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Russians Fire Missiles at City of Lviv, Miles From NATO Territory; Russian Attacks Destroying Ukraine's Cities, Killing Civilians; Biden, China's Xi Speak on Russia's War in Critical Call. Aired 10-10:30a ET

Aired March 18, 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: A very good Friday morning to you. I'm Jim Sciutto.

ERICA HILL, CNN NEWSROOM: And I'm Erica Hill.

Happening right now, Russian forces making an effort to perhaps push west, Putin's army firing on the city of Lviv, striking an aircraft repair plant, that attack, of course, just miles from the Polish border and also dangerously close to the main airport.

Lviv had become a safe haven for residents fleeing violence in other areas of the country. Now the question is, what happens in Lviv?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REPORTER: Even with bombing, do you feel safe to stay here?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I don't know. Where would I go?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCIUTTO: Sad to see smoke over at Lviv.

Well, in the capital city of Kyiv, this is what's left after a downed rocket set a residential area on fire. In that city alone, officials say some 60 civilians, including four children, have died since Russia began its bombardment and missile attacks, more than three weeks ago.

This morning, we are standing by for news from the White House, this as President Biden is speaking, as we speak, with the Chinese president, Xi Jinping. The big question now, will China support or resist Putin's invasion of Ukraine or try somehow to remain neutral?

HILL: We are covering every angle of this breaking story as only CNN can. Our reporters, correspondents, analysts standing by to bring you the very latest.

We ought to begin this hour with CNN International Correspondent Scott McLean who joins us from Lviv, Ukraine.

So, Ukrainian Armed Forces, Scott, say that Russia launched at least six missiles toward Lviv. What are you seeing there on the ground?

SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Erica. Yes, we were able to head out to that area earlier this morning. So, the air raid sirens went off shortly after 6:00 in the morning. Shortly after that, you could hear an explosion, several explosions, even in Central Lviv. And then shortly thereafter, you can see the black smoke on the horizon.

Once we realized where those bombs had dropped, we headed out toward there and it was near the airport building. And when we got to that area, we were able to get a vantage point on top of a bridge over some train tracks there just to the end of the runway and we could see the smoke in the distance, just beyond that runway.

And local officials say that, as you mentioned, it's an aircraft repair facility that was hit. It is not clear if that was the intended target but this is part of a pattern of striking areas near airports, especially in the western part of Ukraine, where we've seen them hit in places like Lutsk and Ivano-Frankivsk and now in Lviv as well.

Lviv, until now, had not been hit with any bombs. And, Erica, just look around, it is a normal day. You could imagine this in any European city, people going about their business, people getting coffee, people going out for lunch or for dinner. There are a lot of things closed. Not everything is the same. You can see that metal box over there. That is actually a statue that's been boarded up in preparation for potential war here. But then look at this, there's bubbles being blown, children chasing over them.

And if I can just take you over this way very quickly, this is an exhibit that has been set up to send a message and to demonstrate a very powerful point, and that is the number of children who have been killed in this war. According to the Ukrainians, there have been more than 100 of them, and so each of these strollers, buggies or car seats, in some cases, represents one child that has been killed in just the last three weeks. If you have kids, it is difficult not to look at these strollers and imagine that being your own child.

The governor of this area said that the Russians should have known that this was a place where people are fleeing violence in other parts of the country. And I interviewed one woman a few minutes ago and I asked her what it would take her to finally leave Lviv, and she said, frankly, she doesn't want to. She would only leave as a last resort. And that's the message that you hear from a lot of people, that why should you leave if this is your home? A lot of people are choosing to stay at this moment, Jim and Erica, but that may change if the bombing continues.

SCIUTTO: I was amazed by people's resolve there and their ability to just find moments of happiness in the midst of it. Scott McLean, thanks so much for bringing us that story.

Let's go now to the White House where the critical call underway between President Biden and the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, CNN White House Correspondent John Harwood, National Security Correspondent Kylie Atwood standing by.

John, first to you, this call began, well, just about an hour ago on the dot. What message is Biden sending to Xi in this conversation? What does he hope to get out of it?

JOHN HARWOOD, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Jim, this is a huge moment for the president who's framed his administration as part of the 21st century struggle between autocracy and democracy.

[10:05:06]

What the administration believes, as a senior administration official told me yesterday, is that China made an bet early on, on Russia, this having a quick conflict. We also saw the images at the Olympics of Xi and Putin together.

But that bet looks pretty bad at this moment, and so China is now uncertain as to whether to double down or to pull back. What Biden is trying to do is press on that uncertainty, cause China to hesitate and not stand with Putin.

And, remember, China has got a couple of different interests here. It is an autocracy and, politically, it wants to act like one. It would like to seize Taiwan, for example. But in terms of economics, it is running with the leading industrial democracies of the world that has lifted hundreds of millions of Chinese out of poverty. And what the president is going to try to make clear is if those kind of gains are at risk if China gets in deeper with Russia in this conflict. Very, very important moment right now.

HILL: Kylie, in the meantime, Secretary of State Antony Blinken laid a very firm stance out against any Chinese support for Russia, clearly laying that groundwork ahead of that call. What more did we hear from the secretary of state?

KYLIE ATWOOD, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Well, listen, this call significantly comes as we have reported, Russia has actually asked China for military and economic support to back its war in Ukraine. And, of course, we have also said that the United States has told NATO allies that China has expressed an openness to provide that support.

And that is why we are hearing publicly from Biden administration officials this week citing their concerns over China potentially doing that. They have been watching the Russia/China relationship grow closer and closer not just over the last few weeks but over the last few months and years, and they're watching to see what that turns into and warning China of the cost that would be associated.

Listen to what the secretary of state said on this yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANTONY BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE: We believe China, in particular, has a responsibility to use its influence with President Putin and to defend the international rules and principles that it professes to support. Instead, it appears that China is moving in the opposite direction, by refusing to condemn this aggression while seeking to portray itself as a neutral arbiter. And we're concerned that they're considering directly assisting Russia with military equipments to be used in Ukraine.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ATWOOD: Now, earlier this week, we know that National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met with his Chinese counterpart. He made very clear to the Chinese that there would be implications, not just for the U.S./China relationship but also for China's relationship with the entire world, if they did move to provide support to Russia as part of this invasion into Ukraine.

And we heard from the secretary of state yesterday that Biden is also going to be clear on this, that the Biden administration will not stand back. They will not hold on imposing any costs on China if they move forward with this potential support. A critical, critical call, guys.

HILL: It certainly is. Kylie Atwood, John Harwood, thank you both.

Joining us now to discuss, Evelyn Farkas, who served as a deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia. Good to have you back with us this morning.

What we have seen in the days leading up to this call, right, this very public discussion about the intel that showed Russia was asking China for help, China's possible response, even putting out there very publicly what his plan for this call. How effective do you think that has been at setting the stage?

EVELYN FARKAS, FORMER DEPUTY ASSISTANT DEFENSE SECRETARY FOR RUSSIA/UKRAINE/EURASIA: Well, Erica, obviously, it remains to be seen and hopefully we'll get a readout from the administration in the coming hours. China is trying to have it both ways here. Obviously, they want to demonstrate to the Russians that they are still a partner and they want to provide enough support to Russia so that Russia can continue to keep the west distracted, keep weakening our democracies, from their perspective, that is in the interest of Russia and China.

But China is not interested in having the United States and its allies slap secondary sanctions on it for helping Russia. It is not interested in a meltdown of the economic order. So, China has other interests on the other side which I think the administration is hoping will compel President Xi to pull back, certainly from any military support but also from any economic support to Russia.

HILL: In that vein, we were talking about this earlier, China, of course, doesn't want to be told what to do, understandable, but when you look at how long this could potentially play out, that is also a big unknown. How much is that figuring into China's assessment at this point, especially as we see a stalled Russian army?

[10:10:00]

FARKAS: Yes. I mean, Erica, I think if you don't see fast action on the Russian side resulting in a catastrophic loss of life in Ukraine, then the Chinese will think, let's just let this drag out because it's to our benefit, again, to distract the United States, to weaken the west. I mean, obnoxiously, they just had a Chinese carrier go through the Taiwan Straits, so that was clearly a message to the United States that we're still strong and don't mess with us.

If it goes on longer, China think things it's in their interest but they also have to balance the fact that this is an invasion, this is a violation of sovereignty, they're always talking about Article II of the U.N. Charter and sovereignty and borders in order to, of course, make their argument about keeping Tibet and keeping their borders intact. And they also really have signed up clearly to the Geneva Conventions, and even though they're violating human rights in their territory in different ways, publicly associated with what Russia is doing right now militarily to the civilians in Ukraine is difficult. They are shielding their public from the reality right now and they can continue to do that. But I think they want to be leaders on the international stage, and so that means they should take a more positive policy.

HILL: Shielding the Chinese people, also amplifying Russian disinformation, in many cases, as we know.

When it comes to these potential consequences that we're hearing about from the White House, the cost is a word that we keep hearing. If there were to be any, quote/unquote, consequences or costs, potentially sanctions here, how important is it that those come not just from the United States but that there is a concerted effort like we've seen against Russia with other nations?

FARKAS: It's critical because, of course, any kind of components, computer components, things that we would sanction, we have already sanctioned China to some extent, but, really, draconian sanctions would have to be backed up certainly by our European allies. Japan, that wouldn't really be a problem because they have their own tensions with China, but all our allies across the globe would have to contribute, especially allies that have access to materials, to high- tech components that the Chinese need in order to continue their modernization of their military and also, of course, their economic development.

HILL: Before we let you go, just based on your experience, how do you think the very public messaging on this phone call between Presidents Biden and Xi is playing at the Kremlin?

FARKAS: Playing on the Kremlin, yes, that is actually, I think, the target. I like your question because I don't think Xi likes it very much when we publicly message what we want him to do, but I do think it's probably having an impact on Vladimir Putin making him think twice.

First of all, these are the world's biggest economies. Russia is not in that club. They're having a meeting about Russia without Russia. I think that should make Vladimir Putin feel nervous.

HILL: Evelyn Farkas, always great to have you. Thank you.

FARKAS: Thanks, Erica.

HILL: Still to come this morning, a Minnesota man is now among those killed in Ukraine, among the civilian deaths there. How his sister is remembering him. She said he was always a helper.

SCIUTTO: Plus, with food and medicine in short supply, the youngest member of the Ukrainian parliament joins us to speak about the growing humanitarian crisis in his country. Heartbreaking to watch.

And a mother forced to send her young son alone on a journey to save his life.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REPORTER: Were you scared?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCIUTTO: That's an incredible little boy. His bravery as he traveled hundreds of miles by himself, with just a bag and a cell phone. That's coming up.

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[10:15:00]

SCIUTTO: Just moments ago, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy spoke to the Ukrainian people offering an update on the horrific bombing of a theater in Mariupol. This is the theater that was clearly marked, as you see there, with the word, children, in Russian. Children and families were taking shelter.

Have a listen to what the president said.

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VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT: -- are continuing at the site of the bombed theater where civilians were hiding from bombs and using it as a shelter. We have managed to rescue 130 people from there, however, hundreds of the people of Mariupol are still under the rubble. Despite all the difficulties, we will continue rescue operations.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCIUTTO: Goodness. 130, certainly good news but a total of 1,300 people are believed to have been sheltering the building at the time of this attack.

HILL: Yes. For him to say, hundreds, they believe, are still under that rubble.

More tragic news to share with you out of Ukraine as we are learning more about the American man who was killed on Thursday in Chernihiv. James Whitney Hill, who went by Jimmy, was among dozens killed during artillery fire in that city. His sister says he was one of the people killed in the bread line. He was in Ukraine with his partner who is being treated for multiple sclerosis.

[10:20:00]

SCIUTTO: CNN's Camila Bernal joins us now live from Los Angeles. Camila, I know Jimmy's sister spoke to CNN last night. What did we learn?

CAMIL BERNAL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Jim and Erica. It really is devastating for that sister, for the rest of the family and for his friends. We know that James Hill essentially gave us a chilling example in details of everything that was happening right before his death. While he was in Ukraine, on Facebook, he described intense bombings multiple times, said they were cold, they were hungry, said that people couldn't sleep, that were getting depressed. He said they were starting to feel hopeless, and so many of his friends and family following along as he detailed what was happening.

As you guys mentioned, he was in Ukraine with his partner, Ira, and his sister saying that he would not leave her side as she was battling M.S. Here's what Katya had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATYA HILL, SISTER OF AMERICAN KILLED IN UKRAINE: I do know as things were deteriorating in the city that and the food at the hospital, my brother was the one that was going out to the store to bring back what food he could find. And his sharing with me on Messenger was how patient the Ukrainian people were waiting in line, of maybe 100 people, and just taking what they need and leaving food and other supplies in the store for the rest in the line. And at one point, a missile went by him and landed at a distance that did not hurt the people in the line. So, my brother was the helper that people find in a crisis.

At one point, he said he was in the store, he bought some cookies so that he could bring cookies back to the nurses that were helping and couldn't get out to the store. And he had a stash of chocolate that he was keeping so that he could handout chocolates when somebody was being depressed or, you know, just needed a little encouragement.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERNAL: And so many others also describing him as someone who was caring, who was loving, who always had a smile on his face, who was positive, a good teacher, someone who loved the outdoors and enjoyed fly fishing.

But all of this is even harder for this family because they say they still do not know where his body is and the sister saying that there's no way they're going to have closure unless they're able to get his body and, of course, say their final goodbyes. Jim, Erica?

SCIUTTO: Perfectly understandable, and there are many more Americans in Ukraine, some of them fighting. We met them while we were there, so the danger continues. Camila Bernal, thank you so much.

Coming up this hour, a young boy reunited with his family, the story of just an incredible journey out of Ukraine, all by himself. That's coming up.

And a decade of close friendship brutally cut short, how Ukrainian member of parliament is honoring a young Ukrainian journalist, there she is, killed this week by covering Russia's invasion.

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[10:25:00]

SCIUTTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin claims he makes a salary of just $140,000 a year. Fact is he may be one of the richest people on the planet.

HILL: A CNN investigation examines Putin's secret wealth, including an opulent palace overlooking the Black Sea.

CNN's drew griffin joining us now with more on that investigation. Drew, what did you find?

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN SENIOR INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT: Subject of investigation for years, Erica and Jim. And it just shows how easy it is to hide money, especially in Russia, especially through oligarchs, especially even on the Black Sea, where some people say you own a palace.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN (voice over): On the shore of the Black Sea, it can only be described as a palace, 190,000 square feet. From the air, you can see the church, tea house and amphitheater, and, reportedly, an underground hockey rink with a no-fly zone and a no boat zone, this according to an investigation last year, by the jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny's group. They claim that this gilded, luxurious palace fit for a king was built for Vladimir Putin.

MARIA PEVCHIKH, HEAD OF INVESTIGATION, ANTI-CORRUPTION FOUNDATION: This palace is very much a symbol and a miniature of Putin's Russia, that he no longer sees himself as a government employee, as an elected figure. He sees himself as czar, a king of some sort, and that the Russian czar, of course, deserves a palace.

GRIFFIN: CNN can't independently verify Putin's connection to the palace and Putin's spokesman denies the Russian leader owns it or any palace.

Maria Pevchikh from Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation says they have proof. But their sources and documents all point to the palace as an example of how the oligarchs corruptly enrich Russia's president. PEVCHIKH: It has been paid by Russian oligarchs, by Russian state- owned companies, money from Russian people, from regular people, that was stolen.