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Russians Fire Missiles At City Of Lviv, Miles From NATO Territory; Chinese President: China, U.S. Have A Responsibility To Work For Peace; Ukrainian Army: Russia's Main Ways Of Attacking Kyiv Are Blocked. Aired 2-2:30p ET

Aired March 18, 2022 - 14:00   ET

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

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[14:00:22]

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN Breaking News.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Hello everyone. I'm Alisyn Camerota. Welcome to CNN NEWSROOM.

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Victor Blackwell. Russian missiles hit Lviv today. That's the Western Ukrainian city at NATO's doorstep just 43 miles from Poland. Ukraine's forces said that Russian warplanes over the Black Sea fired six missiles towards Lviv. Four of them struck an aircraft repair plan. Lviv's mayor said work had already stopped at the facility. Lviv has been a relatively safe place for refugees leaving other parts of the country escaping those Russian attacks. The region also supply route.

Today Russian-state media reported the Kremlin will consider any weapons shipment entering Ukraine as a legitimate target for Russia. The U.S. and multiple NATO nations have pledged hundreds of millions and additional weapons in aid to support Ukraine.

CAMEROTA: President Biden's spoke for nearly two hours with the President of China today. It was their first conversation in months and the first since Putin began his war on Ukraine. President Biden reportedly warned President Xi Jinping about the consequences if China provided aid or weapons to Russia. Chinese media just reported moments ago that President Xi said both nations need to work for peace and post Biden as saying that the U.S. does not seek a new cold war with China.

The statement also says China is offering more humanitarian aid to Ukraine. But villages and cities throughout Ukraine continue to be ravaged by war. This is debris from a rocket that was shot down in Kyiv. Today the city of Lviv set up 109 empty symbolizes each of the 100 reportedly killed so far in this war.

BLACKWELL: CNN's Frederik Pleitgen joins us now in Lviv where two of the six missiles missed that plant. Talk to us about what happened there, Fred.

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Victor. You know, Lviv is one of those places which you guys absolutely correctly pointed out, where you do sometimes lose track of the fact that you are in a country that is at war, it's a bit more in the rear echelon, there's a lot of people here who have sought refuge in this place from other parts of the country.

But then you do very often obviously get reminded that this place, too, does get struck. And what happened was that it was actually in the early morning hours of this morning, we were still out here that you start to hear air raid sirens, and then around 6:30 a.m. that's when that airplane manufacturing factory was hit. And that's around Lviv airport. And the airfield itself was not struck but the -- but that factory was indeed struck.

And you guys absolutely correctly say that apparently it was Russian planes over the Black Sea that fired six missiles. Now gathering from where they're fired, those must have been cruise missiles. Usually, the Russians take those. Those fly around -- I'd say around 500 miles before they -- before they hit their target. And two of them didn't hit their target possibly were shot down. But the other four apparently did hit their target causing extensive damage.

There was a big plume of smoke a big fire however, the authorities here did manage to put that out fairly quickly. So, another reminder for the folks here you do have a sense of normalcy during large parts of the day, but certainly very much reminded that this is a city that is also very much one that is at war and very much one that is a target as well, guys.

CAMEROTA: And Fred, let's talk about the situation in the capital of Kyiv because we get conflicting reports. So, we know that there were new strikes today there by Russia, but then Ukrainian forces say that they're optimistic about how they've been stopping the Russian advances. So, what's happening?

PLEITGEN: Yes, you know -- yes, you know. What they certainly are and they certainly seem to have a bit of optimism that they could possibly even turn the tide, especially as far as the offensive towards Kyiv by the Russian forces is concerned, Alisyn. And you did have that strike, that explosion that took place in the northern part of Kyiv, which apparently was a Russian also cruise missile or other type of missile that was apparently intercepted by Ukrainian air defenses and then dropped in a residential area.

Almost a mirror incident of what happened only 24 hours before. Where also a person was killed event as well. But it is also correct that the outskirts of Kyiv, the suburbs of Kyiv are also pretty regularly being shelled by Russian forces. A lot of people are dying and a lot of residential buildings are being destroyed as well. The Ukrainian military though says they do believe that they have halted the progress of the Russian military.

There really hasn't been much in the way of progress for a long time now. You remember we had that long convoy that was going towards Kyiv and that convoy apparently dispersed but the Russians certainly do appear to be taking a lot of casualties there. And I think it's really important to also point out that the Ukrainians are saying the Russians are trying to encircle Kyiv. Coming from two directions. That apparently isn't working at all.

[14:05:04]

PLEITGEN: They're using those U.S. and allied supplied anti-tank weapons to hit the Russians. But they are actually also using some pretty classical weapons like artillery as well, due to the fact that the Russian forces are so exposed that they try to get towards Kyiv, and the United Kingdom's defense ministry. They say that the -- they believe the Russians are having problems getting even fuel and food to their troops there.

BLACKWELL: That sets out Mariupol, Fred. And we got an update from President Zelenskyy on the rescue efforts at that theater that was bombed. What did we learn?

PLEITGEN: You know what, that situation is actually looking more dire than it did about 24 hours ago. President Zelenskyy, you're actually right. He did say that around 1:30 people had already been saved from that theater. But right now, the authorities are -- give any more updates beyond that at this point. And, you know, we were hearing 100 -- about 24 hours before this as well.

The big issue that they have in Mariupol. That's one that's obviously becoming worse by the minute, is that building was hit, that building collapsed on the bomb shelter where the authorities believe around 1300 people were sheltering in there, and they simply can't get to them. That's because all the emergency services are just not there anymore, because they're defending the city or have been hit by the Russians.

And they also say that they're doing this at a time that Russian strikes continue on a very regular basis. Obviously, Mariupol getting hit by a lot of munitions pretty much around the clock. So, it makes it very difficult. And what the authorities are saying is look, every hour that passes, every minute that passes that those people are trapped in there more difficult to help people survive.

CAMEROTA: So, Fred, today, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that they will target any weapons shipments that are entering Ukraine. So, what more did the Kremlin say?

PLEITGEN: Well, they did say that and it certainly seems as though Sergey Lavrov, other members of the Russian government are starting to get pretty annoyed and really feel that those weapons deliveries from the U.S. and its allies that are going to the Ukrainian forces certainly are making a big difference on the battlefield. And they said that any sort of convoy that is detected entering Ukrainian territory, that that would be considered a legitimate target by the Russians.

It's something that Dmitry Peskov who's the spokesman for Vladimir Putin, he had said that in the past as well. In this specific context, they were talking about that S-300. That's sort of more advanced and longer-range surface to air missile system. That obviously is something that the Ukrainians have been wanting. But the Russians in general, saying they are going to hit anything that they believe is carrying weapons from Western nations into Ukraine.

But you can really feel the Russians really getting edgy. Also, of course, because of the fact that those Western weapons are making a big difference on the battlefield. Certainly, the Ukrainians also using the very masterfully as well, guys.

CAMEROTA: OK. Fred Pleitgen, thank you very much for all of your reporting. We'll check back with you. Now, we want to go to CNN's Ivan Watson who's live in Vinnytsia. So, Ivan, you just spoke with a Ukrainian soldier. What did he tell you?

IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, just to piggyback off of Fred's reporting, this is a major who commands a battalion in Ukraine's territorial defense forces that his battalion is currently fighting to the northwest of Kyiv right now. And he told me they've gotten some of these western weapons that his troops already have some of them in the form of the shoulder-launched missiles that can be tank killers and armored personnel killers.

But that even before those weapons got into his force's hands, they had successfully managed to bring the Russian invasion to a standstill on their frontline. Largely relying on Soviet era weapons. RPG-7s that are kind of Soviet-made rocket propelled grenade launchers. But he added that this is coming at a real substantial cost to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Take a listen.

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WATSON: As your battalion had casualties.

SERHII TAMARIN, MAJOR IN UKRAINE TERRITORIAL DEFENSE: Yes, yes.

WATSON: People killed, people wounded.

TAMARIN: Yes. I prefer not to tell the number of people but we have -- I already lost my friends and people who suffer with me, we have people who wounded.

WATSON: What is the weapon that is hurting your men?

TAMARIN: The most dangerous is artillery.

WATSON: Does your battalion have an estimate for how many Russians they killed?

TAMARIN: For now, we destroy almost 200 Russians and captured alive closer to six or eight soldiers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON: Now Victor and Alisyn, this officer like many in the Armed Forces is a veteran of that war in South eastern Ukraine, in the Donbas region between Russian-backed separatists, and the Ukrainian government.

[14:10:17]

WATSON: And he says that in many ways, the Russian troops are very similar to the ones he faced down there. They're just more of them here. But one big difference he said, was the use of Russian airpower. The attack helicopters, the war planes that that is -- has made things much harder and made Ukrainian Armed Forces much more vulnerable. But the -- he did go on to say that he seen with his own eyes, the expired military rations that some of the Russians had brought in, in their invasion force.

The fact that they did not have adequate supplies of drinking water or fuel. They do have enough he said, ammunition and weapons, but it's a very mixed picture of the professionalism and preparedness of the Russian invasion force.

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BLACKWELL: Ivan, let me ask you about these three cruise missiles, at least three of them shut down by air defenses near where you are. What's the situation like there now?

WATSON: Right. So, this is a central city in Ukraine that has not seen any ground fighting yet. It's relatively safe. But in the last hour or so, we've heard air raid sirens here several times. This morning, the head of the local government says Ukrainian Air Defense has shot down three cruise missiles. And we know that on Wednesday, and I heard the explosions at about 4:00 o'clock in the morning.

There were other missiles that hit a T.V. tower in this city. No casualties reported then. But this has become apparently a fact of life that Russia will fire long-distance rockets, missiles, targeting Ukrainian cities. Even though to this day, the Russian government insists. And it's very hard to say this out loud because there's so much evidence against it. The Russian government insists the Russian armed forces do not bomb Ukrainian cities. Back to you.

BLACKWELL: Yes. It's just hard to reconcile that claim that they've been making for weeks now with what we're seeing in city after city there across Ukraine. Ivan Watson for us in Vinnytsia. Thank you.

CAMEROTA: So, President Biden and Chinese President Xi spoke for nearly two hours today. What that conversation means for the next step in Russia's war?

BLACKWELL: And we're learning new details about the American citizen killed during Russian shelling in Ukraine. James Hill is being remembered as a helper that people find in a crisis. His sister joins us next.

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[14:17:05]

BLACKWELL: Putin's war on Ukraine has claimed the life of another American civilian. James Hill was among 10 people killed by Russian artillery while waiting in a breadline according to Ukrainian police. He was 68 years old, went by Jimmy and grew up in Minnesota. As the Russian assault escalated his Facebook posts chronicle the deteriorating conditions. In his final posts. Look at this. He wrote, bombing has intensified no way out.

A school in the Czech Republic where Hill taught express their loss in a statement on the school's Facebook page. They wrote this. Jimmy was a passionate teacher in our summer school. And was loved by students from all over the world. We will miss Jimmy very much.

Katya Hill is James Hill's sister. Katya, thank you for being with me. Of course. We are very sorry for your loss. I've read some of the Facebook posts. When have you -- when was the last time you were able to speak with your brother as things were getting worse in Chernihiv?

KATYA HILL, SISTER OF JAMES HILL, AMERICAN KILLED IN UKRAINE: We had a phone call two Saturdays ago, and I could hear the bombs going off. He was in the hospital. And there was an opportunity to talk. I had messaged him and say, is there any way we can -- I can talk with you. I wanted to hear his voice. And he got back to me. And we talked actually for about an hour as I was hearing the bombs in the background.

And then he said he could see the light in -- lightening up in the sky from the bombing in the civilian areas.

BLACKWELL: When you say that he was in the hospital when we first heard that there was an American who was killed from the Secretary of State. We wondered if this was someone who went over to fight, if this was a person with dual citizenship or a volunteer. I understand that your brother went over to care for his longtime partner who is suffering from multiple sclerosis. Is that right?

HILL: That's correct. Jimmy spent most of -- or at least half of the year in Ukraine and then also teaching at other universities like in the Czech Republic, Australia -- Austria, Germany, Finland, Poland. So, that he could be with Ira. And he'd come back here to the States. He has property in Idaho and would search for medicine for her and vitamins and then go over with what he would hope would keep her as healthy as possible.

And he had arranged for a doctor to have M.S treatment at the hospital in Chernihiv. And she was admitted on Monday and then the bombing started two days later.

[14:20:08]

HILL: And they were trapped because he was not going to leave her -- leave her bedside.

BLACKWELL: When you spoke with him last, could you hear fear in his voice? What did he say to you about how he was feeling?

HILL: Not at all, which I was amazed because every boom, I was shaking, but by that time he had gotten somewhat used to it. He was planning for coming back to the States organizing his properties to be able to house Ukrainian refugees, and he was trying to think of how many families he could fit in the houses that he has. And then just reiterating Ira's condition to me. He was thinking about other people with disabilities because that's what I do as a professional.

And he was asking me, well, what should we do for this person that has this disability or this disorder? And so, no, I -- my last call with him. He was very optimistic. And then things deteriorated.

BLACKWELL: I understand that. You're having some trouble locating your brother's remains?

HILL: That's correct. I've been -- I have to thank my senator's office. I'm in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Senator Casey has been reaching out to the State Department, as well as the two senators in Minnesota, Senator Smith, and especially Senator Amy Klobuchar. But the State Department has only sent us as family generic-related communications regarding the warning for U.S. citizens not to travel to Ukraine and or what to do if someone in a family dies in a foreign country and you need to make arrangements to have their body returned.

But this is a war situation. And I've been told things aren't fluid as the State Department is talking to the Ukrainian government. But we haven't had anybody speaking to the family except for the senator's staff.

BLACKWELL: I can't say that I expected that would bring closure because I don't really get that -- the concept of closure but it can be difficult to mourn properly when you're still searching for your brother's remain. So how will we --

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HILL: We just want to know where he.

BLACKWELL: Where he is.

HILL: Is he in the police department, they said the police found him on the street. Where is --where is he lined? And certainly, the family doesn't want to go there and imagine all of these things, but we do.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

HILL: Just want some form of information coming from the State Department to ease our -- ease our pain.

BLACKWELL: Well, Katya Hill, I thank you so much for sharing your story and sharing your brother's story with us. And of course, our condolences with you and your family.

HILL: Thank you so very much for having me on.

BLACKWELL: Sure.

HILL: And my brother was just a special person and everybody that's on Facebook can see that. So, thank you.

BLACKWELL: Thank you. Thank you. CAMEROTA: Yes. He seems like a really special person. Up next. CNN has an exclusive interview with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Hear what he has to say about the Russian military missteps that he's seeing in Ukraine.

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[14:28:58]

BLACKWELL: President Biden held a crucial video call this morning with China's President Xi Jingping.

CAMEROTA: The U.S. believes China is considering a Russian request for military or financial aid, though Moscow denies making such a request. And Beijing says it is not providing any help. CNN's Kaitlan Collins is at the White House for us. So, Kaitlan, do we know what was said on this call?

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: No. So far though, the White House has only given us one detail, which is how long this call lasted. It was pretty long clocking in at about an hour and 15 minutes, though. It did in before 11:00 a.m. earlier today. We still have not gotten a readout from the White House on what was said. We've heard some accounts from Chinese state media about what President Xi Jinping told President Biden in their first phone call since November.

Of course, it's been about four months since they last spoke. And certainly, this is the first time that these two leaders have talked since Russia invaded Ukraine three weeks ago. And so, there are a lot of questions about what's coming out of this conversation because we know going into it, President Biden in the United States is hoping to deter Beijing from helping the Kremlin out. They have made -- requested them for economic assistance.

They've asked for military equipment including those MREs, those ready-to-eat meals for their Russian forces that of course has struggled so much in Ukraine.

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