Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Trump Raises New Global Tariffs to 15 Percent; Winter Storm to Hit Northeast U.S.; DHS Suspends TSA Precheck and Global Entry Programs; Italy Passing Torch to France Ahead of 2030 Winter Olympics; Ukraine Prepares to Mark War's Four-Year Anniversary; New Protests Break Out in Iran; 18 Governors Planned to Boycott White House Event; Cuba Faces Critical Energy Crisis. Aired 4-5a ET

Aired February 22, 2026 - 04:00   ET

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

[04:00:00]

KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to all of you watching us here in the United States, Canada, and around the world. I'm Kim Brunhuber. This is CNN Newsroom.

President Trump is reigniting his trade war despite the Supreme Court's recent ruling. We'll have details on his latest action. The Northeast U.S. is bracing for another heavy winter storm, and travelers are already being impacted. We'll have the forecast, plus what to expect from the final day of competition at the Winter Olympics, including the gold medal match between the U.S. and Canada in men's hockey. CNN is in Milan to help you get prepared.

ANNOUNCER: Live from Atlanta, this is CNN Newsroom with Kim Brunhuber.

BRUNHUBER: President Trump is now doubling down on new tariffs despite a major rejection by the Supreme Court. He's raising the 10 percent levy he announced Friday to 15 percent. It comes after the justices struck down tariffs that the president previously imposed using emergency powers. CNN's Julia Benbrook is following the latest developments from the White House.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JULIA BENBROOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Tariffs have played a big role in President Donald Trump's agenda during his second term, and he is making it clear that he does not plan to completely walk away from them anytime soon. After the Supreme Court ruled on Friday that Trump violated federal law when he unilaterally imposed sweeping tariffs across the globe, he announced that he was going to place an additional 10 percent tariff on levies already in place, and then over the weekend, he said he would raise that rate to 15 percent.

I want to pull up that post for you now. In it, he said, I, as president of the United States of America, will be effective immediately raising the 10 percent worldwide tariff on countries, many of which have been ripping the U.S. off for decades without retribution until I came along to the fully allowed and legally tested 15 percent level. Now, this new rate could stay in place for up to 150 days, and then he would need to seek congressional approval if he wants them to remain in place.

He was questioned during his press briefing following the ruling about the lack of congressional approval so far and some of the bipartisan criticism that he's received. He essentially said that he still doesn't believe he needs to consult with Congress.

Trump has made it very clear that he is not happy with this ruling. He called it deeply disappointing and said that he is ashamed of some of the justices. Now, it was a 6-3 ruling, and two Trump appointees, Justice Amy Coney Barrett as well as Justice Neil Gorsuch, joined Chief Justice John Roberts and the three liberal justices. Trump is also, on the flip side of that, praising those who sided with him.

In a post on Saturday, he called Justice Brett Kavanaugh his, quote, "new hero on the Supreme Court, adding that the justices that did dissent wanted to make America great again, using his own campaign slogan to describe those in the judicial branch. Julia Benbrook, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: President Trump is using a trade law to impose his new tariffs, but CNN senior legal analyst Elie Honig says they will likely also be contested in the courts. Here he is.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELIE HONIG, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST AND FORMER PROSECUTOR: Well, I do expect that even these new, more limited tariffs under Section 122 will certainly be the subject of lawsuits. I think companies are going to come forward, and in this case, they're going to argue, well, you can only use that law, Section 122, if there's some sort of trade imbalance or if a country's doing something that destabilizes the dollar. So, I think you're going to see impacted companies here in the United States argue that that's an improper invocation of Section 122, and they're going to try to strike that down, too.

Now, there's a separate question. Well, what happens with the $130 billion plus that have already been collected over the last eight, nine months under the law that was struck down? And Donald Trump was right when he said, why would the Supreme Court not have even told us a thing about what happens? And they did not.

In fact, Justice Kavanaugh complained appropriately in the dissent that now we have a, quote, "mess on our hands." And we do. What I think is going to happen is that American importers, the people who actually have paid those tariffs, are going to bring a series of lawsuits saying, well, we paid X in tariffs under a law that has now been ruled unconstitutional, so we get our money back.

[04:05:00]

So, we're going to have a slate of those lawsuits, and it could even wind up back at the Supreme Court for round two.

(END VIDEOTAPE) BRUNHUBER: Millions of Americans are under blizzard warnings from the mid-Atlantic to New England as a powerful nor'easter intensifies offshore. Emergencies have already been declared in New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia. Officials are urging extreme caution ahead of the storm.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR ZOHRAN MAMDANI (D-NY): The snowfall will melt, then refreeze, resulting in dangerously icy sidewalks and streets. I am asking all New Yorkers to stay inside and stay off the roads for your safety.

REP. MIKIE SHERRILL (D-NJ): So, I know we just got through a historic winter storm just a few weeks ago. We all did it together by heating warnings, staying off the roads, and taking public safety seriously. Now, we have another serious winter storm on our hands, and my top priority is your safety. So, I am urging you to make plans to stay off the roads Sunday through Monday.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: Some 2,700 flights have been canceled so far on Sunday, and that's according to the tracking site FlightAware, and even more on Monday. The storm is forecast to strengthen rapidly into a bomb cyclone, bringing heavy snow and wind gusts up to 55 miles, or 88 kilometers per hour. Meteorologist Chris Warren has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS WARREN, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It's looking like a high-impact snowstorm for the Northeast. This winter storm is going to pack a big punch and really will be ramping up throughout the day. Sunday and even into Monday.

The track this storm takes will play a huge role in who gets how much, who gets how much snow. A track closer to shore, that westerly track, will increase the snowfall from Delaware all the way up to New England, a little bit farther out to sea, not quite as much snow.

Over the past couple of days, the European forecast model, which this is, is showing a track closer to the coastline, so higher snowfall totals. If this were to play out exactly like this one particular model shows, a big wallop of snow for New England and a healthy amount of snow in New Jersey down to the Delmarva. Now, the GFS forecast, the American model, this one has been showing a big-time snow for days.

Now, the truth is probably going to be somewhere in between, and that somewhere in between is still a big snowfall event. The timing for this, as temperatures stay in the 30s, this is going to be a heavy, wet snow. The combination of the snow and the wind will lead to likely some power outages. This is 6:00 during the day on Sunday, and this is the evening, and this is really when things are going to be getting into full swing.

The worst of the weather happening during the overnight hours into early Monday, 6:00 a.m. on Monday, there will be heavy snow, there will be wind, likely power outages and treacherous, if not life- threatening, travel across parts of the Northeast.

A closer look now at some of the winds. Winds at times gusting 35, 40, even up to 50 miles an hour, even stronger than that, a possibility at the immediate coast. So, overall, it is looking like this is going to have major, if not isolated, extreme impacts from this winter storm.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: So, as travelers face severe weather, they could also see longer wait times at the airport. The Department of Homeland Security is temporarily halting TSA pre-check and global entry. The announcement comes amid a partial government shutdown that only affects DHS. The trusted traveler programs are used by millions of frequent flyers to expedite airport security lanes and fast-track customs processing.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem says shutdowns like this have serious real- world consequences that endanger national security. We'll have more on the negotiations in Washington later in the hour.

Well, there are still a few gold medals up for grabs before the Winter Olympics in Italy draw to a close today. Perhaps the most climactic contest is just hours away, the men's hockey final, where fierce rivals USA and Canada are set to leave it all on the ice. Canada beat the Americans in their last gold medal face-off in 2010, and the U.S. last struck gold against Finland in 1980, following its fabled miracle on ice against the Soviet Union. After the hockey game, the Italian Olympic cities of Milan and Cortina will stage the closing ceremony.

The grand finale will be in the historic Verona Arena, celebrating the unity among athletes and nations, as well as the future of the Olympic movement. The next Winter Games are set for the French Alps in 2030. CNN's Coy Wire has the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COY WIRE, CNN WORLD SPORT: Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo has done it again, and again, and again, and again, and again, the Norwegian wonder becomes the first-ever athlete to win six golds at a single Winter Olympic Games after a victory in the men's 50-kilometer cross- country skiing mass start. The most successful Winter Olympian ever also extends his lead at the top of the all-time list after picking up an astonishing 11th career gold medal. He said, it's hard to find the words to describe what this means. I feel you. I can't really describe it either. It is incredible.

[04:10:00]

Now, to the fastest mullet on the ice, the Netherlands Jorrit Bergsma, winning the men's speed skating mass start at 40 years old. His second medal of these Milano Cortina Games, first Olympic gold since 2014. He's the cherry on top of the elder movement here at these Games. He was the first third athlete in his 40s to win a gold. Before this, there had only ever been one.

Finally, for the very last event at these Winter Olympics, we get an epic men's hockey gold medal game, just like the women's final, the USA versus Canada on Sunday. February 22nd, same date as the 1980 U.S. versus Soviet Union Miracle on Ice game. These teams have combined for 27 Olympic hockey medals. Canada has the most all-time, the U.S. third most. Both teams fully registered and rostered with NHL players, celebrities and dignitaries will be in the stands getting ready for these games to end with drama ahead of the closing ceremony also on Sunday in Verona.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: Iran brutally cracked down on anti-regime demonstrations last month, but now human rights groups say the protests are back in some parts of Iran. That's ahead.

Plus, deadly explosions in Ukraine, but it's not clear if they have anything to do with Russia. We'll have those stories and more coming up. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:15:00]

BRUNHUBER: Ukraine says there was an arrest after a deadly double bombing on the western side of the country. At least one person is dead and several others injured after back-to-back explosions in the city of Lviv this morning.

Meanwhile, many Kyiv residents are in shelters after a new wave of Russian strikes on the capital. Officials have indicated that Russians may be preparing to use ballistic missiles. That's happening as Ukraine faces the prospect of its energy shortages growing even worse. Kyiv says it's facing blackmail from Slovakia and Hungary as they threaten to cut off electricity supplies. The country is also preparing to mark a somber anniversary. Four years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.

Nada Bashir joins us from London with more. So, to start, Nada, what more do we know about those deadly explosions?

NADA BASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we've been getting updates from officials in the western city of Lviv throughout the morning. As we understand it at this stage, at least one person is confirmed to have been killed in this deadly explosion. At least 25 others injured, among them some 11 law enforcement officers who are said to be in a critical condition.

Now, we've had a play-by-play sort of explanation from the authorities as to how this occurred. They say the blast took place as police responded to an emergency call about an intrusion at a store in the city center. And it's following this police response that the first blast took place. And then, as a second round of law enforcement officials arrived, a second explosion took place.

Now, at this stage, officials say they have arrested one suspect. But the investigation is still said to be ongoing. Take a listen to this comment from Lviv's mayor. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDRIY SADOVYI, LVIV MAYOR (through translator): Police are working on site. As for damages, many windows were blown out. An investigation is underway. Once it is over, we will clear everything up. We will help people. It was a very difficult night.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASHIR: Now, as I've mentioned, the investigation is still said to be ongoing. They are looking at other potential suspects involved in this deadly blast. And, of course, what we've also been hearing from officials is that as they carry on their investigation, they're also still looking into the possible motive, any possible connection, of course, with a Russian attack. Potentially.

And this comes, as you mentioned, Kim, as we continue to see, an intense bombardment of Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, by the Russian armed forces. And we've seen civilians taking shelter once again overnight into the early hours of this morning as those continued strikes take place.

BRUNHUBER: And, Nada, I mentioned earlier Ukraine accusing Hungary and Slovakia of blackmail over electricity. Explain that for us.

BASHIR: That's right. Slovakia has threatened to cut off electricity supplies. Emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine within two days, unless Ukraine decides to resume pumping Russian oil to both Slovakia and Hungary, both countries that are still among the only two, actually, in Europe heavily dependent on Russian oil resources. Both leaders of both countries have maintained somewhat close relationships with Moscow despite the ongoing war in Ukraine. As you mentioned, we've heard some very stark comments from Ukrainian officials describing this as blackmail.

We've heard from Ukraine's foreign ministry, which has condemned this move by both Slovakia and Hungary. They've accused them of carrying out ultimatums against Ukraine despite the ongoing war. Kyiv said that these actions by both countries, in their words, are provocative, irresponsible, and threaten the energy security of the entire region.

But at this stage, it's unclear whether Ukraine will allow for the resumption of Russian oil supplies to both countries, which have been cut off for about a month now, they say, as a result of a Russian drone strike on a central pipeline infrastructure, or whether perhaps there is an alternative route which Ukraine has been pushing for to continue supplies to Europe.

BRUNHUBER: Appreciate that. Nada Bashir, thanks so much. Pakistan says it launched multiple strikes on militant camps in Afghanistan late on Saturday. A senior Afghan police official said 18 people were killed, including women and children. Pakistan says it targeted seven camps in two eastern provinces. Islamabad claimed to have intelligence showing the camps belonged to militants responsible for recent suicide bombings. Pakistan called the strikes a violation of its national sovereignty and a clear breach of international law. The two countries have been at odds since the Taliban retook Afghanistan in 2021.

[04:20:00]

Protesters are back on the streets of Iran, weeks after Tehran brutally suppressed the largest anti-regime rallies in years. Video posted by human rights groups show new demonstrations at multiple universities. The protests coincide with the end of a traditional mourning period after thousands of protesters were killed last month.

Now, all of this comes as the U.S. continues its military buildup near Iran, with threats of strikes over the country's nuclear program. But in a new statement, Iran's president says Tehran isn't giving in. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MASOUD PEZESHKIAN, IRANIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): We will not bow down in the face of these difficulties. World powers are lining up with cowardice to force us to bow our heads. Just as you did not bow down in the face of difficulties, we will not bow down in the face of these problems.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: The U.S. and Iran held talks in Geneva last week. Iran's top diplomat said on Friday that Tehran could have its proposal for ending the crisis ready within days.

I want to bring in Ali Fathollah-Nejad, who's the director of the Center for Middle East and Global Order. He joins us from Berlin. Thanks so much for being here with us. I want to start with those latest protests. From what you know about how Iranians have used this mourning tradition in the past, I mean, what does it tell us that people are back in the streets because of it? And do you expect these protests to spread?

ALI FATHOLLAH-NEJAD, DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR MIDDLE EAST AND GLOBAL ORDER: Well, this shows the incredible courage of the Iranian people, the defiance of Iranian society in the face of this, you know, huge massacre of historic proportions that the regime has unleashed upon them earlier this year, when they have been taken to the streets in the hundreds of thousands, if not millions.

So, this shows that the gulf between state and society is so wide it cannot be resolved, and that people still demonstrate or show resistance in a different manner, not perhaps in protest but by students and by shouting out slogans from their apartment buildings against the dictatorship.

BRUNHUBER: How worried do you think the regime actually is right now, if not directly about these protests, but that they could be used, I guess, as a pretext by President Trump to say, you know, that he's fulfilling his original promise to those protesters when he said help was on the way to sort of act militarily now?

FATHOLLAH-NEJAD: Well, this is initially what U.S. President Trump has said, but ever since he has shifted his focus on negotiations, on nuclear negotiations. So, there is pressure for the Iranian regime, both from inside, because they don't have any social base they can rely on. Do not forget that the Bazaaris, you know, the commercial people were, you know, were triggering the recent unrest, and so they can only rely on an iron fist, on a lot of, they're actually waging a war against their own people.

At the same time, they are fearing military strikes from the United States and perhaps Israel that could also be destabilizing for them.

BRUNHUBER: Yes. All right. So, the regime obviously dealing with this angry population at home, the U.S. military build-up on its doorstep. We played a clip, President Pezeshkian went live on TV, said Iran wouldn't bow to outside pressure. I mean, is that just tough talk, or are they, you know, really -- how much is that pressure going to affect them now? Do you think they'll have to concede?

FATHOLLAH-NEJAD: Well, we're actually nearing showdown, so the moment of decision, we know -- I mean, first of all, there are a lot of uncertainties over the agenda of the talks. Is it really only about the nuclear issues, something that the Iranian regime would like to have in order not to talk about the ballistic missile program and also its support for regional proxies, or is it going to be much wider? So, is it going to entail all of those three topics? If it's only about the nuclear program, still the gulf between the two sides is quite high.

Now, we are, in terms of timing of decision, we've heard the Iranian foreign minister saying on Friday that the Iranians are going to offer a nuclear, you know, proposal to the United States within the next two or three days. When it comes to the U.S. timeline, we've heard President Trump initially talking about a one-month deadline, more recently talking about 10 to 15 days. We're also seeing that quite soon, within the next hours or a few days, the U.S. military buildup going to be completed with the USS Ford reaching the eastern Mediterranean. So, at this point of time, there needs to be made a decision.

[04:25:00]

We also heard President Trump talking about some limited strikes at first, perhaps to push the Iranian state into concessions. So, there is a lot of uncertainties, plus the fact that we have a third important player here, which is Israel.

A week ago, Prime Minister Netanyahu laid out what Israel is expecting from a U.S.-Iran deal, which is the dismantlement of Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs and stop of Iranian support for the proxies. So, there's a lot of uncertainties. And I'm not even sure if President Trump knows how to decide. Something will depend on what the Iranian proposal would actually entail.

BRUNHUBER: Yes, we'll have to wait to see exactly what that is. I really appreciate you breaking that down for us, Ali Fathollah-Nejad in Berlin. Thank you so much.

FATHOLLAH-NEJAD: Thank you.

BRUNHUBER: Well, a partial government shutdown in the U.S. is dragging on with no end in sight. We'll take a look at where negotiations stand as President Trump prepares for his State of the Union address.

Plus, the U.S. pressures Cuba to make reforms by shutting off their access to oil. Next, how Cubans are converting to alternate energy to keep the lights on. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BRUNHUBER: Welcome back to all of you watching us here in the United States, Canada, and around the world. I'm Kim Brunhuber. This is CNN Newsroom.

The Homeland Security shutdown is entering its second week, and now we're starting to see some of the impact it's having on travelers. The agency is suspending TSA pre-check and global entry trusted traveler programs used by millions of frequent flyers. Now, it comes as the White House and congressional Democrats remain in a standoff over ICE funding.

[04:30:00]

CNN's Camila DeChalus is closely following these talks and has more on what both sides are saying.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CAMILA DECHALUS, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, there is no end in sight for this partial government shutdown to end. Now, both Republican and Democratic lawmakers, they both tell me that they want this shutdown to end, but there's still no closer to reaching an agreement on how exactly to resolve their differences around funding the Department of Homeland Security.

Now, Democrats on their end, they put forward a list of reforms that they want to see happen around immigration enforcement. And they're saying, unless that happens, then they'll exchange that and supporting a spending bill to put forward in order to fund the Department of Homeland Security. But Republican lawmakers on their end, they're saying they're open to having conversations around reforms at certain federal agencies, but they say that these are not the way that these negotiations should be done.

Now, at this point, conversations between both sides, they have really stalled. Republican leaders haven't formally responded to Democrats' latest proposal, which was delivered Monday night. And the timing here is very significant, because next week, President Trump is expected to address members of Congress at his State of the Union address.

And unless major talks really ramp up over the weekend, this means that potentially this partial government shutdown will likely still be in place when this government, when he delivers his major address. And this is really could cast a shadow over one of the biggest addresses that President Trump will give this year. Now, really, what we're seeing happen on the ground is that employees under the Department of Homeland Security, this includes TSA officers and Border Patrol agents, they have not missed their paychecks yet.

But the financial impact of this may soon be felt if this partial government shutdown lasts longer. And so, we're hearing that talks are happening behind the scenes, but no formal counterproposal has been offered yet to really start making progress on these negotiations.

Camila DeChalus, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: America's first couple hosted the annual Governor's Dinner at the White House Saturday. President Trump praised state leaders in a speech during the black-tie event. Here he is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: Working with your states, wherever we can, we can achieve so much more. You're governors, you're great people, you're great leaders. You're just about all very popular. I know every one of you and you've all had a pretty easy time becoming governor. That's because you've done really good work.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: Now, the tradition didn't come without controversy this year. Eighteen Democratic governors pledged to boycott Saturday's dinner after President Trump tried to exclude two Democratic governors from a breakfast event. The chair of the National Governors Association, Oklahoma's Kevin Stitt, pushed back against the move and the White House relented. Still, the damage was done. No word how many Democratic governors attended Saturday's dinner.

Well, the U.S. president isn't done thinking about Greenland, Donald Trump announced on social media that he'll send a hospital ship to Greenland. He wrote the move is meant to, quote, "take care of the many people who are sick and not being taken care of there." The president's unexpected announcement includes no information indicating a ship is actually on its way or even if it's needed. The U.S. Navy didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Greenland is a self-governing territory of Denmark whose residents have universal health care. President Trump's demands to control the territory have strained the U.S. relationship with Europe.

Millions of Americans are under blizzard warnings right now as a powerful nor'easter targets the east coast. The storm is expected to dump heavy snow on major cities like New York, Boston, and Philadelphia. Officials are warning people to expect significant travel delays on the roads and at airports. CNN's Jenn Sullivan has details on how these cities are preparing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JENN SULLIVAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Snow preparations are underway as millions of people from Delaware up to southern New England are under blizzard warnings as a powerful nor'easter is expected to dump more than a foot of snow in many areas, including New York City.

MAMDANI: New Yorkers can expect that Monday morning commute will be extremely hazardous with heavy snowfall and peak winds coinciding to create slippery conditions and greatly reduced visibility.

SULLIVAN (voice-over): The last time all five boroughs were under blizzard warnings was in 2017. Officials warning travelers to expect whiteout conditions and even closures.

GOV. KATHY HOCHUL (D-NY): New York State is in the crosshairs of a very dangerous, fast-moving, potentially life-threatening winter storm.

SULLIVAN (voice-over): New York's JFK International Airport, one of the busiest in the world, already warning of significant travel impacts and telling passengers to check their flight status. The governor of New Jersey declaring a state of emergency beginning noon Sunday for all 21 counties.

SHERRILL: Across New Jersey, we expect between 10 to 20 inches of snow.

SULLIVAN (voice-over): This system could also bring wind gusts up to 55 miles per hour, causing widespread power outages and coastal flooding. Other big cities like Boston and Philadelphia could also see more than a foot of snow by Monday evening.

[04:35:00]

Many of the areas expected to get slammed Sunday still have leftover snow on the ground from last month's winter storm that dumped nearly a foot of accumulation in many areas.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Water go down in the drain, where is it going to go?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, it's hard to park. I'm handicapped. It's hard to get in and out.

SULLIVAN (voice-over): Even the D.C. area could see five or more inches of snow by Monday. The mayor announcing Saturday that they're deploying the city's full snow team ahead of the storm.

In New York, I'm Jen Sullivan reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: All nine people killed in Tuesday's avalanche near Lake Tahoe have now been recovered. Authorities say it hit during a professionally guided back country ski tour as a powerful winter storm was impacting the area. The victims included a close group of six longtime friends including two sisters. Three certified back country guides also lost their lives. Six other skiers in the group survived the avalanche. The Nevada county sheriff's office says investigators are reviewing the circumstances including whether criminal negligence was involved.

Cubans are struggling with an energy crisis that's caused everything from long blackouts to transit disruptions and long lines at gas stations. It's due to the U.S. decision to shut off the flow of oil to the communist run island. Now, Cubans are scrambling to find alternatives as CNN's Polo Sandoval explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): One thing in Cuba that's not only free but usually abundant is sunshine. And on an island where fuel is increasingly too hard to find or too expensive, solar power is a hot commodity. A cafe manager in Havana says installing solar panels was one of the few options that was left to him to power his business.

DARIEM SOTO-NAVARRO, CAFE MANAGER (through translator): We initially used a portable power plant, but diesel became increasingly difficult to obtain. After analyzing feasibility and operating costs, we decided to install solar panels.

SANDOVAL (voice-over): Just keeping the lights on is a growing problem in Cuba, especially after the U.S. cut off oil shipments to that country by turning off the taps from its main supplier, Venezuela, and threatening other countries like Mexico with tariffs if they continued exporting oil to Cuba.

The shortages have plunged many parts of the island into darkness, sometimes for several hours a day due to energy rationing and electricity blackouts. But one rickshaw driver says the outages haven't stopped him since he added solar panels to his vehicle.

ALEJANDRO ARRITOLA, RICKSHAW DRIVER (through translator): It helps me a lot. It extends my range, and I don't have to use gasoline. When the power goes out, I put it in front of my house and charge it.

SANDOVAL (voice-over): Installers say the energy crisis has caused a surge in demand for solar panels as residents try to find alternative ways to power their homes.

ROBERTO SARRIGA, HAVANA RESIDENT (through translator): So, the idea was to at least have the basics covered, like turning on the TV, especially for my mom, so she can watch her soap operas. If you can have Internet, too, somehow being able to charge cell phones.

SANDOVAL (voice-over): The U.S. says it wants to see dramatic changes soon in Cuba and is putting pressure on Cuba's communist-run government for political change. But for many Cubans already suffering from years of economic hardship, gleaning drips of energy from the sun is one of the few bright spots in a future that's increasingly dim.

Polo Sadoval, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: All right. Still to come here on CNN Newsroom, in nearly four years of grueling war with Russia, Ukrainians have learned some hard lessons, and they've also developed a strong sense of resolve. We'll speak to a journalist who's telling us those stories. That's coming up. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:40:00]

BRUNHUBER: On Tuesday, Ukraine will mark a grim anniversary four years since Russia's full-scale invasion. Four years since this sound became a harrowing part of daily life for Ukrainians. Listen.

Now, those sirens continue to wail as Russia launches relentless airstrikes on Ukrainian cities. But in the nearly four years since Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine, Ukraine still stands, and Russian President Vladimir Putin hasn't achieved his war goals. In fact, Russia has suffered staggering losses. A new report finds that about 1.2 million Russian troops have been killed, wounded, or have gone missing since the invasion, a rate not seen since the Second World War. The report puts Ukraine's losses at more than half a million.

Meanwhile, Ukrainians face danger now not just from the war itself, but from waning support from the country's largest ally, the United States, under the Trump administration.

I want to bring in Nataliya Gumenyuk, who's a Ukrainian journalist, and she's in Kharkiv. Good to see you again. Thanks so much for coming on with us. I want to start with where you are. Kharkiv, one of the first cities hit when the full-scale invasion began. It's been living under the threats ever since. I mean, how has that city changed in the last four years?

NATALIYA GUMENYUK, UKRAINIAN JOURNALIST: Indeed, Kharkiv is around 30 miles from the Russian border. But the fact it's there, it's not under the threat to being occupied, it's, of course, kind of militarized, but over a million people reside here, including the people from the towns which are occupied, and it's maintaining its life.

Because, yes, this war, unfortunately for us, it's not a movie. It's not about any end, any time soon. You take it as a reality, and it's not just a resolve, because it's also the opportunities to defend itself, both with the military. Kharkiv is dependent, because, you know, there are military personnel around, pushing back against any attempt, but also through the development of various types of the military capabilities to defend itself.

BRUNHUBER: Now, you've spent a lot of time out there sort of talking to people all over Ukraine. As the war heads now into year five, I mean, you've written that the war isn't an interruption anymore. It's just life. There's a sense in your writing that Ukrainians have made a kind of peace with the uncertainty. I mean, do you think that can last?

GUMENYUK: So, it's not about anybody wants this war, but there is kind of fact that living with the deterrence we have is a better option than living under the Russian occupation, where the situation is grim, where there are the tortures, detention. You know, we know what is life in the authoritarian regimes, but it's even worse because the population Ukrainian there is persecuted. And, of course, with a somehow functioning state and, indeed, support, the life is livable. It's not definitely good, and the price is high.

[04:45:00]

So, for instance, 2025, the last year where Ukraine lived without the American aid, you know, was the deadliest in terms of the civilian casualties. They were not that staggering. It's very unfortunate, but it's mainly because Ukraine, as a lot of countries, depends on the American air defense. It's something what the European partners analyzed cannot substitute, and it's ended up in 40 percent higher losses and civilian casualties in Kyiv.

Ukraine developed own solutions to shut down the Russian drones. They are cheaper, but, of course, not everything could be done. So, we are just, like, protecting the life of the people. That's what in the minds of, I think, you know, both military, both the country leadership, but also the people who try to organize their way of life under this assault.

BRUNHUBER: You just spoke of the concrete effects of the loss of American aid and what they've had. I mean, the whole relationship with the West, specifically with the U.S., looks really different than it did when this started. I mean, how much has that changed the way Ukrainians think about who they can rely on?

GUMENYUK: So, definitely, the U.S. went from the ally then to the mediator, but the mediator which is pushing into, let's say, the victim. And Russia can stop this war at any given moment. I can speak in terms of the morale, but, you know, even from the terms of being pragmatic, if President Trump wants to make the deal, why Russia should need to make that deal? They're spending every night millions of dollars, you know, just to destroy some of the Ukrainian houses or kill a number of the Ukrainian civilians. So, yes, or probably destroy Ukrainian energy infrastructure. But they are wasting a lot of money. They can just stop wasting those money.

So -- but in this regard, I believe the talks are necessary. They are -- you know, they are there to maintain Ukrainian-U.S. relations. So, they're not all in vain. And Ukrainians need to get involved wholeheartedly. We don't see, unfortunately, the signs from Russia to really, you know, like push the button. And, unfortunately, it's indeed the weakest presidency since the -- for quite some time because I feel that Vladimir Putin feels that his hands are not tied. He can do whatever and nothing will happen.

BRUNHUBER: You're part of the Reckoning Project, which documents war crimes. And you've been, through that, collecting these deeply personal testimonies from survivors. From the people that you talk to, how do they think about justice when, you know, any peace deal might not actually deliver it?

GUMENYUK: So, I think it's partially our role, journalists, researchers, to remind that this accountability shouldn't be pushed out of the public discourse. And, even if it's not now, we strongly believe in the rule of law. So, it should come. And people, you know, don't stop because it leads -- it would lead to further impunity.

So, for instance, with the airstrike, you know, there is an open case in the National Criminal Court against the Russian leadership for attacking of the energy infrastructure. And it's, of course, painful that they are, you know, like, just proving even more evidence within 2025. So, yes, the impunity is bringing even more attacks. Therefore, for us, and we also learned that in the occupation, the life is getting worse. It's not getting better. It's not getting calmer. So, indeed, while putting a light into those atrocities, we're at least trying to say that we do not normalize them.

BRUNHUBER: We'll have to leave it there, but really appreciate getting your perspective on these many, many years of war. Nataliya Gumenyuk, thank you so much for speaking with us. Appreciate it.

GUMENYUK: You're welcome.

BRUNHUBER: We'll be right back here on CNN Newsroom. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK

[04:50:00]

BRUNHUBER: The British Academy Film and Television Awards will be handed out today in London. The BAFTAs, as they're called, are seen as a bellwether for Hollywood's Oscars in three weeks. And two movies are expected to battle it out for best film. "Hamnet" is an emotional story about William Shakespeare and his wife dealing with the death of their son. It's directed by Oscar winner Chloe Zhao and a favorite with bookmakers. It's facing the dark comedy "One Battle After Another," starring Leonardo DiCaprio. It leads the field with 14 nominations.

Oscar nominated costume designer Miyako Bellizzi is among this year's BAFTA contenders. She's being recognized for her work on Marty Supreme. The 1950s epic required period costumes for thousands of extras. Miyako spoke with CNN's Rachel Tashjian about how she uses fashion to help define a film's characters.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIYAKO BELLIZZI, COSTUME DESIGNER: My favorite tie for Marty we barely see, but it's a bunch of exclamation marks all over this brown tie that he wears when he goes to Wembley. My name is Miyako Bellizzi and I'm the costume designer of "Marty Supreme." It honestly feels really surreal to be nominated for an Oscar.

RACHEL TASHJIAN, CNN SENIOR STYLE REPORTER (voice-over): Bellizzi is a close collaborator of director Josh Safdie, creating costumes for both "Good Time" and "Uncut Gems." BELLIZZI: As the process is happening of even writing, I get little bits here and there. And then I start thinking about the characters as he's writing them.

TASHJIAN (voice-over): "Marty Supreme" is her most ambitious undertaking yet, costuming thousands of extras in period there.

BELLIZZI: This is my first '50s film. I think it's one of the best eras for clothing. Back then, most men had one suit. And so, it was kind of like, if he has one suit, what is that suit? For Marty, the brown suit was his everyday suit, but it's not an everyday suit. That's how he wants to present himself to the world, more like a wise guy.

One of the biggest scenes that Marty wears the everyday suit is when he's kind of fighting and running alongside Milton in the car. Marty wears his polo at Wembley, and Wembley's where the big scene of where you see all the teams. It's like that world. Probably paid about 300, 300, 400 polos, yes.

There's this one image of the real Marty, and he's in this like bigger boxier polo. And I thought that was interesting because no one else really was. I mean, massively oversized for that era.

[04:55:00]

In Paris, he's wearing the vest, the knit vest with the short sleeve shirt. It's one of those restaurants where you have to wear a jacket to sit down, you know. Basically, it was like he's walking into a restaurant that he shouldn't be in. He's in a short sleeve shirt, but that was a choice that he made because he doesn't care. And so, almost like this act of rebellion.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This woman said she bought a pair of shoes from you.

BELLIZZI: Rachel was a very exciting character for me. Most of her maternity looks aren't really maternity. It's like ill-fitting. The purpose was that I wanted it to look tight, like that it's like stretching out and that it's not a maternity dress. That's the dress that's -- their Bonnie and Clyde moment. And he's in a brown suit and she's kind of in that checkered dress with the big collar. I love that dress.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hey.

BELLIZZI: I want to say this was Kay's pinnacle moment. She's like running out to meet Marty and to give him this necklace, this kid. And I think the red to me is like the fire inside her. That felt kind of like this big moment before everything kind of reality hit or something.

It's like a really oversized, ginormous shawl. And it's almost like a blanket. And I knew that she would be laying down in the park. So, I wanted something to kind of be like a blanket underneath her.

Marty is my dream film. And it's tough because I don't really know where to go from here.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: NASA's Artemis 2 mission to fly by the moon is getting pushed back once again, this time because of an issue with helium pumps. The U.S. Space Agency says the rocket will have to be rolled back into the vehicle assembly building to correct the problem. And as a result, it will no longer launch in March. NASA didn't set a new date for liftoff. The mission is planned to take four astronauts on a 10-day trip around the moon before returning to Earth.

Well, that wraps this hour of CNN Newsroom. I'm Kim Brunhuber. I'll be back with more news in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:00:00]