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Biden Meets with World Leaders; Zelenskyy Addresses NATO; Ukraine Destroys Russian Ship; U.S. Accuses Russia of War Crimes; Richard Haass is Interviewed about Biden's Meeting. Aired 9-9:30a ET

Aired March 24, 2022 - 09:00   ET

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

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WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning and welcome to our viewers in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer. I'm reporting live from NATO headquarters in Brussels, where President Biden is attending this truly extraordinary summit with 29 other NATO heads of state.

In just a few moments, we're going to -- we expect to hear from the president of the United States, and the administration announcing new sanctions against Russian lawmakers and oligarchs.

This as we're also learning that the United States is wrapping up what to do if -- what to do if President Putin and the Russian military take even more extreme measures, extreme steps, including the deployment of chemical, biological or tactical nuclear weapons. God forbid any of that happens. We're watching it all unfold.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm John Berman, on the ground in Lviv, in western Ukraine, where this war is now entering its second month.

We do have new video this morning from the Russian occupied Port of Berdyansk, where Ukrainian forces say they destroyed a large Russian ship. Several videos capture an explosion and flames. You can see it right there.

We're also getting new video this morning from Chernihiv showing destroyed buildings and debris filled streets. That area has seen some of the most intense shelling since the invasion began.

POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Poppy Harlow, joining you live this morning as well. Just before the president arrived for these summits, a formal declaration from the Biden administration that Russian forces have committed war crimes. The attacks have triggered a huge flow of refugees. More than 3.6 million Ukrainians leaving the country to date. And, stunningly, news from UNICEF this morning that one in every two Ukrainian children has been displaced since the Russian invasion began one month ago today. And now news that the Biden administration plans to accept up to 100,000 refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine.

BLITZER: CNN has a team of correspondents around the globe. We're tracking all these major, major developments right now.

Let's begin our coverage this hour. Here in Brussels, CNN's chief White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins is with us, Natasha Bertrand is also here at NATO headquarters following all these major developments.

Kaitlan, let's talk about the news that's unfolding right now. Thirty NATO leaders meeting right now. We're expecting some major announcements.

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. And right now this is just such an extraordinary moment, where all of these leaders are in one room, in a summit that was put together in days, not months like typically you see this, Wolf. And so it is extraordinary.

Of course, one leader who is not here but did address the other leaders in the room this morning was Ukrainian president Zelenskyy, who made this appeal for more assistance to the leaders in the room who, of course, have their own plans to unveil assistance, to talk about what they've done so far and to also talk about other measures to punish Putin. And that is something that President Biden is going to announce later on today, including what we told you about yesterday, those sanctions on hundreds of Russian lawmakers. Something that President Zelenskyy has called for, but also the measures that they are taking when it comes to helping Europe not depend completely on Russian energy. That has been a real struggle for them. It has given Russia a point of leverage in this entire invasion. And now the invasion is stretching into past one month now since Russia has started this invasion.

But you're continuing to see President Zelenskyy call for more help. And so one big part of this is also the humanitarian aspect and the refugee crisis that this has caused. And we are hearing that they do plan for the United States to announce that they are accepting up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees into the United States. That number is so significant because last year alone the United States did not come close to taking in 100,000 refugees. So saying they will take in up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees is a really big step that we do expect President Biden to announce later on today.

BLITZER: Yes, and that -- they didn't take a -- the U.S. didn't take in 100,000 refugees from around the whole world --

COLLINS: Total. Exactly.

BLITZER: Let alone from one country, which the president is about to announce, up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees will be admitted into the United States, a very significant development.

You're also getting some new reporting on what if. What if the Russian military, under Putin, were to use chemical, biological or tactical nuclear weapons?

COLLINS: This is a major concern, obviously. President Biden and his aides have said that they are concerned Putin is preparing to conduct a chemical weapons attack in Ukraine. We've seen him conduct similar attacks like that before. And so that is a main concern for them.

And it is something that we are told they are discussing in the room behind the scenes. But it's also something that President Biden has had his top aides discussing for several weeks now.

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Four days after the invasion, the national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, authorized a team of National Security Council officials to study and basically map out contingency plans if you do see Putin take that extreme step of deploying -- conducting a chemicals weapon attack, maybe deploying nuclear weapons, but chemical weapons seems to be their primary focus right now.

And so that's a big question still, how would the United States respond, because the president has ruled out U.S. military action in Ukraine, and that's a big question of whether or not that changes that calculus.

And so we do know that in the room today, President Zelenskyy made appeals for more fighter jets to these leaders who are in the room. That is something that he has said repeatedly he needs. But we know the Pentagon has ruled that out as well, Wolf.

One thing I should note, a senior U.S. official said that President Zelenskyy, in that meeting today, did not talk about joining NATO. NATO membership. And, of course, that has been something that Ukraine has put at their priority list. It is something that has angered Russia. And it really does loom over this NATO summit that is happening now.

BLITZER: Natasha Bertrand is also here in Brussels at the NATO headquarters. She's inside.

You've been here for a few weeks already, Natasha. Update our viewers on what else you're learning about President Zelenskyy's message to these 30 NATO leaders.

NATASHA BERTRAND, WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, Wolf, President Zelenskyy essentially said today, look, the Ukrainian army has proven its worth here, has proven that it is capable of protecting Europe from a Russian onslaught because, of course, Zelenskyy has been saying over the last several weeks that he believes that the Russian invasion of Ukraine is only a potential precursor to a larger operation by the Russians to take even more territory and that they -- he believes that Ukraine is basically serving as a buffer now. And he says, we have proven ourselves. Now it's time for NATO to prove itself. We have been saving lives. We have been conducting this operation that no one believed that we would be able to do. Now it's time for NATO to prove that it can also come to our aid and that it's able to save lives here.

Take a listen to what he had to say this morning in a closed door meeting with NATO leaders.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINE (through translator): After this one month of war -- in -- with Russia -- in the war with Russia, please do not tell us that our army is not up to NATO standards. We have shown what our standards are worth, how much we can give to the overall security of Europe and the world, how much we can do to protect ourselves from -- protect everyone from aggression, to protect our shared values. But NATO has yet to show what NATO can do to save people's lives and to show that they are indeed the most powerful defensive alliance in the world.

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BERTRAND: So, obviously, Zelenskyy stopping just short there of calling yet again for Ukraine to become a member of NATO, but reiterating that he believes, of course, that Ukraine's military is up to NATO standards.

And I should note here, Wolf, that it's very significant just how long Ukraine's military has been able to last in this fight. It is not something that the west had anticipated. In fact, defense officials were telling us before the war began that they expected Kyiv to last a matter of days before the Russians were able to run it over.

Of course, they have lasted a month now. They have actually put the Russians back on their heels. The Russians are not gaining the kind of ground that they have wanted to because of that fierce Ukrainian resistance. And what we're seeing now is the Ukrainians telling the western leaders, please keep it up, please keep your support up to us so that we continue -- we can continue to maintain this momentum against the Russians because right now it's becoming increasingly difficult for them to get the kind of ammunition anti-tank missiles, air defense systems that they need in order to successfully push the Russians back, Wolf.

BLITZER: Yes, you're absolutely right, Natasha, U.S. intelligence, military, political, they've all been so impressed with the Ukrainian military being able to deal with the Russian invading forces. You got to give the Ukrainian military, the Ukrainian people and the president, Zelenskyy, a lot of credit for that.

Natasha Bertrand, thank you very much.

Kaitlan, thanks to you as well.

We're going to continue to stay on top of all the breaking news out of this NATO summit.

In the meantime, let's go back to John Berman. He's in Ukraine for us. And as I always say, John, be careful over there.

BERMAN: Yes, thanks so much, Wolf.

You were just talking about the Ukrainian forces, not just lasting, but succeeding in many cases. New this morning, Ukrainian officials claim success in the Russian occupied port city of Berdyansk. Videos show fires at the port, along with a series of explosions. Ukrainian armed forces say a large Russian warship was destroyed, while two other ships were damaged. In this new video you can see a couple of landing ships forced out of the port by the strike.

CNN's Frederik Pleitgen joins us now live from the capital in Kyiv.

And, Fred, I know you've been to Berdyansk. You've seen this port.

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Talk to us about the significance of this operation from the Ukrainian side.

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, John.

Well, it certainly seems like a significant operation. You're absolutely right, I was actually in the Port of Berdyansk just in November, late November of this year. It is, obviously, a strategic port for the Ukrainians, but very much also for the Russians as they try to resupply some of the fighting that they're doing down, especially when it comes to trying to -- you know, continue that invasion of Mariupol, where, of course, that city has been under siege, but, in general, to resupply the troops that they have there.

And I think one of the interesting things that you see there is that large plume of smoke and what seems to be a big fire as well. That certainly seems to indicate that that ship might have had some form of munitions or also vehicles on it as well.

If we talk about those landing ships, I've actually seen those in action by the Russian military, some of the maneuvers that they've had. They're essentially military cargo ships that can also land on beaches. They don't have very much in the way of cannons, but they can transport a lot of things, especially tanks and armored vehicles.

So, potentially, the Russians might have lost a lot of those in this -- in this strike that took place by the Ukrainians.

But another thing I think is interesting to point out, John, in the port of Berdyansk, the Ukrainians had been looking to upgrade the military part of that, there's a military and a civilian port in there. It's not a very big port. So, if there's a big, massive ship burning in that port that the Russians aren't able to move, that could seriously make it difficult for them to continue to resupply their ships via that port. So, certainly it seems like a big victory there by the Ukrainian forces.

BERMAN: And, Fred, you mentioned Mariupol, not far from there. I do understand we have new video from that city, which has just been devastated over the last few weeks. Talk to us about what we're seeing.

PLEITGEN: Yes, absolutely. I mean it's definitely a devastating scene there in Mariupol. That city is under siege. It's almost impossible for people to get in and out. There have been some humanitarian corridors that have worked to a certain degree. But, I mean, some of the video that's coming out just shows the utter destruction in there. And if we just take a look at it, for a second, I just want to just have our viewers see it, and I'll be silent for a few moments, just as you watch that drive through Mariupol, just the utter destruction there.

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PLEITGEN: So, you see that there, dead bodies laying there, destroyed cars. Not a single building that seems to be untouched, you know. I haven't seen anything like that since the worst days of the Syrian war that, obviously, you covered extensively as well.

Mariupol, certainly a dire situation, and the people still trapped inside there, of course, very much in peril as those Russian forces continue to shoot in there, John.

BERMAN: Yes, I spoke to a woman who got out of Mariupol just a few days ago and she was telling me about the bodies piling up on the streets because people were not safe enough to go outside and bury them. What a situation there, Fred.

Frederik Pleitgen for us in Kyiv this morning. Fred, thanks so much.

Poppy, let's go back to you.

HARLOW: Just remarkable to see that and hear the silence and then see -- see that body there.

Up next, how Russia is responding to the U.S. declaration, the formal declaration that Vladimir Putin is committing war crimes. And what will it actually mean?

Plus, CNN speaks to two Ukrainian fighter pilots who were trained by Americans. How they're having success against a much larger Russian air force.

And new this morning, as the world watches, Russia, North Korea, appears to have launched a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile that landed just 100 miles from Japan's coast. What we know about that test later this hour.

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HARLOW: All right, this breaking news just in. Today, President Biden will announce new sanctions against over 300 members of the Russian duma, and over 40 Russian defense companies. That's according to a senior administration official. That official added that the EU and the G-7 will also announce a new sanctions evasion initiative that is, in their words, designed to prevent circumventing or back filling of sanctions. So, a significant development. Let's see what impact it may have.

Meantime, the U.S. is now officially accusing Russia formally of committing war crimes in Ukraine. Secretary of State Antony Blinken formally declaring that Putin's troops have violated the laws of conflict, as recent reports show hundreds if not thousands of civilians have been killed since the start of the Russian invasion.

Alex Marquardt joins me from Washington.

And, Alex, I was watching you yesterday at this news broke and I think the real question everyone has is, and then what, right, especially given that the U.S. is not a member, party to the ICC, what does this actually mean for holding Russia accountable?

ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Poppy. It is a big question of how these war crimes would actually be prosecuted and where. But it is an incredibly important moment when the United States accuses another country, in particular Russia, of carrying out war crimes.

Now, this announcement was made, and it wasn't a coincidence I don't think, as President Biden and Secretary of State Tony Blinken were just about to touch down in Brussels for this NATO summit. And, of course, it comes as we get daily reports of examples of what could be considered to be war crimes.

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Now, President Biden had already accused President Biden -- Putin himself of being a war criminal and a murderous dictator. Accusations, in fact, Poppy, that had led to the U.S. ambassador to Moscow to be pulled in, summoned by the ministry of foreign affairs earlier this week.

But now we are seeing this growing number of what the State Department calls atrocities. In particular they point to examples in Mariupol, that city on the Sea of Azov, in the southern part of Ukraine, that has been hit so hard. They point to that maternity ward that was bombed by Russian forces. They talk about the theater that was being used as a shelter by more than a thousand people that was also struck by a Russian attack when it was clearly labeled children, in big letters, on the outside.

So now the State Department is saying that there is a growing number of atrocities. They are basing this on their own intelligence, as well as credible reports.

Worth noting, Poppy, that President Putin himself is not named in this statement. It is just the Russian forces so far that the U.S. is now accusing of carrying out war crimes.

But back to your original question, the State Department is saying that these crimes could be prosecuted in U.S. courts, they could be prosecuted in Ukrainian courts, and in other countries. Of course, in the International Criminal Court as well, which, as you noted, the U.S. is not a party to, but they have, themselves, started their own investigation into war crimes in Ukraine.

Poppy. HARLOW: Yes, all important points.

Alex Marquardt, thanks so much for the reporting.

Wolf.

BLITZER: Poppy, thank you.

Right now, President Biden is in an emergency meeting with 29 other members -- with 29 other members of the NATO alliance, and also meeting with members of the G-7 here in Brussels. The talks come as the Ukrainian president is calling on NATO to provide Ukraine with just 1 percent -- just 1 percent of its weapons stock.

Let's discuss what's going on with former U.S. Ambassador Richard Haass. He's the president of the Council on Foreign Relations. He's also the author of a very important book entitled "The World: A Brief Introduction."

Richard, thanks so much for joining us.

Big picture, realistically speaking, and you're familiar with all this stuff, what do you expect to emerge from this hastily arranged gathering of world leaders here in Brussels?

RICHARD HAASS, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR: I think the most important thing besides the demonstrations of political and diplomatic solidarity would be a commitment to provide both the quantity and the quality of arms that Ukraine needs. I don't see a lot more to do on the sanctions front, particularly since the Germans are not prepared to meaningly reduce their energy imports at this point.

And then what probably won't emerge but needs to be discussed, Wolf, the -- behind closed doors are -- are contingency plans. What -- what is NATO prepared to do say if Poland is attacked? What is it prepared to do if there are cyberattacks? What is it prepared to do if Mr. Putin decides to escalate with chemical or biological or nuclear weapons?

And then probably also should -- going back to your previous story, to make sure everyone's on a common page about things like what would be the requirements for NATO to agree to end the war? What about reparations? What about war crimes? You don't want 30 countries essentially each going their own way at this point.

BLITZER: So are there, Richard, red lines that if Russia crosses these red lines, NATO, the NATO alliance, led by the United States, will do more, will take direct, for example, military action against Russia?

HAASS: I would think so, and I would hope so. Obviously, if NATO countries attack, that brings into the basic -- into play the basic article five, an attack on one is an attack on all. Cyber is a more interesting case. And there I think it might depend upon the scale of the attack. But, again, probably we would respond in kind.

I think in terms of chemical use, for example, NATO ought to be prepared indeed. I would think that we may want to have direct military action, would want to have direct military action against Russian forces in Ukraine, and indeed that probably ought to be communicated. I'm old school here, Wolf, and I believe that deterrence through clarity and certainty is preferable to declare -- to deterrence through uncertainty and vagueness. So I would like NATO to come to a common position, and that should be communicated to the Russians.

BLITZER: You think these sanctions and the President -- President Biden's about to announce even tougher sanctions against Russia, you suggested in the past they're not necessarily a magic bullet, but will these sanctions really change Putin and the Russian behavior, what they're doing to the Ukrainian people?

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HAASS: Well, this newest sanctions to go after people in the duma, no, that's just show. That's essentially meaningless. The economic sanctions have had weight, but sanctions tend to be slow moving, particularly since Russia is making, you know, hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars every day by exporting gas among other places to Europe. Plus, you've got a lot of countries in the world, like India, several countries in the Middle East, China, who are not going to be full participants in sanctions. So, no, there's nothing about the history of sanctions that suggest they're a magic bullet.

I actually think more significant in terms of putting pressure on Putin, the casualties that the Russian army is suffering inside Ukraine.

BLITZER: Well, on that issue, do you think the Russian people appreciate, understand what's going on, how many thousands of Russian troops are getting killed in this war?

HAASS: Mr. Putin, shall we say, is in control of the information space. They did let out a statistic the other day. I can't believe it was intentional. But popular support for what Russia is doing so far at least is high. Indeed my own prediction, at some point is the Russians may pull -- rather than put more troops into Ukraine, might take troops out to reduce casualties and instead simply focus their war effort on the continued bombing, using missiles and the like of a civilian populations.

BLITZER: Ambassador Richard Haass, thanks so much for joining us.

HAASS: Thank you, Wolf.

HARLOW: Well, ahead, you will meet U.S. trained --

BLITZER: Poppy.

HARLOW: Thank you, Wolf.

Ahead, you will meet U.S. trained Ukrainian fighter pilots who are taking on the Russians, 50,000 feet in the air. We're also moments away from the opening bell on Wall Street here in

the United States. Futures are pointing higher this morning as investors monitor the latest developments, of course, in the war on Ukraine and President Biden's meeting with world leaders today in Brussels.

Meanwhile, Russia's stock market has partially reopened this morning. The White House calling the move a charade and not sustainable.

We'll keep an eye on all the developments.

Stay with us.

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