Return to Transcripts main page

New Day

Andrei Kozyrev is Interviewed about Russia; February Jobs Released; Oksana Markarova is Interviewed about the Nuclear Power Plant Attack; Jens Stoltenberg is Interviewed about the Russian Invasion. Aired 8:30-9a ET

Aired March 04, 2022 - 08:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:31:42]

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, the breaking news, the Russians are essentially in control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. This is in southern Ukraine. This was after an attack overnight set some buildings there ablaze. There has been no increase in the radiation levels. The reactors are not compromised. But we are told this morning that station managers are working at invaders' gunpoint.

Joining me now is the former foreign minister from Russia, Andrei Kozyrev.

Foreign Minister, thank you so much for being with us this morning.

Alarming developments overnight. Even before that, you were of the opinion that any diplomats from Russia should resign. Why?

ANDREI KOZYREV, FORMER RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER UNDER BORIS YELTSIN: Because diplomats, like the military, they should defend their people and they should defend their country's dignity and their country's safety. And now they are doing the opposite, both of them, because they are taking a brother country, and they engage Russia through Russia into bloody, criminal war. And it's completely against Russia national interests.

And look at this power plant. It's -- it is possible. It's dangerous. It's risky. But I can tell you that it's also calculated irresponsibility because in Moscow they definitely know all the plans and all the technicalities of that facility because it was built a long time ago, during the Soviet Union. So, it's calculated to scare the west and to scare the Ukrainians and everyone.

BERMAN: You were foreign minister under Boris Yeltsin. I assume you still know people within the government there, people within the apparatus. Is there anyone brave enough to stand up to Vladimir Putin?

KOZYREV: Probably not as brave as to stand directly. But there could be a sabotage already, and there will be more sabotage is if the west keeps strong, does not bow to the pressure or intimidation and continue with personal (ph) sanctions. But sanctions should be expanded to all the top elite of the Russian government, like Europeans did. Europeans in good sections done (ph) members of so- called Russian parliament, which continues to (INAUDIBLE). Oppression -- also oppression of the free speech. Legislation. So that's a criminal support for Putin, and that should be met with American also sanctions, I think, to those people. And they will crumble sooner or later because -- if not because of the sense of responsibility, or an appeal of conscience so to say of their own conscience, but because they like, most of them like money and they love to be in the west to spread the money in the west.

[08:35:21]

So, this will pay back. This policy of sanctions will pay back. Just be strong on them.

BERMAN: Former Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev, thank you so much for being with us this morning.

KOZYREV: Thank you, sir.

BERMAN: All right, we have some breaking news on the domestic front.

The February jobs report is in.

Let's get right to CNN chief business correspondent Christine Romans.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: And it's strong. As we expected, a real bounce back in February. And 678,000 jobs added back into the American economy and an unemployment rate that falls to 3. percent. That's all the way back down to just about where we were before the pandemic began.

Let's look at the trend here, John, because that is what is really important here, 678,000. We also saw in December and January some revisions upward. That has been the trend, right, that we're under counting consistently every month how well the economy is doing. This is the kind of trend you want to see. We are now fewer than 2 million jobs short of where we began when the pandemic began.

This -- and it was broad-based hiring, John. When I look at the government press release, it's everything -- leisure and hospitality, 179,000 jobs there. Professional business services, almost 100,000 there.

You have construction. You have healthcare. You have employment and transportation and warehousing. Broad-based gains. I don't see any categories that fell.

This is exactly what you want to see. This is that awful 14.7 percent unemployment rate at the worst of it when millions of people were being thrown out of work every single month when the pandemic began and the economy just ground to a halt. And now you've got the unemployment rate falling down here to what many economists would consider basically full employment.

There -- there are jobs for anybody who wants a job. In fact, there is a huge gap between the jobs that are available and the people who are looking for them at this point.

BERMAN: Any sense of what's happening with wages?

ROMANS: Wages, 5.1 percent, 12 -- you know, the 12-month change, 5 percent wage growth. That means the people who are out there looking for jobs are seeing a premium that they haven't seen in a long, long time. We've had, you know, wage -- very little wage inflation in the U.S. economy for decades now. And for the first time in a long time, people, especially people who are job hopping, are getting 10 percent raises in some cases.

BERMAN: Look, I mean, again, I'll just say, I've got to let you go, but this is a job boom.

ROMANS: This is good.

BERMAN: This is a job boom right now.

ROMANS: This is a very -- this is a very good number, yes.

BERMAN: All right, Christine Romans, thank you very much.

We have harrowing new video this morning of Ukrainian citizens under fire. Much more ahead on the Russian attacks intensifying.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:41:55]

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: Ukraine's president warning of nuclear disaster as Russian forces occupy Europe's largest nuclear power plant in Ukraine. They took control of this after shelling the plant and setting it on fire.

Joining us now is the Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S., Oksana Markarova, who is with us.

And I do want to be clear, Ambassador, at this point there's no indication that there's any radiation leak. But I also want to ask you, is it -- is the cooling system fine? Because that's something that there could be a delay in a radiation leak. Do you have any reason to believe that the cooling system is or is not fine?

OKSANA MARKAROVA, UKRAINIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S.: Hello and thank you for having me here.

Well, you know, in general, this is just a continuation of the pattern of Russian war crimes. And, yes, we all are lucky that the brave men and women who work on the station were able to do all the security protocols to ensure that, you know, this system is safe. But having military personnel there, attack there, and having Russian, you know, (INAUDIBLE) in control of the station, it's not safe.

So, we can talk about all the technicalities about the cooling system, everything else. But, in general, it's a huge risk that we have a war activity in -- at the power plant, that it's in the control of the Russian military. We already see that after they seized control of Chernobyl station, for example, which is not operational, but there are risks there, and they're not letting the personnel out and they're not letting the new personnel in, which is already a violation of the protocols. So, the situation is still very, very risky.

KEILAR: So, we just heard from -- actually, we've heard from two Ukrainian officials, or two Ukrainian connected folks, including the former first lady of Ukraine. And one of their concerns is that Russia may actually threaten Ukraine or threaten Europe with releasing radiation from that plant if they do not capitulate. Does that have any basis in fact that you're aware of?

MARKAROVA: Well, I cannot comment on that. But, look, we are here in the ninth day of a brutal war waged by Russians on Ukraine. They killed children. They killed -- they shelled hospitals. Just today, you know, a school in Jatoma (ph) has been completely destroyed. They're selling residential areas. They are bombing residential areas.

So, you know, I know the focus right now after this horrendous act on the Zaporizhzhia plant station is on that one, but it's not like they have stopped all the war crimes that they are doing everywhere in Ukraine right now. So, we have to stop them at -- in the (INAUDIBLE). We have to stop them everywhere.

KEILAR: The NATO chief said there will be no NATO planes over Ukrainian -- in Ukrainian air space. What is your reaction to that?

MARKAROVA: We need all the support that we can get from our friends and allies. Again, it's not only about Ukraine.

[08:45:00]

It's a full-fledged war against Ukraine on the territory of Ukraine in the center of Europe. And everything Russian criminals do there have risks for everyone. For everyone in Europe, but even beyond that.

So, again, you know, we were very grateful for all the support that we're getting. We definitely need more. Ukrainian people will not give up, as you see. The blitzkrieg that Putin spoke about when he announced this war, and when he started it, did not happen.

Today is the ninth day. And in a very difficult situation, we all resist, and we will continue to resist. So, I think it's a question for the world now. You know, everyone who believes in values of freedom, everyone who believes that children should not be killed by autocratic regimes in their homes, on our own territory, everyone who believes that peaceful country deserves to have rights to be peaceful should be with us.

And I'm very glad that the majority of our friends and partners always ask and as the situation evolves, I guess, we all have to step up, like Ukrainian people do. You know, we started with here in the past nine days.

KEILAR: It has been incredible to see what the Ukrainian people have done. Ambassador, thank you so much for being with us.

MARKAROVA: Thank you very much.

BERMAN: All right, and joining us now, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Secretary General, thank you so much for being with us.

Overnight we saw the Russians take control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. It was set on fire in an attack overnight. We've never seen anything like that, ever, a nuclear power plant under attack. The U.S. embassy in Kyiv calls it a war crime. It's a clear escalation in the Russian behavior.

Does that necessitate an escalation in the NATO response?

JENS STOLTENBERG, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL: What you saw last night was a reckless action of war in and around a nuclear power plant. And this just demonstrates the danger of this war. And it underlines the importance of Putin ending this war, withdrawing all his forces, and engaging in efforts to find a political diplomatic solution. War, as what we have seen, is that Russia is shelling residential areas, killing civilians and now also the dangers related to a nuclear power plant.

BERMAN: We saw the video. We saw the video just this morning released by the Ukrainian foreign minister of a residential apartment complex. And I think we can show it to you right now. It's in Borodyanka. This is an area not far from Kyiv. I think we have the video of that apartment complex being bombed there. Well, people have seen it, nevertheless.

Clearly, civilians are being killed here. Does it seem to you, does it seem to you that Vladimir Putin is being deterred in any way?

STOLTENBERG: This is President Putin's war. He planned it and he is now waging the war against innocent people in Ukraine, blatantly violating international law. We warned him that if he once again invaded Ukraine, we would impose more severe sanctions the world ever has seen. And that's exactly what we are doing. So we're imposing those costs.

Allies are also stepping up their support to Ukraine, military support, humanitarian support, financial support, and we rallied the whole world, saw that in the U.N., to condemn and call Russia to stop the war, to withdraw troops and engage in diplomatic efforts.

BERMAN: You've said no NATO troops. You've said no NATO planes in Ukrainian air space. When you see residential apartment complexes like that ablaze, or in rubble, as a human being, is there any sense of remorse that you can't do more?

STOLTENBERG: What we see is heinous. It's a brutality. It's killing of civilians we haven't seen since the Second World War in Europe. And I think it was a lot of courage of the Ukrainian armed force, the Ukrainian people, they really inspired the whole world to step up and, therefore, NATO allies are providing more support, military support, but also humanitarian, including calling on talks to provide humanitarian corridors.

But we also have responsibility to make sure that this conflict doesn't spiral out of control, and goes beyond Ukraine and (INAUDIBLE) full-fledged war in Europe involving many more countries. Europe, Russia, against NATO. That will cause even more suffering, even more death, even more civilian killed.

[08:50:04]

So, therefore, we provide support. We are stepping up the support. But we also made it clear that we are not part of the conflict. We are a defensive alliance and we will not move NATO troops or NATO air forces into Ukraine.

BERMAN: Are you seeing any sign -- you talk about NATO members here. Obviously, the Baltic states could be seen as an area of specific concern. Do you have any reason to believe they're under greater threat this morning?

STOLTENBERG: We have significantly increased the military presence of NATO forces in eastern part of the alliance to make sure that there is no room for miscalculation or misunderstanding in Moscow about NATO's readiness to protect and defend all allies. And as long as we stand together, one for all, all for one, then all allies are safe because we are the strongest alliance in history. Fifty percent of the world's military might. And our commitment to our security guarantees, Article 5 of the Washington Treaty is iron clad. And we demonstrate that by having more U.S. troops, but also more European troops, Canadian troops in the eastern part of the alliance. So, that's to prevent any attack against any NATO ally country.

BERMAN: I understand. You say all allies are safe. But if a man who's willing to invade this entire country and attack a nuclear power plant there overnight, how do you know that they're all safe? What would stop him if he's willing to fire on a nuclear power plant? Wouldn't he, theoretically, be willing to maybe fire on a NATO nation?

STOLTENBERG: We have to minimize that risk. And that's exactly why we are doing what we are doing for more than 70 (ph) years. Also during the most difficult times during the Cold War, NATO was able to preserve peace, prevent an attack. And the main purpose of NATO is to preserve peace by sending a very clear message of deterrence to any potential adversary. And that's exactly what we do. Also to President Putin, to Moscow today.

And, if anything, this crisis demonstrates the importance of North America, Europe standing together. We see more U.S. Forces in Europe, but we see also the European allies and Canada are stepping up. Germany just announced a 2 percent defense spending, 2 percent of GDP, 100 billion extra for defense and Germany has doubled their presence, for instance, in Lithuania.

I think this is a very convincing evidence (ph), a strong message to Moscow about the commitment to all NATO allies to protect and defend each other. And this worked during the Cold War. And we have to make sure it works also today.

BERMAN: Yes, one of the ironies is, NATO has never been more unified, it seems, than it is now. Vladimir Putin is getting the opposite of what he might have wanted.

Antony Blinken, just at a NATO's meeting in Brussels. What's next for NATO, Secretary General?

STOLTENBERG: Well, we will monitor the situation very closely. Allies are stepping up support for Ukraine. We are increasing the presence in the eastern part of the alliance. And then, of course, we will continue to call on Russia to engage in diplomatic efforts to find a political solution to this conflict. And on the 16th of March, NATO defense ministers will meet, and they will have discussion about the long-term consequences, what does this mean for NATO in the long-term, both in -- relationship, (INAUDIBLE) relationship with Russia, but also long-term adjustments to our presence posture, military posture, especially in eastern part of the alliance.

BERMAN: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, I know this is a very busy time for you. I appreciate you taking the chance to speak with us very much, sir.

STOLTENBERG: Thank you.

BERMAN: All right, much more on our breaking news. The Russians capturing, at least taking control of Europe's largest nuclear power plant after an attack that did turn deadly overnight. We have breaking new details coming in.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:57:04]

KEILAR: Ukraine's Holocaust survivors, now in their 80s and 90s, find themselves once again at risk as Russian troops attack, striking near the Holocaust memorial in Kyiv this week.

2014 CNN Hero Zane Buzby has been helping this venerable population across eastern Europe for almost 15 years.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Many explosions in and around Kyiv. The largest invasion in Europe since World War II.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I can't believe it's happening really.

ZANE BUZBY, CNN HERO: This is terrible for the Ukrainian people. And absolutely horrendous for the Holocaust survivors.

A lot of these people are the last person in their family. The only one who survived. These people went through this once already. And so, for them, something like this triggers all this trauma. She's holding a picture of her family that was killed.

And in Ukraine right now we have just under 350 survivors who we're helping. They're spread out across this vast country. They don't have extended families. So they're very lonely as well. The early memories come back and haunt them at night. So, we have our translators and our people on the ground over there, making sure they're OK.

We spoke to her daughter only yesterday. So, she's OK.

We don't want food sources to run out. We're getting them as much medication as possible now because who knows in two weeks what's going to happen.

These are the people who we have caregivers for. So, they're kind of going through this together.

The important thing is to give them some comfort and care. Just like a family. And that's what we bring them.

This was the woman who said, you are like a daughter, a grandchild and a niece and a friend all in one.

We have to make sure that these survivors are not left alone during this devastating time.

It's been logistically difficult but we're doing it. It's so important that they know they haven't been forgotten.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KEILAR: And to find out more on how you can support Zane's work and nominate your own CNN Hero, go to cnnheroes.com.

BERMAN: So, we've been watching as the Russian military has been making some progress, some gains on the southern coast of Ukraine. The Black Sea coast. There is fear now in the city of Odessa, the third most populous city in Ukraine.

We did see some really remarkable images there this morning. This act of defiance in a city united. These are people from the beach, in Odessa right now, passing these sandbags. These people are mostly men ages 20 and 30. They're passing the sandbags going all the way to the city center. These sandbags surrounding the city center. Even Odessa's old opera house there, which was last under siege in 1941 when the Nazis invaded.

You can see people coming together, promising they will defend that city in the face of this Russian advance, Brianna. It just shows right now the extraordinary circumstances that people all across that country find themselves in.

[09:00:03]

KEILAR: Yes, look, that is a beach vacation spot, right? Here in a few months, that's what should be going on there. For Ukrainians and for Russians. And this is the scene now.

BERMAN: CNN's coverage continues right now.