Anderson Cooper 360

U.S. and NATO officials warn Russia now appears poised to “bombard cities into submission” which could inflict significant civilian casualties. Retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling tells AC360 this isn’t only an attempt at “killing the civilian population” but also an attempt to just “eliminate the Ukrainian culture.” Plus, Anderson Cooper checks in again with Olena Gnes, who’s been in a Kyiv shelter for eight days with her three children while her husband is fighting the Russian forces.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There’s a fire at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and at one point the country’s foreign minister said the Russian army is “firing from all sides.” Fighting has now stopped, and background radiation levels are currently normal, according to plant spokesman Andrii Tuz. Graham Allison is a nuclear policy expert and a professor at Harvard Kennedy School. He joins AC360 to discuss how worried Ukrainians and the world should be. Plus, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the war in Ukraine is “going according to plan” as France gave a chilling warning that the “worst is yet to come.” Retired Gen. Wesley Clark is the former NATO Supreme Allied Commander. He tells Anderson Cooper what he thinks the Russian strategy could be. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

U.S. officials warn that Russia’s strategy in its war on Ukraine will start to target civilians and seek a “slow annihilation” of Ukraine’s army. Ukrainian forces have been able to hold their ground while maintaining control of Kyiv and other major cities except the city of Kherson, which appears to have fallen to the Russians. Retired Gen. David Petraeus is the former Head of U.S. Central Command and was the CIA Director under President Obama. He joins AC360 to discuss the Russian military strategy and how he thinks they’ll try to take control of Kyiv. Plus, Olena Gnes has been hiding in a shelter with her three children for six days while her husband is out fighting the Russian forces. She tells Anderson Cooper about returning to her home for an hour to get more clothes and to shower and how afraid her children were to leave the shelter. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Concern mounts across Ukraine as Russia continues its increasingly aggressive bombing campaign after a large explosion destroyed a government building in central Kharkiv. In a CNN exclusive interview, CNN Senior International Correspondent Matthew Chance spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He asked Zelensky whether he's concerned if Russia will double down on its military operations, and tells Anderson Cooper about the toll this war has taken on the Ukrainian president. Plus, in this special edition of AC360, CNN's Jake Tapper examines the priorities of President Biden's first State of the Union address. He sits down with CNN Chief Political Correspondent Dana Bash, CNN Senior Political Correspondent Abby Phillip, and CNN Chief White House Correspondent Kaitlan Collins.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

U.S. officials fear the worst is yet to come in the capital of Ukraine as they warn Russian President Vladimir Putin could increase the intensity of the attack. CNN’s Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward is in Kyiv and tells AC360 what she’s been seeing and hearing. Plus, according to satellite images, the Russian convoy near Kyiv is more than 40 miles long. People in the capital city have been taking shelter for days. Olena Gnes is a mom to three children and has been hiding in a makeshift bomb shelter since last Thursday without her husband who is volunteering to fight the Russians. She tells Anderson Cooper how she’s explaining what is happening to her kids and why she decided to stay in Ukraine.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Explosions are seen and heard in Kyiv and clashes are underway in an eastern suburb of the Ukrainian capital. This comes as the President of Ukraine confirms Russian forces are closing in on the city and warns “the fate of Ukraine is being decided right now.” Anderson talks with CNN Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward who is on the ground in Kyiv.  And, as Russia continues its assault on Ukraine, the White House announced the U.S. will personally sanction Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Democratic Congressman Jason Crow joins AC360 to give his take on the latest round of sanctions.  To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ukraine President Zelensky says he believes Russian sabotage groups have entered the capital of Kyiv and that they’ve marked him as “target number one” and his family as “target number two.” CNN’s Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward tells Anderson Cooper whether or not Zelensky plans to stay in Kyiv. Plus, President Biden announced new “strong” sanctions on Russia and said Putin “has committed an assault on the very principles that uphold global peace.” David Remnick is an editor for The New Yorker and the author of "Lenin's Tomb: The Last Days of the Soviet Empire.” He joins AC360 to discuss why Putin wants Ukraine.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ukraine is on high alert after the U.S. warned an attack could be “imminent.” Several Ukraine airports closed as Ukrainian President Zelensky said the “trigger” for Russian invasion could happen at “any minute.” William Cohen served as the Secretary of Defense during the Clinton administration. He tells Anderson Cooper how far he thinks the Biden administration should go with sanctions against Russia. Plus, President Zelensky said he tried to call Russian President Putin but was unsuccessful. Steve Hall is the former CIA Chief of Russia. He joins AC360 to discuss what Putin’s rationale could be for invading Ukraine.Airdate: February 23, 2022Guests: William Cohen and Steve Hall.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Biden announced new sanctions to punish Moscow and described what is currently happening in Ukraine as “the beginning of a Russian invasion.” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also canceled his meeting with Russia's foreign minister. CNN’s Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward is in Kyiv, Ukraine. She tells AC360 Ukraine’s first choice is diplomacy but if that doesn’t work they plan to “fight for every inch” of their land. Plus, Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell blamed the Biden administration’s “weakness” for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Maggie Haberman is the Washington correspondent for The New York Times. She joins AC360 to discuss McConnell’s comments and the Republican party’s view of Putin. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into two separatist pro-Moscow regions in eastern Ukraine after recognizing their independence. The U.S. expects Russian troops to move into the Donbas region as soon as Monday evening or Tuesday for what Putin called a “peacekeeping” mission. Gen. Wesley Clark (Ret.) is the former NATO Supreme Allied Commander. He tells AC360 what he thinks will happen over the next several hours and days. Plus, the jury in the federal hate crimes trial of the three men convicted of murdering Ahmaud Arbery wrapped up its first day of deliberations. Keisha Lance Bottoms is the former mayor of Atlanta and is a CNN Political Commentator. She joins AC360 to discuss the trial and whether she thinks the prosecution did enough to prove their case.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices