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Police Deliver aid to Civilians along the Front Line; UK Foreign Office: One British Citizen Killed, Another missing in Ukraine; Biden: We're Helping to Deliver Humanitarian Aid to Ukraine; Biden: Putin's Original Objectives in Ukraine Resulted in "Abject Failure"; Biden Administration Requests $33 Billion in Ukraine Aid. Aired 11a-12p ET

Aired April 28, 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]

ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN, Abu Dhabi. This is "Connect the World".

ELENI GIOKOS, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: Hello and welcome back to "Connect the World". I'm Eleni Giokos in for Becky Anderson.

We are waiting to hear from President Joe Biden he will be speaking shortly at the White House. But to bring your news out of Ukraine with new progress

being reported for Russian forces in Ukraine, the U.S. wants to help level the playing field.

President Joe Biden plans to ask Congress for another $33 billion for Ukraine, much of which will go towards military assistance. We'll have more

on that in a moment. On the ground Ukraine says Russia is making incremental gains in the south Russian forces are set to be pounding steel

complex in Mariupol.

This as his last holdout with the heaviest strikes so far. After a series of blasts were heard inside Russia Wednesday. The Kremlin now warns any

strikes on its territory will be met with a harsh response. Meantime U.N. Chief Antonio Guterres toured war ravaged towns outside of Kyiv. Police say

more than 1100 civilians have been found dead in the region since the war began. Let's get more now on that request by the Biden Administration; CNN

White House Correspondent John Harwood is in Washington for us. We've got Sam Kiley, in the Eastern City of Kramatorsk.

John, I'd like to start off with you $33 billion is a mammoth package, much of which is going to be going for weapons assistance to Ukraine, could you

break those numbers down for us?

JOHN HARWOOD, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Exactly. This is a reflection of the fact that the United States and NATO allies see this conflict

settling in to a much more extended and grinding phase in the east and the south as Russia tries to take that territory.

And so on top of the aid that's already billions and billions of aid that's already been supplied to Ukraine, President Biden's now requesting $33

billion 20 billion of that will be for military assistance, artillery, anti-armor defenses for the Ukrainians, anti-air weaponry for the

Ukrainians to take on the Russians.

You've also got more than $10 billion in economic assistance, that's direct financial aid for the government as well as humanitarian assistance for the

government. And that's paired with a package that also includes stepped up sanctions or the hope for stepped up sanctions in terms of legislation that

would make it easier for the United States government to seize the assets of Russian oligarchs who are implicated with the Putin regime.

So all of these things are moving through the Congress or will begin moving through the Congress, it is likely that they will be approved. They have

support from both parties may take some time for that to happen to find the right legislative vehicle.

But this as the United States continuing to step up as they must is along with NATO allies if they're going to help Ukraine stay in this conflict and

take on effectively the Russian invaders.

GIOKOS: Sam, you are and have visited in some of the hardest hit regions in Ukraine. And I guess when we hear from lawmakers from the relative safe,

you know, offices and buildings, it's a race against time for the people that you've been speaking to.

And the Ukrainians have been very vocal about needing more leading air superiority in terms of this new package that's going to come through; I

guess it couldn't happen quickly enough.

SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Now, I think that's absolutely right Eleni from the Ukrainian perspective. This may even be too

little too late. But I'm sure they wouldn't use those terms because they are absolutely desperate for these sorts of packages of military aid,

especially being announced, potentially out of Washington also being coordinated through Europe, even Germany now agreeing to supply lethal

weapons Norway too.

So all of these countries recognizing how urgently the requirement is because there are towns now that are beginning to fall they're not big,

some of them some of them are pretty small village sized settlements really, particularly to the northern side of the Donetsk River as the

Russians trying to put the squeeze on where I am the strategic prize of Kramatorsk here in this important salient.

[11:05:00]

KILEY: And the consequences of the Russian advanced being felt most absolutely and as ever by civilians, particularly in places like - where I

was yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Donetsk on the frontline with Russia. It's an artillery frontline.

KILEY (on camera): Let's get into the basement.

KILEY (voice over): Local police are delivering aid to civilians unable to leave. There's no time to wait out the bombardment. There's no likely end

to the shelling either supplies lead delivering and past. She tells me there are three people next door including a granny of 92. Upstairs a

bedridden woman, she says that normally they stay in their flat and only use the basement when it's bad. Thank you for not forgetting as she adds.

KILEY (on camera): The urgency of these sorts of deliveries cannot be exaggerated just in his block there's mostly old people. One gentleman is

dying of cancer in front of his wife. She's saying she's living in a double health since we've been here they've been, I don't know, 5, 6, 8 impacts

very, very close.

And almost every tree every corner, every bit of this local neighborhood has got the signs of recent impacts. And Russians are just a kilometer

maybe three away.

KILEY (voice over): Russian guns are so close you can hear the whole arc of their shells. From Kyiv to Mariupol from Kharkiv to here this is the

Russian way of war pound civilians flattened cities and maybe occupy the ashes.

Oleksandr says we're in danger now they're shelling us so it could come at any moment and shrapnel could hurt us. We tried to hide there in the bomb

shelter.

KILEY (voice over): Three months of war has driven these people underground. And there's no end in sight. Stuck with the fears Oleksandr

confesses. He tries to keep inside, but it creeps out.

KILEY (on camera): There's one more delivery that the police have got to make. But every time we try to get out the front door of this building,

there's another impact. There's another one now. They're saying that the hospital which is nearby is under heavy shelling. We were planning to go

there. We can't get through or indeed at the moment. Can we even get out of this bunker?

KILEY (voice over): The hospital was hit. Images of the damage done that morning, posted online by the local administration official said that one

civilian was killed, others injured, and several floors were badly damaged. The humanitarian effort goes on. This woman asks only for the basics of

existence, water and candles for light.

KILEY (on camera): You do this every day?

KILEY (voice over): Bogdan tells me that most people left here now have nowhere else to go. They've lived here all their lives and don't want to

abandon their homes.

KILEY (on camera): Do you think the Russians are going to take Donetsk?

KILEY (voice over): Never he says we will stand our ground to the last man, no one will leave here. That may be a dangerous claim. It's likely that

Ukrainians will destroy this bridge to hold up the invasion. And anyone still here would then be trapped in Russian hands.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KILEY: The result of that advance from Russia along the River of the Donetsk is putting pressure here on Kramatorsk. And just actually while

we've been on air an anti-aircraft missiles been fired by Ukrainian forces against presumably a Russian air target just yet another sign of this

ongoing pressure that is spread right across the region, even though the focus is on towns like Donetsk.

GIOKOS: Yes, Sam, you know, I really appreciate you showing us the immediacy of this war and the experience of people every second of the day.

And John, I think this is why it's so important that lawmakers in the U.S. act swiftly.

The question is, are we going to see a united Congress with a $33 billion package at a time when the United States contracted by 1.4 percent in the

first quarter? Gas prices are raising, inflation is rising. The Outlook doesn't look good, but at the same time this macro issue that is I guess

putting world economy on its knees is just as vital?

[11:10:00]

HARWOOD: I don't think Eleni that economic conditions in the United States are going to preclude the passage of this piece of legislation. First of

all, there is, as you noted, strong bipartisan support for Ukraine. And I expect that to continue.

Also, the economic report that you mentioned doesn't really mean what it appears to mean? Yes, the GDP shrank in the first quarter. But that was

largely a reflection of strong purchases of imports into the United States, those subtract from gross domestic product.

The problem with the U.S. economy is not growth; it is inflation, that is, in the process of being dealt with by the Federal Reserve. That is not

going to be a barrier to I don't believe to the passage of this package.

GIOKOS: John, give me a sense, in terms of the other important messaging, we'll be hearing from President Biden. We had the Defense Secretary saying

that the main aim is trying to weaken Russian military, which he already conceded that has already been weakened, because they've lost so much

precision, weaponry and weaponry that's not going to be easy to replace because of the sanctions.

HARWOOD: Well look, President Biden faces the task of demonstrating the commitment of the United States and NATO to supporting Ukraine. It is a

challenge, because the United States and NATO have committed not to directly commit forces to the fight against Russia.

So if you can't apply your own military power directly, its all the more incumbent on you as an ally of Ukraine, to provide as much assistance as

you can and he needs to rally the country, rally the world behind the Defense of Ukraine. That's what he's been doing.

They've maintained pretty impressive unity so far, within NATO and other countries in the world, free countries in the world standing up against the

Russians. He's got to sustain that. And that's what this message at the White House is part of that effort.

GIOKOS: John Harwood, thank you so very much for that insight. We're still waiting for U.S. President Joe Biden, to speak at the White House. We'll be

monitoring that as it happens. And we also have some breaking news just coming in the UK Foreign Office tells CNN that a British national has been

killed in Ukraine, and they're urgently seeking further information on another UK citizen who is currently missing.

The office says they are supporting the families of both of these people. And we will continue to bring you the latest developments. Now as the war

drags on, the world is hearing more and more stories of Russian atrocities. Nick Payton Walsh introduces us to a teenage girl who says she was raped by

a Russian soldier and a warning the details are harrowing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): It's from these gentle shrugs of villages, lazy and clean in the green expanses of Kherson region,

that some of these wars ugliest crimes are being dragged into the light. This is Dasha, she's 16 and was six months pregnant when just over a month

ago, and Russian forces came to her village here.

Her family war in the basement sheltering from bombs, the cold, and the Russian shooting in the air or at cars and legs she said. At dusk, they

brought the children out to the kitchen to eat, where there were two soldiers one drunk.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GIOKOS: All right, we're taking it to the White House now where President Joe Biden is about to speak.

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: --security, economic and humanitarian assistance to help Ukraine continue to counter Putin's

aggression and at a very pivotal moment. We need this builds for Ukraine and his fight for freedom. And now our NATO allies, our EU partners,

they're going to pay their fair share the cost as well.

But we have to do this; we have to do our part as well leading the alliance. And the cost of this fight it's not cheap. But caving to

aggression is going to be more costly if we allow it to happen. We either back Ukrainian people as they defend their country or we stand by as the

Russians continue atrocities and aggression in Ukraine every day, every day the Ukrainians pay for the price with - the price they paid with their

lives for this fight so we need to contribute arms funding ammunition and the economic support to make their courage and sacrifice have purpose so

they can continue this fight and do what they're doing?

It's critical this funding gets approved and approved as quickly as possible. You know, long before Russia launched its brutal invasion, I made

clear how the United States would respond I predicted they would invade and they surely did.

[11:15:00]

BIDEN: We said we not send U.S. troops to fight Russian troops in Ukraine, but we would provide robust military assistance and try to unify the

Western world against Russia's aggression. I said I would impose powerful sanctions on Russia, and that we destroy and develop, we destroy this myth

that somehow they continue to move without the rest of the world.

That we deploy additional forces to defend NATO territory, particularly in the east along the Russian and Belarus borders. That's exactly that's

exactly what we said we would do. And we did. But despite the disturbing rhetoric coming out of the Kremlin, the facts are playing for everybody to

see. We're not attacking Russia.

We're helping Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression. And just as Putin chose to launch his brutal invasion, he could make the choice to end

this brutal invasion. Russia is the aggressor, no if ands or buts about it, Russia is the aggressor, and the world must and will hold Russia

accountable.

Russia continues it assault on human immense human cost. We've seen - we seem to leave behind horrifying evidence of their atrocities and war crimes

and the areas they tried to control. And as long as the assaults and atrocities continue, we're going to continue to supply military systems.

And I might know, parenthetically, you know, there's dinner this weekend, celebrate the press. Think of what the American press has done. The Courage

it's taken to stay in these war zones. The Courage is taken to report every single day. I've always had respect for the press, but I can't tell you how

much respect I have watching them in the zones where they're under fire, risking their own lives to make sure the world hears the truth.

Imagine if we weren't getting that information, it'd be a different world, it'd be a different circumstance. In the past two months Russia launch is

brutal attack is move weapons and equipment to Ukraine it - we've moved, we move weapons and equipment to Ukraine and at record speed.

Thanks to the aid we provide it Russian forces have been forced to retreat from Kyiv doesn't mean they're not going to try to come back but they've

retreated thus far. We've sent thousands of anti-armor anti-missiles, helicopters, drones, grenade launchers, machine guns, rifles, radar

systems, more than 50 million rounds of ammunition.

The United States alone is provided 10 anti-armor systems for every Russian tank that is in Ukraine ten to one. We're providing Ukraine significant,

timely intelligence to help them defend themselves against the Russian onslaught.

And we're facilitating a significant flow of weapons and systems in Ukraine from our allies and partners around the world, including tanks, artillery,

and other weapons. That support is moving with unprecedented speed. Much of the new equipment we've announced in the past two months, two weeks has

already gotten Ukraine, where it can be put their direct use on the battlefield.

However, we have almost exhausted what we call the fancy phrase to draw down authority that Congress authorized Ukraine authorized for Ukraine and

a bipartisan spending bill last month. Basically we're out of money.

And so that's why today in order to sustain Ukraine as it continues to fight, I'm sending Congress a supplemental budget request. It's going to

keep weapons and ammunition flowing without interruption to the brave Ukrainian fighters, and continue delivering economic and humanitarian

assistance to the Ukrainian people.

This so called supplemental funding addresses the needs of the Ukrainian military during a critical weeks and months ahead. And it begins to

transition to longer term security systems. That's going to help Ukraine to turn continue to defend against Russian aggression.

This assistance would provide even more artillery, armored vehicles anti- armored systems, anti-air capabilities that have been used so effectively thus far in the battlefield by the Ukrainian warriors. You know, it's going

to deliver much needed humanitarian assistance as well as food, water, medicine, shelter, and other aid to Ukrainians displaced by Russians war,

and provide aid for those seeking refuge in other countries from Ukraine is also going to help schools and hospitals open.

It's going to allow pensions and social support to be paid to the Ukrainian people, so they have something in their pocket. It's also going to provide

critical resources to address food shortages around the globe. Ukraine was one of the world's largest agricultural producers typically grows 10

percent of all the wheat that's shipped around the world.

Putin has asserted sanctions are blocking food from Ukraine and Russia getting on the market the sanctions we've imposed on Russia simply not

true.

[11:20:00]

BIDEN: Putin's war, not sanctions are impacting the harvest of food and disrupting the movement of that food by land and sea to nations around the

globe that needed.

This fund is going to help ease rising food prices at home as well and abroad caused by Russia's war in Ukraine. It's going to help support

American farmers produce more crops, like wheat and oilseed, which is good for rural America good for the American consumer and good for the world.

And this supplemental request, we'll use the Defense Production Act to expand domestic production and reserve and reserve are critical materials,

materials like nickel and lithium, that have been disrupted by Putin's war in Ukraine, and that are necessary to make everything from defense systems

to automobiles.

And I hope Congress; I hope Congress will move in this funding quickly. I believe they will. I want to thank Congress, Democrats and Republicans for

their support and people in Ukraine.

And next week, I will be in Alabama, to visit Lockheed Martin plant that manufactures the Javelin anti-tank missile we've been sending to Ukraine.

And I thank the American workers; thank them for producing the weapons that helps stop Russia's advances and Ukrainian cities like Kyiv.

Their hard work has played a critical role in assuring Putin strategic failure in Ukraine, and they should know that we know it. In addition to

this supplemental funding, I'm also sending to Congress a comprehensive package that will enhance our underlying effort to accommodate the Russian

oligarchs, and make sure we take their ill begotten gains.

We're going to accommodate them. We're going to seize their yachts, their luxury homes and other it'll be gotten gains of Putin's - Kleptocracy and

the guys who are the Kleptocracy. But these are bad guys.

This legislative package transfers all law enforcement capabilities to seize property linked to Russians Kleptocracy. It's going to create new

expedited procedures for forfeiture, and seizure of these properties, that's going to ensure that when the oligarchies assets are sold off, funds

can be used directly to remedy the harm Russia caused in their help and help build Ukraine.

Additionally, yesterday Russia threatened two of our allies with a cut off of energy supplies. While America has ended all Russian fossil fuel

imports. Because we're able to use our vast support supply of power in our country, some European countries have faced more challenges and reducing

the reliance on Russian fuel.

Russia has long claimed to be "the reliable source of energy for the world". No matter what the differences are, customers are always going to

be in good shape. But these actions prove that energy is not just a commodity that Russia sells to help meet other country's needs.

But a weapon we use to deploy against those who stand against their aggression. I want to be clear, we will not let Russia intimidate or

blackmail their way out of the sanctions. We will not allow them to use their oil and gas to avoid consequences further aggression.

We're working with other nations like Korea, Japan, Qatar and others, to support our efforts to help European allies threatened by Russia with gas

blackmail, and their energy needs in other ways. Aggression will not win, threats will not win.

This is just another reminder of the imperative for Europe and the world to move more and more of our power needs to clean energy. In the United States

we're doing that right now.

Last year, we develop more solar, wind and battery storage than any year in our history, enough to power 56 million American homes. Earlier this month,

we acted to bolster our reliance, the reliance on our nuclear energy facilities, which generates more than half of our carbon free power.

And we're just getting started. I look at this as a serious problem but also an enormous opportunity and opportunity. Bottom line all these actions

we've been taking are about the truth.

This truth investing the Ukraine's freedom and security is a small price to pay to punish Russia and aggression, to lessen the risk for future

conflict. You know, throughout our history, we've learned that when dictators do not pay the price for their aggression, they cause more chaos

and engage in more aggression.

They keep moving. In the cost the threats to America in the world keep rising. We can't let this happen. Our unity at home, our unity with our

allies and partners and our unity with Ukrainian people is sending an unmistakable message to Putin.

[11:25:00]

BIDEN: You will never succeed in dominating Ukraine. Finally, we're going to continue to deliver critical support to Ukraine, we must also not let

our guard down in our fight against COVID-19 at home and abroad.

That's why I'm again urging Congress to act on my request for $22.5 billion in emergency resources. So the American people can continue to protect

themselves from COVID-19.

The reason we were so successful in the past is, because I was able to work with drug manufacturers to order significant quantities of material we

needed ahead of time to get in the front of the line. Without additional funding, we can't preorder the amount of vaccines we need.

And we risk losing our spot in line for vaccines, a target multiple variants. We're running out of supply for therapeutics, like antiviral

pills that we desperately need, without additional funding, or unable to purchase a lifesaving treatment for the American people.

We've donated more vaccines and treatments to the world and all other nations in the world combined. If the U.S. won't do it, no one else is

really going to step up and do it.

Without additional funding, the United States won't be able to help stop the spread around the world and close off ongoing sources on the supply

chain disruptions. Look, let's get both of these critical tasks done. No delays, no excuses, just action now, now. Thank you all. Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He is a gentleman. Mr. President, I wanted to ask what your message is to Ukrainian refugees on the southwest border, and those

that are trying to flee Ukraine from the violence.

BIDEN: We have made a direct means by which they can get from Europe, from Ukraine directly the United States without going to the southern border. In

the meantime, in the southern border we're trying to work through and make sure that it's an orderly process they're able to get in.

But just so you know, we've said there's no need to go to southern border, fly directly to United States; we set up a mechanism whereby they can come

directly with visa.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. President, how are you by a growing number of Russian comments, and the media on some of their official painting, this

conflict has actually already a conflict between NATO, the U.S., and Russia that pays me very - to be nuclear weapons seems like that that struggle, et

cetera.

And just separately, connected to that, - self says it's already a proxy war, not a direct war, but a proxy war. So either those two things are

true, and they were - those things.

BIDEN: They're not true, they do concern me, because it shows the desperation that Russia is feeling about their abject failure, and being

able to do what they set out to do in the first instance. And so it I think it's more of a reflection, not of the truth, but of their failure.

And so instead of saying that the Ukrainians equipped with some capability to resist Russian forces are doing this, they've got to say, tell their

people, the United States, and all of NATO is engaged in taking out Russian troops and tanks, et cetera.

So it's number one, it's an excuse for their failure. But number two, it's also if they really mean it, its no, no one should be making idle comments

about the use of nuclear weapons or the possibility of the - it's irresponsible.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. President back on the border, title 42, a number of your Democratic friends are pressuring the White House to maintain that

policy, can you get a straight answer whether you're going to where they're going to need that request? Or you're going to give?

BIDEN: I'll give you a straight answer; we had proposed to eliminate that policy. By the end of May, the court has said we can so far, and what the

court says we're going to do; the court could come along and say we cannot do that. And that's it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're saying that this is not a proxy war, but Russia clearly disagrees. They say that war means war. So how concerned are you

that they may start to act accordingly even if you disagree?

BIDEN: We are prepared for whatever they do.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well actually you have to ensure Poland and Bulgaria has sufficient supplies of gas.

BIDEN: First of all, as you know, Poland has indicated they have significant reserves of gas that they have planned for as does not as much

but as does Bulgaria.

[11:30:00]

BIDEN: And we have worked with our allies from Japan on to say that we may divert our sale of the natural gas that we're sending to those countries

and diverted directly to Poland and Bulgaria. So I, you know, it's as most I can tell you right now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sir, how concerned are you about a recession, given the GDP report today showed a contraction of 1.4 percent --.

BIDEN: Well, I'm not concerned about recession. I mean, you're always concerned about a recession, but the GDP, you know, fell to 1.4 percent.

But here's the deal. We're also had last quarter consumer spending and business investment and residential investment increased at significant

rates, both for leisure as well as hard products, number one.

Number two, we are unemployment is the lowest rates since 1970. A record 4.5 million businesses were created last year. We're in a situation where

you know, we have a very different view than Senator Scott and Republicans who want to raise taxes on the middle class families and want to include

half of small business owners and that we --.

So I think we're, what you're seeing is enormous growth in the country that was affected by everything from COVID, and the COVID blockages that were

occurred along the way.

Now, you always have to be taking a look and know that predicting a recession now they're predicting or some are predicting, and maybe

recession in 2023. I'm concerned about it.

But I know one thing that, you know, if our Republican friends are really interested in doing something about dealing with economic growth, and they

should help us continue to lower the deficit, which we've done last year, over $350 billion, they should be willing to work with us to have a tax

code that is actually one that works.

And everybody pays their fair share. And they should be in a position where you shouldn't be raising taxes on middle class folks; you should be raising

taxes on people who everyone acknowledges that the vast majority of Republicans aren't paying their fair share.

I've said it 100 times you have, you know, 50 major corporations of the Fortune 500 companies made $40 billion last year didn't pay a single penny.

No one under our proposal and again, our $400,000 year we'll see a penny in their taxes go up not one penny.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. President - do you think - Ukrainians we tied together and legislation?

BIDEN: Well, I don't care how they tie how they do it. I'm sending them both up. I mean, they can do it separately or together. But we need them

both.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. President, surely consumers said yesterday that you quote, getting closer to using executive authority to cancel up to $50,000

in student loan debt. Can you confirm that? What exactly are you looking to plan to do here in the coming --?

BIDEN: Any of my spokesmen said that?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Majority leader shared me--

BIDEN: Look, number one, one first thing we did was reform the system that was in place that didn't work for anybody that allowed people to write off

debt, if they engaged in public service.

We have almost million - 785, I don't know the exact number, I'll get the number 700 and some 1000 have had debt forgiven their whole debt forgiven

because of their work working in these teachers or other means by which they qualify.

And we continue to make that easier. Secondly, I am considering dealing with some debt reduction. I am not considering $50,000 debt reduction.

But I'm in the process of taking a hard look at whether or not there are going to there will be additional debt forgiveness. And I'll have an answer

on that in the next couple of weeks. Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you, guys, thank you

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, President.

GIOKOS: All right, President Joe Biden announcing a new supplementary package to help Ukraine with $33 billion. And it's really far reaching. He

says it's to ensure that weapons and humanitarian aid keeps flowing into Ukraine, importantly, to also weaken the Russian military.

But this package overall, it was also going to try and ease the pressure on the food shortages that we've seen emerging on a global scale because of

supply constraints out of Ukraine. And he says this is going to be a far reaching package.

We have our reporters standing by to give us an update and of course, take us through some of the most important things that the President said there.

We've got White House reporter Natasha Bertrand joining us now From Washington DC, Sam Kiley is in the eastern city of Kramatorsk in Ukraine.

International Diplomatic Editor Nic Robertson joins us from London.

[11:35:00]

GIOKOS: Natasha, I want to go through to you first. He said it is critical that we get this approved and approved quickly, do you think he's going to

get the support?

NATASHA BERTRAND, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: While it remains to be seen how they're exactly going to push this through the house is on recess next

week. So it could be delayed a bit. And he said he really doesn't care whether this is tied to the COVID supplemental package that he's sending to

Congress, or whether it's done separately.

All he said is that it needs to be done very quickly, because of course, the Ukrainians don't have a lot of time here. Now, this $33 billion is

meant to last through the end of September through the end of this fiscal year.

And I think that really underlines here how the West and how the U.S. is preparing for a long conflict, they are not envisioning that this conflict

is going to end anytime soon in the next few months.

For example, they believe that the Ukrainians need as much equipment and support as possible right now, to effectively repel the Russians for a

fight that is likely to be drawn out here.

And I just want to read something he said, which is really kind of underscores how he views this fight not only as a fight for Ukraine's

territorial sovereignty and integrity, but also really, as part of a broader good versus evil conflict.

He said we need this bill to support Ukraine in its fight for freedom. The cost of this fight, it's not cheap, but caving to aggression is going to be

more costly if we allow it to happen.

So that reflects really the broader consensus view that we've heard from officials here in the U.S. that this is not only a conflict that is

confined to the Ukrainians, it is something that could affect the entire international order, it could up end stability in Europe. And of course, it

really impacts global security writ large, Eleni.

GIOKOS: Alright, Nic, one, the other important thing that Joe Biden says are you could sense the urgency in his speech today. He said the next few

weeks are going to be absolutely critical.

And we've heard from the reporters on the ground in Ukraine, that weapons right now are absolutely vital as Russia intensifies its attacks

specifically in the eastern parts of the country.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, 50 million rounds of ammunition, he said have been supplied. They now supply the Ukrainians

with a ratio of Javelin missiles to Russian tanks and these other tank killer weapons.

So the United States supplies of 10 to one that I think, is perhaps something he was hoping Moscow would be listening to as well, as well as

reassuring the Ukrainians but yes, that that shifts to tanks to heavier weaponry to artillery, the United States really taking a big lead on that

to air defense systems, the United States, again, behind the scenes, taking a lot of the lift on that as well.

And also the all-important supplying intelligence, that ability to look over the horizon and inform the Ukrainians about where perhaps the densest

part of the Russian forces is.

And what they're comprised of and what may look like an imminent attack, all the sorts of Battlefield information that's so important in modern

warfare to be to be ahead of the curve versus the enemy.

So I think, you know, he wants the speed to make sure all that is getting through, and why is it vital to the point of your question? Because if the

Ukrainians don't hold on to the territory, who's going to push the Russians off of it? If not, the Ukrainians is yet to hold it and seed it and take it

back.

GIOKOS: And Sam Kiley, well, you know one thing that Biden says was that Russians left Kyiv and they're not going to go back. And that was largely

due to the fact that they had the right weapons that they were able to do so.

He says they're likely not to cut, not going to come back to the Capitol. But what are you hearing on the ground in terms of Russia's pursuits?

KILEY: Well, I mean, the Russians have Soviet style tactics, and that is possibly one of their weakest points. Because it means that they rely on

artillery, and above all on tanks. And the Ukrainians have shown that with modern weaponry, particularly the cap tank killing equipment, like the end

laws, and the javelins.

And there lots of other NATO type weapons that are man portable, that can knock out a tank in a pretty much a heartbeat they've shown just how old

fashioned that approach is.

Now that is why the urgency of this 33 point something billion dollars package is so high from the American. But a bubble the Ukrainian

perspective is to get the next level of weapons in before the Russians prevail.

They do have a potentially enormous arsenal of the area weapons the multiple rocket launching systems that we've seen smashing Mariupol to

pieces, smashing large amounts of Kharkiv into ruins. And I came from a town yesterday - - Donetsk which was being pounded with artillery. It is

preventing those sorts of weapons being put to full military effect that is now so critical for the Ukrainians.

[11:40:00]

GIOKOS: Sam Kiley, thank you so very much for that insight. Nic Robertson and Natasha Bertrand, thank you so much. We're going to short break, stay

with CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GIOKOS: All right, so let's be honest. We can all admit that at some point we've messed up at work, but not many can say they've done it in front of

thousands of onlookers.

Spare a thought for the Inter Milan goalkeeper here. His miscalculation is costing his team victory. Yes, World Sports Amanda Davies joins me now.

Good to see you Amanda, please explain just how vital that loss could be to the Italian league title race.

AMANDA DAVIES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Eleni, I don't think - Raju will think it's good to see me it's one of those really embarrassing look through your

hands moments, isn't it?

GIOKOS: Yes.

DAVIES: It has been going right down to the wire the title race in Italy. This game against Bologna was the chance for Inter Milan to leapfrog their

local rivals AC Milan with a win nine minutes from time, Raju who's the standing goalkeeper just completely missed the ball didn't clear it.

The goal was scored as you can see, so that gave bologna the win into his first defeat in 12 games. And now with just four games of the season to go,

it is AC Milan very much in the driving seat and leading the way. But I feel we need to kind of issue an apology for Raju and his family that we

keep showing it, really, really just awful to watch.

GIOKOS: It is so painful to watch. Amanda we will get all the sports news from you after the short break, stay with CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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