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Russian Military Forces Continue Invasion of Ukraine; Russian Forces Bomb Westward City of Lviv in Ukraine; President Biden has Call with Chinese President Xi Jinping Concerning Russian Invasion of Ukraine; Russian Forces Bomb Theater Housing Refugees and Children in Mariupol; American Killed in Ukraine; Vladimir Putin Controls Substantial Wealth According to Former Russian Oligarch; Rising Oil Prices Hitting Farmers in America; Eleven-Year-Old Boy Travels through War-Torn Ukraine to Slovakia to Meet Family. Aired 10-11a ET

Aired March 19, 2022 - 10:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:00:17]

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: A very good Friday morning to you. I'm Jim Sciutto.

ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR: 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)

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

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I don't know. Where would I go?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCIUTTO: Sad to see smoke in Lviv. 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 is 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?

INGRAHAM: 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 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 could 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 at 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 could 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, prams, or 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 just 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 just to find moments of happiness in the midst of all of this. Scott McLean, thanks so much for bringing us that story.

Let's go now to the White House where a 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 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 a president who has framed his administration as part of the 21st century struggle between autocracy and democracy.

[10:05:06]

What the administration believes is, as a senior administration official told me yesterday, is that China made an bet early on, on Russia having a quick conflict. We also had 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 political 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 those kind of game gains are at risk if China gets in deeper with Russia in this conflict. Very, very important moment right now.

HILL: Kylie, 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 U.S.-China -- excuse me -- the Russia-China relationship grow closer and closer not just over not 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 associated. Listen to what the secretary of state said on this yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANTONY BLINKEN, U.S. 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 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 equipment to use in Ukraine. (END VIDEO CLIP)

ATWOOD: Earlier this week, we know that National Security Advisor 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 any 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 the 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, honestly, it remains to be seen, and hopefully we'll get a readout from the administration in the coming hours.

China is really trying to have it both ways here. Obviously, they want to demonstrate to the Russians 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?

[10:10:01]

FARKAS: Erica, I think if you don't see fast action on the Russian side resulting in a catastrophic loss of human 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. 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, Chinese thinks 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 Two 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, to be 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 pick 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 have seen against Russia with other nations?

FARKAS: It's critical because, of course, any kind of components, computer components, things we would sanction, and 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 in the Kremlin, that is, actually, I think, the target. And 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. So 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 says 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)

DON LEMON, CNN HOST, "DON LEMON TONIGHT": Were you scared?

HASSAN AL-KHALAF, TRAVELED 620 MILES ALONE (through translator: Yes, I felt very scared. I felt horrible. I really wanted to cry because I have always been with my mom and this is the first time I had to go away from her.

(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.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:18:47]

SCIUTTO: Just moments ago, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy spoke to the Ukrainian people, offering an update on the horrific bombing of a theatre in Mariupol. This is the theatre 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.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): -- continuing at the site at the bombed theatre where civilians were hiding from bombs and using it as a shelter. We have managed to rescue 130 people from there. However, hundreds of 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 were believed to be sheltering in the building at the time of this attack.

HILL: Yes, and for him to say hundreds, they believe, are still under the rubble.

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

[10:20:02] 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?

CAMILA BERNAL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: 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 he would not leave her side as she was battling M.S. Here's what Katya had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KATYA HILL, SISTER OF AMERICAN KILLED IN UKRAINE: I do know as things were deteriorating in the city, and 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 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 hand-out out chocolates when somebody was being depressed or just needed a little encouragement.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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 is saying is 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 while over there. So the danger continues. Camila Bernal, thanks 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 a Ukrainian member of parliament is honoring a young Ukrainian journalist, there she is, killed this week while covering Russia's invasion.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:28:05]

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 CORRESPONDENT: The subject of investigation for years, Erica and Jim. 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 VIDEO TAPE)

GRIFFIN: 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 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 INVESTIGATIONS, ANTI-CORRUPTION FOUNDATION: This palace is very much a symbol and miniature of Putin's Russia. He no longer sees himself as a government employee, as an elected figure. He sees himself as a czar, as a king of some sort. And a Russian czar, of course, deserves a palace.

GRIFFIN: CNN can't independently identify 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 the president.

[10:30:00]

PEVCHIKH: It has been paid by Russian oligarchs, by Russian state- owned companies, money from Russian people, from regular people, stolen and diverted into building this horrendous thing on the Black Sea.

GRIFFIN: According to the investigation and a whistleblower who came forward, the money for the palace came from a Russian investment fund company that solicited charity donations from the Russian oligarchs.

JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: There are these rumors that Putin being the richest man in the world, and he may be. It's very, very hard to try to understand what his wealth is and where it's held. GRIFFIN: Rumored to be worth more than $100 billion, officially Putin

claims that 800 square foot apartment, a few cars, and a modest salary in 2020 valued at about $140,000. But his official income is irrelevant. Russia watchers say Putin controls Russia who determining who gets money and who doesn't, who gets to run business, who skims profit, and how the wealth is passed. He doesn't need any assets listed in his name, says journalist Tom Burgis. It's all his when he asks.

TOM BURGIS, AUTHOR, "KLEPTOPIA": He's closer to something like the Godfather. But ultimately, they owe everything they have to the boss. And with a click of thee fingers as he has shown in the past, Putin can take everything from an oligarch, however rich or however influential they may seem they are all ultimately dependent on him.

GRIFFIN: Fight the system, interfering in politics, and face his wrath. Exiled Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky who was convicted of tax evasion and fraud, spent 10 years in a Russian prison, he says, for not playing Putin's game. He claims Putin is paranoid, dangerous, and must be stopped.

MIKHAIL KHORDORKOVSKY, FORMER RUSSIAN OLIGARCH AND OIL TYCOON (through translator): All the accounts of all the oligarchs who function as Putin's wallet must be stopped. They must all feel the pain right now and it must continue until the war ends.

GRIFFIN: Newly imposed sanctions from the west have now made it hard for many of the Russian billionaires to do business outside of Russia. Yachts, bank accounts, frozen. Inside Russia, the economy shows signs of crumbling. But chipping away at Putin's brutal hold on power through economics will take time. From his actions, observers believe Putin's strategy is far beyond personal riches.

DOUGHERTY: He wants to rebuild Russia as a great power. And you almost have to go back to the czarist days to understand that.

GRIFFIN: Just look at the gates of Putin's purported palace, a golden, two-headed crowned eagle, a symbol of Russia similar to the two-headed crowned eagle that is atop the gates of the winter palace that belonged to Russia's last czar.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

GRIFFIN (on camera): Jim and Erica, financially getting to Putin may be impossible, but even getting to these oligarchs through sanctions and seizures is tremendously difficult. They've gone to great lengths to hide their assets underneath multiple shell companies safely in western countries including the United States. One expert who trails this money said literally there is no paper trail on a lot of this money. Jim, Erica?

HILL: They spent a lot of time making sure it is that way. Drew Griffin, really appreciate it, thank you.

We are getting some new details from this call between President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping. We're going to take you live to Washington after the break. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:38:08]

HILL: This just in to CNN. Some details of this critical call between Presidents Biden and Chinese President Xi. The Chinese president saying, quote, "the Ukraine crisis is something we don't want to see."

SCIUTTO: CNN White House correspondent John Harwood joins us now from the White House, David Culver from Shanghai. David, as often happens with these calls, we're getting the Chinese readout before the White House readout of this. What are the highlights so far based on how Chinese state media is characterizing the call?

DAVID CULVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Jim, I actually do think it's interesting the Chinese are putting this out so quickly, especially when you look at what was happening earlier this week in the meeting between Jake Sullivan and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi, somebody who is a key adviser to President Xi. Out of that meeting, we heard more hard lines coming from the U.S. and the Chinese were kind of playing catch-up. It seems even ahead of this video call, the U.S. was putting out a harder stance, whereas the Chinese state media were simply heralding this as a discussion of common interests.

Now we're starting to see the readout in more detail, and interesting to note, some of the lines that I'm looking at here from state media, this from President Xi, "State to state relations cannot go to the stage of military confrontation. Conflict and confrontation are not in the interests of anyone. Peace and security are the most treasured wealth of the international community."

It sounds like they want an end to the Ukraine, sure. But at the same time, you have to look that there's not a direct push against Russia here. And perhaps this is as strong as you're going to get from China in all of this. They're not going to necessarily go against, certainly publicly, Russia. This is an allegiance based in ideology. It's somebody who President Six considers to be his friend best, President Putin, those are his words. And so for him to say now that he wants this crisis to end, that he is promoting peace and stability, it sounds good. Will the actions meet it? That's what remains unknown right now.

[10:40:00]

And we're starting to see some actions within certain sectors of Chinese economy and financial sectors. You see, for example, banks that have decided to halt dealings, Chinese banks in Russia. You saw the Chinese regulators of currency decide not to necessarily take action that would have helped the ruble from plummeting in Russia. And you see Chinese folks pushing back against the use of aircraft parts in Russia. Russia asked, actually, for some airline assistance. China said no. So those are indicators. Is it a full step forward? We don't know where it is going to go from here. This call will be telling.

HILL: And John Harwood, as David pointed out, China is trying to almost get ahead of this in some ways, especially based on what we saw after that meeting with Jake Sullivan. When do we expect to hear a little bit more from the White House? Has anything been trickling out?

JOHN HARWOOD, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: No. And I keep checking my phone. We do not have anything from the White House on this despite what the Chinese have put out.

But I think it's significant, even without a direct call for Russia to halt the conflict, it's important that China set the signal that it set. That is, it shows that it's very aware of which way the wind is blowing around the world on this conflict as it gets more ugly and savage. They emphasized the desire for peace among nations and not military conflict. That is a very limited step, but it shows that they know that sentiment around the world is turning against this war.

And that is precisely why President Biden wanted to be on this call today, to try to take this moment when it looks very ugly for what Russia is doing, and try to emphasize to China that the economic relations that you have with the rest of the world that have been so valuable to China are at risk from sanctions if you decide to intervene.

So we'll see if anything tangible comes out of it. David pointed to a couple of things that already have come out, small steps. And the question is, do we get bigger ones?

SCIUTTO: David, you learn a lot given its media is state controlled in China from the way the media is covering this story. Prior to the invasion to see Xi and Putin standing next to each other, a show of friendship. And then some statements since then where the Chinese have echoed Russian disinformation about the war in Ukraine. In recent days, have you seen the tone of coverage there change at all of this war?

CULVER: It still is heavily focused on what the Kremlin is putting out. It's essentially parroting what the Kremlin wants from a propaganda perspective. One thing you do start to see is a bit more on Chinese social media, permission, if you will, because they obviously can censor, as you well know and shut things down, for a different view to come up a bit.

They're still resistant in allowing an attack totally against Russia. They're still very protective of that. But you do start to see a bit more surface that would suggest, OK, perhaps they're starting to see different perspectives.

One thing that John pointed out, though, that was interesting is the sanctions. I think they're terrified of the reality of economic sanctions affecting them here. We are in the midst of lockdown here in Shanghai, and the country right now is dealing with a COVID flare-up. That has real economic repercussions here, and they're still dealing with it from the outbreak two years ago. So add to that anything that could come from this tension between Russia and Ukraine, and if has negative effects here on the Chinese economy, you can see that China is going to perhaps take action to avoid that. SCIUTTO: It's a great point. The Chinese economy is vulnerable right

now with the COVID lockdown there, further sanctions from the west. They must be viewing very, with a little bit of fear. David Culver, John Harwood, thanks so much.

HILL: Oil prices are once again on the rise, that impact being felt, including among farmers. Some already reeling from soaring inflation rates. We're going to show you how some are switching crops to try to break even. The question is, of course, will it work? That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:48:49]

SCIUTTO: U.S. drivers across the country, they're keeping their eyes on the pump this morning after oil prices surged back up above $100 barrel on Thursday. They had been below $100 for some days.

HILL: The yo-yo price feeling is there. Energy prices being watched very closely on Wall Street and also in the heartland where there is a growing concern that farmers won't be able to keep up with these rising costs. Joining us now, CNN's Matt Egan, and CNN business and politics correspondent Vanessa Yurkevich joining us on this. So Matt, first of all, let's take a look at these oil prices. Where do they stand right now?

MATT EGAN, CNN REPORTER: Well, Erica, oil prices all over the place. You can't look away, otherwise you're going to miss either a massive sell-off or a spike or both. There really have been crazy moves. Oil once skyrocketed to 2008 levels, around $130 a barrel after Russia invaded Ukraine, then they crashed below $100 a barrel. Now they're heading back higher. U.S. crude soared eight percent yesterday, jumping today to around $104 as we speak.

They're off the worst levels of this crisis, but they're certainly very painfully high. I think there had been a sense on Wall Street that maybe, maybe there could be a cease-fire reached between Russia and Ukraine.

[10:50:00]

But now there is a growing fear, a sense of a prolonged war in Ukraine. And what would obviously kill not only many innocent people here, but also really disrupt Russia's energy supplies, and the world still relies on Russia's oil. As one market veteran put it to me, the mood has darkened here.

A lot of questions about what this means to gasoline prices, oil prices. This matters a lot to the economy, business owners, and of course, farmers in the heartland where Vanessa is right now.

SCIUTTO: Vanessa, rising prices, of course, putting pressure on a lot of industries, but on farmers as well. How are they feeling it?

VANESSA YURKEVICH, CNN BUSINESS AND POLITICS CORRESPONDENT: We're hearing from the American Farm Bureau that farmers can expect to spend six percent more this year on farm costs. That is coming off of a 12 percent increase last year.

And all of the machinery and equipment that farmers use, they run on diesel. Diesel is over $5 for the national average, just about that high here in Indiana. Josh Everhart, owner of this farm, says that he's shocked when he has to fill up four semi-tractor trailers with gas. And his father Chris Everhart says he is hoping that the wheat planted around me will make enough money to help offset these rising energy costs.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSH EVERHART, EVERHART FARMS: You don't want to see the bill.

YURKEVICH: You don't?

EVERHART: If you look at it, you're like, oh no.

YURKEVICH: What is it looking like?

EVERHART: Well, a 1,000-gallon tank is $4,000.

CHRIS EVERHART, EVERHART FARMS: Well, we have the opportunity to make some money, but equipment costs are going up, just like vehicles. Farm equipment is going up that much or more. Fuel, fertilizer, seed, labor costs, if you're using hired labor. So all those things come into it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

YURKEVICH: And so you're hearing a little bit of that stress there. We've heard stress from other farmers saying that this is actually a more anxiety ridden year right now compared to the height of the trade war with China just two years ago. They're feeling this stress because so much is out of their control, the rising fuel costs, the war in Ukraine.

But it's important to note that farmers are very hopeful people. They are hoping for a good strong crop this year and that wheat prices will continue to rise. We have a couple more months before this wheat grows to harvesting capability, but farmers hopeful, but watching these rising costs very closely. Jim, Erica?

HILL: Yes, and another reminder, right, of the ripple effects and just everything that is going up, especially when we heard him give us that list there. Vanessa Yurkevich, Matt Egan, thank you both.

Up next here, an 11-year-old boy who spent days traveling across Ukraine alone with no money. What he shared with CNN now that he is safely across the border.

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SCIUTTO: Among more than 3 million Ukrainian refugees so far in this war, there is a brave 11-year-old whose name is Hassan who traveled more than 600 miles by himself across Ukraine through the war to Slovakia.

HILL: Don Lemon spoke with Hassan and his siblings about that harrowing journey to safety, beginning with the difficult moment -- he had to leave his mom.

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DON LEMON, CNN HOST, "DON LEMON TONIGHT": What did she say to you when you left?

HASSAN AL-KHALAF, TRAVELED 620 MILES ALONE (through translator): She wished me lotos of luck and that I wouldn't be crying and sad.

LEMON: Hassan, alone, traveled all the way to Bratislava in Slovakia where he found his older brothers and sisters. They had journeyed ahead earlier to meet up with their older brother who was studying in Slovakia. And that's where I met them today.

So you had a bag?

AL-KHALAF: Yes, I had one bag.

LEMON: And then you had a number written on your hand?

AL-KHALAF: On my right hand.

LEMON: Did you have money with you?

AL-KHALAF: No, no money at all.

LEMON: Hassan says he got his hope from his mother who desperately wanted him to get to safety, and now she too is safe. She was able to reach Slovakia Tuesday and reunite with Hassan.

PISECKA YULIA VOLODYMYRIVNA, HASSAN'S MOTHER (through translator): I cannot leave my mother. She is 84 and she is not mobile. Thus, I had put my son on the train to go to the Slovakian border, where he was met by the people with big hearts. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the Slovakian border guards and all of the volunteers of Slovakia who sheltered by child, who helped him to cross the border on his own.

LEMON: Hassan's rescue a family affair. Some of his siblings gave their mom advice on the best way to get Hassan out of the war-torn country. But there were times they were scared that he would get lost.

Did you think that he wasn't going to make it or that he would get lost or that you would never see him again?

KINANA, HASSAN'S SISTER: I was believe that he will be with us because he is very clever, and he could also call us, and we was helping him. But when I saw him, I thought now I can relax.

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SCIUTTO: Quite a story. And we saw so many families like that, mostly women and children having to flee for their lives. Remarkable to do it on your own at that age.

Thanks so much to all of you for joining us today. I'm Jim Sciutto.

HILL: And I'm Erica Hill. Stay with us. AT THIS HOUR with Bianna Golodryga starts right now.