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Ukraine Wants A No-Fly Zone, But The U.S. Refuses; The Complex Factors In The Rising Costs Of Housing. Aired 4-4:10a ET
Aired March 31, 2022 - 04:00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CARL AZUZ, CNN 10 ANCHOR: Hi. I`m Carl Azuz. And we`re looking up on today`s show explaining everything from a no-fly zone, to the sky-high cost
of rent, to the flight of a wayward owl.
We begin with money. The U.S. government is committing more of it in support of Ukraine and its continued fight against an invasion by
neighboring Russia. Despite what we told you yesterday about hope that Russia might be pulling back from some areas and that there might be a
meeting in the works between Russian and Ukrainian leaders, the battle has not let up.
In a Ukrainian city where Russia said it would drastically reduce its military activity, the mayor said it was under, quote, colossal attack on
Wednesday.
Earlier this month, U.S. President Joe Biden signed an emergency spending package for Ukraine worth $13.6 billion. Part of this will send more
weapons to the Eastern European country, part of it supports more U.S. troops in the region, but not in Ukraine itself. Part of it goes to helping
Ukrainian civilians and refugees.
In the days after signing that package into law, President Biden committed hundreds of millions in additional military assistance to Ukraine. And
during a phone call yesterday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the American leader said another $500 million was on the way.
But there are limits to what the Biden administration and America`s allies in Europe are willing to do. One of them concerns fighter jets. Ukraine has
repeatedly requested more of them to target Russian forces from the air. But Russia has said that the U.S. and its allies would become participants
in the war if they gave jets to Ukraine, so they`ve so far refused to do that.
It`s a similar situation concerning Ukraine`s calls for a no-fly zone.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PRES. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY, UKRAINE (translated): Close the sky over Ukraine.
We`re talking about a no-fly zone.
To close the sky above our country.
REPORTER: Since the start of Russia`s invasion of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on Western governments to close the skies
and enforce a no-fly zone over the country. A no-fly zone would put an end to Russia`s superior air power, prevent Russian planes from bombarding
Ukrainian cities and let civilians flee the conflict more safely. They`ve previously been used in Iraq, Bosnia and Libya.
But what is a no-fly zone and how does it work?
JUSTIN BRONK, AIRPOWER & MILITARY TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH FELLOW, RUSI: A no- fly zone is typically a U.N.-mandated aerial peacekeeping operation where a multinational force mounts combat air patrols and surveillance over a
country and prevents either side from flying any aircraft. The most basic requirements would be fighter aircraft based at air bases near to but not
in the country in question.
REPORTER: But these fighter jets would need to be supported by refueling tankers.
BRONK: Fighter aircraft typically have about an hour to an hour and a half of fuel. They`ll typically be uncapped for two or three hours at a time, so
they will require a tanking stop on the way over there. They will require tanking while they`re on cap and then tanker to take them back over.
REPORTER: To monitor aircraft in a no-fly zone, you need another kind of plane called Airborne Warning and Control System Aircraft or AWACS.
BRONK: An AWACS is the equivalent of turning on a big ceiling light. It enables you to detect and then go and interdict any aircraft attempting to
violate the no-fly zone.
But, of course, those tankers and AWACS also then need to be protected as do the fighters themselves.
REPORTER: This complex and expensive operation is not something that every military is able to provide.
BRONK: Only the United States has the military capacity to do this. We should be quite clear about what people are asking when they ask for a no-
fly zone. What they`re asking is for America to militarily secure the skies over Ukraine, and others to join them along the way.
LLOYD AUSTIN, U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: A no-fly zone means that you`re in a -- in a conflict with Russia. So, from a U.S. perspective, we`re --
again, our position remains that we`re not going to do that.
BRONK: The West is hesitant to introduce a no-fly zone for a couple of reasons. Primarily, of course, the danger of escalation in terms of Russia
escalating quickly to tactical nuclear weapons probably in Ukraine to force the west to back off, but also, of course, for political reasons, the
response to uh internationally to Russia`s invasion of Ukraine has been extremely unified.
REPORTER: That unity would likely be shattered if there was any serious attempt to impose a no-fly zone potentially leading to direct combat
between NATO and Russian forces. In fact, a no-fly zone could even play into President Vladimir Putin`s narrative.
BRONK: It would aid the Russians in this sort of post-facto justification that they`ve been trying to put in place for their invasion, that it was in
response to a potential NATO intervention in Ukraine.
REPORTER: So, while it`s unlikely to happen, there are reasons why President Zelenskyy and his government keep pushing for a no-fly zone.
BRONK: They feel that the West needs to be pressured, continually to do more, even if they understand that a no-fly zone is very unlikely. Western
countries will feel obligated to do more in terms of other forms of aid because they feel bad about continually turning down this no-fly zone.
REPORTER: Hours after President Zelenskyy addressed the U.S. Congress, President Joe Biden announced an additional $800 million in security
assistance to Ukraine.
BRONK: Ultimately, I think it may be a slightly self-defeating strategy at this point, but it is becoming a bit of a drag on on people`s morale in
Ukraine, that the West won`t do this. And of course, even if you could impose a no-fly zone over all of Ukraine, the vast majority of the damage
being done in Ukrainian cities is being done by artillery, which is nothing that a no-fly zone can touch.
REPORTER: As Russia intensifies the offensive over Ukraine, pounding civilians through punishing artillery strikes on several cities, the West
has been grasping for alternatives to a no-fly zone as it refuses a direct confrontation with Russia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AZUZ (voice-over): Ten-second trivia:
What is the most common type of roofing material in the U.S.?
Rubber, aluminum, asphalt or slate?
Shingles made from asphalt are common and affordable though they may not last as long as other options.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
AZUZ: There are several factors behind rising home prices and the record high costs of rent. We`re about to show you what they are. The reason this
matters is that it contributes to inflation when overall prices go up and your money buys less. This can impact the entire U.S. economy because it`s
largely based on the goods and services people buy.
When it comes to home prices, it`s not just about lumber and labor. Practically everything is getting more expensive.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALLISON BRAUN, FIRST TIME HOMEBUYER: This was nothing as I expected, purchasing my first home.
VANESSA YURKEVICH, CNN BUSINESS AND POLITICS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Allison Braun bought her first home in February after losing bidding wars
and paying $75,000 over budget, she settled on a fixer-upper, expecting to save some money.
BRAUN: It was really surprising getting in here and fixing things up. Overwhelming is another way I`d explain it.
YURKEVICH: Rents are up a record 17 percent in the last year, with homes up nearly 20 percent and so are construction costs. Braun who works for the
real estate company Redfin is redoing nearly every space in her home. The kitchen needed new counters.
BRAUN: And we were really surprised by the cost, especially the labor to put them in. We wanted to figure out a way of how we can do our countertops
on our own and save cost and labor. So, the concrete countertops were born.
YURKEVICH: But it`s not just homeowners getting stuck with higher costs. Construction materials are up 24 percent in the last year.
Bill McGrath`s company is installing elevators in this new residential housing complex in New Jersey. So far, they`ve put in two.
What are the materials in this elevator that you have seen an increase on?
BILL MCGRATH, PRESIDENT AND CEO, SOUTH JERSEY ELEVATOR: Well, right here, you have the electronics, which this is a stainless steel. You have the
plastics, the electronic boards behind it. That`s costing more.
The ceilings, wood, you`re standing on lumber, there`s steel underneath.
YURKEVICH: And is all of it going up?
MCGRATH: Yeah.
YURKEVICH: Supply chain slowdowns and demand have pushed construction costs up, forcing projects to come in over-budget and over-deadline.
How much more is this elevator going to cost than the one we just saw?
MGRATH: We`re at right this one here is going to cost 17 percent more material cost than the other two that we completed.
YURKEVICH: And he says his 18-person company is spending more on gas to bring materials in, up 24 percent in the last month. All of these rising
costs will get passed down.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
AZUZ: Teachers, instructors, home school parents, if you`re not subscribed to our daily newsletter, you`re missing out on a free preview of what`s in
each day`s show. To get it, all you got to do is visit our website, CNN10.com and scroll down to where it says sign up for daily emails.
(MUSIC)
AZUZ: A crime story rates a 10 out of 10.
Police could clearly see that after he broke into a house in North Carolina, Steve needed help. This is Steve. He entered a house uninvited
through a garage door and hid out in tight places as well as on the kitchen counter. No one would see him there.
But someone did. So, the Greenville Police Department caught the suspect, had him checked out by Animal Protective Services, and let Steve freely fly
back home, his home.
So now that he`s free as a bird, he`s probably having a hoot singing hits like I`m like a bird, snow bird, free bird, black bird, bluebird,
mockingbird, fly like an eagle, I will survive and my personal favorite, owl fly away. Or maybe just like a bird set free, all he had to say was see
ya.
Today, we see Many High School. Thank you for watching from Many, Louisiana.
I`m Carl Azuz.
END
