President Biden is in Poland today. Meeting with a key NATO ally
that shares borders with both Ukraine and Russia. Mr. Biden ends
his night in Warsaw ahead of what the White House calls a major address
tomorrow in the Polish capital.
Meantime, in Ukraine, the horrific toll of a Russian airstrike on
a theater in the south came into sharper and terrible focus, but
our Jane Ferguson again begins our coverage with the president's
visit near the front.
Hey, folks, thanks Goodbye. Six facts visiting American troops in
Poland. The president thanked them for defending NATO's borders,
but said their mission was bigger
going to prevail.
Democracy is going to prevail. In the end the values we share
Or autocracy is going to prevail.
Naturally, what's at stake.
So what you're doing is consequential.
Really consequential. Mr. Biden also thanked his Polish hosts for
welcoming more than 2.2 million refugees. The most of any country.
Neighboring Ukraine. Suffering is taking place now. Is that your
doorstep you're the ones are risky.
In some cases, your lives, risking all you know to try to help. The
president also announced more natural gas exports to Europe at least
15 billion cubic meters.
The EU buys more than a quarter of its oil and nearly half its gas
from Russia. Putin has issued Russia's energy resources that course
and manipulate its neighbors.
And so is used. It is used the profits to drive his war machine to
punish the West over sanctions. President Vladimir Putin asked that
Russian gas exports be paid in rubles.
Sending European gas prices soaring. The EU called it blackmail.
But member nations remain divided over a Russian oil and gas embargo
nearly 2000 miles away. In the southern city of Mariupol, civilians
remain besieged, bombarded and now, according to officials, starving
to death as food runs out.
Yes, we have thrill of for the first time Video emerged from inside
a landmark theater showing survivors in shock after a deliberate
Russian airstrike.
Following a week spent searching the wreckage, local officials said.
300 victims died for the first time in days, Russia agreed to to
humanitarian corridors, including one from Mariupol.
But inside the city, thousands remain trapped in this open air prison.
They dig graves by the roadside. Victoria's stepfather was killed
two weeks ago. Until now, the cold weather made the soil too hard
to bury him.
We possibly Doctor
Association When the doctor was taking her stepfather to the hospital.
This guy took a seat in the car instead of me, and they blew him
up in this car.
It could have been me. Ukraine says Russia is distributing aid in
parts of the city it seized, but for many, it's not enough to stay
alive. My husband didn't make it to receive humanitarian aid. He
had diabetes. The scarce diet of the last days led him to a coma
and he died.
A senior U. S defense official said today. Russia is focusing its
military objectives in the eastern Donbass region, the official said.
Russian forces don't want to pursue Kiev aggressively taking defensive
positions, a Russian official suggested. That was always the plan.
The main objectives of the first stage of the operation have generally
been accomplished.
The combat potential of the armed forces of Ukraine has been considerably
reduced, which makes it possible to focus our core efforts on achieving
the main goal. The liberation of Donbass, But for now, there are
still cross country attacks.
In Kharkiv. There were explosions near humanitarian distribution
site to the north. The city of Sharna heave is all but cut off losing
its main road bridge in an air strike this week,
a day after President Vladimir Zelensky called for global demonstrations.
European capitals overflowed with Ukrainian flags and many Ukrainian
people. Ukraine is my home and we want to come back to our home.
Two.
And Jane joins us now from Poland, Jane. So tell us more about this
announcement from the Russian military. Is this a climb down on their
part?
Judy. There is potential in that We've seen them coming out with
all of these statements today, talking about how first of all the
first phase of this military operation that special military operations
they call it. They refused to call it a war has been quote unquote
successful or completed by them. They've said that they have
Decimated or massively reduced the capabilities of the Ukrainian
military. We know that's not true that they will be moving on to
Phase two, which would be shoring up and supporting the Donbass region
in the Far East. That's the rest of separatist part of the country.
Now it is. There's hope that this could be an indicator that Putin
is trying to find some sort of off ramp to save face. He has to answer
to the Russian people for the potentially 15,000 soldiers, Russian
soldiers that are believed to have been killed in this fighting,
and for the fact that they couldn't take Keith we we know from intelligence
reports.
That the initial plan was to try to decapitate the government in
Kiev and replace it with a more Russian friendly one that they had
much broader plans and ambitions. They invaded this country from
many different angles and different positions.
So this there's a possibility that this could be an attempt to start
a narrative which saves face, But But don't forget this is coming
from the Russian military. We've heard no such words from Putin himself
yet, so it might be too optimistic to think it is a climb Bouncer,
Jane what then are thought to be Putin's other options here?
You're right. It could be too optimistic. We've seen words saying,
you know, you know that that this they're changing tack, but we're
also seeing attacks on cities Those could continue. Putin still has.
He may not be able to send his troops into those cities to take them
over. But he still has missiles that airstrikes that he can continue
to bombard cities with
President Biden has also raised again several times now the possibility
that Putin could use biological or chemical weapons, and, of course,
he Russia is a nuclear power. So for now, although these words might
be encouraging for some, there's still so there's still other options.
Deadlier options.
That Biden could choose to use in the coming weeks and months.
So grim that to think what Vladimir Putin could do Jane Ferguson
joining us tonight from Poland. Thank you, Jane.
And the news hours. Coverage of the Russian invasion is supported