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Trevor Reed Released from Prison; Ukraine Loses Several Eastern Villages; Poland Accuses Russia of Direct Attack; Ned Price is Interviewed about Reed's Release. Aired 9:00-9:30a ET

Aired April 27, 2022 - 09:00   ET

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

[09:00:21]

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: The breaking news, and it's good news, Russia has released U.S. Marine veteran Trevor Reed from prison. This as part of a prisoner swap with Moscow. We have all the details.

A very good morning to you. I'm Jim Sciutto reporting from Lviv, in western Ukraine.

BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Bianna Golodryga in New York.

The U.S. and Russia agreeing to exchange prisoners. U.S. Marine veteran Trevor Reed, who was convicted and jailed in Russia, has been exchanged for Konstantin Yaroshenko, a Russian pilot sentenced to 20 years in a U.S. prison.

Last hour, Trevor's parents, elated, spoke to CNN's Brianna Keilar.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOEY REED, TREVOR REED'S FATHER: As soon as Trevor was released, we were actually on the phone with Trevor when the president called. So -- and he -- again, totally gracious and wonderful and kind and said he looked forward -- he looked forward to seeing us in the White House again. So --

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: And tell us how Trevor's feeling. Tell us what he said about this.

J. REED: He sounds kind of subdued. I think he's a little overwhelmed.

PAULA REED, TREVOR REED'S MOTHER: Yes, he seemed to be in shock a little bit.

J. REED: They had moved him to another prison. They had moved him to a Moscow prison this week. We didn't know that. He's in the -- went to the same prison that I think Paul Whelan was held in for a long time, Lafortavo (ph) Prison, and then they flew him from there to Turkey. And then Trevor quickly told us that they -- the American plane pulled up next to the Russian plane and they walked both prisoners across at the same time, like you see in the movies.

KEILAR: In Turkey? J. REED: In Turkey. And they're -- and then they were leaving Turkey

and in the air when he called us and told us this. So, they're en route back to -- we believe to the United States, but they can't tell us for sure. So --

KEILAR: What can you tell us about how he's physically feeling?

P. REED: You know, Trevor always underplays how he's feeling, but he just said, I'm fine, I'm fine. But, you know, we'll see. At least he's getting checked out.

J. REED: Yes, we're praying that he doesn't have tuberculosis, but we're still concerned, you know, that he was coughing up blood for months. So, it could be leftovers from his Covid back in, you know, late -- or middle of last year. So --

KEILAR: So this is all pretty recent news, right? I mean, are you guys still in shock?

P. REED: Yes, a little bit.

J. REED: We're -- we're -- we believe that that meeting with the president is what made it happen and --

P. REED: What -- it was a tipping point for sure.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: Joyous parents still in shock and a lot of credit is due to them.

SCIUTTO: Yes.

GOLODRYGA: They have been relentless these past three years, making sure the country, making sure the administration never forgot about their son's plight. And questions about whether it was his deteriorating health that helped expedite this.

CNN's Arlette Saenz joins us now from the White House.

But let's begin with CNN's Kylie Atwood at the State Department.

Kylie, what more are we learning about how this process went down?

KYLIE ATWOOD, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, we're learning from senior administration officials this morning that this effort was months and months in the working, on what they called a discreet problem set. This prisoner exchange for Konstantin Yaroshenko, who is a Russian convicted of cocaine smuggling. He will be returning. He is on his way to Russia. He is in Russian hands right now. And, of course, Trevor Reed, who we should note, has been detained in Russia since 2019, is on his way back to the United States.

But it is quite remarkable that this occurred while the Russians are still continuing to invade Ukraine, while this war is going on. And senior administration officials made it very clear this morning, in discussing the release of Trevor Reed, and how much they welcomed this, that this will not change the Biden administration's approach to what is happening in Ukraine. They called this a limited discussion. It had no impact on any diplomatic conversations beyond what they were focused on, getting Trevor Reed home.

We should also note, guys, that there are other Americans who are also still detained in Russia. So, while this is welcome news, the Biden administration is still focused on getting those Americans home.

And we don't know exactly when Trevor Reed is going to land here back in the United States. We are in touch with his family, looking to hear more from him. But it has been a treacherous few years for him, and this, of course incredibly welcome news to his family and the Biden administration.

SCIUTTO: That's right. Brittney Griner, WNBA player, as well as Paul Whelan, still in Russian detention. When I do speak to the State Department spokesman Ned Price in just a few moments, that's certainly one question we'll put to him.

[09:05:00]

Arlette, President Biden, in his statement, did say these negotiations required, quote/unquote difficult decisions. Do we know what those difficult decisions were specifically?

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Jim, the White House has yet to detail what exactly those decisions were. But President Biden did describe those secret negotiations, that the decisions that were made were difficult ones. And it is remarkable that this prisoner exchange happened given the state of affairs between the U.S. and Russia as Russia continues to wage its unrelenting war against Ukraine.

Now, you heard the parents of Trevor Reed say they were on the phone with their son shortly after his release when President Biden called them. And in a statement this morning, President Biden described that phone call with Trevor Reed's parents. He said, I heard in the voices of Trevor's parents how much they worried about his health and missed his presence. And I was delighted to be able to share with them the good news about Trevor's freedom.

Now, in his statement, the president went on to thank the government officials and diplomatic officials who helped secure the release of Trevor Reed. And he importantly noted the negotiations that allowed us to bring Trevor home required difficult decisions that I do not take lightly. His safe return is a testament to the priority my administration places on bringing home Americans held hostage and wrongfully detained abroad. We won't stop until Paul Whelan and others join Trevor in the loving arms of family and friends. So, the president making clear that they still have this utmost priority to try to return American hostages or detainees held abroad back to the United States.

Now, the family of Trevor Reed met here at the White House with President Biden at the end of March, after they had been protesting outside. And you heard Joey Reed, Trevor's father, describe that meeting as a tipping point. They believe that that helped push President Biden to get the release of their son Trevor Reed.

Now, the Reed family also said that the president said he hopes to welcome them soon to the White House. The Reed family saying that they want to give the president a big hug and that the president told them he wants to give them a big hug back. So, a moment of celebration for both the president and the family and Trevor Reed as he's returning to the United States.

SCIUTTO: Goodness. Yes, a happy moment. On his way home.

Kylie Atwood, Arlette Saenz, thanks so much.

As I mentioned, ahead, I will speak to State Department Spokesman Ned Price about the swap, what was behind it, what were those difficult decisions. Also, of course, crucially, what are Trevor Reed's health conditions right now after his long captivity in Russia. My one on one coming up in just minutes from now.

As we wait for that conversation, right now Ukrainian officials acknowledge that they have lost several towns in the east as Russian forces intensify their offensive there.

GOLODRYGA: Yes, CNN international security editor Nick Paton Walsh is in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, another location where Russian forces have been trying to encroach.

What more can you tell us about what's happening in that region, Nick.

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY EDITOR: Yes, certainly, Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at an industrial hub. It does appear to feel, at least, it is a Russian target.

Now, we've seen to the south of here, over the past days, numbers of villagers changing hands, back and forth, and certainly I think it's fair to say some sense of Russian progress towards here, ourselves about 20 to 30 miles to the south, seeing how Russia is shelling, moving into areas, rendering them inaccessible to the Ukrainian military and causing many locals to flee.

Also, too, though, reason for fleeing, there have been 7,000 at least civilians who have come into this city, according to a military commander here, is a referendum to the south. Remember Kherson, the first city Russia took at the beginning of the war? Well, today, there were supposed to have been a referendum by all accounts from locals, essentially a sham vote, to try and suggest popular support for that region becoming its own, quote, people's republic and therefore closer to Russia, gentrifying the occupation, essentially.

As far as we understand, that referendum has not occurred. Clearly some kind of collapse in that propaganda messaging strategy by the Russian occupiers there who have since chosen to appoint their own officials, the local government, but the referendum caused so many to flee, fearing an intensification of Russia control after it, and the possibility that their younger sons could be conscripted into the Russian military maneuvers there. So, a lot moving here in this southern part of Russia's offensive.

SCIUTTO: Nick, overnight, there were several blasts in Russia. Not the first time we've seen them in recent weeks. Specifically, regions bordering Ukraine. Among them a fuel depot there. It's been interesting because Ukrainian officials have been very cagey about claiming any sort of involvement in these events until today. What more are you learning?

WALSH: Yes, I mean, blasts heard in Belgorod, fire at an ammunition depot there, explosions heard in Voronezh and Kursk. These are all border regions. These are all key to Russia's military infrastructure.

[09:10:02]

And, look, it doesn't take a genius, frankly, to work out who might be behind this pattern of blasts we've seen on the border areas.

But the defense ministry, the -- sort of the part of the military infrastructure of Ukraine have been tight-lipped. But a presidential adviser, Mikhail Poliak (ph), has suggested that this is sort of part of a debt that had to be repaid to Russia, and even suggests this might be Ukraine's version of demilitarizing Russia.

Now, that just borrows the language clumsily used by Moscow to suggest that its campaign here was somehow trying to dismantle Ukraine's defensive infrastructure. But it is a widening, certainly potentially of the conflict if these strikes become, it seems, more common, if that's what they are indeed inside of Russia. And it also speaks to the confidence that now seems to imbue the Ukrainian campaign, but also to the volatility of where we're headed now. This war is heading into its third month, Jim.

SCIUTTO: And extending now, it appears, beyond Ukraine's borders.

Nick Paton Walsh, thanks so much.

Well, another extension of this war, beyond the battlefields here of Ukraine, Poland's prime minister has now accused Russia of, quote, a direct attack. This after Moscow halted natural gas supplies to both Poland and Bulgaria, part of Russia's response to sanctions from the west.

GOLODRYGA: And the EU commissioner is calling this blackmail.

CNN business correspondent Claire Sebastian joins us with more.

So, Claire, how is the European Commission responding to this?

CLAIRE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Bianna, Ursula von der Leyen with a very strong language about this today. She called it, as you say, blackmail, a provocation. Her comments actually had really two audiences. On the one hand she was trying to reassure Europe's gas customers that everything was going to be fine. This is something that both Poland and Bulgaria have also echoed today, no immediate disruption.

But it was also a message to Russia. She said, this is -- our response will be immediate, united and coordinated. She was keen to emphasize that Poland and Bulgaria are already receiving gas from their European neighbors, she said, in a clear sign of solidarity.

Because, of course, part of the strategy here from Russia is not only to deploy its most effective economic weapon, but also potentially another page out of its typical playbook, to reveal divisions in Europe, the fact that not everyone has said they won't pay in rubles. So, Ursula von der Leyen trying to counter that with this message of solidarity.

For its part, the Kremlin says this is not blackmail. It said the west and Europe brought this on itself with their sanctions. This means that Russia had to shift to this new payment system in rubles. Europe was given fair warning. And the fact that they refused to do this is why this has happened today. But a clear warning sign that the rest of Europe, particularly the likes of Germany, that could face a severe recession if its gas was cut off.

GOLODRYGA: Yes, 40 percent of Germany's gas does come from Russia. Russia can call it whatever it wants. This is in fact, blackmail. They are weaponizing their energy sources.

Claire Sebastian, thank you.

SCIUTTO: Coming up next, State Department Spokesman Ned Price joins me live with details on the prisoner swap that just freed American Trevor Reed from three years in Russian detention.

GOLODRYGA: Plus, newly released text messages show how a Pennsylvania Republican repeatedly asked the White House to push investigations into election conspiracies. Hear how Congressman Scott Perry responded to CNN's report.

And utility stocks skyrocketing for many Americans, as consumer advocates call for a moratorium on shutting off services.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm saying to myself, am I going to have to take out a second mortgage just to pay an energy bill? That doesn't make any sense.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:17:54]

SCIUTTO: Former U.S. Marine Trevor Reed is now free after nearly three years detained in Russia. Reed just released as part of a prisoner swap for a Russian citizen who was convicted of drug smuggling here in the U.S. Reed was detained following a physical altercation in Russia in 2019 that resulted in a nine-year prison sentence. Joining me now to discuss, State Department Spokesman Ned Price.

Ned, thanks for taking the time this morning.

NED PRICE, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: Good to see you, Jim.

SCIUTTO: So, Ned, first, he suffered some health issues while in prison, claims of mistreatment. Do you have a sense of his condition now?

PRICE: Well, we do. And we do precisely because our special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, Roger Carstens, was able to meet Trevor today. The two of them, along with a team, are en route back to the United States today. Trevor was in good spirits. He's looking forward, as you might imagine, to being reunited with his family. And that's something that will happen within the coming hours.

This is a good day for the United States. It also speaks to President Biden's commitment and this entire administration's commitment to do everything we can to secure the release of Americans who are held hostage or otherwise wrongfully detained around the world. I think our track record speaks for itself. We've been able to secure the release of wrongfully detained Americans from places like Afghanistan, from places like Haiti, from places like Burma, from places like Venezuela. And now, as of today, Russia. And we'll -- our work is not yet finished. Of course we're going to continue at it. There are other cases that the team is working on day in, day out.

SCIUTTO: Yes.

One question. In the president's statement he referenced difficult decisions involved in gaining this release. What was he speaking about specifically?

PRICE: Well, in order to secure this release, which we prioritized, of course, because Trevor's been held against his will for nearly two years, he also has a health condition that was a top concern of ours, Trevor was released just as the sentence of a Russian pilot was commuted.

[09:20:04]

This was a decision that the president made. It was a decision that was predicated on the fact that this Russian individual had served the majority of his prison sentence for a non-violent drug crime. And, again, our overriding priority was the safe return of Trevor Reed, knowing not only that he had been held against his will for far too long, but that his health condition required urgent treatment. And he's going to be able not only to be reunited with his family, but to receive the treatment he needs in the United States.

SCIUTTO: As you mentioned, there are two other Americans being held there now, Brittney Griner, WNBA star, as well as Paul Whelan. Can you update us on the status of their cases?

PRICE: So the case of Paul Whelan is one we continue to work day in, day out. Paul Whelan is wrongfully detained in Russia. Roger Carstens and his team continue to do everything we can to seek his release from Russian custody.

When it comes to Brittney Griner, we are working very closely with her team. Her case is a top priority for us. I can tell you that with the utmost certainty. We're in regular contact with her team. We regularly are engaging through our embassy in Moscow with their counterparts in order to see to it that she's treated fairly, to see to it that we have the consistent access to her, that the Russians are required under the Vienna Convention to provide.

SCIUTTO: Yes.

PRICE: We will continue to pay very close attention to this case, to seek its resolution, as we seek the release of Paul Whelan.

SCIUTTO: That's right, Paul Whelan, Brittney Griner still there.

I do want to ask you, and I know that it's our reporting, CNN's reporting, that this was a very discreet discussion focused entirely on this case, not broader issues. But fact is, it does show that there are diplomatic channels open between the U.S. and Russia.

Are those channels being used, are there other channels open discussing the situation here in Ukraine and a possible diplomatic way forward?

PRICE: Well, Jim, I want to be very clear about this. In our engagement with the Russians in order to seek the release of Trevor Reed, there was one issue and one issue discussed. It was the case of Trevor Reed.

As I said before, the individual who had a primary hand in this, it was our special presidential envoy for hostage affairs. The key word in his title is "hostage." When Roger Carstens, Ambassador Roger Carstens deals with other countries, with regimes, he's talking about one thing and one thing only, and that's Americans who are held against their will.

Unfortunately, we have not seen, on the part of the Russians, any sincere desire in the various channels of communications they have with our partners around the world who have sought to foster diplomacy, who have sought to lend their good offices (ph) to dialogue between Russia and Ukraine. Our French allies, our German allies, our Israeli partners, our Turkish partners and others have been attempting to foster dialogue between Russia and Ukraine at every turn. It has hit a dead end, not because our Ukrainian partners are not serious, they are very serious about sitting down, about having good faith discussions and negotiations with the Russians. The challenge and the problem has been the Russian Federation.

SCIUTTO: OK.

PRICE: At every turn they have engaged in nothing more than the pretense of dialogue and the pretense of diplomacy. That's what we're seeking to change by continuing to support our Ukrainian partners and continuing to hold and to put pressure on the Kremlin itself.

SCIUTTO: So, to be clear, there are no direct U.S./Russia channels discussing the war in Ukraine today?

PRICE: We have an embassy that is still functioning in Moscow. Our embassy is in touch with their counterparts, the Russian ministry of foreign affairs. But those issues tend to be narrow, tend to be very bilateral in nature. And, unfortunately, they -- we have not seen any willingness on the part of the Russians to engage with our partners or to engage with the Ukrainians on their conduct in Ukraine or the course of this war.

SCIUTTO: Yes.

OK, another topic. CNN has obtained exclusive new photos and video showing what appear to be atrocities, frankly, in the city of Bucha. We will warn you, as we will our viewers, the images are graphic. What they show are Ukrainian civilians lying dead on the streets of Bucha. Drone video showing what appear to be Russian tanks in the same area as the same time. These images provided to CNN by an international prosecutor who is now investigating war crimes in that city.

I know that this is a topic that you and the State Department has been following very closely. Can you tell us about progress and any efforts to gather evidence for and investigate these alleged atrocities by Russia?

PRICE: Well, Jim, just as you alluded to, we're continuing to work with our Ukrainian partners precisely to gather that evidence. And what we've seen in Bucha, it is horrifying, it is gut wrenching, but it may not be unique. It may not be singular in the context of Bucha. As we've seen, as the Russians are forced to withdraw from various towns and cities, we are seeing a receding tide of brutality and atrocities, atrocities that have constituted war crimes by Russia's forces.

[09:25:11]

So, we are supporting the work of the Ukrainian prosecutor general. She and her team have launched a criminal probe. They're collecting evidence. We're helping them to analyze that evidence, to preserve that evidence. And as appropriate to share that evidence with our partners around the world.

In the first instance, though, we -- we see the Ukrainian prosecutor general and her jurisdiction as a means by which to ultimately hold Russian actors criminally accountable for the war crimes that they have committed. That's something that we're doing to -- in support of her, but it's also something that we're doing with our partners and allies around the world to support that work.

SCIUTTO: Certainly, a story we're following close here as well.

Ned Price at the State Department, thanks for joining us this morning.

PRICE: Thanks, Jim. GOLODRYGA: And still ahead for us, new audio reveals House Minority

Leader Kevin McCarthy's fears that fellow Republicans might incite violence after the insurrection.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. KEVIN MCCARTHY (R-CA): Tension is too high, the country is too crazy. I do not want to look back and think we caused something or we missed something and someone got hurt.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: And we are just moments away from the opening bell on Wall Street, where futures are mixed right now. Traders are eyeing a higher start this morning following Nasdaq's early 4 percent -- nearly 4 percent plunge yesterday. U.S. stock futures getting a boost from the tech sector, especially from Microsoft, with shares already up more than 5 percent after a better than expected quarterly earnings report.

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