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Oleksandr Senkevych is Interviewed about Bombing in Mykolayiv; Biden to Revoke Russia's Status; Quite Talks with Saudi Arabia and UAE; Maria Mezentseva is Interviewed about Ukraine. Aired 9:30-10a ET

Aired March 11, 2022 - 09:30   ET

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

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[09:32:49]

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: This morning, the United States is condemning Russia for using internationally condemned cluster munitions, as well as what are known as vacuum bombs, here in Ukraine. The mayor of the southern port city of Mykolayiv says that his town has been bombed with cluster bombs repeatedly.

And the mayor of Mykolayiv, Oleksandr Senkevych, joins me now.

Mayor, it's good to have you. I know your city has been through so much these last few days. Can you talk about the impact of cluster bombs? Because these are bombs that are designed to kill people. They're designed to go after human targets.

MAYOR OLEKSANDR SENKEVYCH, MYKOLAYIV, UKRAINE: This is the main thing. Hello, studio (ph), do you hear me?

SCIUTTO: Yes.

SENKEVYCH: Yes.

So this is the main aim of these cluster bombs, people, life force. They bombed us for three days. Last night was silent. But before that, three days in a row they bombed us with this type of rockets, missiles. We have a lot of witnesses, on video, on photo, and the direction of these bombs showing that they came from the Kherson direction, which is now occupied by Russian invaders.

SCIUTTO: I know big problem with cluster bombs, right, is that kids often pick up the bomblets as they're known because they look like toys.

The Russian defense ministry says it is hitting only military targets in Ukraine. I'd like you to respond to that based on what you've seen there.

SENKEVYCH: This is untrue because, as evidence we have 174 civil buildings ruined totally or partially and more over (ph) the day before yesterday they ruined our shelter for elder people, for elderly. And we also have all these evidences and nothing from military infrastructure were bombarded. Only people's houses and places where people live, in rural areas and big buildings.

[09:35:06]

SCIUTTO: Every day we see more evidence of that around the country.

You said a number of days ago that the Ukrainian military had been able to hold off the advance of Russian forces around Mykolayiv. Are they still able to hold off the Russian military?

SENKEVYCH: Last day we see they -- they fell back and regrouped their troops. I think they have a fresh force from Crimea, so they want to change those people who are here. They keep distance between the city and them about 50 kilometers. So our ancillary can get them. They divided in small groups, trying to attack. We attack them instead and they fell back.

So, for sure everyone here is Mykolayiv is ready to stand and to defend our city, and our region and the whole Ukraine. We know what we do, why we do this, but they don't know it. And they, in case they get fire from our side, they run away. They leave the tanks and weapon and just run back.

SCIUTTO: Have Ukrainian forces -- have you seen them take those tanks and use them against the Russians? In other words, turn them around and point the other way?

SENKEVYCH: Let's say for (INAUDIBLE) we got for 16 items, I mean those were not tanks, but other military machines that we got into the city, repaired and they are ready to fight with Russians now.

SCIUTTO: Amazing to see.

Just quickly before we go, those cluster bombs dropped on Mykolayiv, they're dropped by Russian jets. Can a city like yours be safe as long as Russian planes are able to fly over Ukraine?

SENKEVYCH: No one (INAUDIBLE). As we see like they act in (INAUDIBLE) Kyiv and most of all in Mariupol, they just ruin the cities. They do -- they act like Nazis acted in World War II. So they clean the airs (ph) from the buildings, from the people. They don't have any, you know, feelings about it. More over, they bomb us not only from the aircraft, but from this type of already occupied Kherson (INAUDIBLE).

SCIUTTO: Yes.

Well, Mayor Oleksandr Senkevych, we know you and the people in your city face grave danger every day. We wish you safety.

SENKEVYCH: Thank you. Thank you.

SCIUTTO: So many stories like that around this country.

Still ahead, President Biden is set to announce new actions against Russia. We're going to bring you those comments to you live. It's coming soon. Up next, what do we expect him to say?

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[09:42:46]

HILL: Next hour, President Biden expected to announce the U.S. and several allies will call for revoking Russia's most favored nation trade status.

CNN chief business correspondent Christine Romans joining us now.

So the White House, Democrats in Congress, are they on the same page with this?

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: They are.

HILL: OK.

ROMANS: They are. And this is --

HILL: What does it actually mean?

ROMANS: It means that you could sanction Russian goods. It means essentially that Russia is not, you know, a good player on the team and is voted off. That is what it means essentially, that in the global trading infrastructure, you know, Russia is not going to get the treatment that everybody else does because Russia doesn't treat its neighbors the way it should.

So, this is just the latest iteration, I guess. This has been the sad progression for this country. You know, 30 years after being accepted with open arms into the world trading infrastructure, remember it -- you know, it got kicked out of the G-8. The G-8 became G-7 again because of it's invasion of Crimea. It is a pariah on -- you know, on -- in the Olympics because of cheating and breaking the rules there. Now this invasion into Ukraine. And lies -- the lies coming out of the Russian administration about what it's doing.

I mean it's a sad day for Russian citizens, quite frankly, who are losing their access to the rest of the world. There are long lines for banks. They have capital controls on their own money. Their stock market can't open. Their currency is worthless. There are economists who think there will be a Russian depression. You're talking about setting back the standards of living of Russian citizens because of Putin -- directly because of Putin's actions.

You can't compare what's happening to Russians to what's happening to Ukrainians, of course. I mean there is actual death and destruction inside Ukraine because of Vladimir Putin. But Putin is hurting his own people, his own economy too. He's, you know, he's really destroying his own economy here.

HILL: Yes.

ROMANS: And this is just the latest in that sad progression.

HILL: And to what end? I mean -- Christine, appreciate it. Thank you. A team of Biden officials, we're learning, are quietly speaking with

Saudi Arabia and the UAE, urging those countries to ramp up global oil production in an effort to help tamp down surging oil prices.

CNN's national security correspondent Kylie Atwood joining us now live from the State Department.

So, Kylie, what more do we know about these efforts and how fruitful they have been, or not?

[09:45:03]

KYLIE ATWOOD, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes, well, listen, there is a sense of cautious optimism among White House officials about this effort. They are seeing it as something they're putting a lot of effort into, to try and get these countries around the globe to increase oil production so that they can decrease, of course, the oil prices.

Now, two countries that they're keenly focused on are the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Those are major oil producers. They are both part of OPEC, which produces 40 percent of global oil supply. So that is significant.

Now, these are both countries that the Biden administration doesn't have a great relationship with. So, you want officials try to work on that relationship as they're also looking at those countries as possibly ones that could increase their production.

Now, just this week the UAE ambassador to the United States said that the UAE was supportive of raising oil production. But you have to realize that the UAE is in OPEC, so they have to operate within the rules and regulations of OPEC. But, still, for the UAE ambassador to say that, it was viewed as a positive step in the right direction by White House officials.

And they're also work on the relationship with Saudi Arabia. All of this to try and see if there could be increased oil production. But, of course, we haven't seen that yet. So there's still, clearly, work to be done.

Erica.

HILL: Kylie Atwood, we know you'll continue to keep us updated. Appreciate it. Thank you.

Still to come here, how Kharkiv's mayor says the city is suffering merciless shelling. There is no heat, temperatures below zero. We're going to speak with a number of Ukraine's parliament, born in Kharkiv, about the relentless attacks on that city in the dead of winter.

That's ahead.

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[09:51:13] SCIUTTO: This morning the mayor of Kharkiv, in northeastern Ukraine, says that his city is facing, quote, merciless shelling, noting several apartment blocs have now been destroyed along with, listen to this, 48 schools. And despite the widespread destruction, as well as the lack of heating, he remains optimistic, saying they will win, they can win.

Earlier, I spoke with Maria Mezentseva. She is a member of Ukraine's parliament who's originally from Kharkiv.

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SCIUTTO: Your hometown is Kharkiv. It's one of the hardest hit cities in this war so far. And overnight suffered relentless Russian shelling.

Have you heard from Kharkiv in the last 24 hours? What's happening there?

MARIA MEZENTSEVA, UKRAINIAN MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT: Yes, absolutely. We're in direct contact with regional administration, city council, and a big team of volunteers who are working on the ground 24/7.

I am currently on the mission to Strasburg for a couple of days talking to European institutions and the Council of Europe, where we're going to get (INAUDIBLE) the Russian Federation on Tuesday hopefully by the vote of the majority.

And I just spoke to deputy head (ph) of the regional administration about the severe bombarding and humanitarian aid which is being sent from all over the world. There's track just arrived from Italy with lots of water and food. There is medicine support and, of course, we're talking here with member states of the EU and not only talking about the need of also our military support, military supply, there are helmets, there are life vests, there are walkie-talkie military equipment and everything which can help our soldiers stand by their -- by the nation, by the people.

Now I can say that it's not only Ukrainian soldiers, 30,000 of which are women are fighting for our independence, democracy, human rights and values of the freedom world, it's also every Ukrainian who, for instance, has a phone or can join, we call them information forces, fight the fake news.

SCIUTTO: Your colleague, Kira Rudic (ph), told us that this is no longer just Ukraine's war, it's the world's war. I wonder, as you're in Europe, do you have that sense that European countries view this as their fight too?

MEZENTSEVA: Yes, absolutely. We have had already numerous rounds of talks, more than eight meetings within 24 hours which we've spent here in Strasburg. It's -- I can -- I can say as a person who's been engaged in this peaceful talks and the European integration process since 2013 when President Yanakovch (ph) did not sign this association agreement in Vilnus (ph) and that's how the Midons (ph) started the protest and the revolution of dignity. I can -- I can say, I've never experienced the -- such enormous support which we are having here. But words are strong. The actions have to be stronger.

We have discussed the special plans for relocation of refugees who have now -- now being reached 2 million people and even more, mostly women and children, people with disabilities. We just finished the relocation of children with disabilities with eyesight issues from Kharkiv, for instance, to Poland and they do need assistance. That's the very human understanding of the assistance we are trying to get here. And, of course, this special funds program which every country develops and also for those who would want to say -- or plan to stay longer.

[09:55:02]

SCIUTTO: President Biden will be addressing the situation in Ukraine. If you could speak with him directly, what would you ask him for?

MEZENTSEVA: I would definitely ask him to send more weapons to here, the U.S. Congress to here, the representatives, the senators who are in close touch with Ukrainian colleagues and to help end this war with whatever means it would take because this is a matter of nuclear security, of ecological security and human security in the whole world. We are at the center of the world's peace and I think every country has to be involved right now because it's a collective piece of security.

SCIUTTO: Maria Mezentseva, we appreciate the work you're doing and we wish you the best of luck.

MEZENTSEVA: Thank you very much. Glory to Ukraine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SCIUTTO: Well, as we mentioned, still ahead, President Biden will speak in just moments on additional sanctions and actions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

CNN's live team coverage on the ground, coming up.

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