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Zelenskyy To Meet Biden At NATO Summit; NATO Statement: Ukraine's Future Is In NATO; Ukraine Shoots Down Iran-Made Drones Launched By Russia; Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Meets Aung San Suu Kyi. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired July 12, 2023 - 02:00   ET

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

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[02:00:38]

LAILA HARRAK, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Welcome to all of our viewers watching from around the world. I'm Laila Harrak. Ahead on CNN NEWSROOM. Ukraine's wait for NATO membership and President Zelenskyy's frustration looms large over the final day of the summit in Vilnius with a high stakes meeting between Zelensky and the U.S. President ahead.

North Korea launches an apparent intercontinental ballistic missile on the day the leaders of Japan and South Korea are set to meet.

Plus, extreme weather in Asia. Heavy rains lead to deadly flooding in Japan. Plus sweltering heat in Shanghai and across China.

ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Center. This is CNN NEWSROOM with Laila Harrak. The second day of a crucial NATO Summit is underway in Lithuania's capitol where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has brought his urgent push for membership to the alliance. And in the hours ahead, he will likely be discussing that very issue and a face- to-face meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden.

On Tuesdays, Zelenskyy was greeted by cheering crowds in Vilnius where he appeared to put pressure on NATO members to provide a concrete timeframe on when Ukraine could join the group. And the aim to make clear is countries membership would help both Ukraine and NATO.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE (through translator): NATO will give Ukraine security. Ukraine will make NATO stronger.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRAK: Well, in a statement, NATO leaders said Ukraine's future is in NATO as they reaffirm their support for Kyiv's bid but still remained vague about the timing. Ukraine did when one major concession. As NATO agreed to streamline the accession process to just one step. NATO with Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that came after countries agreed to remove the requirement for a Membership Action Plan. Any invitation will still be conditional on democratic and security reforms. Stoltenberg did not give a timeline on when it could be done. CNN's Melissa Bell is in the Lithuanian capital and joins me now with the very latest. So good to have you with us, Melissa. After a day of gestures, Mr. Zelenskyy and President Biden meet face to face.

MELISSA BELL, CNN PARIS CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Well, we expect today Laila first of all those opening remarks from Jen Stoltenberg, the Secretary General of NATO. They're due to start any moment. But all eyes will very much be on that particular bilateral meeting and what comes out of it. And later on, Joe Biden's words when he closes the summit with a speech. There have been these tensions between President Zelenskyy on one hand and the hopes he'd had of getting more and specifically a timetable, Leila and the rest of the alliance that, frankly was quite pleased with having come up with what it did come up with, as you mentioned, the fact that that requirements for Membership Action Plan has been scrapped.

And President Zelenskyy doesn't go home, even already entirely empty handed. He's also had individual pledges of fresh weaponry. The French President, for instance, offering to send long-range missiles that Paris had been reluctant to give Kyiv so far. The Germans as well, announcing a fresh package of more than 600,000 -- 600 million euros, I'm sorry, that will include things like more Leopard tanks and that much needed ammunition.

There is of course on the table that pledge of the fresh American military aid package that includes the controversial cluster munitions. No doubt that will be at the heart of President Zelenskyy's meeting with President Biden later. So, he does go home, not only with a sense of the fact that NATO is firmly behind him that Ukraine's future as we've been hearing repeatedly, for the last day is within NATO.

But of course, much more tangibly, even as this counter offensive struggles to make the kind of progress that Ukrainians had hoped for. Much more weaponry and including those cluster munitions as controversial as they are. What we've heard here is the Ukrainian defense minister Alexei Resnikoff describing them as potentially a game changer as Ukraine -- Ukrainian forces try and pierce through those fortified Russian frontlines, Laila.

[02:05;05]

HARRAK: Melissa Bell reporting live from Vilnius. Thank you so much. And joining me now from Kyiv is Timofey Milovanov. A president of the Kyiv School of Economics and former Minister of Economic Development and trade of Ukraine. Sir, a very warm welcome to CNN. Let me get your reaction first to NATO affirming Ukraine's future is in the Alliance, but stopping short of saying how or when it will be invited to join.

TIMOFEY MILOVANOV, PRESIDENT, KYIV SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS: Yes. I think many Ukrainians here in Kyiv and elsewhere in Ukraine feel frustrated to put it diplomatically. Exactly. Because there is no clarity on what needs to be done. There is language about the reforms, both security and democratic reforms, but there is no indication about what those pertain. If we compare it with the E.U. candidacy when there was a discussion about that, the E.U. put forward seven specific criteria that Ukraine has to meet and Ukraine is on paths forward to meeting them.

So, the discussion is ongoing. So at the very least, many Ukrainians expected that there would be more specificity about what needs to be done to get into NATO. Now, it appears a little bit hollow.

HARRAK: So, there's disappointment. But it's coming up with a timeline at this moment, just simply impossible, because nobody knows when Russia is going to withdraw.

MILOVANOV: Well, I agree with you completely about the timeline. But it would be -- would have been possible to come up with criteria.

HARRAK: Now, Ukraine's strongest supporter in this war is the United States. But unfortunately, it does not support Kyiv bid to join a NATO, at least not yet while the war is going on. I mean, what do you make of that?

MILOVANOV: Yes. That's going to generate some tension between Kyiv and Washington, at least in the near future. But I don't think this tension will be long lasting, you know, maybe days or weeks. And the allies will figure out a way to move forward. Also there is discussion about specificity in -- about concrete steps in security guarantees. That's not as highlighted as -- in my view should have been.

Because, for example, comprehensive action plan by NATO has been declared. It's even inconvenient yet to become sustainable and funded over the years. There is a NATO-Ukraine Council which is established, and it has met for the first time yesterday. So there are some specific -- very technocratic steps to ensure continuous and formalized relationship between NATO and Ukraine.

HARRAK: So, taking all of that what you just said right now, and considering the U.S. commitment to support Ukraine and allies' arms flow to Ukraine and the security guarantees that you also just mentioned. Does Kyiv even need to become a NATO member taking all of that into consideration?

MILOVANOV: So, there are two aspects to it. The weapons, the actual defense security mechanisms, and I think those could indeed, be done outside of the formal NATO umbrella. And in some ways, actually, I've seen some commentators and partly I agree with them, there's more freedom for countries to do bilateral support without Ukraine for now being a part of member because there'll be less constrained.

On the other hand, there's a political signal, geopolitical signal to Russia that -- and this is where many of Ukrainians are concerned that NATO has sent the wrong signal that, you know, if you continue Russia, the signal to Russia, if you continue to push the West and continue to pressure the West, not to -- not to meet Ukraine because of the fear of escalation, the West will actually cave in and that can embolden Russia and this is my concern.

HARRAK: Now, do you think it's ever going to happen? Ukraine joining NATO?

MILOVANOV: It depends on the outcome of the war. If Ukrainians victors and, you know, there was a separate discussion what the definition of realistic victory could be. Ukraine, wants to liberate all of its territories, because otherwise in things it will be just one episode and another invasion will be coming in the future. But, you know, the other part if there is a victory, and Ukraine continues to be democratic, pro-E.U., pro-Western country, I think there's absolutely no doubt that it will happen.

I don't know how soon it will happen. And I have been involved in multiple closed-door discussions with some politicians in the West, where we debated what's going to happen first. The E.U. for Ukraine or NATO. And most of the Westerners thinking that the E.U. going to happen faster because there's political consensus on that. But on NATO, not yet.

[02:10:03]

HARRAK: Timofey Milovanov, thank you so much for speaking to us.

Now Ukraine's military says it shot down 11 Iranian-made drones launched by Russia in the early hours of Wednesday. But some still did damage to infrastructure in central Ukraine and two people were hospitalized with burns. While this comes after Ukrainian says its air defenses also repelled Russian attack drones launched toward the Kyiv region for the second night in a row.

Meanwhile, on the frontlines, Ukraine's military says it's making further progress retaking territory around the city of Bakhmut. Ukrainian officials say they've liberated more than a kilometer of territory as part of their push to bring the city within their firm control. For their part, Russian sources have claimed success further east around the town of Liman. On either side has been able to make any meaningful breakthrough along the eastern front lines in recent weeks with small amounts of territory changing hands.

Let's check in with the CNN's Clare Sebastian. She's joining us now live from London. Clare, as NATO leaders meet in Lithuania for a second day, sirens have been sounding in Ukraine overnight and the grueling counter offensive continues.

CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Laila. I think NATO summit or not, these kinds of overnight attacks continue to be part of a pattern from Russia hitting or they claim military targets. But I think it's clear, it's not just that, for example, on Tuesday, a grain terminal in the city of Odessa was hit causing a fire. That coming less than a week before the expiry of that Grain Deal.

So again, part of a pattern and as you say, as this offensive continues to inch along, we're hearing words like consolidated, holding on to positions, things like that, from the Ukrainian military accounts of what's happening. I think it's clear they are having to defend any small gains. They've made, as well as attack in the on the Eastern Front, still very much concentrating on what they call the Bakhmut direction to be clear. They're not actually trying to retake the town of Bakhmut as of yet. They're moving in to the north and south on the flanks trying to encircle and track the Russian forces there. And in the south, again, coming up against heavy Russian fortifications, it's clear they're having to basically demine as they go. But they are also claiming to be inching forward there. And I think this is why these weapons supplies that NATO countries continue to promise, particularly long- range missiles, we sort of promised from France to join the U.K. in providing those on Tuesday.

Those will be crucial. Ukrainian officials are reporting that a top Russian General was killed in the port city of Berdyansk in the south earlier this week by that very kind of long-range missiles. So that is crucial. That's more than 100 kilometers away from the front lines there. So really, this is the sense that we're getting. It continues to grind along. And Russia, meanwhile, is saying the defense minister that Ukraine is failing to meet any of its goals in any direction. Laila?

HARRAK: Has there been any reaction from Russia on Ukraine not securing a formal invitation to join NATO?

SEBASTIAN: So, you know, it's interesting because, yes, there's been a few elements picking up on this, looking for divisions within NATO, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman talking about the humiliation of Ukraine. But I would say overall, there's more focus on those weapons supplies on NATO expansion as a whole. Those elements that bolster Russia's claim that it is de facto at war with NATO with the west.

The central justification essentially for continuing this war. So, I think that is really crucial. The Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov quoting the French decision to supply those long-range missiles and erroneous decision fraught with consequences for Ukraine. He talked about the anti-Russian character of the NATO meeting. We've heard as well from the Russian ambassador to Washington who said all the resources of NATO are being thrown into the fight against Russia.

And on those weapons supplies explicitly, we heard from the Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu on the U.S. decision to supply cluster munitions to Ukraine. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SERGEI SHOIGU, DEFENSE MINISTER OF RUSSIA (through translator): In case of the U.S. supplying cluster bombs to Ukraine, the Russian Armed Forces will be forced to use similar weapons as a countermeasure against the Ukrainian army. I want to mark that Russia has cluster bombs for all occasions. They are more effective than American and more widely varied.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SEBASTIAN: Cluster bombs for all occasions says the Russian defense minister. We know that they've already been using these in Ukraine. The U.S. meanwhile says that any cluster munition supplies to Ukraine are temporary allowing them time to ramp up supplies of other types of ammunition. Laila?

[02:15:01]

HARRAK: All right. Clare Sebastian reporting from London. Thank you so much.

And Russia's Investigative Committee posted to its Telegram channel a video purporting to show the arrest of a suspect involved in the killing of a former Russian submarine commander. CNN cannot independently verify this video. Russian media says the commander was shot and killed while on a jog. And that the killer may have tracked him using a popular app for runners and cyclists to record their paths.

While Ukraine's Defense Intelligence disclosed how the former commander was apparently shot in an unusually detailed statements on Telegram. The agency did not explicitly take responsibility for the commander's death. While this comes as Ukraine says a top Russian General was killed in a missile attack near the Russian occupied city of Berdyansk.

Let's go -- take you back to Lithuania now where Secretary General is -- Secretary General Stoltenberg is talking. Let's take a listen.

JENS STOLTENBERG, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL: Our security is interconnected. What happens in the Euro-Atlantic region matters for the Indo-Pacific. What happens in the Indo-Pacific matters to the Euro Atlantic. The war in Ukraine has global ramifications. Terrorist and cyber threats know no borders. And authoritarian regimes are coming closer together. So, we must stand together for the rules based in national order.

Therefore, welcome the presence of partners here with us today. This ends the public part of this meeting. I thank the media for joining us and then we continue the meeting in just a moment.

HARRAK: Opening remarks there by the NATO Secretary General opening the second day of the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Now moving on to North Korea which has fired what's believed to be another intercontinental ballistic missile. The Japanese defense ministry says it flew over for more than 70 minutes before landing in the waters near Japan. The flight time, marks a slight advancement over similar missile tests in March and April. And the timing may be no coincidence with the U.S. Japan and South Korea meeting to discuss security issues at the NATO summit and ramping up their defense cooperation.

Let's get you more now. CNN's Marc Stewart is standing by and tracking developments live from a Tokyo. Marc, North Korea firing this ballistic missile. Talk to us a little bit more about the timing of this.

MARC STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right, Laila. As you just mentioned, this big NATO Summit is taking place. In fact, even before this launch, we heard the Secretary General of NATO condemn North Korea's missile testing. As we have seen in our reporting, as we have heard in conversation with analysts, North Korea does not like to be ignored on the global stage. So, this is perhaps, this launch that we saw today. Perhaps a way to stay relevant.

As far as this launch is concerned it today. This is a missile that has the potential to travel very far, has the potential to travel across the Pacific Ocean. However, it was launched at an angle or the technical term would be loft that prevented it from traveling that distance. Nonetheless, it did put military forces here in Japan where I am as well as in South Korea on alert. It is drawing condemnation today at that NATO Summit.

We heard from Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida. It has also drawn response from here on the ground in Tokyo, including Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary. He spoke just a few hours ago. Let's take a listen to that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HIROKAZU MATSUNO, JAPANESE CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY (through translator): Such ballistic missile launches violate relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and are a serious security issue for our citizens. We have launched a strong protest against North Korea, the Royal Embassy in Beijing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STEWART: There has been a lot of tension in recent days. It was earlier in the week that we heard from North Korea, basically sending a warning to the United States, accusing it of flying a spy type aircraft in an exclusive economic zone in North Korea. That is just one example. In addition on a broader landscape, this tension, this potential tension in this region is drawing some new cooperation.

For years the relationship between South Korea and Japan had been frayed because of issues dating back to World War II. Well, in recent months, we have seen a new energy between South Korea and Japan to unite for security reasons. In case of threats from North Korea, in case of threats from China. So, the landscape is changing and North Korea too, is reacting, Laila.

HARRAK: Marc Stewart reporting from Tokyo. Thank you.

[02:20:01]

Well, still to come. Dangerous heats in China. Deadly flooding, mudslides in Japan and India. All of it experts warn made more intense due to climate change.

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HARRAK: Record breaking rainfall has now left at least eight people dead in Japan Southwestern islands. Flooding and landslides have gotten worse with the continued downpour since the start of the month in China. They're grappling with excessive heat with major cities facing what could be one of their hottest summers on record. Let's get you more now with the CNN's Anna Coren live for you in Hong Kong.

Anna, much of Asia dealing with extreme weather and you'd expect heavy rains and flooding this time of year in some parts, monsoons in India. But what makes this all so different this summer?

ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Look, many experts are saying this is climate change. This is what we are now witnessing. And certainly, Asia is bearing the brunt. Let's begin in Japan were unusually heavy rain. In the country southernmost main island Karatsu has caused extensive flooding and landslides. Homes have been washed away as you can see. Hospitals flooded, electricity and water have been cut off.

This has been described by The Japan Meteorological Agency as the heaviest rain ever on this island. Eight people are dead, four are missing. They are the latest numbers that we are getting from Japanese authorities. Karatsu is prone to deadly landslides because of its mountainous terrain and rescue and recovery operations. We understand are underway in various impacted areas. More rain and storms, Laila, forecasts for the island and for southwestern Japan.

Let's now turn our attention to China. And that's experiencing a very dangerous heatwave. Temperatures are in the mid-30s and are expected to climb even higher in the coming week possibly reaching 40 degrees in parts of southern China. The China Energy Investment Corporation which is the world's largest coal fired power generation company, said the volume of power generated on Monday reached a historic high with energy loads continuing to rise in southern and eastern China.

We've got some footage for you of zookeepers and Shanxi Province in northern China trying to keep animals -- excuse me, cool by giving them blocks of ice to hug and to lick. Anything to try and take down the temperature. Well, in other parts of the country, Laila, there's heavy rainfall causing flooding. This extreme weather comes as China is expected to host U.S. climate envoy John Kerry. He's traveling to Beijing this weekend for climate talks with Chinese officials.

And as you may recall, the U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen who was in Beijing last week said that climate change is one of the most important global issues and that U.S. and China must work together to address it.

[02:25:08]

Let's now go to India where heavy rainfall has caused flash floods and landslides in Arunachal Pradesh where the death toll now stands at 31. In neighboring Punjab state, 10 people have been killed. Schools have been closed here and in other affected areas. The only good news, Laila, that we are hearing is that rainfall in both of those states is expected to ease in the coming days.

HARRAK: All right. Anna Coren reporting in Hong Kong. Thank you.

Vermont's governor says the catastrophic flooding in his state is much worse than what Tropical Storm Irene delivered 12 years ago. Vermont remains under a state of emergency. There have been forced evacuations from waist deep waters and more than 100 rescues. Well, drone video shows the scope of this historic flooding caused by days of intense rainstorms. And this could all get worse. There's more rain in the forecast on Thursday and Friday.

Tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets Tuesday for the biggest weekday protest in months. Demanding the government scrapped its highly controversial plan to overhaul the country's judicial system. Protesters blocked highways nationwide on what they called a day of disruption and resistance. Police used water cannons to try to disperse these demonstrators in Tel Aviv.

And this was the scene at Ben Gurion International Airport. One protester there said the airport is a connection to the world and the whole world should know that Israeli democracy "is in danger." Police say more than 70 people were arrested nationwide. Similar protests have been going on for months now and they're intensifying after lawmakers on Monday advanced a key part of sweeping -- of a sweeping package of judicial overhaul measures.

They voted to strip the Supreme Court of its ability to declare government actions, "unreasonable." And that bill needs two more votes to become law.

Still to come. Cuba and Russia rekindle an old friendship. How the war in Ukraine is reviving this former Cold War Alliance.

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[02:30:00]

HARRAK: Welcome back to all of our viewers around the world. I'm Laila Harrak, and you're watching CNN NEWSROOM. Ukraine may not be a NATO member yet, but there's a clear sign of support at the Summit underway in Lithuania. Pro-Ukrainian messages are displayed on shuttle bus, buses for the Summit. But with one of them reading quote, "While you are waiting for this bus, Ukraine is waiting to become a NATO member." With the hashtag Ukraine in NATO.

Joining me now from Brussels is Camille Grand, Distinguished Policy Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. Sir, a very warm welcome. Thank you for joining us, good morning. As a former NATO Assistant Secretary General for Defense Investment. What are your reflections on NATO extending a hand but not an invitation to Ukraine? Are they kicking the can down the road?

CAMILLE GRAND, DISTINGUISHED POLICY FELLOW, EUROPEAN COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS: I think it's a little better than that. There are some very positive news for the Ukrainians. The establishment of a NATO Ukraine Council, for instance would enable need to reclaim partnership to deepen. And the message of the welcoming to NATO has been strongly reaffirmed.

And it's then going a little beyond what was said since 2008. Yet, I do understand the frustration of the Ukrainians, were hoping for something a little more specific and little more precise. And that's probably where we hear -- why we hear President Zelenskyy and other Ukrainian leaders expressing some regret that the outcome of the Senate vote so far.

HARRAK: Yes, because Ukraine does feel slighted. I mean, you say that you understand President Zelenskyy is indignation at Ukraine not receiving a timeline for an invitation. Do Western allies owe it to Ukraine? Do they have an obligation to keep, to go beyond just sending arms?

GRAND: I think we could -- we could have been collectively better. Of course, there was obviously no clear consensus within the Alliance for setting a date. But shorter the date, we could have established a clear process. I think it is not sufficient to say you're going to be welcomed when the conditions are met. We could have said we're working on these conditions. And we are establishing a process under which Ukraine as a clear sign that once peace is established in no shape or form, the past towards membership will be faster.

HARRAK: Because it's clear that NATO allies will not go to war for Ukraine. The U.S. and other leaders who do not want to go to war with Russia. Yet, it's also stopping the Alliance from creating an arrangement that, you know, could be unique to Ukraine, as you point out.

GRAND: It is -- it is the issue. Of course, nobody including President Zelenskyy, I've been calling for a limited membership that would have thrown NATO into the war with Russia. On the other end, it is important for the future of Ukraine and security of European security, as well, to pass a message that once the conditions are met, but those conditions being probably the moment where there is a ceasefire.

Ukraine is welcoming the NATO family, and that there is a strong willingness to bring them on board on a fast track, to make sure that the war doesn't resume, to make sure that the security guarantees that NATO provides are granted to Ukraine on in sort of immediate basis. So, this is where the language is very diplomatic and reflects probably the balance between the 31 NATO allies but in my view could have been a bit stronger.

HARRAK: Now, the Ukrainians say that this decision might have the unintended consequence of prolonging the war. Because -- when is Ukraine considered safe enough to join NATO?

GRAND: I guess the issue there is to find -- to fine balance between not telling Russia as long as Ukraine is at war, it won't be welcoming NATO, which could be an incentive for Russia to continue to work forever. On the other hand, to create a to recognize that we need some sort of a-- of a -- of a ceasefire or a situation where the Line of Control between the two belligerent is stable enough before bringing Ukraine into NATO. I'm not sure it would have been wise to be that specific. But I think it would have been good to say that we were working very (INAUDIBLE) together, that we were not ruling out anything, that we were not sort of creating a preconditions that are impossible to meet for Ukraine without Russia agreeing to a ceasefire or peace.

HARRAK: Now, as someone who has been part of the inner workings of NATO, what is the risk that we could see a rift growing within the alliance between members who feel Ukraine, you know, should have gotten a formal invitation and those who don't think the country is ready? Could we see separate alliances being formed going forward?

[02:35:12]

GRAND: NATO has had many debates within the alliance and its dual process of NATO is about consensus building. So, the allies are quite used to the fact that they have always prevailed. Having said this, I think it is important that the group of the Friends of Ukraine, the Baltic states, Poland, and so on, make their voice heard. They had -- they got support from other countries. The U.K., France were quite supportive of that view, while Washington and Berlin were more cautious. I think it is important that we keep, of course, the unity of the Alliance, then we recognize that we've achieved some progress collectively. But also, that we prepare for the next steps with a -- with a clear message.

HARRAK: Camille Grand in Brussels --

GRAND: Next to -- next to the --

HARRAK: Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you. I thought you had finished, finish your sentence.

GRAND: No. I was just saying that next to the diplomatic language of the communicate is really important. Also, the political message that will come from the press conferences that includes the Summit in a few hours.

HARRAK: Absolutely. Camille Grand in Brussels. Sir, thank you for your time.

GRAND: Thank you.

HARRAK: Now, as Russia faces widespread condemnation over its war in Ukraine, Cuba has emerged as one of Moscow's biggest supporters. The two countries, both subject to U.S. sanctions are seeking to deepen economic ties through trade and investment. CNN's Patrick Oppmann reports now from Havana.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): Russian warship sails into Havana. Cuba greets the ship the pericope. The first Russian naval vessel to make an official visit in years with a cannon fire salute. It's just the latest sign of the reforging of ties between Russia and Cuba. Well, much of the rest of the world has denounced Russia for their invasion of Ukraine.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, seen here alongside Vladimir Putin inaugurated a statue of Fidel Castro in Moscow in November defends Russia's war. We are condemning and we are rejecting the expansion of NATO towards Russia's borders. He told Russia today, we condemn all the measures and sanctions that have been applied as a way to coerce the Russian Federation. In Russia increasingly is throwing a lifeline to their old ally just 90 miles from the United States.

OPPMANN: Since the war in Ukraine began, Russia and Cuba have signed a flurry of new agreements that would open the first supermarket selling Russian food here, increased oil shipments the island, even developed this beachside community outside of Havana. It appears to be the most significant Russian investment in Cuba in decades.

OPPMANN (voiceover): In February after Russia donated 25,000 tons of wheat, Russia's then ambassador to Cuba. So, the aid will continue to flow. In spite of the challenges he says, Russia and Cuba continue developing their strategic relationships based on the historic friendship, solidarity and mutual sympathy between our two countries. The warming of ties for many Cubans feels like a trip back to the future.

In this video from the 1960s, narrated by Fidel Castro, Cubans are told how visiting Russian experts would modernize the island. And said Cuba grew dependent on Soviet aid. The USSR collapsed and facing punishing U.S. economic sanctions. The island plunged into a financial abyss from which it is yet to emerge. Well, Russian officials have suggested reestablishing a military presence on the island. Some analysts feel that Moscow no longer has the capability to do so.

SERGEY RADCHENKO, PROFESSOR, JOHNS HOPKINS SCHOOL OF ADVANCED INTERNATIONAL STUDIES: I think this kind of threats are used more for taunting the United States and for kind of for -- its a kind of a form of psycho -- psychological warfare, kind of SIOP against the United States.

OPPMANN (voiceover): Whatever the future of the renewed ties, it's clear Russia is once again sticking a claim in Cuba. Patrick Altman, CNN Havana.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRAK: And we're learning that Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister met with Myanmar's Ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Sunday. The meeting lasted for more than an hour. A Thai official says she was in quote, good health and both physically and mentally. Suu Kyi has been restricted from seeing her lawyers and officials throughout her detention. Our source says the last time she met with lawyers was about six months ago. Still to come, the legal battle over Aretha Franklin's estate comes to an end. More on the difficult decision the jury had to make. When we return.

[02:40:00]

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HARRAK: The battle over singer Aretha Franklin's estate has finally come to an end. A jury decided that a note written in 2014 and signed by Franklin, which was found under sofa cushion after her death will be considered her last will and testament. Franklin who died in 2018 didn't leave a form of will, where two handwritten notes were found in her home, including another from 2010. All her sons were battling over how her estate would be divided, including her music royalties. Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie have welcomed their third child together. She posted this photo on Instagram Tuesday and wrote, "Welcome to the world Franklin Alfred Odysseus Johnson." Well, the name Odysseus comes from Greek mythology Boris Johnson has often used classical references in his public speeches. Thank you so much for joining us on behalf of all of us. "WORLD SPORT" is up next. And then, I'll be back in 15 minutes with more CNN NEWSROOM. See you then.

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