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Global Leaders Discuss Ukraine at Antalya Diplomacy Forum; U.N. Security Council Meeting on Ukraine; CNN: Biden Team Eyes Ties with Saudis & UAE to ease Prices; Chelsea Kick off New "Sanction" Era; Kyiv City Ballet Stranded in Paris as Home is Attacked. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired March 11, 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]
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: Moments ago announcing a move to revoke Russia's status as "Most Favored Nation" an MFN trading partner has
a listen
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Revoking PNTR for Russia is going to make it harder for Russia to do business with the United
States and doing it in unison with other nations that make up half of the global economy will be another crushing blow to the Russian economy. It's
already suffering very badly from our sanctions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, thousands of Ukrainians are still scrambling to escape the fighting. This train station in Lviv, a stopover for refugees the
government trying again to open a humanitarian corridor for the City of Mariupol, circled, encircled and cut off food becoming desperately scarce.
And the bomb is so relentless; there are reports of bodies in the streets there.
Well, this next report will give you a stark picture of the situation in Mariupol. And it contains images that you may find disturbing so I'm going
to give you a moment to turn away because some of these show victims of the carnage CNN's Phil Black has the story.
PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): When you hear Ukrainian city is under siege, cut off and under bombardment by Russian forces. This is what
that means. No one knows how many people have been killed in Mariupol. But it's too many to allow the care and dignity that usually comes with death.
Relatively few images have escaped Mariupol since the siege began.
These were captured by AP Photo Journalist Evgeniy Maloletka who says he saw around 70 bodies buried in this trench over two days. They arrived
wrapped in whatever people could find in use plastic bags even covered. And this shows why it's likely there are many more married people suffering
from above, before and after satellite images reveal extraordinary devastation in commercial and shopping areas residential neighborhoods too.
Russian munitions are steadily wiping out this city. It's already unlivable. There is no food, water or power made up of person, Ukraine's
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says a child in Mariupol has died of dehydration, probably for the first time since the Nazi invasion. During a
meeting in Turkey, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister says he asked his Russian counterpart for a humanitarian corridor to allow people to leave Mariupol.
DMYTRO KULEBA, UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: Unfortunately, Minister Lavrov was not in a position to commit him to it, but he will correspond with
respective authorities. BLACK (voice over): That means Sergei Lavrov has to ask his boss, but Russia's top diplomat was comfortable repeating Russia's
explanation for bombing a maternity hospital in Mariupol on Wednesday. The Russian version says there were no patients or staff in these buildings,
just soldiers.
This was the reality captured in the moments immediately after the blast. And obviously pregnant woman is stretched from the side. Another hurt,
bleeding walks out carrying what she can. Russians often honor the bravery and determination shown by their own citizens who were besieged by Nazi
forces in the Second World War. Now Russia is inflicting that same suffering on the people of Mariupol, Phil Black CNN, and London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: And I'm going to get you on the ground in Ukraine momentarily. But it's just wrap up what we've heard in the past hour or so because on
the diplomatic front European Union is looking to cut Europe's dependence on Russian energy.
Part of its efforts to undermine the Kremlin's intensifying aggression against Ukraine are the following the EU announcing its plan a short time
ago, after a summit in Versailles, the Bloc's Foreign Affairs Chief says Vladimir Putin is in for a rude awakening, have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOSEP BORRELL, EU FOREIGN AFFAIRS CHIEF: Putin believed that he was going to conquer Ukraine. He failed to divide us. He failed. He believed that he
was going to weaken the transatlantic relationship and he failed. Now he has to stop. We will we will be much safer and less gas to use less gas the
climate requires that for wants to political and climate goes together.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, our global leaders have also been heading to Turkey for the Antalya Diplomacy Forum dialogue seen as more even more crucial than ever,
especially after the first meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Russia and Ukraine since the war started.
[11:05:00]
ANDERSON: Of course, happened there and even though that face to face in Antalya wasn't successful, it does show Turkey as well as France, both
flexing their diplomatic muscles. We've got Melissa Bell, who joins us from Versailles, where that summit happened for European leaders and Jomana
Karadsheh in Turkey, covering that diplomacy forum there.
Let me start with you, Melissa, there was a number of things that came out of the press conference with the European Leaders, not least, the
ratcheting up of efforts to wean Europe off its reliance on Russian hydrocarbons.
But you and I, discussing the sense that Emmanuel Macron has something in the offing here he said Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a tragic turning
point in our history. And he also talks about a more sovereign and independent Europe in reaction to the war. Are we seeing what we might call
a Versailles strategy emerging here?
MELISSA BELL, CNN PARIS CORRESPONDENT: I think that was very much Emmanuel Macron's hope. And it seems to be what has emerged. Of course, there are
disagreements that remain amongst the 27 there are different degrees to which they depend on Russian energy for instance, and how fast the moving
away from European dependency should happen?
There always divisions between the 27. But it does seem quite remarkable that what Emmanuel Macron seems to have done beyond that first plan we saw
last year, Becky. That allowed for the first time Europe to act to deal with the macroeconomic four hours of the pandemic by raising debt and
coming together on an economic level in a way that it never had before is that that's going to continue.
This time to counter the impacts of what is beginning to unfold as a result of the crisis unfolding around Ukraine of course, that takes many shapes.
But one of the measures, of course, is going to be investments in the energy sector to try and lessen the dependency. Europe of course, Becky far
more dependent on Russian energy supplies in the United States, it simply does not have the ability to enforce an outright ban, or at least just yet.
So they're going to seek to wean themselves off rationed energy, as you heard, just there it goes in line with their Europe green plan as well,
another big effort, the 27 to come together in areas they simply hadn't done before.
So a moment where Europe seeks to come together, but also, of course, to reach out to Ukraine, not just punishing Russia not seeking to get away
from its dependency on it, but also looking at how quickly it can bring Ukraine into the European fold.
And I think that was the second big message of this summit, it may take some time the accession process is pretty lengthy. It can take many years.
And there are countries that are divided here in Europe, again, on the question of how quickly that can happen, whether or not it can be as Kyiv
as requested, fast tracked.
But the fact is that the message was sent very clearly in that unanimous statement adopted by the 27. That they wanted to say to Kyiv that we will
help you during this war, they've doubled the amount they're going to be giving Ukraine in terms of health to its military spend.
That lethal aid that for the first time it announced at the end of February, it was going to start giving that's now going to be raised to a
billion euros. That's what it's looking at. But it is also saying to Kyiv once this war is over, we will be looking at bringing you into the European
family as quickly as we can Becky.
ANDERSON: Melissa is in Versailles for you. Let me get you to and thank you, Melissa. Let me get you to Jomana who's standing by and there are a
number of sort of top level people at this point trying to stop this war.
And number are converging on Antalya, even though the meeting that the whole world was keeping an eye on Thursday produced no positive results
between the Ukrainian and Russian Foreign Minister Ukrainian - yes, Ukrainian Russian Foreign Ministers. What did it mean for Turkey on the
global diplomatic stage, do you think?
JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, Becky, Turkey has really been trying to utilize this unique position that it's in. This NATO
country that has had a very close relationship with Russia that President Erdogan has a very good working relationship with President Putin and they
have tried to use this position to try and bring both sides together.
Of course, they do have also a very good relationship with Ukraine. They've had strong economic and defense ties, as well. So they really have been
trying to use this over the past few weeks, even before the invasion to try and bring both sides to the negotiating table.
And yes, nothing came out of that meeting yesterday, here in Antalya, but as we've heard from Turkish officials heard, again from President Erdogan
today, they really believe this was a significant step a very important achievement for Turkey that it was able to bring both sides together to
start talking at high level. You know President Erdogan - readout from the Turkish Presidency telling President Biden that this was a diplomatic
victory.
[11:10:00]
KARADSHEH: And Becky, they're saying they're not going to stop here. President Erdogan and Turkish officials are saying they are continuing to
push to try and bring together both President Putin and Zelenskyy for direct talks. The Turkish Foreign Minister yesterday saying that President
Erdogan in his last phone call with President Putin you know, he says that President Putin is not opposed to these talks in principle.
And we've heard from the Ukrainian saying that President Zelenskyy is ready for talks. You know, there is this realization, Becky that no matter how
many different delegations needs. And what officials meet and negotiate the decision, ultimately here lies with one man and that is Vladimir Putin.
And this is why Turkey, one of several countries that are really trying to push to bring those two sides together. And I have to mention, Becky, a
short time ago, we heard from President Erdogan speaking here.
He's not only going you know, pushing for this diplomatic path, he also had quite harsh words for the West saying that, you know Ukraine, in his words
has been left alone right now in what he called this righteous cause, saying that if the West had been firmer if they had reacted more firmly
back, you know, 2014, that if they had really reacted firmly to the annexation of Crimea, we would not be here today, according to President
Erdogan.
ANDERSON: Thank you, Jomana. Jomana is in Antalya and Melissa is in Paris. Let's get you to San Kiley, who is on the ground in Dnipro. One of the
cities targeted in what is an expanding Russian assault. Just explain what is going on the ground where you are Sam?
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Dnipro Becky, as you know, is right pretty much right in the middle of the country controls
communications north and south and it sits on the Dnipro River about halfway between the mouth at Kherson and Kyiv of the Capital.
Now Kherson has been captured by the Russians. They're working their way further north but they're about 100 miles also from where I am now maybe a
little bit less than that. And yet, we were hit this morning the city was hit with three either missile strikes or air strike certainly strikes that
came out of the sky.
A kindergarten was damaged an apartment building eight flats were very badly damaged in an apartment building and a shoe factory destroyed that
caught fire too. When we got to it this morning it was still smoldering, the firefighters were battling to put it out.
One person was killed in that attack on the shoe factory. There's no question that any of these targets had a military nature, they were all
civilian targets. We've seen the targeting of civilian areas very graphically recently in Mariupol with the airstrike against a maternity
hospital.
We've seen multiple rocket launching systems being used with total disregard for civilian life, indeed intent on killing civilians. I think
it's safe to say in Kharkiv, we've seen similar things going on in Northern Kyiv, but we haven't seen these deliberate attacks on civilian targets so
deep inside the country.
And I think that represents from the Russian perspective perhaps an attempt to start working on trying to break the will of the Ukrainian population
deeper and deeper into the country, even as their military advances are being slowed if not halted entirely by Ukraine, Becky.
ANDERSON: Sam Kiley is on the ground. Thank you, Sam, as ever. Let's get you to the United Nations the Security Council is meeting this hour after
Russia claim falsely and without evidence that the U.S. is using chemical weapons in Ukraine. Let's listen in Rosemary DiCarlo is speaking as we
start.
ROSEMARY DICARLO, UNDER-SECRETARY-GNERAL FOR POLITICAL AND PEACEBUILDING AFFAIRS: We start timely informed of the possibility to leave the concerned
areas and on a voluntary basis in the direction they choose. To expand life-saving assistance and services to those most in need humanitarian
actors must also have safe, rapid, unimpeded, and sustained access to all areas.
We commend the humanitarian actors on the ground that is staying in delivering in a highly volatile situation. Madam President, the number of
refugees from Ukraine has reached 2.5 million people. These numbers continue increasing by the day. We also commend the countries that have
kept their borders open to welcome and support refugees.
All people fleeing Ukraine, including third country nationals need access to safety and protection in line with the principle of - and without any
form of discrimination.
[11:15:00]
DICARLO: Madam President, the need for negotiations to stop the war in Ukraine could not be more urgent. We note the three rounds of talks held
thus far between Ukrainian and Russian delegations.
We call for such efforts to intensify, including furthering secure humanitarian and ceasefire arrangements as a matter of priority. We urge
the sides to build on their contacts, such as the meeting yesterday between the Foreign Ministers of Ukraine and the Russian Federation in Antalya,
Turkey.
The logic of dialogue in diplomacy must prevail over the logic of war. The Secretary General is grateful to the many member states working in pursuit
of a diplomatic solution to this dangerous conflict. He is in regular contact with regional and other leaders and his good offices remain
available.
Madam President, let me affirm the U.S. commitment to Ukraine sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within its internationally
recognized borders. As the war grinds on, there's already much reflection about its implications beyond the tragedy it represents for Ukraine.
We increasingly hear the use of terms such as turning point defining moments, and of multilateralism. I believe this is not an exaggeration.
Indeed, some consequences are already being felt economically and politically, perhaps most alarming of the risks the violence poses to the
global framework for peace and security.
We must do everything we can to find a solution and put an end to this war. And we must do it now. Thank you, Madam President.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I thank Ms. Dicarlo for briefing. I now give the floor Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu.
IZUMI NAKAMITSU, UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR DISARMAMENT AFFAIRS: So thank you, Madam President. Madam President, distinguished members of the
Security Council. I thank Council Members for the opportunity to brief you this morning.
I am aware of reports that certain public health facilities are in areas impacted by armed conflict, putting the safety of those facilities at risk.
I appeal to all parties in this conflict to ensure the safety of all such facilities in Ukraine.
I am aware of media reports regarding allegations of biological weapons programs. The United Nations is not aware of any biological weapons
programs. That is largely thanks to the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention, which prohibits the development, production, acquisition, transfer,
stockpiling, and use of biological and toxin weapons.
The Russian Federation and Ukraine are both States Parties to the Convention. In addition, the Russian Federation is the Depository
government under the convention. All States Parties to the Convention have undertaken never in any circumstances to develop, produce, stockpile, or
otherwise acquire or retain biological weapons.
Biological weapons have been outlawed since the BWC entered into force in 1975. A total of 183 states have now joined the convention, and biological
weapons are universally seen as being - and illegitimate.
The BWC lacks a multilateral verification mechanism, overseen by an independent organization, such as the Organization for the Prohibition of
Chemical Weapons. Therefore, assessing compliance with its obligations is a task for its States Parties.
Madam President, despite the lack of an international verification regime, the Biological Weapons Convention does however, contain several measures,
to which concern States Parties can have recourse in order to address situations in which States Parties have concerns or suspicions about the
activities of their peers.
For example, Article Five of the Convention states that and I quote, "The States Parties to this convention undertake to consult one another and to
cooperate in solving any problems which may arise in relation to the objective of or in the application of the provisions of this convention".
[11:20:00]
NAKAMITSU: And of course within the framework of Article Five states parties have established an annual exchange of information based upon the
submission of confidence building measures.
States parties must declare information about relevant facilities and activities on their territory in order to prevent or reduce the occurrence
of ambiguous doubts and suspicions between them. The Russian Federation and Ukraine both participate annually in the confidence building measures.
The annual reports submitted by the Russian Federation and Ukraine are available to all PWC states parties for the purposes of transparency and
reassurance. In addition, and also within the framework of article five of the convention, states parties have developed procedures for clarifying
ambiguous and unresolved matters, including the possible convening of formal consultative meeting to consider such matters.
Article Six of the Convention states that, and I "any state party to this convention, which finds that any other state party is acting in breach of
obligations deriving from the provisions of the convention - complaint with the Security Council. If agreed by the Security Council, an investigation
on the basis of the complaint received could be initiated, Article Six of the convention has never been activated.
While these provisions have not been regularly used, they are nonetheless internationally agreed procedures that are available to be used to defuse
tensions and to address and resolve any concerns relating to compliance with obligations under the PWC in a multilateral setting.
I would therefore encourage PWC states parties to consider making use of the available procedures for consultation and cooperation in order to
resolve these issues. Madam President, distinguished members of the Security Council, situations such as this demonstrate the need to
strengthen the PWC to operationalize it, and to institutionalize it.
I would therefore like to take this opportunity to encourage it states parties to come to the conventions ninth review conference, scheduled to
take place in Geneva later in 2022 committed to a series of overhaul of the convention to ensure it is properly equipped and resourced to deal with the
challenges ahead.
Madam President, distinguished members of the Security Council, to conclude my statement, I would like to take this opportunity to address the warring
issue of the safety and security of nuclear power plants in Ukraine.
An accident involving nuclear facilities in Ukraine could have severe consequences for Public Health and Environment, and all steps must be taken
to avoid it. The possibility of an accident caused by failure to a reactors power supply, or the inability to provide regular maintenance is growing by
the day.
The force is in effective control of nuclear power plants in Ukraine must ensure their safe and secure operation. I am extremely concerned that four
of the International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA, seven pillars of the safe and secure operations of facilities are reportedly not being implemented at
Chernobyl and --.
Communications must be fully restored, and operating staff must be allowed to properly carry out their duties and to do so free of undue pressure. I
would like to echo the Secretary General's support for IAEA Director General Grossi's efforts to develop a framework to ensure the safety and
security of Ukraine's facilities.
And welcome the constructive meetings he held in Turkey on 10th of March with the foreign ministers of Ukraine and the Russian Federation. I thank
you very much for your attention.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I thank - for her briefing. I now give the floor to those council members who wish to make statements; I give the floor to the
Representative of the Russian Federation.
[11:25:00]
ANDERSON: Well, it's Izumi Nakamitsu, U.N. Representative for Disarmament Affairs and delivering a statement to members of the U.N. Security Council.
She said I am aware of media reports of biological weapons programs in Ukraine.
She said she is not aware of any such weapons. Now Russia has been doubling down on claims that Pentagon back biological weapons programs are operating
in Ukraine for use against Russian forces and Russia has brought this accusation to the U.N. Security Council today.
Rosemary DiCarlo, the U.N. secretary's U.N. Secretary General's Representative also speaking earlier, commending those who have worked in
support of Ukraine and those both on the ground and those helping outside of the country.
The need for negotiations could not be more urgent, she said and she underscored the need to build on the three rounds of talks that have
happened to date, urging stakeholders to stay focused. And she talked about the consequences of this war.
CNN's Richard Roth joining us now live from the United Nations. So the representative for Disarmament Affairs, a long title, but an extremely
important statement made today at a meeting brought by the Russians themselves, it's an important meeting this, will they accomplish anything
at this point?
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Well, you're going to see a lot of charges and countercharges over chemical or biological weapons. The
Russians claim that the U.S. is backing research and funding and planning chemical biological weapons inside Ukraine.
This has been debunked by CNN stories online. You can find also, the French Ambassador just said we're going to hear a bunch of lies from the Russians
today.
The meeting is to set the facts and you just heard the disarmament Chief of the United Nations saying there are no biological weapons in Ukraine,
though she hinted that they could end up doing an investigation.
The U.S. mission to the U.N. Spokeswoman Olivia Dalton last night said this is another false flag operation by the Russians. That's their tactic, to
allege someone else is going to do something in this case the U.S. that biological weapons when in fact, it'll be Moscow that will be using
chemical or biological weapons.
This accusation has been made in the west in the last few days, they've tried to get ahead of Russian military activities as with the invasion,
Russia denies it and then Russian troops are suddenly across the border.
But again, CNN has debunked this theory that QAnon is made popular regarding chemical weapons inside Ukraine that the U.S. is behind it all.
Becky?
ANDERSON: Yes, Richard, thank you and we will continue to monitor that meeting. Anything relevant that we get we will of course bring that to you.
We're going to take a short break though at this point back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:30:00]
ANDERSON: I'm Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi. We're following Russia's intensifying attacks as its invasion of Ukraine continues now. European
Union leaders are vowing to use all available diplomatic means to respond to Russia's invasion.
The big news out of their summit in Versailles that concluded in the last hour is that the EU is seeking to phase out dependency on Russian energy by
2027 and a plan to be formalized by mid-May.
Now the European Commission President saying that by the end of this month of March, the Commission will present options to limit what she called the
contagion effect, tied to the rise of gas and electricity prices. And within the past hour, U.S. President Joe Biden announcing his country's
intention to revoke Russia's what's known as most favored nation trade status in coordination with the EU and g7.
That is significant because it would allow higher tariffs on some Russian imports, if not most Russian imports, the U.S. Congress must approve that
legislation. But it did seem that President Biden was very confident he will get bipartisan report for that.
Well, of course, the war is triggered a roller coaster in global oil markets as we've been reporting this week amid tightened sanctions on
Russia and fears that Europe's gas supply from Russia will be cut off today.
CNN has new reporting that the Biden Administration has been holding quiet talks to ease its rocky relationship with Saudi Arabia and indeed the UAE
is part of a diplomatic effort to raise global oil production and ease the surge.
CNN's Kylie Atwood live at the U.S. State Department with more. Certainly U.S. officials saying there is a cautious sense of optimism inside the
White House. From their perspective, just explain where we understand that they are at, at this point.
KYLIE ATWOOD, CNN U.S. SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes, well, listen, Becky, White House officials specifically feel that there's reason for cautious
optimism here, because they think that things may be headed in the right direction on their effort to get countries to produce a higher amount of
oil, given these rising oil costs due to of course, the crisis that we're seeing unfold in Ukraine.
Now it's a little bit unclear exactly where they're getting that sense from but one thing that they are looking at, specifically, of course, is Saudi
Arabia and UAE. Those, of course, as you well know, are two of the leading oil producers in the world, both part of OPEC.
And they saw the remarks that the UAE Ambassador to the United States made to you earlier this week, saying that the UAE was open to a higher oil
production as a step in the right direction.
Now, of course, the UAE doesn't make that call on their own. They are part of OPEC and OPEC has been saying that they're going to stick with their
production schedule. But the fact that the UAE is saying that they're going to try and potentially, you know, push OPEC in that direction was viewed by
White House officials as a positive step.
And then on the Saudi front, our reporting is that earlier this year, the White House reached out to a Saudi Arabia proposing a phone call between
President Biden and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
And instead, they got a phone call with President Biden and the king. Obviously, that wasn't a great sign because NBS is kind of the operational
leader there. But they did say that after that phone call happened, that is what led to the trip by a number of Biden Administration officials to Saudi
Arabia, they met with NBS they feel like things are kind of starting to go in the right direction.
So there's some signals there but of course, we haven't seen either country actually commit to raising production. So I guess we'll still see the proof
will be in the pudding.
ANDERSON: Yes, and OPEC plus, as we know, which is a group of oil countries, which by its very definition plus has Russia involved in it is
intent, of course in controlling the price volatility in this oil market.
Well, to a certain extent, that hasn't worked right because there is an awful lot of volatility going on. These two countries heavily involved in
that.
And these two countries UAE and Saudi Arabia who have had national security issues themselves you know they've been under attack from the Houthis not
least here January the 17th plus, plus, these were terror attacks on the country.
[11:35:00]
ANDERSON: And as you know, Kylie, you know, when your allies don't come to support you don't make those calls of condemnation, sort of leader to
leader there you know there are camps in both these countries.
You get left with a sense that they're sort of traditional ally in the U.S. really doesn't care about them only come of course, when they need
something. Anyway, we'll see how all of this develops. We thank you very much indeed for your reporting there from Washington.
Now we want to show you a cat and mouse game of surveillance playing out between NATO and Russia. The Alliance is flying surveillance planes over
Eastern Europe keeping an eye on Russian moves in Ukraine's airspace.
Now a CNN crew was on board for one of those flights. And as Natasha Bertrand now reports they spotted Russian made aircraft over Ukraine that
didn't come from Russia, have a look at this.
NATASHA BERTRAND, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: CNN was granted rare access to a native surveillance flight on Thursday that was monitoring Russian air
activity inside Ukrainian airspace and making sure that Russian jets did not get too close to NATO airspace.
Now, what we're told from the NATO airmen on board today is that they were able to see on their radar, Russian made jets taking off from Belarus and
entering Ukrainian airspace.
Now it was unclear to them exactly who was flying those jets, whether they were Russian or Belarusian because both countries fly the same kind of
aircraft. But they agree that this aircraft has been taking off from Belarus in support of Russia's military operations inside Ukraine.
And they say that this is just yet another example of how important Belarus has become to supporting Russia's war in Ukraine. Natasha Bertrand, Sittard
Netherlands.
ANDERSON: Well, a senior U.S. defense official says Russia is increasingly firing weapons from a distance; these long range bombardments are causing
an awful lot of damage in populated areas. But Ukraine has been melting a stiff resistance in part by using U.S. made weapon. CNN's Brian Todd has
that story for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): A Russian helicopter flying just above the tree line blasted out of the sky by what analysts say is
likely a stinger anti-aircraft missile.
THOMAS KARAKO, CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES: If you're a Russian helicopter pilot, you never know where this is going to come from.
TODD (voice over): This video posted by the Ukrainian military CNN is unable to verify when this happened, the stinger, a heat seeking anti-
aircraft missile with a range of five miles and 11,000 feet. A weapon so smart it can distinguish an enemy aircraft.
MAJ. GEN. JAMES "SPIDER" MARKS (RET), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: It starts to squawk Friend or Foe, it looks for targets that it's supposed to hit. So if
you fired a stinger at a U.S. F-15 It probably missed. But when you put a Russian made aircraft in the air and you use the U.S. stinger you're going
to have contact.
TODD (voice over): U.S. officials tell CNN the U.S. and NATO have sent the Ukrainians thousands of stingers.
LT. GEN. SCOTT BERRIER, DIR., U.S. DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY: Weapons like stingers have moved in and that they have been used with effect. And I
think the Ukrainians will continue to be able to use those in small unit tactics with great effect.
TODD (voice over): And the West has sent javelins and anti-tank guided missile system shoulder fired with a range of over 8000 feet.
KARAKO: By fire as a weapon that goes up into the air and then comes back down really hitting a tank or a vehicle from above, it does so because it's
got less armor on the top generally is more vulnerable.
TODD (voice over): The Ukrainian military has put out several videos showing if lethal dexterity and using these western made weapons against
the Russians. This video shows a destroyed Russian tank on fire.
There's aerial footage of a Russian tank column getting slammed with missiles. Javelins and stingers crucial to the Ukrainians analysts say
partly because they're so called fire and forget weapons.
MARKS: Fire and forget, so you can fire it and then the person who fires it can scoop.
TODD (voice over): The Russians experts say have their own very effective weapons in Ukraine. Iskander and caliber missiles and light mobile T 72
tanks, but they're also accused of using cluster bombs and preparing to use so called vacuum or thermobaric bombs that are not supposed to be used in
civilian areas.
MARKS: Thermal barracks are horrible, they explode and then they have a secondary explosion that sucks the air out of the immediate proximity.
TODD (voice over): Analysts say that Ukrainian success with their shoulder fired missiles is being aided by sometimes sloppy Russian tactics.
MARKS: They are lining their tanks and their armored personnel carriers, you know, knows to Fannie, knows to Fannie going down the street and
there's no security flank security to the left or the right. And so they become sitting ducks.
[11:40:00]
TODD (on camera): As effective as these weapons are CNN is told that U.S. officials have been cognizant not to give the Ukrainians the newest
versions of weapons like stinger missiles out of concern that somehow on the battlefield some of them might fall into the hands of the Russians who
then might steal the technology. Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Football fans team sponsors taking up positions on the UK sanctions against the owner of Chelsea Football Club. World Sports, Amanda
Davies joins us with that live from London, up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, the football world has had a little time now to digest these sanctions against Chelsea Football Club owner and Russian billionaire
Roman Abramovich. He was added to the UK government's sanctions list earlier this week for his ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Amanda
Davies joining us now from London, where are we at with this?
I mean, there have been plenty of questions about, you know what happens to the club, and whether the club can be sold on whether indeed, the club can
continue at this point. And what's the thinking here? What's the understanding here?
AMANDA DAVIES, CNN WORLD SPORT: Yes, Becky, I mean, the football goes on, but I think it's fair to say there's still a whole lot of people sorting
out a lot about what it actually means. One of the big questions of the last 24 hours is what the club sponsors are going to do.
Three you might remember suspended their deal on Thursday. They requested the removal of their logo from club shirts, and rounds Stamford Bridge
stadium.
But travel price comparison site Trivago have announced they are set to continue with the European Champions despite those sanctions imposed on
Abramovich Trivago's brand features on the club's training kit for the men's and women's and academy teams.
And whilst they have admitted that they've got some uncertainty over the club's ownership, which is challenging, they said this in a statement.
Moving forward, it's important to us to continue supporting the club, the fans and community along with the essential work that the Chelsea
Foundation does to help those in need.
Well, Chelsea are requesting that the UK Government extend their regulations to allow the club to operate in a more normal manner rather
than under the sanctions that currently sees them unable to sign new players or new contracts and imposes restrictions on their spending.
And it's difficult to see how it won't impact things on the pitch before too long. And the Liverpool Boss, Jurgen Klopp expresses his sympathy for
his opposite number the Chelsea boss, Thomas Tuchel.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JURGEN KLOPP, LIVERPOOL MANAGER: Have you put him in the playoffs because it's obviously not a situation or the end for all.
Probably all employees at Chelsea because it's nothing they are responsible for, but what happens around. I think there's one man is really responsible
for that and that's Vladimir Putin in the first place
[11:45:00]
And I don't know about Roman Abramovich role in all these kinds of things, but over the years you could guess that maybe he's pretty close. And then I
think what a British government it is right, to be 100 percent honest but it is still not cool for people at Chelsea and for the supporters I get
that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DAVIES: Well, the British Government Minister Chris Phillips actually urged Chelsea supporters to stop chanting there suppose of Abramovich matches. As
- fans you traveled to Norwich for the club Premier League encounter on Thursday night were singing the Russians name just two hours after the news
of the sanctions emerged.
Now captain says, I still have quite a scope ahead of the game talking of it is not a normal day. That's something of an understatement, isn't it?
Yes, they saw inside a run out, three one winners to record their 10th Premier League away win of the season.
The Chelsea women's boss, Emma Hayes praise her sign saying she was both trials of her players and staff following their dominant performance
against West Ham, --ones.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EMMA HAYES, CHELSEA WOMEN'S MANAGER: We're aware of things that are going on we read, you know, we watch television. But let's be honest, you know,
there's a war going on in Ukraine. Now there's some bigger situations.
And yes, today is a big moment for the club. But I believe in giving both sides the time to get it right going forward. And I think it's important
for the players, the staff, the fans to be patient, that sort through that and hopefully, you know, that process won't take too long.
THOMAS TUCHEL, CHELSEA MEN'S MANAGER: Of course, there was a lot of distraction and other level of distraction, actually with the sanctions.
And we could feel it that the players talk about it that aware of it, and be accepted it. But like I said I think the rhythm and the excitement and
the love for the game in general helps us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DAVIES: Well, it's Thomas Tuchel after certainly an extraordinary day in his career. As a football coach, we understand that Chelsea are speaking to
the UK Government.
So those negotiations underway as to what the regulations could mean, how they could be tweaked going forward to make things easier for them as a
football club on the pitch at least, Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes, now keep digging because there are so many unanswered questions at the moment. And you would expect that there will be some sort
of business continuity, you would expect that the government had thought about this and what it would mean for the club.
Clearly, you know, there's been such a short period of time in which the UK Government is making decisions about what they do with this crisis. But,
you know, we need to know what will happen not least for those fans that've been supporting those clubs, that club for so long. All right, thank you
for that.
Creativity can be a form of resistance, but that's little consolation to members of the Kyiv City Ballet. They are stranded abroad and frantic, the
safety of their loved ones meets them, up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:50:00]
ANDERSON: Well, the United Nations says the number of people who have fled Ukraine has reached two and a half million. On his Twitter account, the
U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said that number does not include an estimated 2 million more that are displaced within Ukraine.
But of course neighboring countries such as Romania and Moldova are trying to figure out just how to house the thousands upon thousands who are
pouring across their borders every day. CNN's Miguel Marquez has more on that from Romania.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The refugee crisis deepening.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And they opened just my bag just thinking of what they need. And maybe I'm about two hours.
MARQUEZ (voice over): Anna Lukianenko from Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine, a city hammered indiscriminately by Russian rockets in artillery. Lukianenko
had two hours to pack up her two kids, her mother and her children's godmother two hours to pack. No idea if she'll see her husband,
grandparents or country again.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Let's seeing my --, I said I think that Ukrainian will be free and everything will be OK but who knows when.
MARQUEZ (voice over): Lukianenko trying to get from Bucharest two friends in Poland, one story of millions, families now being torn apart in Ukraine
and across Europe.
DR. RAED ARAFAT, STATE SECRETARY, ROMANIAN MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS: We will see people who are without capabilities without possibilities
financial possibilities who are running from war, they are running for their lives taking just a very few things with them, and sometimes even
without documentation.
MARQUEZ (voice over): The speed at which Ukrainians are transformed into refugees increasing exponentially as Russia continues punishing attacks on
civilian and military targets alike.
COSMINA SIMIEAN, GENERAL MANAGER, BUCHAREST DIRECTORATE FOR SOCIAL SERVICES: We don't know what is coming and how many people are coming to
Bucharest. As far as we know the people coming here are only in transit. A few of them remain in Romania. But we don't know how many people will come.
So we need to be prepared.
MARQUEZ (voice over): Romanians, not just waiting to receive Ukrainian refugees, now they're collecting and organizing massive amounts of
humanitarian supplies all to be shipped directly to Ukraine.
NICUSOR DAN, GENERAL MAYOR, BUCHAREST: They need drugs and we have a specific list of what kind of drugs they need the medical kits and they
need food that can be preserved.
MARQUEZ (on camera): Did you ever think you'd be in this situation?
DAN: No. I mean a worrying 2022. It's unbelievable.
MARQUEZ (voice over): Miguel Marquez, CNN Bucharest, Romania.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, it started off as a quick tour, but now members of the Kyiv City Ballet are stranded abroad helplessly watching Ukraine fight the
Russian invasion from afar. CNN's Jim Bittermann met with the dancers, many of whom say they simply want to go home.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The 34 dancers of the Kyiv City Ballet troupe practiced and trained for weeks
before coming to France on tour. But no rehearsals could have prepared them for the news that they saw the day after they arrived in Paris.
Their country was being invaded, and they found themselves with no direction home. In the days that have followed, they've nearly completed
their scheduled tour but stranded abroad now they face an uncertain future.
Dr. Ivan Kozlov says all of his troops some as young as 18 years old want to go back because of families and friends who are now under fire at home.
But he knows how dangerous that would be.
IVAN KOZLOV, BALLET DIRECTOR: The most good thing they can do is a dance to provide Ukraine to show Ukrainian hard to show Ukrainian culture from the
stage to show to our audience to share our culture, and we call ourselves the warriors on the stage.
BITTERMANN (voice over): But if they are warriors, they are warriors practically without uniforms.
BITTERMANN (on camera): The dancers came here expecting only a brief chore with only the costumes for the Nutcracker performance and no scenic
backdrops or stage props. For now they're continue performing around France by borrowing everything right down to replacement ballet issues.
BITTERMANN (voice over): Olga Posternak and Mykhailo Scherbakov told to the ballet company star performers have toured abroad before but this is
different. Neither can stand being apart from their families, knowing that they are increasingly under the Russian boot.
MYKHAILO SCHERBAKOV, BALLET DANCER: At this moment, I understand the time safe here, but still, I want to return home.
BITTERMANN (voice over): Olga says there are times when she steps off stage and breaks into tears.
[11:55:00]
OLGA POSTERNAK, BALLET DANCER: All my family is in Ukraine. What I'm without my family, nothing. Sometimes I feel like I'm shame because I'm
here. I want to help them.
BITTERMANN (voice over): But as the Mayor of Paris said at the Ballet's fundraiser, creativity is its own form of resistance. The French are
helping the dance companies stay, lending them what they need, trying to arrange performances and giving them a dance home at one of the most
prestigious theaters in Paris.
The dancers from Kyiv closed up the program not dancing, but singing the words to the Ukrainian national anthem, the kind of cultural identity and
patriotism Vladimir Putin wants to crush. But in their own small way thousand miles from home, the dancers are helping to keep it alive. Jim
Bittermann, CNN Paris.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: That's it from us. CNN continues after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:00:00]
END
