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First Move with Julia Chatterley

U.N. Chief Appeals for Peace, Holds talks with Putin, Lavrov; U.N. Chief in Moscow for Talks with Putin, Lavrov; U.S., Allies hold Meeting to Expand Military Aid for Ukraine; U.N Chief Meeting Russian Leadership in Moscow; The Toll of Conflict on Ukraine's Animals; Elon Musk to Buy Twitter in $44B Deal. Aired 09-10a ET

Aired April 26, 2022 - 09:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[09:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PAULA NEWTON, CNN HOST, FIRST MOVE: And a warm welcome to everyone. You are watching CNN. I'm Paula Newton in New York. And we begin of course, with

the latest on the war in Ukraine and high stakes diplomacy underway in Moscow at this hour.

Russian President Vladimir Putin preparing to meet the UN Secretary General who says he comes to Moscow as a messenger of peace now after face to face

talks with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Antonio Guterres, again called for an immediate suspension of hostilities.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANTONIO GUTERRES, U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL: But it is my deep conviction that the sooner we end this war, the better for the people of Ukraine, for the

people of the Russian Federation, and those far beyond. The United Nations has repeatedly called for a ceasefire to protect civilians and to

facilitate a political dialogue to reach a solution. So far, that has not been possible. Today across the Donbas a violent battle is underway with

tremendous deaths and destruction.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: Now for his part Lavrov accused Ukraine of being uninterested in serious negotiations adding that if that continues, talks are not likely to

be productive and so the fighting goes on. The Ukrainian nuclear energy company now says two cruise missiles flew over this Zaporizhzhia power

plant at low altitude goes without saying it's very dangerous later authority said two guided missiles were fired into the city a third missile

exploded in the air and one person was killed.

In Luhansk meantime, new drone video shows the village of Novotoshkivske completely destroyed by recent fighting. I mean look at those images,

barely anything standing. And after weeks of occupying Kherson Russian troops have taken control of the city council there.

The Mayor says armed men took the keys and replaced Ukrainian guards with their own. And now to the mayor of Mariupol who says a third mass grave has

been found near the city. Now he says Russians made locals work for hours on those graves in exchange for food and water.

We have been unable to verify those latest claims. And a short time ago the UN Secretary General called for an investigation into claims of those war

crimes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GUTERRES: I'm concerned about repeated reports of violations of international humanitarian and human rights law and possible war crimes.

And they require independent investigation for effective accountability.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: CNN Correspondent Scott McLean is in Lviv for us and he's been following all the latest developments. We just heard those allegations

profoundly disturbing right, Scott? I mean a situation where you're digging graves of the residents there for food and water. What more do we know?

SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey Paula, yes, not the first accusation of mass graves in around Mariupol. But certainly the most disturbing of the

allegations we've heard thus far. So the allegation being made by the Mariupol City Council is that these mass graves, as they say, are just in a

village just to the north of the Mariupol city limits.

They say that satellite images show that at the end of March, you could see the graves beginning to be dug. Then later in early April, they were

partially filled over and then expanded. And then in late April, not long ago, they had reached some 200 meters long collectively.

As you mentioned, CNN can't verify that this is in fact a mass grave. But the most disturbing accusation is that people were essentially working to

dig those graves local people working to dig those graves in exchange for food and for water.

Two other accusations had been made previously about mass graves in villages to the east and to the west of Mariupol. Again, CNN can't confirm

those either. The situation in Mariupol is obviously desperate. It has been that way for some time.

People have been trying to find any way that they can to get out of the city but many of those people we know Paula have been pushed toward Russian

territory. Just on Saturday Ukrainians accused Russia of tricking some 200 people into evacuating Mariupol into Russian held territory when they

believe they were going to go in the opposite direction.

[09:05:00]

MCLEAN: And then late last week, there were a group of people more than 300 of them who showed up in Siberia for Mariupol that in particular is

bringing up some memories and painful memories of Soviet era forced relocations, where people were political dissidents, all kinds of people

were essentially uprooted from their homes and forcibly sent to sparsely populated parts of the Soviet Union.

And I spoke with one survivor of those forced deportations or forced relocations from Estonia, who was taken from his home in Estonia, then part

of the Soviet Union to Siberia as a child and he said he sees plenty of parallels between his story and what's happening in Ukraine today listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MCLEAN (on camera): What has been the lasting impact of this experience on your life?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I lost my childhood. I had to remain myself in a foreign and hostile environment.

MCLEAN (on camera): Do you see any parallels with what's happening today?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was sure that nothing like this could ever happen again. But what has happened in Ukraine has brought these painful memories

back very vividly. It's unbelievable that time hasn't changed anything at all. Evil has become even worse with my whole soul I feel for Ukrainians

who are taken violently against their will from their homes, to the unknown.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCLEAN: Now, Paula, it's not clear how many people have been pushed into Russian territory. I've met some people who've had that experience and then

managed to make it back into Europe. But the threat of being pushed in that direction is undoubtedly hampering efforts to evacuate people.

You remember, just yesterday, the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine rejected a Russian ceasefire proposal to get people out of that sprawling steel

plant because she said the Russian simply could not be trusted to keep their word. If there is any glimmer of hope it's that the UN Secretary

General said that he would like to see a situation where representatives from the United Nations and the Red Cross on the ground could help

facilitate humanitarian corridors to get people out of Mariupol Paula.

NEWTON: Yes, it is so heartbreaking. The day after day we talk about Mariupol and still nothing being done to get any humanitarian help there

Scott McLean appreciate the latest update. And as we have been saying UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is in Moscow at this hour meeting with

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, here's the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GUTERRES: According to the Russian Federation, what is taking place is a special military operation with objectives that were announced. According

to the UN in line with resolutions passed by the General Assembly, Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a violation of its territorial integrity, and

against the charted of United Nations.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: Guterres we should note is also scheduled to meet of course with Vladimir Putin in the next hour. We will bring you the latest on that. To

bring us up to date on what's gone on in Moscow so far Nic Robertson now joins us with more details. Nic, the Secretary-General said in this visit

that he is looking to, in his words lay the groundwork for dialogue.

But, you know, I was just saying those humanitarian concerns remain in Mariupol. And yet, you know, the Secretary-General being criticized for

what is essentially unfolding right? Ukrainian officials said we do not expect anything to come of this and given what Lavrov just said in the

press conference, they may be right.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: There's so much that's been said that tells you so much about what's going to - what is going to

happen. The reality for Mariupol, it's not in Russia's strategic interest to cede any element of what's happening there.

We've heard President Putin in the past they seal it off so that not even a gnat, not even a fly can get in their way, quite simply. It's not in

Russia's strategic interests. Because to have any humanitarian effort there, and to open a corridor that might just allow the Ukrainian forces to

hold on and keep some territory there.

This would be the Russian perspective would be counter to what Russia is trying to achieve, which is to take control utterly of Mariupol and the sea

all the way in this sort of land bridge to Crimea. What did we hear at the meeting today?

We heard Sergey Lavrov saying that Guterres was coming at a very hard time. You know, in the Kremlin parlance, this essentially is Moscow saying, this

is a hard time there are problems coming out of Ukraine. It's almost as if the Kremlin doesn't feel that they have a responsibility for the war for

the situation.

Guterres is walk into a very tough diplomatic place. And as you said, President Zelenskyy in Ukraine criticized him for going to Moscow - for

going to Moscow first because what President Zelenskyy said was look come to Ukraine.

[09:10:00]

ROBERTSON: Come and go to Bucha. Come and look at the places where war crimes have been committed, come see the evidence, take that. Take that

into these detailed meetings that you're having in Moscow, remembering, of course, that the Austrian Chancellor took his meetings in that order.

We know that others have done the same as well, that they've gone to see what's happening in Ukraine. And then they've had their telephone

conversations with President Putin, other European leaders Michelle, the most recent European Council President went to Kyiv had a phone call a

couple of days later with President Putin.

They've all sort of taken on board that evidence and that's of war crimes. And that's really the thrust of what President Zelenskyy was criticizing

Guterres of. But you know everyone has an interest here in peace and the humanitarian situation in Mariupol is at the priority and forefront of that

at the moment to get but to get to your original point.

I think expectations of the reality of any type of peace anytime soon, utterly unrealistic, because there are still military advantages to be

tested and tried for on the ground. Russia to gain more ground Ukraine to hold them back and even push Russia back. We're not near yet. It seems a

realistic path to peace.

NEWTON: Yes, to say the least, as we said, we'll continue to bring you more news in the next hour as Guterres meets with Vladimir Putin. In the

meantime, Nic Robertson, thank you I appreciate that update.

We want to take a look now on those stock markets and how they're doing around the world. Yes, more headlines from Asia. The Shanghai market closed

lower for a second day in a row falling 1.4 percent of course there are the concerns about the growing impact of continuing COVID-19 lockdowns on

China's economy. We will have a live report from China for you coming up.

Meantime, European markets are trading higher as you can see there. In the U.S. stock futures pointing to a lower open on Wall Street. Morgan Stanley

is warning its clients of a potential bear market saying investors have very few places to hide right now. I will add they will probably hide in

the safe haven of higher interest rates. So continue to watch the markets there.

Meantime, the world's richest man is about to be in charge of one of the most influential social media companies in the world. So what does Elon

Musk's multibillion dollar deal mean for its users and its employees? Rahel Solomon has been following this since the news broke. Rahel, you know, he's

got it now. So what's he going to do with it?

RAHEL SOLOMON, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Paula yes, good to be with you. So we have a few hints from Elon Musk himself. New features, that's

likely, perhaps a subscription model. He has said that he wants to authenticate humans. Ban the bots.

We spoke about this yesterday, Paula; also, he will have to figure out how to monetize Twitter?

He has said that his bid wasn't exactly a way to make money off of Twitter. But we know that he has $21 billion of his own wealth on the line, in

addition to that financing from Wall Street heavyweights.

So how to get that money back to those lenders, and of course, make his own money back will be important. And freer speech, this is sort of the

lightning rod of this story of this conversation. You know, Twitter has been called before a very divisive and toxic platform.

And they've sort of enacted certain measures to make that less so and to encourage healthy discourse. And so what does free speech mean? And that's

really the question I think, that a lot of people are wrestling with Paula.

NEWTON: Yes. And a lot of free speech groups here in the United States falling on one side of the anti-Defamation League here as well, also saying

that this may be a dangerous development if he wants a freer public square. Rahel, there has been a lot of reaction, though, not just to the deal, but

what it might mean going forward.

SOLOMON: Yes, and just to your point, even the ACLU weighing in, of course, a huge proponent of free speech, tweeting. We should be worried about any

powerful central actor, whether it's a government or any wealthy individual, even if it is an ACLU member having so much control over the

boundaries of our political speech online, also fellow billionaire.

And also owner of The Washington Post, Jeff Bezos weighing in tweeting yesterday interesting question did the Chinese government just gain a bit

of leverage over the town square? Of course, a reference to Tesla's Shanghai factory and Elon Musk's relationship with Chinese officials and a

reference to Elon Musk tweet about Twitter becoming a digital town square.

So lots of questions, lots of concerns, but we do know he also has one very influential supporter in his corner. That would be Jack Dorsey, Co-Founder

of Twitter and Former CEO pointing out and tweeting in part, I trust his mission to extend the light of consciousness. That's a pretty tall order

there the light of consciousness Paula.

NEWTON: Yes. Rahel, it's almost like I don't know if that was a yoga term or a term to describe Twitter on what's going on right now? But obviously

interesting hours and days ahead I appreciate you staying on top of it.

[09:15:00]

NEWTON: Now, we want to go to the stories making headlines now around the world. Beijing is scrambling to contain its latest COVID-19 outbreak. The

city reported on around two dozen local cases over the last 24 hours. I know what you're thinking it's not a lot but officials are conducting

repeat COVID tests on millions of people and imposing new lockdowns and restrictions.

David Culver in Shanghai, which for weeks has been under one of the strictest lockdowns that China has ever imposed. David, you are also under

that lockdown. Is there any clear indication at this point of China's strategy, right?

Because you have been telling us for so long about the problems with food, medicine, health care when you're in lockdown, but now there is the specter

of Beijing and other cities and towns that may be under these lockdowns in the days to come.

DAVID CULVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That is the most frustrating aspect of all of this Paula is the question of what's the end game. Where are we going

with this? Because we have seen so many different policies rolled out here and in Shanghai, admittedly, it has been mismanaged, there's been chaos.

It's something that has really had an impact on most every resident living here in the city of more than 25 million people.

And so if that's been lingering now for well over a month, because officially yes, the hard lockdown started April 1st for the entire city.

But before that, for several weeks, many of us were ended up rolling lock downs, and had a lot of restrictions. And so we thought that was going to

be the worst of it then came the hard lockdown.

Now there are indications of a timeline and a roadmap to get out. But the timeline isn't specific. There are not a lot of details. And so people are

really in this place of uncertainty. And I think that is creating more and more anxiety here as well.

If you look at Beijing too, you have to wonder how they are going to approach this in the capital city. Perhaps they're going to scramble and

they're going to do a similar city wide lockdown. Perhaps they're going to eventually expand it so that they're continuously testing people day after

day.

We've had relentless PCR tests here to the point where most of last count. And so if they go that strategy, of course, Beijing will see the same

problems with the zero COVID policy that is endorsed by President Xi Jinping.

However, if they are able to control it, at least through the official narrative, and they're not going to the extent of a city wide lockdown and

if they are able to keep food supply strong and keep people with the basic necessities, then they'll likely use that as the prime example of what

Shanghai should have done, Paula, so they'll again push that on to the local officials for having messed up this situation.

NEWTON: Yes, and we'll have to leave it there for now. But suffice to say your herculean efforts there to try and make this lockdown a little bit

more bearable, and also to keep the economy going. David Culver for us in Shanghai appreciates it.

Now North Korea's Leader has pledged to strengthen his country's nuclear force at the highest possible speed. Kim Jong-Un made the remarks at a

military parade where some of Pyongyang's most powerful weapons were on display. South Korea says it is monitoring the activities of the north and

is calling for peace and diplomacy.

OK coming up for us, a policy reversal Germany saying it will send anti- aircraft tanks to Ukraine the latest on NATO's efforts to bolster military support next. Plus, we'll have much more on Musk's Twitter takeover could

the platform become a subscription service under the world's richest man we'll discuss.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:20:00]

NEWTON: Welcome back! Germany is announcing it will deliver anti-aircraft tanks to Ukraine. The U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is at this hour

holding a meeting with defense officials from about 40 nations to expand military support for Ukraine, listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LLOYD AUSTIN, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY: My Ukrainian friends we know the burden that you all carry. And we know and you should know that all of us

have your back. And that's why we're here today to strengthen the arsenal of Ukrainian democracy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: Joining us now Former U.S. Ambassador to NATO Ivo Daalder. He's also President of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and really good to

have you in here with the new headlines. We're going to go straight to those headlines with Lavrov saying this is in fact a proxy war with NATO.

And he again, it won't surprise you brought up the nuclear issue and saying, look, we are very close to this escalating or perhaps becoming a

nuclear conflict. How do you see his comments?

IVO DAALDER, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO NATO: Well, you know, none of this would be even happening unless Russia invaded Ukraine. And that is the

fundamental problem that I think we're seeing happening over as a result.

So if there is a war or a proxy war, because Russia invaded Ukraine, if there is escalation, it is because Russia decides to escalate, had Russia

not invaded, we wouldn't be where we are. And the result is that if we listened to Mr. Lavrov or from Mr. Putin, they would be able to occupy all

of Ukraine, and have designs on further expansion.

That's why it's important for us to stand up with the Ukrainians; to provide them with the means to defend themselves in Ukraine, before this

gets any further out of hand, because of the designs that Russia has, not only in Ukraine, but frankly, on the rest of Europe as well.

NEWTON: Do you think the resolve of the West is pivoting here? Do you think we're seeing a different stage of this in terms of how far they are willing

to go to arm and help Ukraine?

DAALDER: Yes, I think things are changing. And we already went in terms of the escalating on sanctions over the last few weeks, a coming together of

Europe, and the United States and our allies in the west.

It really in disgust of what the Russians have been doing. The kinds of pictures we saw coming out of Bucha. The unrelenting bombing of civilian

targets, particularly in Mariupol, but everywhere else really has stiffened the spine of the West.

And then of course, the Ukrainians have demonstrated a remarkable capability of defending themselves and even defeating Russian advances

around Kyiv and other places. And so there's now this belief that if we can provide the Ukrainians with sufficient means, with the kind of heavy

weapons that are being talked about today, in Germany at the meeting that you just mentioned that Secretary Austin has confirmed that, in fact, not

only can we help Ukraine stop the Russian advance, but actually push them back.

And there is this sense now that there is an opportunity not just to reestablish sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, but weakening Russia

for the long term. So we'll never again be in a position to do what it did on February 24, and invade a country that post absolutely no threat to

Russia.

NEWTON: I know that's the goal, but I'm wondering how realistic that is? I mean, as you've been speaking, we've been showing pictures of the

devastation in Ukraine. Ukraine, as you know, bearing a huge cost for this. And yet you write that look, NATO should go further not you know, only

including countries perhaps like Finland and Sweden, but also allowing Ukraine in.

You know some argue that's far too provocative and that we need a more imaginative security architecture that perhaps won't provoke Russia as

much.

[09:25:00]

NEWTON: I take your point that this is on Russia. And yet we seem to have very little leverage to change things on the ground right now in Ukraine.

DAALDER: Well, the leverage we have is sending the weapons that we are sending, and that is making a tremendous difference on the situation on the

ground. Russia clearly has not succeeded in its initial goal, which was to overthrow the Ukrainian government and basically control what was happening

in Ukraine.

It has now scaled back its immediate ambitions to the east, where in fact that it has been fighting the Ukrainians for the past eight years. And I

think the lesson we now learned is that countries that are part of NATO are likely to be far more secure than countries they're not.

It's a lesson that the people in Finland and Sweden have come to a conclusion. Sweden has been a neutral and independent country for over 200

years. And now, we've seen that they think that the Russian threat is such that they can only be secured to be part of NATO.

If the Russian threat were to disappear, if Vladimir Putin were no longer in power, if his regime, no longer controlling what is happening in Russia,

then of course, you want a new security system, one that embraces Russia and the Russian people, and make sure that we are all secure by living

peacefully together.

But we can't get there if we allow Vladimir Putin to succeed in Ukraine, because if he succeeds there, its ambitions will go far beyond.

NEWTON: You know, many have commented that this is just going to embolden other rogue nations around the world; especially down that very dangerous

nuclear path is this not the message to them, though?

I mean, Vladimir Putin is at this hour receiving the Secretary General and likely saying, we refuse to budge. Basically, they are holding all the

cards right now.

DAALDER: Well, they're holding a lot of cards, but they're also lost a lot of them. Remember that the initial phase of this operation was going to

last for just a few days, that the government in Ukraine would have fallen, that a new puppet regime would have been installed, that Russia would have

occupied and put it under its control, not just the capital, but also all the major cities in Ukraine, including Odessa, that the West was supposed

to shiver and stand in vision rather than being united and that Russia really would get away with it.

Well, where is he now? He's lost the initial stages of the battle. He's no longer going to be able to control Ukraine. The government is stronger and

more united and in control of Kyiv and launching counter offensive around the country. He has found that NATO has become stronger and more capable

putting forces closer to Moscow, and indeed Finland and Sweden deciding to join NATO.

And he's facing a much more united Europe and a much more united alliance that is now also imposing very severe economic sanctions that are going to

hurt the Russian economy for decades, unless something drastic changes.

So if anybody looks at this and says Vladimir Putin is getting away with a lot, I think what they're seeing is a very strong reaction and a

miscalculation on Vladimir Putin's part that they will take to heart and they won't necessarily do the provocative things elsewhere, because of fear

of what the United States its allies around the world can do in response.

NEWTON: Well, we'll see if it does work as a deterrent. It is not so far in Ukraine, unfortunately, Ambassador we thank you for weighing in on this. I

appreciate it. Now, stay with us here on First Move; we have the latest details on Russia's war on Ukraine, right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:30:00]

NEWTON: And welcome back everyone! We want to bring you right up to date on our latest on our top story. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is

warning of a considerable risk of nuclear conflict as war in Ukraine continues.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is in Moscow at this hour meeting with Lavrov and his boss President Vladimir Putin. The UN Chief will also

speak with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv later this week.

Meantime, further horror in Ukraine as this war just goes on. The Mayor of Mariupol saying a third mass grave has been found near the city. The

demands on health care workers meantime have increased exponentially since the beginning of this invasion.

Many are putting their lives at risk every day to save others. CNN's Clarissa Ward and her team followed two brave paramedics as they attempt to

save a wounded man during heavy Russian shelling.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CLARISSA WARD, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Its the beginning of a 24 hour shift for paramedics, --. They prepare their

ambulance for the carnage that Kharkiv residents confront every day.

We have two - Vladimir says. Her mother stops by the dispatch center to give her daughter a hug. This is one of the most dangerous jobs every

moment together is precious. A loud stream of boom signals the day's work is beginning.

That's incoming now this ambulance worker tells us. Alexandria (ph) and Vladimir answer the call --- she says the code used when someone has been

wounded by shelling. Their flak jackets on they're ready to roll out.

WARD (on camera): So they've said that they forgot reports one person at least has been injured in the shelling and they're hearing some rockets as

well. So we're going to see what's going on.

WARD (voice over): The shells hit a residential apartment building. The paramedics need to act fast. Russian forces are increasingly hitting the

same target twice. It's called a double tap a horrifying strategy to take out rescue workers as they respond. As we see for ourselves, get in

Vladimir shouts faster, faster, faster. We take cover under the stairwell. She is trying to find the wounded person, but there's no signal there.

[09:35:00]

WARD (voice over): At that moment another barrage goes off the brace for the impact all right. Is everybody OK Alexandra asks? Our team member - has

cut up her hands on broken glass.

Vladimir treats her injuries as Aleksandra calls the dispatch again to find where the wounded are? We've got no connection we are sitting in the

entrance she says and they're shelling the shit out of us. The connection keeps dropping.

Finally she gets through to the person who called for the ambulance. Tell me your damn house number she says. I repeat 12-G, I've told you 1000 times

he replies the man is dying. We decide to try to make a run for it.

WARD (on camera): So we were just in an apartment building. They were looking for an injured man. A bunch of rounds came in and hit the next door

building. So now we are getting out as fast as we can.

WARD (voice over): Well, we run out Vladimir and Alexandra run back in. We find them treating the injured man on the side of the road. Their back

window has been blown out by the blasts. She has shrapnel injuries and head trauma.

Once they've stabilized him they rush him to the hospital. Vladimir asks about his pain. The man has been deafened by the blast. Arriving at the

hospital they've done their part. It's up to others now to save him.

WARD (on camera): I have to say I think you guys are like the bravest people I have ever met.

WARD (voice over): Back at base we asked them why they continue to do this work. With all the danger it entails. Its normal this is our work. Of

course, it's scary like for everyone Aleksandra says, today, you were with us in the hottest place in the oven. But we're still alive. Thank God. You

feel it's your duty or obligation Vladimir tells us to help the people who are still here.

WARD (on camera): What did your parents say? What is your family say? Aren't they want you to stop this war?

VLADIMIR VENZEL, PARAMEDIC: No comments. It's very difficult--

WARD (on camera): You must be scared.

VENZEL: Yes.

WARD (on camera): You must be scared isn't it?

VENZEL: Yes scared all day, all night.

WARD (on camera): We saw your mother.

WARD (voice over): She's worried to the point of hysteria Alexandra tells us. She says you need to leave. You need to go to some safe place. Why are

you doing this? I have only one child stop it.

WARD (on camera): And what do you say?

RUDKOVSKAYA: I have to do it. She says simply.

WARD (voice over): And with that they go back to cleaning their ambulance their shift only halfway through. Clarissa Ward, CNN, Kharkiv.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: We thank Clarissa and her team for that incredible report. Coming up for us here on First Move the fate of Ukraine's animals and the pets

fleeing the war with their owners.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:40:00]

NEWTON: So a bleak reminder here according to the UN, more than 5 million Ukrainians have fled the Russian invasion so far and with every day of

course that number climbs and they aren't coming alone. Many are bringing beloved pets that are often hungry and dehydrated.

And I hate to say it those animals are actually the lucky ones as shelters and sanctuaries within Ukraine struggle to feed and rescue vulnerable

animals left behind and under fire. My next guest is part of the team trying to make a difference.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare is on the ground helping to heal and register pets on the border while also crucially supporting those in

shelters in Ukraine. Joining me now is Shannon Walajtys she is the Organization's Director of Disaster Response and Risk Reduction.

And so good to have you here! I know so many people have watched those wrenching images of family members holding on tight to their pets. And

worse right many soul distressed by the animals they've had to leave behind? You know, what's the need, as you see it right now and what is your

organization being able to do to help?

SHANNON WALAJTYS, DIRECTOR DISASTER RESPONSE AND RISK REDUCTION, IFAW: Well, it's a horrible situation for everyone involved. There are still

hundreds of thousands of refugees leaving every day and many of them leaving pets. And because of the border and primary ways, whether by train,

bus, car or by foot or - there we have Ukrainian.

They're safe, and that we are here to help with the basic needs that their pets may need and it is absolutely a lifeline for these folks that they

were able to bring their pets with them. We are so grateful for the opportunity to have our team on the ground be that first face that they see

and be able to offer them on those things that they need for their pets to carry on their journey.

That's food, water, a sweater, harnesses leashes, veterinary attention. We're making sure that they have what they need things that they may not

have been able to pick up on their way. They're literally leaving a bombing shelling gunfire there they made the difficult decision to take that extra

minute to grab their pet.

And we're so grateful. We see them coming across the border in their owner's coats or shirts, a bag, box anything you can imagine a cooler with

holes poked in the side of it. We're seeing all sorts of pets come over and we are so grateful that the EU Commission provided the guidance to EU

countries to say please waive that pet entry requirement let people bring their pets out because this is saving lives.

[09:45:00]

WALAJTYS: There are so many hundreds of thousands if not millions of these refugees may have made the difficult decision to leave their family in

harm's way because they knew they would have to leave their pet.

They didn't have a plan outside of the country and we're, again very grateful to have the opportunity to serve them to make their burden a

little less heavy, as they carry on to wherever they may end up on knowing that is healthy has the appropriate vaccinations microchip. And that

veterinary attention is so critical to truth that the conditions that extreme stress the dehydration, not having eaten just like their parents.

NEWTON: Yes, it's terrible. We're looking at some of the video that your organization provided. You know, I've been floored by reading about how

much you guys have been able to accomplish. You mentioned the EU protocols being dropped, but also the vets and the volunteers chipping in how worried

are you though, about the animals left behind in Ukraine right now?

WALAJTYS: Well, we're all very worried about the animals that have not been able to evacuate depending on their situation, whether they are confined

wildlife, they are in an animal shelter with large numbers of cats and dogs in harm's way.

We have to make sure that we continue to supply them with necessary supplies, through every route that we can possibly find. We're getting in

food and fresh water we're getting in medication to help treat animals that are injured, but also taking care of those caregivers that are stand

behind.

And what we really need everyone's support with is getting those safe evacuation routes so that we can continue to not only provide the supplies

that folks need inside Ukraine, but for those that do wish to evacuate, we need to help get them out safely. And we just need to do whatever we can.

NEWTON: Shannon, I don't have a lot of time left. But you know some watching you know what they're going to say human lives are on the line.

Why work so hard to save the animals all waiting personally and say, you know, diminishes our humanity to abandon these animals to the suffering,

but what would you say to them?

WALAJTYS: I would say that saving animals saves humans. Please keep in mind the hundreds of thousands of individuals that have made the decision to

stay behind because they have taken on the responsibility for caring for animals.

Be it while the animals, livestock, dogs, cats and other animals that people have dedicated their own, they basically have given up their own

safety to say I'm staying because I can't leave safely with my animals. And I've made a commitment to them.

As we all do any of us who have taken care of animals in our lives and our family. That responsibility is ingrained in our human nature. And we need

to respect decisions that people have made to stay in harm's way because they are going to continue to care for animals that cannot evacuate. And

then we just need to respect decisions.

NEWTON: Yes. And I'm so glad that you mentioned that for so many it is a lifeline think about the elderly and the children that are you know,

grasping those beloved pets for dear life as they crossed those borders. Shannon thanks so much. I really appreciate your perspective on this.

WALAJTYS: Thank you.

NEWTON: Coming up after the break, Elon Musk has scooped up one of the world's largest social media companies. His deal with Twitter has raised a

lot of questions though. We'll try and get some answers after the break.

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[09:50:00]

NEWTON: All right, topping so many business headlines a multibillion dollar deal to buy one of the world's most influential platforms Twitter's board

unanimously approved Elon Musk's offer to buy the company.

And here's the clincher take it private Twitter stock soared on the news and so did the questions about what the future holds. Daniels Ives Senior

Equity Research Analyst at Wedbush Securities joins me now you've certainly been following this.

We've been watching your takes, but remind everyone about your hot take about when this broke. And the fact that you think this really is a stellar

deal for shareholders, and let us assumes it's not a vanity project for Musk? How the heck does he make money with this thing now?

DANIELS IVES, SENIOR EQUITY RESEARCH ANALYST, WEDBUSH SECURITIES: Well, I mean, if you're a Twitter shareholder, I mean, pick whether it's whiskey,

bourbon, Cabernet, Rosie that's where you're drinking right now. Because for a Twitter shareholder, I mean, this is beyond best case scenario.

I mean, this is stock. That'd be $30 if it wasn't for Musk for owning it. For Musk look, it's a head scratcher, because fundamentally he's paying a

massive price to reason there was no other white knight, or PE, because you just couldn't get around for this business to pay that type of premium. And

that's what can that fundamentally; the easy part from us was buying it, the hard part's going to fix it.

NEWTON: When you say fix it I'll get to the free speech implications in the first place. But you have to make money. So what do you do subscription

service live events? I mean, Twitter hasn't been able to crack the code now for years.

IVES: That's been an issue. I mean, for a decade, it's been a massively underperforming social media platform. We could talk about Twitter in terms

of elections, Trump and all the controversies, but it hasn't made money.

You see, that's the fundamental issue here. Is that, OK, is he going to turn into a subscription platform? We talk about freedom of speech, but he

just spent 20 percent of his net worth on Twitter. So it needs to be more from a monetization perspective, even just given some of the collateralized

loans.

And I think that the question now. I mean, of course, they'll go private. They'll have success relative to Musk, you know, ultimately navigating it.

But I think there's more questions and answers in terms of how he's going to change subscriptions, probably the most immediate, but can it be

successful? Dorsey and others for 10 years, this has been a Herculean like battle.

NEWTON: Yes, Jack Dorsey, the original - one of the original Co-Founders of Twitter, is having a cryptic message. Jeff Bezos was a little bit more

direct, right? One rich man telling the other rich man look, this is perhaps giving even China an in and some influence over you.

How do you think Elon Musk sees it? Because I would argue for someone who already has a lot of money point taken that he did spend a lot of his money

to get Twitter, this is the power move, right? There's a lot of influence that comes with owning Twitter.

IVES: As Tesla analysts, or if you're an investor, you don't want to see him go after Twitter, there is no tangential benefit. It's a lightning rod

of controversy, right? This is almost a Category Five tornado that really comes with it in terms of Twitter.

And as Bezos talked about, the worries like is there a political blowback for Tesla for SpaceX? And these are all the questions now going forward for

Musk because in the game of high stakes poker, he won. Twitter's blow was back against the wall. They had to ultimately come to a deal. But now what

does he do with Twitter? That remains I think, right now, there's more questions there than answers.

NEWTON: And before I let you go, how difficult do you think it will be for him to navigate the area of free speech and the fact that many just say

look Twitter is a cesspool it's toxic and to go towards it being even freer is going to cause a world of headaches and hurt.

[09:55:00]

IVES: It's a tightrope because ultimately - OK you go more famous speech than what happened to the users leave the platform that that's how you

monetize it. So this is one where freedom of speech is one thing spending 44 billion on it and turning it around.

Can you monetize it? This is it's a tight wire act from us and again, trading Tesla stock for Twitter it's like trading caviar for a $2 pretzel

on Park Ave.

NEWTON: He clearly has a plan. We will all wait to see what that is as it unfolds in the coming days, weeks and months. Dan Ives I appreciate it.

Thanks so much.

IVES: Thank you.

NEWTON: And finally here for us on First Move, what were you doing at the age of 13? Meet young Elliot Tanner who is about to get a degree in

physics. His mom says he started reading by himself at the age of three.

Now Elliot has accepted in a position for a PhD program at the University of Minnesota. And gets this you know he didn't get any money he didn't get

any faint financial aid so friends and family are raising money for his tuition through a Go Fund Me page.

And Elliot I wish you luck in more than five decades on this earth not able to crack that physics code. All right, that's it for our show. Stay with

CNN though "Connect the World" with Eleni Giokos is next.

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