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Volodymyr Omelyan is Interviewed about Ukraine; Babies Stranded in Ukraine; Krish O'Mara Vignarajah is Interviewed about Refugees; Suspect Arrested for Attacks Against Homeless. Aired 9:30-10a ET

Aired March 15, 2022 - 09:30   ET

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

[09:30:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARINA OVSYANNIKOVA, RUSSIAN ANTI-WAR PROTESTER (through translator): And Russia is the aggressor country.

And the responsibility for this aggression lies in the conscience of only one person, this man is Vladimir Putin.

My father is Ukrainian, my mother is Russian, and they have never been enemies. And this necklace on my neck is a symbol of the fact that Russia must immediately stop this fratricidal war so our fraternal nations will still be able to reconcile.

Go to the rallies and do not be afraid. They cannot arrest us all.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: So, that's the big question now, is her rallying call for people to go out and protest? And we know about 15,000 people have been arrested for protesting against the war so far. Does that get heard? And I think another intriguing question about this at the moment is, did she get any support from inside that state media institution? Did she get help? Did people say you should do this? Was she given access to the set? Because if that's true, then that means Putin's got a much bigger problem.

SCIUTTO: Yes.

ROBERTSON: If she is an isolated case, then you bet, they're going to chuck the book at her, Jim.

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: And it's not the only critical comment we've heard on state TV. Granted, few and far between, but not the -- not the only one. We'll see if it gets to something bigger.

Nic Robertson, in London, thanks so much.

Joining us now, someone you want to listen to, he's Volodymyr Omelyan. He's a former Ukrainian minister of infrastructure. He himself has now joined the fight against the Russians.

Thanks so much, Vladimir, for joining us.

VOLODYMYR OMELYAN, FORMER UKRAINIAN MINISTER OF INFRASTRUCTURE: Good morning, America. Thank you, sir.

SCIUTTO: You have said that I am not a natural-born killer and I never dreamed to be that type of guy. Now you are putting your life on the line. You have a family. Tell us what changed you?

OMELYAN: It's my personal belief that with only one option on the table, to fight and to win or we die and lose. And, for us, for Ukrainians, it's natural to protect our independence because it's independence war. And, plus, definitely, we are proud to protect democratic values and principles in Ukraine against wild (INAUDIBLE) coming from the east.

ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR: The fact that we have, as we understand it at this moment, they are en route, leaders from the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovenia, on their way to Kyiv, right, where we are seeing these battles.

SCIUTTO: Yes.

HILL: We're seeing these bombings. The fact that they are making their way there to meet with President Zelenskyy, what message does that send to you, what message do you think it sends to the world?

OMELYAN: It's exactly what the president of Ukraine, Zelenskyy (ph) (INAUDIBLE) in 2008 when he traveled to Georgia together with Polish president, killed by Russians, by the way, and they protested against Russian occupation in Georgia. We are grateful to our eastern European partners, joining our effort in this fight against Soviets and against Russia. And especially we are grateful to the people of United States and Mr. Biden for helping us -- for protecting us and making us believe that we do right thing because we fight for the world, even if we don't call it World War III now.

SCIUTTO: You say you're fighting for the world. And you have said previously that Ukraine is only the beginning of Putin's dream.

What do you mean by that? Do you believe that his ambitions go beyond Ukraine?

OMELYAN: Absolutely, sir. I'm 100 percent sure because, regardless, if I was a diplomat and official, I also love history. And it's not the case of Putin himself. It's the policy of Kremlin to occupy all countries they can occupy. And, for him, Ukraine is only the beginning of great story to restore Russian empire. And, unfortunately, it's my personal belief, Putin and Kremlin do it together with China. Without Chinese blessing, it won't be possible.

HILL: Do you believe -- so, when you say they're doing it with China's blessing, how do you believe China is helping Russia and do you think that China would step up that support?

OMELYAN: We see first days of reaction coming from Beijing. There were very neutral, even supporting Russia. And only when Putin failed the China, and this war instead of easy-going blitzkrieg, turn into bloody massacre, now China is changing their position.

But we also will check what's going on with supplies to Russia. Is it happening or not? Because it will be another good example who is behind Kremlin.

SCIUTTO: Do you have a message to Beijing as it considers this request from Russia to in effect join the war?

OMELYAN: You know, right now we fight as Russian calls themself -- or they call the red army, second largest army in the world. And I don't want to have Ukraine fighting second and third army in the world.

[09:35:06]

SCIUTTO: Yes. Yes.

HILL: Quickly, before we let you go, there's been a lot of talk about whether Russia would use chemical weapons and disinformation that's been put out there by Russia as sort of a false flag. Are you concerned about that? Do you believe it will happen?

OMELYAN: As a human and citizen of Ukraine, definitely I'm concerned about my people and my country. But we should always remember Hitler. His last days in bunker were also about (INAUDIBLE), a miracle weapon, to change the world and to destroy the world. I hope and I believe that Putin will not be able to push the red button during last days in his bunker.

SCIUTTO: Goodness.

HILL: Volodymyr Omelyan, really appreciate you taking the time to join us today. Thank you.

OMELYAN: Thank you for supporting Ukraine. Thank you.

HILL: Stay safe.

SCIUTTO: That's a frightening thought. Frightening thought.

OMELYAN: (INAUDIBLE).

HILL: Well, dozens of babies born to surrogates are now trapped in Ukraine, trapped because of the war. The dangers their parents from around the world are facing in order to reach them.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:40:48]

HILL: They are the youngest and most vulnerable victims of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Dozens of babies born to surrogate mothers now trapped in Ukraine's capital.

SCIUTTO: And under threat. Their parents, their new parents, are unable to come and pick them up because, of course, it's just too dangerous there now. CNN's Sam Kiley has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): This is precious cargo. Not cash in transit but week old baby Lawrence in transit to a new life. Born to a surrogate mother, under bombardment in Kyiv. He is raced through the Ukraine capital to a nursery in the southwest of the city. It's perilously close to Russian troops and easily within range of their artillery.

This is a gauntlet his new parents will have to run when, or if, they come here to collect him. For now, he'll be among 20 other surrogate babies destined, it's hoped, for new lives in Argentina, China, Spain, Italy, Canada, Austria and the U.S.

Parting from the child she carried as a surrogate, Victoria is inevitably tearful. Her pain intensified by uncertainty.

VICTORIA, SURROGATE MOTHER (through translator): It is even harder that he is in a place where they're shelling. And when will his parents get to take him away because of it? It's really hard.

KILEY: This missile struck about 500 yards from the nursery while we were there.

KILEY (on camera): There are constant explosions we can even hear in the basement. And the Russian military is reportedly consolidating and planning to push in further into the city from the east. So, the future of these children is even more in doubt. How long will it be before it's impossible, completely impossible, for their new parents to come and rescue them.

KILEY (voice over): The nannies here cannot join the exodus of civilians from Kyiv. These babies may be tiny, but they're the heaviest of responsibilities.

Antonina's husband and daughter have already traveled to safety 130 miles south.

ANTONINA YEFIMOVICH, NANNY (through translator): These babies can't be abandoned. They're defenseless. They also need care. And we really hope that the parents will come and pick them up soon.

KILEY: An Argentine couple collected their child the day before, but a combination of the pandemic and now war has meant that some have been stuck here for months.

DR. IHOR PECHENOGA, PEDIATRICIAN, BIOTEXCOM (through translator): It all depends on the strength of the parent's desire. I met with parents who came to Kyiv to pick up their baby. They had tears in their eyes. They had waited 20 years for their baby. And there are such couples who are afraid because there is a war going on here.

KILEY: These infants are oblivious to the doubts over their future and the dangers that they've already survived. There's abundant hope that it stays that way.

Sam Kiley, CNN, Kyiv.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SCIUTTO: The youngest of the many millions under threat in Ukraine now. Our thanks to Sam Kiley.

We have this news just in to CNN.

Ukraine's president has confirmed that 97 children have been killed in Russia's attacks on Ukraine since the start of the invasion just under three weeks ago. Ninety-seven children.

HILL: Well, the International Organization for Migration says more than 3 million people have fled Ukraine since Russia invaded last month. The White House says the president is considering speeding up the resettlement process for some Ukrainians with ties in the U.S.

Joining me now is Krish O'Mara Vignarajah, president and CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, and also former senior adviser at the State Department.

Krish, it's good to have you with us this morning.

The mayor of Warsaw was on CNN this morning and said, quote, the city is slowly becoming overwhelmed. He's specifically asking for more help from European and international partners, including with a relocation program.

Does the U.S. need to do more here?

KRISH O'MARA VIGNARAJAH, PRESIDENT AND CEO, LUTHERAN IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE SERVICE: I think so. I mean, we, obviously, know that the U.S. needs to play a supporting role to neighboring nations like Poland and Hungary, because, obviously, they represent the front lines, and that has been something we've been focused on, humanitarian funding and logistical support. But the U.S. also needs to play a leading role by resettling refugees here at home.

[09:45:02]

We have the room and resources to welcome displaced Ukrainians. And so there's a few things we could do. One, many Ukrainian refugees have family in the U.S., but they're facing incredibly long visa wait times, so the U.S. needs to surge staff, resources, to expedite those family reunifications. More broadly, the refugee resettle system is, you know, something that was actually created in the crucible of the Cold War. We've used the program to resettle 50,000 Ukrainians since 2001 and so there's an opportunity there.

But the truth is, we know that asylum and refugee resettlement, they're dysfunctional. There's a massive backlog. So we should be more creative about what we can employ.

HILL: Should be more creative. Does the U.S. also need to be more proactive? It seems that -- it seems that maybe the number of refugees, the need, has been under estimated. I mean less than three weeks since Russia invaded. More than 3 million people have left Ukraine. Yes, support is one thing, especially when you're not one of those front line countries. But given where we're at right now, does the United States need to be more proactive and less reactionary?

VIGNARAJAH: I think so. The fact that we just passed that grim marker of now 3 million refugees who have fled Ukraine, the reality is, is that no single country, no single region can address this alone. The fact that Poland has more than 1.8 million refugees, Moldova, the poorest country in Europe, has 100,000, the U.S. has to step up.

We have an opportunity to continue to show global humanitarian leadership. But that's where we need to be creative. Think about using authorities like humanitarian parole, which is intended to help people fleeing urgent humanitarian crises. We've done this before in response to Cold War aggressions. We've done it most recently with the Afghan allies last year. That is the way in which we can help Ukrainians who, whether they have family ties or not, have an opportunity to receive protection here in the U.S.

HILL: If a program like humanitarian parole was used more broadly for Ukrainians currently seeking refuge, can you give us a sense of the numbers of what that would look like for relocating, for bringing folks to the U.S.?

VIGNARAJAH: Well, I think that is a discussion that we would need to have with European nations. Obviously, this came up during the vice president's visit last week. Certainly, you know, we can use one recent data point of resettling 76,000 Afghans just in several -- you know, six months last year. I -- it's tough to put an exact number to it, but I think that we need to really be talking at least about tens of thousands, if not potentially 100,000.

Krish O'Mara Vignarajah, appreciate you joining us. Thank you.

VIGNARAJAH: Thanks for having me.

SCIUTTO: So many people in need there.

Up next, a break in a series of murders targeting homeless people here in the U.S., in D.C. and New York. Police now say they have made an arrest. We're going to have the details coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:52:31]

SCIUTTO: New this morning, a breakthrough.

Washington, D.C., police, they have now arrested a suspect wanted in connection with at least five shootings targeting homeless men both here in D.C. and in New York City.

HILL: CNN national correspondent Brynn Gingras has been following this story for us. Brynn, I feel like this has actually come together pretty quickly.

BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I was just going to say that. I mean this is many agencies working together. They got resolution pretty quickly. And we're learning more about this person, expecting to hear more as the day goes on.

But, yes, a person is arrested for the alleged killing of two men that were living on the streets and then the shooting of three others which injured those, both in D.C. and New York.

My colleague, Evan Perez, learning that ATF agents were able to actually identify the suspect that you're seeing here as of yesterday afternoon, and then they were able to actually locate him overnight in D.C. and make that arrest. We're understanding from D.C. police that that person right there is in the custody of the police department with the homicide bureau and they're actually talking to him to learn a little bit more information.

But again, yes, this comes not really long after yesterday, about 6:00 in the evening, we were hearing from the mayors of both New York and D.C. with the ATF president as well at a press conference asking for the public's help, releasing new images of that suspect to hopefully get some more tips as to locating him. Certainly a priority as these incidents happened really over the last nine days or so.

If you remember, it started in D.C. in March. Police believe he is tied to a shooting, rather, that happened -- of a person that was living on the streets on March 3rd, then a second one on March 8th, and then another one on March 9th, where that victim actually died. And then come -- coming here to New York City allegedly and killing one person and injuring another.

So, a huge breakthrough in this case. We're learning about a press conference that's expected about 12:30 this afternoon from the D.C. Police to get more information. Of course, we don't know a motive yet. Why did he target these people? Who is this person? A little bit more details certainly when we get those.

HILL: And, really quickly, they were connected by?

GINGRAS: That's right, ballistics.

HILL: Ballistics.

GINGRAS: We asked -- we learned that over the weekend that police are trying him to all these crimes allegedly through ballistics of the weapons used. Of course, again, we'll get more information, did they find the gun?

HILL: Right.

GINGRAS: Who is this person and why, again, is a big question?

HILL: Yes. But, again, quick work and good to see all of these cities and these agencies working together as well. GINGRAS: Unbelievable. Absolutely. Absolutely.

HILL: Brynn, thank you.

GINGRAS: Yes.

SCIUTTO: Well, back to our breaking news this morning.

Kyiv's mayor has now declared a two-day, two full days, curfew as Russia continues relentlessly attacking the capital. That's a residential apartment building there. CNN is there on the ground as Russian forces bombard the city.

[09:55:03]

Our live team coverage is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SCIUTTO: A good Tuesday morning to you. I'm Jim Sciutto.

HILL: And I'm Erica Hill.

As Russia ramps up its attacks on Kyiv, leaders from three European countries making a statement. They are traveling directly into the center of that chaos. Today, the prime minister and deputy prime minister of Poland and the prime ministers of the Czech Republic and Slovenia will be in Kyiv where they'll meet with Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

This as talks between Ukraine and Russia are ongoing.

[10:00:01]

Paused but ongoing. Communications remain open. Russia's assault, though, on the Ukrainian capital is only increasing.