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Zelenskyy to NATO: Give Us Just 1 Percent of Your Firepower; Zelenskyy Drops Plea for No-Fly Zone in NATO Address; G7 Leaders Warn Russia Not to Use Chemical, Biological, Nuclear Weapons; Ukrainian Teen Describes Horrific Attack While Escaping Chernihiv; Pros. Aired 3:30-4p ET
Aired March 24, 2022 - 15:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[15:30:00]
COL. CEDRIC LEIGHTON (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Victor, it's one of these aspects of the relationship between Russia -- I remember that even at the height of the Cold War towards the end of it, there would always be contact with the Russians or with the Soviets at that time. There was no effort that either side made to stop those kinds of communication most of the time. So, it was good at that time. But this is a very bad development.
VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN HOST: Yes, even then communications weren't this poor. Col. Cedric Leighton, thank you.
Ukraine's armed forces say Russia is transferring weapons and equipment to Belarus, as we just discussed. They say it's part of Russia's planned offensive aimed at encircling the capital.
Up next, we'll speak to a U.S. citizen now in Ukraine's capital who's there to defend the homeland.
And Russia has so far been unable to take full control of Ukrainian airspace thanks in part to expertise of Ukrainian fighter pilots trained by Americans and CNN spoke to two pilots. Hear what they say is the biggest need next.
[15:35:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
DON LEMON, CNN HOST: Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, today told NATO leaders, he needs just 1 percent of their firepower for the war against Russia, but the U.S. is still opposed to sending fighter jets to Ukraine. That's according to a senior U.S. official.
Earlier today CNN's John Berman spoke to two fighter pilots about their battle against Russian forces. Here's what one pilot -- whose com sign by the way is Juice -- had to say about the need for more military equipment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
"JUICE," UKRAINIAN AIR FORCE PILOT: You think this, this baby, I'm not efficient. I'm not effective against Russian jets, against Russian fighters. So, we need something more advanced, something modern. We are pushing them from our border, from our frontlines but we couldn't get real full air superiority.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Well, let's discuss with Miro Popovich, is a dual U.S./Ukrainian citizen fighting in his homeland of Ukraine. He's also U.S. Army veteran, and we're happy to have you, Miro. Thank you so much. What type of equipment do you and other Ukrainians forces need to successfully fight the Russians whether in the air or on the ground?
MIRO POPOVICH, U.S. CITIZEN FIGHTING IN UKRAINE: Well, hi, Don. First of all, thank you for having me. What kind of equipment? First of all, we need for NATO to close our sky. This is number one priority. Because they keep bombing our civilian neighborhoods. They keep bombing our schools, bomb shelters, and really, it's hard to operate when you have these, you know -- it's really hard for a soldier to go to war knowing that his family is being bombed at the very moment at the bomb shelter. So, I think that's the number one priority.
Anti-missiles and antiaircraft, regarding the ground forces, as you know we, in the Ukrainian military, are doing pretty well against tanks and armored vehicles and their troops. We are just destroying them. But air defense is lacking.
LEMON: Well, listen, you're at an impasse when it comes to the no-fly zone. You mentioned it, many people I interview mention it. I've spoken to the Secretary of Defense, he said no. The president of the United States has said no. I listened to the head of NATO today, no. So, what do you say to your fellow American citizens who fear that would trigger a wider, perhaps a nuclear war -- not only to the United States but also to members of NATO who fear the same thing? What do you say to them?
POPOVICH: What I say to them, well of course, you know, I cannot promise that they will not trigger it. But right now, Ukraine is showing the whole world that Russia is not as strong as they want the world to see. They're not as strong. Ukraine is 28 times smaller than Russia and we're just kicking their asses literally. Of course, Putin and whoever in Russia, they can in agony scream like we're going to use nuclear weapons and stuff. You know what, I don't think they will. Because first of all, it's going to destroy them. It's a suicide. I think they're bluffing.
And you know, I'm not asking for NATO to start war with Russia. I'm asking NATO to -- and we're asking them to stop all the missiles that are coming towards the Ukraine, to stop those missiles. Not to attack Russia but to stop their missiles that are coming to our bomb shelters, schools, theaters, et cetera. So, my fellow Americans, I love you and every single -- the support that we receive, that I receive, thank you so much. And I'm very happy to be an American citizen as well. Because America is number one.
LEMON: So, we've talked about the possibility of nuclear weapons. Let's talk chemical weapons.
[15:40:00]
President Biden says the says the Russia using chemical weapons is real and warns that the U.S. will respond if Russia uses them. How concerns are you about that?
POPOVICH: You know, Don, I'm not -- chemical weapons, I'm very concern. When I served in the U.S. army we went to a gas chamber, so the training -- sort of shows you the impact on how the chemical weapons work. It was painful but it was not even the lethal chemical weapons, just the training. So, I know how painful it is and I've seen images I believe from Syria or somewhere else where the chemical weapons were used, and it's gruesome. And I'm very concerned.
I ordered my gas mask from the states. It must arrive in like a week or so. Just in case, you know, I ordered a gas mask with filters to be ready for that. And hopefully they don't do that because, as you know, Russia they always use the same style of approach. They use something and then they're going to say we did it to ourselves. You know -- oh, they used chemical weapons to themselves. And of course, it's a lie.
So hopefully they don't do that, and hopefully people -- I mean, I know Putin is crazy. He's a crazy dude. Hopefully the people that are below him they sort of have a clearer mind and they understand that -- I mean, this war has no sense and chemical weapons that -- hopefully, hopefully, if this happens hopefully Biden -- President Biden will keep his word and respond.
LEMON: Yes, the question is what will that response be? Miro Popovich, thank you very much. Please be safe.
POPOVICH: Yes.
LEMON: So, Victor, listen, the U.S. and NATO, they're walking a tightrope. I mean, when you're talking about nuclear -- the possibility of nuclear and chemical weapons, no one wants to play around with that.
BLACKWELL: Yes, certainly, does not. The president says there will be a response. Of course, everyone hopes there won't have to be. Don in Lviv, thank you.
Millions of people have left Ukraine over the last month. For some the cost has been unimaginable. CNN spoke with a 15-year-old boy. He was forced from his home, barely managed to get out, and he lost his mother. His story just ahead.
[15:45:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLACKWELL: Since the start of this war one month ago, half of Ukraine's kids have been forced to leave their homes -- half, that's according to UNICEF. Every day there's more destruction from Russian attacks, impacts on Ukrainian cities and people. And now in Chernihiv, there's new video that shows the damage after weeks of Russian shelling.
This morning my colleague John Berman spoke with a 15-year-old from that city. He was forced from his home. He barely got out of the city with his life. But he lost his mother. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDRIY, ESCAPED, LOST HIS MOTHER: when doctors drive me about to hospital, I looking for some people from national defense or police to find my father.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: You and your father -- are you OK in your hearts?
ANDRIY: Father is hard. You understand. Your wife is dead and you're looking to your son. I can just stand up without -- you understand.
BERMAN: I understand.
ANDRIY: Now I think I (Speaking foreign language).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (translating): And myself -- I think I haven't realized everything to its full extent.
BERMAN: What do you want the world to know about your mother?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (Speaking foreign language).
ANDRIY: (Crying). Sorry.
BERMAN: I'm sorry.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (Speaking foreign language).
ANDRIY: Excuse me.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (Speaking foreign language).
ANDRIY: Thank you. (Speaking foreign language).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (translating): I want them to know that my mother was a very beautiful woman.
ANDRIY: (Speaking foreign language).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): She always liked things to be tidy and clean. And my father and I -- we always supported -- used to do that and supported her. And right now, it's very -- it's very difficult without mother.
BERMAN: She has a beautiful and brave son.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (Speaking foreign language).
BERMAN: And I'm so sorry you've gone through this.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLACKWELL: Fifteen. After all of this, Andriy says that he plans to return to his hometown once the war is over.
For more information about how you can help humanitarian efforts in Ukraine go to CNN.com/impact. President Biden is rallying the West behind a strategy to confront Vladimir Putin. Moments ago, he suggested ousting Russia from the G20. Much more on our breaking news ahead.
[15:50:00]
BLACKWELL: An ex-New York prosecutor who investigated former President Trump says Trump is guilty of numerous felonies.
In his resignation letter last month, Mark Pomerantz wrote: The team that has been investigating Mr. Trump harbors no doubt about whether he committed crimes -- he did.
Pomerantz said Trump lied about his personal finances. He's one of two prosecutors who resigned after the Manhattan District Attorney said he was not ready to move forward with criminal charges.
[15:55:00]
The DA's office says the investigation is ongoing.
All right, here's some really good news. Weekly jobless claims fell to a level the U.S. hasn't seen since the Nixon administration. Just 187,000 people filed for first-time unemployment benefits last week. Economists expected 210,000. The last time the weekly number was that low, September 6th, 1969. In another encouraging sign, the number of people filing for continuing unemployment fell to the lowest level since January 3rd, 1970. Good news.
"THE LEAD" with Jake Tapper starts after a break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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