Return to Transcripts main page

New Day

Mikhail Zygar is Interviewed about Putin Lashing Out; Storms Expected Across U.S. Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove is Interviewed about Covid; Russian Rapper Holds Anti-War Concert. Aired 6:30-7a ET

Aired March 17, 2022 - 06:30   ET

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

[06:30:00]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HENRY HARTEVELDT, ATMOSPHERE RESEARCH: A year ago to gas up your car, I think you can relate to the plight airlines are facing when they have to pump tens of thousands of gallons of fuel into every one of their planes to transport us.

PETE MUNTEAN, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Experts think carriers could get away with charging more since so many people want to fly. American Airlines says demand for travel is at an all-time high. Now airlines will have to balance ticket prices or push more people towards staycations.

BILL EISELE, TEXAS A&M TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE: I think this summer we could actually see a lot of people staying closer to home if these gas prices continue to increase.

HARTEVELDT: I think people will travel. But will they travel by air? It all depends on how much airfares go up.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MUNTEAN: Now, experts offer this big caveat, that there are dozens of factors that go into airlines setting their ticket prices. No doubt jet fuel is having a big factor, though. Here is the big tip, Brianna, book early. Nowadays you can almost always book and then cancel later and at least get a credit back from the airline.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: Very good advice. Pete Muntean, live for us at Reagan, thank you.

The Biden administration announcing a special task force to target Russian oligarchs and their assets here in the U.S., but will the move have any effect on Vladimir Putin's power.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: A star Russian ballerina quits her company, says she's ashamed for her country with the invasion of Ukraine. We're going to speak to the director of her new company in the Netherlands just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [06:35:41]

BERMAN: So, new this morning, stark words from Vladimir Putin, taking aim at the increasing number of Russians who are speaking out against his invasion of Ukraine.

Listen to this.

PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIA (through translator): They will try to bet on the so-called fifth column, on traitors, on those who earn their money here but live over there. Live not in the geographical sense, but in the way they think, with the mind-set of a slave.

These people cannot live without oysters and gender freedom.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Joining me now is Russian journalist Mikhail Zygar. He is the author of "All the Kremlin's Men" Inside the Court of Vladimir Putin."

We appreciate you being with us.

He called these oligarch's scum and traitors. Who exactly is he talking about, Mikhail, and why?

MIKHAIL ZYGAR, FORMER EDITOR IN CHIEF OF THE INDEPENDENT RUSSIAN TV NEWS CHANNEL DOZHD: Hello. Thank you for having me here.

You know, I don't think that he's speaking about oligarchs. It's very -- it's very simplistic for him to call pro-western oligarchs or fifth column as (INAUDIBLE) Putin said. But, actually, that's a huge part of the Russian population. Even the last two weeks, tens, if not hundreds of thousands of people have left Russia, and they are openly protesting and denouncing the war. And these are not the rich Russians who -- who made money because of the proximity to power. These are just ordinary, middle-class, middle-sized business. And they are, obviously, outraged with Putin's policy for a couple of decades because, first, the friction between Putin and that Russian middleclass was obvious more than 10 years ago, during the protests of 2011, 2012. So, since then, he hates that part of Russian population. And he uses that rhetoric to blame them for being unthankful or even for being traitors.

BERMAN: You know, it is interesting, the United States and the west, Europe, have targeted these oligarchs, these extraordinarily wealthy Russians, opposed to the middleclass you're talking about there. Yet you also say that -- well, and the reason, I think, is because the United States and others think these people are close to Putin. Hit people who are close to him.

But you say, at this point, he's not close to anybody. He's been increasingly isolated over the last several months. What do you mean?

ZYGAR: That's true. We know that -- that he -- he was rather isolated in -- in his mind-set. But especially after the pandemic, after the summer of 2020, he has become much mosh isolated and much more paranoid than he has ever been. And he's actually really not listening to anyone. On the contrary, he get -- here's the situation when all of his advisers, the inner circle, or his old friends are trying to guess what he wants them to say, and they are trying to mimic his words, his thoughts, his point of view. So, yes, he's pretty -- he's rather alone in his -- in his planning.

But, at the same time, I must say that in the beginning, like up after the first Crimean war -- after the first Ukrainian war in 2014, the first sanctions were directed to those big Russian oligarchs, big money. And many of those oligarchs were -- were close -- or were close to Putin probably in the beginning of their career 10 years ago, were affiliated with the power somehow. Probably with the former government of President Yeltsin.

But now we see that the sanctions are targeted at much broader (INAUDIBLE) of Russians and we -- we definitely know that -- that many people under sanctions right now have been fighting against Putin during the last decade, were financing oppositional media, were financing civil society in Russia.

[06:40:07]

So -- so, they are now trapped in a very, very dangerous situation when they are arrest by Putin and pressured by the west at the same time.

BERMAN: Mikhail Zygar, we appreciate you being with us this morning. Thank you so much for your insight.

The breaking news this morning, it could be something of a miracle here. We're told that survivors emerging from this theater in Mariupol targeted by a Russian aerial attack. The one -- this was serving as a civilian shelter. It was bombed by the Russians.

Again, the breaking news, the important thing to note here is that survivors are emerging from the rubble of that building.

Plus, new word this morning, the Ukrainians saying that they've launched a counter offensive against the Russian military. We have new details ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:45:33]

BERMAN: Let's get a St. Patrick's Day forecast. Meteorologist Chad Myers here with that.

Hey, Chad.

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hey, John, spring is springing across the eastern half of the country, but not so much for Denver, where winter storm warnings are still in effect out there. Roads are closed in parts of Colorado because of the cold air that's going to mix with this rain and the warm air and make severe weather. That's the spring part that will be springing over the next couple days. Some snow into Kansas. Snow into Colorado and then up to the north.

But in this warm sector, that's where the potential is for hail, wind damage and tornados tonight. Tomorrow it will move farther to the east and then off the East Coast by the weekend.

And another round for Monday and Tuesday of next week. So it's that clash between the warm and the cold. Winter says, wait, I'm not done. Spring says, oh, yes, you are, tries to move that air out of there and then we pop up this.

Make sure if you are in this area today or in these areas tomorrow, the Carolinas even, that you have a way to get your warnings even in the overnight hours when you are sleeping. Many of these storms will be after midnight. And if you're not awake, you don't hear the sirens, make sure your phone will do that for you.

We've put away the green and the blue crayons and we've replaced them with orange ones for you, John, and for you, Brianna. Seventy-eight in Washington, D.C.

BERMAN: All right, we'll take it.

And pay attention to these warnings overnight.

MYERS: Absolutely.

BERMAN: Thanks so much, Chad.

MYERS: You bet.

KEILAR: Just two weeks after Boris Johnson lifted most Covid restrictions in Britain, cases are once again on the rise. Infections were 48 percent higher last week compared to the week before. This is a trend affecting large portions, in fact, of the E.U. So, should America anticipate this wave next as we so often look to Europe for a preview.

Let's talk about it with Maria Van Kerkhove. She is the Covid-19 technical lead at the World Health Organization.

Maria, we do look to Europe, I think, in America for a sense of what's coming our way. What is happening right now in Europe that you're seeing?

DR. MARIA VAN KERKHOVE, W.H.O. TECHNICAL LEAD FOR COVID-19 RESPONSE: So, good morning, Brianna.

Indeed, we are seeing increases in Covid-19 infections across Europe. In fact, about 5 million cases were reported in Europe the last seven days alone. And this is a slight increase that we saw on the week prior. I think it is important, wherever you are, that we are looking at the examples of what's happening in other countries.

Now, this increase in cases is actually despite a reduction in testing across large parts of Europe, and, in fact, large parts of the world. So, the bottom line here is that this pandemic is really not over despite us really, really wanting it to be. And the fact that omicron is circulating at such an intense level means it really hasn't gone away. This virus has a lot of room to spread. And it is wise for us the make sure that we not only try to increase vaccination coverage, which is saving lives around the world because deaths are decreasing around the world, we still have to take measures to reduce the spread.

KEILAR: Do these -- these mask mandates and vaccine mandates that have been lifted, have they been lifted too early?

VAN KERKHOVE: Well, we recommend a combination of approaches. There is no one solution that's going to end this pandemic. So, increasing vaccination coverage, and in particular making sure that vaccines are reaching those who are most at risk, people over 60 years old, people with underlying conditions, immunocompromised individuals in every country is absolutely critical to saving lives now. But we also have to do other measures.

Wearing of a mask is a simple measure. They are -- they are well stocked around the world. They reduce the spread. Distancing. You know, being careful. We're asking people to be careful. We're asking policies in countries to use a layered, tailored approached and target it based on the needs.

It's too soon to lift measures. It's far too soon to lift all measures, in particular in certain countries. But we do recognize that countries are in very different situations. We are just asking people and policies to remain cautious.

KEILAR: What do you think this will look like compared to other surges in the U.S., and how soon do you think we'll start seeing it?

VAN KERKHOVE: Well, I think you can expect that there will be increases in transmission, particularly with the omicron variant of concern, in BA.1 and BA.2. Anywhere you see public health and social measures lifted this virus will take opportunities to spread.

What we will expect to continue to see is a decoupling of cases and deaths. We really are seeing a dramatic decline in deaths among people who are vaccinated and among people who have received the full course of vaccination.

[06:50:01]

This is critical.

We will continue to see people die unnecessarily among people who are not vaccinated. And I think that's the key right now. Even in countries that have high levels of vaccination coverage, look at the population that is being missed. Who is being missed by those vaccine campaigns? And, in particular, who among the over 60s, who among those with underlying conditions are being missed, and make sure that those vaccine campaigns reach those individuals.

And, of course, this is still a global problem requiring global solutions. So, we still have to fight for vaccine access in every country all over the world. We cannot end the pandemic in some countries and not others. But we do expect to see flare-ups particularly -- and outbreaks particularly where public health and social measures are lifted, and we expect to see further deaths among people who are not vaccinated.

KEILAR: Maria, really appreciate you being with us and explaining this to us. We'd like it all to be over, of course, but it isn't and we have to pay attention.

VAN KERKHOVE: Thanks for having me.

KEILAR: From athletes, to rappers, to ballerinas, dissent from Russians growing as the war in Ukraine intensifies. You're about to hear one of their stories.

BERMAN: Plus, the breaking news this morning. The Ukrainian military says it is launching a counter offensive against Russian forces in key locations. We'll get the very latest on this, ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:55:17]

BERMAN: This morning, Moscow intensifying its crackdown on internal dissent. Those Russians against the invasion. But that dissent is still finding a way to surface in and out of the country.

CNN's Jomana Karadsheh joins us now with that story.

Jomana.

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, John, according to some estimates, more than 200,000 Russians have left the country in the past few weeks. So many of them have ended up in countries, including Georgia, Armenia. And thousands more have ended up here in Turkey, where people we've spoken to say that they finally feel like they're able to speak out against the war without having to worry about the consequences.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KARADSHEH (voice over): To protest Putin's war, top Russian rap artist Oxineron (ph) canceled concerts in Russia. On Tuesday, he kick-started the first of his Russians against war charity gigs in Istanbul. Proceeds from this concert streamed live, he announced, will be going to Ukraine. And donations came rolling in fast.

KARADSHEH (on camera): Tickets for this event sold out pretty much immediately. It is packed here. But not everyone is here for the music.

ANATOLY, RUSSIAN OPPOSED TO WAR: I want to meet people with the same views as me. I want to meet with them and to feel that I am not alone with this position.

KARADSHEH (voice over): And 28-year-old Anatoly is not alone. Many here left Russia in recent days, escaping a crackdown on dissent where thousands have been detained at protests. Even calling Putin's invasion what it is, a war, has been criminalized.

MASHA KOLGA, RUSSIAN OPPOSED TO WAR: When we are posting something on social media, at least we know that nobody's going to come for us. But, back home, even now, they have a new law, if you post something, that you can be arrested. At least we can speak up from here.

KARADSHEH: Like many of those here tonight, Masha and Daria have no plan. Thief just bought plane tickets and left the country.

DARIA BARABANOVA, RUSSIAN OPPOSED TO WAR: (INAUDIBLE) sanctions and it's not a (INAUDIBLE) feeling -- we are not feeling safe there. We are afraid of this iron curtain thing.

KARADSHEH: They are here to help Ukraine, they say. It's the least they can do.

KOLGA: Yes, it's very hard to feel that you are on the side of aggressor, you know?

BARABANOVA: Yes.

KOLGA: It's like, you feel responsibility. You feel shame. You also are victim of the situation because back home it didn't feel like -- it's -- it's very hard to understand what can you do.

KARADSHEH: The crowd spontaneously chants what they couldn't back in Russia, no to war.

Tonya just arrived in Istanbul. She says she was detained and fined in St. Petersburg for taking part in a protest. She had to leave her parents behind. Opposing the war has even torn apart her own family.

TONYA, RUSSIAN OPPOSED TO WAR: They watch TV and they listen to propaganda. And it's really hard because now many, many families in Russia are divided between these two sides, those who are against war and those who, unfortunately, support. But they even don't know what do they support.

KARADSHEH (on camera): Tonya, do you have hope that you will have a future in your country some day?

TONYA: During the Putin regime, no. No. Definitely not.

KARADSHEH (voice over): There is so much uncertainty here. It's the fear of the unknown. Many don't know when or if they'll be able to go back home.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KARADSHEH: And as you heard there from these young men and women that we spoke to, they are leaving the country for different reasons, escaping the crackdown, worried about the future of the country, worried their borders will shut down and they'll get trapped there.

But we also spoke to some young men who do not want to speak on camera, who say they are worried about military conscription. They're worried that they're going to be pulled to fight in a war they're opposed to.

John.

BERMAN: Well, that is interesting, the fear extending beyond borders there.

Jomana Karadsheh, thank you so much.

And NEW DAY continues right now.

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

BERMAN: Welcome to our viewers in the United States and all around the world. It is Thursday, March 17th. And we do have breaking news. Maybe miraculous news.

Word that people are alive and emerging from a Mariupol theater that was hit and more or less flattened by a Russian strike. This theater was being used as a bomb shelter. And there was concern that perhaps hundreds of people were trapped inside.

Now, before the bombing, satellite images show the word written here in Russian.

[07:00:01]

This is the word for children written clearly on the ground, indicating civilians are inside this structure.