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Zelenskyy Warns Of More Russian Missile Attacks On Ukraine; Airstrikes Hit Gaza Following Israel's Deadly Raid In West Bank; China Calls For Political Settlement On War's Anniversary; Think Tank: China Sending Sensitive Military Parts to Russia; CNN Speaks with Foreign Volunte4ers Fighting in Ukraine; Many Nigerians Leaving for Better Jobs Elsewhere; Global Artists Rally Around Ukraine. Aired 1-2a ET
Aired February 24, 2023 - 01:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. Appreciate your company. I'm Michael Holmes. Coming up here on the program. 365 days of terror and violence. It has been one year since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Right now the country bracing for anniversary attacks.
Also ahead the against all odds resistance that inspires so many meet the musicians paying tribute to the spirit of Ukraine.
And nearly a million homes without power across the United States. We'll have a live report on the winter weather just
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live from CNN Center. This is CNN Newsroom with Michael Holmes.
HOLMES: The head of Ukraine's military intelligence is warning of possible missile attacks from Russian forces on this the first anniversary of Vladimir Putin's invasion. It is a war that Western sources estimate has caused at least 150,000 military casualties on each side civilian deaths could be as high as 40,000.
This was the same one year ago today as air raid sirens rang out across Kyiv and other cities. The start of what Russian President Vladimir Putin called without a hint of irony, a special military operation. Some families gathered in prayer as Russian forces moved in many people, especially the elderly refusing to leave their homes, others huddled in subway stations and anywhere else underground to hide from Russia's onslaught.
More than 8 million people fled the country left altogether, leaving behind homes and lives and loved ones. At least another 5 million have been forced from their homes but remain inside the country.
Today, Ukraine carries on as it has for a year now barricades and sandbags lining the streets of the capital, but there were no Russian troops in Kyiv. What there is, is the continued defiance and will to survive.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OLENA ZELENSKA, UKRAINIAN FIRST LADY (through translator): A year of full scale war is a terrible date. Because it is a year of attack, aggression and murders, a year of hell in which Ukraine found itself because of Russia's invasive actions. Therefore, today, we are not commemorating a year of war. But we are celebrating a year of resistance to aggression, a year of courage, a year of mutual assistance and rescue of each other, a year of humanity and a year of friendship.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Cities across Europe showing their support for Ukraine on the first anniversary of Russia's invasion, thousands of people turning out for a nighttime vigil in London's Trafalgar Square. Earlier, demonstrators painted the Ukrainian colors on the road outside the Russian embassy. Four people were arrested.
In Paris the Eiffel Tower lit up in blue and yellow the mayor and Hidalgo tweeting Glory to Ukraine. And in Brussels, the European Parliament illuminated in the colors of Ukraine's flag, the EU issuing a statement saying Europe will not rest until Ukraine prevails and is rebuilt.
The UN General Assembly is marking the first anniversary of the war with a resolution demanding that Moscow immediately withdraw its troops from Ukraine. Seven countries including Russia, Belarus, Syria and North Korea voted against the measure China abstained. Ukraine's president and the U.S. Ambassador to the UN hailing the overwhelming international support.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LINDA THOMAS-GREENFIELD, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE UN: 141 countries. 141 countries recommitted to tackling the threats to energy finance, the environment, food insecurity, nuclear security that Russia's war has unleashed upon the world. And as stated in Ukraine's resolution, these 141 countries reiterated a clear demand to Russia withdraw.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Even before Russia launched its offensive, Russia's leader framed it as a patriotic struggle to quote, liberate Ukraine from Western aggression.
[01:05:07]
Now one year on many Russians still believe him. CNN's Frederik Pleitgen with more on the view from Moscow.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): Vladimir Putin laying a wreath that Russia has Tomb of the Unknown Soldier commemorating Soviet troops killed in World War II while the invasion in Ukraine is taking a heavy toll now.
VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSINA PRESIDENT (through translator): The sacred duty of the state is to take care of those who defend the country.
PLEITGEN: A year after launching the major invasion, Russia's leader has been busy trying to convince his people he has a plan for victory.
PUTIN (through translator): We have confidence in ourselves, confident in our strength. The truth is on our side.
PLEITGEN: But the truth is also it's been months since the Russians have made any significant progress on the battlefield. Smaller gains coming mostly thanks to the mercenary of the Wagner private military company. After a recent spat in which he blamed Russia's Defense Ministry for a high death toll for allegedly not providing enough ammunition, Wagner Yevgeny Prigozhin now sending battlefield greetings from near Bakhmut.
YEVGENY PRIGOZHIN, HEAD OF WAGNER GROUP (through translator): We congratulate all the guys who are fighting for on the front lines in the hospital, the military who are fighting for our Motherland, volunteers, those who work hard and make much needed.
PLEITGEN: But ammunition and weapons remain issue, hampering Russia's offensive operations. Former Putin advisor Sergei Markoff tells me.
SERGEI MARKOFF, DIRECTOR, INSTITUTE OF POLITICAL STUDIES: Well, you're going to put your mobilize to the November additional 300,000 soldiers, but they have been not used in attacking on the front because they have not been equipped by weaponry and in other staffers themselves.
PLEITGEN: On the homefront, support from what the Kremlin calls its special military operation remains strong. Even as only a few streets away, boarded up shops show the toll sanctions are taking on Russia's economy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): We got ourselves into this ordeal. We have to see it through to the end. It's like in a common street fight. If you give in, you will take the beating.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I don't think we will see the end of it anytime soon. I don't know what this end will look like. But I don't think there's anything good for Russia in it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Actually we did the right thing, it's just that we should have hit them stronger from the start. There's no question the victory will be ours.
PLEITGEN: Vladimir Putin acknowledges the times are tough for many Russians, but claims he had no other choice.
MARKOFF: Problems the majority of nation is fighting for Russian survival for existence. We have 1,000 history if our generation will be responsible for stopping Russia. What reason to leave? PLEITGEN (on camera): Making this out to be an existential battle for the very existence of Russia as a nation, it certainly seems to be the core that Vladimir Putin is trying to strike with his own population. And the way the Kremlin portrays that is that it's a battle on Ukrainian lands. But it is one between Russia and the West led by the United States. Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Moscow.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: And joining me now from Canberra in Australia, Malcolm Davis is a senior analyst of Defense Strategy and Capability at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. Always good to see you, Malcolm. The one year anniversary has commenced. What do you think will be the revised aims of the Russians given their losses in the last year their failures to achieve those initial goals?
MALCOLM DAVIS, MILITARY ANALYST: Well, thanks, Michael. Look, as you say the initial plan was to do this and three days, a year later, here we are. I think for the Russians, they recognize that they're not going to achieve a victory anytime soon. So their intention is to drag this out in a grinding attritional war, to wear down the Ukrainian forces as much as possible, and also to wear out the patience and resolve of Western European and the U.S. assistance to Ukraine.
If they -- if the Russians can achieve those two goals, then they have some chance of actually making progress. Wildcard of course is China will China aim arm Russia? We don't know that yet.
HOLMES: I was just about to ask you about, China they released a paper on what they think could settle the conflict. It contains nothing concrete, really some bullet points, to be honest. And meanwhile, the U.S. is suggesting China might be able -- might be about to get material military support to Russia.
So what then might that impact -- how that might impact the war if it turns out to be true? Do you fear a U.S.- China proxy conflict emerging?
[01:10:00]
DAVIS: I do I think that what you will see is China, eventually providing lethal military assistance to Russia, in the form of ammunition for artillery, drones, longer range missile systems and advanced capabilities. The West will continue to supply Ukraine with its own support.
So what you end up with is this sort of global proxy war. The Russians have been talking about this being a proxy war, but really, it's the Chinese that would initiate a proxy war here, because they would be directly fighting against the West through Russia, to try and essentially defeat the United States and NATO that has its own implications for China's interests, particularly in regards to Taiwan.
HOLMES: Yes, exactly. I wanted to ask you to your concerns about Moldova and the Russian backed separatists, Transdniestria region, right. Russia is saying that Ukraine is planning a false flag operation, the West says the opposite is true. And in fact, Russia is fomenting dissent in Moldova, what's the potential of a flashpoint there?
DAVIS: Well, look, I think the greatest risk is that Russia does some sort of hybrid warfare attack inside Moldova, to destabilize the government is already indications that that is what the Russians are planning to do. They then bring in military forces into Transdniestria to reinforce their units there and ultimately, extend the warranty Moldova.
I think the challenge then is the workout is for NATO to work out how it responds to that. There's an awful lot of ethnic Romanians inside Moldova, so Romania being along the border there and being a NATO member, it would come under incredible pressure to not sit back and do nothing if ethnic Romanians are being put at risk inside Moldova. So there's a potential axis of escalation there that's building which we need to keep an eye on.
HOLMES: Yes. We're almost out of time but real quick on the battlefield. You know, the reports Russians have bolstered forces regrouped, rearm, but do you see the capacity and importantly the capability to make effective games as they stand right now real quick?
DAVIS: Look, I don't think so at the moment, their offensive could grow in intensity, They might capture Bakhmut. But I think that all the indications are that offensive will culminate. In other words, the Russians can't sustain it beyond that location. And then it will either be back to a stalemate, which is not good news for the Ukrainians, or a situation where the Ukrainians can go on the counter offensive. So those are the two outcomes I see in the next few months.
HOLMES: Always great to have your analysis, Malcolm. Malcolm Davis in Canberra, appreciate your time.
DAVIS: Thank you.
HOLMES: Well, it's even more tense than usual in both Israel and the Palestinian territories after one of the deadliest Israeli military raids in the occupied West Bank in years, a raid which killed 11 Palestinians and reportedly wounded at least 500 others on Wednesday.
On Thursday, demonstrators in Gaza burn tires near the border with Israel following back and forth cross border attacks. The Israeli military says it struck key targets in Gaza belonging to the Hamas militant group after six rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel.
Meanwhile, many Palestinian shops and schools across the region were closed on Thursday to protest the deadly Israeli raid. The country's Prime Minister though defending it and saying Israel will quote, settle accounts with those who attack its citizens and soldiers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER (through translator): We will continue to take all action on all fronts near and far in order to throw our enemy's efforts to attack us. Whoever tries to harm us will pay the price.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: According to the head of the Palestinian Red Crescent as we said many people wounded during the West Bank raid were hit with live bullets. CNN's Hadas Gold spoke to witnesses and walks us through what happened.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HADAS GOLD, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): The winding narrow streets of the Casbah Nablus looks like a warzone, bullet holes on the doorways, cars, rubble on the street, bloodstains on the ground. Aftermath of a rare daytime Israeli military operation to target three militants these really say were about to carry out imminent attacks.
Soldiers surrounding this home where militants were holed up, refusing to give themselves up. Massive firefight the Israelis launching shoulder fired rockets. This woman lives right next door still trembling, so afraid she didn't want to show her face, saying soldiers warn people to go home. She entered her house where soldiers questioned her and warned her she'd hear explosions.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): We heard explosions and went to hide under our beds. We covered our ears with blankets. I can't even describe how shocking it was. We saw death with our own eyes. We didn't expect to get out of this alive.
[01:15:05]
GOLD: The battle spilling out into the surrounding streets as locals and militants clashed with the soldiers. Ahmad Jibril, the head of the Red Cross in Annapolis, said hundreds were injured many by live ammunition seemingly falling from the sky, including unarmed non- combatants.
AHMAD JIBRIL, HEAD OF RED CRESCENT SOCIETY NABLUS (through translator): Tis is the first time they invade at this time of the day, we consider a trash hour at a densely populated area at the main market in the city.
GOLD: That includes the father of Elias Al Ashqar, a nurse at Al Nadja hospital, who says he was treating the wounded when he was called into another room. A man was dying from a bullet. But then, Father, Father He cries out. When he recognizes the body.
ELIAS AL ASHQAR, NURSE (through translator): I came back to check on the two injuries. I asked the doctor and he said both died. I found a very strange feeling that something belongs to me is between the beds. I open the second curtain and it was my father. In the beginning, I didn't believe it. Then I came closer.
GOLD: The Israeli military acknowledging the situation was chaotic and messy, saying was looking into reports of unarmed civilians shot by their forces. Carnage like this not seen since the days of the Second Intifada, as residents here have lost faith in the Palestinian Authority, saying only God can protect them. Hadas Gold, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Still to come here on the program. Many earthquake survivors in Turkey in dire need of shelter, some are still waiting for cancel any kind of temporary housing. We'll have their story and much more after the break.
Also, China talks peace in Ukraine but reportedly props up Russia's war effort behind the scenes. We'll be right back.
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HOLMES: It has been 18 days since the powerful earthquake and more than 100 children in Turkey remain unidentified without their loved ones. The Turkish government says the majority of the nearly 1,900 unaccompanied children pulled from the rubble have however been reunited with their families. Nearly 400 of them remain in hospitals.
And amid growing pressure on the government to provide more help, top officials are urging people to stay away from damaged buildings under threat from more strong aftershocks. CNN's Nada Bashir is in Hatay province with the latest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NADA BASHIR, CNN REPORTER (on camera): Well, more than two weeks on since the earthquake struck here in southeast Turkey and there are still thousands and thousands of people who've been left completely homeless with absolutely nothing.
Now according to authorities, some 900,000 people are currently living in tents across this region. We've seen some of those IDPs camps which have been set up.
[01:20:00]
It is only a temporary measure but for now it is the only home many people have and in fact there are new ways of providing shelter that are being developed and one of the more novel forms of shelter that have now been established here in Iskenderun in the Hatay province is this ship, the Gemini, which is currently housing more than 1,000 people displaced by the earthquake from this nearby area.
There are 400 cabins on board families with children all on board. They'll be spending the next couple of weeks here until they're provided with a tent or a more permanent container shelter on one of these IDP camps.
Now, on board, there are activities for the children, they're providing meals and health care. But this is only a temporary measure. And once they are finally assigned a tent or container, they will then move on. So this will only last for the next few weeks.
But there is growing pressure on the Turkish government to find a more permanent solution for those who have made -- been made homeless by this earthquake and indeed those who also lost their homes in the significant aftershock on Monday and there is a real sense of loss, a real sense of destruction across this region. It is difficult to grasp and explaining was the scale of the destruction across Southeast Turkey, particularly in the Hatay Province, which was among the worst hit by the earthquake. Many of these people have lost absolutely everything.
And when we've been speaking to those families living in the IDP camps, some are still waiting for tents, they're living on the streets. The nights are cold and their children are sleeping outside. So there is a real sense of urgency and a real sense of growing pressure on the Turkish government and on the international community to continue to provide further support for those who have been made most vulnerable by this earthquake. Nada Bashir, CNN, Iskenderun, Turkey.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: And if you would like to help earthquake survivors just go to cnn.com/impact. You -- there, you're going to find a list of verified organizations working on rescue and relief efforts. It's a great resource.
From California to Maine, millions in the U.S. are being hit with ice, snow and blizzard conditions. A multi-day weather event has shut down roads for thousands of flight cancellations and caused nearly a million power outages. Some parts of the U.S. have seen up to 100 centimeters or 40 inches of snowfall in the past few days.
And take a look at this, in Oregon, icy conditions causing this car to just slide on down the hill. Thankfully, the driver was able to stop before landing in a ditch or even hitting another car or person.
While in upstate New York, this man was having a bit of fun in the elements when freezing rain hit Buffalo. He hit the icy streets. And it's not over yet. Meteorologist Britley Ritz joins me now. And it's you know, it's funny. It's a range of temperatures, which is stunning. There was a record February camp here in Atlanta of 27 degrees Celsius. And yet from those images up north are incredible in a polar opposite.
BRITLEY RITZ, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Exactly. Mother Nature can make up our mind. It just -- it's amazing to see these differences, where temperatures are in the 30s in one direction, and then freezing in another. It's unbelievable. It's not over yet. We've got still freezing rain across parts of New England. Boston still tapping into some of that freezing precip.
But thankfully, most of it's starting to settle down around the Great Lakes still some Lake enhanced moisture there. But notice Boston again still getting some of that slick weather this morning in the Northeast. So just one of those days you just want to hunker down and not deal with Mother Nature's mess.
Wisconsin. Look at these numbers. This is freezing rain accumulation preliminary. We're still dealing with some precip accumulation yet, but almost three quarters of an inch for some of these locations. Many are still dealing without power.
Look at Michigan, Indiana, parts of New York still without power and many now under some sort of winter weather alert across the southwest part of the United States with this next area of low pressure that's going to move in. I mean, places just north of LA are under blizzard warnings. That's the first time since 1989. And this begins Friday and into Saturday where many are expected to pick up feet of snow. Michael.
HOLMES: Wow. All right, Britley, thank you. Britley Ritz there. Appreciate it. Some soldiers who don't call Ukraine home are still risking their lives for it. After the break, CNN gains exclusive access to foreign volunteers who talk about their war of choice in Ukraine. We'll be right back.
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[01:27:07]
HOLMES: European capitals showing their solidarity with Ukraine as Russia's invasion of that country. It's the one year mark. Here, the Ukrainian flag hoisted outside the European Union headquarters in Brussels.
And as the war crosses that one year mark, China's spelling out its ideas for how to end the conflict. A few hours ago releasing a new position paper about the fighting in Ukraine. Kristie Lu Stout joins me now from Hong Kong. She's been going through it. And when you read through it, and it's not so much a roadmap to peace, as opposed to a wish list of less than concrete suggestions or ideas.
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Michael, you absolutely nailed it on this one year anniversary of the Ukraine war, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs released this, this position paper on a political settlement for the crisis in Ukraine. And it calls for an end to all hostilities, it calls for an end to unilateral sanctions. It also calls for the resumption of peace talks with China quote, playing a constructive role. But it didn't offer any concrete details.
And we did hear a response from the head of the EU delegation and China said that this position paper is just that a paper, it's not a peace proposal. But we also heard from Ukraine's Charge D'Affaires in China who said that this position paper is quote, a good sign.
But the Charge D'Affaires of Ukraine also urged China to do quote, everything to end the war. Earlier, we heard from a senior U.S. State Department official said that any peace plan for Ukraine, it must be lasting and it must be just. I want you to listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VICTORIA NULAND, U.S. UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE OF POLITICS AFFAIRS: A week ago or so what's most important is that any peace be a just peace and a durable peace. It can't simply be a cynical ceasefire that allows the Russians the time to go home rest, refit and return as we saw. So that's why the Ukrainians themselves have put out a 10-point peace plan which focuses on their full sovereignty, their full territorial integrity. But listen, if Xi Jinping can get Putin and his army out of Ukraine, I think we'd all applaud and give a peace prize.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT: This comes as the U.S. State Department and the Pentagon continued to warn China of consequences if it provides lethal support to Russia. China continues to fight back against that allegation. According to the latest MOFA briefing. I want to show this to you. This is what we heard from the spokesman quote, we can easily imagine that the intelligence of the U.S. referred to as most likely chasing shadows and smearing China. Since the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis, China has firmly stood on the side of dialogue and peace, unquote.
And Michael, we are waiting details about a concrete Chinese peace plan but of course we're awaiting Russia's reaction to all this as Nuland pointed out herself the fundamental question is does Vladimir Putin want peace, Michael?
[01:29:42]
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, absolutely.
Kristie, thank you so much. Kristie Lu Stout there.
Meanwhile, NATO is backing up U.S. concerns that China is at least considering sending arms to Russia. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg raised these concerns on Thursday, days after a similar statement from Washington. But a U.S. think tank says Beijing is already propping up Russia's efforts on the battlefield.
Will Ripley reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WILL RIPLEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: What will it take to stop the suffering, the senseless slaughter of Russia's unprovoked war on Ukraine? One year in, President Vladimir Putin has a problem.
Ammo is running low. The U.S. government says, Russia will run out of serviceable ammunition this year. Moscow denies they have a fading arsenal, forcing their military to conserve. Unless they get help. Help the U.S. and NATO say, could come from China.
ANTONY BLINKEN, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: To date, we have seen Chinese companies and, of course, in China there's really no distinction between private companies and the state. We have seen them provide non-lethal support to Russia, for use in Ukraine.
The concern that we have now is based on information we have that they're considering providing lethal support.
RIPLEY: China denies it, calling the claims, unfounded, a ploy, a smear. Beijing and Moscow declared a no limits partnership last year. CNN obtained a new report showing Moscow may already be getting a
boost on the battlefield from Beijing. Troves of trade data collected and supplied by the Center for Advanced Studies, a D.C. think tank. The data shows China is sending Russian defense companies sophisticated parts.
NAOMI GARCIA, DATA ANALYST C4ADS: We see the nature of these parts being labeled explicitly for use and military systems.
RIPLEY: CNN did not verify the data, showing a steady supply of parts dramatically increasing after the invasion. They could be helping Russia resupply.
Rotors for attack helicopters, other parts for communication and controls, radar antenna parts for anti aircraft missile systems sent to a Russian defense company labeled "for military use", the think tank says. Their data shows military assistance from several Chinese companies, even before the war.
Dual use aircraft, radar and lab equipment flowing into Russia 268 times. Shipped by Poly Group or its umbrella company, Poly Technologies, a state-backed Chinese arms manufacturer.
CNN contacted Poly Group for comment, along with several other Chinese companies shown in the data. So far, no response.
GARCIA: Any trade between a sanctioned Chinese state owned defense company and a Russian sanctioned defense company, during wartime, any trade really at all is indicative of a growing partnership that should potentially be of concern.
RIPLEY: The data implies deepening cooperation. The U.S. suspects China of creeping closer and closer to fully supporting Russia's war. The consequences for Ukraine could be catastrophic.
MALCOLM DAVIS, SENIOR ANALYST, AUSTRALIAN STRATEGIC POLICY INSTITUTE: Sudden inflow of Chinese weapons into the Russians could fundamentally shift the dynamics in Moscow's (INAUDIBLE).
RIPLEY: When asked about allegations of backing Moscow, Beijing blames Washington -- saying, it's the U.S., not China providing a steady stream of weapons on the battlefield.
Off the battlefield, trade data reveals Russia may be bypassing western sanctions, buying blacklisted advanced technology from Beijing, the kind of tech Putin's army needs to power high tech weapons and communication systems.
Why would China risk so much for Russia?
DAVIS: It's in their interest to have a Russian victory, and to have the United States and its allies humiliated.
RIPLEY: Russia's president and China's top diplomat meeting in Moscow Wednesday, just two days after President Biden's surprise trip to Kyiv. Democracy and autocracy -- a fight for the future of Ukraine and perhaps the free world.
China's foreign minister visited the Kremlin in a visit that's widely believed to be a precursor for a visit in the coming months between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russia's President Vladimir Putin.
Now, what they're going to discuss, whether it be this Chinese peace plan or something else, remains an open question. But what is clear is that the partnership between China and Russia remains rock-solid, as evidenced by these high profile visits and talks of this upcoming summit between the two leaders of the largest authoritarian powers in the world.
Will Ripley, CNN -- Taipei.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[01:34:53]
HOLMES: CNN has reached out to Russia for comment, we have received no response so far.
According to the "Wall Street Journal", Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov said, quote, "Russia has enough technological potential to ensure its security and conduct the special military operation, adding this potential is constantly being improved.
Western leaders are more focused than ever on weapons and training for Ukrainian troops in anticipation for a Ukrainian counter offensive.
The British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to urge speedier military aid to Ukraine when he speaks with G-7 leaders in the coming hours.
And U.S. Defense chief Lloyd Austin tells CNN that the mechanized infantry brigade being trained and equipped by the U.S. will give Ukraine the ability to alter the battlefield.
In a CNN town hall, the U.S. National Security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told a frontline Ukrainian soldier exactly what the U.S. was prepared to do. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAKE SLLIVAN, U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: Well first, Igor, before I answer the question I just want to say that, as you stand out on the frontlines tonight, you are defending the freedom of your country but as President Biden said in Warsaw two nights ago, you're defending freedom everywhere.
And so, I want to say thank you for your bravery, your courage and for the men and women who are fighting with you.
We are grateful for all that you do, the sacrifices that you are making. And we can't even begin to imagine the difficulties and the trials that you've gone through. What we can do is everything in our power to get you the equipment and
the ammunition that you need. And, you mentioned 155 millimeter artillery shells, 120 millimeter tank shells and other systems like the High Mars Missiles that you also just discussed.
One of the things that we are working hard at, at President Biden's direction is to increase the production of all of these types of ammunition. Here in the United States but also in NATO countries so that the total supply of each of these different forms of ammunition grows month by month. And we can continue to move to the front lines.
This ammunition and the quantities that is necessary for you to be able to mount a successful defense and for you to be able to take back territory that has been occupied by Russia.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: All right, we want to now give you a perspective on the war in Ukraine from some people who did not have to be there but still chose to fight. CNN has been given an exclusive access to Ukraine's International Legion. That's a group of foreign fighters who joined Ukraine's military to put their lives on the line for a country that is not theirs.
Alex Marquardt with the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: On the road as the sun comes up with American fighter, Jason Mann at the wheel driving into the devastated frontline town of Vuhledar. Traveling in and out through a muddy field means being exposed, a direct line of sight from Russian artillery and tanks.
JASON MANN, AMERICAN FIGHTER, UKRAINE INTERNATIONAL LEGION: This is not an early morning where we live.
MARQUARDT: First light means hopefully avoiding the endless Russian shelling raining down including terrifying thermobaric missiles. Everyone aware that a shell could land at any moment.
Even as Russian forces struggled to take any real ground here, they are inflicting a massive amount of damage on this town which is largely made up of these Soviet era apartment blocks. You can see this one blackened by the fighting. Over here, a massive crater from a Russian missile.
Ukrainian forces do have the higher ground here they are able to use these buildings to defend this town but it is getting absolutely pummeled. Only a handful of hardy (ph) civilians left. Their home now eerie, apocalyptic ruins.
For months, Mann and his unit of foreign troops, of (INAUDIBLE) troops have fought alongside Ukraine's 72nd brigade putting the Russians at bay.
MANN: This is redefining the global order as we speak. This is democracy versus autocracy.
Do we want to let autocracy control more people's lives in the future or prevent it from doing that ever again? Strictly (ph).
MARQUARDT: And that's what's in your head when you head out there?
MANN: Absolutely, that's the only reason I'm here.
MARQUARDT: Waves of Russian forces advance in open fields. They have had an enormous losses but they keep coming and keep bombing. This strategic corner of Ukraine is where the southern and eastern fronts meet, making it a major priority for Russia's push deeper into Donbas.
Mann arrived in Ukraine at the very beginning of the war. He's a former U.S. Marine who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, who went on to Columbia University and worked at Google as a software engineer.
[01:39:57]
MARQUARDT: In the village house where the unit lives a few miles from the front, Mann tells us he is now here for as long as it takes.
MANN: The Ukrainians are very committed to having their country back. That includes Crimea, to most of them. As long as we are outside (ph), I'm happy.
MARQUARDT: And it is, he says, as the war enters its second year.
New recruits have also just arrived from Canada and the U.K. The fights so urgent the team leader Turtle (ph) from New Zealand only has a couple of days to get them ready.
TURTLE, UKRAINE' INTERNATIONAL LEGION: There is such a level of emotion over these spots, mainly because from a lot of what I've seen is that I don't want to be there either. You know, I never thought that I'll be their experience in the war in that sort of way (INAUDIBLE) because we are just finding war and I don't know, like, it's like fighting in a time warp.
MARQUARDT: Turtle has to head to a funeral, for a Ukrainian teammate just killed by Russian mortar fire. There are so many losses in such a little time to grieve.
TURTLE: -- (INAUDIBLE) harder for us because , the foreign military because, you know ever since like Iraq and Afghanistan, really losing (INAUDIBLE) there's always room to always get over your friends but it's just hard sometimes when the next day, you have to go out, and do something.
Sometimes you've missed saying (INAUDIBLE) you need to go.
MARQUARDT: Both Turtle and Mann are very matter of fact that they could lose their lives fighting for a country that isn't theirs, one year into this war, neither is second guessing himself.
MANN: And everyone gets that choice. For me it was more of a serendipitous wake. One of those moments in your life that you don't really have a choice, actually.
MARQUARDT: No regrets?
MANN: No regrets, yes.
MARQUARDT: Jason Mann, who also goes by Doc, with his unit told us it is the resilience and ingenuity of the Ukrainians over the past year that makes it hard not to believe in the Ukrainians at this point going forward.
Now, they are expecting some kind of action from the Russians around the anniversary of the invasion. They don't know what's coming. They are bracing for it knowing how important Vuhledar is for the Russians and their push into Donbas.
Alex Marquardt, CNN, in Dnipro, Ukraine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Millions of Nigerians will head to the polls this week to choose their next president but many of the country's youngest and brightest are looking to leave Nigeria Frustrated with its shortcomings. We'll have that when we come back.
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HOLMES: Disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein has been sentenced to an additional 16 years in prison. He was found guilty of multiple sexual assault charges last December, after eight women testified against him in a California court.
Weinstein denied all the charges. He's already serving a 23 year sentence in New York for sexual assault and rape. The 70-year-old former producer is appealing that conviction.
[01:45:00]
HOLMES: On Saturday Nigerian voters will choose their next president. The election coming as frustrations are growing in the country, especially among young Nigerians. Many of them opting not to see what a new leader can do, instead packing up and leaving. And their departures are raising concerns for Nigeria's future.
Larry Madowo reports.
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LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's become a social media trend. Nigerians fleeing the country and filming as they relocate for greener pastures abroad.
Adu Ayeni (ph) -- is packing up his house in Lagos getting ready for his flight to the U.K. in a few days to start a new job and a new life.
It's called Japa (ph) -- a Yoruba (ph) word meaningfully flee that has become the shorthand for the exodus out of Nigeria.
ADU AYENI, NIGERIAN EMIGRANT: I am japaing (ph) and leaving the country, like we say, because of the opportunities that are available to me abroad. I'm going there to have a better life, better economy for my family.
MADOWO: Nearly 70 percent of Nigerians would relocate out of the country if given the chance. A 2022 survey by the Africa Polling Institute found.
What frustrates you most about living in Nigeria?
AYENI: Are you sure you want me to answer that question?
MADOWO: I do.
AYENI: Because there are a lot of things that frustrate me. Starting with the most basic of all -- power supply.
MADOWO: Many Nigerians fed up with erratic power supply, the high cost of living, insecurity and persistent corruption are emigrating, mostly to Europe and North America.
Japa part of popular culture in Nigeria because almost everyone knows someone is leaving or has left.
And when they Japa, they seek a good life, they seek a good life. They seek a good world, good everything.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have a family.
MADOWO: Where are they?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where are they -- my family is in America, because of security.
MADOWO: This (INAUDIBLE) hope the Labour Party president candidate was promised to track all the brain drain and turn things around.
But everything is running on radical change to revive a deeply broken Nigeria. Even the incumbent party.
At this rally for the ruling party candidate Bola Tinubu, you can see why the campaign's messaging offering renewed hope for Nigeria and promising to fix the economy and secure the country.
No beats in an old song perhaps that is still popular among his supporters if not all of a weary population.
TITUS NWATOR, TAXI DRIVER: Those who can't survive are migrating out of Nigeria, the number of worker visas in the U.K. issued a Nigerian jump almost 400 defense because in the USA issue tonight Syrians jump almost 400 percent in just two years according to official data.
Nigeria was the state's largest source of immigrant to Canada In 2021 moving up eight places in just five years. About 50 doctors resettle out of the country every week, the Nigerian
medical association says. In fact, the health sector is losing nurses, pharmacists and other professionals and record numbers.
DR. KEMI ABILOYE, LAGOS ASSOCIATION OF RESIDENT DOCTORS: If nothing is done, so reduce (INAUDIBLE), doctors, medical professionals, health care workers are leaving the shores of this country. It's just a matter of yes, I'm not sure, without any doctor will be lifted.
But most people in Africa's most populous nation can't leave. They can only hope that Nigeria's next leader will make it worth living in
Larry Madowo, CNN -- LAGOS.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Ukrainians are being inspired by music in the fight for their nation.
And the voices being raised are coming not just from Ukraine but from around the world. That story ahead on CNN.
[01:48:55]
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HOLMES: Rhianna there singing "Lift Me Up" from the Marvel movie "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever". The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced she will perform the Oscar nominated song live during this year's awards show on March the 12th.
Rihanna co-wrote "Lift Me Up" earning her first ever Oscar nomination. The multiple Grammy winner already having quite the year fresh off her record breaking Super Bowl halftime show.
And of course, she's expecting another child with the rapper A$AP Rocky.
Now, as the Ukrainian people fight for their very survival their defiance and resilience is being celebrated around the world. Never before have so many heard and sang the Ukrainian national anthem or raised the Ukrainian flag, or said the words Slava Ukraini.
John Vause reports on the special role music particularly from abroad has played in the Ukrainian struggle.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In Lower Manhattan they raised the Ukrainian flag and played the national anthem, tribute to a fearless Ukrainian defiance, a sign of solidarity seen at Major League Baseball games, and professional hockey.
On America's Independence Day a reminder Ukrainian were still fighting and dying for theirs. Live from New York the Ukrainian chorus, Dumka (ph) performing "Prayer
for Ukraine". In a very rare move "Saturday Night Live" dropped the jokes in the cold open to broadcast a moment of solidarity with the people of Ukraine.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Live from New York it's Saturday Night.
VAUSE: Around the world Ukraine's newfound supporters took to the streets with marches from Mexico City to Montreal, Buenos Aires to Berlin showing their support for Ukraine in song.
Choirs across Spain led a global livestream sing-along for peace.
While Ukrainian musicians many in bunkers and on frontlines were joined in harmony by 94 violinists in 29 countries. They performed an old Ukrainian folksong, raising money for humanitarian aid. And the money kept flowing with a series of benefit concerts, like this one in Romania to help Europe deal with the biggest refugee crisis it's seen since World War II.
Millions of Ukrainians have crossed the border into Poland and beyond, many greeted there by a man and his piano.
DAVIDE MARTELLO, PIANIST: I'm just trying to welcome all the refugees. And I know that all those people they hear bombings, gun shooting, cannons, that's my message, is peace and unity.
VAUSE: Yoko Ono was behind these "Imagine" piece billboards from Times Square to Piccadilly Circus.
And the day which Julian Lennon had dreaded for so long, arrived in April. For the first time ever he performed in public his father's iconic hit, "Imagine", part of the global citizen fund-raiser which has brought in more than $10 billion for Ukrainians forced to flee their home and their homeland.
JULIAN LENNON, SINGER: So that was a one-time only and for the right reason.
VAUSE: And on CNN, Dave Matthews debuted "Something to tell my Baby", a song for Ukraine.
[01:54:47]
DAVE MATTHEWS, SINGER: My mom used to always say that war is sort of like madness, it's like -- it's like cancer. It's like cells gone awry. Suddenly everything that we really naturally care about -- other humans, our family, gets torn apart.
And like it's happening right now where you are in Ukraine.
VAUSE: Putin's war was motivation for legendary band Pink Floyd, recording their first new track in almost 20 years.
DAVID GILMOUR, PINK FLOYD GUITARIST AND VOCALIST: It seemed like a great thing to arrive at my feet, that I could then turn into something which would actively, I hope, do some positive good, help boost the morale of the people in the Ukraine.
VAUSE: For Russia though, the Sound of Silence as rock band Green Day, producing a young blood and former One Direction member Lewis Tomlinson (ph) canceling tours and boycotting the country in protest of the war.
80-year-old Barbra Streisand whose grandparents emigrated from Ukraine to the U.S. spoke by phone with President Zelenskyy promising $24,000 to his United 24 platform to fight the war against Russia.
Later Babs tweeted this, "I've been moved by the resilience and the courage of the Ukrainian people and his inspirational leadership."
For singer songwriter and performer of the Seinfeld Theme, Les Claypool (ph) had his own way of praising the courage of the Ukrainian leader.
LES CLAYPOOL, MUSICIAN: I was hanging out and drinking with some friends of mine from Poland, on February 24th, and the notion came up that we should do something some piece of art to raise awareness and we were impressed by the fortitude of Mr. Zelenskyy and the notion further came about that he had balls of steel.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: And you can watch our half hour special, "MUSIC THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE", Saturday 9:30 in the morning in Kyiv, that's 7:30 p.m. in Sydney.
Thanks for spending part of your day with me, I'm Michael Holmes. You can follow me on Twitter and Instagram at Holmes CNN.
Do stick around. I'll be back with another hour of news in just a moment.
[01:57:29]
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