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Global Pressure on Russia Grows as War Rages in Ukraine; Russian Attack Hits Small Residential Neighborhood; EU Signals First Steps Towards Membership for Ukraine; Woman Packs Supplies, Make Camouflage for Ukraine's Defenders. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired March 08, 2022 - 04:30   ET

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

[04:30:00]

NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Whether or not to stop buying Russian oil and gas now this is very keenly felt here in Europe because the EU relies on Russia for about 40 percent of its gas needs and about 27 percent of its oil needs.

For this reason, we have various EU members very much pitted against one another about the merits of stopping the flows of these Russian gas imports at a time when obviously, gas prices are very high. It's still winter over here.

This is something that Antony Blinken is trying to smooth over on his stop diplomacy tour of this part of the world. But it's not felt quite as keenly in the United States because they only rely on Russian oil for about 2 percent of their inputs.

The question you said is, well, the United States and other energy partners will be able to make up the difference if you Europe do turn off the taps on Russia.

ISA SOARES, CNN HOST: Yes. And Nina, I know that we expected to hear from President Zelenskyy who will address the House of Commons today. There's so much criticism that the UK hasn't done enough in targeting those Russian oligarchs, what can we expect to hear and the reaction from the House of Commons today?

SANTOS: Yes, it's likely that Volodymyr Zelenskyy is going to focus in particular, probably on upping the pressure for this no-fly zone that the Ukrainians have consistently tried to lobby for. Again, we've already seen a sort of verbal preemptive move on the part of the British Defense Secretary earlier today was been hitting the airwaves on various British broadcasters, again, to put forward the message saying that, you know, we don't believe that the threat is necessarily coming from the skies.

We also believe that, that NATO can't get drawn into a war with Russia, if it engages in putting forth it no-fly zone and actually implementing it. One thing the Defense Secretary did talk about, which was that he would support Poland, if Poland were to lend aircraft to Ukraine to defend their own skies.

You might hear a bit more about that and yet again, appeals for help appeals for more Ukrainians being able to get visas to come to the UK, because only a few 100 of them have made it to the shores yet Isa.

SOARES: Yes. And that has been incredibly controversial. Nina Dos Santos, thank you very much. Well, far from Ukraine lines, frontlines in Ukraine, a suburban neighborhood suffers the aftermath of a Russian strike; we'll show you the devastation left behind that is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:35:00]

SOARES: Welcome back to CNN Newsroom! Isa Soares more of our top story this hour. Ukrainian officials say they have reached an agreement with Russia to evacuate civilians from the Ukrainian City of Sumi. That is the same city when Ukrainian officials say at least nine civilians were killed by Russian bombing overnight.

It appears that strike happened before the ceasefire. Russia had also proposed a ceasefire in four other cities today, including Kyiv, Kharkiv and Mariupol to allow for civilian evacuations. But Ukrainian officials say they haven't reached an agreement with Russia on the escape routes.

On Monday Kyiv police said another 2000 civilians were evacuated from the suburb of Irpin, one day after local officials said several people, including one family were killed as they tried to flee. In all the UN says at least 400 civilians including 27 children have been killed since Russia invaded a cautious the actual number could be much higher.

We are also seeing Russia's attacks on Ukraine intensify videos posted on social media show the devastation left behind after reported Russian strikes in the Goliath and Kharkiv. But Ukraine's military continues to fight back with an artillery unit opening fire on Russian troops near Kyiv.

And the Pentagon says that massive Russian convoy that's been making its way through remember towards Kyiv, still appears stalled outside of the Capital. Despite that one senior U.S. defense official also tells CNN nearly all the Russian troops that were once amassed along Ukraine's border are now inside the country this video taken from social media shows Russian tanks taking up positions among residential apartment blocks in suburban Kyiv.

Well, Russia's indiscriminate shelling has trapped hundreds of thousands of civilians in what's left of their cities and towns. Many are now without food, water or electricity. And Moscow denies deliberately targeting civilians but scenes across Ukraine challenge that claim on a daily basis. Our Matthew Chance has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Clearing up the broken debris of a shattered home. This as the devastation caused by a Russian attack on a residential neighborhood in a small Ukrainian 50 miles south of the Ukrainian Capital is nowhere near the frontlines but it has felt the rage and the pain of this war. CHANCE (on camera): We've come inside one of the houses who were affected by what was apparently random artillery or rocket fire into this residential neighborhood. You can see just shattered the lives of the family here at work?

The windows have all been blown out obviously all their belongings have been left behind this sort of got into hiding picture up there seems to be some of the people who lived in here. It was a was a family with children apparently and they've survived this which is good.

But of course when you look at the situation and the way that Russians have been shelling residential areas across the country, so many people haven't survived and this is interesting come over look. It's a two bedroom you see over here look, the bunk beds, the roof that's fallen down onto the top of that when that shell hit.

And of course in the - evacuation the kids have left all their toys up here. And it just shows you that now where you are in this country, with Russia attacking towns and cities across it, like to be shattered.

[04:40:00]

CHANCE (on camera): He is a close friend of the family who are nearly killed in their beds here. Godfather to the three children escaped with their lives. Now he has one request he tells me for the United States. Please close the skies over Ukraine he begs.

If we can just contact NATO and ask them this, everything will be fine. Otherwise, he warns Putin will cross Ukraine and threaten the whole of Ukraine in a bunker under the town, its terrified children, the singing Ukraine's national anthem that keeps them calm.

As Russia invades a whole generation of Ukrainians is being united by this war together as they shelter from the horrors above. Matthew Chance, CNN, Ukraine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES: And still ahead right here Ukraine could be one step closer to joining the European Union why becoming a member of the bloc matters even as Russia forces continue their assault, that's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SOARES: European Union officials agreed on Monday to examine bids by Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova to join the bloc that is according to the French EU Presidency. The European Council President shared a similar message on Twitter as you can see; they're saying the group will discuss Ukraine's application in the coming days.

It is a significant step towards EU membership for the countries that may be largely symbolic since the process of joining the EU can take years. For more I'm joined by CNN's Natasha Bertrand in Brussels. Good morning to Natasha! The fear of course for these countries that war on their doorstep, they could be targeted next, so there's clearly a need to protect them. How quickly can this happen? Talk us through the process.

[04:45:00]

NATASHA BERTRAND, CNN REPORTER: Well, it's unlikely to happen very quickly at all Isa. This is a process that does not happen overnight over - over a matter of months or even years. Some nations that have tried to join the European Union have been waiting over a decade.

So it is a very long drawn out process. It is a complicated process. Of course, Ukraine has been asking the European Union, if it can expedite its candidacy and EU leaders will be meeting near Paris on Thursday and discussing fast tracking Ukraine's candidacy.

But they could also punt this question to the European Commission, because there is not total unanimity within the European Union on whether or not Ukraine should actually join right now or even be on that expedited track. So the European Commission could take this up, do a review, and that in turn, could take itself about a year and a half to two years.

So it's a very complicated process. It requires that a country align its financial, legal political systems with European Union standards. And of course, Ukraine is in the middle of a very bloody and brutal war right now.

Now, it's important for Ukraine to be seen as a member of the European Union because it not only would provide them with a certain degree of protection and benefits that comes with being a part of that bloc. But it also would allow the Ukrainian President and leadership to give their people a morale boost right to say that at the end of this war, if we get through this and we will be part of the European Union.

We will be European and that is what President Zelenskyy in a speech last week to the European Parliament, a very emotional, impassioned speech, emphasized. He said, we are not only fighting for ourselves and for Ukraine, but we are also fighting for the whole of Europe, and the international order, frankly.

The Ukrainians say that they feel European they feel as though they have met the standards and they have proven themselves as European. The EU says it does support their aspirations. But of course not everyone believes that now is the time to be focusing on that. Rather, they believe that they should be focusing more on the immediate needs of the Ukrainians in terms of weaponry and humanitarian aid Isa.

SOARES: Natasha Bertrand for us in Brussels thanks very much Natasha. Well, some have already escaped attacks on their cities, but these Ukrainian women are staying to support the fighters on the frontlines. We'll bring in their stories just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:50:00] SOARES: Ukrainian Defense Ministry says it's formed a special unit to fight the Russian invasion. Thanks to the help of thousands of foreign volunteers. We're told the International Legion has already started carrying out combat missions. One military leader says veterans and volunteers from 52 countries want to join the unit. Already he says the number has exceeded 20,000.

Well, it has become disturbingly clear that Ukrainian civilians are targets in this war. The U.S. Ambassador to the UN is especially concerned about women and children who are vulnerable to gender based violence. But for some Ukrainian women, there is no choice but to stay and support their loved ones who have gone to the front. Anderson Cooper spoke with several of them in Lviv.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): IN a volunteer center in Lviv, moms whose husbands and children have taken up arms gather supplies for those fighting further east.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We understand we need to hold strong like a fist like this. And we have very strong faith. We believe that we will win and this will hold us together.

COOPER (on camera): She works for a group called "Angel on your Shoulder". She's recruited more than 100 women to pack boxes around the clock. Everything is donated medicine, toiletries, all kinds of pre-packaged food.

COOPER (voice over): We're looking for things which are easy to prepare which you can add water to for troops in the front or families. Nothing stays here for long. The work is hard. The war is harder. Angela's husband left for the front yesterday. He's a doctor a veteran of the Soviet war in Afghanistan.

COOPER (on camera): Does it help to work here to stay busy?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are doing what we can. We keep on praying. People ask how you're not crying but you know crying doesn't help. Each person does what they can.

COOPER (voice over): Angela is in the reserves as well. But for now she's taking care of her family and volunteering.

COOPER (on camera): Thank you for your strength you give me and everybody strength.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you very much.

COOPER (voice over): In another building more mothers more volunteers making camouflage netting to hide tanks and artillery.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Let me teach you do you see just like this.

COOPER (voice over): Her son is already in the fight.

COOPER (on camera): What made you want to come here?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We need to protect our country. It is difficult to speak. My son is in the army since 2015. I did not want to let him go and he said who will go if not me? How will I be able to say to people that I hid and shelter him. So he laughed and it was extremely difficult for me.

COOPER (voice over): Many in this room have had to flee their homes in Kharkiv and Kiev. They wonder when the bombs will fall here.

COOPER (on camera): If you could talk to mothers in Russia, what would you tell them?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I would tell them to take their sons back. We're also sorry for them. They're also humans. Human life was created by God. How can it be taken away just like that? They will be judged and face punishment for this. You cannot do this. Let them take their kids.

COOPER (on camera): This war has many fronts and for mothers there are many ways to fight Anderson Cooper, CNN, Lviv, Ukraine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[04:55:00]

SOARES: Beautiful piece there from Anderson Cooper. And on this International Women's Day our thoughts here at CNN are with the extraordinary women of Ukraine, as you just saw there in that piece. Those on the frontlines fighting for their country, those titling are holding on to their little ones, as they put on a brave face as they flee this unprovoked war.

And the many others that you just saw there in that peace staying behind to look after loved ones, those who are sick, and the elderly we are in absolute awe of your bravery, as well as your resilience. And if you would like to help people in Ukraine who may be in need of shelter, food and water please go to cnn.com/impact. So far 40,000 donors have raised more than $3.2 million.

And I want to bring this to you this news coming in to CNN Ukrainian officials say the Sumi evacuation corridor, which both Russia and Ukraine had recently agreed upon. We mentioned that top of the hour is now operating a ceasefire is said to be in effect so civilians can actually leave the city safely.

Of course, we'll keep you updated on the evacuations and the possibility of other humanitarian corridors throughout today, right here on CNN. That does end for me. Thanks very much for your company. I'm Isa Soares in London. Our coverage continues on "New Day" with Brianna Keilar and John Berman. You are watching CNN.

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[05:00:00]