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Video Shows Russian Missile Attack On Ukrainian Mall; Ukraine Top Of Agenda As NATO Leaders Meet In Madrid; Turkey Lifts Its Objections To Sweden, Finland Joining NATO; Trump Didn't Want To Stop Capitol Attack, Former White House Aide Testifies; Key WH Aide Says Trump Knew Jan. 6 Protesters Had Weapons; Peruvian Teachers Clash With Police Over Pay. Aired 1-2a ET
Aired June 29, 2022 - 01:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[01:00:00]
JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: Also ahead.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CASSIDY HUTCHINSON, FORMER TOP AIDE TO CHIEF OF STAFF MARK MEADOWS: The President said something to the effect of I'm the effing president. Take me up to the Capitol now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: He knew though arm he knew they were a threat he did nothing to stop them. The damning firsthand accounts about Donald Trump's actions on January 6, from a former White House aide.
And the sentencing of a pedophiles girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell has a message for the victim to the late disgraced Jeffrey Epstein.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live from CNN Center. This is CNN Newsroom with John Vause.
VAUSE: We begin with dramatic video when new details about the deadly Russian strike on a mall in Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says these images show the moment a crowded shopping mall was hit with an anti-ship Soviet era missile. The explosion and fire which swept through the building killed at least 18 civilians. CNN though cannot independently verify the missiles target.
Drone footage shows devastation caused by the missile strike Monday afternoon with President Zelenskyy has described as a deliberate attack on civilians and proof Russia is a terrorist state and should be permanently banned from the UN Security Council.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Unfortunately, as of now, the United Nations does not have a legal definition of the term terrorist state agreed by all UN members. But this war that Russia is waging against Ukraine demonstrates not only the meaning of this concept, but all the urgent necessity to enshrine it legally at the level of the United Nations and punish any terrorist state.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: The next hour, NATO leaders will gather for a crucial summit in Madrid, one that will determine what happens next for Ukraine and redefine European security for years to come. NATO allies are expected to declare Russia the most significant threat to their security and plan to significantly bolster their defense posture, especially in the East close to Russia.
More than 300,000 troops will be placed on high alert, a sevenfold increase from current levels, part of the biggest overhaul of NATO since the Cold War.
The summit comes on the heels of a G-7 meeting in Germany where allies agreed that current sanctions on Russian oil and gas have had little impact to now a price cap on Russian oil is under discussion. In Madrid, the focus will be on a united NATO front.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, U.S. PRESIDENT: Today, NATO is united and as united and galvanized as I believe it's ever been. And we are ready to face threats of Russian aggression. Because quite frankly, there's no choice.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: One reason Vladimir Putin says he ordered the invasion of Ukraine was to prevent an ongoing expansion on NATO alliance. Four months later, and NATO is now set for historic expansion. On Tuesday in a blow to the Russian president, Turkey dropped its objections to both Finland and Sweden's NATO bids clearing the way for membership.
Their inclusion would more than double Russia's land border with NATO. Finland and Sweden set aside decades of neutrality formally apply for NATO membership last month because of security concerns, sparked by Russia's war with Ukraine, totally initially objected accusing both Nordic countries of harboring terrorist groups. But after weeks of negotiations, the breakthrough finally came during a meeting in Madrid.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JENS STOLTENBERG, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL: As NATO allies, Finland and Sweden, committed to fully support to care against threats to its national security. This includes further amending the domestic legislation, cracking down on PKK activities and entering into an agreement with Turkey on extradition. In light of the progress we are made together, to Tia has agreed to support Finland and Sweden joining NATO.
(END VIDEO CLIP) VAUSE: For more now let's get live to Madrid, CNN's Kevin Liptak standing live for us there at three minutes past seven. So Kevin, if Turkey was hoping that maybe to force some concessions from the United States here by holding up the membership bids to Sweden and Finland. Looks like they may have come up kind of short, right?
KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, U.S. officials say that the United States made no concessions as part of this deal. And they say that President Biden actually intentionally tried to keep the U.S. out of direct negotiations with Turkey as this deal was coming together sort of hoping to let the three parties negotiate it amongst themselves.
One thing that President Biden did yesterday was speak on the phone with the Turkish President Erdogan and tell him that if this deal could be struck before the summit got underway that it was possible for them to meet formally, bilaterally on the margins of the summit, and they will do that today.
So he did play a key role in sort of cultivating these talks, getting them started and sort of bringing them across the finish line. But it was really a negotiation between the three sides of this that brought about this deal yesterday heading into the summit U.S. and European officials are not necessarily sure that it would happen by the time the summit got underway.
[01:05:14]
So certainly they were pleased that this agreement could be struck before the summit began. And it really brings these leaders with some wind at their back as they meet here in Madrid later today. The primary focus is of course, scaling up the forces on the Eastern Flank of NATO really to levels that you haven't seen since the Cold War. President Biden announced yesterday that he would be sending two additional destroyers to the Roatan naval station here in Spain, that brings the total to six, really trying to emphasize that the U.S. is committed to Europe security, to NATO security.
And what the National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said yesterday was that these troop increases would bring the force posture here to what he called a steady state sort of implying that what is now a rotational structure would become more permanent as part of these announcements. He said that the forces would be more robust, more effective, more combat ready, more capable and more determined. So really trying to emphasize this commitment to European security at what is really a fraught moment.
Now President Biden really wants to shore up his allies here in Europe as the war in Ukraine grinds ahead, of course, as the West has piled on sanctions on Russia, and send billions of dollars in aid and security assistance to Ukraine. The momentum on the ground still appears to be favoring Russia. Leaders really want to turn that around because as time goes on, you could start to see fractures in the alliance as energy prices rise, as fatigue sets in in the West. President Biden wants to ensure the allies remain committed to Ukraine, and certainly President Zelenskyy of Ukraine wants to ensure that allies remain committed to his country, and he will address NATO leaders over the course of the summit.
Now, today, President Biden will meet on the sidelines with two leaders who aren't necessarily -- you don't necessarily think of when you think of NATO. It's the Prime Minister of Japan and the Prime Minister of South Korea, so that will be an important meeting to sort of emphasize the global nature of the conflict. But as one U.S. official said yesterday, this could be the most consequential NATO Summit of the century. John.
VAUSE: Kevin, thank you for being with us at the start of what would no doubt be a long day for you there in Madrid. We appreciate it.
LIPTAK: Yes.
VAUSE: Throwing his lunch plate and all at a White House wall attacking a Secret Service agent lunging for the steering wheel of the presidential limo. There's some of the dramatic testimony from a Trump insider describing an unhinged Donald Trump in the days leading up to the storming of the U.S. Capitol by his supporters.
The Congressional committee investigating the January 6 attack called a surprise public hearing Tuesday to hear from Cassidy Hutchinson, a former a two White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. She told lawmakers Trump and his inner circle were well aware of the potential for violence on that day. And as the rioter unfolded, Hutchinson says then White House Counsel Pat Cipollone pleaded with her boss Mark Meadows, to get Trump to try and stop the violence. Here's part of her deposition.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HUTCHINSON: No more than a minute, minute and a half later, I see Pat Cipollone barreling down the hallway towards our office and rush right and looked at me said is Mark in his office? And I said yes. He just looked at me and started shaking his head. And whenever open Mark's office door, stood there with the door propped open and said something to see Mark still sitting on his phone. I remember like glancing and he's still sitting on his phone.
And I remember Pat saying to him something to the effect of the rioters have gotten to the Capitol, Mark, we need to go down and see the president now. And Mark looked up and said he doesn't want to do anything, Pat.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: He doesn't want to do anything. And yet the top Republican on the House Select Committee says there was in fact a lot then-President could have done to prevent or stop the violence on that day.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. LIZ CHENEY (R-WY): Much of this information about the potential for violence was known or learned before the onset of the violence early enough for President Trump to take steps to prevent it. He could, for example, have urged the crowd at the lips not to march to the Capitol. He could have condemned the violence immediately once it began, or he could have taken multiple other steps. But as we will see today, and in later hearings, President Trump had something else in mind.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: CNN's Ryan Nobles has more now reporting from Capitol Hill.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
RYAN NOBLES, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): From the moment she was sworn in, Cassidy Hutchinson, former aide to Trump White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows made it clear she had much to share.
[01:10:00]
HUTCHINSON: That evening was the first moment that I remember feeling scared and nervous for what could happen on January 6.
NOBLES: Providing unique insight into a chaotic White House in the days leading up to January 6. And a president who cheered on the rioters, and she says she was told desperately wanted to be with them.
HUTCHINSON: The president said something to the effect of, I'm the effing president. Take me up to the Capitol now. The President reached up towards the front of the vehicle to grab at the steering wheel. Mr. Engel grabbed his arm, said Sir, you need to take your hand off the steering wheel. We're going back to the West Wing. We're not going to the Capitol. Mr. Trump then used his free hand to lunge towards Bobby Engel.
NOBLES: Hutchinson detailed Trump's insistence that he followed his supporters to the Capitol on January 6, despite being told repeatedly it was dangerous and potentially illegal.
HUTCHINSON: Mr. Cipollone said something to the effect of please make sure we don't go up to the Capitol, Cassidy, keep in touch with me. We're going to get charged as every crime imaginable if we make that movement happen. We had conversations about potentially obstructing justice or defrauding the electoral account.
NOBLES: She outlined repeated examples of an unstable commander in chief who lashed out in anger often after losing the 2020 election, like when he learned Attorney General William Barr told The Associated Press, there was no widespread voter fraud.
HUTCHINSON: There is ketchup dripping down the wall, and there's a shattered porcelain plate on the floor. The valet had articulated that the President was extremely angry at the Attorney General's AP interview, and had thrown his lunch against the wall.
NOBLES: Sitting just doors away from the Oval Office, Hutchinson was central to key moments leading up to January 6, Meadows himself warned her.
HUTCHINSON: Things might get real, real bad on January 6.
NOBLES: She also made it clear White House officials knew about the vast array of weapons the crowd was carrying.
UNINDENTIFIED FEMALE: I got three men walking down the street in fatigues carrying AR-15's. Copy at 14th and Independence.
NOBLES: Including Trump who said in a tent at the rally site.
HUTCHINSON: I overheard the President say something to the effect of, you know, I don't even care that they have weapons. They're not here to hurt me. Take the effing mags away. Let my people and they can march the capital from here, let the people and take the effing mags away.
DONALD TRUMP, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: We're going to walk down and I'll be there with you. We're going to walk down to the Capitol.
NOBLES: Hutchinson said she was also in contact with Republican leaders like House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who warned her that Trump should not come to the Capitol.
HUTCHINSON: And he said, well, he just said it on stage, Cassie. Figure it out. Don't come up here.
NOBLES: As the crowd was raging, Hutchinson testified that Trump was cheering them on agreeing with the chance to quote hang Mike Pence.
HUTCHINSON: And Mark had responded something to the effect of you heard him Pat. He thinks Mike deserves that he doesn't think they're doing anything wrong.
NOBLES: And recounted White House Counsel Pat Cipollone's reaction.
HUTCHINSON: People are going to die in the blood is going to be on your effing hands.
NOBLES: The day after the violence the White House counsel and advisors urged him to give a speech condemning the rioters.
HUTCHINSON: We need to get a stronger message out there and condemn this otherwise this will be your legacy. There's already talks about invoking the 25th Amendment you need this as cover.
NOBLES: Trump wanted to float the idea of pardons for those who broke into the Capitol, something he ultimately did not do.
HUTCHINSON: Mr. Meadows did seek that pardon.
NOBLES: And according to Hutchinson, many others, including Meadows and Giuliani sought pardons from Trump, a once loyal Republican committed to Trump and his mission. Hutchinson now says --
HUTCHINSON: I remember feeling frustrated, disappointed. Really, it felt personal. I was really sad. As an American, I was disgusted. It was unpatriotic. It was unAmerican. We are watching the Capitol Building get defaced over a lie.
NOBLES (on camera): And the Secret Service is refuting aspects of Hutchinson's testimony. They say that incident that she talked about involving the former president inside the Presidential limo on January 6, this is not exactly how she portrays it. They say their agents are willing to testify under oath to the committee about their experience. They say it didn't happen that way. And they also say they never told Hutchinson that story.
Meanwhile, the committee is standing by their witnesses, source close to the committee tells me on background that she was willing to stand up and testify under oath but they're also willing to hear from anyone who has information that would help with their investigation. Ryan Nobles, CNN on Capitol Hill.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
[01:15:10]
VAUSE: And live now to Los Angeles Michael Genovese, political analyst, author and president of the Global Policy Institute at Loyola Marymount University. Michael is good to see you.
MICHAEL GENOVESE, POLITICAL ANALYST: Great to see you, John.
VAUSE: So as of last week, the Brookings Institute, which is a nonprofit policy group had this assessment. Overall, the share of Americans paying attention to the committee has not budged since early April. But the share of Democrats has risen significantly, while the share of Republicans has declined.
Could this testimony from the former White House aide Hutchinson resonate enough with Republicans? Or can Trump world dismiss it with one liners like this one, another swamp social climber making up stories for her not even 15 minutes. Pathetic. What's your take?
GENOVESE: Donald Trump's on Trump's base remains quite loyal, and they are uninterested in this and the stories that they hear even from the repeated stories of Trump insiders. They still won't believe it. They don't want to believe that they choose not to.
And so I think rather than worry about whether they're paying attention or not, the real question is, how many of the nonpartisan or less partisan Democrats or Republicans, Independents are paying attention? And there I think you see that, you know, the media can't resist these stories. They're so fascinating. And the testimony is so damning that the story is going to get out there whether or not Trump's base likes it or not.
VAUSE: There is some evidence of cracks sort of emerging within Trump's former inner circle. We have Alex Stroman, who is a former spokesman for Trump's inaugural committee, he tweeted about the incident when Trump lunch with a Secret Service agent. He tweeted, this is some insane ramsons (ph) hit. And a former Trump administration official term Democrat supporter Miles Taylor tweeted, today's hearing brought a powerful fact back into focus. Donald Trump is the most dangerous man ever to serve as president of the United States. But these are minor players, right? Even Hutchinson itself. She's young and relatively inexperienced. So that kind of -- how does that play into all of this?
GENOVESE: We know in Watergate they started at the outside and work their way in. And that's partly what the committee is trying to do here. They're trying to start with some of the people who are around the key figures and get closer and closer and hope that some of the people inside start to break.
You've seen a lot of calls for Pat Cipollone, the White House counsel had come forward, Mark Meadows and others, I'm not sure that they are willing to or interested in coming forward. But what you have to do is sort of make the case first and you start from the periphery and work your way to the center and that's what they're doing with great skill and great care and great detail.
VAUSE: Max Boot, who is a conservative he writes in The Washington Post that Hutchinson has revealed criminal acts worse than Watergate, and goes on to make this point, the only way to excise the cancer is for Republicans to turn on Trump, as they eventually turned on Nixon after the revelation of the smoking gun White House tape. So far, even the previous testimony heard by the January 6 committee has not broken Trump's hold on his party. The cancer has been exposed but could still continue to metastasize.
In other words, at the same Republican lawmakers may be very well aware of the wrongdoing, but would be totally OK to do absolutely nothing about it, if it gives them power back at the midterms in 2024.
GENOVESE: Well, if you go back again to the Watergate case, Donald Trump is in the same position Nixon was before the release of the smoking gun tape. That is that the Republican Party was still behind him. It was still defending Nixon. And it wasn't until a smoking gun tape clearly revealed in the President's own words, on obstruction of justice. I don't know that they'll ever get anything like that in the Trump case.
But to a large extent, I think Cassidy Hutchison was kind of the John Dean of this period, very methodically, describing a White House gone mad. Will they get the smoking gun? Will they get the President's own words? Will they get the inner circle and the Republicans? Maybe not? Because it was only at the very end that Republicans turned on Richard Nixon.
VAUSE: Totally the courage that Hutchinson has shown by turning up testifying publicly to this committee.
GENOVESE: You know, she's in her mid-20s. She had said so many times in the past, what I really want us a career in public service. She may have just ruined that for herself. Her life is going to be completely up ended. She has lost any credibility within the Republican Party. She has no future within that party. Even post-Trump, people will think of her probably as a turncoat on the president.
On the other hand, it took unbelievable courage to do what she did. Speaking truth to power is one of the most difficult things we do. And when we do it, we often get crushed for it. That's still a badge of honor. And I think, you know, there are a couple of heroes in the Republican Party, Cassidy, Hutchinson is one of them, few state representatives, Georgia, et cetera were heroes. And I think this young woman in her mid 20s, her career has been up ended.
[01:20:17]
VAUSE: Just compared to what we have seen from other more established more senior Republicans who have simply turned and walked away and not testified or refuse to recognize what's been happening within the White House. It really is a profile of courage of Hutchinson in many ways. But Michael, thank you for being with us. We appreciate it.
GENOVESE: Thank you, John.
VAUSE: Still to come. The death toll rises as please try to work out who's responsible for the deaths of dozens of migrants who were found in a sweltering semi-truck in Texas.
Also, a CNN exclusive, Ukraine's first lady talks about the Russian invasion, and she keeps up the spirits and her relationship with her husband.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OLENA ZELENSKA, UKRAINE FIRST LADY (through translator): Our relationship is on pause just as it is for many, well, all Ukrainians.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VAUSE: Teachers and unions clashed with police in Peru's capital Tuesday. Protesters are taken to the streets demanding the President make good on campaign promises like higher wages. Police use riot shields to push back and better protesters in what is the latest spate of political instability in Peru. Since winning Office, the President has survived two impeachment attempts.
Colombian officials set a fire in an overcrowded prison on Tuesday has killed 51 inmates. 24 people were injured including some prison guards. Columbia's Justice Ministry says it all happened during an overnight brawl when an inmate said a mattress on fire. Flames quickly spreading out of control.
Vigils are being held in southern Texas to mourn the death of 51 migrants who were found in a tractor trailer in sweltering heat on Monday. The owner of a trucking company says the semi discovered by police had falsified ID information from one of his company's vehicles.
Meantime to Mexican nationals who authority say we're in the United States illegally had been arrested on firearm charges, though they've not been directly linked to the death of the migrants. What he does now from CNN's Matt Rivers reporting in from Mexico City. (BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Or the mayor of San Antonio calls what happened here a quote, horrific human tragedy this after at least 50 people lost their lives according to U.S. law enforcement official after being trapped in the back of a semi-truck.
According to San Antonio law enforcement officials, someone who was working in that area where the truck was found heard cries for help. Shortly thereafter, first responders arrived to the scene opened up the back doors of that truck and were met with a scene of just horror.
At least 48 people were already dead inside that truck. Dozens, literally dozens of people inside that truck were dead. That's what first responders saw more than a dozen other people were transported to nearby hospitals, two of those people, at least two of those people died after being transported to local hospitals.
[01:25:09]
According to that U.S. law enforcement official, people inside that truck were migrants, people from Mexico, people from Honduras, and people from Guatemala, with the foreign ministers of both Mexico and Guatemala, confirming that people from their countries were among those who had lost their lives. Here's a little bit of what Mexico's president had to say about what happened.
ANDRES MANUEL LOPEZ OBRADOR, MEXICAN PRESIDENZT (through translator): Were in support. Our consul has been there since yesterday. There are also immigration officials from Mexico. And we will be attentive to support the families of the victims. The transfer of the bodies, and of course, carry out the investigation in what corresponds to us, because these unfortunate events that, of course, have to do with the situation of poverty, of despair of Central American brothers, of Mexicans happened because there's also human trafficking and lack of controls, in this case on the border of Mexico, or the United States In the United States.
RIVERS: And he mentioned human trafficking there. Mexican government officials, including the foreign minister believe and have said publicly that they believe that human traffickers were involved in this incident. We know that U.S. law enforcement agencies in conjunction with Mexican law enforcement agencies will be working together on an investigation into exactly what happened here.
But the idea that human smugglers were involved in this in this part of the world, it's not that unusual. We've reported on this subject for years now, there are well established routes where migrants are passed from one criminal group to another, all the way from South America, sometimes all the way to the U.S. border. These are criminal groups working across international boundaries, often treating the migrants where they are transporting up to the United States with little regard for their safety, little regard for their lives.
This comes as the United States recently announced what they're calling an unprecedented action against human trafficking throughout the Western Hemisphere with the Department of Homeland Security Secretary is telling CNN that hundreds of law enforcement officials from the U.S. have been spread out across Latin America to try and disrupt those routes where migrants are often transported by these human smugglers. This latest incident in San Antonio a clear example of just how dangerous that can be for these migrants. Matt Rivers, CNN, Mexico City.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
VAUSE: Still to come with NATO set for an historic expansion of payoff for Turkey, could be the sale of more drones. We'll explain when we come back.
But why those drones be so important to Turkey and the president. President Erdogan.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[01:30:13]
VAUSE: Welcome back. I'm John Vause. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM.
In about 30 minutes NATO leaders will start gathering for a critical summit in Madrid. Talks likely to be dominated by Russia's war in Ukraine.
Leaders began arriving in Spain on Tuesday. The meeting is expected to be a major turning point as NATO allies outline new strategies for the decade ahead. They present Russia as one of the biggest threat to their security.
The (INAUDIBLE) is also expected to roll out plans for bolstering defenses in the east. All set to put more than 300,000 NATO troops on high alert.
It all comes as the alliance appears poised for a significant expansion. On Tuesday Turkey reached a deal with Finland and Sweden about its security concerns, so it could drop its objections to their membership bid, (INAUDIBLE) both Nordic countries to join the alliance.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SAULI NIINISTO, FINNISH PRESIDENT: We had a very thorough discussions and at the end of approximately four hours, we could agree. We will tomorrow see the all the NATO countries meeting and we are expecting to have their statement where Finland and Sweden are invited to become members. And tell them that we would start accessing (ph) negotiations.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: CNN global affairs analyst and international affairs fellow at the Council of Foreign Relations, Kimberly Dozier is with us now. Kimberly, it's been a while. It's good to have you with us.
KIMBERLY DOZIER, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: Good to be here.
VAUSE: Ok. So, I want you to listen to NATO secretary general on how the impasse with Turkey was resolved allowing Finland and Sweden to be afford with their bid to join the alliance.
Here he is.
JEN STOLTENBERG, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL: Today we met, we discussed and we found a good solution. That is the way we solve problems in NATO.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: Piece of cake really, but here's the thing. Did these two countries, in particular Sweden make too many concessions to Turkey -- there's some criticism that Turkey's president essentially use the urgency of the threat from Russia and a potential veto as blackmail. He's holding the alliance hostage.
DOZIER: I actually did just visit Finland and Sweden on the way to Kyiv. And I heard from diplomats in both countries and military officials et cetera who said, look, we know what's happening here.
Erdogan has us where he wants us, really what he wants is to use this for leverage with the United States. He wants the U.S. to lift sanctions that were imposed when Turkey purchased the S-400 Russian missile defense program. Turkey, a NATO member. And it was part of the F-35 self (ph) jet program. The U.S. and others kicked Turkey out because of that, imposed these sanctions because the U.S. argues that having the S-400 in the same operational area as NATO equipment means that Russia can learn and use its S-400 technology to leach NATO intelligence.
I realize that's a long explanation, but basically Erdogan was hoping to get some of those measures, some relief for that.
I think that phone call with President Biden was really crucial for the president to be able to say, look, I can then visit. You can visit here. But a lot of the sanctions were imposed by Congress. They are to do with laws, with the NATO laws within our country, regulations within NATO. I can's help you on that.
Therefor, these concessions by Sweden and Finland are face-saving measures for Turkey to say, ok, I got something out of this. Erdogan can tell hi domestic audience this is a win.
But this goes back to the Swedish and the Finnish courts, this extradition stuff et cetera. It's a way to also keep this behind closed doors and kick the can down the road and get these two nations in NATO right now.
VAUSE: So, Sweden (INAUDIBLE) by Erdogan in a way.
At this point, what not just allow Ukraine to join NATO. What's Putin going to do, invade the country? DOZER: I have had several NATO officials. They won't say IT publicly,
but they say it privately. They said, look, we can't have any country join that is partly occupied. Goes for Georgia, like it goes for Ukraine. If you've got some Russian troops on your soil, the moment you join NATO officially, you can trigger Article Five as the U.S. did against al-Qaeda after 9/11. And all of a sudden NATO would be in a full scale war with Russia. So, that's not going to happen.
EU membership that's an easier reach. NATO they are still hesitant to push Putin in a corner and trigger a nuclear response.
[01:35:01]
VAUSE: Ukraine released, you know (ph), this Tuesday, from what appears to be the moment a Russian missile hit that shopping mall in Kremenchuk. It looks like a case from super sonic anti chip (ph) cruise missile. These are Cold War era missiles dating back to the 1960s, designed to take out large warship as well as aircraft carriers.
This is just another reason why Ukraine's president appealed to the U.N. to declare Moscow a state sponsor of terrorism. Here he is, listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT, (through translator): It is imperative to deprive the Russian delegation of the opportunity to manipulate the U.N. It is imperative to make it impossible for Russia to stay in the U.N. Security Council until its terrorism continues.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: But with Russia, one of the five permanent members of the Security Council with its veto power -- is there any way to be held to account? Is there a mechanism for expelling a member of the Security Council? And if there is would there be support in the U.N, anyway for the punitive action?
DOZIER: You know, my understanding of the U.N. founding documents is that there is no way to kick out a founding member, to kick them off the Security Council.
And Russia also has other members in its corner. China, for instance, that would stop something like that from happening. So, what you have is a case of -- this is a marathon. And that's what I was hearing from Ukrainian officials.
They, said look, some of the things we think the Russians are hitting, some of the electricity plants, things like that, that is to leave us unable to govern, to lead this country unsustainable who are people living in it.
They are also possibly using dated maps. I heard that from several Ukrainian national security officials. So the Russians don't always know exactly what they're hitting. But the fact of the matter, is they don't care. They are doing this from their perspective with impunity. Russia got a huge actual boost from oil sales, as a bunch of European countries, among others, snapped up oil in cut rate deals. As this war commenced and over the past couple of months.
When you go back to one of the agreement that came out of the G7 meeting that just happened, they put a cap on Russian oil purchases. That is going to be key to making Russians actually feel some sort of economic pain. It doesn't seem to be much other options to change their behavior.
VAUSE: The U.N. certainly has isn't an option. And yes, as you says Russia oil, more money from energy exports this year than they did last year which seems to be -- very odd.
Kimberly, as always, thank you so much, we appreciate you being with us.
DOZIER: Cheers, thank you.
VAUSE: With Turkey now supporting Finland and Sweden's membership of NATO, it looks set for a potential windfall from the sale of its home made drone. These drones have been highly effective in Ukraine and against the Russian military. But they also had a controversial path.
More details now from CNN's Nina Dos Santos.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The Bayraktar TB2, Turkey's most effective drones and one its president's most assertive foreign policy tools.
With NATO members meeting in Spain, Turkey's leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan is lobbying hard to lift embargoes on Ankara's weaponry.
Just as he held out against Sweden and Finland joining the bloc until obtaining security guarantees at the 11th hour.
Finland had previously hinted that it would potentially buy Turkish drones if admitted to the alliance. While, the U.K. may be the next to acquire them according to Turkey's industry minister.
It's moves like these that have revamped the image of Turkish drones, one subject to embargoes due to their use and contentious conflict -- including in Africa.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The image of drones in general has changed over time, there really have been these waves of moments where at the moment, drones were seen as a negative and evil.
And now in Ukraine they're seen as a really important system to be used by Ukraine against the Russian invasion.
DOS SANTOS: Turkey's drones have become such a cult military item that they inspired this pop song filmed on the battlefield in Ukraine.
The Turkish economy may be stuck in the doldrums, but sales of drones have soared since the war in Ukraine started.
Meaning a booze that the drone's maker bypassed, co-owned by Erdogan's son-in-law which last year posted record profits. But will Turkey's drone diplomacy, as it's being called, work?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One of the reasons why Turkey has started its drone program was indeed that it couldn't spy drones or other drones from, especially, the United States. Because the United States didn't want to export them.
[01:39:56]
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And then on the back of it, is realized well, I can also exploit the systems to countries that may also not get American or Israeli or in these now Chinese systems.
DOS SANTOS: With the second largest army in NATO, Turkey is an unlikely country to be focusing so heavily on unmanned combat. But with drones like these for sale, one of Turkey's priority at NATO is putting more of them on the market.
Nina Dos Santos, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE: Ukraine's first lady has told CNN about its difficulties of enduring five long months of war -- almost five months. Olena Zelenska spoke to Christiane Amanpour in an international TV exclusive. She says most Ukrainians thought the war is a sprint. Now, they realize it's likely to be a marathon.
She talked about the impact the war has had on their family and everyday life.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: First lady Olena Zelenska, welcome to our program.
OLENA ZELENSKA, UKRAINIAN FIRST LADY (through translator): Hello Christiane and thank you for inviting me to do this interview.
AMANPOUR: Well, I am really happy to talk to you but obviously, it comes at a very sad moment for you, for your country and a moment where yet again everybody realizes that anybody can be a target.
After that missile attack on the mall, Kremenchuk, you know, nearly 20 people dead. What is your reaction to that? How are ordinary people reacting to that?
ZELENSKA: Well, of course we cannot react in any other way than be shocked. This is indeed terrorism. We cannot call this any other name.
Yesterday, in Kremenchuk, more than a thousand people were in the shopping mall. This is an ordinary shopping mall. There were children and adults there. And you just said how many people died, we still don't know that final number. We are all shocked. And unfortunately, we are shocked yet again in this war. We were shocked many times. I don't know what else the occupiers can shock us with.
AMANPOUR: So let me ask you, it is now into the fifth month of this war. Your husband, the president, told the G-7 leaders that this war had to be ended by the end of this year.
Can I ask you about morale? Your morale, your children's morale, the people's morale. Because, everybody has been so impressed by the heroic resistance that Ukraine has mounted. But, what is the morale five months in now?
ZELENSKA: You know, in the first weeks and months, we were like sprinters. We were doing a short run at high speed. We gave it 200 percent.
But now, everybody now is running a marathon. We need to calculate our strength. We need to hold on, as you said very difficult to hold on for five months. We cannot see physically, or mentally, we cannot see the end of our suffering. So we need to accumulate our strength. We need to save our energy. And, all Ukrainians must do
It it's very difficult for all of us. And, we need -- we are trying to find joy in simple things, maybe stroke a cat or do something simple. But we all look forward for this war to end.
AMANPOUR: That's really poignant what you say, trying to do simple and beautiful things. How do you specifically feel about your safety? We, know you told us when we last talked over email in April, that at the beginning of the war, it happened. You barely were able to say goodbye to your husband. He sent you and the kids somewhere else in Ukraine to be safe.
Now, I understand you can come back to Kyiv more often, more regularly. How do you specifically feel about yours and your family's safety?
ZELENSKA: (INAUDIBLE) Yes, fortunately, those two months when I didn't see my husband at all that in the past, I can see him sometimes. For a short time and not very often. But, I can physically feel him next to me.
This isn't normal. It's not a normal relationship when children cannot see their father and have to talk to him on the phone. So, our relationship is on pause, just as it is for many -- well, all Ukrainians.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[01:44:53]
VAUSE: Christiane Amanpour's interview with the first lady of Ukraine can be seen at anytime at CNN.com. There's still a lot more to come here on CNN NEWSROOM. We'll have details of the sentencing of Ghislaine Maxwell, longtime girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein, pedophile, deceased, on sex trafficking charges.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VAUSE: Seven years on, a verdict is expected in the coming hours for the trial of suspects in the 2015 terror attack in Paris. 130 people were killed by a Islamist gunmen in multiple attacks from the Bataclan Music Hall, to the Stade De France (ph) Sports Stadium as well as a number of restaurants and cafes in the French capital.
A survivor from that night says he is glad this ten month-long trial is finally coming to an end.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARTHUR DENOUVEAUX, BATACLAN ATTACK SURVIVOR: It is a relief. It must be a relieve, both because it means that justice, you know, is made what it had to do, but also because it means that this trial is behind me and I can go on with my life.
So , you know, it has been a long ten months, but I think we can be proud of what we have achieved. I'm just happy its coming to an end.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: (INAUDIBLE) How the Paris attacks unfolded, authorities say it first happened at 9:20 pm outside the stadium where a soccer match was taking place. Moments later, a second explosion was heard inside the stadium. Suicide bombers killed four people outside of the venue. 9:25, masked gunmen opened fire on two restaurants leaving 15 people dead.
Shortly after that, five more people gunned down outside of a cafe in the 11th district. Another restaurant was the next target. Gunmen armed with assault weapons shot 19 people dead. 9:40, another suicide bombing, this time inside a restaurant. Only the attacker were killed.
At the same time, the deadliest attack of all began at a Bataclan Theater where hundreds of people had gathered for a concert. Three gunman opened fire killing 89 people.
100-year-old former Nazi concentration camp guard has been sentenced by a German court to five years in prison. He was convicted of aiding and abetting the deaths of thousands of prisoners between 1942 and 1945. Under German privacy laws, it is illegal to name this former Nazi guard.
The longtime confidant of disgraced financier and pedophile Jeffrey Epstein was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison Tuesday. Ghislaine Maxwell had been convicted on five charges including six trafficking of a minor. One victim welcomed that sentence.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ANNIE FARMER, ACCUSER OF JEFFREY EPSTEIN: I just hope that this sentence can be another sign that voices are coming together and saying no more. If you commit these crimes, you will be punished. If you facilitate these crimes you will be punished.
If you are a bystander that looks the other way, you will not be allowed to continue to hold a position of power.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: We have more now on the trial and sentencing from CNN correspondent Jean Casarez in New York.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Maxwell was wearing a navy blue prison jumpsuit, she was shackled at her ankles and Judge Allison Nathan in delivering the sentence said that a significant sentence was necessary.
[01:49:54]
CASAREZ: She said that in the submissions by the defense that there was nothing about acceptance of responsibility. And she said that it was for her role, Maxwell's role for what he has been sentenced, not for Jeffery Epstein's conduct.
The judge proceeded with the sentence. But before that, and we didn't know it was going to happen, but Maxwell herself stood up to give an allocution to the court.
She's told the judge that it was actually speaking to the victims, that she was sorry for the pain you have experienced. I hope that the conviction brings you closure. I had hoped this day would bring a terrible chapter to its end. May this day help you travel from the darkness into the light.
She also said that it was difficult to address the court after hearing the emotion from the victims. And there were four victims of Maxwell that stood and gave in court victim impact statements. They read them, they would turn to Maxwell, they were emotional.
Here is one, quote, "I frequently express flashbacks and wake up in a cold sweat from nightmares retelling the awful experience. To this day, I attend meetings to treat alcoholism, but I have had numerous relapses and know that only by the grace of God I continue to live.
I have attempted suicide twice. The judge is recommending to the Bureau of Prisons that she goes to Danbury, Connecticut, they make the final decision. But it is 20 years with five years after that of supervised release.
Jean Casarez, CNN -- New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE) O'DONNELL: Up next, nearly 25 years since Hong Kong turned over to China, a former journalist who questioned the move then and speaks to CNN about the city's freedoms today.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VAUSE: Welcome back.
The independent news site Rappler, appears to be ordered to close by authorities in the Philippines. That is according to the site's founder and CEO Nobel prize-winning journalist and former CNN colleague, Maria Ressa.
She says a ruling revoking the operating license has been upheld by a government agency. But in a memo to staff she says that another appeal is underway and in the meantime, it will be business as usual.
Ressa has said she has been targeted because of Rappler's critical reporting on the outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte.
Security in Hong Kong being ramped up ahead of the visit by President Xi Jinping on Friday, marking 25 years since the handover back to China.
At the time, Beijing promised Hong Kong would retain its freedoms. Now though, many wonder how much autonomy is really left.
CNN's Kristie Lu Stout reports now from Hong Kong.
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: After Margaret Thatcher reached a deal with the Chinese on the return of Hong Kong. A local reporter took the Iron Lady to task.
Sign an agreement with China promising to deliver over 4 million people into the hands of a communist dictatorship.
STOUT: That's for Claims that mostly everyone in in Hong Kong was happy with the deal and told Emily La.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You made the solitary exception.
STOUT: What do you think of that answer today in 2022?
EMILY LAU, FORMER JOURNALIST: Many of the journalists who subsequently stood up. They ask similar questions. So even in that room I was in a solitary exception.
[01:54:54]
STOUT: July 1, 2022 marks exactly halfway, through 50 years of the one country two systems autonomy Beijing promised to Hong Kong at the 1997 handover. It aims to preserve the city's freedoms of expression and assembly. As well as its institutions including an independent judiciary.
But in the wake of the 2019 protests, pressure on the city's freedoms intensified thanks to a new national security law. Supporters say the law ended the chaos of 2019 and restored order. But it did more than that.
Scenes of mass protests like this are no more. At least 186 people have been arrested under the law including a 90-year old Catholic Cardinal. The opposition is virtually wiped out with many of the city's pro democracy figures in jail or exile.
Politically-charged artworks like the Pillar of Shame Tiananmen Memorial have been removed. Dozens of civil society groups, including the city's largest independent trade union have disbanded. And national security investigations have led to the shattering of news outlets like the Apple Daily.
When asked about charges of diminished freedoms, a Hong Kong government spokesman told CNN many freedoms and rights are not absolute and can be restricted for reasons, including protection of national security and public safety.
So as former security chief John Lee prepares to lead the city from July 1, what is left of Hong Kong's promised autonomy?
JOHN BURNS, UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG: We have autonomy in religion, in education, in media, Including social media, in the internet, in how we manage our civil service.
The second system is still here and it is functioning. It is under stress.
STOUT: Lau has always been a skeptic of one country-two systems as a reporter, a lawmaker, and former chair of the Democratic Party.
LAU: I will not say that one country two systems is completely finished. The fact that I can stand here in the Democratic Party office to talk to you shows that there is some freedom. And there are some differences, but they are getting less and less.
STOUT: Lau says she is staying in the city to support her friends and colleagues in prison, abiding by her mantra.
LAU: Be bold, be wise and be careful.
STOUT: Kristie Lu Stout, CNN -- Hong Kong.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE: Good advice. Thank you for watching this hour of CNN NEWSROOM. I'm John Vause.
Please stay with us, CNN NEWSROOM continues with my friend and colleague Lynda Kinkade. I will see you right here tomorrow.
[01:57:36]
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