for tiktok tonight at nine. And
we're back with our world lead a
top Ukrainian general, insisting
that Russia is losing steam. In
the battle for the key eastern
city of Bach moot, the general
vowing of Ukrainian counter
offensive will start their quote
very soon after months of
grinding, punishing urban
warfare. Further south Ukrainian
president Vladimir zelensky
continues his tour of hotspots
today visiting the recently
liberated city of her son on
what Zelinsky calls a mission to
restore and rebuild. CNN's David
Mckenzie is live for us in
Odessa, Ukraine, David the world
bank, estimates that the
country's reconstruction ah,
after the devastation caused by
Russia is going to cost at least
$400 billion. What would the top
rebuilding priority bait? Well,
Jake, the top rebuilding
priorities everything. You look
at that number 400 odd billion
dollars. That's a billion and
allow at least 135 billion of
that is direct damage from the
relentless strikes of Russians,
according to the world bank, and
of course, that number goes up
and up as this war drags on. You
had that statement. Coming from
that senior commander in the
eastern front that in bomb mood
and around that area, they have
depleted forces significantly
the Russian forces and he
believes at least this is one
man talking that there could be
a possibility of a successful
counter offensive soon. Now that
is up for debate. Certainly,
while we've been here, Jake this
time, there is a sense that
there is frustration from
leadership that they need the
weapons in to try and make that
counter offensive happened, Jake
president Zelinsky just said in
a meeting with the European
council. That victory Ukrainian
victory is possible this year,
but that there are key areas of
cooperation that are inadequate.
What does he mean by that? Well,
we've heard president zelensky
going on and on about this, Jake
that he needs more sophisticated
weapons, he said. Specifically
they're looking for longer range
weapons for more modern aircraft
. They've had pledges from silva
Kia even today for those older
mig soviet area attack craft,
but he said he needs better
weapons. He put it in an
interesting way, said it's not
just months it's weeks. It's
days and any delay that comes
from their European partners
could mean in his words, the
enemy. Getting the momentum, so
I think it's a very critical
period here in Ukraine. Those
weapons from the us from Europe
. Those artillery shells are
coming in. It's not fast enough
for the Ukrainians, whether that
delay or lag or speed of which
is coming in has a direct impact
on this possible counter
offensive. Well, it's too early
to say, but you do feel they're
gearing up for this fight. Okay
David Mckenzie and Odessa,
Ukraine. Thank you so much.
Let's bring in democratic
senator from Connecticut and
member of the senate foreign
relations committee. Senator
Chris Murphy. Senator yeah, you
have applauded your Republican
colleagues when they came out
and disagreed with Republican
Florida governor Ron Desantis.
Who said that the fight in
Ukraine was a territorial
dispute, not in America's vital
interests. Desantis um, it gave
another interview in which he
declared Putin a war criminal
and said that Putin should be
held accountable. What did you
make of that? I think he's
listening to the criticism. I
mean, his position is not a
mainstream position in America.
Today Republicans and Democrats
in my state still support
Ukraine because they do believe
there's a connection between
fighting. The Russians and
protecting Ukrainian democracy
and protecting our own democracy
. So it could be that Desantis
realized he got way out of step
with where the broad American
electorate is, and he's you
know, trying to make up the
difference. Um the problem is
that it's not just Ron Desantis
. It's not just Donald Trump.
There's a growing number of
Republicans in the house of
representatives who are saying
the same things and ultimately,
at some point this year, we're
going to have to authorize
additional assistance.
Especially if this offensive
shows some signs of promise, and
it's going to be a little bit
harder this year with the
Desantis and trump wing of the
Republican party being in
control of the house to get that
bipartisan support for Ukraine
aid that we had in the last year
. Let's talk about the two day
meeting this week between
autocrats Vladimir Putin and XI
jinping. Um it's clear that
wasn't that that there's no
peace plan that came out of that
meeting, even though no
meaningful one anyway, even
though there was talk of that
peace plan for Russia and
Ukraine, and it's also clear
that wasn't really their focus.
They really talked more about
how they can help each other in
other ways. Um at the same time
, I should note China continues
to not promise publicly any
lethal aid to Russia to defeat
Ukraine. Um what did you make of
that? Well I listen, I think
it's um it's a sign of the
difficult spot. China is in
right. It's very attractive to
them to make Russia a client
state of China, the reverse of
how mouth and Stalin dealt with
each other decades ago. Um and
so I'm sure there are those
inside Chinese government who
are telling she you should give
defensive weapons. It creates a
30 year dependency. Um Russia on
China, but he knows the cost
that would come if he was to
provide the assistance that
allowed Russia to make a
breakthrough or if he was
providing the assistance that
prevented a diplomatic agreement
from being achieved. It would be
a fundamental break between the
United States, Europe and China
and a moment when China's
economy couldn't withstand that
right post covid lockdown. The
Chinese economy is in more
trouble than it's been before.
They're not seeing 78% growth
rates, and so he's got to be
very careful to preserve his
economic relationship with the