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Russia to "Drastically Reduce Military Activity" around Kyiv and Chernihiv; Interview with Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas on Ukraine- Russia Diplomatic Efforts; Ukraine-Russia Talks Raise Possibility of Cease- Fire; Russian Shelling Leaves Kyiv Suburbs in Ruins; Macron-Putin Phone Call This Hour; U.S. to Ramp Up Missile Production per Ukraine Request; Queen Elizabeth II Attends "Service of Thanksgiving" Memorial for Prince Philip. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired March 29, 2022 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST (voice-over): I'm Becky Anderson. It is 6:00 pm in Dubai. A very warm welcome to the show.
We begin with what appears to be major developments following the latest round of Russia-Ukraine cease-fire talks. Russia's defense ministry
announcing its troops will, quote, "drastically reduce" military activity around Kyiv and Chernihiv.
U.S. officials calling this a major strategy shift by Russia, to focus on gains in southern and eastern Ukraine. And they warn that Russia could
cover the retreat of Kyiv with air and artillery bombardment.
Ukrainian negotiators voicing signs of progress, as they emerged from today's talks in Istanbul, laying out a complex path forward that involves
security guarantees and delaying any final resolution on the status of Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, for 15 years.
The head of Russia's delegation calling the talks "constructive." An adviser for Ukraine's president saying there is now a chance Volodymyr
Zelenskyy and Russian president Vladimir Putin could meet in person.
Well, those talks happening as more Russian missiles and bombs hit targets in Ukraine. Russian fire demolished half of a government building in the
southwestern city of Mykolaiv, killing at least nine people and injuring more than 20. The regional military governor there saying as many as 100
people did manage to walk out of that building.
And there is no letup to the suffering in the besieged port city of Mariupol. This video showing the massive destruction there, the mayor now
calling for a complete evacuation. Ukraine's president says, for the people who remain in Mariupol, there is no way out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): The road out of Mariupol is blocked by the Russian army and more than 100,000 people
are remaining there. They have to melt snow to get water.
All this time, we have had no way of delivering humanitarian supplies -- Water, food, medications. Everything is blocked by the Russian troops. More
than 90 percent of all Mariupol buildings have been completely destroyed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, CNN's Phil Black joining me now live from Lviv in Ukraine.
And it is a day of split stories, isn't it, as we hear from President Zelenskyy and hear from the mayor of Mariupol, on the scenes there, in a
city which is suffering so badly. So we also have watched what some, at least, are describing as a major strategy shift by the Russians in their
assault on Ukraine as a whole.
Do we have any sense of what Russia's strategy, its plans are at this point?
PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, if Russia is to be believed, Becky, it is altering its behavior on the battlefield, not just altering but
reducing the activity, reducing the attacking power around some key locations, notably the capital of Kyiv and the northern city of Chernihiv,
as a direct result of progress being made in the talks in Istanbul.
A slightly more cynical view says that these are two locations where Russia was already struggling, where Russia has made little progress at all
recently, has only been able to apply power or apply pressure, I should say, through shelling and indirect fire, often on residential areas and
where, in fact, particularly around the capital of Kyiv, Russia is being pushed back.
But these are not the circumstances the Russian military cites in talking about its decision to pull back some units from these areas. Instead, it
says that it is trying to create an atmosphere that would allow the progress that has been made, the proposals that have been put forward, to
develop and evolve and to continue to the point of becoming some sort of larger, more ambitious peace deal, that could be signed by all the parties.
[10:05:00]
BLACK: They specifically reference Ukraine's proposals to adopt neutral status in return for international security guarantees, an international
treaty, signed on by a number of parties, that would guarantee coming to the aid of Ukraine, if its security were to be threatened in the future.
That's the proposal that they are citing specifically. There is a lot of other detail and a lot of other sticking points still to be discussed and
worked out. But Russia's openness to discussing this particular point suggests there is perhaps room for further progress -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes, absolutely. Phil, thank you for that.
Phil Black is on the ground for you in Lviv.
The presidents of the Baltic countries have been discussing the importance of NATO in the wake of Russia's war on Ukraine. It comes on the 18th
anniversary of their joining the alliance. My next guest is Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas, who has been speaking about ways to counter Russian
president Vladimir Putin.
And in an opinion piece in "The New York Times," she says, "Mr. Putin cannot win this war. He cannot even think he's won or his appetite will
grow."
The prime minister joining me now live from the Estonian capital of Tallinn.
I do want to start with getting your sense of what we are hearing out of the completion of these talks, day one, at least, in Istanbul.
Some sense of progress and what are you hearing?
KAJA KALLAS, ESTONIAN PRIME MINISTER: Well, first of all, we must not forget that these talks are going on, because Russia invaded Ukraine and
wants to erase Ukraine as a sovereign country.
And now the talks are going on and, of course, President Zelenskyy is in a very difficult position because, on one hand, he sees all the destruction
that Russia is causing, all the civilians being killed.
But on the other hand, there is this pressure to achieve peace. But he doesn't want to give away his territory. So it is a very, very difficult
position.
And, of course, Russia is struggling, like the previous reporter said, struggling in places in around Kyiv, for example. So they are stepping
back. But we have to keep in mind that there is still a vast territory that is occupied already with the Russian troops, by the Russian troops.
So you know, whatever agreement there is, it is made at gunpoint, because the civilians of Ukraine are being killed.
ANDERSON: Yes, it has to be constructive. And I hear what you're saying, has to be constructive, though, doesn't it, if Ukrainian negotiators are
voicing signs of progress as they emerge from today's talks.
An adviser for Ukraine's president saying that there is now a chance that Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian president Vladimir Putin could meet in
person. Again, your sense, your response to hearing that.
KALLAS: I understand that the Ukrainian president wants to do everything that is in his power to stop this war and also stop the killing of
civilians and destruction of the cities of Ukraine. So -- and he's in a very difficult position.
So of course, it is good if the two of them meet. So far President Putin hasn't been -- or has not agreed to meet Zelenskyy, as he doesn't consider
Ukraine to be a separate country. So he tries to negotiate with bigger players in the world arena.
But nobody can make the agreements for Ukraine. And even if Ukraine makes some kind of peace agreement, we must not forget and forgive to Putin, who
has committed really war crimes in Ukraine, because why there are more civilian casualties than military casualties in this war is because he is
targeting civilians.
And it is a war crime in accordance with the international law. And so, even if they achieve some kind of agreement on peace, then we have to keep
in mind that Putin, we don't go back to business as usual with Putin.
ANDERSON: Yes, let's be quite clear, you know, on the one hand.
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ANDERSON: And we are hearing some optimism out of the talks between negotiators in Turkey. On the other, Russia's assault on the people of
Ukraine does continue and we have been reporting on the situation, the dire situation, for example, in Mariupol.
You say Vladimir Putin's appetite increases with each bite of Ukraine and there are concerns about his intentions farther upfield for Estonia, the
other Baltic states.
What are the most effective ways to weaken an adversarial Russia, to your mind, at present?
KALLAS: Well, first of all, I want to stress that we are part of NATO. As you said, the 18 years ago we joined NATO and there hasn't been any attack
on any NATO country ever. So if you think about the West Berlin during the Cold War, you know, in military terms, it would have been very easy to
conquer.
But why it wasn't, because it would have been attack on NATO. And that is something that Russia is afraid of.
So in Estonia, we don't feel our -- or see any military threat toward us. So this is the first point.
But his appetite will grow if we forgive him and let him do what he does. We saw in 2008, in 2014. And so there was also the attitude that, OK, let
him not move on, let's have a peace agreement.
But as there was no punishment due to the -- everything he did or the aggression that he was going through, then his appetite grew. And two years
or some years afterwards, he just did this again. And we must really avoid this mistake again.
ANDERSON: Right now Estonia hosting NATO troops, you advocate for NATO to increase its military strength in its eastern -- or on its eastern flank. I
just wonder whether you can explain what that might look like and how you believe there is the opportunity to continue this unity that we are seeing
amongst allies at present.
Do you have any concerns that we might begin to see some fractures when, it seems from the conversation I'm having with you, that you see a Russia
under Vladimir Putin as a threat and a continued threat, a future threat?
KALLAS: Yes, I do see that. And I also see the unity of the allies. And it has been really kept. We are strong together and we should remain so in
NATO.
What I mean by increasing the defense of our region is that, right now, we have the air police mission. It should go into air defense. And all this
enhanced forward presence should go into forward defense.
What it really means is it means that the battalions are here, ready for combat as well.
And why NATO acts as a deterrent to Russia, if the situation in Russia changes, so that they are making these aggressive moves on neighboring
countries, then the deterrence should also be increased by increasing the defense here so that he doesn't get any ideas or any wishes toward the --
any NATO country.
So it -- the deterrence works. So in order to have peace, you have to prepare for war.
ANDERSON: Prime minister, good to have you on, thank you.
KALLAS: Thank you.
ANDERSON: Let's get you to Istanbul now. I want it bring in Arwa Damon, where what could be very consequential peace talks have just wrapped up an
hour or so ago.
Turkey's foreign minister calling this the most meaningful progress yet in ending this nearly 5-week-old war. Tell us what we understand to be agreed
today and why it is significant.
ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Let's preface this by saying the bar for meaningful progress, when it comes to negotiations
between the two countries, is quite low. That being said, it is better than no progress at all.
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DAMON: It does seem at this stage, as if the Ukrainian side has made a number of what are being described as fairly concrete proposals, that now
the Russians have taken back to their end and will be negotiating upon them.
Key among these is, one, the issue of Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014. And what the Ukrainian side, as far as we understand, seems to be proposing
is basically tabling the issue of Crimea for 15 years, during which bilateral talks would be taking place. But that at the very least removes
it from being one of the hurdles in keeping the current negotiations from going forward.
You also have another very critical issue for Ukraine and that is one that doesn't have all that much to do directly with its negotiations with Russia
and that is the security guarantees that Ukraine is looking for.
Ukraine has agreed to consider becoming a nonnuclear neutral state, which would effectively, for the foreseeable future, prevent it from becoming a
NATO member, something that Russia has been quite adamant about.
And, in fact, Russia used that as justification for its invasion of Ukraine, fearing NATO's encroachment further along its borders.
But what Ukraine wants is other nations to be acting as guarantors and for there to be a sort of security agreement among them that would be similar
to the agreement that exists among NATO countries, which means, should Ukraine be attacked in the future, these guarantor nations would have an
obligation to step in and defend Ukraine.
And that, Becky, is going to be very, very tricky, because which country is going to be willing to take on that burden of responsibility right now?
So there is still quite a bit to be ironed out, to include the issue of a humanitarian cease-fire. It was discussed but nothing was agreed upon at
this stage.
Now the talks, when it comes to the face to face conversations happening in Turkey, they have ended. But as has been the process throughout, online
discussions will be continuing at this stage. But suffice it to say, if anyone was expecting a sort of quick negotiation, that most certainly is
not what we saw taking place.
ANDERSON: These talks happening as more Russian bombs and missiles hit targets in Mariupol, Russian fire demolishing half of the government
building in the southwestern city of Mykolaiv, killing at least nine, injuring more than 20.
And we know that the dire situation in Mariupol continues. And, as you rightly point out, humanitarian corridor there desperately needed, as it is
in other parts of the country. Let's just get some perspective from Antony Blinken, the U.S. secretary of state, on today's talks. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANTONY BLINKEN, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: What I say is this, there is what Russia says and there is what Russia does. We're focused on the latter. And
what Russia is doing is the continued brutalization of Ukraine and its people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: "Actions speak louder than words," would be a fair paraphrasing of what Antony Blinken just said. But the U.S. surely must keep the
opportunity for off-ramps alive. It would be wrong for Washington to ignore any opportunities to find a solution to this.
DAMON: Yes, it certainly would, just like it would be wrong for any country to try to block any effort to find a solution for this.
And then there are many who will look at what's happening in Ukraine and be analyzing the situation and say that, you know, fundamentally, at its core,
how much of this is about the country of Ukraine itself and how much has Ukraine found itself to be stuck in between this sort of proxy battlefield,
grappling for global supremacy power that exists between Russia and the United States and Russia and the West?
No matter how you look at it, Ukraine is certainly stuck between these two very formidable powers and thus continues to pay the price for it.
So while, on the one hand, going back to what we were saying earlier about the negotiations, yes, a significant portion of these negotiations is up to
what happens and is negotiated between Russia and Ukraine.
But at the same time, the West does play a very significant role in terms of what it is that Ukraine wants to then see from the West so that it can
then feel more stable, more secure.
Keeping in mind, too, there have been security agreements in the past with Ukraine and the United Kingdom, the United States, Russia. And frankly some
would say Ukraine has felt betrayed.
ANDERSON: Yes. Arwa, thank you. Arwa Damon in Istanbul in Turkey for you today.
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ANDERSON: Coming up, Russian shelling has been targeting the suburbs surrounding Ukraine's capital. We will visit one devastated village just
north of Kyiv -- up next.
And the scene in Mariupol, one E.U. country has promised to rebuild parts of this city. We speak to Greece's investment minister up next.
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ANDERSON: Ukraine now claims some Russian troops are withdrawing from battle fronts in the capital. Earlier, CNN was able to get a first-hand
look at some of the devastation caused by the brutal attacks, as Russian shelling was intensifying.
I want to warn you, some of the images you're about to see are graphic. CNN's Fred Pleitgen traveled to one village north of the capital.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Kyiv remains under full on attack by Vladimir Putin's Army. Ukrainian
officials saying Russian forces are trying to storm the capital but failing, unleashing artillery barrages on civilian areas in the process.
We drove to the village Novi Petrivtsi, north of Kyiv, only a few miles from the front line. Even the streets here are pockmarked with shrapnel and
massive impact craters, whole buildings laid to waste.
PLEITGEN: I mean, just look at the utter destruction caused by this massive explosion. There are some really thick brick walls and even they
were annihilated by the force of whatever landed here. The people here tell us they only felt one really large explosion and it wounded several people
and killed a small child.
PLEITGEN (voice-over): That child was 2-year-old Stepan (ph), killed while in his bed when the house came under fire. These videos given to us by
local authorities show the chaos in the aftermath.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Speaking foreign language).
PLEITGEN (voice-over): As the wounded appear in shock, residents and rescuers tried to save those who are inside. Stepan (ph) pronounced dead on
the scene.
Stepan was Oleg Shpaks' (ph) second youngest child.
We found Oleg sifting through the rubble of his house days later.
OLEG SHPAKS, BOMBING VICTIM: (Speaking foreign language).
PLEITGEN (voice-over): Inside he shows me the damage caused by the explosion. He was at work when his home was hit. His wife, the other
children and his mother-in-law had already been brought to the hospital when he arrived at the house.
Stepan (ph) couldn't be saved and because of staff shortages at the morgue, Oleg had to prepare his son's body for burial himself.
SHPAKS (through translator): I had to wash him, to dress him. His head from his right ear to his left ear, one large hematoma. His arms, his legs,
a total hematoma not compatible with life. And besides that, lots of other wounds were discovered after death.
PLEITGEN (voice-over): Many other houses have also been hit here. The police tell me the Russians shelled the town every day.
[10:25:00]
PLEITGEN (voice-over): We bumped into 84-year-old Halyna in the town center. She was a child when the Nazis invaded this area and says now,
things are worse.
HALYNA, NOVI PETRIVTSI RESIDENT (through translator): Worse than fascists. When the Germans were here and entered our homes, they would shoot at the
ceiling but they would not touch us. They moved us into the woods but they did not shoot us like the Russian soldiers are shooting now, killing
children.
PLEITGEN (voice-over): The Kremlin claims its forces don't target civilian areas but the U.S., NATO and the Ukrainians say the Russians are frustrated
by their lack of progress and are firing longer range weapons because they can't make headway on the ground.
VLADYSLAV ODINTSOV, KYIV REGIONAL POLICE (through translator): They understand that sooner or later, our troops will push them out of our
territory. Now the Russians are doing dirty tricks. They shoot more at civilian areas than other positions of the Ukrainian army.
PLEITGEN (voice-over): Ukraine's army says it is pressing its own counter offensive trying to dislodge Russian troops from the outskirts of Kyiv. The
Kremlin's forces meanwhile, so far unable to take the Ukrainian capital are instead laying waste to its suburbs -- Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Novi Petrivtsi,
Ukraine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, 4,000 -- sorry, let me get back to you again -- 400,000 people lived in Mariupol before this war. Many of them are ethnic Greeks.
The city has historic trade links with Greece.
And the prime minister has acknowledged this connection, saying, "Mariupol is the center of the Greek minority in Ukraine, a city dear to our heart."
I spoke with the minister of development and investment when he was here at the Dubai Expo and asked him what his country is doing for those Greeks
left behind in the southern port city.
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ADONIS GEORGIADIS, GREEK MINISTER OF DEVELOPMENT AND INVESTMENT: We want to send a very clear message to all the Greeks in Mariupol, that all the
Greek people is with them. We care about them and we think of them every day.
The Greek government, all of (INAUDIBLE) for the Greek citizens of this area and we manage with the not to plan to evacuate as much more ethnic
Greeks we could at that time. But, unfortunately, a lot of them are still there and suffering a lot.
ANDERSON: What is their future?
GEORGIADIS: If there is going to be a peace soon, we will go there and help them to reconstruct their land, their city. If the war continues,
nobody knows.
ANDERSON: Are they welcome in Greece?
GEORGIADIS: Of course, they're very welcome in Greece. And I can tell that all Ukrainian refugees are welcome in Greece. We want to show our
solidarity to these people and we want to tell them that all the Greek people support their struggle for freedom.
ANDERSON: Greece's counsel general in Mariupol, the last E.U. diplomat to evacuate the besieged Ukrainian port, said, and I quote here, "What I saw I
hope no one will ever see."
Greece has offered to rebuild the bombed maternity clinic there. Just explain what you understand to be the severity of that attack and why
Greece is taking this initiative, this coordination.
What do you believe is needed at this point to rebuild?
GEORGIADIS: (INAUDIBLE) I have to make a comment about our secretary consul there. He's a hero for the Greek people. You know, he stayed, even
with a risk of his own life, in order to save people and help them evacuate this place.
And this is important to us. The attack was a disgrace for human civilization. Innocent people and children died. No soldiers inside, just
innocent, common people. I think this was the most ugly phase of the war. And our prime minister committed that we will rebuild it.
ANDERSON: Are you convinced that the involvement in the war is completely backed by the Greek people?
After all, Greek public opinion toward the government's involvement has been largely split.
GEORGIADIS: In Greece, there was a traditionally big (INAUDIBLE) to Russia. And I have to say, (INAUDIBLE) people. And we hope that Russia will
find its way out because the Russian people is happening (ph) also from this war.
But all this (INAUDIBLE) with Russia, I think now is declining because the people shows all these victims every day and they realize that innocent
people are dying.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: That was the Greek minister, speaking to me about the intentions of Greece to help rebuild that Mariupol maternity hospital.
Ukraine may only be keeping up this fight with the help of billions of dollars in military aid from the U.S. and NATO.
[10:30:00]
ANDERSON: Ahead, how America is fulfilling Ukraine's request, who are keeping its own stockpile full.
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ANDERSON: Well, Russia announcing what appears to be a big decision in its war on Ukraine. It says it will, quote, "drastically reduce" its military
assaults on the capital, Kyiv, and the northern city of Chernihiv. Some U.S. officials are calling this a major strategy shift by Moscow.
One move reported by Russian state media follows face to face talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Turkey a short time ago. Now we're
hearing a meeting between their presidents may be possible.
The Kremlin has also been talking to the media about its nuclear weapons, saying they'll only use them against a threat to Russia's existence. All of
this means French president Emmanuel Macron and Russian leader Vladimir Putin will have a lot to discuss when they touch base in another phone
call. That's expected to happen this half hour.
We'll be listening to any news coming out of the readout from that conversation.
U.S. Defense officials, meantime, say they plan to step up production of the missiles being sent to Ukraine. They are trying to refill their own
stockpile as they fulfill the Ukrainian military's wish list, including 500 Stinger missiles and 500 Javelin anti-tank missiles a day. CNN's Barbara
Starr joins us live from the Pentagon.
I wonder if you can put that in context, 1,000 antiaircraft and anti-tank missiles a day.
How many is that compared to what, for example, NATO members have already sent to Ukraine?
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Becky, that's the Ukraine wish list. There is nothing to say at this point that that is going to be what
is sent. Referring back to our previous reporting at CNN, we have reported that thousands -- hundreds of these types of missiles have already been
sent to Ukraine by the U.S. and NATO allies.
What is going on in the U.S. now at the Defense Department is they're trying to increase production and reduce production time with Stinger anti-
air missile and Javelin anti-tank missiles, the two critical weapons systems that Ukraine needs and that are being shipped to it.
So why are they doing this?
This is because, as you ship out of U.S. inventories, you have to replenish and maintain a basic minimum level for the U.S. military.
[10:35:00]
STARR: What they're looking at is how they can make production in the U.S. more efficient, put more workers on the line, get rid of obsolete parts,
get new factory tooling, you know. It all sounds very industrial -- and it is.
And it is exactly what they say is needed to try and perform that critical task, getting more missiles produced, getting U.S. stocks replenished and
getting shipped out the door, therefore, to Ukraine, the inventory they already have on hand -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Barbara Starr is reporting for you from the Pentagon.
Barbara, always a pleasure. Thank you.
Up next, for the first time in months, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II steps out in public at an event to honor her late husband, her husband of seven
decades. Details on the service for Prince Philip is coming up.
And a week after a stunning upset, North Macedonia is looking for another. A look at the final round of European World Cup qualifying is in just a
moment.
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ANDERSON: Right. Let's get you up to speed on the other stories aside from Ukraine on our radar right now.
Oil prices have fallen sharply. This is after Russia indicated its plans to dial back its assault on parts of Ukraine. That's easing energy supply
fears, which sent crude prices soaring earlier this month.
Shanghai city officials clamping down even more as they enforce a two-phase COVID lockdown to get everybody tested; 6 million people living in Pudong
district are no longer allowed to leave their homes except to get that mandatory COVID test. Before, they were restricted to their residential
compounds.
British police say they will issue 20 fines as part of their investigation into the Partygate scandal involving Boris Johnson's government. It is the
first official confirmation that illegal events were held at Downing Street at the height of the pandemic.
A spokesman for the U.K. prime minister says Mr. Johnson has so far not been issued a fine himself.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II makes her first public appearance in months to pay tribute to her late husband of 73 years. Earlier today, members of the
royal family and world dignitaries attended a Thanksgiving service.
Prince Philip passed away last April, two months before his 100th birthday. The queen has not attended a public event since falling ill late last year
from an unspecified ailment. Let's bring in Nina dos Santos, live at 10 Downing Street.
[10:40:00]
ANDERSON: We haven't seen the queen in public for months. Clearly, for anybody who was married to somebody for 73 years, a lifelong partner, of
course, as was Prince Philip to the queen, this must have been an emotional event for her.
NINA DOS SANTOS, CNNMONEY EUROPE EDITOR: It must have been terribly emotional. And it was also an opportunity to have that big funeral that her
late husband had taken such detail to plan over the years, finally, because, of course, they couldn't have that this time last year because the
lockdown restrictions meant only 30 people could attend his funeral.
So this was an event that had 1,800 people. Many representatives of the duke's charities and beloved causes were lining the entrance way to
Westminster Abbey as the queen walked past. But she was also flanked by four generations of her own family.
You'll remember the poignant images of the monarch, this time last year, having to sit on her own, observing those lockdown restrictions that some
other people in the country here in Downing Street are accused of not doing so at that time.
And, Becky, now finally she was able to sit with her own children, her grandchildren, her great-grandchildren as well. So this was an important
moment for her. But the ceremony was tailored to her age, kept down to 45 minutes, because we know the queen is quite elderly at this time.
And she also has recently been struggling with some mobility issues. It was also a chance to see other members of the royal family who have been in the
headlines, notably the Duke of York. This is the first time we have seen him since his legal troubles were settled in the United States.
He had the important role of accompanying his mother from Windsor Castle to Westminster Abbey for this important service, to give thanks to the life of
his late father -- Becky.
ANDERSON: A significant role for the Duke of York today. You suggested that there were others who were less keen to stick to the rules as it were
during the pandemic, not least those in the building behind you. Let's turn to Partygate scandal. London police say they will issue 20 fines. So far
the prime minister hasn't received one.
Is there any indication the prime minister is amongst those who will be fined?
DOS SANTOS: We don't know because we don't know the list of individuals.
The Metropolitan Police has made it clear that, even those who said there are 20 fines expected here, that are being issued, they haven't said and
say they will not say who they are issuing them to and which events those fines were related to, because, remember, there were a number of
allegations of various different lockdown busting parties taking place here inside Downing Street during the times of those lockdowns that the country
was going through, including allegedly at a time when the queen was marking the loss of her beloved husband of 73 years.
But remember, this isn't over, though, Becky. We are still expecting the investigation to continue. It is going to be picking up pace and once that
police investigation is over, that will give Sue Gray, the civil servant, full license to publish her report in full. And then the prime minister
will also have to explain to Parliament exactly its contents, Becky.
ANDERSON: Nina dos Santos is outside Number 10. Thank you.
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