losing the narrative. The information war, with the world rallying to Ukraine's side and rejecting Russia, in diplomacy, sports, business, and on and on.
In the lead-up to this Russian invasion, there was a lot of speculation and fear that Russia would try to shut down communications, shut down power and impose a blackout over Ukraine. They have not been able to do that. Almost a week into this war. But in hitting this T.V. tower and announcing that they would be attacking other communications targets, that may be changing.
While Russia claims to not be targeting civilians, Tuesday's strike killed at least five, the government says. The deadliest in the city of Kyiv so far. Near the T.V. tower was a gym, a fire still smoldering. Smoke pouring out of the broken windows, the gym equipment covered in dust and debris.
At the garage next door, staff stoically cleaned up glass, broken ceilings and threw out insulation. All of this just steps from Babyn Yar with its memorial for the massacre of over 30,000 Jews in the holocaust. An area that has seen so much suffering for the Jewish people hit by a Russian leader who claims to be de-Nazifying Ukraine.
YAAKOV BLEICH, CHIEF RABBI OF KYIV AND UKRAINE: This fellow who says he is coming to fight the neo fascists in Ukraine comes and bombs that place which is the memorial to the Jews who were killed by the fascists.
[03:35:02]
MARQUARDT: But the T.V. tower is still up, now also as a symbol, reinforcing Ukraine's resistance against this increasingly harsh Russian invasion and standing tall.
Alex Marquardt, CNN, in the Kyiv region.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Well, Israel also pitching in to try to mediate between Russia and Ukraine. Israeli Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett, speaking separately with the leaders of both countries on Wednesday after Ukraine's president asked him last week to help with negotiations. Israel has good ties with both Moscow and Kyiv, but it voted at the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday to condemn Russia for invading.
All right. CNN's Hadas Gold joins me now live from Jerusalem. And Hadas, tell us more about these calls and you know, if any progress was made.
HADAS GOLD, CNN POLITICS, MEDIA AND BUSINESS REPORTER (on camera): yeah, Michael, it was actually the second round of such calls with both Ukrainian and Russian leaders in less than a week. As you noted last Friday, the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked Naftali Bennett, the Israeli Prime Minister to potentially host talks, to be the mediator of negotiations between the two sides in Jerusalem.
That's because Ukrainians no longer feel as though Belarus where these negotiations often take place is a fair place because Belarus is such a close ally of Russia. We know that yesterday the first call was with Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This actually came after Zelenskyy put out a statement in Hebrew calling all Jewish people to support the Ukrainians. Zelenskyy himself is of course Jewish.
And according to a senior Ukrainian official who spoke with me who was briefed on the call, they said that Zelenskyy wanted to emphasize the missile strikes that landed as we heard from Alex Marquardt in that area of the Babyn Yar Memorial, as well as an area called Umam which is very holy to many orthodox Jews.
We also know that they discussed security concerns. And according to media reports, Zelenskyy asked Israel to provide Ukraine with some more military equipment. Thus far, Israel has sort of resisted these sorts of request. Instead it's been sending planes full of humanitarian aid, things like medicine and blankets and other humanitarian things.
The only comment from the Israeli side regarding the call of Zelenskyy is that they agreed to continue to maintain continuous communication. Shortly after the call with Zelenskyy, Naftali Bennett spoke with Vladimir Putin. Now the Kremlin said this was at the request of the Israelis. The Kremlin put out their first readout saying that Putin laid out Russia's conditions, which include the demilitarization and denazification of the Ukrainian state.
Of course, keep in mind that Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine is himself Jewish. He himself has had family that died in the holocaust. Now the Israelis did not put out their own official readout of the call. But the Israeli media said that Israel said they would be prepared to help if asked and at any time to resolve the dispute and bring the two sides together.
Israel really sees itself as having a unique role here as a potential mediator. They see themselves as sort of part of the global tool kit that potentially could bring an end to this conflict. And we know also the Israeli officials have been in touch with the Americans on this. Last week they briefed Americans both before and after the call with Putin.
But Michael, the pressure is growing on Naftali Bennett, on the Israeli leadership, both from Israelis and internationally to try and do more to help Ukrainians specifically, potentially at some point to try to provide military equipment. So far though, they're only providing humanitarian assistance. Michael?
HOLMES: All right, Hadas, thanks for the update there from Jerusalem. I appreciate it.
And much more from Ukraine coming up. But first let's head over to Atlanta and Rosemary Church. Rosemary?
ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR (on camera): Thanks, Michael. Well, Russia admits its economy is taking serious blows as companies shut down operations and the West imposes crushing sanctions. We will have the very latest on that, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[03:40:00]
CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. The Moscow Stock Exchange remains closed for trading for a fourth straight day after the West imposed crushing sanctions on Russia. According to JPMorgan, those sanctions have now sharply increased the chance of a Russian default.
In the U.S., we are just hours away from a new trading day after Wednesday's strong rally on Wall Street. The DOW alone closed up nearly 600 points. We're also seeing the price of oil climb, which of course means increased pressure on gasoline prices. Since Monday's close, crude has spiked more than 15 percent.
And CNN's Anna Stewart joins us now from London. Good morning, Anna. So as Russia's financial and trade ties with the world are increasingly cut off, what impact is this having? And just how will the country cope economically?
ANNA STEWART, CNN PRODUCER (on camera): Good morning, Rosemary. Yeah, well, currently, Russia's strategy here is to really just pull up the financial drawbridge to the rest of the world. It's not letting any capital really leave what is being called fortress Russia. It's built up huge reserves to be able to weather sanctions, but I don't think they had quite taken into account how big those sanctions would be and that its central bank would also be targeted.
So, we're seeing the stock market close for the fourth day in a row. Capital controls are in place to try to keep western companies from pulling assets out of the country. And I think as sort of a default on sovereign debt but also corporate debt is looking really likely in the weeks to come.
For Russians, life is getting really hard. You know, whether it's you every day products or services that you're used to, they are all being stopped, suspended, whether it's H&M stores, stopping sales. Whether it's you iPhone, whether it's Apple pay, VISA, MasterCard, life is going to get really hard for people in Russia.
CHURCH: Hasn't yet been targeted. The country still receives revenue for oil and gas. But President Biden has hinted that may change. So what could potentially happen and what would be the ramifications?
STEWART: Yes, because currently, the only sector really not to be targeted at all by sanctions is oil and gas in Russia. And a few weeks ago, that would have been absolutely unthinkable. But that's apparently still on the table at this stage.
Let's bring you oil prices right now. Because we're looking at new multi highs, another day of it, $118 of Brent, $115 for WTI. Extraordinary moves there really. But you know what, Russia is actually struggling to sell oil, and there is a huge discount now on Russian oil, around $18 a barrel lower than your general barrel of Brent.
So what we're seeing here is actually self-sanctioning in a way is already taking place, with refineries not actually wanting to buy Russian oil for fear that A, it could be the result of sanctions in weeks to come. But also the fear for tankers operating in the Black Sea.
Also looking at corporates like Exxon, Shell, Equinox, all pulling their assets out of Russia. Having huge ramification on oil and gas already. So, very interesting to note that we're seeing self- sanctioning and that sanctions for oil and gas could be on the table. Rosemary?
CHURCH: We'll watch to see what happens with that. Anna Stewart, many thanks, joining us live from London.
The Russian owner of the legendary English Football Club, Chelsea says he plans to sell it. Billionaire Roman Abramovich made the announcement on Wednesday saying the move would be in the best interests of the club, fans, employees and sponsors.
CNN's Patrick Snell has the details.
[03:45:15]
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PATRICK SNELL, CNN SPORTS REPORTER (voice over): Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich took control of the West London club back in 2003. Now, 19 years on, the 55-year-old calling his decision to sell incredibly difficult.
In a statement, Abramovich revealing he is not asking for any loans to be repaid and that I've instructed my team to set up a charitable foundation where all net proceeds from the sale will be donated. The foundation will be for the benefit of all victims of the war in Ukraine. This includes providing critical funds towards the urgent and immediate needs of victims as well as supporting the long-term work of recovery.
Since taking over, Abramovich has absolutely transformed the fortunes of the success staff club whose last top fight league title had come in 1955. Amid lavish spending though, twice champions of Europe and their top flight title drought snapped after half a century.
Chelsea's women's team now the dominant force domestically. And last year, Forbes saying Chelsea was worth $3.2 billion. Compare that to the 233 million paid almost two decades ago.
DARREN LEWIS, CNN SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR: The arrival of Roman Abramovich at Chelsea in 2003 electrified the English Premier League. Questions of his wealth persisted. But in football terms there was no question that Chelsea were massive beneficiaries, the best managers in European football, the biggest players, the first league title in half a century. Now the positioning of Chelsea as a big player domestically and in the champions league. Under Abramovich, Chelsea lifted all there was to win in club football. Without him, the club-faces an uncertain future.
SNELL: Abramovich reach his decision to sell Chelsea comes after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Abramovich himself has not been sanctioned by the U.K. according to the sanctions list website. He maintains he is not an official political figure for Russia.
On Wednesday, reports for the Swiss billionaire wants to buy the blues, though the club not responding to CNN's request for comment on that. While Chelsea's players booking their spot in the quarterfinals of the F.A. Cup. Just one topic of conversation afterwards though.
THOMAS TUCHEL, CHELSEA MANAGER: I think every decision he takes is the right decision. It's his choice. It's his club. And that's not on me to comment. The guys talk about it. Everybody talks about it. So, yeah, it is big news. Let's wait and see, hope for the best.
SNELL: Abramovich says, he is selling in the fans and in the club's best interest and that he is hoping to go to Chelsea's home grounds, Stanford Bridge to say goodbye to everyone in person one last time.
Patrick Snell, CNN, Atlanta.
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CHURCH: And still to come, he has gone from a career in comedy to unlikely politician, and now a wartime leader. A look at Volodymyr Zelenskyy's improbable path to becoming an international hero.
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[03:50:00]
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UNKNOWN (through translator): I'm Ukrainian going to fight against Russians. This shall not pass. No, I'm never afraid to fight for my homeland.
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HOLMES: The Ukrainian man there defiantly leaving Poland to come join the fight against the Russian invasion. I want to bring you up the date now on the latest developments. And some startling images from Chernihiv, where Ukrainian Emergency Services say a shell hit an oil depot. This was on Thursday morning. You can see the result.
The Keyport city of Kherson, meanwhile, appears to have fallen to Russian forces. The mayor said Ukrainian forces had now left and Russians had taken over.
A huge explosion lighting up the night sky over Kyiv several hours ago. Another signal of Russia's ramping up of attacks. Massive shelling and bombing in the central part of the country's largest city, Kharkiv as well. At least three schools, homes, shops, hospitals, and even a church have now been hit. Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis growing quickly. The U.N. says one million people have now fled Ukraine in just one week.
Now for years, his comedy kept Ukrainians laughing. But now Ukraine's comedian turned president has become an unexpected hero. A wartime leader whose courage and sacrifice are inspiring people around the world?
Phil Black takes a look at the unconventional career of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
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PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): There is one really good reason why even in peacetime, many wondered whether Volodymyr Zelenskyy had what it took to lead his country. In a popular Ukrainian T.V. show, "Servant Of The People" (ph) he played another unlikely president. A teacher suddenly elevated to the highest office after private rans about corruption goes viral.
In real life, his political party uses the name of the show as its own. Zelenskyy showed his career was all comedy and light entertainment, including playing Paddington bear in the movie franchise's Ukrainian release. Somehow that path has led him to the role of wartime president at a perilous moment for his country.
Is it fair to say that he is was an unlikely presidential candidate and he is a thoroughly improbable war-time leader?
JOHN HERBST, ATLANTIC COUNCIL, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO UKRAINE: I think that is fair to say. He is a man of extraordinary achievements and capabilities.
[03:55:00]
BLACK: Capabilities widely noticed through his recent example of leadership. Zelenskyy's videos from the streets of Kyiv are being watched everywhere. Calm, determined, insistent the world must do more. And he has provided perhaps the most memorable line of the war so far, responding to a U.S. offer to get him out of Kyiv with "The fight is here. I need ammunition, not a ride."
HERBST: And you can be sure that that courage is appreciated, has strengthened his own people in their resolve to deal with this act of blatant aggression.
BLACK: He could personally make a difference to the outcome, you believe?
HERBST: Oh, there is no doubt about it. Look, he is now an international hero, a living symbol of standing firm against overwhelming odds.
BLACK: In an exclusive interview with CNN's Matthew Chance, Zelenskyy played down the personal risks and hardship he is enduring.
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY, UKRANIAN PRESIDENT: I'm the president of Ukraine. I'm not iconic. I think Ukraine is iconic. And I always was sure in it and I knew it always. I knew it, that Ukraine is special country. Ukraine is the heart of Europe.
BLACK: Zelenskyy has met his firm. He sat across from Vladimir Putin during talks in late 2019. Clearly the junior, vastly less experienced statesman. Now Putin's forces are coming for him. This moment is revealing Zelenskyy's character as he rallies his people and the world to resist Russia's assault and save Ukraine's democracy.
Phil Black, CNN, London.
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HOLMES: Thanks for watching, everyone, spending part of your day with me. I'm Michael Holmes live in Lviv, Ukraine. Our breaking news coverage continues in a moment.
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