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Three Killed in Bombing of Maternity Hospital in Mariupol; Ukrainian Evacuations Increasing but Remain Limited; No Progress between Foreign Ministers; Thousands Flee Kyiv as Heavy Fighting Rages Nearby; On the Ground in Hard-Hit Mykolaiv; Interview with Former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Western Support of Ukraine; UAE Committed to OPEC+ Agreement; U.K. Adds Chelsea Owner Roman Abramovich to Sanctions List; WHO Says 24 Ukrainian Health Care Facilities Attacked. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired March 10, 2022 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[10:00:00]
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BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST (voice-over): You're watching CNN. I'm Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi. This is our special coverage of the war in Ukraine,
as Russian troops continue to attack much of the country.
And we start this hour with two starkly different realities of that Russian invasion. On the ground, the devastating aftermath and growing global
condemnation of a Russian airstrike on a maternity hospital in Mariupol. We're learning of deaths in that attack.
And far from the war zone, the sterile atmosphere of a formal conference room, where Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers met in Turkey, a
meeting that ended with no apparent progress on a cease-fire or humanitarian issues.
I want to show you more images of that attack in Mariupol now. And I have to warn you, these images are disturbing.
The city council saying the bombing killed three people, including a child. Pregnant women seen at the blast site, shell shocked and bloodied, one
carried away on a gurney.
Ukraine's president saying the attack is proof that Russia is engaging in genocide in his country. In Turkey today, Russia's foreign minister voiced
baseless claims to justify that attack. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SERGEY LAVROV, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): At meeting of the U.N. Security Council, our delegation presented facts about this
maternity hospital, having long been seized by the Azov battalion and other radicals.
And they have driven all the pregnant women and the nurses out of it and set up a base for the ultra radical Azov battalion of Ukraine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, that has been a familiar Russian talking point since the invasion started. But there is no evidence that the hospital or any other
civilian targets have been taken over and used by Ukrainian forces.
And there is more disturbing video from that city of Mariupol. People there now having to bury the dead in mass graves. The mayor telling CNN Wednesday
at least 1,300 civilians have been killed in the city.
Officials report Russian forces have been bombing a so-called green corridor, which is designated to evacuate residents. An adviser to the
mayor saying Russia's goal is to destroy roads and completely isolate the city.
Well, World Health Organization says it has verified 24 incidents of attacks on health care facilities in Ukraine since Putin started the
invasion 14 days ago, leading to 12 deaths and 17 injuries.
The hospital bombing in Mariupol especially egregious, in that it happened during what was supposed to be a Russian proposed cease-fire. We'll start
this hour with Sam Kiley, who filed this report a bit earlier on the catastrophic conditions in that besieged city.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Speaking foreign language).
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): "We are really stretched. Whatever cars you have, send them here."
He says "Airstrike, maternity hospital."
This was Russia's response to a global appeal for a cease-fire to evacuate a city of a million people, a bomb dropped next to a maternity hospital in
Mariupol.
It is hospital number three. Inside, a frantic search for survivors. Early reports say there were more than a dozen injured, a miraculous outcome to
an attempt to a mass killing at a place where lives should begin. Many women and children had already fled to underground bankers after a week of
Russian bombardment.
Ukraine's president renewed his pleas for NATO to drive Russia from his nation's skies after the hospital airstrike.
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT: Everything that the occupiers do with Mariupol is already beyond atrocity. Europeans, Ukrainians, citizens
of Mariupol, today, we must be united in condemning this war crime of Russia.
KILEY: Evacuations from other towns have been more successful but still very limited. Around 700 people, mostly women and children, were bused out
of (INAUDIBLE) the site of Europe's biggest nuclear reactor which was captured recently by Russia.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The shops are empty, there is nothing there, not enough medical supplies. We are tired. We need to eat and rest.
KILEY: It may seem extraordinary but these are the lucky ones.
[10:05:00]
KILEY (voice-over): They've escaped from a shadow of a nuclear power station and the clutches of Russian troops. But in comparison to what
people are enduring in Mariupol, this is good fortune.
Yulia Karaulan volunteers in refugee center in Zaporizhzhia set out to receive people fleeing her home town of Mariupol. It is empty. She's been
waiting a weeks for news from home of her husband, Afghani (ph) and Yassya (ph). This morning, she got a brief call.
KILEY: How is your daughter doing?
YULIA KARAULAN, RESIDENT OF MARIUPOL: My daughter told me she loves me.
KILEY: Of course she does.
KARAULAN: Actually how she's alive.
She's doing like all of the children doing now in Mariupol, almost no food, no drinking water, no electricity. It was minus five this night. They have
no heat and electricity and cold basement in some coats.
KILEY: Families living in a bomb shelters with hundreds of others, she says, they can only survive another few days, then they will have to
surface, perhaps to face more of this -- Sam Kiley, CNN, Zaporizhzhia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: As we mentioned earlier, talks between Russia and Ukraine's top diplomats ended today with nothing achieved. The foreign ministers met in
Turkey to discuss a potential cease-fire and humanitarian corridors across Ukraine.
That, at least, was what was expected. But Kuleba said his Russian counterpart was not prepared to negotiate on these matters.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DMYTRO KULEBA, UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: And I came here with a humanitarian purpose, to walk out from the meeting with the decision to
arrange a humanitarian corridor in and from Mariupol, from Mariupol, for civilians who want to flee this area of fear and struggle, an humanitarian
corridor to bring in Mariupol humanitarian aid.
Unfortunately, Minister Lavrov was not in a position to commit himself to it. But he will correspond with respective authorities.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That is the Ukrainian foreign minister, of course. Right now, U.S. President Joe Biden is scheduled to be holding a phone call with
Turkey's president to discuss the situation in Ukraine. Those talks, of course, being held in Antalya. Jomana Karadsheh is there.
What is Turkey's role at this point?
JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, in the words of the Turkish foreign minister today, saying that Turkey is not just a host here;
it is a facilitator.
You know, we have seen for the past few weeks the Turkish foreign minister and Turkish president really pushing hard to try and bring both sides
together, offering to mediate, offering to try and broker a cease-fire.
And they have finally managed to, at least, you know, while nothing was really accomplished, they did not come out with this cease-fire or any sort
of agreement, they at least managed to bring the two sides together at the highest level since the start of the war.
And, you know, for Turkey, this is really a significant -- a significant achievement. We heard from the foreign minister, saying, look, one meeting
was not going to, you know, turn into miracles. No one was under that illusion.
But they believed that this was a significant step in the right direction. They are hoping that this would pave the way for what Turkey is also
working on behind the scenes to try and push and bring both Putin and Zelenskyy together for talks.
Now Turkey really, Becky, as you know very well, it is in a very unique position. This is a NATO country that has maintained really good ties with
Russia. President Erdogan, really good working relationship with President Putin . That has angered Western NATO countries in the past.
But Turkey is trying to use this unique position right now to try and bring an end to the conflict. Also has very strong relations with Ukraine as
well. It has provided the Ukrainians over the past couple of years with armed drones.
We heard from Ukrainian officials, say that they have been quite effective on the battlefield. And that has angered Moscow, you know.
And in recent weeks, you know, over the past couple of weeks, Becky, Turkey had harsh words for Moscow, rejecting the invasion, calling this a war,
invoking the 1936 treaty that allowed it to restrict the movement of Russian vessels and warships through its straits between the Mediterranean
and the Black Sea.
[10:10:00]
KARADSHEH: But it has not been willing to go further. It has not been willing, as you have heard from senior Turkish officials, telling you
they're not willing to hit Russia with sanctions like other country, to close the airspace or go beyond what they're doing now.
For them, it is very important to keep these diplomatic channels open. And today was the biggest proof of why they need to do so, they would say,
Becky.
ANDERSON: Absolutely. I spoke about that relationship with Russia and Turkey's potentially pivotal role with President Erdogan's spokesman. And
that interview is coming up next hour. For the time being, thank you, Jomana.
Back to Ukraine, because that's what this is all about, at the end of the day, and to Mariupol, where the situation on the ground was already at a
critical stage, even before Wednesday's bombing of a maternity hospital.
And you heard me right, yesterday's bombing of a maternity hospital. Take a listen to this audio recording by Doctors without Borders staff member,
describing the dire conditions there.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (from captions): People collecting wood to cook their food now. There is no drinking water at all. People are collecting water
from the roof, when the snow melts.
And especially there it's a very bad situation, with elderly people, with people with disabilities or lonely (sic) people. They cannot find even food
and they cannot create a fire for themselves to cook their food.
And there's a very, very bad condition with the people with children because the need much, much more different supplies and hygiene. And they
cannot find it anywhere now.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, nothing, of course, came of the talks in Turkey on evacuation corridors. I want to bring in Matthew Chance, who is in Kyiv for
you this evening.
And President Zelenskyy says 35,000 people were able to escape through humanitarian corridors yesterday but many are still trapped.
What are you seeing in the capital, Matthew?
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's the 5,000 I think across the country, a particular problem for that city of
Mariupol. It is in another four cities as well where these humanitarian corridors have been set up.
There is another one in Kyiv today. It has been in force now for the past three days. We went there earlier and saw hundreds upon hundreds of people
taking this opportunity to escape the fierce fighting to the north of the Ukrainian capital and getting their families to safety.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHANCE (voice-over): In the chaos of this evacuation, the frantic search for lost child. The rush to escape the fighting an orphan has been left
behind. Each bus are desperately checked for a familiar face.
Hi. Hello, hi. Do you speak English?
For the journey across the front line, the children are well protected against the cold. If not at all. The older kids were terrified, Natasha
(PH) tells me. But the little ones didn't understand the danger they were all in, she says.
This is a mass exodus from areas under heavy Russian assault. The agreed safe corridor which hundreds of civilians, entire families are using to
escape before it closes. Leaving the horrors of the past few weeks behind.
NADIA, RESIDENT OF VORZEL: My name is Nadia.
CHANCE (on camera): Nadia. Where have you come from, Nadia?
NADIA: From Vorzel.
CHANCE: From Vorzel, which is a town up there.
NADIA: Yes. This is a time -- this is a place which was -- which was the very dangerous and there are a lot of Russians and a lot of Chechens. I
don't know.
CHANCE: Russians and Chechens?
NADIA: Yes, Russians and Chechens. And they kill our owner of the house where we're sitting.
CHANCE: They killed the owner of the house?
NADIA: Yes, they killed the owner of the house.
CHANCE: And so, you must have been and your family over here, you must have been terrified?
NADIA: Yes.
CHANCE: Frightening.
NADIA: It was terrified. Absolutely terrified. My family is OK.
CHANCE: OK.
NADIA: Now we are going to the -- we're leaving.
CHANCE: Where?
NADIA: 10 days in the underground.
CHANCE: You've been 10 days underground.
NADIA: 10 days underground.
CHANCE: Oh, my goodness. Well, there you have it. You know, just one family that has, you know, taken this opportunity to escape the horrific
situation they found themselves in for the last 10 days or more. And again, you know, take that chance to get themselves and their children out of
here.
KONSTANTYN USOV, KYIV DEPUTY MAYOR: We have a lot of volunteers who helped with nutrition and warm. CHANCE: They're helping them do that safely. This
embattled Ukrainian official tells me is now as much a part of fighting this war with Russia is killing the enemy.
[10:15:00]
USOV: Warm food and warm drinks. We have a medical crew that helps to manage people that were wounded. We've seen shelled people with broken and
ruptured legs here. And we have a security force that actually interview people because we are afraid that Russians may have sent some of their own
in the --
CHANCE: As spies.
USOV: As spies. As --
CHANCE: As saboteurs.
USOV: As saboteurs, yes, right here.
CHANCE: And all this is happening, of course, all this is happening under the threat, the threat of artillery strikes and gunfire.
USOV: Sure.
CHANCE: That's a real threat right now.
USOV: That's a real threat. But we have no choice because we have thousands of people who really have spent more than a week in the basements
with no cellular coverage, with no access to medical assistants with no food, no lights, no electricity and they want to flee. They need us to help
them.
CHANCE: But as the buses leave for the capital, the boom of artillery fire resumes in the distance. The window to this escape from the fighting is
closing fast.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHANCE: Ukrainian officials tell us that, as we speak right now, those humanitarian corridors or that corridor here in Kyiv at least remains open.
But as people, again, take their families to safety, there is still fighting taking place on the outskirts of the city.
ANDERSON: You would have to be heartless not to feel for those men, women and children. Just let's hope that they are safe.
Ukraine's military says that they have defeated a Russian tank regiment in Kyiv.
What do you know about that?
CHANCE: Yes, I mean, look, that's a tragedy for the people in that tank column as well, because you see the incredible images of that tank column
being pounded from all sides, it seems.
It is in a place called Brovary, about 15 kilometers or so to the east, slightly to the north of that, of the city. And the social media images
that have been put out there, the Ukrainian defense ministry has put out images of a totally destroyed column of Russian armor, showing again that
the Ukrainian forces, even though this is ongoing strategy by the Russians, to surround and encircle the capital, they are digging in hard.
And they are fighting back and causing the Russians a great deal of pain. How long they can keep up that kind of resistance, I think, is the big
question. And, you know, whether -- what the Kremlin will do to address that -- those battlefield defeats, Becky.
ANDERSON: Let's be quite clear, there are men who will have died there, who will be missed by their families back in Russia.
It is just all wrong, isn't it?
Matthew, thank you.
In some parts of Ukraine, even something as routine as driving to work can turn into a nightmare.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY EDITOR (voice-over): Svetlana lost three friends Tuesday, when Russian shells hit the car they were
traveling in to change shift at a disabled children's home. When she ducked, she saved her life.
ANDERSON (voice-over): Ahead, we'll take you it another city in Ukraine, where no one and nothing is being spared.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON (voice-over): Plus, later in the show, I'll speak to Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the former head of NATO, who is calling for more to be done to
show Ukraine support.
You're watching CNN. I'm Becky Anderson. Stay with us.
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[10:20:00]
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ANDERSON: Russian forces closing in on the Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv. That city is taking a pounding. Homes and food warehouses standing one
minute; the next, crumbling under Russian strikes.
Here's what's left, a trail of rubble and shattered lives with seemingly no end in sight. Nick Paton Walsh has seen this heartbreaking damage
firsthand, he's in Odessa now, where he joins us live.
You were in Mykolaiv earlier, which was heavily shelled. Tell us what you saw there, Nick.
WALSH: We have seen this pan out, Becky, over the past 10 days, really, the hard to comprehend, clumsy Russian bid to blunder their way into a city
that everybody knows is strategically important.
A port city, just east from where I'm standing, in the main port city of Ukraine, Odessa. But it is the civilians now who, after this it seemed
failed Russian campaign, yes, they keep pushing, they keep trying. But they're not successfully moving into this city.
It is locals who appear to be caught in their shelling that seems indiscriminate and perhaps born of frustration.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WALSH (voice-over): This is probably when Russian forces tried to cut off Mykolaiv, pushing to its North to encircle it. Ukrainian shells here not
holding them back.
The governor told locals to bring tires to the streets, which they did fast. And in the dark, Russia's punishment of just about everyone here did
not let up.
An airstrike flattened this warehouse. And if you needed proof the Kremlin seeks to reduce all life here. 1,500 tons of onions, beer and pumpkins were
an apparent target for a military jet.
So Rezhenya and Radmila (ph). In the back bedroom when a missile hits, Rezhenya (ph) built this home himself 43 years ago and knows he lacks the
strength to do so again. Radmila (ph) says she doesn't even have her slippers now.
The hospitals are steeped in pain. Their corridors running underground. Svetlana lost three friends Tuesday when Russian shells hit the car they
were traveling to change shift and to disable children's homes. When she ducked, she saved her life. She names her three dead friends.
Nikolai (ph) was badly burned by a missile in his yard. Moscow targets hospitals and so they perversely need their own bomb shelters where sick
children wait for the sirens to end.
Stass (ph) is 12 and alone but he doesn't know the reason his father is not here just now is because he is burying Stass' (ph) mother and sister.
STASS (PH) (from captions): I was in the neighbor's basement when the bomb hit the roof on my side. We ran to my granny's house, another hit there. My
arm is broken. My dad and neighbor brought me here. I was in coma for two days.
[10:25:00]
WALSH (voice-over): Sonia (ph) has shrapnel in her head, causing her to spasm. A mother explains they were outside taping up the house windows when
the blast hits, while all the time trying to get Sonia (ph) to keep still.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (from captions): I cut the tape, turned around to hear a noise and I saw the missile flew behind us. and I said, Sonia, let's go.
We ran, Sonia in front of me and then I heard the blast. Little Sonia, quiet, quiet. Sonia, little Sonia, don't worry everything will be OK.
SONIA (PH) (from captions): I am cold.
WALSH: Outside, it is cold and loud.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WALSH: Now in the last sort of 24 hours or so, there has been a -- it seems an intensity of the situation around Mykolaiv. There were concerns
from the regional governor that the Russian were hitting checkpoints on the outskirts.
He most recently posted a Telegram (ph) message, suggesting they felt they had some element of superiority and even suggested a mechanism, a leaflet
to explain to Russian troops how they can give themselves over.
but still, the intensity of the onslaught, particularly against residential areas, remarkable to see. I should say what we were watching that package,
we heard here in Odessa, which had sirens on-off during the day.
And local officials talking about a Russian ship firing a couple of times, five times actually, out in the coast, that perhaps tests the Ukrainian air
defenses here. We heard about six or seven -- sounded like antiaircraft possibly in the distance behind me here. So slightly elevated concerns here
in the major port city of Odessa as well.
ANDERSON: Nick Paton Walsh on the ground, thank you very much indeed for your reporting and your time today.
Coming up after the break, is NATO doing enough to deter Russia from advancing in Ukraine?
It is a big question and I'm going to speak to the former head of NATO about that. He says the alliance needs to put up a stronger show of force
and Anders Fogh Rasmussen is joining me after this break.
It has been another day of extreme volatility in the oil markets. Why mixed messages from some OPEC producers leading to major price fluctuations.
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[10:30:00]
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ANDERSON: I'm Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi.
We're following Russia's intensifying attacks as its invasion of Ukraine stretches into the 15th day. And more blood on the ground and more failed
diplomacy, all of this just two weeks to the day since Russia invaded Ukraine.
The outcry over a deadly bombing of a maternity and children's hospital in the besieged city of Mariupol is growing louder. Wednesday's attack came,
despite Russia agreeing to a pause in hostilities, which was supposed to give civilians a chance to get out in one piece.
Well, now the Russian foreign minister is falsely telling the world that Moscow has not attacked Ukraine. Sergey Lavrov met with his Ukrainian
counterpart a short time ago in Turkey. But the talks produced no progress on a cease-fire or the establishment of more humanitarian corridors.
My next guest is Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the former NATO secretary general and former Danish prime minister.
And he quoted -- tweeted, quote, "We cannot leave the brave people of Ukraine to their fate. Their fight is our fight."
He also says he's angry about what is happening and wants NATO to do more. He's been at the center of European politics and key NATO operations in
Afghanistan, Libya and a training mission in Iraq. He joins me now live from Copenhagen, Denmark.
Good to have you with us. You are a former leader of NATO.
After seeing the carnage, for example, the maternity hospital getting attacked, do you think NATO's current response to Ukraine is good enough
and is the way forward?
ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN, FORMER SECRETARY GENERAL, NATO: I think we should step up our support for the Ukrainians. It is heartbreaking to watch the
images of Russian bombings, of civilians, hospitals, et cetera.
And so I wouldn't exclude anything at this stage. We should continue to deliver modern weapons, anti-tank equipment, air defenses, drones. And I
also hope that Poland and the U.S. could agree on something on fighter jets.
ANDERSON: Are you telling me that you would not dismiss the idea of a no- fly zone at this point?
The NATO -- current NATO secretary general categorically ruled that out.
RASMUSSEN: Yes, because, at this point, there is no agreement within NATO, so he has to rule it out. But I would not exclude anything. And I think it
is a mistake that Western leaders are busy, excluding this action. We are confronted with a political gang in the Kremlin. And, in defense against
gangsters, you should not exclude any action.
ANDERSON: Europe's at a decisive moment, yes; Western governments have acted fast with unprecedented sanctions against Russia.
But will that be enough to stop Russia in its tracks, with so many E.U. countries relying on Russian oil and gas?
RASMUSSEN: No, it won't be enough. We have to go further still. And I would suggest that European Union decides to stop all purchase of oil and
gas from Russia. That would stop the stream of money that finances the war.
It would cut the economic artery of Russia. Actually, the current policy helps Putin because he benefits from higher prices. So the only efficient
solution would be to say complete stop or import of Russian oil and gas. And we can handle it.
ANDERSON: I want to go back to the no-fly zone narrative, because the argument, of course, against that at present -- and the reason there is
absolutely no agreement amongst E.U. members, that it should even be considered at this point -- is that it is just simply too provocative.
And were a mistake to be made, President Putin has threatened to use the nuclear button.
[10:35:00]
ANDERSON: What you're saying is that Europe shouldn't cave to that threat.
Is that what you're saying?
RASMUSSEN: Of course, I do not want to do more harm than good by extending the conflict beyond Ukraine's borders; obviously not.
But listen, if we were invited by the legitimate government of Ukraine, to impose a no-fly zone, we would be there on legal ground. The Russians have
invaded Ukraine, the Russians are not in Ukraine on legal solid legal ground. So that would be the difference.
So I think we shouldn't take anything off the table now. For instance, you could imagine a no-fly zone to protect humanitarian corridors or to protect
Western Ukraine, where Russia is not engaged yet.
ANDERSON: You've been a key player in negotiations. The country has E.U. membership, as the E.U. expanded as a bloc and the E.U. is certainly
considering or courting Finland and Sweden. Ukraine has been seeking membership for years.
And certainly there has been -- there have been many countries that say there is a moral obligation to at least consider that request for
membership at this point.
What should the Europeans do?
RASMUSSEN: First of all, I think the European Union should provide a clear path toward membership for Ukraine. It doesn't mean membership here now.
But the European Union should grant Ukraine status as a candidate country. And then a long process will lie ahead of us, negotiating 35 so-called
chapters to open.
But at least it would provide a clear goal for Ukraine. The same goes for NATO. I think NATO should repeat the language we decided already back in
2008, where we promised Ukraine and Georgia they will become members of NATO down the road, if that's a wish. We need a clear political signal.
ANDERSON: Two weeks ago, if I had told you that, two weeks from then, half of the Kyiv population would have left -- and that is a reported statement
today from the mayor to the agencies -- half of the population gone, that's 2 million people, you would have told me that I was mad, surely.
Officials from Poland and Baltic states, though, have sounded the alarm on Russia's vile capabilities to Western Europeans in the past. And they
sounded it time and time again. I have spoken to Lithuanian prime minister about this and much of what we saw at the beginning of this, she simply
wasn't surprised by.
What opportunities do you believe were missed?
RASMUSSEN: Yes, I'm so angry. I have been to Kyiv many times. I have many contacts and good friends in Ukraine. To watch the images from Ukraine,
that is so heartbreaking. It makes me really angry. And I think, seeing in hindsight, we have been too naive about Russia.
We have reached out to Russia time and again to include Russia in the European security architecture. Just to conclude that Mr. Putin has started
this aggression, so I think we should have listened much more to our Eastern allies, that have, for good and bad, many experiences with the
Russians. They know the Russians. They are not naive.
ANDERSON: They know the Russians, they know President Putin. At this point, I think we need to make that distinction.
Does a President Putin have any road back, to any role in the European security architecture going forward?
And if not Putin, should Russia be given a chance, a Russia without Putin, say?
And that's a hypothetical, of course, at this point.
RASMUSSEN: Yes, that is hypothetical. But basically I think, from a rational point of view, we share interests in the community (ph) and
security wise with Russia.
[10:40:00]
RASMUSSEN: NATO has never, ever considered it a threat toward Russia. On the contrary, NATO and the European Union have created a show of stability
in the Western neighborhood of Russia.
That's what Russia has tried to achieve, during centuries, actually, this peaceful neighborhood of the West. We have done that.
So from a rational point of view, we should cooperate. But Mr. Putin is not thinking along rational lines. So with Putin, as the head of Russia, I
don't think we have any chance. He, as Russia, has become a international pariah, ruled by a political gangster.
ANDERSON: Anders Fogh Rasmussen, thank you for your time this evening. The former head of NATO, with some interesting and insightful analysis. Thank
you.
Coming up, the owner of one of the most popular football teams in the English Premier League finds himself on a sanctions list.
What does that mean for Chelsea Football Club and its fans?
We're going to be live at Stamford Bridge for you coming up.
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ANDERSON: It has been another 24 hours of extreme volatility in the oil markets. For the moment, prices are on the rise again. On Wednesday, U.S.
and Brent crude took a deep dive, a spiral, inspired by news we broke here on CNN, from the Emirati ambassador to Washington.
He said his country would encourage OPEC to produce more oil. But just hours later, state media published a statement from the energy minister
here, affirming his country's commitment to the existing monthly production figures agreed between OPEC member states and Russia, the group known as
OPEC+.
There has also been incredible volatility in the global stock markets. On Wall Street, the Dow, well, you can see it for yourself here, these are the
markets. You can see the Dow, the Nasdaq and the S&P. The Asia markets not in bad shape.
The oil price had taken an absolute dive while the markets were awake and functioning. So they closed higher. But the European markets, off the back
of a rise in oil price, taking a dive again.
And it's not just the oil price. There is extreme volatility because, quite frankly, investors hate uncertainty. And that is what we have at present.
CNN reporter Anna Stewart joining me now live from London to help break it all down.
Look, it is unclear at this point why the contradictory statements from, on the one hand, the UAE, ambassador to Washington and, on the other, the UAE
energy minister.
[10:45:00]
ANDERSON: What is clear is that the UAE is a member of OPEC+, which, of course, includes Russia. It is led as a group by Saudi Arabia, very close
to the UAE here. And they are one of the opportunities that the rest of the world might have, if they were prepared to pump a bit more oil at this
point.
And that is the reason, of course, when you see these sort of contradictory messages, why these oil markets are all over the place at present.
What investors are really looking at is a clear direction, isn't it?
ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And they thought they had it yesterday, when clearly everyone was watching your show, because the news that you
broke from the UAE ambassador didn't just generate headlines, Becky; you were moving markets.
The oil price drop was extraordinary, U.S. crude plunged as much as 14 percent, Brent crude was down 12 percent. It is what the market wanted to
hear.
They wanted to hear and had hoped for some time that OPEC would try and up their production, maybe bring some spare capacity to the market to fill the
gap that we already are seeing as investors shy away from Russian oil.
And, of course, now, an import ban from the U.S. and the U.K. Those expectations (INAUDIBLE) by the statement, also this tweet, just to make it
absolutely clear, what the UAE start actually is.
The energy minister tweeting, "The UAE believes in the value OPEC+" -- that does include Russia -- "brings to the oil market. The UAE is committed to
the OPEC+ agreement and its existing monthly production adjusted mechanism."
On that news, of course, oil prices rose right back up, still perhaps not as high as they have been in recent days. Of course, the UAE cannot operate
unilaterally. It needs the support of OPEC, particularly the de facto leader, Saudi Arabia. And it is not getting that.
It is interesting, last year, a clash between the two, the UAE wanting to up its production, Saudi Arabia disagreeing. There isn't actually as much
spare oil capacity on the OPEC market as there ordinarily is.
JPMorgan said it could bring on 3.2 million barrels per day on to market within 30 days for a period of 90 days. That's 3.2 million barrels per day
in spare capacity. Russia currently supplies around 10 million barrels per day.
ANDERSON: Fascinating, isn't it?
There have been disagreements in OPEC+ in the recent past, which saw oil prices absolutely spiraling to negative territory. So it is not an
unfamiliar story that there may be some disagreement in, you know, amongst its group. And, of course, it includes Russia.
It is highly disconcerting for the markets when there is disagreement within the sort of -- the narratives coming from one of those OPEC members.
Anyway, we will see what happens next. Thank you for that, Anna.
Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich has been added to the British government's list of individuals hit with sanctions over Russia's war in
Ukraine. He and the six other Russian oligarchs have added a combined net worth estimated at close to $20 billion.
Chelsea fans will see some changes, including no new ticket purchases for upcoming games. But the British government has given the club a special
license so they can continue playing.
(WORLD SPORT)
[10:50:00]
ANDERSON: Just ahead, orphaned children turned into refugees. For them, the journey from Ukraine can be as frightening as the attacks that they
have witnessed. Their stories -- and they deserve to be told -- are up next.
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(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON (voice-over): The ringing of cathedral bells in Switzerland in a show of solidarity with the people of Ukraine. It is one of many grand
displays of support around the world.
And in the U.S., a giant Ukrainian flag unfurled on a hotel across from the Russian embassy in Washington, a powerful message from the community there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: The World Health Organization says it has verified 24 attacks on health care facilities in Ukraine. And with more than 2 million people
running for their lives since the invasion began two weeks ago, the WHO is pitching in to help in the neighboring countries that have taken refugees.
And one group is looking after orphans who escaped the Russian attacks. Sara Sidner says they are now safe, at least for now, but have little hope
of returning home anytime soon.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SARA SIDNER, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The normal beautiful chaos of children at play but these children had been through
hell and back more than once in your young lives. Some are orphans, others foster children in Ukraine. And, suddenly, overnight, they became war
refugees fleeing over the Polish border from Kyiv.
The youngest one says, I want to go home. I am telling him that he can't. It is scary there. He does not understand. This is the only woman they know
as mama.
This is their comfort, their constant. She helped them escape Ukraine. But doing that meant leaving her own family behind and becoming a refugee
herself.
I have a daughter and mother in Ukraine, I am worrying so much but these children should be safe.
Her daughter is staying behind to fight Russia as a member of the Ukraine's territorial defense. These children have been fighting for their place in
the world from an early age.
[10:55:00]
SIDNER (voice-over): We are not showing their faces to protect them. And they're abused as well, actual physical abuse?
Before the war our children have been abused physically, psychologically, economically and sexually. They suffered. They did not have a childhood.
Now in Poland, they are safe at the SOS children's village. But the trauma of war and abuse never really goes away, their long time mental health
counselor says.
She's holding together to reassure the children even while they all hid in the basement with bombs exploding outside. It was around 4:00 A.M., I woke
my husband and told them, (INAUDIBLE) this is war. We started to seal the windows, the children started to scream. I was trying to calm them, look at
me briefed. We are going to seal the windows, everything is under control. Now we need you to stop the panic and help us.
So far, SOS Children's Village says it has brought 107 orphans and foster children out of Ukraine, some children escaped without seeing war up close,
others witnessed horrific scenes.
There is a girl, which is coming to us, she broke free from the hell of Irpin, a city that's been leveled and she witnessed a family being shot
before her eyes. When she thinks of the man responsible for raining down bombs and bullets on her beloved country, her tears turn to rage. Putin is
the second Hitler. It is serious. If the world doesn't stop him, there will be World War III.
Putin has said that he is going into Ukraine to kill Nazi's. You are saying that Putin is, in your mind, the new Hitler.
Yes, it is obvious now that he's not fighting Nazis.
While they are all grateful to escape to Poland, the children and adults all say they want one thing, to be able to cross the border home to a safe
Ukraine.
SIDNER: And I should mention that now the number of refugees in total that have come over the Polish border from Ukraine is now up to 1.3 million
people -- Sara Sidner, CNN, Poland.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: If you would like to help people in Ukraine, who may be in need of shelter, food and water, please use cnn.com/impact. You'll find several
ways there you can help the people in Ukraine, of course, those who have had to flee this terrible, terrible violence.
I want to leave you this hour with music from the Kyiv Classic Orchestra, performing the national anthem in the city's Maidan Square. I will see you
after the break.
END
