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CNN This Morning
Zelenskyy Delivers Plea to Congress for More Help in Russia Fight; Arctic Blast Threatens Holiday Travel; January 6th Committee Transcripts Show Key Witnesses Refusing to Testify; Schumer Expects Agreement on Spending Bill This Morning; Putin Congratulates Netanyahu on New Right-Wing Coalition Government. Aired 6-6:30a ET
Aired December 22, 2022 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: What a powerful moment there, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, gifting Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the vice president, Kamala Harris, with the Ukrainian flag, signed by Ukrainian troops on the front lines.
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Good morning, everyone. Poppy is off. What a historic night -- historic day.
KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: It's just the -- 20 historic moments all packed into one day. It was amazing.
LEMON: Yes. And as we say always, a lot to get to, but we really mean it this morning.
President Zelenskyy spoke to America and the world with grit and defiance. More on his impassioned plea and how Russia just responded.
COLLINS: Plus, get ready for a polar plunge. It's a once-in-a- generation storm that is bringing bitter cold and blizzard conditions. We're live at Chicago's O'Hare Airport with how it could affect your trip home if you were traveling today.
LEMON: And the January 6th Committee releasing transcripts from 34 witnesses who testified -- who refused to testify, I should say.
But we begin with President Zelenskyy delivering a historic and emotional wartime message from the U.S. Capitol last night.
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VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT: Thank you so much. (END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Lawmakers giving Zelenskyy a standing ovation for more than two minutes. He sought to rally support against Russia's unrelenting assault and put the fate of millions of Ukrainians in the hands of Congress.
Earlier in the day, President Biden and Zelenskyy put up a united front, as the Ukrainian leader expressed gratitude for weapons and aid but made clear he will continue to ask for more.
Let's bring in CNN's Jeremy Diamond, live for us from the White House this morning.
Good morning to you, Jeremy. This was a major day for Ukraine and the United States, as a matter of fact.
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: No doubt about it, Don, a momentous visit by the Ukrainian president that comes at a dual inflection point in Ukraine. A winter test ahead as Russia continues its attacks, crippling the country's energy infrastructure.
And here in the U.S., a change in the political landscape, as House Republicans, who have cast doubt on the future of U.S. aid to Ukraine, come into power.
And so Zelenskyy yesterday making his case, expressing gratitude to the American people but also making clear he needs much more heading into a decisive year.
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DIAMOND (voice-over): A historic visit to the United States, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meeting face-to-face with President Joe Biden, the first time since Russia's invasion of Ukraine nearly one year ago.
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Three hundred days you've been going through this since Putin has waged a brutal assault on Ukraine's right to exist as a nation.
DIAMOND (voice-over): Zelenskyy expressing gratitude to the Biden administration and the American people.
ZELENSKYY: All my -- really, all my appreciations from my heart, from the heart of Ukrainians.
BIDEN: The American people have been with you every step of the way, and we will stay with you.
DIAMOND (voice-over): Biden making good on that promise hours later, announcing a fresh package of military aid.
BIDEN: One point eight five billion-dollar package of security assistance that includes both direct transfers of equipment to you that Ukraine needs. DIAMOND (voice-over): That equipment includes the highly-sought-after
Patriot air missile defense system.
ZELENSKYY (through translator): What's going to happen after Patriots are installed? After that we will send another signal to President Biden that we would like to get more Patriots.
DIAMOND (voice-over): Zelenskyy's visit closing with a primetime address before a joint meeting of Congress, where he received a rousing welcome and delivered a show of gratitude to the American people.
ZELENSKYY: I hope my words of respect and gratitude resonate in each American heart.
DIAMOND (voice-over): In his speech, Zelenskyy tried to shore up public support in the U.S. and back home in Ukraine.
ZELENSKYY: Ukraine didn't fall. Ukraine is alive and kicking. Ukraine holds its lines and will never surrender.
DIAMOND (voice-over): A big promise in times of celebration for many around the world.
ZELENSKYY: We'll celebrate Christmas. Celebrate Christmas and even if there is no electricity, the light of our faith in ourselves will not be put out.
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DIAMOND (voice-over): Despite his optimism, Zelenskyy argued that Ukraine must continue to defeat Russia on the battlefield in order for the war to end.
ZELENSKYY: Your support is crucial, not just to stand in such fight but to get to the turning point to win on the battlefield.
DIAMOND (voice-over): And he argued defeating the Russian invasion is a worthy investment.
ZELENSKYY: Your money is not charity. It's an investment in the global security and democracy that we handle in the most responsible way.
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DIAMOND (on camera): And we are now getting reaction from the Kremlin today, which is saying that the -- President Biden and Zelenskyy, according to them, showed no willingness to listen to Russia's concerns. The Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, arguing that there were, quote, "no real calls for peace."
Now, both Biden and Zelenskyy did talk about peace and their desire for peace, but they made clear that it is in Russia's hands to end this brutal invasion of Ukraine.
And ultimately, we saw President Biden and Zelenskyy express a united front on the future of this war, even as President Zelenskyy said a just peace, that's very difficult to achieve, given Russia's brutal what he called terroristic assault on his country -- Don.
LEMON: Jeremy Diamond at the White House. Jeremy, thank you.
COLLINS: All right. Also this morning, more than 100 million Americans are now under winter weather alerts as once-in-a-generation arctic blast is putting a deep freeze on most of the country.
Take a look at this: zero visibility right now in Wyoming as troopers rush to help drivers who are stranded on the roads.
And this in Utah: blowing snow and freezing temperatures have officials urging people to stay home.
The severe weather is also keeping thousands from heading home over the holidays. So CNN's Pete Muntean is live at Chicago's O'Hare Airport. There may be some unhappy travelers there.
Pete, what are you seeing when it comes to cancellations and potential delays as of this morning?
PETE MUNTEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Today was supposed to be the busiest day pre-Christmas for air travel in terms of flights scheduled. The key word there, Kaitlan, is "was" supposed to be the busiest.
Look at the huge security line right now here at Chicago O'Hare. The security checkpoint is way back there. At least it's moving a little bit.
Just checked FlightAware. Cancellations keep piling up. O'Hare is the No. 1 airport in the country in terms of cancellations. I've seen Boise, Houston, San Francisco, the cancellations just keep coming in. The latest number, we've just hit 1,200 flight cancellations in the U.S.
The big issue here is that O'Hare is a huge hub and connecting airport, and the storm is coming right for it. A big hub for American Airlines, the biggest hub for United Airlines.
Just went behind the scenes at United Airlines network operations center, where they are scrambling to save trips. They are trying to move passengers onto different connections to other airports.
The big issue, not only the snow today but the biting cold. Want you to listen now to Joe Heins, who's the VP of network operations. He says the high here tomorrow will be 2 degrees Fahrenheit, and that will create some really big problems.
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JOE HEINS, VP OF NETWORK OPERATIONS, UNITED AIRLINES: Cold temperatures are going to stay through Friday, and that's what's going to present challenges. People who go out on the ramp and -- and experience the high winds in subzero temperatures are really going to be a challenge to work safely. (END VIDEO CLIP)
MUNTEAN: The big tip from airlines, download their app. That is the best way that you can get up-to-the-minute information and stay updated on whether or not your flight is delayed or cancelled.
The other thing is that you may see a really long customer service line if your flight gets canceled, especially at a hub like O'Hare here. They may be giving you a QR code at United Airlines. That way you can scan it and do a video chat with a customer service agent at a different airport that's not experiencing bad problems, like L.A., where the weather is good, Kaitlan.
COLLINS: That's pretty smart. Pete Muntean, thank you. We'll check back in with you.
LEMON: The -- this morning the House January 6th Committee releasing the first of hundreds of transcripts compiled during its 18-month investigation into the Capitol insurrection before a report is set to be released today.
Let's head now to CNN's Paula Reid for more on that.
Paula, good morning to you. How are the witnesses included in the transcripts?
PAULA REID, CNN SENIOR LEGAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Don.
Here in Washington, we're still waiting for that final report after the committee failed to release it yesterday. But as you noted, they did release more than 30 transcripts of interviews they've conducted behind closed doors with key Trump allies like former attorney John Eastman; national security adviser Mike Flynn.
And these transcripts confirm that these individuals largely refused to provide substantive answers to investigators and made pretty liberal use of their Fifth Amendment.
Eastman, for example, he refused to even confirm that he wrote legal memos that had his name on them.
Look, even when you invoke the Fifth, typically, witnesses will confirm basic biographical information. But Roger Stone, he wouldn't even confirm his age.
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And the former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark -- that's the man who Trump wanted to install as attorney general -- he stonewalled the committee over the course of two interviews. And in his second interview, he invoked the Fifth Amendment 120 times.
Now Don, it's also notable that these transcripts reveal that both Eastman and Flynn, who of course, pushed these baseless claims about widespread election fraud, they failed to provide the committee with any proof to validate those assertions. LEMON: Well, then what happens next with these transcripts?
REID: So the committee has conducted over 1,000 interviews but tells CNN, they will release hundreds of transcripts. So they're going to hold back some that they believe contain sensitive information. So we will get more of these.
And these are, of course, going to be of great interest to the Justice Department. Special Counsel Jack Smith has asked the committee for all of the information from this investigation. His team, they're going to be poring over these transcripts.
And even former President Trump's legal team. They tell me they believe these will likely contain information that the committee has not highlighted that could help Trump.
LEMON: So House Republicans released a different January 6th report yesterday, a different one. What did they say?
REID: So Don, this was largely a rehash. That report focused on well- documented security failures at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, and it reiterated recommendations like reforming the Capitol police board and bolstering congressional oversight of the Capitol Police.
But these were issues that had previously been identified by lawmakers of both parties in the wake of the attack.
But what's really interesting is the GOP report is silent on other efforts to disrupt the transfer of presidential power after the election. And it's very selective in its criticism of political leaders. It completely glosses over former President Trump's role.
Now, of course, Republicans are expected to dissolve the January 6th Committee when they take over the chamber next year.
LEMON: All right. Paula Reid in Washington for us this morning. Thank you, Paula.
COLLINS: Also this morning, lawmakers still scrambling to reach an agreement on that major $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill that would avoid a partial government shutdown. by midnight on Friday, when funding expires.
Negotiations stalled out last night amid Republican efforts to extend Title 42 border restrictions. We've been talking about Title 42 and the border all week.
But Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer did sound optimistic that something might come through.
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SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): We are making good progress. As a procedural safeguard, I'm filing cloture. But I am hopeful, very hopeful, we will lock in an agreement shortly.
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COLLINS: CNN'S Lauren Fox is live on Capitol Hill, where it feels like people have been all night long. We just talked to Pete about the weather. I imagine these senators are keeping a close eye on that when they are having their voting timing in mind.
LAUREN FOX, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, lawmakers very concerned, because remember, they're returning to homes all across the country, many of those places now immersed in this severe winter weather.
But Kaitlan, up here on Capitol Hill, what they have is a bill. They likely have the votes. What they don't have is an agreement to move quickly.
And that is because, like you noted, Mike lee, a Republican from Utah, has been insisting on an amendment to extend Title 42. Normally, they would have this vote. It would be no big deal.
But he wants this vote to happen at a 51-vote threshold. And the reason that matters is there are a few moderate Democrats who might support his amendment.
Adding it to the bill in the 11th hour would cause major headaches over in the House of Representatives, where Pelosi just has a two-vote margin in her Democratic caucus. So they cannot add it to the bill.
And what Schumer and Thune were talking about last night when they were sort of striking this tone of optimism, is that what they're hoping they can put together is an amendment that Democrats will author that will give their moderates an opportunity to support something to extend Title 42, make it clear on the record that they want to do that, but would not put it in a position where they would have to vote for the Lee amendment, and then that amendment would get added.
So basically, two side-by-side amendments to give Democrats the option to be politically on the record. But Kaitlan, this is a mess, really, on Capitol Hill.
COLLINS: I mean, that statement has never been said before.
I did notice Schumer said, you know, late last night, he started with that, that he filed cloture as a safeguard. But do you think ultimately, this is going to get resolved this morning? Is that what your sense is, from what you're hearing from sources?
FOX: Members were definitely more optimistic as they were leaving the Capitol last night than they had been earlier in the day.
But this is really a jump ball right now on Capitol Hill. When lawmakers get back, we're going to get a better sense of where things are moving; if overnight things broke through; if the logjam has been broken.
But right now, Kaitlan, we really have to wait and see, because if they have to file cloture and this goes into the weekend, obviously, they could potentially blow past that government funding deadline.
We shouldn't say that a shutdown is coming. We really don't think one will happen. But there's always that chance if they can't get together and agree to move quickly.
COLLINS: All right. Lauren Fox, we'll check back in with you. Thank you.
And just ahead this morning, President Zelenskyy --
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ZELENSKYY: -- Russian military and dissenters (ph) have been attacking Bakhmut nonstop since May. They have been attacking it day and night, but Bakhmut stands.
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COLLINS: That was President Zelenskyy defending Bakhmut, currently the bloodiest fight on Russia's war on Ukraine, but also incredibly meaningful.
LEMON: And as the flu rages, the Biden administration set to release medicine from the national stockpile. Will it be enough to ease access to medication many have struggled to find?
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ZELENSKYY: To ensure Bakhmut is not just a stronghold that holds back the Russian army but for the Russian army to completely pull out, more cannons and shells are needed. If so, just like the Battle of Saratoga, the fight for Bakhmut will change the trajectory of our war for independence and freedom.
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LEMON: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy making his case to Congress and likening Ukraine's war to America's fight for independence.
Troops in Bakhmut, a key target for Russian forces in Eastern Ukraine, have been fighting a months'-long fierce battle that has become one of the world's -- one of the war's bloodiest, I should say.
So joining me now, retired U.S. Army Major Mike Lyons.
Good morning to you. How are you doing? How do you think he did?
MAJ. MIKE LYONS (RET.), U.S. ARMY: He did superbly. I thought it was well-scripted. Emotionally, yesterday, when he was talking to the president, you know, I was a former captain of the artillery. I couldn't pretend to have the same courage that captain had, that HIMARS battery (ph), that award that he gave to the president. I thought that was done well.
And then last night in front of Congress, you know, you bring -- you bring an artifact from the battlefield like that. Again, as a soldier you kind of take another look at that, and that's really something.
I thought the Congress respected -- had the kind of respect that they showed him. But he needs more. There's no question about it. We -- there's more help he needs.
LEMON: Is it mostly symbolic? Is it?
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LYONS: It's got to start that way, though, at some point. So there's got to be an emotional attachment to what he's doing, first and foremost.
The package that the president provided is good. One Patriot battery, though, frankly doesn't cut it. I think he needs -- he needs four or five. If he wants to protect his country in a level that -- that he needs to.
I mean, he's done the West a tremendous favor. He's wrecking, destroying the Russian conventional forces in place. Over 100,000 casualties, tanks, armored vehicles being destroyed. He's doing the West a big favor. And so I think he's got to be rewarded for that alone.
COLLINS: So explain what you mean by one Patriot missile is not enough. Because that is one of the most powerful things in the U.S. arsenal, we know. But they are getting one. You know, the U.S. has, like, 50 or so. And so I guess the question is, is what you're saying it's not enough compared to the volume of the Russian incoming, the bombardment that we've seen?
LYONS: Right. That system can be overwhelmed at some point if they chose to do that.
And I think the risk that the United States has with that is this. The Patriot system is a chaser. It will -- it potentially could acquire a Russian jet, for example, and chase it over the border.
Right now, that border in Ukraine is kind of a hard line as to where the war starts and ends. Right? So if you take an American missile system and it acquires a Russian plane that flies back over to Russia, and an American system blows up a Russian plane over Russia, I think -- I think that's what the United States is concerned about.
COLLINS: Did they wait too long? Because the Patriot -- it takes time to train them on this.
LYONS: Right.
COLLINS: They're not going to get this tomorrow in Kyiv.
LYONS: No. COLLINS: Did they wait too long, you think?
LYONS: Not a video game on any aspect. I'd like to think that we've been training them in the background. You know, we were probably a little bit out in front of it. But there's no question there's going to be a lag with regard to the effectiveness of this -- of this situation.
LEMON: Let's talk about what you said. You talked about the Ukrainians operating American-made war systems, right?
LYONS: Um-hum.
LEMON: Correct. Russia said that providing these missiles would be seen as an escalation by the U.S. and warned of unspecific consequences to that. So are you concerned about the provocation? Because what happens if the scenario that you said plays out? Then what?
LYONS: What I'm -- I'm concerned about Russia stepping up their cruise missile attacks. I'm concerned about them.
Every day I get up and check the weather app to see what the weather is in Kyiv and Dnipro, and you know, it's 41 degrees right now. And that's the warmest it's going to get today. That's the issue.
Vladimir Putin is trying to draw millions of European refugees out of Ukraine into Europe, trying to create other problems with the rest of the European countries.
I think European countries have to step up and do a lot more from a military perspective. Right now, if the Ukraine military can kind of hold their own, inoculate themselves in kind of -- in place right now and wait for the spring to come -- I know it's a long way to go -- but wait for the spring to come, then they have a chance to go back on the offensive.
COLLINS: I have not heard that before. You're saying that, in part, what Putin is doing by bombarding infrastructure in Ukraine is trying to push Ukrainians out into other European countries so then it essentially can split NATO and split the unity there when it comes to backing Ukraine?
LYONS: Exactly. I think that's -- that's exactly part of his plan.
The bottom line is, Russian sanctions have not worked. Economic statecraft has not worked. We saw a report yesterday that said there's only, like, a 2 percent deficit included in their military budget.
So there's still 100 nations in the world supporting Russia. So we've not put enough pressure economically on Russia to stop. What's going to be the leverage to get Russia to stop?
LEMON: Major, it sounds like you're saying this is a never-ending war. That's what it sounds like. LYONS: Well, look at history, and it's a classic stalemate that takes place between two sides. And the unfortunately, history shows that the country with the higher industrial capacity wins.
But I think what's happened in the West by supporting Ukraine is at least giving them a chance.
LEMON: Thank you. Major Mike Lyons. Appreciate it.
COLLINS: Overnight Russian President Putin speaking out, reaching out to Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu to congratulate him on his new return to power, with his newly-formed extreme-right-wing coalition government.
CNN's Hadas Gold joins us live from Jerusalem. Hadas, what do we know more about this conversation and also just the bigger picture here when it comes to Netanyahu's new government?
HADAS GOLD, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Kaitlan, the timing here so interesting.
While Volodymyr Zelenskyy was in Washington D.C., Benjamin Netanyahu, right up on the deadline of when he was able to do so, announcing to the Israeli president that he had managed to form a coalition government, one that's expected to be the most right-wing likely in Israel history.
And then this morning, Vladimir Putin calling Netanyahu to congratulate him. According to a readout from Netanyahu's office, they talked about Iran and Ukraine. And the prime minister-designate, Netanyahu, told Putin that he hopes a way will be found, as soon as possible, to end the war and the suffering caused by it.
According to a Kremlin readout, they say that mutual confidence was expressed that Russian/Israeli relations will continue to progressively develop.
Now, Kaitlan, this relationship between Netanyahu and Putin is a really interesting one. Benjamin Netanyahu used to tout his relationship with Putin, at one point during one election even putting up a giant billboard in Tel Aviv showing the two of them together.
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So now the real question will be, once Netanyahu comes back into office, how will this relationship develop? Especially because, while Netanyahu has been out of office, Russia has invaded Ukraine -- Kaitlan.
COLLINS: Hadas Gold, thank you.
LEMON: Flu season hit especially hard this year. Now the Biden administration taking action. The impact this could have.
Plus --
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): My classmates informed me about us being banned from universities. I cried a lot. I had all of my study materials., but I couldn't study.
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COLLINS: There's international outrage this morning as the Taliban is banning women in Afghanistan from studying in universities. We'll have more ahead.
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LEMON: Welcome back to CNN THIS MORNING. Coming up, the Biden administration set to release medicine from the national stockpile as flu cases surge. Dr. Tara Narula is -- actually, it says standing by in the Teleprompter, but she's sitting by. She's right next to me on the set here.
Plus, the Taliban began enforcing an education ban, leaving many women angered by the decision and moved to tears.
And a one-on-one interview with -- you've got to watch this -- with this man, the man who discovered Whitney Houston, Clive Davis. Talks about her incredible life and the new movie.
