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Connect the World
Russia: Some Troops Returning to their Bases; Diplomatic Wheels Turning in Hopes of Averting War; Bennett in Bahrain for First Official Visit by Israeli PM; Prince Andrews Settles Lawsuit with Virginia Giuffre; World on Edge as U.S. Warns Russian Invasion of Ukraine Likely; Elon Musk Donates Almost $6 Billion to Charities. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired February 15, 2022 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: Well, this hour the diplomatic dance in Moscow continues, but will it be enough to avoid war? I'm Becky
Anderson, hello and welcome to the second hour of "Connect the World'.
Well, believe it when we see it, that's Kyiv's response to a possible sign of de escalation in what is this standoff between Russia and Ukraine.
Moscow says it's returning some of its troops to their bases, but it won't say how many.
Despite the news large scale drills are still underway, NATO Secretary General says he see no evidence of a de escalation. Last ditch diplomatic
efforts are still making headlines.
Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, a short time ago and the two sat at opposite ends of that now
notorious table, Take a listen to what they had to say afterwards.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OLAF SCHOLZ, GERMAN CHANCELLOR: President Putin talks about his discussions with his foreign minister and defense minister and I agree. Diplomatic
options are still there, we need to be courageous that we work on a peaceful solution here.
Troops are withdrawn and that is definitely a good sign. We are prepared together with all our allies and partners within NATO and Russia to discuss
concrete steps on how we can improve it.
VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT: Kyiv leaders continue to define Minsk agreements and other achievements of 2015 and the agreements achieved in
later summits of Normandy Format, including in Berlin and Paris.
There are no developments on such key issues like constitutional reforms ominously local election and legal aspects of spatial status of Donbas.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, that's latest on the diplomatic front, as it were, we begin with Alex Marquardt, who's standing by in the Ukrainian port City of
Mariupol. Alex, you've been following the action in the south and the east of Ukraine.
We'll talk to Nic Robertson, after you and we'll find out what he gets. What since he gets out of what we've heard from the German chancellor, and
the Russian president, what have you learned where you are?
ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN SENIOR U.S. CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, if you just look exactly what is happening with us, you get exactly you get kind of the
sense that that we've been getting elsewhere today. And that is, there are certainly some positive movements. And there are things that should keep
giving us pause in terms of the Russian troop buildup.
Now Putin was just asked moments ago, whether Russia wants war and he said, of course not. And as you mentioned, our colleague, Nic Robertson, will get
into a bit more of what's happening in Moscow today.
But let's take, for example, what's happening on the on the southern front, this is, you know, around Crimea, in the Black Sea, this was thought of as
a possible third front, because Ukraine is also surrounded on the eastern side and in the north.
And what we're seeing from the Russians is a claim that they're pulling back their troops from the Crimean peninsula. That's, of course, the
peninsula that they annexed back in 2014, taking over without a shot, but at the same time, we are seeing increased buildup.
We have seen satellite imagery that shows that both transport and attack helicopters have been positioned there over the course of the past few
days, around 60 of them, according to the analysis of this imagery that have flown to a base that hasn't been used in almost 20 years.
And then there are fighter jets strike bombers that have been placed across the sea of Azoff in Krasnodar, Russia, that could easily strike Ukraine,
should there be a Russian military invasion of Ukraine?
So we have Russia claiming that they're pulling back forces and at the same time, we are seeing increased buildup and that's the same thing that we are
seeing on the on Ukraine's eastern flank.
There is continued build up of these Russian forces, but at the same time, Russia is saying that they are withdrawing members of their armed forces
from what they call the western and southern military districts.
Now they claim that this was expected that when exercises take place, exercises end and troops go back to their barracks. But of course Becky,
considering the current situation that is that is not a foregone conclusion, we have these historically large military exercises happening
in Belarus, with Belarusian and Russian troops.
[11:05:00]
MARQUARDT: Those are the biggest since the Cold War, tens of thousands of Russian troops have gone into Belarus. And Russia would not provide any
assurances that when those exercises are over, which is supposed to be on Sunday, that those troops would in fact, go back to Russia by a certain
date. Becky?
BECKY: That's Alex Marquardt in Mariupol. Let's bring in Nic from Moscow. And I want you Nic to have a listen to what the NATO Secretary General had
to say earlier today, have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JENS STOLTENBERG, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL: The signs coming from Moscow about a willingness to continue to engage in diplomatic efforts, that gives
some reason for cautious optimism. But we will of course, follow very closely what's happening on the wrong and whether this is reflected in some
real de-escalation of the Russian military buildup in around Ukraine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: But let's be quite clear here. No one sees any real signs of a climb down as it were by Vladimir Putin. And Stoltenberg and Olaf Scholz,
the German Chancellor, both saying that based off Moscow's acts, diplomatic options still exist. And the big question is, is really is Vladimir Putin
playing everybody at this point?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: You know, this is a very, very big and long negotiation for him. He initiated it, he had the
troop buildup late last year, which followed on from a troop buildup earlier last year.
He demanded the conversations with NATO and with the United States, he put forward Russia's security proposals or demands depends how you see them.
And he got a response back.
I think what we're seeing at the moment is, you know, this huge push back pressure from the United States and details leaked about a possibility of
an invasion and timelines given et cetera. I think where we're at right now is President Putin is back in the conversation.
He never really left. It has just been quiet. He's got a diplomatic visit today with the German Chancellor. It's an opportunity to frame that up
yesterday with the defense secretary, defense minister of defense yesterday with his foreign minister saying, you know, potential for troops to move
back.
Yes, cautious. We can continue with some dialogue and conversation. Today the military saying yes, some troops, some troops are going back to bases,
but many more remaining operations.
So I think what we're actually witnessing here, is President Putin just sort of a little bit of maneuvering as I am here. But coming back to the
table and saying, OK, yes, we'll talk. But we're going to talk about the things I want to talk about.
Yes, you have said, NATO and the U.S., we can talk about some arms control agreements and true positions. And yes, that's something we can talk about.
But we're going to talk about the central issues that you've so far said no to.
But it's been very clear today speaking today, saying that, that there cannot be a temporary sort of hold on Ukraine joining NATO, that's needs to
be permanent. And NATO does need to go back to 1997 levels.
So I think what we're seeing is, is President Putin coming back to this fresh, coming back with his position and saying this is the way that it's
going to be and, again, I come back to that point. This is in the context of a much bigger and longer play out of negotiations and posturing with
troops. This is a direction Putin seems to be taking it in right now.
ANDERSON: Let's bring in Sam Kiley, what's the perspective where you are? What's your analysis of where we are at Sam?
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, I think one of the slightly chilling takeaways from that very long press conference in
exchange with Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor and Vladimir Putin was when Vladimir Putin referred to almost on an off the cuff way, wasn't it
when he said, well, there's an ongoing genocide in the Donbas.
This was after there had been talk of the international intervention in the former Yugoslavia to prevent the continued genocide of the Serb population
officer Vinnitsa.
Now, he has made this allegation before but it has been the causes Belle Meade has been the excuse if you like in the past for backing Russian
speaking rebels in the east of the country to say that they are protecting themselves against the and these are the Russian words the fascist regime
in Kyiv.
Now Kyiv has a democratically elected government in the view of Western nations. It's certainly not a fascist organization, and has ambitions to
join NATO and the European Union. Those two ambitions are very threatening to Vladimir Putin politically.
[11:10:00]
KILEY: And so I think that part of the, we heard if you recall two weeks ago talk of these false flag plots, plots alleged to be being hatched by
the allegations coming from Western intelligence to the Russians, we're going to somehow cook up an atrocity, blame it on the Ukrainians and use
that as an excuse for war.
And he's keeping that idea ticking away in people in the back of people's heads while simultaneously allowing, as Nic was saying, for perhaps
continued dialogue. And some doubt as to whether or not some of the troops in the east and west - sorry, west and south military districts of Russia,
which are vast areas have returned to their bases of the end of the exercises that they are supposed to been conducting.
So he's continuing to keep the churn but maintaining that if you like, right, that self assigned right at some future date to intervene, if he
decides is doing so in protection of ethnic Russians here in Ukraine, Becky.
ANDERSON: Meantime, describe the atmosphere where you are.
KILEY: Well, it's absolutely extraordinary Becky, you've got this enormous buildup of troops in yellow grad, just 50 miles north of here, I was up on
that border, about 25 miles north of here. Yesterday, very quiet, indeed, a no sign at all notes, no sense of an impending invasion.
Down in the south of 60 helicopters been identified in Crimea, which of course, was seized by Russia in 2014. And annexed by that nation to their
own territory 60 helicopters of both transport and helicopter gunships also turning up there.
Those are sort of Battlefield indicators alongside all these other maneuvers that are causing western analysts to say that there is an
impending invasion to the country. But no sign of that invasion today, sarcastically almost referred to yesterday by Ukraine's president saying
they say there'll be an invasion on the 16th.
That's tomorrow, we're going to have a day of national unity and celebrate National Unity. Very much the message coming from Ukraine, that whilst
they're seeing the same troop level buildups. They are responding with the same level of cynicism to the claims that the Russians are downsizing some
of their exercises on the borders with Ukraine.
They're saying we believe that when we see it. But at the same time, saying, we also don't concur with the western analysis that we're about to
get invaded, let alone overrun by the Russian Armed Forces, Becky.
ANDERSON: Kylie Atwood is at the State Department. Thank you, Sam. Let's get more on the U.S. perspective. Kylie, while world leaders do say that
diplomacy is still on the table, Vladimir Putin saying once again, the U.S. and NATO had not satisfied Russia's security concerns. This is important,
have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PUTIN: We cannot interpret the principle of the integrity of security and safety, which includes the free choice of the countries to join any defense
alliance, but also, which includes the principles that you don't have to strengthen your security at the expense of other countries.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: What do you make of that?
KYLIE ATWOOD, CNN U.S. SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, listen, I think U.S. officials are looking what President Putin is saying today, and seeing it
not as a stamp of death when it comes to diplomacy. But also saying these are things that we have heard again, and again and again.
Essentially, they're back to ground zero, when it comes to the fact that the United States wants to work on certain things. And Russia wants to work
on certain things. And they don't necessarily see yet from Russia, any willingness to engage on the ideas that the United States has put on the
table here.
And it's significant that as we're having this conversation, it's been almost three weeks since the United States gave Russia that written
proposal. They are still waiting for Russia to respond.
So this morning, Secretary Blinken is speaking with Foreign Minister Lavrov, we will see if the Russians are telling the United States that they
are going to be transmitting back or response anytime soon.
But that may well be the first time that we see in written form. If Russia takes the United States up on any of these small proposals that they have
put on the table, this idea that the U.S. would allow some Russian inspectors into some sites in Europe to inspect its missiles to make sure
that they don't have at those sites, missiles that Russia doesn't want them to have at those sites.
We will see if Russia says that they will do anything in return for those inspections. So we really need to see some meat on the bone here when it
comes to any diplomatic path forward and we just have not yet seen that.
[11:15:00]
ANDERSON: What's the latest with regard the communications between the White House or indeed the State Department and Russia strike the Kremlin at
this point?
ATWOOD: Well, I would say that the State Department is really leading those diplomatic kennels, those conversations that are more regular right. We had
Secretary Blinken speak with Lavrov over the weekend, before President Biden and President Putin spoke, we have those two foreign ministers
speaking again today.
And I'm told by State Department officials that they have agreed to stay in more regular contact that demonstrates that the United States wants to say
as close as they can to Russian thinking here.
Because of course, the backdrop is that the U.S. says that Russia could launch an invasion into Ukraine without any warning at any time. And they
have been very clear about that.
So their belief is that maintaining diplomacy, maintaining those conversations is really an important antidote to potentially dissolve some
of the stress that can build some of the misinterpretation that can build when there isn't that dialogue happening.
But we'll watch to see if there's another conversation between the two presidents because we know that at that level, that's where the actual
decision making comes in.
ANDERSON: Yes, absolutely. So bottom line at this point, is it clear to the State Department or indeed the White House. And only you can speak
specifically to state whether the troop withdrawal, some troops being withdrawn from that Ukrainian border is the end of it, or whether this will
continue?
ATWOOD: Well, right now, they said that they've seen those Russian claims that they are withdrawing some of their troops, but they still have no way
of verifying that any of those troops have been withdrawn.
So it's not necessarily the beginning or ending of anything, because the United States says that, as far as they have seen, at this hour, nothing
has changed in terms of de escalation. Rather, escalation continues.
And so we'll watch to see in the coming hours if the United States is able to verify some of those Russian claims. But essentially, they see that as
you know, something that Russia could be putting forward as disinformation right now to confuse folks as they continue with their build up along those
borders.
ANDERSON: Kylie Atwood is at the State Department for CNN. Thank you, Kylie. For an even deeper dive into how the Russia Ukraine standoff could
affect global geopolitics. And indeed, the energy markets get to cnn.com that's where you'll find experts weighing in on what is this fast moving
story with more than the growing skepticism in Ukraine and with NATO over what the Kremlin has been telling the world, that cnn.com or on our app.
Well to some people, Vladimir Putin seems to be holding all the cards right now, but others think the Russian president is actually operating from a
position of weakness. That's coming up. Also ahead, the changing landscape of the Middle East long time foes are turning down the temperature and
turning up the diplomacy, will explain in a couple of live reports from the region just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:20:00]
ANDERSON: And we have got breaking news coming into CNN, Prince Andrew has settled his sex abuse lawsuit with Virginia Giuffre. She accused the late
financier Jeffrey Epstein of trafficking her as an underage woman to have sex with his friends, including the prince as some of the settlement has
not been disclosed.
And we understand it includes a donation to her charity that supports victim's right, more on this as we get it. Well, the story dominating the
news of course, the Russia Ukraine crisis investors, at least asking a partial troop withdrawal by the Russians as a positive sign.
The Dow has been on the up part of the gate, it was higher, with minutes to go until the close of the European markets. This is the state to play in
the U.S. And we'll get you the European markets momentarily.
But as you see there, I mean, this isn't huge rises. But given we've seen a number of significant drops on these U.S. markets, with investors hanging
on every headline emerging from this crisis, don't be surprised by this volatility.
Foods got oil for you. That's a good barometer of where the markets think the action is and prices on the oil markets are lower today after U.S.
crude touched $95 a barrel of course for the first time since 2014.
Well, the Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi plans to travel to Qatar on Thursday, he'll attend the gas conference looking to boost energy ties in
what is already relatively cozy relationship with that Gulf state.
Perhaps more notably in the region, we are seeing signs of cooperation between states where temperatures have been running much higher in the last
decade or so. Turkish President Recep Erdogan visiting Dubai today where he met with UAE Prime Minister Mohammed bin Rashid, he's visited the UAE's de
facto ruler here in Abu Dhabi on Monday and it doesn't stop there.
Senior Turkish officials will now head to Israel tomorrow in preparation for a visit by the Israeli President to Ankara next month. This will be the
first visit by to the country by an Israeli president in nearly 15 years and another first for Israel.
Its prime minister is in background visit unimaginable a few years ago. Naftali Bennett received a very warm welcome from Bahrain's Crown Prince in
Manama today that landmark trip comes after the U.S. broke at the 2020 Abraham accords of course.
Mr. Bennett said his goal was to inject substance into those Accords, the Crown Prince echoing his comments and said he wanted to see a Middle East
that was free from conflict. Let's get more on this changing nature of Middle East politics.
CNN's Hadas Gold is traveling with the Israeli prime minister and joins us live from Manama in Bahrain. Jomana Karadsheh is following developments for
us here in Abu Dhabi, where, of course, the Turkish president was yesterday. Hadas, let me start with you, just explain the significance of
this visit and indeed what came out of it?
HADAS GOLD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think a few things sort of symbolize or paint the picture of how much has changed in this region than the
Israeli Prime Minister being welcomed with honor guards, not only upon arrival at the airport, but also at the Palace of the Crown Prince.
And the Israeli national anthem being played by above Rainey military band, I think for a lot of people that would have been almost unimaginable, just
a few years ago. But that's the new reality that we are seeing in the Middle East.
It was as sort of a repeat of the scenes we saw when Bennett also visited the UAE. And so much of these types of trips are about the imagery and are
about the symbolism about showing that they are building this sort of personal warm relationship at one point, as you know to the Crown Prince
even said that they are almost like cousins.
Take a listen to more of what the Crown Prince had to say earlier today during this meeting with the Israeli prime minister.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SALMAN BIN HAMAD AL KHALIFA, BAHRAIN'S CROWN PRINCE & PRIME MINISTER: And I think that if we see a wider Middle East that is free from conflict that is
based on principles of mutual respect, understanding and a shared with responsibility towards security. We must do more to get to know one another
and build upon the Abraham accords which have been such a historic agreement concluded in the last year.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[11:25:00]
GOLD: Now, of course, a shared concern between Bahrain and Israel, what helped push them together is around the security concerns Iran's activity
in the region just about 200 kilometers from where we are standing in the Bahraini capital.
And the Bahrain has a very significant role to play, despite its being a very small country has a role to play not only because of its proximity to
Iran, but also because of its relationship to Saudi Arabia. These are all very important issues for Israel.
Bahrain also hosts the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, Bennett met with them also earlier today. And soon, Bahrain will also host for the first time. And
Israeli military officer will be posted to Bahrain, the first time and Israeli military officer will have been posted to an Arab nation.
And just a couple of weeks ago, the Israeli Defense Minister was here for his first visit. And they formalize a security memorandum between them,
trying to expand cooperation between the two and potentially paving the way for Bahrain to be able to purchase potentially missile defense systems,
things like that, for missile, of course, rising concern here after you see those attacks from Houthi rebels on the UAE, Becky.
ANDERSON: We bring in Jomana at this point, because here in the UAE, we continue to see evidence of economic and security cooperation between the
UAE and Israel who of course, spearheaded those Abraham accords.
So it was Washington who really pushed everybody, as it were to the table. And the Bahraini's of course, on board at the outset as well. And at the
time, the Turkish President couldn't conceal his distaste for this normalization.
He came out of the gate with some pretty strong comments about why it is that he thought this whole normalization process was wrong. And yet, today,
and yesterday, of course, 48 hours here in the UAE, where we see buildings lit up with the Turkish flag, the President meeting the de facto leader
here in Abu Dhabi yesterday and then meeting the Prime Minister.
Today, let's just step back and talk about the enormity of what is going on, not just here today, and not just in Manama, but around this region at
present and why?
JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, look Becky, as we have been discussing, we are seeing this changing geopolitical scene across this
region. And it's for so many different factors. You've got all these powers really trying to recalibrate their foreign policies for many different
reasons that we've discussed this perception of America not being so invested in this region.
You know, how governments saw that chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan playing out, so they really have been trying to move closer to their
neighbors to their former foes really trying to mend fences.
And you're seeing this, this playing out across the region with this wave of reconciliation across the Middle East. You know, we heard the Turkish
president here today, Becky saying that this is an EU era of cooperation. And that really seems to be the theme.
And you know, as we've discussed, for Turkey, this is very much about the economy. You've got the Turkish president, now wrapping up this visit, and
going back with what really can only be described as a win, especially for his domestic audience, you know, the welcome that he received here in the
UAE.
He's leaving with more than 12 agreements, these trade deals, more promises of investment that Turkey really needs right now before Turks head to the
polls next year.
And you know, while it is the economy that is driving this for Turkey, it also is very much about this shift in its foreign policy, softening its
foreign policy. You know, Turkey has really felt Becky as you know, very well over the past few years that it was isolated in this region.
So we are seeing the shift from this expansionist aggressive foreign policy that arguably got it to a position of strength and got it to the
negotiating table with these other powers. But we are seeing this shift towards a more conciliatory approach and foreign policy reaching out to all
these different countries, Becky.
ANDERSON: And you certainly see that here the UAE's foreign file must provide economic value is the way that it is described as its seeming pivot
away from some of the conflicts and some of the action that it's been involved in the past.
To both of you, thank you very much indeed, it's an extremely important story. I can't underscore how important it is as we see this winter of sort
of discontent in Europe and the U.S. focused in China.
[11:30:00]
ANDERSON: So you see these warming of relations in the Middle East. We are going to take a very short break back after that with more on what is our
breaking news, Prince Andrew has settled his sex abuse lawsuit with Virginia Giuffre, that after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, breaking news into CNN and Prince Andrew has settled his sex abuse lawsuit with Virginia Giuffre. She accused the late financier
Jeffrey Epstein of trafficking her as an underage woman to have sex with his friends including the prince.
Now the some of the settlement has not been disclosed, but we do understand it includes a donation to Giuffre's charity that supports victim's rights.
It is important to note the Prince Andrew consistently denied the allegations in this civil lawsuit and earlier moved to have it dismissed.
Well, I'm joined now by Areva Martin, she's an Attorney, and a CNN Legal Analyst. So let's just get this straight. What do we know at this point?
AREVA MARTIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Well, what we know Becky at this point is that there has been a settlement of the civil lawsuit in which Virginia
Giuffre allege that she was raped by the prince when she was a minor as a part of Jeffrey Epsteins.
You know, his involvement with minors in terms of sex trafficking those minors, we know that this settlement has an undisclosed financial amount.
And it has a donation to a charity associated with Giuffre that helps victims of sexual assault.
ANDERSON: Will we ever know how much he settled for?
MARTIN: Not likely Becky, and this is very common in settlements, the civil settlements of sexual harassment sexual assault cases where there is a
nondisclosure agreement typically included in the settlement agreement, and that non disclosure agreement prevents both parties from ever disclosing
the financial amount.
What's important to note, though, in this case, is the incredible 360 turn in terms of the tone and the language used by the prince and his legal
team. We know initially they were accusing Giuffre of basically being out for money trying to exploit a situation for financial gain.
Now, the language from this team is recognizing her as a victim talking about her courage in terms of coming forward and bringing these claims. And
apology of some sorts for the pain that she experienced although there was no explicit admission of liability in the settlement.
[11:35:00]
ANDERSON: So no admission of liability in the settlement. Let me bring in Max Foster. Was this expected you have sources of course, at the palace,
out of palaces and within the royal family, what fear? What's the sense at this point?
MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, well, the difficulty is in with this whole story is that the palace, certainly since they took away Prince
Andrew HRH title, I have not been involved in this at all, they've tried to distance themselves as much as possible.
So we're relying on the lawyers and we've just got this statement that was filed to the court. I think, certainly an out of court settlement would
have been preferred by the British establishment because otherwise this would have gone on and on and on.
We also had the specter of this deposition from Prince Andrew to the court famously doesn't get very good interviews. So it would have just
overshadowed all of the events, the Royal events of this year, particularly the jubilees.
I think, certainly from the palace point of view, this is good news. He's not accepting liability. We don't know how much the figure is. But the
other thing that strikes me about this statement is one of the big criticisms of Prince Andrew throughout this process, so that he hasn't
expressed enough sympathy for the victims of Epstein.
He's only been seen to be defending himself, which might have been the legal advice that he's received. But it was a pretty disastrous in terms of
optics and public relations.
But in the statement, he does very much express sympathy for the survivors and says he will actually support their fight now as well. So whether or
not this is enough to convince the detractors of Prince Andrew, we'll wait and see. But certainly good news on behalf of the palace, I would have
thought.
ANDERSON: Yes, we would just draw a line under Prince Andrew's involvement in all of this sort of Epstein affair?
MARTIN: Well, absolutely, although there isn't an admission of liability in the settlement, clearly from the statements that are issued. And the fact
that he has settled so quickly, the lawsuit was just filed about six months ago.
And as the correspondent said, we were about to possibly have a deposition that was taken of the prince and others involved in this lawsuit. So I
think for victims, there's a sense of victory with respect to the settlement.
It didn't get played out in court, there wasn't an actual determination by a jury or judge. But this is a huge step in favor of victims in favor of
the "me too' movement.
Again, another very powerful, wealthy man has been brought down in some ways by the "me too' movement who has had to admit that women are victims
of sexual assault, and that they are brave and courageous when they come forward and follow these kinds of lawsuits.
ANDERSON: Max, we haven't yet had a statement from either the prince himself or indeed from Virginia, Giuffre. From Prince Andrew's side, would
you expect one at this point?
FOSTER: Well, all I got was a confirmation from his spokesperson that they've been a settlement. And then when I asked for more, they referred me
to the statement far to the court. So I suspect that that's going to be all we're going to get from now.
Giuffre, you would expect to speak out explain why she accepted the settlement because the argument from her side has been that she wanted her
day in court. This was never at the money.
So I think that there must be some sort of, on her side, some sense that there's been some sort of justice here. So wait to see what she comes out
with in terms of her statements, just from his point of view.
I think in terms of his future, you know, he is literally not quite hostage to his home in Windsor, but he's unable to leave it because he's surrounded
by photographers. He's had his HRH title, his royal role stripped from him permanently by the Queen.
So there's no way that you can then come back into a royal roll. And he isn't getting any finance now, either. So he's going to have to find some
way of building a career. And also big outstanding question is how he's going to pay this settlement.
Because if it's in the millions, you wonder how he's going to be able to afford it because he hasn't got an income.
ANDERSON: So real question marks about whether he himself can be rehabilitated after sort of drawing a line under this. Areva, finally with
you. Would you expect I mean, obviously, you know, one assumes that Virginia Giuffre has an opportunity to speak about this in the future.
Could you be - could you be conceivably gagged by the settlement? I mean, what can she say going forward? Is it clear?
MARTIN: Well, she can. Yes, Becky. She can't talk about the specifics of the settlement specifically as it relates to the amount of money that has
been paid in order for her to settle this lawsuit.
But she can be a loud and vocal voice on behalf of victims and talking about how important it is for victims to use their voices to stand up to
fight back against men that would sex trafficking minors that would engage in a sexual harassment or sexual abuse of women or girls.
[11:40:00]
MARTIN: So I think we're going to hear a lot from Virginia Giuffre, again, not specifically as it relates to this settlement of the particulars of the
settlement, but her as an advocate on behalf of women and girls who have been sexually exploited sexually abused by men.
And again, I can't emphasize enough how significant this settlement is in terms of, you know, emphasizing the importance of women using their voices
and the "me too' movement of bringing down powerful men like the prince.
ANDERSON: Areva, Max, thank you. Speaking to our breaking news, just coming into CNN Prince Andrew has settled his sex abuse civil lawsuit with
Virginia Giuffre. Well, some of the settlement has not been disclosed but we understand it includes a donation to Giuffre's charity that supports
victim's rights.
OK, we are taking a break. Vladimir Putin says of course, Russia doesn't want war but the west isn't so sure. In fact the warnings from Washington
are dire, more after this.
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ANDERSON: Well, Russian President Vladimir Putin says of course Russia doesn't want war with Ukraine and that he wants to keep negotiating but the
West isn't so sure. The American Ambassador to NATO, for example, says the U.S. will have to verify claims that Russia is trying to de escalate the
situation at least militarily by sending some troops back to their bases.
U.S. officials have warned an invasion could happen this week without warning. Let's talk more about the situation at the stakes here. CNN Senior
Reporter Stephen Collinson is in Washington, good friend of this show. Regular on CTW and CNN Producer Nathan Hodge is in Moscow.
Let's start with you, Nathan, really good to have you. You know this, you know Moscow extremely well. You are a Bureau Chief there for some time. The
world has been in sort of geopolitical limbo is it, we're waiting to see what Vladimir Putin's next move will be.
U.S. Senator Chris Murphy tweeted out a lengthy thread. And the conceit of his argument was the following. He writes, "it's maddening watching Putin
hold these cards. It feels like he's in charge holding us all hostage, but not really. He is operating from a position of severe weakness, he writes.
Having failed to coax Ukraine back into his orbit, a potentially disastrous invasion is his last resort'. What are your thoughts as Putin carefully
calculated his odds here? Are they actually not in Russians favor at this point?
[11:45:00]
NATHAN HODGE, CNN PRODUCER: Right, Becky, it's always tempting to look at Putin as you know either the poker player or the chess player here. And we
can always take a tally as we watched the sort of the drama unfold in front of us on the, on the international stage and try to guess who's up and
who's down, who's got more chips on the table here.
But it's really clear when you're talking about Putin that at least domestically, you know, he does hold all the cards, he's got a appliant
media, he's basically defanged, all of his domestic political opposition.
And of course, he's got a very, very powerful military and he can exercise it at his leisure. Now, there's a lot of sort of speculation here, for
instance, last night at a very long table, he's sitting there with his Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who recommends that, you know, Putin
continue with this diplomatic path.
And so immediately, we begin to speculate, does that mean that they're going to take the diplomatic path? Will there be a climb down here? And
then the following day, there's a signal from the Russian Ministry of Defense that, you know, they're moving some of the troops that have been
taking part in these operations back to their home bases.
Does that mean that there's a de escalation? Well, the amount of information that we get in the sort of from the sort of black box that we
call the Kremlin is very often limited. And the same thing you can say for the Russian military, the readouts that we get from them.
They're giving us kind of scant information about you know, what, what are these units? How many people are involved? What basis are they going back
to, and if they've been replaced by other people?
So you know, this is, you know, it's not entirely transparent to us, as this as are the sort of the decision making processes inside of the
Kremlin. Now, we don't have to be Putin mind readers here.
And there seem to be a lot of them about, or we can just take a look at what he says on the record. He appeared today in a press conference with
Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor. And he made it clear that he sees sort of like, you know, a Russian version of the responsibility to protect, sort
of turning that sort of international - the idea of International Relations somewhat on its head.
Basically saying that he sees the situation unfolding in the Donbas as a genocide now, sort of loosely - I'd say loosely using that term. But what
he means and what is something that he said before that he considers his duty, and his right to intervene potentially, militarily on behalf of
ethnic Russians and Russian speakers, wherever they may be.
So that could be seen as a signal that he may take a more aggressive line when it comes to Ukraine. Now, there's lots of talk and speculation to
about what's happening on the legislative fronts in Russia.
There's been action by the Duma sort of to consider or to appeal to Putin, for the recognition of these Republic's as independent. And again, the
decision has to come down to Putin. But the Kremlin is made clear again, there's a nuance if that happens, it scuttled the Minsk process
potentially. And that's something that they say is the only way forward for resolving this crisis, Becky.
ANDERSON: Two steps forward, one step back, or maybe it's one step forward, two steps back at this point, it is it's slightly unclear. Stephen, you
wrote in a recent Op-ed, that some analysts believe Putin has achieved many of his objectives already explain, if you will.
STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN SENIOR REPORTER: Right, well, I think this idea that the United States could turn its gaze away from Europe, could rely on
Russia, not to cause trouble in Eastern Europe, which was basically adopted by many Americans over the last few years, or they look to the much bigger
rising challenge from China.
I think that idea is now off the table. However, this crisis ends, even if the Russian president decides to stand down and not to invade Ukraine, he's
made his point that at any moment, he can escalate a crisis in Eastern Europe, he can get the world running to the Kremlin.
And he's causing, you know, chaos. That's one of the issues that people are thinking about, as they look at this Russian announcement that some troops
have been pulled back, I think to use, and to adapt a phrase from the old Cold War the U.S. response, so that is mistrust.
But verify. You know, it seems very suspicious to some people in Washington that this announcement came when Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor, who is
seen perhaps as one of the weaker links in the strong NATO front against Russia, was at the Kremlin.
It does seem to a lot of people in Washington, that that may be an attempt to, you know, divide NATO, just a week or so after Scholz was in the United
States and appearing with President Joe Biden.
Having said that, the U.S. doesn't want Putin to invade Ukraine if there is any diplomatic opening, I think the U.S. will try and seize it and try and
create some kind of - for Putin that doesn't involve the U.S. and NATO you know toning down their principles here.
[11:50:00]
COLLINSON: President Biden just got off the phone with Emmanuel Macron, the French President has been leading European diplomacy on this issue. And the
Secretary of State Tony Blinken has also spoken to the Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov.
So, you know, Washington will act if it believes that there is an opening here. But I think there's also deep skepticism. And it's born from what has
happened over the last few weeks and the way that things will probably develop in the future, however, this crisis ends.
ANDERSON: I just want to read our viewers an excerpt from that all Op-ed that I was referring to earlier. There is a palpable sense that Russia and
the West have reached an historic fork in the road down one route lies a return to the confrontation and tensions that prevailed for decades during
the Cold War.
Down the other might lie a diplomatic fudge that no key player seems able to frame given the stark Russian demands. And I just want Nathan to provide
some insight there. I mean, I thought it was a really interesting point that, that Steven was making your sense.
HODGE: Right, I mean, I think that we are facing sort of some very stark demands from the Russian end. If we take a look again, at everything that
he's said, on the record, you know, in the past weeks during the course of this crisis, it's clear that what he wants is essentially a rollback or a
reset of the past 30 years.
He wants to see sort of the outcome of the Cold War to sort of be re adjudicated here. I mean, we're talking about, you know, what he's said
about rolling essentially NATO back to its 1997 lines.
He's always been irritated about the stationing of a U.S. missile defense assets and Eastern Europe. And that dates back to the scrapping of the BMD
treaty back in the early 2000s by President George W. Bush.
And, and as well, he just wants a promise that there's not going to be, you know, future NATO enlargement. And on that position, Moscow remains very,
very far apart from Washington or remains far apart from NATO members.
So, you know, we're really very much at this point of where, you know, he's thrown a lot of things here on the table. There could be speculation, you
know, just see how much he can get, you raise the temperature with troops on the border around Ukraine, you keep these exercises going. And so, you
know, maybe see what he can get. So we'll see in the coming days, Becky.
ANDERSON: To both of you, thank you very much indeed, leaning into your experience, your analysis and your insight. Thank you. Up next, one of the
richest men in the world makes a stunning donation to charity. How much Elon Musk is giving away when we come back?
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ANDERSON: Tesla CEO, Elon Musk is one of the richest people on earth, you know that. But even for a mega billionaire, the charitable gift he has made
is impressive. Musk gave 5 million shares of Tesla stock away to charities as we understand it late in 2021. Those shares are worth close to $6
billion.
[11:55:00]
ANDERSON: It is not clear which charities got the gift. But Musk have tweeted about being willing to help and world hunger after being challenged
by the Head of the World Food Program right here on "Connect the World'.
Well, CNN Business Correspondent Paul Monica joining us now. You have been digging a little deeper into Musk's magnanimous gift. What do we know at
this point? Who's going to benefit?
PAUL R.LA MONICA, CNN REPORTER: Yes, all we know at this point Becky, is that about $5.7 billion worth of Tesla's stock getting donated to
charities, we could be more than one and we really don't have any idea at this point.
If it is tied to world hunger, as you noted, that big challenge from the U.N. to Musk to help put an end to world hunger, Musk was pretty vocal at
the time telling the U.N you know, you come up with a plan, I'll do it and the U.N. responded.
But Musk almost uncharacteristically has been quiet about this including on his favorite social media platform Twitter, there has been nary a word nada
and I told you so Nada, hey, look, I did it. Look how great I am a lot of puffery often from Musk on Twitter, but he has apparently taken the high
road has been quiet he just let the money do the talking.
So some charities benefiting from Tesla's success and Elon Musk's generosity but we just still don't know which ones.
ANDERSON: Is that a surprise? You're right. I mean, this guy can be extremely vocally. He also, we are well aware when he's got a passion for
something crypto, for example, that's one that we hear an awful lot about Spacex for --.This is this is relatively unusual for Mr. Musk, isn't it?
What do you think that is?
MONICA: Yes, I think it is Becky, and it's really hard to try and figure out what Musk may be thinking here. But we did know that he had filed, you
know to sell some stock last year.
Part of it was because of the huge tax hit that he faces as a result of how wealthy he has become because of Tesla's success, but it is admirable
obviously to see Musk also donate this much money to charities.
This puts him second last year only to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation with regards to a size of a charitable donation. So Musk obviously deciding
that he should put some of his money to work for the good of the planet.
But again, we just don't know who are the beneficiaries and whether or not it was one charity or several if you got it spread out over a couple of
organizations.
ANDERSON: Well, Paul, we join you in doing the digging. And when we find out we will of course let our viewers know. Thank you very much indeed.
David Beasley of course, he was Head of the World Food Program had called on Musk and other billionaires to cough up to help solve world hunger.
That was the idea these billionaires had made billions more during the COVID period. So this was the appellee shaking the tree who knows where the
charity dollars will fall. Thank you for joining us in what was an extremely busy couple of hours. Stay safe, stay well.
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