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Biden Arrives in Poland; Polish President's Plane Makes Emergency Landing; Halyna Skipalska is Interviewed about Medical Work in Ukraine. Aired 9:30-10a

Aired March 25, 2022 - 09:30   ET

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

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[09:34:52]

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: These are live pictures we're getting in. Air Force One on the ground now in Rzeszow, Poland. The president of the United States arriving from the NATO summit in Brussels.

[09:35:02]

He says the United States -- he says now the United States will take in as many as 100,000 Ukrainian refugees fleeing Russia's brutal assault on Ukraine. The president also announcing the United States will provide an additional $1 billion in humanitarian assistance, including food, clean water, medical supplies.

CNN's Melissa Bell is in Rzeszow for us right now.

This is the first stop here in Poland for the president of the United States, Melissa. Set the scene for us. What do we anticipate?

MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's hugely symbolic for a start. We're talking here, Wolf, about the eastern edge of NATO. We are just 60 miles from the Ukrainian border. So I think this visit and the fact that Air Force One has just touched down here carries with it huge symbolism. You know, the American president, of course, coming to Europe to really gather together allies and remind them of the importance of unity. The fact that he should come this close to the border is in and of itself important.

Now, just inside and around this airport here at Rzeszow, he's going to be meeting with USAID in the shape of Ambassador Samantha Powers, but also with other humanitarian groups. And one of the big questions, of course you mentioned a moment go, is that extra money that was announced for humanitarian help. Partly, of course, to the more than 2.2 million refugees that have crossed this Polish border, but, of course, to the many millions of people who are in desperate need of humanitarian aid inside Ukraine. So many of those besieged cities have only just been reached by the U.N. only last weekend, getting to Sumy. So it is people who are in need of water, food, medical supplies, of course, to help the wounded, and that is one of the most urgent things that he's going to be addressing here with the humanitarian groups. He's also, Wolf, going to be meeting with members of the U.S. 82nd

Airborne Division, I'm sorry, who have come here, 4,700 extra troops were deployed in the beginning of February to come and supplement the 4,000 American troops already on rotation here under NATO flags to bolster those forces. And really the idea of this is the deterrent capacity that this has, of course, in the face of that Russian aggression across the border in Ukraine.

So, hugely symbolic but important meetings here as well, both on the humanitarian front and on the military front as President Biden seeks to make clear that he intends to stand firm with his allies to show that solidity in the face of what was happening across the border.

Of course, tomorrow we're going to have him go back to Warsaw where we expect him to meet where you are with refugees themselves, but also to make what we expect to be a pretty big speech about that question of showing that united front, Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, I want to bring in our chief White House correspondent. Melissa, stand by. Kaitlan Collins, she's here in Warsaw with me.

We're seeing Air Force One on the ground there in Rzeszow, Poland. The Polish president, Andrzej Duda, was supposed to personally receive the president of the United States there in Rzeszow, but unfortunately, according to the state news agency here in Poland, President Duda's aircraft, which was supposed to land in Rzeszow, has been forced now to return here to Warsaw, make an emergency landing in Warsaw. This is a surprise development. A bit worrisome. Obviously, everybody's OK. But what are you hearing because the Polish president was going to formally greet the American president in Poland.

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, he was supposed to greet him. They're actually gong to have their big meetings tomorrow, Wolf. But that is why you haven't see President Biden exiting Air Force One yet. They are still figuring this out, of course, as he is maybe going to make an attempt to come and meet President Biden where he is in Rzeszow. Of course, we are here in Warsaw. That's where President Duda was, the Polish president.

And so we are hearing that there was an issue with his aircraft. They had to make an emergency landing. It's not clear how serious the issue was. Obviously serious enough to make that emergency landing. But it appears they are trying to get the schedule back on track because, of course, this is the day where President Biden is going to be going and meeting face to face with these humanitarian officials and aid workers who have been dealing with the crisis on the ground here in Poland as they have taken in millions of refugees since this Russian invasion began.

So, it does appear the White House is trying to get the Polish president there still to meet with President Biden, but we're still waiting for an update from officials. Right now President Biden is still onboard Air Force One. He's got a slew of officials on there with him, including Secretary of State Blinken, the defense secretary, Lloyd Austin, several other officials who have been traveling with him on this trip as well, Wolf.

And so we'll wait to see what the plan is for the meeting with the Polish president, who was, obviously, expected to greet President Biden. But, overall, the trip still seems -- the day and the schedule still seems to be going forward with this meeting that President Biden is going to have. And then, of course, meeting with the 82nd Airborne Division.

And, Wolf, he's meeting with these refugees here on the ground in Poland. That's what he's going to be doing tomorrow, as he has also just announced the United States is going to take in 100,000 -- up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees. Now, that is a huge number. It is more than the total of refugees that the United States has taken in, in the last several years and now they are committing to taking in 100,000 Ukrainian refugees in the United States.

[09:40:10]

Obviously, that's a big deal given the numbers that we have seen coming out of Ukraine. And it's a crisis that, of course, we talked about, they don't say -- they don't believe is going to be ending anytime soon.

This also comes alongside an announcement for a billion dollars in aid, humanitarian aid. That is obviously going to be something that's immensely helpful to these nations that have also been taking in so many refugees, as well as those who are still in Ukraine and need assistance as well, Wolf.

And so that will really be the focus of the second half of President Biden's trip while he is here in Poland, of course, spending the day in Rzeszow before coming here to Warsaw later on, Wolf.

BLITZER: Yes, I'm looking at the official White House schedule for today that was released earlier by the White House, and it says the president, President Biden, will be greeted by President Duda of Poland upon his arrival over there in Rzeszow. And then the president, according to the official White House schedule, receive a briefing on the humanitarian response to ease the suffering of civilians inside Ukraine and to respond to the growing flow of refugees fleeing Putin's war of choice. And later, as Melissa Bell and everybody else was reporting, and this is also part of the official White House publicly released schedule, the president will meet with service members from the 82nd Airborne Division who have been temporarily -- temporarily deployed to NATO -- NATO troops here in eastern -- in eastern Europe.

These are significant developments. Obviously, President Duda is not going to be able to attend. But we're looking at these live pictures. The president, I guess, will be coming down -- I can't see yet -- will be coming down those stairs and he will begin to receive some sort of humanitarian briefing on this refugee crisis.

Melissa Bell, you're there, as we watch these pictures, live pictures coming in from Rzeszow. And as you correctly point out, only about 60 miles from the Ukrainian border. What else do we anticipate? The White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said tomorrow, tomorrow, Saturday, the president, President Biden, will be meeting with Ukrainian refugees. I assume that's going to be here in Warsaw because he's leaving in a few hours, he's going to be going -- leaving -- leaving Rzeszow and coming to Warsaw.

BELL: That's right. So many of the refugees that we've been watching these last few days and weeks cross that border, not very far from here, Wolf, and into Poland, have now headed to Warsaw. The population of the city has grown by some 17 to 18 percent. It gives you an idea of how many refugees have arrived in the Polish capital.

But, of course, it is along this border that the humanitarian crisis has been greatest of all. This is the country that's received the greatest amount. Of course, that question of how much Polish services have been stretched by what's been an extraordinary outpouring, show, display of solidarity these last few weeks at the heart of those discussions that are about to get underway in that airport just behind me.

Clearly, a huge blow for President Duda that he's not here to welcome the American president. It was a massive coup for him that President Biden should come in person, not only to this country, as effective as it's been by the events of the last few weeks, but that he should come all the way to this border.

So we await more details on exactly what could have prevented his aircraft from coming here to Rzeszow and why it had to turn around and make that emergency landing in Warsaw.

But that image of solidarity clearly at least for this leg of President Biden's visit will not be taking place as we understand it. So, that humanitarian catastrophe at the heart of those discussions. And, again, it's a humanitarian catastrophe that's unfolding on this side of the border, but very much on the other, with that extra billion dollars of aid very much going to help those many millions of Ukrainians inside the country struggling to feed themselves and to get water, medical supplies, even, as, of course, so many continue to be wounded in that fighting, Wolf.

BLITZER: Yes. President Biden still aboard Air Force One. It has now landed in Rzeszow. We'll continue to monitor his plans where you are, Melissa.

Kaitlan, I know you're getting more information, very disturbing that the president of Poland, President Duda, was forced to make this emergency landing here in Warsaw as opposed to meeting -- meeting with President Biden and receiving and greeting President Biden in Rzeszow. These live pictures still coming in.

Any additional information, Kaitlan, you're getting?

COLLINS: Yes, Wolf, we're hearing that we do expect the Polish president, he is still going to try to get to where President Biden is at this airport in Rzeszow. They may be delayed by about half an hour or so. So they'll just flip the schedule where instead he was supposed to initially get this humanitarian briefing with officials and aid workers on the ground and then meet with members of the 82nd Airborne Division. As Melissa was just noting, we are now told by reporters who are traveling with President Biden, they're just going to flip that schedule. So he'll go and meet with the members of the 82nd Airborne Division first and then hopefully by the time President Duda has arrived, then he will take part in meeting those humanitarian workers, talking about this crisis that's happening on the ground.

[09:45:10]

So just a bit of schedule shifting from the White House right now, Wolf.

BLITZER: Yes, stuff happens on these kinds of trips, as we know.

All right, Kaitlan, stand by.

Melissa, stand by as well.

Much more of our special coverage right after a quick break.

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POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back.

The European Council issuing a formal demand that Russia stop committing war crimes in Ukraine. This demand comes as aid workers warn that Ukraine is facing a catastrophic health crisis on top of the obvious crisis of the war. This is due to a string of at least 64 strikes on healthcare systems since the Russian invasion began.

Joining me now from Lviv is Halyna Skipalska. She is the Ukraine county director for an organization called HealthRight They are a global health and human rights organization.

[09:50:01]

Halyna, thank you so much for being with us.

HALYNA SKIPALSKA, UKRAINE COUNTRY DIRECTOR, HEALTHRIGHT: You're welcome.

HARLOW: I'm showing -- I'm showing people images of your team. This is the work that your mobile outreach workers do. These were taken, I should note, last year before the invasion. But what's so notable is they are still doing this work. You are still doing this work all across Ukraine, including in Kyiv, despite the great danger to them. Even, you know, on the front lines, even in Donetsk and Luhansk. Can you talk about how critical this work is right now?

SKIPALSKA: Oh, yes. Thank you.

So, HealthRight International is U.S. based organization that has worked in Ukraine since 2005. And, yes, our main office was in Kyiv until March 1st. And this organization, which I live here, and presented the focus which I live here in Kyiv, was led by 16 women leaders with specialized expertise in gender equality. So, this is why HealthRight International was leading organization in

Ukraine in (INAUDIBLE) in violence against women. And, actually, in just few words about 2014, worked in partnership with (INAUDIBLE) UNICEF. We introduced first gender based violence specialized services for survivors as part of that time a humanitarian response system. And later we integrated the services into the whole government system.

HARLOW: So --

SKIPALSKA: Before -- yes, before (INAUDIBLE) before war, they were operating 13 mobile teams that provided (INAUDIBLE) support, including (INAUDIBLE), screening for psychological aid and support for gender based violence survivors. We also have our own service sides day center for women, (INAUDIBLE) for women and also launched with state and local organizations up to 20 other shelters and day centers.

So now a few words about mobile teams because mobile teams, we still have and those 13, which I mentioned, they continue to operate in east of Ukraine and in most hot places, Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

HARLOW: To do the work. Yes. Wow.

Can -- can --

SKIPALSKA: And -- yes.

HARLOW: Halyna, I just wanted to ask you too specifically about the mental health aspect of this because the World Health Organization is saying now about a half a million of the refugees that have fled Ukraine just to Poland alone are facing really serious mental health needs, and this is particularly the work you do with some of the most vulnerable women and their -- and their children.

SKIPALSKA: Yes. Yes, of course, because mainly women with children decide to go to move, to flow from this war. Speaking of those (ph) mobile teams, for example, which operate in the east, some of them already are homeless I would say because their property was destroyed during the shelling and now they have to rebuild their lives. And some of them are evacuated to nearest locations, Dnipro and Zeporisha (ph), or they are in the west -- in the way to west.

Nevertheless, we are constantly in touch with all teams and everyone is alive and well. And this is important. Also, the situation changes daily and we live in uncertainty every day.

So, during this month, just to share some numbers, during this month, mobile teams provided remote and phone psychosocial services for about 2,000 different cities, and it's mainly women with children. And what others -- what type of services, they can say what -- with which problems they deal different.

So, it's information of relatives, about (INAUDIBLE) support families. They provide the psychological assistance to the victims of shelling, get people out of shock. And this is important and distribute humanitarian aid if it's possible in their locations because Donetsk and Luhansk regions, if you look at the map of Ukraine, now their most hot places, together with Mariupol, Kharkiv, Chernigiv (ph) and Sumy.

HARLOW: Halyna, we are all indebted to the work that your team is continuing to do, as you said, in the hardest hit places. Thank you for being with us.

People can find out much more about the organization and how to help at HealthRight.org.

Thank you, Halyna.

And I do want to remind people what you're watching on your screen. President Biden just stepping off of Air Force One. He has landed in Rzeszow, Poland. He was going to be meet -- be greeted there by the president of Poland, President Duda.

[09:55:06]

However, that's delayed because the Polish president's plane had to return to Warsaw. There was some sort of technical emergency with the plane. He'll be back shortly. They expect a half hour delay.

So now what the president is going to do -- what the president is going to do is he is going to be briefed on humanitarian efforts on the ground and then he will visit the 82nd Airborne and then he will meet with President Duda. You see him there with Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

We'll keep an eye on these close -- images closely.

We do have some breaking news, as I understand, just in to CNN.

OK, I'm just hearing -- Democratic Senator Joe Manchin has just confirmed that he will vote yes of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's nomination to the Supreme Court. He's obviously a critical vote, right? They need every single Democratic vote on this one and he says -- Senator Manchin says he's confident she is, quote, supremely qualified and has the disposition necessary to serve. That's a quote from Senator Manchin.

So Manchin's "yes" vote essentially insures she will be the next justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. She will take Justice Breyer's seat. She was a clerk for him. This is historic news and an historic nomination.

Of course, much more.

We'll be right back.

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