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Ukrainian Military: Russian Forces Ousted From Makariv; Ukraine: Bombs Falling On Mariupol "Every 10 Minutes"; Zelenskyy: Mariupol Being Reduced To Ashes, But Will Survive; Ukraine Denies Russian Claim Of Weapons Stores At Mall; Pentagon And EU Pointed To Evidence Of War Crimes; Hundreds Of Thousands In Mariupol Struggling To Survive; NATO And U.S. Say Russian Ground Forces Under-Performing; Russian Tabloid Reports Then Removes, Defense Ministry Death Toll Of Nearly 10,000 Russian Soldiers In Ukraine; Biden Confirms Russia's Cause Of Hypersonic Missiles; IAEA: Long-Delayed Rotation Of Chernobyl Staff Complete; 96-Year-Old Holocaust Survivor Killed In Kharkiv; Polish Couple Opens Home To Ukrainian Refugees; UNHCR: Nearly 3.5 Million People Have Fled Ukraine; Polish Border Guard: 2 Plus Million Have Crossed Into Poland; Lithuania FM: We Cannot Get Tired Imposing Sanctions; Makariv: Reclaimed by Ukrainian Forces; Bombs "Falling Every 10 minutes" in Mariupol; Russian Mall Attack Kills Eight People; NATO Leaders Will Gather to Discuss Current State of Affairs; Additional Sanctions to Russia by EU; Interview with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis; Pentagon: Russia Failed to Achieve Majority of its Goals; Activists Commend U.S. Declaration of Genocide; Investigation for Boeing 737-800 Crash. Aired 2-3a ET
Aired March 22, 2022 - 02:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[02:00:20]
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN Breaking News.
HALA GORANI, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello, and welcome to our viewers all around the world, and also, if you're joining us from the United States this hour. I'm Hala Gorani reporting live from Lviv, Ukraine.
We begin with Breaking News. After days of fighting. The Ukrainian army forces say they have regained control of a key town near the Capitol. Take a look at the map.
Makariv had sustained major damage from Russian airstrikes. But Ukraine's military says the country's flag has once again been raised over that particular community. You see where it's located in the country there.
The Russian military though is making life in absolute misery in places like Mariupol. After leaders there defied Russian demands to surrender. The Ukrainian officers said bombs have been hitting the Southern Port City every 10 minutes.
Now, the EU's Foreign Policy Chief calls the siege of Mariupol a massive war crime. This drone footage from a unit of Ukraine's National Guard shows explosions at an industrial compound in the city. And these Satellite images show smoke hanging over blocks of the city
and rising from burning apartment buildings. Many residents are trapped as they suffer through severe shortages and struggle just to stay alive. Before the war, Mariupol was home to nearly half a million people.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE (through translator): Hard working on a city of Mariupol, which is being destroyed by the occupiers and being reduced to ashes, but it will survive.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Well, in Kyiv a strict new curfew is in effect until Wednesday morning after a powerful explosion ripped through a shopping center targeted by the Russians. Deadly shrapnel hit nearby every apartment building killing at least eight people. The Kremlin claims that Ukrainian troops were hiding rocket launchers in the mall. Ukraine is dismissing that claim. Western powers say there is growing evidence of Russian atrocities.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN KIRBY, PRESS SECRETARY, PENTAGON: We certainly see clear evidence that Russian forces are committing more crimes.
JOSEP BORRELL, FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF, EU: What's happening in Mariupol is a massive war crime destroying everything.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: And what about those cities are that one city that is occupied by Russia, Kherson? Well, it's believed Russia opened fire with live ammo on a daily protest there. There was an explosion and then loud bursts of gunfire. Take a look.
At least one person was seen bleeding profusely in some of the video, an elderly gentleman. Kherson has been occupied by Russian forces for about two weeks.
Now, for the hundreds of thousands of people who may still be in Mariupol that Southern Port City, it is clear there is no safe place to escape the Russian assault.
Phil Black reports that their days are marked by sheltering and what is left of the buildings, and confronting the bleak landscape outside. And a warning, some of what you're about to see is disturbing.
PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Between the shelling and airstrikes in Mariupol, people emerge to do what they can for the living and the dead.
This man says he hopes these graves are only temporary that the bodies will be reburied someday. They spend much of their time sheltering in what remains of the
buildings and often beneath them. Basements offer some protection, but little comfort. This woman says they have enough food and firewood to last a week.
Around 300,000 people in Mariupol are living like this. Those without homes are crowding together in large buildings. Over the weekend, an art school with around 400 people inside was bombed and destroyed.
This video gives a sense of what these large shelters are like. It's from a theater where around a 1,000 or more people were staying, mostly women children, the elderly. Days later, it was blown apart in a suspected airstrike.
The Russian word for children marked out in huge letters outside provided no safety. Katadinia Sky (ph) lived across from that theater and delivered food and other aid to people hiding out there.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): She tells us, it's difficult to describe the sympathy she felt for them. They were terrified, cowering in horror at the sounds of planes overhead. Always afraid of a bomb dropping.
[02:05:13]
BLACK: Alevtina Swichsova (ph) lived under Russian attack in Mariupol for 21 days. This is not just a city she says, this is my whole life. She survived without power in freezing conditions with little food, with eight other members of her family until the building was hit. They pulled dead neighbors from the rubble and decided to leave the city.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
BLACK: Alevtina says she can't imagine life without Mariupol. She will return. But now in her burning city, there are lots of people, lots of children under the rubble, others in shelters.
The journey out of the besieged city is slow and dangerous. But every day relatively small numbers are leaving whatever way they can along what are supposed to be agreed corridors. A local official says some people have been fired upon others have had their vehicle seized at Russian checkpoints.
The people of Mariupol have no good options, staying and view the horror of Russia's bombardment, or face danger and uncertainty leaving all they know behind. Phil Black, CNN Lviv, Ukraine.
GORANI: A closer look now at the Russian military's performance in Ukraine, assessments from both NATO and the United States claim that the Kremlin's campaign is stalled on the ground, which is leading to an uptick in the airstrikes and longer range missile attacks as well. And the Pentagon says that is causing more widespread destruction and the increased targeting of civilians.
A Russian tabloid reported on Monday that the Russian Defense Ministry recorded nearly 10,000 deaths so far in Ukraine. So there is some acknowledgement on the Russian side of these heavy losses. A short time later, however, that report had vanished.
Sam Roggeveen is the director of the International Security Program at the Lowy Institute. He's with us from Sydney. First, let me ask you about this recapturing according to Ukrainian forces of Makariv close to Kyiv, what do you make of it?
SAM ROGGEVEEN, DIRECTOR, LOWLY INSTITUTE INTERNATIONAL SECURITY PROGRAM: Look, I think alongside a lot of the other news that we're getting, it's-- it strongly suggests that the Russian campaign has stalled. The problem with all of these, you know, bits of information that we're collecting is that it's very hard to make a very coherent picture out of it, it's clear that the campaign is going nearly as well as the Russians would have reasonably expected when it began.
But the scattered information that we get don't really-- personally, I find it very hard to draw a coherent picture out of it to know where this all ends. It still seems to me plausible that we end up in a situation where at the very least, you know, the Russians get a kind of favorable diplomatic agreement out of this.
It's also equally plausible to me that we see, after a few weeks, the Russian army collapse entirely. I'm not-- that's still a very wide spectrum of possibilities to me.
GORANI: Yes. It's still a bit too early to obviously predict the future. And we-- so many people got it wrong four weeks ago when many of us believe that Russia would not fully invade the country and start striking targets as they are now. Because really, it's a huge country, it didn't make much logical sense. They're taking huge losses.
I mean, even that Russian tabloid that headline 10,000 Russian soldiers, it was taken down. But there is a realization inside of Russia that the troop losses are absolutely tremendous.
When you say there is a possibility of a Russian military collapse, you're not the only one to say that, because they're losing men, they're losing vehicles, they're losing helicopters. How do they sustain this in the longer run? Because they need staying power that they don't necessarily have.
ROGGEVEEN: Right. So I mean, my sense is that at least 60 percent of Russia's total land combat power is devoted to this campaign, it could be upwards of 75 percent. Some are arguing.
So if that force is decisively defeated on the battlefield, then effectively you could argue that the entire Russian army has collapsed. Now--
GORANI: Yes.
ROGGEVEEN: -- from the perspective of Ukrainian government, Ukrainian people, that is something that we-- is decidedly to be wished for. However, I think among Western leaders, they need to think beyond that, they need to think what happens after that. And I think there is real danger here that if Russia's defeat is to
complete, and if that is actually reinforced by what are really some absolutely crippling economic sanctions then we're in danger of entering where the Russian government decides. The only way to get out of this is to escalate.
[02:10:10]
ROGGEVEEN: And one possible method of escalation I know it's been talked about in the American media recently, is to use a small nuclear weapon to essentially what the strategy is call escalate to de- escalate.
So (INAUDIBLE) and then you fought, the other side to basically stand back and say, " OK, we've gone this far, but we're not prepared to go any further."
GORANI: So what's the right way to deal with this now from the Western perspective? I mean, they're talking about sanctions against the energy sector. That would be an absolute disaster for the Russian economy, which is already on the verge of collapsing because of all the other sanctions, the removal of some banks from the SWIFT system, the ruble is collapsing, the central bank can't raise funds abroad anymore.
And if you sanction the entire energy sector, that's really-- it's only way, this country and this economy of raising funds for the war effort.
ROGGEVEEN: Yes. I think the guiding principle here is that we want the Russians to lose, but we don't want them to lose by too much. You know, otherwise, we set up something far worse from happening, as I said in my previous answer.
GORANI: Yes.
ROGGEVEEN: So one thing I think that you've seen it, that perhaps needs to be signaled right now is that if certain conditions are met, then the sanctions regime can be slackened off. Now, arguably, I think the economists would say that all-- a lot of damage has already been done. And that's not reversible by turning off the sanctions.
You don't turn it up and turn it down like you would attack. But nevertheless, that could have an important symbol.
GORANI: Yes. Those discussions need to be happening through backchannels, right? They can't-- the Western countries can't come out and publicly say, "If you de-escalate here, we'll de-escalate there", right?
ROGGEVEEN: Yes. Absolutely. And I certainly hope that's happening. I mean, the thing that I-- that worries me a little bit about the-- particularly the first weekend after the Russian invasion was that this sanctions regime, and the military assistance to the Ukrainian side happened so quickly, that there was a sense of runaway momentum about it. I mean, you're not only had the toughest sanctions against any
country, in history, and certainly against any great power with nuclear weapons in history. But you also had essentially the German government overturning its defense policy over the course of a weekend. And then we had Sweden and Switzerland overturning their neutrality. The EU becoming a kind of power political player in Europe.
GORANI: Yes.
ROGGEVEEN: And it did give make sense of runaway momentum that the Western leaders here were thinking about the crisis, but they weren't thinking past the crisis.
GORANI: Yes, but the problem, Sam is obviously here, you have a completely unprovoked vicious attack by one of the big superpowers of the world on it's very, you know, much smaller neighbor. And the concern from the West is, if we let Putin get away with this, in the same way the Western countries allowed him to get away with annexing Crimea illegally.
What's next? The Baltic States? Where does this end? We need to act decisively. That's the argument from their side. And if you don't, then it's an open door to this bullying, vicious attack.
ROGGEVEEN: Yes. I get the argument. I would say firstly, that, I mean, clearly, the Western response has been pretty decisive. And based on the kind of figures we're seeing now, for instances.
GORANI: Yes.
ROGGEVEEN: Russian casualties that you've mentioned. I think you could mount an argument that the Western military assistance to the Ukrainian army has had a dramatic effect, perhaps even a decisive effect that these anti-tank missiles have really made a huge difference to the Ukrainian military in any way.
GORANI: Yes.
ROGGEVEEN: The other thing is that, really, I don't think the idea of Russia being a threat to NATO was ever-- very credible. And it certainly isn't now. Because Russia is-- the Russian army is that much weaker. And NATO despite, you know, several decades now of weak military spending by historic step--
GORANI: Yes.
ROGGEVEEN: --still remains, you know, very wealthy and very militarily capable more than capable of withstanding Russian aggression.
So, I don't think that was ever on the cards, although I do grant that the Baltic Republics that is kind of a special case, very difficult for NATO to defend.
GORANI: Yes, certainly. And also historically, they remember suffering, certainly at the hands of Soviet occupation and aggression. Sam Roggeveen, thanks very much for joining us, and we'll be speaking again soon I'm sure.
The remaining members of a shift at Chernobyl's radioactive waste facilities have been relieved. They had been on duty ever since Russian forces seize the site nearly four weeks ago. The International Atomic Energy Agency pushed for them to be rotated out saying they were exhausted under extreme pressure and posed a safety concern.
[02:15:09]
GORANI: The workers have now been replaced, we understand by Ukrainian colleagues.
The carnage unleashed by Vladimir Putin has led to civilian casualties with the most innocent, the children, paying the highest price of Russia's invasion.
The two-year-old boy was laid to rest near the capitol in Kyiv after he was killed last week by Russian shelling. His father spoke about his unimaginable loss.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OLEH SHPAK, FATHER OF CHILD KILLED BY RUSSIAN (through translator): I don't know if there is a God. What is all this for? For what? A two- year-old child who hasn't experienced life yet, a two-year-old child who died for nothing. Mom called him "little kiss", now there's no one.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Well, in another grim reminder that the horrors of war are relentlessly repeated. A 96-year-old, Holocaust survivor was killed during a Russian strike on Kharkiv. Boris Romantschenko had survived four concentration camps, including Buchenwald and Bergen-Belsen during World War II.
But it is this war started by Vladimir Putin, to his words did not suffice Ukraine that ultimately claimed this man's life.
President Zelenskyy's office noted Romantschenko's death saying each passing day makes it increasingly clear what Russia's de-notification is really all about.
Our coverage of Russia's war on this country continues in just a moment. Straight ahead. As the refugee crisis grows, one Polish couple is opening their home to dozens of Ukrainians fleeing the violence. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[02:20:50]
GORANI: Welcome back. You may be hearing this sound behind me ringing out over Lviv. It is the all-clear, thankfully. So we had just a couple of hours ago an air raid siren. They're signaling that potentially there was some sort of threat from the skies over this part of the country. And we are now hearing the all-clear, thankfully.
The United Nations says Russia's war on Ukraine has driven nearly 3- 1/2 million people out of the country. The vast majority are heading west to neighboring countries. And if you include those who are displaced, but still in Ukraine, the number jumps to at least 10 million. That's almost a quarter of Ukraine's population now forced from their homes.
The UN says more than 90 percent of the people who have fled the country are women, and children, and they are at a quote heightened risk of gender-based violence, and other forms of exploitation and abuse.
While Poland has registered the highest number of Ukrainian refugees so far with more than 2.1 million people crossing as of Monday. The UN says Poland is now one of the largest refugee hosting countries in the world, many of them continuing who arrive in Poland, continuing their journey to other European countries. CNN's Ed Lavandera shows us one Polish couple opening their homes to dozens of people.
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The children enjoy a game of hide and seek with a young boy hiding in the corner. But they're not siblings, they are new friends brought together by war and the goodwill of Jaroslaw Swiecicki and his wife Malgorzata (ph). They opened their home to this Ukrainian family who escaped the war zone less than a week ago.
When did you decide to help Ukrainian refugees?
JAROSLAW SWIECICKI, POLISH HOST FOR UKRAINIAN REFUGEES: When the first bomb fell down, so.
LAVANDERA: Since the war started this, Swiecicki family has taken in 46 people. This truck driver who recently recovered from cancer says helping Ukrainian refugees is something he has to do.
Why have you opened up your house to so many people?
SWIECICKI: Because-- sure, because it's a Polish tradition I think to open our hearts, to open our homes for someone who is in need.
LAVANDERA: And he's quick to think of the little things that make his guests feel at home. Yulia Grishko is in Poland with her seven-year- old son, four-month old baby, along with her elderly parents. Today is her birthday.
She wanted us to see the gifts he received from her hosts, blue and yellow flowers, Ukraine's national colors. Yulia and her family escaped from the Eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro last week. The fighting has intensified around their hometown.
So on March 13th at 5:30 in the morning, a Russian fighter jet flew over your home. What were you thinking in that moment?
YULIA GRISHKO, UKRAINIAN REFUGEE (through translator): She says this was the turning point, I realized that I could no longer endure it. At that moment, I thought I had to save my children.
LAVANDERA: Yulia is a police officer at home. She was on maternity leave when the war started. Now, it's up to her to figure out what to do next as the war drags on. But she says her heart is in Ukraine with the family she left behind.
GRISHKO (through translator): My heart stayed at home, she says. I'm scared for my relatives. But thank God I'm in a warm place surrounded by kindness and have inner peace.
LAVANDERA: This family here in Poland, will you always consider them part of your family?
GRISHKO (through translator): Yes, she says. They have already become part of our family.
LAVANDERA: On this night, far from home, Yulia was treated to a birthday cake surprise, and the lovely version of the song Sto lat, a traditional Polish birthday song.
Yulia tells us her only wish is for peace and the end of war so her family can return home. Ed Lavendera, CNN, Premysl, Poland.
[02:25:14]
GORANI: Well, if you'd like to safely and securely help people in Ukraine who need shelter, food, and water, we've compiled a list of organizations, cnn.com/impact. You'll find several ways you can help.
Still ahead. Ukraine says it has scored a victory against Russian troops and a key town near the Capitol. Our breaking news coverage continues after the break.
Also coming up. Lithuania's Foreign Minister says Russia must be punished and warns against sanctions fatigue. I'll speak to him live after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[02:30:00]
HALA GORANI, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Hala Gorani in Lviv, Ukraine. An update on our breaking news this hour. Now, Ukraine's army says, it has forced Russian troops out of Makariv, the city located West of the Capital Kyiv, you see it there highlighted on the map.
To the South, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says, the besieged City of Mariupol is being reduced to ashes. The city has injured weeks of near constant Russian attacks. A Ukrainian soldier says, bombs are now falling every 10 minutes. The port city was home to nearly half-a-million people before the war. And while some have escaped, Ukrainian officials believe tens of thousands are still trapped without water, heat, or power. And new satellite images give you an idea of the scale of the devastation. Entire apartment blocks burning, and Russian artillery deployed around the city. In Ukraine's capital, there is a strict curfew in effect until Wednesday morning, after that powerful explosion that ripped through a Kyiv shopping mall on Monday. Here's a look at the aftermath of that Russian attack. Officials say, at least eight people were killed, but are warning that that number could very well rise. And yet despite the violence, keeps mayor remains defiant.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VITALI KLITSCHKO, KYIV, UKRAINE MAYOR: As mayor of Kyiv, I told to everyone, the Russian soldier will be never ever in Kyiv. They never occupy Kyiv. We ready to fight. Defend our hometown.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: While NATO allies are headed to Brussels this week, in what's being called an extraordinary summit to address this invasion and their response to it. Meantime, EU leaders met ahead of that summit on Monday and agreed that they are ready to impose more penalties on Russia, which would include, potentially, targeting Russia's energy sector with sanctions. And you'll remember that some EU countries were quite opposed to that idea. Here's Lithuania's foreign minister.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GABRIELIUS LANDSBERGIS, LITHUANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: We cannot get tired of imposing sanctions. We cannot get tired offering assistance and health to Ukraine. We have to take very seriously Ukraine's request to start candidacy process to EU.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Well, that was Lithuanian's Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis. He joins me now live from Brussels. Foreign Minister, just checking you can hear me there? Do you support the idea of sector-wide sanctions against Russia? I'm talking, obviously, about the energy sector because, as you know, EU partners like Germany rely quite heavily on Russian gas and they've resisted this idea so far.
LANDSBERGIS: Absolutely. And since we're talking not just about one sector, I think that we can apply, sort of a, salami tactics to our attitude, to our sanctions. So, if we're talking about the whole sector, I understand that it might be a bit too difficult. But we can start with oil which is producing the biggest revenue to Russia's budget. Now, we can go with coal. And we can leave gas, which is the most difficult, currently, for our partners near to give away (INAUDIBLE).
GORANI: So, one potential analysis of this, isn't that Vladimir Putin should not be punished. But it is that if he's punished so completely, economically, that he will think there is no other option than to escalate this invasion and these strikes by using much, much more lethal weapons. Do you, on any level, share that concern? That the EU and NATO partners have to hold back a little bit so that there is something that -- some leverage that can be used going forward. LANDSBERGIS: Look, I mean, we were so afraid of escalation since the start of war. And what we're seeing now is cities of half-a-million people, like Mariupol, completely reduced to rubble or ash, as the Ukrainian President is saying. So, how long are we going to sit like that? You know, how many cities, or which cities need to be destroyed in order for us to say, OK. This is some sort of a red line which we are -- one we are implying another round of sanctions. This is an actual war and it's not just against Ukraine.
[02:35:00]
It's -- I am confident that it's against the whole Western community.
GORANI: Yes. So, that being said, does that mean you support the idea of a NATO no-fly zone over the whole country?
LANDSBERGIS: I understand what the partners are saying when they're saying that it's too difficult at this point to establish a country wide no-fly zone for all that it means. But I think that we have to start talking about red lines and start drawing them. Especially, when the U.S. intelligence is stating very clearly that there is an increased risk that Russia will use a chemical and biological weapon.
I think that this sort of messages, and without a response from us, what kind of reaction would that produce in the West? They're just information soundbite. But we have to be very clear that, for example, if Russia escalates with weapons of mass destruction, then the West would be ready to arm Ukraine with additional weapons. Maybe heavier weapons. Maybe give a chance for Ukrainians themselves to close down the sky with Western weaponry, you know, to avoid thousands or maybe hundreds of thousands of people death.
GORANI: I just want to get a sense, you're in Brussels, Belgium, you've spoken with your colleagues and your counterparts in EU countries. How ready are they to increase sanctions against Russia's energy sector? And if so, when would this, you mentioned the salami approach, which is not the whole sector if it starts with oil, for instance. When would that happen? What is a timeline that has been agreed upon, if any?
LANDSBERGIS: To be honest, the feeling that it's in the air is that there is a setting sense of fatigue. And this is alarming for the countries in the Baltics, and maybe others in Europe, or in the West. When we're seeing the relentless will to fight in Ukraine, I've just been to Lviv. I've seen people, you know, how willing they are to fight and win this war. And when you feel this fatigue in the West, it's really alarming. And I think that this is a very bad way to go. So, I think there will be enough pressure from the public, from everybody, just to really -- to keep on pushing. And sanction is one thing we need to achieve in the West. So, I hope that we're not far off.
GORANI: So, it sounds like they are far off, based on what you're saying. I mean, you're mentioning fatigue already. We're not even a month in. So does it --
LANDSBERGIS: Well --
GORANI: -- does it sound to you, based on the conversations you've had, that they're not ready to enact this particular -- a new round of tougher sanctions on the sector itself? The energy sector itself in Russia?
LANDSBERGIS: We haven't agreed on that yet. But therefor I'm -- also, this is why I am choosing this moment to alarm that we cannot be fatigued. We cannot feel fatigue before Ukraine -- before Ukrainians. I mean, they are still fighting there. So, we have to fight with them. And if the only weapon that we have is sanctions, so we should employ this. They're not holding back. Why should we?
GORANI: So --
LANDSBERGIS: And I think that it's a very important time now. And history will not be easy on those who got tired.
GORANI: Yes. So, you're saying it hasn't been agreed yet. But are you closer to an agreement? And if so, how would you qualify how close you are to an agreement with EU partners, an agreement to impose further sanctions on the energy sector?
LANDSBERGIS: I think that we are closer. As to how close we are, I cannot tell you yet. I just -- there are a lot of countries in the EU. Among the 27, who are really concerned that we are -- we should not slow down. I mean, we should not stop. To think that this is how you build a consensus. Raising the concerns. Speaking about it strongly. And trying to convince your friends and allies in Europe that this is time to act.
GORANI: Well, in particular, at the beginning of the war, there was a lot of talk that Germany, for instance, was quite resistant to the idea. Are they coming closer to this notion that more sanctions need to be levied?
LANDSBERGIS: I think that Germany is in the process of, you know, flipping 180 percent from the policies and strategies that they had before the war, or actually during the last 20 years or so, to a new reality. So, for them to join us is particularly different. And from what I'm hearing, there's a lot of debate in their parliament, in their public as to how to support Ukraine better. I think, and I hope, that this will produce a positive result.
[02:40:00]
GORANI: All right. The Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, thank you very much for joining us live from Brussels.
LANDSBERGIS: Thank you.
GORANI: We appreciate having you on the program. And I'll have more from Lviv, Ukraine, at the top of the hour. First, let's bring in Rosemary Church in Atlanta.
ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN INTERNATIONAL NEWS ANCHOR: All right. Thank you, Hala. We'll see you in about 20 minutes.
And still to come, is Russia's war on Ukraine nearing a stalemate? The assessments from the U.S. and NATO just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
Welcome back, everyone. Well, officials from NATO to the Pentagon are giving us a better sense of a Russian military campaign that remains stalled on the ground. A senior NATO official says, signs are pointing to a stalemate in Russia's war on Ukraine, from ground forces to combat aircraft that have failed to achieve the advantage in the air.
[02:45:00]
But the officials say, Russia isn't backing down. It's assembling reinforcements as it continues to resort to less precise and more brutal weaponry against civilians. A similar assessment from the Pentagon spokesperson who says, Russian forces have failed to achieve many of their objectives on the ground. He says, Russia is increasingly turning to long-range strikes from cruise missiles to artillery fire.
And earlier, I spoke with Steven Horrell, Senior Fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis about the possible outcomes of a stalemate situation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVEN HORRELL, SR. FELLOW, CENTER FOR EUROPEAN POLICY ANALYSIS: The peace talks that are ongoing in what's been reported to be coming out of them are very interesting. I think -- and even in his remarks to the U.S. congress, where President Zelenskyy said, I recognize that we're not likely to be allowed into NATO. He's putting that sort of neutrality, I think, on the table in those peace talks.
But I would expect that the trade-off for that neutrality would be some security guarantee. The U.S., UK, Turkey have been mentioned as guarantors of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity in such a ceasefire situation. But in that case, I would also expect that President Zelenskyy in Ukraine would want that Ukrainian territory to be that of before 2014. I think the question --
CHURCH: And of course, Russia wants a whole lot more than just the Ukraine saying, well, won't be part of NATO, right? So, I mean, at this stage, President Zelenskyy has to be very careful if he doesn't compromise too much.
HORRELLL: Very challenging to think of what could look like a win for President Putin in Moscow if there's a stalemate, sort of, a situation. Look at the desired strategic end state is a completely compliant, totally nonwestern leaning Ukraine. That seems almost impossible. And with all the expectations, I think, he built up of a quick victory, it's hard to see what sort of concessions would be acceptable at all to Russia.
(END VIDEO CLIP) CHURCH: And we'll have more on my conversation with Steven Harrell next hour.
Donors have given more than $635,000 to help Ukrainian zoos impacted by the war. The European Association of Zoos and Aquaria is praising individuals and institutions for a, "Extraordinary and humbling gift." It comes after zoos in Ukraine posted online pleas for help. Ukraine says, the zoo in Mykolaiv was bombed. Some stuff joined the fight against Russia's invasion, while others stayed to help distressed animals. The money will help zoos in Ukraine resupply and take care of operations.
A street mural in the Czech Republic protesting Russia's war on Ukraine is getting attention around the world. It shows a young girl sheltering European and American cartoon characters under the blue and yellow Ukraine flag. The artist says, the message is that Ukraine is protecting the rest of the world from disaster. He lives in Prague with his family. And has taken a Ukrainian mother and two children who fled the fighting. Incredible piece of work there.
And just ahead, a routine flight gone horribly wrong. One of the most commonly used planes in the airline industry fell from the sky in China. And now investigators are trying to figure out why.
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JACQUELINE HOWARD, CNN HEALTH REPORTER: Apple cider vinegar is one of the most popular natural health products out there, but don't believe everything you read. Never use it, for instance, to whiten your teeth. It's too acidic and will just ruin your enamel. It also doesn't work well for acne, lice or warts.
But, now for the good news, apple cider vinegar may help lessen the edge of mosquito bites. Who knew? And it might you lose a little weight as part of healthy diet plan. Try and drizzled on salads and fish and poultry. And studies show, apple cider vinegar can help lower blood sugar levels. A randomized clinical trial found two spoonsful of apple cider vinegar and a glass of water twice a day, with lunch and dinner, can lower fasting blood glucose levels by 10 points. If you decide to add apple cider vinegar to your diet, check with your doctor. It can interfere with some medications, especially, drugs for diabetes and some diuretics.
CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. Well, human rights activists are welcoming the U.S. determination that Myanmar's military committed genocide against Rohingya Muslims in 2016 and 2017. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, says, there is clear evidence of an attempt to destroy the Muslim minority through mass killings, rape, and torture. About 850,000 Rohingya Muslims are still living in camps in Bangladesh. Activists say, the genocide designation could bring more sanctions and other penalties against Myanmar's military government.
Investigators are trying to figure out what caused a Boeing aircraft to crash in the Chinese City of Wuzhou on Monday. 132 passengers and crew were on board. But no survivors have been found, so far, according to Chinese state media. CNN's Pete Muntean has more. (END VIDEO CLIP)
PETE MUNTEAN, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): New video shows one of the worlds most popular jetliners dropping from the sky. Security images obtained by state owned television show China Eastern Airlines Flight 5735 plunging straight down into the mountains of Southern China. Data from Flightradar24 shows minutes after leveling off at a cruising altitude of 29,000 feet, the Boeing 737 began a rapid dive, losing more than 25,000 feet in less than two minutes. China's state media says all 132 people on board were killed.
MARK WEISS, RETIRED AIRLINE PILOT: This is what they would've heard in the cockpit as they --
MUNTEAN (voiceover): Retired airline pilot Mark Weiss teaches in this Boeing 737 simulator. He notes the plane in question was a Boeing 737- 800, which lacks the technology behind the crashes of the 737 Max.
WEISS: It's probably one of the safest airplanes ever built. This was the model before the Max. And that did not have the MCAS system in it.
MUNTEAN (on camera): Even though people hear 737 --
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WEISS: Apples and oranges. Same airplane, different problem.
MUNTEAN (voiceover): What was supposed to be a less than two-hour flight from Kunming to Guangzhou, crashed in heavy forest, making access for rescuers very difficult. Witnesses say, they saw no smoke coming to the jetliner until it hit the ground. The 737-800 is the second most common airliner in the world. There are more than 4,500 worldwide, including almost 800 in the United States. China Eastern Airlines is now grounding its entire 737-800 fleet.
PETER GOELZ, CNN AVIATION ANALYST: The early evidence is very ominous. I'm afraid the early evidence on this accident, to say, this points that -- you going to do a hard look at the flight crew.
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MUNTEAN (on camera): You have likely flown on a Boeing 737-800, hundreds of them are used by Southwest Airlines and American Airlines. Boeing says, it is in touch with China Eastern Airlines and says, it will provide assistance to the Chinese government which is leading this investigation. This is the country's first fatal airline crash in more than a decade. Pete Muntean, CNN, Washington.
CHURCH: And thanks so much for being with us this hour. I'm Rosemary Church. Our breaking news coverage continues after this break
HOWARD: Whether you live in a big house or a small apartment, you can grow, at least, some of your own food. And not only will the food be fresh and nutritious, but studies show gardening has mental health benefits, too. If you've got a windowsill, or just a sunny corner, you can grow herbs year-round. Lettuce is easy to grow in containers, and soon you will be eating your own homegrown salads. Tomato plants also do well in pots. And a strawberry pot can add curb appeal to a stoop or patio, and provides antioxidant loaded berries.
One important tip, if you're only gardening in containers, make sure you use potting soil and not regular garden soil. The potting soil allows air and water to circulate better. And if you are lucky enough to have outdoor space, a raised garden bed allows you to pack a small space full of nutritious fruits and veggies.
They may look similar, they may taste similar, but sweet potatoes and yams have some differences. These root vegetables are not even related. True yams are native to Africa and Asia. Most yams today, 95 percent, are harvested in West Africa. While many of the yams sold in the U.S. are typically grown and Caribbean countries. And yams are closely related to lilies and grasses. While sweet potatoes are native to the Americas and are part of the morning glory family.
Now, when it comes to your health, both of these root vegetables are low in calories and high nutrients.
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