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President Zelenskyy Begs for More Weapons; New General Assigned by Putin to Handle the War; Putin Believes in Covert Operation; Chancellor Karl Nehammer Will Meet with Vladimir Putin; Emmanuel Macron Seek for a Second Term; Scheffler Wins First Green Jacket. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired April 11, 2022 - 03:00   ET

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

[03:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to our viewers in the United States and around the world. Hello. I'm John Vause, live in Lviv, Ukraine.

Ahead this hour, as Russia plans its next big assault, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, pleading with the west for more military assistance, saying his country's very survival depends on it.

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Rosemary church live at CNN headquarters here in Atlanta. Coming up, a runoff in France. It's Macron versus Le Pen again for president. But after a volatile first round polls indicate this may not be a replay of their last contest.

VAUSE: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy now telling this country to brace for a renewed onslaught in the next phase of this war. Recent satellite images show a long military convoy east of Kharkiv that appears to be moving south. This comes as a senior Ukrainian official says Russia continuing to mass forces in the Donbas region.

Zelenskyy says a victory on the battlefield for Ukrainians will not be possible without increased international support.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE (through translator): We think this will be a new wave of this war. We don't know how much Russian weaponry there will be, but we understand there will be many times more than there is now. All depends on how fast we will be helped by the United States. To be honest, whether we were able to survive depends on this. I have 100 percent confidence in our people and in our armed forces, but unfortunately, I don't have the confidence that we will be receiving everything we need.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: And Ukrainian surveillance living in the east of this country told to be evacuate, get out if they can. For those trying to escape the conflict are at an increasing risk as you saw with the Russian missile strike on a train station in Kramatorsk which left dozens dead.

On Sunday local officials say a Russian missile strike destroyed the airport in Dnipro which also had been hit by a missile airstrike early March. Meantime, the Austrian Chancellor, Karl Nehammer is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow later today. He'll be the first European leader to meet with Putin since this invasion began.

Over the weekend, he met with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the capital of Kyiv and he also went to Bucha where dozens of civilian bodies have been discovered after the withdrawal of Russian troops. Meantime, the White House national security adviser is warning of increase attacks on civilians now that Vladimir Putin has appointed a new general to lead the war in Ukraine.

CNN's Nima Elbagir has details about the Russian general Aleksandr Dvornikov.

NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We all remember those images. Men, women, and children screaming burned out apartment buildings, devastated cities and towns. And now that Russian general responsible for that devastation has been assigned by President Vladimir Putin with turning the tide of his devastating defeat here in Ukraine.

General Aleksandr Dvornikov has been in charge of Russian forces pushing to advance through Ukrainian cities and towns. It tells us a number of things. One is that Vladimir Putin is looking both to disinformation abroad and disinformation at home. This is the man who is believed to have delivered the victory, so to speak, of Russia in Syria in support of President Bashar al-Assad's forces.

He is also the man whose impunity lives on in the collective global memory. The hope, we are told, by President Putin is that he will deliver a victory before May 9th, the anniversary of a Nazi surrender to Soviet forces. So that there can be a victory parade in Russia's Red Square. Whether it will be quite that simple given what has happened here to Russian forces remains to be seen.

Ukraine is a very different terrain. Not only have Ukrainian forces been able to push back Russia's offensive here in Kyiv and in the surrounding territories, but they are also very differently supported by the international community. They have been given an arsenal of anti-aircraft capabilities and that is what helped General Dvornikov to win in Syria. The superior aerial capacity that his forces have.

[03:05:04]

Whatever happens in the coming days and weeks the message that President Putin is sending to -- is sending to the world is chilling. That the man responsible for the Syrian human rights organizations believe was the death of over 5,600 men women and children is now in charge of what happens here on the ground in Ukraine.

Nima Elbagir, CNN, Kyiv, Ukraine.

VAUSE: Joining me now from Kyiv, Ilya Ponomarev, a Russian opposition figure and former member of the Russian state Duma forced into exile. He was the only Russian politician to vote against the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Sir, thank you for being with us. I want to start with the appointment of that general, Dvornikov, and his reputation is being essentially savage when it comes to Syria and other conflicts. What do you expect will happen here now that he is officially in control?

ILYA PONOMAREV, FORMER MEMBER, RUSSIAN STATE DUMA: Good morning. Yes. General Dvornikov has a very long history, we know him for a very long time. Actually, the first time I have heard about him it was Chechnya. And Chechnya he already was known as a very ruthless general which did not hesitate to give orders to bomb civilians. And actually, that gives us a particularly good idea what they're doing to move here in Ukraine.

From one side, they are now consolidating the military command. We can say that Mr. Shoigu and Mr. Gerasimov right now are effectively I wouldn't say boosted but they are removed from the military command. And the military command is concentrated within the hands of Dvornikov.

But from the other side they would use more and more shelling of the civilians. By the way, you are just given numbers. I want to say that we did our own calculations which was independent from official Ukrainian calculation and others. In our understanding the death toll for the civilians in Ukraine is at least 25,000, at least.

VAUSE: Twenty-five thousand civilians dead according to your count. That is horrific. What is to say though about Vladimir Putin and how this war is proceeding for him? They said to go to this length of appointing someone like Dvornikov to now lead this assault.

PONOMAREV: Well, obviously that's going nowhere. The realization of this is starting to sink in their heads. That's why they are doing it. You know, it's a tradition, a long-time tradition in Kremlin and it goes back in the 40s, in the World War II period. To prevent the possibility of a military coup they always provoke tensions between different generals.

So, they all were competing with each other. They all were reporting each other to their superiors so it was a bitter fight from within. And right now, probably for the first time in many years they are trying to consolidate the command because that's their only hope to achieve something.

VAUSE: You also believe that maybe Vladimir Putin's days as president and in power and in fact numbered because this war has gone so badly for him. Do you actually have any, like credible information that you are receiving on that or is just essentially your theory on just what has happened, and that this is basically your own personal gut feeling, if you like. PONOMAREV: From one side, obviously there is a theory. Because simply

there is no dictator which has lost a war can stay in power, it's just simply impossible. That's the logic, the political logic of the regime. But from the other side, obviously, I'm in communication with local different members of Russian elite, as well as with many political activists. And you can just feel like things are brewing up.

VAUSE: One of the main reasons why countries in the west have not done all they can to help Ukraine is this fear of escalation. An all- out confrontation with Russia and ultimately the fear that could lead to some kind of nuclear confrontation. Do you believe that if Putin was backed into a corner he would order some kind of nuclear strike, you know, here on Washington or London, would he resort to those lengths?

PONOMAREV: I think that that's he wants you guys to believe. Because he want -- he wants you to believe that he is crazy, that he is ready to start an apocalypse, that he is ready to destroy the world, et cetera, et cetera. Look at, look at him. Look at his lengthy, lengthy tables that he is sitting at. Does he look like the guy who is ready to commit suicide? Obviously not.

[03:09:57]

And I think that it's now the best thing for the west is to counter this with asymmetrical threat because Putin would never believe in the nuclear threat from the United States or (Inaudible). Europeans he knows that the west is not ready to use this kind of weapons. But the threat of removing him from power using the convention of a covert operation like it was done with Osama bin Laden, for example. This is something that he, as a former KGB officer would very much believe in. And I think that has to be on the table.

VAUSE: What about the fact that he could be forced out of power by some kind of coup within, you know, the Kremlin or maybe by the oligarchs and the other elites in Russia. Could they potentially move against him?

PONOMAREV: Well, I would say it is something brewing up, I meant this one is a possible scenario. I think that disagreement between oligarchs they agree -- they are very -- being upset about what's going on in Kremlin. They suffer, they lose money. They are under threat in the west.

So, they are thinking about doing something to change the situation. They are afraid nevertheless. And Putin is the real threat for them. And the west is not such a big threat of this very moment, at least Vladimir Putin is a physical threat. And the west is not. So right now, they are in disarray. They are right now thinking, they are right now realigning themselves. But I think that after a little bit of time would pass, I think would be ready for some action.

VAUSE: We will wait and see and we will watch closely. Ilya Ponomarev, thank you so much for being with us. We appreciate your insights.

PONOMAREV: Thanks for having me.

VAUSE: Well, the Chernobyl power nuclear power has had its first staff rotation in three weeks. The International Atomic Energy Agency made that announcement Sunday the first change of staff since March 20th and 21st when the plant was still under Russian occupation.

Ukraine told the IAEA that some of the site's laboratories were destroyed, analytical instruments have been stolen, broken, or disabled. The IAEA director general is hoping to admission to conduct a radiological assessment of Chernobyl relatively soon. Rosemary?

CHURCH: Thanks for that, John. We go to France now where this year's race for the Elysee looks like deja vu. Voters narrow down their presidential candidates. And the finalists are incumbent President Emmanuel Macron and his far-right rival Marine Le Pen.

France's interior ministry reports the current president won about 27 percent of Sunday's first round of voting, putting him in first place in a crowded field of a dozen candidates. Le Pen is in second place with around 23 percent. The runoff vote in two weeks is set to be a rematch of the 2017 election.

After the polls closed the centrist Macron made his pitch while the far-right Le Pen made appeals to the mainstream.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EMMANUEL MACRON PRESIDENT OF FRANCE (through translator): I won in France which inscribe itself in a strong Europe which continues to form alliances with great democracies to defend itself. Now the France that exited from Europe would have for its only allies the international populous and xenophobes. That's not us.

MARINE LE PEN, FRENCH PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE (through translator): The French people have spoken and gave me the honor to be qualified in the second round against the incumbent President Emmanuel Macron. Let me express to the millions of voters who express their trust in me my sincerest gratitude. I acknowledge with humility all the responsibility that comes with it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And CNN's Melissa Bell joins us now live from Paris. Good morning, Melissa. So, after a very close race who did the experts say will likely win the April 24th runoff election? Macron or Le Pen and what role do they think Jean-Luc Melenchon and his supporters will likely play in the outcome?

MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it was interesting last night that after these results came in that very same pollster that had given those initial estimations announced that for the second round, they were foreseeing one of the tightest races we have seen in a very long time here in France. With just 49 percent for one, 51 percent for the other, a very narrow margin in favor of Emmanuel Macron. But only just for the second round that will be held in two weeks. So, this is the second part of the campaign, Rosemary, that opens now

that could be even more brutal. In fact, the French president today is heading to the north of France in Marine Le Pen land in the sense that it is one of those areas that voted heavily in favor of her. So really taking her on where she is strongest.

But I think what was most interesting about last night you are quite right to point out Jean-Luc Melenchon's astonishing accomplishment of getting 21 percent of the vote really coming very close to Emmanuel -- to Marine Le Pen and he might have pictured to post and therefore become the opposition candidate facing off with Emmanuel Macron by the end of the month.

[03:15:05]

And I think that speaks to one of the important trends of the night, which is that whilst Emmanuel Macron clearly and his supporters there was a deal of enthusiasm, Rosemary, yesterday at his count that he should achieve more than -- nearly 28 percent of course a big deal for him and his supporters. It was better than they thought.

But when you look at the number of people the proportion of voters who voted for extremes, and I'm speaking here of the far-right in the shape of Marine Le Pen of the far-right, and the shape of the man who out flankered to the right, (Inaudible), that author and television personality, and Jean-Luc Melenchon on the far left it is more than 50 percent of the French electorate that voted for those extremes.

And so, what we see five years after that astonishing political experiment that was launched by Emmanuel Macron in 2017 where he founded his own party, swept to one side their traditional left in the shape of the socialist, in the traditional right in the shape of the Republicans. No one really knew what that would mean five years on. And what we see is an entire confirmation of that redrawing of France and France's political map.

It is now longer left and right. It is the centrist progressive Macron really consolidating his position and the extremes on one side and the other consolidating those. It is about the extremes versus the center. And that has really been confirmed last night.

So, a redrawing of the map and a very tight race indeed ahead that would frankly change the political nature of France's position with Europe, its position with the world whether it goes one way or the other. Rosemary?

CHURCH: Yes, certainly two very different visions of where France would stand in Europe, and indeed, the world. Melissa Bell joining us live from Paris, many thanks.

And still to come, Austria's chancellor will meet with Vladimir Putin in Moscow amid warnings of a new Russian offensive against Ukraine.

And in the aftermath of civilian deaths in Bucha western leaders are calling for more weapons for Ukraine and accountability for war crimes. [03:20:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VAUSE: When the European Commission president visited Ukraine last week, she was told bluntly by President Zelenskyy that Europe is not doing enough to help. Many believe Canada could do a lot more as well. Both Von der Leyen and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with Jake Tapper.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

URSULA VON DER LEYEN, PRESIDENT, EUROPEAN COMMISSION: President Zelenskyy was very grateful what -- for what has happened already, what we have done already, but he is right. This was going on. We have to do more. And be it sanctions on Russia, and I'm very grateful that we have so many partners, Canada, for example strongly supporting us with the sanctions against Russia to really dry out Putin's war chest.

We have to deliver arms, weapons so that the Ukrainian people can defend themselves, it's really urgent right now. A lot has been done but more has to be done. As I said we have to support the refugees in Ukraine but also very important we have to financially support Ukraine.

Yesterday, I could deliver 1 million euros directly for the Ukrainian government but more of course has to come there to solve whatever is necessary is being done. And we know we are in for a long haul here to fight Putin's aggression to defend the integrity and the sovereignty of Ukraine. But also, after it was after that war when Ukraine will have to win that war to reconstruct Ukraine and rebuild this country.

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: President Zelenskyy says Russia is committing genocide here in Ukraine, do you agree?

JUSTIN TRUDEAU, PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA: The images are horrific. The stories we're hearing and we have been hearing from the Ukrainian- Canadians but through social media as well of what's going on. It is clear that Putin is systematically targeting civilians whether it's hospitals or train stations or maternity wards.

This is one of the reasons why Canada was one of the first countries to call on the International Criminal Court to look into Putin's war crimes. We are providing investigative support, we are building up the case for people to recognize that not only was this a terrible mistake to violate the sovereignty of another country and create massive global instability that's impact energy and food crisis around the world, but it is also a serious of war crimes that Putin is deliberately committing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Austria's chancellor is expected to meet with the Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow later today. Karl Nehammer says his country is military neutral. He's hoping to build bridges between Russia and Ukraine and put an end to this war of aggression. Over the weekend, Mr. Nehammer met with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy

who thank the Austrian leader for his support. He also visited the town of Bucha which he called a place of war crimes and he called for a full investigation.

Well, for more let's bring in CNN's Nic Robertson live in Brussels. So clearly it seems that, you know, the Austrian chancellor has taken a position in all of this. So, how did he get this meeting with Putin in the first place? Why did Putin agree to it? And what are the chances that something positive could come from it?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, the Kremlin hasn't said why Putin decided to agree to this meeting. And Nehammer will be the first European Union leader to visit President Putin since the war began so that has significance. And he'll also be able to bear direct witness to President Putin and what President Putin's troops are doing in Bucha because he went to Bucha. He saw the aftermath of what Putin's troops have done there. He has spoken to witnesses on the ground there who will be and are giving testimony to war crimes investigation.

He'll be able to relay that directly to President Putin, so why would President Putin really want to have an engagement with somebody who says that he is coming to Moscow with a clear message of accountability for war crimes for a ceasefire in Ukraine for humanitarian corridors to be open.

This is not a message that Putin is going to particularly want to popularize and make public because Putin's message to his population is simply that he's having a special military operation and it's the Ukrainians that are at fault.

[03:25:04]

Quite clearly, the Kremlin would like to explain that to the Austrian chancellor. But it is an opportunity perhaps, and certainly this is being expressed by some of the European Union foreign ministers today in Luxembourg, is that this is a necessary step to try to bring an end to the conflict and try to ease off, bring an easing to some of the pain and suffering. Nevertheless, still to hold Russia and President Putin to account.

What the Kremlin gains out of this, you know, it shows that population perhaps that there is a degree of normal -- normalcy about the situation at the moment. But I think for Austrians and for the Russians it's a chance to tell Putin directly what his troops are doing cease and desist and sanctions will continue.

VAUSE: What sort of influence though, does the Austrian chancellor have though when it comes to Vladimir Putin? We know Putin is very close to the prime minister of Hungary, for example, but what's the relationship with Nehammer?

ROBERTSON: It's not really clear. Nehammer has only been in office for about four months and Putin had a very close relationship with the previous chancellor's foreign minister, and even attending her wedding in Austria. The links, the historic links the fact that Austria has had neutrality since 1955, perhaps land Putin to think that he has his views have greater currency and Austria, then perhaps other parts of Europe that that would obviously be a misconception on his part.

But it's a country where historically Russia feels that it gets a better hearing, a better level understanding, has some political -- have some political friends there. But what -- what can come out of this could perhaps only be viewed as an opportunity to talk directly to President Putin get a sense of what he's thinking and saying although that's all pretty clear, and to present directly to him without filter what the European Union and international partners and allies are thinking.

VAUSE: And all of that will of value at some point and it will also be of value for him to find out exactly so that, I guess Putin's demeanor at this point in time.

Nic, thank you. We know you'd be following that story for us today. We appreciate your time.

Still to come, we're monitoring satellite images that show a Russian military convoy east of Kharkiv and else. That's from a Ukrainian M.P. on this looming threat. That's next.

Also, the Ukrainian president prepares for yet another appeal for international support. This time he takes his message to the South Korean parliament. A live report from Seoul, that address where you have 30 minutes away.

[03:30:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VAUSE: Welcome back, everybody. I'm John Vause live in Lviv, Ukraine. Thirty-one minutes past the hour, we are getting word that another train station has been the target of a Russian attack. This is coming from the chairman of Ukraine State Railway Company, saying this has happened in Eastern Ukraine.

It was hit by Russian artillery. There was no specific location provided at this point. No reports of casualties as of yet. But, of course, we will bring you the very latest details as they become available. But it does appear that another train station has been hit by the Russian military.

And this comes amid words that Russian troops are amassing in Eastern Ukraine and a senior Ukrainian official says the offensive in the Donbas region has already started. The latest satellite images show a nearly eight-mile-long Russian military convoy east of the second biggest city, Kharkiv. According to Ukraine's defense intelligence chief, Russian troops have regrouped for a renewed assault on that city.

President Zelenskyy is well aware of the risks as Russia escalates its attacks. Here he is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE (through translator): I don't want to make myself out to be a hero. I love my family. I want to live many more years. But choosing between running or being with my people, of course, I am ready to give my life for my country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE (on camera): The White House national security adviser says the United States is leading an effort to aid Ukraine that is both unprecedented in scope as well as speed. But there is an ongoing debate in Washington over whether the Biden administration is doing enough.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAKE SULLIVAN, WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: We will continue to take every step we possibly can to help the Ukrainian succeed on the battlefield and to improve their position at the negotiating table.

REP. LIZ CHENEY (R-WY): I wasn't satisfied with what I heard. I think that it is crucially important that the United States be clear that we are absolutely committed to Zelenskyy's victory. We should not be talking about, as Jake Sullivan did just now, improving Zelenskyy's position at the negotiating table. This is about defeating Russian forces in Ukraine.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: All indications are that Russia is now planning a new offensive in Ukraine in the east. Earlier, I asked a Ukrainian lawmaker if she believes this conflict will intensify and by how much. Here's her response.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARIA MEZENTSEVA, MEMBER, UKRAINIA PARLIAMENT: Well, you know, the eastern part of Ukraine has always been a very hot spot for the exercises and for the events that are taking place for more than eight years already.

And Kharkiv was centered in a way that it firstly received more than 300,000 IDPs, internally displaced persons, from 2014 when the war started in the east with an occupation of parts and territories of Donbas and, of course, the illegal annexation of Crimea.

So, we've been always as the city's -- second largest city in Ukraine with two million inhabitants, second largest (INAUDIBLE) with amazing infrastructure. We were always under threat.

And, you know, recently, we have marked seven years after we overthrow the occupation, when there were Russian flags at the original administration which you've seen at the footages been bombarded severely. And this is another example of the war crime because so many -- so many people died on that day. [03:34:52]

MEZENTSEVA: But I would like to talk right now that the shift of this tactic from the recent liberation of the smaller towns across Kyiv where I am right now was the number of the war crimes that are about to be still registered and about to be told. Some of the victims were (INAUDIBLE) violence for numerous days, and they are just, you know, finding power and strength to talk about these crimes.

We will be witnessing some difficulties possibly in the eastern flank, as mentioned, around Kharkiv. There are already small towns which we can't access. They are under occupation for a couple of weeks. We are trying to get there with humanitarian aid, medication, drinking water, but that has been blocked by the Russian soldiers.

I am very definite that we will withstand and we will not the Russians to proceed with Dnipro or the southern part which is still standing strong. Even though, for instance, (INAUDIBLE) area next to the Black Sea is blocked, the people are protesting every day, and that is what Russians don't understand.

Why they don't receive this support? Well, they will not receive any support. They shouldn't count in it. And all of fake videos they're trying to produce, they do not work. Overthrowing local powers also don't work.

So, let's put it clear. Neither of the tactics they are using is working. You have mentioned a very important information, the need of Ukraine (INAUDIBLE), anti-tank system, anti-missile system for low and middle ranges, and everything that can help us stand strong, survive, and look into the bright future.

That is why we call the U.S. and other partners to help us because the blitzkrieg didn't work. We are standing strong, and we will proceed in this matter further.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: And President Zelenskyy will make the case for more international support in about 30 minutes from now. This time, he will be doing an address in front of the South Korean parliament, his 20th foreign legislative body since he started doing this global virtual tour back in March 8.

CNN's Paula Hancocks is in Seoul, South Korea. She is standing by to tell us what we can expect. I guess the question is, what exactly will they be asking for, because the South Korea hasn't been exactly helpful up until this point.

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John, I think what he will be asking for is for weapons, which is something South Korea has said that they are not comfortable giving. We heard from the defense ministry today that Defense Minister Suh Wook (ph) of South Korea had a conversation on the phone with his counterpart in Ukraine back on Friday. He was asked if he would be able to provide anti-aircraft weapons. Now, the answer from Seoul was that they are unable to do that. They say that it is because of their national security and also saying that they need to maintain a state of readiness. So, that is the reason that Seoul is giving for not giving physical weapons back in February at the beginning of the invasion.

We did hear from the Blue House as well saying that that was their red line. They are not willing to give lethal aid to Ukraine. They have given nonlethal aid. We know that they have given aid up to about $800,000, helmets, tents, blankets, medical supplies, MREs, and they've also pledged $10 million in humanitarian aid.

But up until this point, we know that South Korea is saying that they do not want to be giving any lethal aid. That is potentially what President Zelenskyy will be asking for when he speaks to lawmakers in a little while.

Now, we do know that he has also spoken on the telephone with the president-elect, Yoon Suk-yeol. He will be taking control next month, May 10. He will become the South Korean president. He has said that he wants to meet as soon as the war is over. He has said that he would like to offer practical cooperation. But, of course, there is no guidance, whatsoever. There is no idea when the war will be over. So, at that point, that is not necessarily the help that Ukraine wants. John?

VAUSE: Exactly. They need help now. At the end of the war, it will be too late. Paula, thank you. Paula Hancocks for us there live in Seoul.

That does it for me live in Lviv, Ukraine.

I want to get back now to Rosemary Church at CNN world headquarters in Atlanta. You know, this is the thing, Zelenskyy has made this case over and over again, help is needed now, not next week, not next month, now.

CHURCH: Yeah, exactly right. People are dying. It is just unacceptable. Thank you so much, John. Really good to see you. Do take care.

[03:39:58]

CHURCH: And still to come, Shanghai officials are sticking to their zero-COVID plan as new infections continue to soar. But frustrations over the city's lockdowns are clearly starting to grow.

Plus, President Joe Biden is set to introduce new firearm regulations amid growing concerns over gun violence in the United States.

We are back in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. Chinese foreign officials say the best way to fight surging COVID infections is to stay the course with the strict zero-COVID policy. So far, that has meant multiple rounds of testing and restrictions on movement for the entire city of Shanghai, as well as mandatory quarantine in government centers for anyone testing positive.

But residents are not happy with the measures with reports of protests and food shortages around the city. Despite this, officials are ordering additional COVID testing.

CNN's Anna Coren joins me now from Hong Kong with more. Good to see you, Anna. So, additional COVID testing means, of course, extended lockdowns across Shanghai resulting in insufficient food, water, and medical supplies. So, what, if anything, are authorities doing about this problem?

ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think they are certainly hearing people's complaints and anger. You know, the 25 million residents of Shanghai have been locked up in their homes since the end of last month. For some, even longer. And many of them have been taking to social media, voicing their frustration, venting their anger. Some just opening the window and screaming down at community workers, saying, you need to give us food, we are starving.

For so many all of these people, Rosemary, they have not had food delivered to them for days, if not longer. They haven't had fresh vegetables, fruit, meat for as long -- I mean, they are relying on instant noodles and canned food.

[03:45:03]

COREN: That is what I am hearing from local residents in Shanghai who are having to resort to these WeChat community groups and trying to book by groups. That is the only way that delivery servicemen are dropping off goods, if it is bought in mass bulk.

Even then, it is haphazard because, obviously, the government had shut down the e-commerce platform, so no deliveries were being made because the government thought that this was how COVID was being spread. And then when it resumed, these deliverymen are, obviously, getting COVID and then being shipped off to quarantine.

So, you have these people stranded in their homes unable to get this food that they need to survive. I spoke to one resident, Rosemary, and she just said that it is gone from shock to anger to utter hopelessness. The other reason being is they do not see an end in sight. Yes, we heard from the government on the weekend saying they made restrictions, but to timeframe has been given as yet.

CHURCH: It just seems extraordinary, doesn't it, that in a country like China, that they will be so disorganized because they got 10,000 people there helping do the testing. So, they've got that organized, but no supplies coming in.

COREN: Not at the moment, Rosemary. And people are just wondering, what are we doing in the most populous cosmopolitan city in China, 25 million people? This is the economic engine of China. It contributes to four percent of the country's GDP. Up until this wave, Rosemary, you know, Shanghai officials had managed to operate arbitrarily because they would do these targeted lockdowns unlike the snap, citywide lockdowns that we've seen across the rest of the country. Obviously, as cases surge, officials said they have no other choice.

CHURCH: Just unbelievable, isn't it? Anna Coren joining us there from Hong Kong, many thanks.

Well, later today, U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to introduce new firearm regulations meant to contain the use of privately-made weapons. Sources say the president wants to regulate so-called ghost guns, an unregulated, untraceable weapons made from kits. The move would address a gap in the U.S. government's ability to track them.

President Biden's announcement comes after several shootings across the U.S. this week. Here in Georgia, there is an urgent hunt for suspects days after someone shot and killed a gun range owner, his wife, and their grandson.

CNN's Nadia Romero has more.

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NADIA ROMERO, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Just horrible scene out of Grantville, Georgia in the rural part of the state about 50 miles southwest of the city of Atlanta. The county coroner arrived Friday evening and he found three family members murdered: his mother, his father, and his 19-year-old son, Luke (ph) Hawk. One of his parents was the gun range owner, Tommy (ph) Hawk, along with his wife, Evelyn Hawk.

And the chief there, the police chief of Grantville, says that he knew the entire Hawk family. They were very beloved and respected in the community. This has been devastating for many people to hear about their deaths.

And also, the 40-year or so firearm reported stolen from the gun range. That is why the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the ATF now investigating. There is a combined $15,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or the people responsible for committing those crimes.

Unfortunately, that wasn't the only gun-related incident we saw in the country over this weekend. From Saturday night into Sunday morning, we saw shootings across the country. People were shot outside of National Park in Washington, D.C. Also, six people were shot in Indianapolis at a birthday party.

And we are not just talking about major cities, but in small towns, too. In Elgin, Illinois, an hour outside city of Chicago, six people were shot in a residential area. And two people were shot, 10 others injured in a shooting outside of a night club in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Some lawmakers are pointing to ghost guns as being part of the problem for all the gun violence that we are seeing across the country. New York Senator Chuck Schumer had this to say about why he believes ghost guns are such a problem. Take a listen.

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): These guns are too easy to build, too hard to trace, and too dangerous to be on our streets. Just ask the family of that beautiful 16-year-old who was killed in the Bronx.

ROMERO: Senator Schumer there talking about a 16-year-old who police say was killed by another teenager who was using a ghost gun in that shooting.

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ROMERO: Now, on Monday, we expect to hear from President Joe Biden talking about new regulations on ghost guns, and also announcing his nominee to leave the ATF.

While that is happening, on the federal level, back in the state of Georgia, on Tuesday, Governor Brian Kemp is expected to sign a new bill into law that will allow people to carry concealed guns in public without a permit.

There will be some regulations if you are convicted felon and you can bring that concealed gun into government building or into the airport, but the governor signing this bill into law that many people believe will loosen gun restrictions here while the Biden administration is trying to tighten the gun regulations across the country.

Nadia Romero, CNN, Atlanta.

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CHURCH (on camera): And coming up, the top-ranked golfer in the world is now a Masters champion. How Scottie Scheffler dominated the competition at Augusta when we come back.

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CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. Elon Musk will no longer join Twitter's board of directors. That is according to a tweet from the company CEO.

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Musk, who is the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, sparked a deluge of headlines after disclosing he had become Twitter's largest shareholder. After that announcement, Twitter said it would add him to its board of directors for two-year term, but those plans now appear to have changed.

Well, the hottest player in golf right now has his first major victory and his first ever green jacket. American Scottie Scheffler won the Masters on Sunday, and the 25-year-old world number one did so in dominant fashion. He shot 10 under par for the tournament, winning by three strokes. Afterwards, Scheffler said his victory at Augusta was a dream come true.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER, 2022 MASTERS CHAMPION: I didn't get to the press room in my dreams, so you guys are going to have to ask me some questions. I think the only thing I imagined was probably that walk up 18. I've seen some guys do that. It's such a fun golf course. It's such a fun piece of property. I mean, it is Augusta National. That was cool as it gets. So fun to play. You know, I just can't believe that I can come back for a lifetime and get to enjoy this golf course.

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CHURCH: And Scheffler said he cried like a baby before the final round, feeling overwhelmed about being in contention at the Masters.

A Ukrainian soccer team has kicked off what is being called a global tour for peace.

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CHURCH (voice-over): Shakhtar Donetsk began a series of charity matches in Greece on Saturday with proceeds going towards aid for the people of Ukraine. It is the first time the Ukrainian Premier League club has played since Russia invaded the country in February. Shakhtar players won jerseys with the names of Ukrainian towns, instead of their own names. And, as you can see, there was a tremendous show of support from the fans.

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CHURCH: I'm Rosemary Church. Thank you so much for spending part of your day with me. Our breaking news coverage continues with Max Foster in London after a short break. Do stay with us.

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