Return to Transcripts main page
Connect the World
Putin Defends Invasion In Victory Day Speech; Zelenskyy: Ukraine Will Defeat Russian Aggression; Putin Defends Invasion IN Victory Day Speech. Any Peace Deal With Russia Would Depend On Russian Forces Pulling Back To Their Pre-Invasion Positions, Ukraine's President Says. Aired 10- 11a ET
Aired May 09, 2022 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:00:14]
VLADIMIR PUTIN, PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA (through translator): Glory to our great armed forces for Russia, for victory.
ELENI GIOKOS, CNN ANCHOR (voice over): A show of military might in Moscow, Vladimir Putin defends his actions in Ukraine at Russia's Victory Day
ceremonies. And.
SARA SIDNER, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (through translator): It's an atrocity. It's vandalism, he says. Probably the leadership is stupid.
Only idiots would do this. Start a war against Ukraine.
GIOKOS: We live in painful memories. This World War II veteran thought he would never live to see another war. Plus.
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (through translator): I got slammed down by slab bent into a ball. Then another explosion, small
rock sprinkle of darkness. Then I looked and the dust settled and the ray of light appeared.
GIOKOS: They thought there would be safe taking shelter in a school but then Russia dropped a bomb on it. This is a story of one survivor broken by
grief.
I'm Eleni Giokos in Dubai. Hello and welcome to CONNECT THE WORLD. Vladimir Putin not declaring victory but not backing down in a defiant speech ahead
of Russia's Victory Day parade. The day observes the victory over the Nazis in World War II and honors the 27 million service cities -- citizens who
died in the wall. Putin watching over a display of Russian military mites again making the false claim that he ordered the invasion to denazify
Ukraine. And insisting falsely that Ukrainian aggression backed by NATO forced him to act.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PUTIN: See how military infrastructure was being developed. How hundreds of foreign advisors were at work, regular supplies of the most modern weapons
from NATO. Danger was increasing every day.
Russia repelled this aggression in a preventive way. And this was the only correct decision and it was a timely decision.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GIOKOS: Ukraine's president gave his own speech predicting his country will win the war.
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE (through translator): We are fighting for our children's freedom, and therefore we will win. We will
never forget what our ancestors did in World War II, which killed more than eight million Ukrainians. Very soon there will be two victory days on
Ukraine. And someone won't have any. We win then. And we will win now. Victory over Nazism day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GIOKOS: (INAUDIBLE) Smaller Victory Day observances took place in Russian- held areas of Ukraine including this parade in Kherson. No such parades in Mariupol where images released Sunday showed the visit of a Russian Deputy
Prime Minister. A statement by the city council said the occupiers celebrate victory day on the bones of Mariupol residence. Sara Sidner
connecting us from the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.
Sara, good to see you. You know, the ghosts of the past for many people that have experienced the war are now reliving it in the most dramatic of
ways. And you've spoken to some veterans that have shared these harrowing stories with you.
SIDNER: You know, there are very few World War II veterans left and these two men noted that but also said it pained them deeply to see places that
they had helped liberate, now being leveled by the Russians.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SIDNER: (INAUDIBLE) helped battled back the German advance in World War II when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. His proudest moments helping
liberate Mariupol by sea.
We liberated martyr up from the Germans in 1943. We went there with three warships and wrecked 11 different German ships, he says. 77 years after
victory day he has mixed feelings about Russia. It pains him to say it but the country he wants fought for has turned into the enemy, leveling the
very same city he fought so hard to save from Hitler's onslaught.
For all of us who went through the war at the time, it hurts. I want to take up arms now and go to defend the same places and by country, he says.
[10:05:07]
SIDNER: His wife cannot contain herself as she listens to him and lashes out at the man she sees as responsible for the new war, Vladimir Putin.
There shouldn't be anything like him on Earth, she says. He kills, destroys our cities and villages. He destroys our defenseless people. On the
anniversary of Victory Day, there are no celebrations here. Only mementos and memories.
It's no longer a holiday. It's very difficult, he says. There aren't many of us left. But Mato Divolinitsk (ph) is still here. The 96-year-old World
War II veteran doesn't have to remember the terror of war. He's been given fresh memories. Russian tanks blasted a hole in the front of his home in
the treeline suburb of Vorzel. He fought as a Soviet against the Germans, but has never had any love for the Soviets, after he says he was jailed for
speaking up against them.
I was awarded medals and orders for victory. But I did not recognize them and never wore them, he says. He says Putin's Russia has started a war it
cannot win. It's an atrocity, it's vandalism, he says. Probably the leadership is stupid. Only idiots would do this, start a war against
Ukraine.
Both men say they have the will to fight again, if not with their bodies than with their words. Why am I smiling? Because I believe that we will
rebuild this house and that Ukraine will win.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SIDNER: And he said very clearly that his biggest worry after his house was struck was for his cats who he loves and his poetry and all of the books
that he has had for many, many years. Both men, though were able to smile about the work that they had done to repel the Germans during World War II.
They just cannot believe that some of those same places are being completely bombed out by the Russians in 2022. Eleni?
GIOKOS: Yes, Sara. And I have to say, you know, the one line that really struck me is that they're afraid that they're going to see another world
war. And that's sort of a very ominous thing to hear at this point in time, but you've been covering the war since it began. And you've been seeing
some of these harrowing experiences. And we've been seeing so many more atrocities that are being reported on a daily basis.
SIDNER: Yes, it is extremely disturbing to go to some of these villages now that have been liberated by the Ukrainians going in to see just how bad the
damage is. And we're also hearing horrific stories of murders, of war crimes, of rapes in these villages. And there are many villages where
people's loved ones are still missing. They were taken by Russian soldiers, and they have no idea where they are. Eleni?
GIOKOS: Yes. And look, today is Victory Day in Russia. And what we've been, you know, we were hoping would listen dissipating to hear Vladimir Putin
either committing to saying and calling this an outright war, or at least, you know, declaring some kind of victory, at least a definitive answer of
where this could be headed. And we actually didn't see that messaging coming through but rather him reiterating his overall stance on the special
military operation in terms of what he's been calling us.
And of course, interestingly, also mentioning a few cities in Ukraine that in terms of where he sees it now as Russian territory. Is anything that
you've read into Putin's messaging from today?
SIDNER: Look, I think people here have said, you can't believe the words coming out of his mouth, you can only believe his actions. And oftentimes
they say, look, when you think he's going to do something, he's a sly person, he will turn around and do the opposite. But the truth is, is that
there is a war here, no matter what he calls it, and he has not conquered this country. He has tried to take over parts of the country but this
country is quite resilient and they are fighting back with all they have. Eleni?
GIOKOS: Sara Sidner, thank you very much for that insight. Good to see you. Now, Senior International Correspondent Matthew Chance is in Moscow. And I
do want to remind viewers that Russia has introduced strict laws regarding how the conflict in Ukraine is described. And there's also prohibited the
broadcasts of information. It regards as false. Matthew, good to see you. What stood out to you about Putin's speech this morning?
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I mean, I think what stood out, Eleni, is the fact that he didn't say any of the things
that it was anticipated he would say.
[10:10:03]
CHANCE: I mean, look, I mean this was a, you know, a widely anticipated event because it was speculated that Vladimir Putin was going to use this
as an opportunity to make some important pronouncement on the conflicts in Ukraine, which Russia, of course, calls a special military operation,
perhaps make a formal declaration of war on Ukraine. Perhaps -- and that's some kind of mobilization of forces because the military campaign has not
gone as the Russians we believe anticipated it would go.
It is encountering some problems. They need more forces to push along if Russia was going to achieve sort of any of the military objectives that it
set out at the beginning of this campaign. But, you know, Vladimir Putin didn't do that. He didn't say any of those things, he held back from it.
But what we were shown though is, you know, as we are every year, a pretty spectacular display of Russian military power, and of pomp and ceremony.
Eleven thousand troops marching and step across the cobbles of Red Square, followed by armored columns of tanks and personnel carriers and rocket
launchers. Even the Intercontinental ballistic nuclear missiles which are, you know, quite sort of dreadful, really and terrifying to see trundling
across the center of the Russian -- the Russian capital. But again, you know, we didn't get any indication really about what Vladimir Putin plans
to do in this special military operation in Ukraine.
But equally, there was no indication that Vladimir Putin was trying to -- was looking like he was prepared to back off it. I mean, to the contrary,
he was consistently drawing parallels between the battle to defeat Nazism, you know, 19 -- in the 1940s, Nazi Germany 1940s and the conflict that is
taking place right now in Ukraine.
GIOKOS: Matthew Chance, thank you so very much for that update. All right. So French president Emmanuel Macron says he's in favor of a new entity
called the political European community and that would allow nations to join, "European core values," even if they're not E.U. members. He just
wrapped up a speech in Strasbourg, France at the end of the Europe's Future Conference.
In his speech, Mr. Macron expressed the need for a stronger, more sovereign Europe. And that wasn't the only key gathering in Europe. Several leaders
including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were in Warsaw for a donor conference on Ukraine. And this comes a day after Mr. Trudeau officially
reopened the Canadian Embassy in Kyiv and announced more military assistance to Ukraine.
We're covering both of these issues, key events for you. Jim Bittermann is in Paris for us. And we've got Nic Robertson joining us from Helsinki in
Finland. Nic, I want to start off with you, seeing Prime Minister Trudeau, you know, commitments and the G7 commitment generally, with regards to
assisting Ukraine, it's been quite phenomenal to see the visits. And a lot has been read into this in terms of how much they willing to do to give
Zelenskyy what he needs to win this war?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: They they're giving him the military equipment to hold ground right now. But they're giving him the
prospect of time. And that's very important, because it is going to take time to fight this war. That's what President Putin is making clear that he
has no intention of backing down. So what Zelenskyy needs is that longer- term commitment from the G7 to help with the finances of the country.
To help Zelenskyy actually run the country, nevermind fight a war on top of it because of course the economy is utterly crippled at the moment. So, he
gets those two gifts is a strong word to say. But that's the support. That's what the G7 was outlining. We heard as well over the weekend from
Justin Trudeau as you're saying visiting Kyiv at the weekend, getting shown around visiting the -- some of the scenes of where the alleged war crimes
take place.
And he was asked about his assessment of President Putin's current position on Ukraine and Trudeau said quite clearly, Putin is out of touch, doesn't
understand what's happening. This is how he framed it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JUSTIN TRUDEAU, PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA: I don't think much matters what Putin says anymore. He has demonstrated that he does not have a clear
understanding of what's going on. He so profoundly miscalculated by not understanding the extent to which Ukrainians would fight like the heroes
they are to defend their language, identity, their territory.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: But Putin's misunderstanding as Justin Trudeau frames it there is the basis of his propaganda.
[10:15:00]
ROBERTSON: And that was another thing that the G7 said it would do -- would crack down on Russian disinformation. So that analysis that President Putin
may have that Justin Trudeau and everyone else points to as being wrong and invalid in the current context, the G7 committing to give a counter
narrative to help Ukraine.
GIOKOS: Nic Robertson, thank you so very much for that insights. Jim Bittermann is standing by for us in Paris. It was really interesting to
hear Macron's, you know, talking about a new Europe, so to speak, or political, European community and being in favor of that, what would that
mean? Are we talking about ushering in a new era for what it means to be part of the E.U.?
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I'm not sure I put too much into that. I was struck mostly by the words that most -- Mr.
Putin and Mr. Macron use, both spoke of duty, and a either using the word correctly or misusing it. But, of course, for Putin, it was a duty to
defend the fatherland that he believes includes part of Ukraine. Or as for Macron, it's a duty to defend European values, very different take on what
this holiday of the Veterans Day and the -- it's the end of Europe, end of World War II of what it means in Europe on both sides of the line.
And here's a little bit of a flavor of what he said in his remarks, the kind of taste of what he believes about the future of Ukraine.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
EMMANUEL MACRON, PRESIDENT OF FRANCE (through translator): What is our goal, faced with a unilateral decision of Russia to invade Ukraine, and
aggress its people to ensure this war concludes, as soon as possible to do everything to ensure that Ukraine will survive. Russia will never win.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BITTERMANN: And he said that, in fact, at some point, when this war is over, that they're going to have to get Ukraine and Russia around the table
and negotiate a peace. And Macron, who is known to be a great student of history taught a little history at his news conference following that
basically, he said. It's important to remember that it was the humiliation exclusion of the enemy, big Germany after World War I that laid the
groundwork for the beginning of World War II. So, basically saying we shouldn't make the same mistake twice. Eleni?
GIOKOS: A lot of history lessons, I have to say from world leaders. The question is, are we learning from the lessons of the past? Jim Bittermann,
thank you so very much for joining us. All right. So, the U.N. Secretary General says he's appalled by a Russian airstrike on a school in eastern
Ukraine that was being used as a shelter. Dozens of people, including children are feared dead. Sam Kiley spoke to some of the survivors.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KILEY: This for Vladimir Putin is what a modern Russian victory looks like. Dozens dead or missing from a Russian airstrike on a Russian-speaking
village, as part of a Russian campaign that Putin says is to protect his kinfolk in Ukraine. The rescue is a saying the heats overwhelming. Local
authorities fear about 60 people died here.
This was a school in Bilohorivka in eastern Ukraine. Villages were sheltering in its basement. Some had been there for weeks, survivors were
left with little but grief. We asked if his family had been with him. His mother didn't survive.
KILEY (on camera): It is not lost on anybody here that on the eve of Vladimir Putin celebration of the Soviet victory in the Second World War
over Nazi Germany. It is civilians who were suffering the most in the name of Vladimir Putin's denazification of Ukraine. A country with a Jewish
president.
KILEY (voice over): But a really revelatory, I got slammed down by a slab bent into a ball. Then another explosion small rock sprinkle of darkness.
Then I looked and the dust settled in a ray of light appeared. Sergey crawled out and then he dug me out, dug uncle Talia out, dug Aunt Ira out.
We crawled all in a fog, he said. Ukraine has stalled Russia's plans for conquest. So the Kremlin's added strategic sites like oil supplies to its
target list, and stepped up its airstrikes against civilians in eastern Ukraine.
This week hitting a residential block in the strategic city of Kramatorsk. Ukrainian politicians refer to Putin's campaign ideology as a fascist
creed, they call racism.
Speaking soon after the latest airstrike, he said they shoot prisoners, they torture women and children, they rape, they loot. They go step by step
towards Nazism.
[10:20:03]
KILEY: Such explanations for what is happening here don't really answer the painful question. Why?
Sam Kiley, CNN, Bakhmut.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GIOKOS: Ahead on the show. Shanghai titans it's severe COVID locked down even further. That's all coming up. Stay with CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GIOKOS: Welcome back in this new political uncertainty in Sri Lanka now after Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa announced his resignation a few
hours ago, it follows weeks of protests against his government over his handling of Sri Lanka's worst economic crisis since independence in 1948.
And nationwide curfew has been imposed after violence broke out between protesters and supporters of the ruling party.
Now Selina Wang is incoming in southwestern China.
We're going to be focusing on the story in China at this moment in time, we want to bring to your attention that 31 Chinese cities are under full or
partial lockdown and seeing it, this is, you know, incredible to hear that millions of people are currently experiencing lockdown across China. This
is not only of major concern in terms of what it means economically, but the social impact must be extraordinary.
SELINA WANG, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And Eleni, in Shanghai, people have been locked in their homes for one some people more than two
months and still there is no end in sight ticking a huge psychological mental health (INAUDIBLE) people. People getting more desperate and angry.
And just last week Chinese leader Xi Jinping he doubled down on the zero COVID policy, even warning punishment for anybody who questions this policy
because zero COVID in China now is not just about COVID. It's also about loyalty to the party, loyalty to China's supreme leader.
So, since those statements from Xi Jinping, we have seen restrictions ramp up in Shanghai even though the COVID reported case numbers are coming down
every single day. Now in Shanghai, every single positive COVID case has to be sent to a government quarantine facility. Many of those are in very poor
and unsanitary condition. But now even some people who test negative for COVID are being sent to these quarantine facilities.
In fact, some entire apartment compounds are all being forced out of their homes sent to quarantine just over one positive COVID case. Some
neighborhoods in strict lockdown are also now banning people from placing orders online, to get food and daily essentials. That is sparking new fear
about food shortages. And we're seeing increasing clashes between residents and police in one apartment compound.
You can see in this video the residents are storming out of their apartment gate clashing with the security workers in hazmat suits.
[10:25:06]
WANG: This fight broke out over disputes about food supplies. You can even see some of the security workers beating the residents down to the ground,
a huge mental health impact for the people of Shanghai here, Eleni.
GIOKOS: Alright. Selina, thank you so very much. I want to take a look at what the markets in the U.S. are doing right now. And of course, we had a
very volatile last few days of the week after the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates late last week. Let's take a look to see what the markets
are doing at this point in time. As you can see, the Dow Jones is down 1.4 percent.
The NASDAQ taking a 2.7 percent knock and the S&P 500 down.
Over two percent in Europe also a red picture. And over in Asia, Shanghai Composite up slightly, but overall, a very red day. And this is really got
to do with investors starting to price in. What it means to see an end to the easing cycle. That of course has been boosting markets for such a long
time. We're heading into a period of uncertainty. And people are really concerned about a possible recession in the United States.
So, major roller coaster for U.S. markets and possibly for the rest of the world as well. All right, coming up now Vladimir Putin marks Russia's
victory over the Nazis. What did we learn from that speech about the war his waging in Ukraine? That's coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GIOKOS: Welcome back. I'm Eleni Giokos in Dubai. And you're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. Pride, patriotism and power as Russian wages war in
Ukraine, the country marked its 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany, Victory Day. It's an important holiday in Russia. President Vladimir Putin drew
parallels with the current conflict baselessly blaming it on Western aggressors. But his speech was notable for what he didn't say.
He didn't give any sign he was planning to step up the walk or back down for that matter. A planned military air show was canceled. Russia blame the
weather. Across the border, Ukraine says Russia bombed a school over the weekend where civilians were taking shelter. 60 people are feared dead. The
U.N. Secretary General called the attack appalling. So, what can we glean from Putin's comments?
CNN Contributor and former Moscow Bureau Chief Jill Dougherty been following Russia for decades. She is now with Georgetown University. Jill,
really good to see you. I think there was a sense dissipation that we would have some kind of definitive line on where Putin is planning to take this
war. It was either going to be victory or more aggression.
[10:30:07]
GIOKOS: And yet he just really repeated the narrative and the story that he's been building up to Russians since the start of this war. But one
analyst said he actually mentioned a few Ukrainian towns and cities. And we should actually read quite a bit into that. But what did you think was
important from Putin speech today?
JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN FOREIGN AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Well, I do agree that it was interesting. In fact, there was one picture that I saw, President Putin
in front of the -- they have these eternal flames. And it was to Khiv, you know, the city that, of course, is in the center of our attention right
now. So, you know, this is really working with a lot of images. This is a very emotional, very deep holiday for Russians, certainly filled with
happiness, about victory, but also a lot of sadness about the people who died.
So, those were the images that the president was trying to kind of channel with the Russian people. And I looked at it as more of a pep talk for the
Russian people to continue with this, that it is very important, he linked World War II and the fight against Nazis to what he claims, which is not
correct that not -- that Ukraine is a fascist, Nazi state. But he linked that or tried to saying that the -- you are fighting for the Motherland so
the lessons of World War II will not be forgotten.
And in fact, he said that there were troops from Ukraine, who were fighting Russian troops, who were right there on Red Square as the parade happened.
But I do think it was also a strangely almost negative speech, I think, Eleni. And the reason I say that is because there was a lot of this feeling
that -- and the president said this, we had to do this. This -- and he would never call it war.
But this conflict, we had to defend ourselves that NATO was trying to push up to our borders, and you and even attack. And Ukraine, he claimed, was
trying to develop nuclear weapons. So, there was a lot it was kind of, you know, we have to do this. We don't want to do it, but we had to do it. And
last thing, I'll say, is he -- President Putin definitely talked about the victims, you know, Russian soldiers who are dying because of this war.
He didn't give any numbers. But he did say, every time we lose somebody, it's very painful. And significantly, he said, no, this is a message to the
Russian people. We're going to help those families, especially their children.
GIOKOS: Yes. I mean, it's so fascinating. You mentioned the parallels that Vladimir Putin draws. And we know that some of the bloodiest battles during
World War II were, you know, for example, the Battle of Stalingrad, for example. So, there was enormous loss of life over that period, and then
join that parallel to what we're seeing today. Many people saying, of course, that it is baseless that, you know, denazifying Ukraine isn't based
on any facts.
But is there anything else that we should be reading into in terms of what Putin strategy could be, you know, specifically going forward in Ukraine?
DOUGHERTY: You know, I think the lack of something very specific, is significant, because obviously, the -- if the President Putin had been able
to claim victory, he would have done it, I think, but he was not able to do that. So, what he did was kind of say, you know, we have acquitted
ourselves, Well, we are fighting the way they fought in World War II. But he's leaving the door open, I think, to further fighting. And this -- I'm
convinced will continue.
And he also made references in there, and you almost have to read it, word by word, but claims to the territory Donbas, Crimea and others that the
Russians control is Russian land, you know, our men are fighting on our land. Well, actually, technically, that is Ukraine. Russia would look at it
differently, but technically it is. So he is laying claim to those lands. And I think he could expand that if he wanted to. That he would continue to
try to lay claim to other parts of Ukraine.
GIOKOS: So, from what we understand in terms of what Putin would and would not do, is that he would not admit defeat, because it would be absolutely
way too humiliating. He would want enough victory so that he could declare victory. And we're seeing a lot of activity for example, in the Black Sea
at the moment. The battle for Mariupol is currently still on the go with sort of one resistance that's going through at the moment.
And then his mention of NATO and constantly talking about that was one of the big issues that forced his hand basically.
[10:3502]
GIOKOS: And it was interesting to see him still building up that narrative.
DOUGHERTY: Yes. It's very important though, Eleni. I think that was the other thing that I took away from this. It was not just, you know, conflict
in Ukraine, or anything -- or World War II even. What he was talking about is the end of the Soviet Union. And what he says is America's desire and an
attempt to humiliate the world. That is what he said to humiliate the world. He also talked about, you know, the attempt by the United States and
NATO to expand toward Russia.
You know, I think here you have his attempt to say this fight is not just against Ukraine, because if it were just against Ukraine, he would be
humiliating to say that you can't defeat a country that is much smaller and weaker than you are. So, he had to expand it, I think to make the case to
the Russian people that this is really NATO. This is really the West, the United States and we are in a battle with them.
GIOKOS: Jill, really good to see you. Thank you so very much for shedding light on these issues. Much appreciated. All right. So during a trip to
Ukraine, European Council President Charles Michel was forced to take shelter in Odessa earlier today as Russian missiles struck the region. He
was having a video meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. And speaking with the Ukrainian Prime Minister about the E.U.'s ongoing
support, it is full of logic.
That is how the European Union's top diplomat is describing his suggestion to the E.U. Josep Borrell says the bloc should consider using frozen
Russian reserves to rebuild Ukraine once the war is over. Now, in an interview with The Financial Times the E.U.'s foreign policy chief says and
I quote, we have the money in our pockets and someone has to explain to me why it is good for the Afghan money and not good for the Russian money.
CNN's Anna Stewart joins us live from London. Anna, great to see you. How would this work and putting this money to work essentially to help rebuild
or assist Ukraine?
ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's an interesting measure, and one that has got support over recent weeks from the E.U. leaders and also
people in the U.S. as well. It is full of logic perhaps, but logic and legality don't always go hand in hand. And it's considered that this
measure would face huge legal hurdles and fat because while these assets are frozen, they remain Russian property and under -- existing legislation
in various jurisdictions, you can freeze the assets, but it's highly unlikely you would actually be able to liquidate them.
And that's something that the US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen actually spoke about in recent weeks, saying this is a measure that would need to be
done in coordination with allies, and it may require new laws. Now, Josep Burrell also mentioned Afghanistan as a precedent. And he's right. In
recent months, the U.S. President Joe Biden signed an executive order holding back billions of dollars worth of Afghans. Central bank reserves to
be used for the people of Afghanistan, but also for litigation regarding September 11th.
Now that decision was considered highly controversial, not least given the fact that Afghans economy faces collapse at this stage. But also the
situations are incredibly different. The U.S. is not in a direct war with Russia. And Russia's government certainly hasn't collapsed as it did in
Afghanistan. Legal experts suggest perhaps the easiest and quickest way to release Russian assets to help with the rebuilding of Ukraine would be for
the government or -- for individuals to actively sue Russia. Again, though, that does take time. Eleni?
GIOKOS: Yes, absolutely. All of these things take time. I'm curious about the assets of oligarchs, and whether that can be on the table. And I'm sure
you're going to say that, you know, we've got the same legal issues that we'd have to contend with.
STEWART: Well, there's always different legal issues, and it would actually almost be more complicated. And this is something lots of people have
spoken about. We've got super jet, super yachts, big houses being seized all over the world, why not use those assets to help people in Ukraine, but
not only has it been incredibly hard actually to prove which oligarchy owns what because none of these transactions have been in any way transparent it
would appear.
But also you would actually have a burden of proof there, you would have to prove that money used to buy those assets was a bit obtained illegally or
it was in some way directly related to criminal activity. So, I think that would be even more difficult than using frozen central bank assets. Eleni?
GIOKOS: Yes. Anna Stewart, thank you very much. Appreciate it. All right. So, coming up. Formula One takes on the United States. The inaugural Miami
Grand Prix lives up to the hype, at least in terms of celebrity attendees.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:42:14]
GIOKOS: A surprise concerts in a metro station that doubles as a bomb shelter in Kyiv.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GIOKOS: Thankfully, there was no shelling to be heard only music performed by Bono from the rock band U2 and his bandmates, the edge of the two. We're
joined by Ukrainian pop star to sing the song Stand By Me. Meanwhile, Bono and the edge also visited neighborhoods near Kyiv that were damaged in the
fighting between Russian forces and the Ukrainian army.
All right. So Miami hosted its first Formula One Grand Prix this weekend. Dutch driver Max Verstappen took victory, but it was the celebrities in the
grandstands who stole the show. Like tennis greats Serena Williams, former footballer David Beckham and basketball legend Michael Jordan. World Sport
Anchor Christina MacFarlane joins me now. Great to see you. Besides the results of the race, also exciting it seems that the wider question here
has Formula One crack the United States?
CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN SENIOR SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Oh, well, I think on the evidence of what we saw, Eleni, yes. This was the hottest ticket in
town. As you can see, there were some 85,000 fans that turned out for this event but it was really the celebrity buzz that set it apart. You know not
something often seen in Formula One. We had Hollywood royalty, music royalty sporting legends. All jostling for position down there on the grid.
So it's safe to say that I think this is firmly going to be a fixture moving forward. Very popular it was indeed and a fantastic race to boot.
GIOKOS: All right. So we're going to focus on the sport right after the short break. Thank you so much, Christina.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WORLD SPORT)
[11:00:00]
END
