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NATO Chief Stoltenberg: Russia Continues to Plan for Full-Scale Attack on Ukraine; Stoltenberg: We will Shield NATO Alliance from Aggression; Russia's Upper Chamber of Parliament Gives Putin Content to Use Armed Forces Outside the Country; EU Leaders Condemn "In Strongest Possible Terms" Putin's Move; World Stock Markets and Oil React to Russia-Ukraine Crisis. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired February 22, 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 many are calling it the darkest days at the end of the Cold War. How Vladimir
Putin's plans for the future involve reshaping the past? I'm Becky Anderson and welcome back to "Connect the World".
We begin with the West already hitting back against Russia's provocation and sending a clear message. The German Chancellor halting the
certification progress for Nord Stream 2, that's a Russia to Germany natural gas pipeline with major geopolitical implications.
The UK is levered new sanctions on Russian banks and oligarchs in the U.S. say it is planning to announce significant additional sanctions in response
to Mr. Putin's provocation, they say that will be in the coming hours.
And we could learn something about that when President Biden speaks were expecting that to happen about three hours from now at 2 pm Eastern Time.
Well, it comes - all of this comes after the Ukrainian Leader made a call for urgent sanctions. But for his part, President Zelensky is still keeping
or certainly trying to keep the calm in his country have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE: With regards to being on a military footing, we understand that there will be no war there will not be
an all-out war against Ukraine. And there will not be a broad escalation from Russia. If there is then we'll put Ukraine on a war footing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, me my Russian forces could enter a separatist held parts of Eastern Ukraine anytime now. President Vladimir Putin ordered troops in
just hours after recognizing the independence of those Moscow backed regions.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT: It is important to understand that Ukraine has never had a consistent tradition of being a true nation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And that we will discuss a little later. A Russian diplomatic official claiming there's NATO of a deployment for now, though the White
House today calling it the beginning of an invasion, and I quote them there. Last hour I spoke to Lithuania's Prime Minister, here's what she had
to say about Putin's intentions.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
INGRIDA SIMONYTE, LITHUANIAN PRIME MINISTER: I think this whole debate is not really about Ukraine. I mean, what he said yesterday, and what you can
see he completely disregards Ukraine. I mean, he thinks Ukraine is irrelevant. It may be does not exist, even in his view of the world.
Actually, the whole debate is about agreement or push for agreement between him and Washington, United States of America about how the power should be
shared. What are the spheres of influence?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, Fred Pleitgen has been rushed off on - in Southern Russia, close to the Donbas region. We'll get to that report shortly. I want
though, to get to Jen Stoltenberg who is the Head of NATO and he is about to speak. Let's listen.
JENS STOLTENBERG, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL: We condemn Moscow's decision to recognize the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People
Republic. We also condemn the further Russian incursion into Ukraine.
Moscow has now moved from covered attempts to deep stabilize Ukraine to overturn military action. This is a serious escalation by Russia and a
flagrant violation of international law.
It further undermines Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. It damages efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict and has grave
consequences for European security.
This is a crisis created by Russia alone. We commend Ukraine for its restraint in not responding to Russia's repeated provocations. We stand in
solidarity with the Ukrainian people and its government.
Allies are united in their full support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. We
will continue to provide Ukraine with strong political support and allies are providing equipment to help Ukraine defend itself as well as sustained
financial support.
For months, Russia has been building up a massive military force in and around Ukraine, including in Belarus with well over 150,000 troops and
fighter jets and attack helicopters.
[11:05:00]
STOLTENBERG: Many units are now forward deployed in combat formations. They're out of their camps in the field and ready to strike. NATO is
resolute and united in its determination to protect and defend all allies.
In the last week's allies have deployed thousands of more troops to eastern part of the alliance and placed more on standby. We have over 100 jets at
high alert, and there are more than 120 allied chips at the sea from the high north to the Mediterranean.
We will continue to do whatever is necessary to shield the alliance from aggression. NATO allies and the rest of the international community warned
there would be a high cost of Russia carried out further aggressive actions.
I welcome the economic sanctions announced today by many NATO allies, and the decision by German government that it cannot certify the Nord Stream 2
Pipeline. We urge Russia in the strongest possible terms to choose the path of diplomacy.
This is the most dangerous moment in European security for a generation. But Europe and North America continue to stand strong together in NATO,
united and committed to defend and protect each other. With that, I'm ready to take your questions.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: National News Agency of Ukraine, as NATO here was quite transparent policy in and this situational assessment. Could you please
share the vision? Have you discussed with Ukrainian side the possibility that Russian troops would not stop on the contact line?
And we'll be moving deeper, at least to the administrative borders of the Luhansk and Donetsk areas? And what we - know in that regard? And the
follow up question, if I may. What is your assessment how high is still a risk of operation from Russian side? Thank you.
STOLTENBERG: Every indication is that Russia continues to plan for full scale attack on Ukraine. We see the ongoing military buildup, they promised
to step back but they had continued to step up.
Forces are moving out to the camps and are in combat formations and ready to strike. And we see the ongoing provocations in Donbas and the different
false flag operations where they tried to create a pretext for an attack.
And then of course, we saw last night that further Russian troops moved into Donbas into parts of Donetsk and Luhansk. And then we have the
threatening rhetoric, which was actually confirmed in the speech of President Putin yesterday.
At the same time, it's never too late it is never too late to not attack. And that's reason why we continue to call on Russia to step back to de-
escalate, and to engage in good faith and diplomatic efforts to find a political solution.
If Russia designs once again, to use force against Ukraine, there will be even stronger sanctions even a higher price to pay. And it's continued to
provide support to Ukraine. And in the meeting with Ukraine today, many allies pledged to continue to support financial support, support military
support.
And also NATO provides critical support to help Ukraine strengthen its cyber defenses. And of course, NATO's main responsibility is to make sure
that there is no aggression against any NATO allied countries. So we have already increased our presence in the eastern part alliance and we're ready
to further increase our presence in the eastern part of alliance if necessary.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Associated Press.
MARK CARLSON, ASSOCIATED PRESS: Thank you, Mark Carlson, Associated Press. Do you consider Russia's latest movements - in Ukraine?
STOLTENBERG: I think we have to recall that Russia has already invaded Ukraine. They invaded Ukraine back in 2014. They annexed the part to
Ukraine and Crimea and since 2014 there have been Russian military unit's forces in Donbas in Donetsk and Lahaska.
[11:10:00]
STOLTENBERG: So what we see now is that a country which is already invaded is suffering further invasion. The armed with more Russian military
presence and this is of course, even more serious because this comes on top of the recognition of the so called People's Republics in Donetsk and
Luhansk. So what we see is further invasion of a country which is already invaded.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We'll now go online to Greg Palkot from FOX News.
GREG PALKOT, FOX NEWS: Thanks very much. I want to and thank you, Secretary General. I really have to be precise about this because confusion. You say
last night, further Russian troops entered the Donbas.
Do you have evidence that Russian troops - and gear have moved from Russian territory into well, it's really Ukrainian territory, but it's the occupied
Donbas. Do you have - and if so, that is an invasion, correct?
And if so, have you changed your posture at all but, but specifically about that point, you have evidence that new Russian troops have moved from
Russia into the Donbas that is the occupied territory of Ukraine?
STOLTENBERG: Yes, and I think you have to understand that Russia has been in Donbas for many years since 2014. But that has been in a covered
operation where they had to deny their presence. But the so called separatists has been controlled by and supported by Russian troops, the
Russian Special Operation personnel, for many, many years.
So Russia has been present in different covert operations in Donetsk and Luhansk for many, many years. What we see now is additional Russian forces
and troops moving in. And, this makes the whole situation even more serious, this is a step change. And then this is combined with the
recognition of these territories, which are inside the national recognized borders of Ukraine as independent states.
So this is adding fuel. This is making it more dangerous and more serious. And then on top of that, we also see that continued Russian military
buildup and preparation for a larger scale attack on Ukraine.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK, we'll go to --. We can't hear you. You need to unmute.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you hear me? Can you give us a precise view on the military forces and assets that are deployed by Russia, near the border and
in Donbas and the forces from the separatists? You talked about 150,000 troops, but could be more precise, thanks.
STOLTENBERG: Well, I what I can say is that Russia has well over 150,000 troops. In addition to that, of course, there are air forces and naval
forces also close to Ukraine. And these forces are partly inside Ukraine already in Crimea, and in Donbas, and partly close to Ukraine's borders,
both in the east, but also in the south, and also in the north, partly in Russia and partly in Belarus.
And these forces are a combat - tens of thousands of combat troops, but also all kinds of enablers, missiles, armored vehicles, battle tanks,
drones, systems for electronic warfare, air defense, Iskander missiles, which actually dual capable missiles and a wide range of different military
capabilities.
So this is a force, which is not only strong and well equipped and have a lot of high end capabilities. But this is also force which is now fully
resourced with ammunition and fuel. And then more and more of the troops have moved out of their camps.
And are now in a position where they can attack without any warning time. So of course this makes the whole situation very dangerous. But as we have
stated again and again Russia still has the choice to choose diplomacy to step back, and to engage in a political dialogue with our NATO allies.
[11:15:00]
STOLTENBERG: And we have demonstrated over a long period of time that we are ready to sit down to talk to Russia in good faith on issues, which also
matters for their security, arms control, transparency, and then the audacious.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We'll go to Terry Scholz from National Public Radio.
TERRY SCHOLZ, NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO: Hi, thank you very much for taking our remote questions. Mr. Secretary General, do you worry that that Russia is
declaring that it will also recognize this sovereignty, you can see my fingers over parts of Ukraine that are currently controlled by Ukrainian
forces?
That seems that it would make the probability of conflicts a lot higher, and with the Baltic States and other neighboring allies calling for yet
more support even more than NATO has done so far? What more can you do right now, practically, not what you've done so far but what more can you
do in the very near future in the next two days to reassure those nervous allies?
STOLENBERG: Well, what you have seen this a bit the mixed signals from Moscow on whether they have recognized the territory between the Russian
border and the contact line, or recognized as Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, the whole territory of the two oboists.
But anyway, this is a step change. This is further increasing the threats and the violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, and
just the fact that have recognized these entities as independent states.
And that's reason why we condemn it so clearly, and also reason why we welcome the sanctions that NATO allies today in different formats have
decided to impose. And also why welcome the decision by Germany to stop the approval of the North Stream 2 projects.
We have already increased our presence in the Baltic States. We did so after the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014. And we have also done it
over the last weeks and months, then we have plans in place, we have forces available to reinforce further if needed, we will do that in a defensive
way.
Our purposes to prevent the conflict are to be to reassure our allies. And of course, NATO's core responsibility is to make sure that there is no room
for any miscalculation about our commitment to protect and defend our allies and but that also prevent an attack on an allied country.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: For the next question go to --.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, Mr. Secretary General, has the NATO Response Force been activated? If so how many troops are deploying to Europe? Thank
you.
STOLENBERG: The NATO Response Force has been put on higher readiness. We're done. We did that several weeks ago but it has not been deployed. What we
have deployed our other units of from NATO allied countries.
The United States has deployed troops and forces in Europe. I met some of them in Romania a few days ago. Germany has deployed more troops are to
Lithuania, the United Kingdom has doubled its presence in Estonia, with the battle group there.
And other allies, including in Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, and many others have decided to send in troop's ships and planes to reinforce our
presence. And France also may declare that they are ready to lead a battle group in Romania. So, so far, we have increased the readiness of the NATO
Response Force, but we are not deployed at NATO Response Force.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you. For the next question we'll go to --.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hello, good evening. Thank you. Mr. Secretary General latest news from Russia putting asks lawmakers for permission to use force
outside Russia could pave the way for broader attack on Ukraine. How would you comment on this issue and also yesterday Putin spoke a lot about NATO
expansion?
[11:20:00]
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And you know that with Ukraine, Georgia is also waiting for future membership. And such statements are so worried for us.
But is your comment and is it possible and acceptable about what Putin was talking two days ago, so called moratorium on a NATO expansion? Thank you
so much.
STOLTENBERG: Requests to get permission to use force outside the Russian territory, just adds to the pattern of decisions and actions by Russia of
last months, which has led to the most dangerous moment for our security in decades. And this just and this is just another step.
I think we had to recall that actually, NATO allies warned this fall that we saw a military buildup by Russia and plan to reach a level of Russian
forces in around Ukraine, which is very much where we are today.
So this is something that has been predicted many months ago. And then Russia has done what we expected, and what we want against. They have
significantly increased the Military presence in around Ukraine.
And then combined with the rhetoric's and, and all the false flag operations that attempts to create the pretext and now, yesterday, the
recognition of the People's Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk.
All of those ads into this pattern of threatening and aggressive behavior, and any permission to use force outside the Russian territory just adds to
that pattern, fundamentally don't change our message.
And that is that we continue to call on Russia to step back not to continue to step up, as we've seen over the last weeks, but also that they engage in
real diplomatic efforts. NATO has made it clear that we are ready to talk.
And we have listed in letters or in the letter we have sent to Russia, but also the United States has conveyed a document to Russia in parallel with
NATO, where we list many areas where we're ready to sit down, discuss, and try to find a political path forward.
But in that document, we also made it clear that we will not compromise on core values. And one of them is, of course, the right for every nation to
choose his own path. NATO lodgment has been extremely important for Europe over many decades that help to spread democracy, freedom across Europe for
decades after the end of the Cold War
And we will neither compromise nor right to protect and defend all allies when Russia is the morning that we should sign a legally binding agreement
to remove all NATO infrastructure and all NATO forces from the territories are those allies that joined the lines of the 1997.
We cannot accept that. Because that will be the same as to say that we will introduce some kind of first and second class NATO membership where we
don't have the same right to protect those allies that joined after 1997. So we will not compromise on those principles.
But we are ready to engage in political dialogue on many important issues, which are also important for the security of Russia.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So the last question, we'll go to --.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi. People around the world and especially in Europe are now afraid of a full on war. What do you think of that fear? And how far
away are we?
STOLTENBERG: Is this a real risk? And that's exactly why we have been warning against these for months. And regrettably, what we have seen over
the last months is that exactly what we predicted has happened.
But it's still possible for Russia to change course and to not continue the Military buildup and not invade further, Ukraine. I think also that we need
to, to realize that Ukraine is a highly valued partner, we support them.
With military support, with political support, with the cyber defenses with equipment, different allies provide different types of support. But when it
comes to NATO allies we provide absolute security guarantees meaning that we make it absolutely clear that the attack on one ally will trigger the
response from the whole alliance, one for all, all for one.
[11:25:00]
STOLTENBERG: And that's also reason why NATO has increased its presence in eastern part of the alliance in a defensive manner, to make sure that there
is no room for miscalculation about our ability to defend all allies. And as long as we do that, we will, we will prevent an attack on NATO allied
countries.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you very much. This concludes this press conference. Thank you.
STOLTENBERG: Thank you.
ANDERSON: You've been listening to the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaking, following an extraordinary meeting of the NATO
Ukraine Commission, as it's known, and this is a serious escalation.
He said describing evidence of new Russian troops he said that that have moved from Russia, into Donbas. He described that as a further invasion of
Ukraine. This escalation, he said has grave consequences for European security for a generation.
Allies, he said are united in their support for Ukraine. He said we will continue to do whatever is necessary to shield the alliance from
aggression. He said he welcomes the economic sanctions announced by many NATO allies and the decision by Germany to halt the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
He also said there is every indication that Russia continues to plan for a full scale attack of Ukraine. He said they promised to step back, but they
continue to step up. He said a number of times it isn't too late though. And he appealed to Vladimir Putin to negotiate in good faith for a
resolution.
We are expecting to hear from Joe Biden U.S. President about an hour and a half from now that that speech that he will make moved up from 2 p.m.,
Eastern Time to 1 p.m. So that is an hour and a half.
From now we are expecting to hear from the U.S. on a new raft of sanctions, the first of which were released last night and characterize is very
cautious by many. Our coverage of this developing story, of course, continues.
Sam Kylie is in eastern Ukraine. Scott McLean is in Paris; Kylie Atwood is live from the U.S. State Department in Washington. And Kylie, let me start
with you. I'm sorry. Hang on a minute, everybody. Let's just listen into Vladimir Putin. This is what happens during this time. Vladimir Putin is
speaking, let's listen in.
PUTIN: So within borders, we're going to recognize this Republic's. Well we've already recognized them, and that means that that means you've
recognized all of their fundamental documents, including constitution.
And the Constitution clearly delineates the borders within the Donetsk and Luhansk are blessed when they were part of Ukraine. However, I would like
to reiterate that we are hoping that all of them as disputable issues will be resolved between the meeting during the meeting between the government
in Kyiv and the leaders of DNR, LNR.
It is difficult because unfortunately, these combat actions are still going on. And there seems to be a tendency towards escalation. With regard to or
using the Armed Forces abroad of course, just yesterday, we signed the agreements.
And those agreements with the Donetsk People say regions in the - is certain items, the paragraphs that clearly state that we are going to
provide them appropriate, including Military assistance. And since there is a conflict, it's important for them to understand that we do intend to
fulfill our commitments and obligations.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hello, this is - and with regard to Donbas, so it is obvious that Ukraine does not want to recognize sovereignty over DNR and
LNR. And our decision to recognize and it seems, I'm sorry, I don't understand what I'm saying is that, it seems that Kyiv itself does not
recognize DNR and LNR as a sovereign state, and they're not happy with our decisions.
So further to what happened yesterday and even today, do you see any prospects for rehabilitation of relations between Moscow and Kyiv? And what
both parties need to do?
[11:30:00]
PUTIN: Well, you know, what we did discuss those issues during numerous hours of talks and conversations with our partners, including Americans,
and maybe didn't really sound publicly however; I would like to say that. The question is, so what is it that Kyiv has to do that we can believe that
this situation has been regulated in the long term.
So we can only live in peace and not talk about any kinds of conflict, especially Military conflicts? So I'll finally be able to tell you the same
because it's not a secret. First of all, everybody has to show goodwill.
And to recognize the goodwill of those people who live in Crimea, because I've mentioned this many times, you know, how is the will different from
Kosovo? No, there's no difference, because back in, in Kosovo, the decision - because the decision was there, taken as part of the people's referendum
in Crimea, right.
You know, people were not forced to go to the election stations ready, they willingly came and express their desire. And, and one has to respect that
one has to respect to their desire, because referendum, it is the expression of democracy. And then the second, we've, again, we've spoken a
lot about this.
And because it's been a very great point of arguments with NATO, and Washington, we are categorically against of Ukraine going into NATO.
Because we've already mentioned many times that it poses a threat to Russia.
And we know, they're saying that the best resolution of this issue would be for our colleagues. So our Western colleagues, so they at least they could
keep their face so that the government in Kyiv would actually reach out to there and deny their desire to join NATO, and agree on neutrality.
Besides, we do need to resolve the issue of Donbas via peaceful negotiations and to implement Minsk package. And the last point is that
everything what we've already spoken about can be turned over only if our so called partners will continue building up the current Ukrainian
government with all the latest weapons.
So basically, we're talking about the demilitarization of Ukraine. This is a truly only factor that can be controlled and properly reacted to. And
once that's done, and then we can easily revert to other things.
Just like what we know that the current leader of Ukraine, prosecutes the previous leader of Ukraine and he says he's unhappy with the Minsk
agreements. And I'm sure would have this, so what they're saying in Kyiv is just not acceptable.
And that entire militarization is absolutely not acceptable, especially since Ukraine is talking about their nuclear ambitions.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes during your address to the Russian people, you mentioned Zelensky's words that there is a chance for Ukraine to have
nuclear weapons. And to join that nuclear club, are there just empty words just in your words is Oh, is there a real threat that near our border there
is there will be nuclear weapons?
[11:35:00]
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I've already mentioned this just now, right? We understand those words were directly directed towards us. And we did hear
them.
PUTIN: Since the Soviet times, we know that Ukraine possesses really wide nuclear capabilities, several nuclear blocks and their nuclear industries
well developed, they have necessary academics in school for that, just to speed up the process much faster as compared to those countries that have
to start from scratch.
So that's just the first point to reiterate. And what they're lacking is the system of enrichment with Uranium. But that's not a big issue.
No, this is not something that cannot be taken care of, easily with regards to the means of supplier you know, they're old missiles. They're called, I
think I mentioned yesterday is there was 100 kilometers, but it's in fact, 110 kilometers.
So what's the threat that we have faced against is that the emergence of the nuclear weapons in Ukraine means strategically threat to us. And so
it's important for us to keep in mind because again from 110 kilometers, we can go all the way to 300, 500. And that means that just Moscow is under
the direct target, and that is a strategic arthritis. That is why we have to and we will take this very seriously.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So do you believe that in the modern world, that it is possible to resolve things in military forcible away and yet to be on the
side of peace? And then another question how far, I'm sorry, I don't - yes, how far can the troops go?
Are we talking about they'll come to the administrative borders of DNR, LNR or something different? What are we talking about this?
PUTIN: Well, first of all, I haven't mentioned that the troops will roll on in that direction, just after this press conference. And second, when, you
know, it is really hard to paint the picture of what may happen because it's all up to the circumstances, how they will be developing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And with regard to whether we can stay on the side of peace and good and cannot use force. Well, what do you think that the good
can be powerless?
PUTIN: I don't believe that. I believe that the good and the goodness itself do foresee to defend itself. Well, thank you very much.
ANDERSON: Well, that was President Putin. Let's get some reaction to what we've just heard. Nic Robertson is standing by in Moscow for you; Kylie
Atwood is at the State Department. And Scott McLean is in Paris.
An awful lot of - certainly in the thick of what is an awful lot of European discussion, coordination, as we await news from Europe of a raft
of potential sanctions. Let's start in Moscow. You've just listened to President Putin. What did you make of what you've just heard, Nic?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, he said, look, all this could be solved very easily if Kyiv would just do what we wanted to
do. And, you know, renounce that it wants to join NATO, according to Putin, that's going to solve everything at the moment.
Of course, that's not on the table. The authorities in Kyiv, President Zelensky has said that that's not something is going to do. So what
President Putin is, is presenting here is the very best an oversimplification of something that he knows isn't going to happen.
[11:40:00]
ROBERTSON: He then went on to paint, again, a very sort of theatrical picture of Ukraine, having announced that it wants to develop nuclear
weapons. And even sort of suggesting they're very, the very fact that they have nuclear physicists in Ukraine is indeed a threat and intent in of
itself.
Of course, Ukraine has not said that it wants to develop nuclear weapons. But President Putin is clearly laying out here a context for further
aggression towards Kyiv at the moment; it does seem very, very simple.
And it just furthers his narrative, that this is an issue that has been saying for a number of days that it's an illegitimate government in Kyiv,
that it's not one that Russia can do business with that Ukraine is actually part of Russia.
But I think the takeaway from this was Putin further advancing his arguments each time, he takes them a little bit further. And the idea that
Ukraine might need to be subjugated because they could pose a strategic threat, which is what he's saying, by developing nuclear weapons, a
strategic threat to Moscow.
Stretches, I think the credibility of anyone that that uses reasonable analysis on the current situation, he is creating, it appears a fiction for
further Military action.
ANDERSON: And what appears to be further sort of choreography the Upper Chamber of the Russian parliament has, we are now told received and I'll
put this in inverted commas "a request from the President about using the Russian army abroad briefly'. Your assessment of that request, as it were,
what does that mean, practically?
ROBERTSON: Yes, I think very simply, yesterday, Putin signs the authorization to say yes, we can use Russian forces inside Ukraine in those
in those independent now recognized independent areas. Today, who's doing the legality behind it?
There's been ambiguity created by his officials today saying that we haven't sent them we haven't sent any additional forces in yet. Jens
Stoltenberg from NATO says, actually, you have sent additional forces in there already.
What Putin is trying to do is salami slice a situation, tried to take a legalistic route at home, to create credibility for what he's doing. And
try to head off international sanctions by this ambiguity that he has or has not actually put Russian forces inside Ukraine. It's all of the above,
this is how he works.
ANDERSON: Let's just step back for a moment. And given that I've got a raft of, you know correspondence with insight and analysis here. This is a
really good opportunity to step back and say, what we know at this point.
So let's get to Europe, to Paris and to Scott. Germany has suspended Nord Stream 2, Poland; we are told is preparing for refugees. The UK has rolled
out sanctions and we await further sanctions from the EU as a bloc. Your sense?
SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky, I am not sure whether Russian President Vladimir Putin has been keeping one eye on the headlines coming
out of Europe. But it doesn't seem like if he has that he's spooked by what he's hearing.
And I'm very curious to know whether that will have any impact on the deliberations taking place as we speak between the foreign ministers from
the 27 EU member States they've been at it for over an hour right now. Talking about the proposed sanctions on the table from the EU, this would
sanction 27 people, we're talking about politicians and banks and military members, things like that.
This is not the full package of sanctions, though, that the EU has at its disposal that would essentially cut Russia off from the international
financial markets. And the reason that Europe hasn't gone that far isn't proposing to go that far is a couple of reasons.
First, you have to remember that the EU member States, they have to get a unanimous consensus amongst them. And of course, some countries are more
sympathetic to Russia than others.
You have the Baltic States that would like to throw the book at Moscow, and then you have Hungary, which is much less keen to do so. They also say
that, look; they want to keep some powder dry in the event that there's further incursion. And this is the most interesting part that I think,
Becky is that it seems like we're stuck a little bit on what the definition of invasion is.
Because from the west perspective, you have a peacekeeping mission moving into those occupied parts of eastern Ukraine, whether it's an invasion
depends on who you ask. And I just want to play a clip for you if we can of the EU Top Diplomat Josep Borrell, and how his explanation differs his
characterization differs from that of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Listen.
[11:45:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOSEP BORRELL, EU FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF: Well, the Russian troop has entered in Donbas; we consider Donbas part of Ukraine. So certainly, the Russian
troops enter it into the Donbas Ukrainian. And we're going to say that the fully fledged invasion, but Russian troops are on Ukrainian --.
BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: The house should be in no doubt that the deployment of these forces in sovereign Ukrainian territory amounts to
a renewed invasion of that country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCLEAN: So the UK has also announced sanctions against five banks, three people and a whole raft of politicians who actually voted to recognize
these two territories. There will be some overlap, the EU is telling me between what the Brits have done what the Americans are doing and what the
Europeans are going to do in terms of who is being sanctioned.
They're all trying to get on the same page. And Becky, this proposal for sanctions, again, I should make clear, could change, they're proposing
these 27. But that could be fewer or more, depending on what these foreign ministers ultimately decide, because they haven't had a chance prior to
today to look at the very fine granular detail of all this.
So it's just a matter of what these countries are willing to both and are willing to accept. And we are expecting a press conference and update on
what they have decided any minute now.
ANDERSON: Yes, absolutely stand by for that. In addition to sanctions, of course, got is the decision by Germany to halt the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
And I did ask the Lithuanian Prime Minister earlier whether she was surprised by that decision, what impact she thought it might have? Here's
what she told me.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SIMONYTE: I think this is an unexpected move most probably. And I don't think that Kremlin was expecting this because there were quite a lot of
speculations about Nord Stream project. As soon as and as much as Western countries target his aides, his sovereigns and cronies from the schemes
that brings money to the regime. I think the more he would feel this and this is extremely important.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, that's the Lithuanian Prime Minister. Let me bring Kylie Atwood from the State Department. We know the President Biden is speaking
about an hour and a quarter from now 1 pm Eastern time, it is 11.47 Eastern Time, as you and I speak. And it has been teased that we should expect
further sanctions from the U.S. What have you got at this point?
KYLIE ATWOOD, CNN U.S. SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right. We're really looking to learn more about two major things here. First of all, the
Biden Administration has, as of this morning, said that this is an invasion that Russia sending more troops into eastern Ukraine amounts to an
invasion.
So that is significant, because that language indicates that the Biden Administration has to do a few things that they have promised they are
going to do in the realm of sanctions in the realm of diplomacy.
So the first area is these sanctions. We are expecting, as you said, some significant sanctions today, we also do expect that the Biden
Administration isn't going to want to roll every option out on the table here.
Because as Scott was saying, just like the EU, the United States also wants to save a little bit of fuel in its tank, if Russia goes further so that
they can have more sanctions. So it'll be interesting to see which sanctions they choose to roll out today.
And then the second area to watch is what happens to the diplomatic path forward here. We have not gotten a good indication from the Biden
Administration this morning that diplomacy looks all that bright with the deputy national security adviser saying it is much less likely that there
is a diplomatic option here because of what Russia has done in the last 24 hours here.
However, the State Department, the Biden Administration have not yet officially said that this Blinken and Lavrov meeting that's scheduled to
take place on Thursday is yet off the table. So we're really watching to see where they go with that.
And we'll bring you the latest. As soon as we hear Blinken is meeting with the Ukrainian foreign minister here at the State Department later today.
ANDERSON: Kylie, thank you. Let me get you, viewers to Sam Kiley, who is near Donetsk at this point. You're on the ground where quite frankly, the
action is or could be in the hours, days or weeks to come. Sam, I want to get you to first of all, just explain where you are and what you're hearing
there?
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, I'm in Kramatorsk in 2014 and a building just around the corner there. The
municipal headquarters of the area was captured by Russian backed rebels as in the very early stages of their campaign to try to slice out a very
significant chunk of Ukrainian territory.
[11:50:00]
They were forced back to the town of Donetsk. But I remain in Donetsk oblast in the formal administrative area that encompasses both the rebel
held city of Donetsk and the free city under government control here in Kramatorsk.
In a similar situation prevails in Luhansk, where there's the oblast, the province is effectively divided. Now in his press conference just a few
moments ago, Vladimir Putin was obfuscation he certainly didn't answer the question.
When asked what territory is it that his government has now recognized as an independent state? Is it the territory currently under rebel control on
the other side of what's called the line of contact the front line effectively away from here?
Or does it include the territory that I'm standing on? Because if it means the latter, almost inevitably, that means there will be further conflict
further expansion or attempted in further expansion of territory.
Now, as Jens Stoltenberg said in his statement, following that emergency meeting over the issue of Ukraine, now, including new Russian troops that
as far as NATO is concerned, have now been moved from Russian territory into the so called Donbas area, the rebel occupied area, adding to the
preexisting troops, which in the words of Stoltenberg had gone from covert to overt.
So the very clear message coming from NATO that as far as NATO is concerned, there has been a new invasion of Ukrainian territory, how that
translates into the threatened sanctions, particularly from the United States.
But also from the European Union, in terms of a response to a Russian invasion remains to be seen because of course, this isn't the scale of the
invasion that may yet come to pass, Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes, and you're making an extremely important point in that speech, by the words from the NATO Chief of Force coming in the last 20
minutes or so. And it was in response to a question about what is going on the ground.
And you're absolutely right to point out that he described what is going on in the ground with new troops, new Russian troops in the area that you are
referring to, as describing that as a new further invasion. Look to all of you, thank you very much indeed, I've got to take a very short break at
this point. Folks, your insight and analysis provided by our expert team, we'll be back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: What a tough day for geopolitics, excuse me, let me start that again. A tough day for geopolitics and a choppy one for global markets
reacting to Moscow's move in eastern Ukraine.
The DOW is on the slide once again. European stock markets did go searching for some resilience or they're close and you know, you could suggest that
they found a little bit of it in Asia, though Hong Kong's HANG SENG suffered its biggest daily loss in five months.
And do remember these Asian markets open as President Putin spoke Monday night and so really taking a nosedive off the back of that. But the
European and U.S. markets have been sort of holding their ground or they were.
[11:55:00]
ANDERSON: The U.S. stocks do now seem to be off and sliding markets in - investors in oil also pushing crude higher during the day. And it's
bringing up the oil markets for you can see there bring crude on the rise, again, it's been higher than that, it's been high as $99.5 on the barrel.
So certainly, you know, looking at breathing down the neck as it were of $100 before pulling back slightly. Germany is taking action that is being
viewed as the strongest reaction yet to Berlin's to Kremlin moves.
Berlin now saying it will not certify the Kremlin backed Nord Stream 2 pipelines. CNN's Matt Egan is standing by in New York. And that's an
important line and one; investors will keep a keen eye on as this entire crisis develops.
MATT EGAN, CNN REPORTER: That's right, Becky, I mean the decision to not go ahead and give the green light to Nord Stream 2 is a big deal. And I think
it shows that Europe is willing to punish Russia, even if that punishment is painful to Europe itself.
It also was another reminder of how this whole situation could be inflationary in a time when we already have high inflation. I mean, Europe
is dealing with an energy crisis. And this pipeline was supposed to be providing more than half of Germany's annual consumption of natural gas.
All of that now is up in the air. I think from a market perspective, you know, it's good news, bad news. I mean, the good news is that markets are
not freaking out about these latest developments. I think that they've had some time Investors have had some time to process at all.
I think the bad news is that this is another challenge for markets, markets that were already nervous about all of these developments around inflation.
And central banks becoming more aggressive, the DOW down more than 300 points around 1 percent, down around session lows. I was a little surprised
to see European markets perform as well as they did.
I think Becky, one of the big questions is, how does Vladimir Putin react to the fact that Nord Stream 2 is not happening? Will that cause some sort
of economic financial retaliation that Investors then have to make sense of?
ANDERSON: I do wonder whether the and we're anticipating another rafter for EU sanctions, of course, but I do wonder whether the UK moves and the Nord
Stream 2 moves have actually sort of you know, hardened Investors who possibly see those as aggressive moves in the face of this Russia threat.
Matt, thank you. I'm going to leave you tonight. That's it from us. It's been a busy couple of hours. Thanks for joining us. CNN of course continues
after this, so do stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
