>> GOOD MORNING. I'M JOE FRYER. AND I'M SAVANNAH SELLERS BEGIN WITH DAY 7 OF THE WAR IN UKRAINE RIGHT NOW. RUSSIAN TROOPS ARE GRADUALLY GETTING CLOSER TO THE CAPITAL OF KIEV, BLASS, AN AIR RAID SIRENS WERE HEARD ACROSS SEVERAL MAJOR CITIES
OVERNIGHT. ♪ UKRAINIAN MILITARY SAYS RUSSIANS ARE TRYING TO ADVANCE IN ALL DIRECTIONS THIS MORNING. ALSO CLOSING IN ON THE SOUTHERN CITY OF KERSHAW WHERE THIS APARTMENT BUILDING WAS HIT BY RUSSIAN SHOWING RIGHT NOW UKRAINE SAYS IT STILL CONTROLS THE CITY WITH THE MAYOR THERE SAYING, QUOTE, WE ARE ALL WAITING FOR A MIRACLE RIGHT NOW. >> AS RUSSIA INTENSIFIES ATTACKS. UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT IS TELLING PUTIN TO STOP THE BOMBING AND SIT DOWN AT THE NEGOTIATION TABLE. AND LAST NIGHT PRESIDENT BIDEN SPENT PART OF HIS FIRST STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS TALKING ABOUT THE INVASION OF UKRAINE ANNOUNCING HIS CLOSING US AIRSPACE TO THE RUSSIANS. FURTHER ISOLATING PUTIN. >> RUSSIA'S VLADIMIR PUTIN SOUGHT TO SHAKE THE VERY FOUNDATIONS OF THE FREE WORLD. >> THANK YOU TO AGAIN, MAKE IT BEND. >> TO HIS MENACING BUT A BADLY MISCALCULATED. >> WE BEGIN OUR COVERAGE THIS HOUR WITH NBC'S CHIEF FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT RICHARD ENGEL WHO FILED THIS REPORT FROM UKRAINE'S CAPITAL KIEV. >> THIS IS THE TELEVISION TOWER HERE IN KIEV THAT RUSSIA TARGETED NEXT TO A HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL AND IT SEEMS THAT RUSSIAN FORCES MISS THEIR MAIN TARGET BECAUSE THE TOWER IS STILL STANDING. IT IS STILL WORKING AS UKRAINIAN RESISTANCE AND RUSSIAN LOGISTICAL PROBLEMS ARE SLOWING DOWN. VLADIMIR PUTINS ASSAULT. >> FIREFIGHTERS OVERNIGHT BATTLE. WHAT COULD BE THE FLAMES OF PRESIDENT PUTIN'S FRUSTRATION AFTER FRESH RUSSIAN ATTACKS OVERNIGHT. RUSSIA HAS INTENSIFIED ITS AIR AND MISSILE ASSAULTS AS RUSSIAN FORCES LAY SIEGE TO UKRAINE'S SECOND SEE WOULD BE A TRIAL RUN FOR THE CAPITAL. KILLING. A HEALTH. OFFICIALS SAID MORE THAN 20 CIVILIANS ACROSS THE CITY SINCE YESTERDAY SAYS THAT UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT ZELINSKY ACCUSED RUSSIA OF USING BRUTALITY AGAINST CIVILIANS OUT TO HIM TO SIGN A DEAL WITH MOSCOW APPLY CLICK SAYS FOR HIS EXIT AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS PROTESTING THOSE TACTICS. 100 DIPLOMATS WALKING OUT OF A SPEECH BY RUSSIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER AT THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ON TUESDAY. >> 40 MILE RUSSIAN CONVOYS HEADING TOWARD >> BUT IT'S PROGRESS IS TOLD US OFFICIALS SAY BECAUSE OF A LACK OF FUEL AND FOOD. RUSSIAN FORCES ARE STILL EXPECTED TO ENCIRCLE AND ATTACKED THE CAPITOL AFTER UKRAINIAN SAID RUSSIA BOMBED A KEY TELEVISION TOWER AND THE HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL SITE. IN KIEV. WE WENT TO UKRAINE'S BIGGEST HOSPITAL FOR MOTHERS AND BABIES. THE COLD STORAGE AREA DOWNSTAIRS. NOW A WAR FOR FRAGILE PATIENTS BETTER ARENAS. 2 DAUGHTERS, DIANA AND SOPHIA WERE BORN AT 5 MONTHS THEY WERE IN AN OXYGEN CHAMBER TOGETHER THE RUSSIANS STARTED BOMBING AT THIS. WE HAD TO RUSH DOWN HERE AS WE WERE HEARING THE SIRENS AN EXPLOSION. SHE SAYS, LOOK AT THIS PLACE. IT'S OLD. AND RUSTY, WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG WE'LL BE HERE. >> WHAT ABOUT YOUR FAMILY? HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO SEE THE REST OF YOUR FAMILY OR YOU JUST HERE BY YOURSELF. I HAVE A BROTHER WHO HELPED ME, BUT HE'S A SOLDIER HAS BEEN HAVE NOBODY LOOKS ON HIS DAUGHTER. NICOLE WAS BORN COMPLEX NEEDS AND REQUIRES CONSTANT LOSSES BECAUSE WE WERE GIVING HER A BLOOD TRANSFUSION EVERY 2 WEEKS. BUT NOW HER CONDITION IS WORSE AND SHE FEELS OR SO SANA SAYS. >> HOW ARE YOU FEELING I HAVE A CHILD MYSELF WHO HAS SPECIAL NEEDS AND HAS EXTRA HEALTH ISSUES. AND I KNOW HOW HOW POWERLESS YOU CAN FEEL TO BE A PARENT WITH A WITH A SICK CHILD. >> VERY HARD, SHE SAYS WE WANT THIS WAR TO STOP BECAUSE OUR KIDS SUFFER WE CANNOT GO HOME. >> AND AS THAT CONVOY SLOWLY MAKES ITS WAY TOWARD THE CITY. KIDS MAYOR TOLD RESIDENTS TO STOCK UP ON SUPPLIES AND GET READY TO DEFEND THEIR CITY. AND FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THIS CONFLICT BROKE OUT UKRAINIAN TROOPS ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WENT TODAY ON THE OFFENSIVE. ALL RIGHT, RICHARD, THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> LET'S BRING IN COLONEL MARK HANSEN, SENIOR ADVISER AT THE CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES. A GOOD MORNING TO YOU. YOU JUST HEARD RICHARD'S REPORT FROM KIEV. WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE RUSSIAN ADVANCES SO FAR, INCLUDING THESE ATTACKS ON PLACES WHERE CIVILIANS LIVE. >> WE'RE ENTERING THE SECOND PHASE OF THE OFFENSIVE IN THE FIRST PHASE. THE RUSSIANS ARE COUNTED ON THE UKRAINIANS COLLAPSING. THE I STARTED THIS SHOCK AND AWE CAMPAIGN, YOU KNOW, WITH A MISSILE ATTACKS AND AIR ATTACKS AIRFIELDS AND HEADQUARTERS AND THEN THEY INVADED ALONG 3 AXES ALONG THE NORTH TOWARDS YOU'VE IN THE NORTH TOWARDS CAR KEYS AND IN THE SOUTH. I CRIMEA AND THEY SAID ARMORED COLUMNS AHEAD TO TRY TO CAPTURE CITIES BEFORE UKRAINIAN DEFENSES COULD BE ESTABLISHED. THOSE COLUMNS PUSHBACK UNDEFEATED. NOW THE RUSSIANS ARE DOUBLING DOWN ON THEIR INVASION THAT BRINGING UP ADDITIONAL FORCES AS AS WE'VE SEEN. AND UNFORTUNATELY THIS SECOND PHASE IS LIKELY TO BE VERY VIOLENT. RUSSIAN DOCTRINE CALLS FOR THE MASSIVE APPLICATION FIRE POWER. WE'RE SEEING THAT AND CAR-KEEV NOW. AND I THINK IN THIS SECOND PHASE AS THE RUSSIANS WANT A SERIES OF OFFENSIVES. WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT MORE OF THAT. AND UNFORTUNATELY A LOT OF CIVILIAN CASUALTIES. AND COLONEL, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE. PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCED LAST NIGHT. THE U.S. IS BANNING RUSSIAN PLANES FROM US AIRSPACE. JUST THE LATEST MOVE TO TRY AND ISOLATE RUSSIA. >> WHAT MORE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE U.S. AND ALLIES DO AND WHAT WILL BE THE CLUES YOU'RE LOOKING FOR TO SEE IF IF THESE ACTIONS ARE HAVING ANY IMPACT AT ALL. >> WELL, WE HAVE COMMUNITY IS ALREADY DOING WALK-IN THE SANCTIONS HAVE VERY SEVERE ECONOMIC ISOLATION OF OF IS INCREASING AND YOU'RE SEEING A LOT OF SECONDARY EFFECT INSTITUTIONS AROUND THE WORLD TAKING THEIR OWN ACTIONS. SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, EXCLUDING THE RUSSIANS AND DOING MORE OF THAT INCREASING RUSSIAN ISOLATION SO THAT THE ORDINARY RUSSIAN CITIZENS SHIELDS THAT I THINK WOULD BE A VERY GOOD STEP IN THIS HAPPENING. WE'RE DOING WEAPONS TRANSFERS. YOU KNOW, WE'RE SENDING SUPPLIES. IT'S POSSIBLE TO INCREASE. THOSE HAS BEEN SOME TALK ABOUT MAYBE SENDING AIRCRAFTS. SO WE HAVE EVER AIRCRAFT THAT THERE UKRAINIANS COULD USE IMMEDIATELY. THERE WAS SOME BACK AND FORTH ON THAT WITH NATO. AN EMBARGO WELL, THAT'S A NATURAL GAS SEEMS TO BE OFF THE TABLE BECAUSE THE EUROPEANS ARE SO DEPENDENT ON A RUSSIAN OIL AND NATURAL GAS. ONE IDEA THAT'S FLOATING AROUND THAT I THINK WOULD BE VERY DANGEROUS IS IS A NO FLY ZONE. IT SOUNDS BENIGN. BUT WHAT WE SAW IN IRAQ WHEN THE UNITED STATES IMPOSED THAT IS THAT. THAT WOULD ENTAIL WAR WITH THE WITH RUSSIA. WE'VE GOT TO SEND HUNDREDS OF OVER TO ATTACK RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT AND AIR FIELDS. WE HAVE TO SUPPRESS THEIR DEFENSES. IT WOULD BE WAR WITH RUSSIA AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY. SUPPORT FOR THAT. AMONG THE PUBLIC AND CERTAINLY READY FOR THAT. HAVE YOU. I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE SUPPORT WE'RE SEEING FROM ESPECIALLY EUROPE AND THE WEST REALLY UNITING BEHIND UKRAINIANS LIVING THE SEVERE SANCTIONS SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA. >> WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ALLIANCES LIKE NATO. WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS AND WEEKS. IT'S A CRISIS HAS REVITALIZED NATO. >> JUST A COUPLE YEARS AGO, THE UNITED STATES WAS STRUGGLING TO GET NATO TO INCREASE IN SPENDING IN TO TAKE THE THREAT IN THE EAST. MORE SERIOUSLY. THE ALLIANCE HAS BEEN VERY UNITED. EVEN MEMBERS WHO WERE THOUGHT MAYBE TO BE A LITTLE IFFY LIKE HUNGRY OF HAVE COME ALONG DIPLOMATIC ACTIONS AND THE GERMANS HAVE DONE OUT COMPLETE REVERSAL. YOU KNOW, A MONTH AGO THEY WERE ESSENTIALLY APPEASING PUTIN. NOW THEY'VE SHUT DOWN THE NORD STREAM 2 AND THEY PLEDGED TO INCREASE THEIR DEFENSE SPENDING WHICH HAVE BEEN VERY LOW IN THE GERMAN MILITARY FORCES HAVE IN A VERY BAD WAY. SO I THINK GOING FORWARD, YOU'RE GOING TO NATO. INCREASING ITS SPENDING AND TAKING MORE AGGRESSIVE ACTIONS. ALL RIGHT. COLONEL MARK HANSON, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. WE APPRECIATE IT. >> NOW TO THE GROWING REFUGEE CRISIS IN CENTRAL EUROPE. THE UNITED NATIONS ESTIMATES. MORE THAN 660,000 PEOPLE HAVE FLED UKRAINE IN THE PAST WEEK, INCLUDING COUNTLESS FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN. NBC NEWS SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT TOMMY ON THIS HAS BEEN SPEAKING WITH SOME OF THOSE FAMILIES WATCHING VERY EMOTIONAL GOOD-BYES AND HE JOINS US NOW FROM LOVE, EVEN WESTERN UKRAINE. HI, TOM. GOOD MORNING. >> HEY, SAVANNAH, GOOD MORNING TO YOU. YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN COVERING THIS ALMOST A WEEK NOW AND I SEE NO SIGN OF IT SLOWING DOWN THIS REFUGEE CRISIS JUST BEHIND ME. THESE ARE SOME OF THE UKRAINIANS TRYING TO GET OUT OF HERE. THEY'VE BEEN WAITING FOR HOURS. THEY TELL ME HOPING TO GET ON A TRAIN, THE POLE AND THE SAD REALITY IS THAT A LOT OF THAT RAIN TODAY ARE MOVING TO BORDER TOWNS STILL IN UKRAINE, THOUGH ROMANIA POLAND HUNGARY IS NECESSARILY MEAN YOU'RE GOING TO GET OUT. BUT AT LEAST YOU GET CLOSER AND FOR ALL OF THESE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY ALL THESE FAMILIES ARE WILLING TO TAKE THAT >> THIS MORNING. THE FLOOD OF UKRAINIAN REFUGEES SHOWING NO SIGN OF SLOWING YOUNG AND OLD FACING HARSH WINTER CONDITIONS AS THEY FLEE THE VIOLENCE IN THEIR COUNTRY. >> THESE KIDS AND QUITE COLD. NOW IT'S YOU KNOW, THE GREEN IS NOT IF FAMILIES DO MAKE IT OUT. THIS IS WHERE SOME OF THEM COME. >> A MAKESHIFT REFUGEE CAMP ACROSS THE BORDER IN POLAND. MANY HERE ARE UNSURE OF WHAT TO DO OR WHERE TO GO TO NEXT. THOSE WHO REMAIN IN UKRAINE PREPARING FOR BATTLE VOLUNTEERS WEAVING CAMOUFLAGE NETS TO PROTECT VEHICLES AND SERVICE MEN FROM RUSSIAN DRONES AND PLANES. LONG LINES OF CIVILIANS FORMING A GUN SHOPS TO PURCHASE WEAPONS. JUST DAYS AGO. 19 YEAR-OLD. BUT HOLLY WAS AT THE UNIVERSITY IN SO USE YOUR THE OF THE RUSSIANS KNOW AND THAT'S SCARY BECAUSE SO WE KNOW WHAT WE FIGHT FOR WE PRAY I WILL FIGHT FOR JUSTICE AND FOR FREEDOM AND FOR LIMITED. >> THE RUSSIANS, THEY DO NOT KNOW WAS A FIGHT FOR 30 YEAR-OLD MARINA HAS JUST LEFT HER HOME IN THE COUNTRY'S CAPITAL. WHY DID YOU COME OUT HERE WHERE YOU LIVE EVE. >> BECAUSE IT WAS SO HORRIBLE TO SAY IM KM. IT WAS SCARY. THEY BEEN US. AND I WAS I DIDN'T BELONG TO MYSELF. I WAS GOING CRAZY. >> AND EVERY HOUR MORE TEARFUL SCENES LIKE THIS. FAMILIES
BEING SEPARATED FACING BEING SEPARATED FACING
UNCERTAIN FUTURES. >> SO THE UN HAS A NEW >> SO THE UN HAS A NEW ESTIMATE OUT. THEY THINK ABOUT 4 MILLION UKRAINIANS WILL TRY TO ESCAPE THIS COUNTRY. HAVING COVERED THIS NOW FOR A LITTLE BIT. I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF THAT NUMBER STILL IS MUCH HIGHER BEHIND ME. YOU CAN SEE ALL THE CHILDREN OF UKRAINE WHO ARE TRYING TO GET OUT SO MANY FAMILIES HERE EVERY DAY WE COME OUT HERE. WE HOPE TO SEE THESE LINES STAYING OUT. BUT THE CROWDS ARE STILL THE SAME SIZE. PEOPLE STILL SO DESPERATE. SO SAD, SO READY TO GET OUT OF THIS COUNTRY. AT LEAST WHILE THIS WAR. SO GOING ON. JOIN SAVANNAH, BACK TO YOU GUYS. SO MANY CHILDREN, HIS FATHER'S ALSO HAD TO TURN BACK TO FIGHT. TOM, THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> IN HIS STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS LAST NIGHT. PRESIDENT BIDEN BALANCE GLOBAL AND DOMESTIC POLICY CRITICIZING RUSSIA'S DECISION TO INVADE UKRAINE. WILL LOOKING TO EASE AMERICANS CONCERNS OVER THE ECONOMY AND THE PANDEMIC. NBC NEWS CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT PETER ALEXANDER HAS A RECAP. >> GOOD MORNING. THIS REALLY WAS A TALE OF 2 SPEECHES LAST NIGHT. FIRST THE STATE OF THE WORLD OR MORE SPECIFICALLY THE STATE OF UKRAINE STACKED ON TOP OF A MUCH MORE TRADITIONAL STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS. PRESIDENT BIDEN SLAMMING VLADIMIR PUTINS WAR ARGUING THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT IS NOW MORE ISOLATED FROM THE WORLD THAN EVER AND THAT THE U.S. AND ITS ALLIES ARE INFLICTING PAIN ON MASK MOSCOW BEFORE LOOKING TO REVIVE HIS STALLED AGENDA BACK HERE AT HOME. ENTERING A CHAMBER FILLED WITH YELLOW AND BLUE, THE COLORS OF THE UKRAINIAN FLAG. PRESIDENT BIDEN FORCEFULLY CONDEMNING VLADIMIR PUTIN. >> DENOUNCING THE RUSSIAN INVASION AS PREMEDITATED TOTALLY UNPROVOKED AT A MISTAKE OF HISTORIC PROPORTIONS. SEE BADLY MISCALCULATED. >> HE THOUGHT HE COULD ROLL INTO UKRAINE AND THE WORLD WOULD ROLL OVER. >> INSTEAD HE MET WITH THEM ALL WALL OF STRENGTH. HE NEVER ANTICIPATED OR IMAGINED. >> HE MET UKRAINIAN PEOPLE. UKRAINE'S AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S. RECEIVING A STANDING OVATION AT AN EMBRACE FROM FIRST LADY JILL BIDEN. WELL, THE PRESIDENT EMPHASIZED U.S. TROOPS WOULD NOT FIGHT IN UKRAINE. HE DELIVERED THIS EMPHATIC WARNING TO RUSSIA, THE UNITED STATES AND OUR ALLIES WILL DEFEND EVERY INCH
OF TERRITORY THAT IS NATO OF TERRITORY THAT IS NATO TERRITORY FOR THE FALL. WITH RUSSIA ALREADY FACING CRIPPLING ECONOMIC SANCTIONS. THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCING A NEW PENALTY TO FURTHER ISOLATE MOSCOW BARRING ALL RUSSIAN FLIGHTS FROM US AIRSPACE. THE PRESIDENT ALSO SUGGESTING AMERICA IS FINALLY EMERGING FROM THE PANDEMIC. STOP LOOKING TO COVID AS A PARTISAN DIVIDE IN LINE. FOR WHAT IT IS. I GOT OFF OF THE DISEASE. AND DESPITE A FAST GROWING ECONOMY. PRESIDENT BIDEN ACKNOWLEDGING TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE STILL FEELING THE PAIN OF RISING PRICES INFLATION. >> HE'S ROBBING THEM GAMES. THEY THOUGHT OTHERWISE THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO FEEL. I GET IN ONE SURPRISING MOMENT OF UNITY. THE PRESIDENT TRIED TO MOVE HIS PARTY TO THE MIDDLE WITH A MESSAGE ON CRIME THAT EVEN GOT SOME REPUBLICANS ON THEIR FEET. AND THE ANSWER IS NOT TO DEFINE WITH POLICE. >> IS TO FUND THROUGHOUT HIS SPEECH. THE PRESIDENT WAS REPEATEDLY HECKLED BY A PAIR OF FAR RIGHT REPUBLICANS, MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE AND LAUREN BOEBERT INCLUDING WHAT HE INVOKED THE MEMORY OF HIS LATE SON. I >> ONE OF THOSE. >> ONE OF THOSE SOLDIERS WITH MY SON MAJOR BEAU BIDEN BOEBERT YELLING 13 A VETERAN APPARENT REFERENCE TO THE NUMBER OF SERVICE MEMBERS KILLED DURING THE U.S. IS CHAOTIC WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN. THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH IMMEDIATELY PANNED BY IOWA'S GOVERNOR KIM REYNOLDS WHO GAVE THE REPUBLICAN RESPONSE IT'S TIME TO LEAD. >> BUT WE CAN'T PROJECT STRENGTH ABROAD. IF WE'RE WEAK AT HOME. >> IN THE END, PRESIDENT BIDEN PRAISING AMERICANS RESILIENCE AND THE STATE OF THE UNION IS STRONG BECAUSE YOU THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. OUR STRONG. >> WITH COVID CASES DECLINING THE PRESIDENT ALSO DETAIL THE NEXT PHASE OF HIS PANDEMIC RESPONSE, INCLUDING A NEW TEST TO TREAT INITIATIVE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE PATIENTS WITH NEW ANTI-VIRAL MEDICATIONS JUST AS SOON AS THEY LEARNED THAT THEY ARE INFECTED STILL ON UKRAINE. THE KEY ISSUE IN THIS MOMENT OF GLOBAL UNCERTAINTY. PRESIDENT BIDEN REALLY LOOKED TO RALLY THE WORLD TOGETHER IN ITS FIGHT AGAINST AUTOCRACY OVERSEAS, HOPING HE MAY ALSO BE ABLE TO UNITE AMERICANS BEHIND OTHER PRIORITIES HERE AT HOME. PETER, THANK YOU. >> VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS JOINED THE TODAY SHOW THIS MORNING TO DISCUSS THE UNITED STATES IS LATEST STANCE ON THE SITUATION IN UKRAINE. HEAR SOME OF THAT CONVERSATION. >> DO YOU STILL BELIEVE THESE ACTIONS THAT THE U.S. AND THE WEST HAVE TAKEN WILL BE ENOUGH TO STOP HIM. THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN A LEADER IN BRINGING TOGETHER OUR ALLIES, OUR NATO ALLIANCE, THE EU TO STAND FIRM AND RESOLUTE WITH SOME OF THE MOST SEVERE SANCTIONS AND CONSEQUENCES THAT WE'VE EVER SEEN AS A UNIFIED GROUP. AND WHAT HAS THE IMPACT BEEN. WELL, THE IMPACT ALREADY. WE'VE SEEN. THE RUBLE IS IN A FREEFALL. WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS THE RUSSIAN STOCK MARKET IS CLOSED. WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS THAT RUSSIA HAS RECEIVED A CREDIT BASICALLY JOC. SO WE KNOW IT'S HAVING IMPACT, BUT WE ALSO ARE ACUTELY AWARE OF THE HUMAN TRAGEDY OF IT. ALL OF THESE SANCTIONS ARE HAVING QUITE THE EFFECT ON THE REGIME. AND YET THE REGIME. VLADIMIR PUTIN CONTINUES A PACE WITH SOME OF THESE BRUTAL ATTACKS THAT ARE ONLY GETTING WORSE BY THE DAY. >> SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS WHAT MORE IS THE WEST IN THE U.S. PREPARED TO DO. WELL, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE'VE DONE 50, FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE SANCTIONS HAS BEEN SANCTIONS AGAINST THEIR FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AGAINST THEY'RE ALL GUARDS. >> WHERE WE ARE TARGETING THEIR MANSIONS AND THEIR JETS. WHAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO IS STAND FIRM WITH OUR ALLIES IN TERMS OF REASSESSING WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH SANCTIONS. EVERYTHING IS ON THE TABLE FOR CONSIDERATION FRANKLY, WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO. AND THAT MUST BE SAID ALSO IS AS THE PRESIDENT HAS CONTINUOUSLY SAID WE'RE NOT GOING PUT US TROOPS IN UKRAINE TO FIGHT THE RUSSIANS ON THE GROUND OR IN THE AIR. BUT WE ARE FROM IN OUR PREPAREDNESS TO DEFEND OUR NATO ALLIANCE AND OUR ALLIES. EVERY INCH OF THE NATO TERRITORY AND WE'LL CONTINUE DO THAT. AND FINALLY, AT ONE OF THE MORE DISTURBING DEVELOPMENTS IN THE LAST WEEK IS DISPUTING RATTLING HIS NUCLEAR SORT OF PUTTING HIS RUSSIAN NUCLEAR FORCES ON SPECIAL COMBAT READINESS. >> HAVE YOU SEEN RUSSIA TAKE ANY CONCRETE ACTION TO BACK THAT UP. THE U.S. DID NOT RESPOND IN KIND. DO NOT TAKE THAT AS A SERIOUS THREAT. >> WELL, WE WE LISTEN TO EVERYTHING, OBVIOUSLY, BUT IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE TO ESCALATE AND WE FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THIS. AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A HISTORY OF WORKING WITH RUSSIA IN TERMS OF THIS ISSUE AND WE WILL MOVE ON IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS NOT ESCALATION AROUND THIS. FRANKLY, I THINK IT'S IT'S HIGHLY IRRESPONSIBLE. SOMETHING WE WILL OBVIOUSLY MONITOR. BUT OUR POSITION IS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO TO CONTRIBUTE TO AN ESCALATION IN THAT DIRECTION AND WE HAVE NO INTENTION OF CHANGING OUR POSTURE. >> ALL RIGHT. THAT WAS VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS, OF COURSE, SPEAKING TO THE TODAY SHOWS SAVANNAH GUTHRIE. WE'RE FOLLOWING THE LATEST IN UKRAINE ALL MORNING. BUT THERE ARE SOME OTHER MAJOR HEADLINES WE WANT TO GET. JUST AHEAD, WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST ON QUEEN ELIZABETH AFTER HER COVID DIAGNOSIS. >> AND NOW ON THE MEND. WHAT WE'RE LEARNING FROM BUCKINGHAM PALACE AS SHE'S GETTING BACK TO WORK PLUS THE NEW NORMAL. MORE THAN HALF OF THE NATION'S LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE MADE MASKS OPTIONAL. WE'LL TELL YOU WHO EXPERTS SAY SHOULD KEEP THEIR MASKS OFF. THAT'S NEXT. YOU'RE WATCHING MORNING NEWS. ♪ >> SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE DROPPING MASK MANDATES FOR STUDENTS AS COVID CASES, STEADILY DECLINE. THAT'S PART OF A NEW NORMAL. THE COUNTRY IS ENTERING INTO BUT DOESN'T MEAN THE WORST OF THE PANDEMIC IS BEHIND US. NBC NEWS CORRESPONDENT STEPHANIE GOSK HAS MORE. >> SO IT'S TIME FOR KIDS TO DITCH THE MASKS AND BREATHE A LITTLE EASIER IN A GROWING NUMBER OF SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE THAT'S GOOD >> IT'S VISIONING WITH MANY DOUGH THERE. SHE DOESN'T LIKE SO MUCH OF HIS TIME. >> AT LEAST HAVE OUR OWN CHOICES. THE NEW REALITY DRAWING A MIXED RESPONSE. I THINK IT'S A SMART DECISION TO KEEP IT ON BECAUSE THERE A LOT SAFER WITH THAT ON MORE THAN 50% OF THE LARGEST DISTRICTS HAVE MADE MASKS OPTIONAL. NEW YORK CITY COULD CHANGE ITS SCHOOL POLICY NEXT WEEK. BARRING ANY UNFORESEEN SPIKE IN CASES LA COUNTY ON MARCH 12TH MAKING SOME PARENTS. THEY'RE UNEASY. >> I'M JUST NOT PAIR AND I DON'T THING COMPLETELY GONE YET BECAUSE THERE'S PEOPLE STILL HAVE COVID CALIFORNIA IS ALSO DROPPING ITS REQUIREMENTS FOR VACCINATED PEOPLE TO WEAR MASKS IN MOST INDOOR SETTINGS. >> SAME FOR WASHINGTON, OREGON AND ILLINOIS. JUST TO NAME A FEW. A RECENT POLL SHOWED 50% OF AMERICANS SUPPORT SOME KIND OF MANDATE DOWN SLIGHTLY FROM 55% LAST SUMMER. BUT IN MANY FORMS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. THE MASKS ARE STILL REQUIRED AND DON'T EXPECT TO LIVE WITHOUT ONE FEDERAL OFFICIALS TELL US THEY'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE CDC. BUT FOR NOW, THE MORAL STAND IN MANY OF THE PLACES WHERE THE MANDATE HAS BEEN LIFTED. OFFICIALS STILL RECOMMEND SOME PEOPLE WEAR MASKS. >> WHO ARE THE PEOPLE AT THIS POINT, EVEN WITHOUT A MONDAY, WHO SHOULD STILL BE THAT AGAIN. >> SO THAT FOR GROUPS OF PEOPLE. NUMBER ONE UNVACCINATED NUMBER 2, THOSE SCHOOL AND 65 BLUE SAID NUMBER 3, VERY IMMUNE COMPROMISED. A NUMBER FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE WITH ANY OF THE FOLKS IN THE 3 GROUPS FOR THOSE WHO ARE TAKING MASKS OFF MEDICAL EXPERTS RECOMMEND NOT THROWING THEM AWAY. >> WE'RE NOT IN THE CLEAR FROM COVID, NOT YET. STEPHANIE GOSK, NBC NEWS, NEW YORK. >> SOME HOPEFUL NEWS NOW THE UNITED KINGDOM IN THE WHOLE WORLD REALLY ARE BREATHING A COLLECTIVE SIGH OF RELIEF AFTER QUEEN ELIZABETH RESUMED HER DUTIES THIS WEEK. NBC NEWS'S GABBY PARK HAS THE LATEST ON THIS. >> THE QUEEN WELCOMING 2 NEW AMBASSADORS VIRTUALLY EASING CONCERNS HAVE BEEN MOUNTING FOR MORE THAN A WEEK ABOUT HER HEALTH. THE QUEEN CANCELING SEVERAL ENGAGEMENTS AFTER SHE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID ON FEBRUARY 20TH EXPERIENCING MILD COLD LIKE SYMPTOMS. THIS AFTER PRINCE CHARLES AND CAMILLA TESTED POSITIVE DAYS BEFORE PRIOR TO THE QUEEN'S, I KNOW SAYS SHE CRACKED JOKES THAT ARE LAST FACE-TO-FACE MEETING WITH SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIALS. GOOD I JUST THINK. >> AS YOU CAN >> A MAJOR RECEPTION AT WINDSOR CASTLE FOR FOREIGN DIPLOMATS REMAINS CANCELED ALTHOUGH PRINCE CHARLES OUT ABOUT ON TUESDAY REPORTEDLY SAYING SHE'S A LOT BETTER. NOW THE QUEEN IS A LEGEND MET WITH MEMBERS OF HER FAMILY OVER THE WEEKEND AT FROGMORE COTTAGE, INCLUDING WILLIAM AND KATE AND THEIR 3 CHILDREN. THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE JUST BACK FROM A SUCCESSFUL SOLO TRIP TO DENMARK. AND AS THE QUEEN PREPARES TO CELEBRATE HER PLATINUM JUBILEE YEAR. KENSINGTON PALACE IS HOSTING AN EXHIBITION SHOWING ARCHIVE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE ROYALS AS WE'VE RARELY SEEN THEM BEFORE. A YOUNG PRINCESS ELIZABETH WITH HER DOG PRECIOUS MOMENTS WITH HER FATHER KING GEORGE THE 6TH IN HIS STUDY QUEEN ELIZABETH, THE QUEEN PHOTOGRAPHER HERSELF SHOWING IMAGES OF THE ROYALS AS A NORMAL FAMILY, A TRADITION THAT CONTINUES TO THIS DAY. GETTY ROYAL PHOTOGRAPHER CHRIS JACKSON CAPTURING THE CELEBRATION OF PRINCE CHARLES A 70TH BIRTHDAY SAY UNEXPECTED MOMENTS THAT GENERALLY HAPPEN WHEN YOU. >> OF COURSE, THE WHICH SAID THE BEST FIGHT AIDS AND YOU ALWAYS KIND OF KNOW YOU HAVE A FEELING INSIDE. IS ALWAYS GREAT FUN TO FACE KAUFMAN WROTE CHILDREN HAVE TO FOR MYSELF THINKING ABOUT THE COMMENTS MINING PICTURES. >> THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE. WELL KNOWN FOR TAKING CANDID PHOTOS OF HER CHILDREN SNAPPED THIS JOYOUS PICTURE OF PRINCE GEORGE AND ALSO FEATURED IN THE EXHIBIT PRINCESS DIANA WALKING INTO CLEARED MINEFIELD IN ANGOLA. AND PRINCE HARRY FOLLOWING IN HIS MOTHER'S FOOTSTEPS. PLUS, THERE'S A POWERFUL IMAGE OF DIANA HOLDING THE HAND OF AN AIDS PATIENT AND A STUNNING GLIMPSE OF THE PRINCESS SNAPPED BY A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC. >> THANKS TO CATHY PARK THAT EXHIBITION IS A JOURNEY THROUGH HISTORY AND COMES DURING A YEAR OF CELEBRATION AS THE QUEEN PREPARES FOR THAT PLATINUM JUBILEE THIS MORNING. WE'RE ALSO WATCHING THE RESULTS FROM TEXAS WHERE VOTERS CAST THEIR BALLOTS IN THE FIRST ELECTIONS OF THE 2022 MIDTERM. NBC NEWS NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT STEVE KORNACKI HAS THE LATEST RESULTS. AND OF COURSE. >> HE IS AT THE BIG BOARD STATE FOR A SECOND. LAST HOUR I WAS IN FRONT OF OUR BIG BOARD WITH SOME POLITICAL NEWS BEHIND ME. AND I THINK EVERYBODY IS LIKE WHERE STEVE SO THANK GOODNESS YOU'RE TELL US THE LATEST. WELL, HERE WE GO. I MEAN, IT'S A IT'S A BIT OF A CLIFFHANGER PARDON ME. THE BIGGEST PIECE OF OUTSTANDING BUSINESS HERE IN TEXAS. IS THIS HOUSE RACE IN THE 28TH DISTRICT. THIS IS SOUTH TEXAS HENDRICK WHERE THE INCUMBENT YOU SEE. HE LEADS RIGHT NOW IS CHALLENGER PROGRESSIVE. JESSICA CISNEROS BY 2 POINT. THE KEY IS YOU GOT TO HIT 50% IN THE EAST, TEXAS PRIMARIES TO AVOID A RUNOFF. SO AT THE MOMENT, QUAY ARE IS BELOW 50%. HOWEVER, THERE ARE SOME QUESTION MARKS ABOUT SOME POTENTIAL OUTSTANDING VOTE HERE IN THE DISTRICT, PARTICULARLY RIGHT ALONG THE BORDER HERE YOU SEE IN STAR COUNTY STAR COUNTY IS, AS YOU CAN SEE, A QUAY ARE STRONGHOLDS. SO WE'RE TRYING TO TRACK DOWN. ARE THE NUMBERS THAT WE GOT FROM THE COUNTY. THE COUNTY ANNOUNCED LATE LAST NIGHT. THERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS HERE ABOUT WHETHER THIS IS IN FACT EVERYTHING FROM STARR COUNTY. AND AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE DO HAVE GOOD QUAY ARE IS DOING HERE. HOW CLOSE HE IS TO 50 RIGHT NOW. ADDITIONALLY PROVISIONAL BALLOTS. THERE ARE STILL SOME MAIL BALLOTS YET TO BE COUNTED IN THIS THING. SO THERE ARE SOME OTHER BALLOTS THAT WILL COME IN AND BE TABULATED TODAY AND BEYOND. SO FOR THE MOMENT. QUAY ARE IS UNDER 50. AND IF THIS WERE TO HOLD ANYTHING LIKE THIS. YOU HAVE QUAY ARE SAYS NARROWS. THEY WOULD THEN HAVE A RUNOFF ON MAY 24 AS THESE 2 CANDIDATES WILL RUN. WE LOSE THE 3RD CANDIDATE. BUT AGAIN, LET'S SEE BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A LOT, A LOT OF CONFUSION PARTICULARLY AS I SAY, AROUND STARR COUNTY THERE IN SOUTH TEXAS AND THE OTHER INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT HERE. I THINK POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT IN THESE PRIMARIES. AGAIN, A CONGRESSIONAL PRIMARY NORTH TEXAS 3RD DISTRICT VAN TAYLOR A REPUBLICAN. YOU SEE HE IS GOING TO FINISH UNDER 50%. HE IS GOING TO BE FORCED INTO A RUNOFF VAN TAYLOR VOTED FOR THAT INDEPENDENT JANUARY 6TH COMMISSION. HE EARNED THE IRE OF A LOT OF PRO TRUMP FOLKS IN HIS DISTRICT THAT WAS THE BASIS OF THESE CHALLENGES. HE FACED IN THE PRIMARY. KEITH SELF. IT LOOKS LIKE HE'S GOING TO FACE TAYLOR IN THE RUNOFF. QUESTION HERE FOR TAYLOR, IT'S A BIG MARGIN. HE STILL LEADS BY BUT DID THE DYNAMICS CHANGE IN A RUNOFF. NOW WITH DONALD TRUMP HIMSELF. GET INTERESTED. WHAT HE JUDGE TAYLOR TO BE WEAK WOULD NATIONAL PRO TRUMP GROUPS NATIONAL PRO TRUMP MEDIA GET INTERESTED, MAKE THIS RUN OFF AN EVENT. THINGS COULD GET DICEY FOR TAYLOR OF SOMETHING LIKE THAT WERE TO HAPPEN. HE WAS HOPING TO BE ABOVE 50 TO AVOID A SCENARIO LIKE THIS. SO THAT'S THE OTHER MAJOR DEVELOPMENT IN THE HOUSE SIDE TO COME OUT OF LAST NIGHT. ALL RIGHT. STEVE KORNACKI, SO MUCH TO WATCH FOR THEIR THANK YOU FOR WATCHING THROUGH AN. >> WE HOPE YOU'RE OK WITH THEIR VOICE. BROKEN. STEVE. HORSE ON A PRIMARY RESULTS TO STEVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MANY PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY WATCHED THE STATE OF THE UNION LAST NIGHT. VOTERS IN ONE KEY STATE ARE PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAD TO SAY. NBC NEWS CORRESPONDENT JOINS US THIS MORNING AGAIN FROM RENO. WHY? GOOD MORNING TO THE PRESIDENT HIT A NUMBER OF TOPICS LAST NIGHT. LET'S START WITH UKRAINE. WHAT ARE VOTERS TELLING YOU ABOUT WHAT THEY HEARD ABOUT THAT IN THE SPEECH. JOE, GOOD MORNING. WELL, WE'VE BEEN FOCUSING A LOT ON THESE ON NON-PARTISAN VOTERS. THE UNDECIDED VOTERS HERE IN WASHOE COUNTY. >> WHICH IS THE SWING COUNTY IN NEVADA. SO COMING INTO THE STATE OF THE UNION, I SHOULD SAY A LOT OF THEM KEPT BRINGING UP THE SITUATION IN UKRAINE AND THEY WANTED TO HEAR THE PRESIDENT TALK ABOUT WHAT AMERICA WILL BE DOING AS A LEADER AND ALSO THEY WANT TO HEAR THE SANCTIONS THAT WOULD BE COMING AGAINST RUSSIA. SO A LOT OF THEM ARE BEHIND A PRESIDENT BIDEN'S LET'S HEAR FROM ONE OF THESE VOTERS. >> UNDERSTANDS THE STATE OF THE UNION. YOU JUST KIND OF GET THESE TOPICS AND WE GO. BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE CLEAR CUT ANSWERS OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY ACHIEVE SOME OF THESE SOME OF THESE WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT INFLATION. BUT WE ALSO ARE GOING TO PUSH THROUGH ALL THESE BILLS. AND WHEN YOU'RE A LOT MORE SPENDING AND SPENDING AND SPENDING AND SPENDING SO I I DON'T UNDERSTAND I WOULD LIKE
TO UNDERSTAND HOW THAT'S TO UNDERSTAND HOW THAT'S POSSIBLE. >> SO WE HEARD FROM THE VOTERS NOW THAT WAS THEM SPEAKING ABOUT DOMESTIC ISSUES. WE ALSO DID SPEAK ABOUT THE RESPONSE TO THE UKRAINE CRISIS. A LOT OF THEM. THEY SAID THEY WERE BEHIND PRESIDENT BIDEN WHEN IT CAME TO THE ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT THE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIA. RIGHT. BUT THEN WE GOT INTO THE DOMESTIC ISSUES. AND THIS IS WHAT THEY RESPOND TO WHAT WE JUST WE JUST PLAY THAT TOO SOON. BUT ESSENTIALLY WHAT VOTERS ARE TELLING US IS THAT WHEN IT CAME TO THESE DOMESTIC ISSUES INFLATION THE PRICE OF GAS, THE PRICE OF HOUSING AND OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTING JUST BEFORE THE UKRAINE CRISIS WAS THE FIRST THAT THOUGHT IN MIND FOR EVERYONE. THEY DON'T REALLY SEE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION OFFERING TO CLEAR A PLAN THAT REALLY MAKES THEM FEEL LIKE PRESIDENT BIDEN IS GOING TO HELP THINGS CHANGE FOR THEM HERE DOMESTICALLY, JOE. >> ALL RIGHT. SO WHY AFTER ALL THAT AFTER TALKING ABOUT UKRAINE IN DOMESTIC ISSUES. DID THE SPEECH HAVE ANY IMPACT ON HOW THE PEOPLE YOU SPOKE WITH, THEY'RE GOING ABOUT THE MIDTERMS. >> RIGHT. SO EVERY TIME WE HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE UNDECIDED. THE NON-PARTISAN VOTERS. YOU TELL YOU KNOW, YOU ASK HIM ABOUT THE RIGHT OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION. A LOT OF THEM SAYING THEY HAVEN'T SEEN WHAT THEY WISH. THEY WOULD'VE WHAT THE PROMISE IS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION THE BIDEN HASN'T BUT THEY'RE NOT COMPLETELY DISAPPOINTED. AND WHEN YOU ASK HIM ABOUT THE ALTERNATIVE. THE FIRST THING THEY SAY IS THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE. MANY OF THEM TELLING ME THE REPUBLICAN OPTIONS THAT THEY HAVE ARE JUST NOT ANY THAT THEY'VE CONSIDERED. SO FOR THE MOST PART, ALTHOUGH THEY SAY THEY ARE UNHAPPY WITH THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION. THEY STILL HAVE FAITH PRESIDENT BIDEN JOE. ALL RIGHT. QUAD, THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> WE HAVE MORE OF OUR COVERAGE OF RUSSIA'S INVASION IN UKRAINE IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. COMING UP, PRESIDENT ZELENSKY'S WIFE AND 2 CHILDREN ARE STILL BELIEVED TO BE IN THE COUNTRY. WE'RE GOING TO CLOSER. LOOK AT UKRAINE'S FIRST LADY AND HER MESSAGE DURING THE CRISIS. >> PLUS, AFRICANS ARE AMONG THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FLEEING UKRAINE AND THEY SAY THEY'RE FACING RACIST TREATMENT AS THEY TRY TO CROSS THE BORDER. A LOOK AT WHAT THEY'RE FACING AND REACTION FROM OFFICIALS NEXT. ♪ >> NEWS IS HAPPENING. LOOK AT >> RUSSIA'S INVASION OF UKRAINE IS CAUSING TREMENDOUS LEVELS OF HUMAN SUFFERING AND LOSS. IT'S ALSO CAUSING PAIN FOR PEOPLE WHO IDENTIFY AS BOTH RUSSIAN AND UKRAINIAN AND IT'S TEARING APART FAMILIES WITH RELATIVES IN BOTH COUNTRIES RIGHT NOW. MANY ARE FEARING THE WORST AS THE INTENSE FIGHTING CONTINUES INSIDE UKRAINE'S MAJOR CITIES ALONA GREW UP WITH A RUSSIAN MOTHER AND THE UKRAINIAN FATHER AND NOW LIVES IN LONDON. UNIVERSITY OF MARY WASHINGTON, PROFESSOR DAN HUBBARD HAS RELATIVES LIVING IN BOTH COUNTRIES AT THIS MOMENT MORNING TO BOTH OF YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US AND NO, THIS CAN'T BE EASY TO TALK ABOUT. SO WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT YOU'RE HELPING US UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE MORE NUANCE ASPECTS OF THIS I'LL START WITH YOU. I KNOW THAT YOU SPLIT TIME BETWEEN MOSCOW AND ODESSA, WHICH IS ACTUALLY WHERE THE RUSSIAN NAVY CAME IN DURING THIS INVASION. CAN YOU PUT IT INTO WORDS. WHAT IT'S LIKE TO SEE THIS CONFLICT UNFOLD IN A PLACE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SPENT SO MUCH TIME AND AND ARE YOU STILL HAVE FAMILY IN BOTH COUNTRIES. >> THE SAY THE LEAST. THIS IS DEVASTATING AND I THINK IT'S DEVASTATING TO PEOPLE WHO SHARE THIS KIND OF MAKE CREAMY AND THE RUSSIAN PAIR WITH FROM BECAUSE WE GREW UP LIKE THIS TO 10'S OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN THAT REGION WHO SHERIFF. SO MY DESK IN MY HISTORY, MY RUSSIANS AND UKRAINIANS TO LIVE SO CLOSE THAT TOGETHER. WE SHARE FAMILIES THAT SHARE A FAITH. THEY SHARE YOU KNOW WHAT USED TO BE ON THE SITUATION IS BEYOND DEVASTATING OUR FRIENDS ARE REALLY THIS WAS THE REMAINING UKRAINE WE ARE TRYING TO PARSE OUT HOW TO MAKE SENSE OUT OF A NEW OF THIS AND WHAT THE END GAME REALLY IS. >> PROFESSOR HUBBARD. REMEMBER IN HERE AND ACTUALLY WANT TO READ SOMETHING THAT YOU TOLD THE NEW YORK TIMES THAT IS JUST ONE OF THEM ARE HEARTBREAKING. THINGS HAVE HEARD HERE. YOU SAID I HAVE COUSINS ON BOTH SIDES AND I'D READ THEM KILLING EACH OTHER. WHAT HAS THIS BEEN LIKE FOR YOU TRYING TO GET IN CONTACT WITH HIM. HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO TELL US ABOUT THE CONCERN FOR THEIR WELL-BEING AND AND WHAT THIS IS LIKE HAVING THEM ON EITHER SIDE. >> BUT ALONG AND SAID IT SO DEVASTATING ABSOLUTELY ONE OF MY RUSSIAN COUSINS HAS BEEN ARRESTED IN THE PROTESTS. WE DON'T KNOW THE CONDITIONS. HE'S BEING HELD UNDER. I UKRAINIAN FAMILY LIVES JUST OUTSIDE OF FOR HOW TO GET JUST DEVASTATING ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATING. ALL THIS BECAUSE OF SOCIOPATH AND ALONG THE SENATE SAID IT WE SURE DNA. CHIEF KEEF IS THE BIRTHPLACE OF RUSSIAN CULTURE. AND FOR THIS MAN TOO. TO BOMB OUR MOTHER. TO KILL OUR PEOPLE. IT'S AN ABOMINATION ABOMINATION SORT. >> PROFESSOR 100. YOU ALSO SAID THAT YOU FEEL FOR BOTH SIDES BECAUSE RUSSIAN BOYS DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY THEY ARE THERE. I THINK THAT SUCH A NUANCE, BUT THAT REALLY GETS AT SOME OF THEM ARE COMPLICATED ASPECTS OF THIS LIKE THE MISINFORMATION AND THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN WHAT CITIZENS OF EACH COUNTRY ARE BEING TOLD. WHAT DID YOU MEAN WHEN YOU SAID THAT THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHY THEY'RE THERE. >> PUTIN IS THAT IN ENGLISH. WAS A KGB MAN AND YOU KNOW, KILL GRAB BRUTALIZE AND THEY ARE MASTERS MASTERS OF THIS INFORMATION AND MANY OF THE YOUNG CONSCRIPTS WERE ABSOLUTELY TOTALLY LIKE TO CONVINCE THAT THEY WERE THERE TO LIBERATE UKRAINE FROM THESE SO-CALLED NAZIS. >> THAT THAT IS A A. DEVOLUTION ALIVE. >> AND THEY ARE GENUINELY SHOCKED THAT AT RECEPTION THEY'RE RECEIVING THEIR STUNNED. THE THE YOU KNOW, WHY ARE WE BEING GREETED AS AN OCCUPYING WHY ARE PEOPLE FIGHTING US WHEN WE'RE HERE TO LIBERATE THEM MY ONLY HOPE. AND THIS IS THE MOTHERS OF RUSSIA. THE MOTHERS OF RUSSIA CAN STOP THIS. >> ALONE. AS I MENTIONED, YOUR MOM'S FROM RUSSIA. YOUR DAD'S FROM UKRAINE. EXPLAIN TO OUR VIEWERS HOW COMMON DUAL HERITAGE IS AMONG PEOPLE FROM THIS REGION THAT IT'S THAT'S JUST NOT SO BLACK AND WHITE, SIMPLY PUT. AND WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE WATCHING RIGHT NOW TO KNOW ABOUT HOW CONNECTED THE 2 COUNTRIES ARE TO EACH OTHER AND WHAT THIS SPECIFIC PAIN IS FOR THOSE WHO DO FEEL THAT THEY BELONG ON BOTH SIDES. >> YOU JOKING WITH MY FAMILY THE OTHER DAY THAT THERE SO RUSSIANS WITHOUT THE UKRAINIAN HERITAGE AND THEY'RE SO FUN WITHOUT RUSSIAN HERITAGE. WE'RE SO INTERLINKED. I MEAN, WHAT WHAT SPRINGS TO MIND IS. YOU KNOW, 20 YEARS AGO WAR IN YUGOSLAVIA WERE, YOU KNOW, SERBS AND CROATIANS AND THE STOOD UP AGAINST ONE ANOTHER. WE PEOPLE HAVE LIVED TOGETHER FOR THOUSANDS OF I MEAN, OR THAT IT IS OVER 1000 YEARS OLD OR START OF WAR. OBVIOUSLY UKRAINE WAS INTO THE USSR IN ARE MADE TO 17 TO 18. BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE, THESE 2 DISTINCT IDENTITIES. THESE ARE 2 DISTINCT COUNTRIES WITH SOVERIGN RIGHT RECOGNIZE INTERNATIONAL. WHAT IS HAPPENING IS IMPROVED TO OCCUPATION AND ATTEMPTED ANNEXATION THAT THE THAT UP TO COVER THIS POLL COMPLETELY DEVASTATING COME INTO THE WE LIVED. TO GET THAT FOR SO LONG THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO. WE CAN SELL IDENTITIES. THE COMFORTABLY WITHIN OURSELVES BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, UKRAINE IS THERE MAIL PEOPLE COME FROM RUNNING IN MONTVILLE GRIESE AND SHE JEWISH COMMUNITY THERE
AS WELL OF WHICH I'M A PART AS WELL OF WHICH I'M A PART OF. WE NEVER HAVE TO QUESTION IT'S FOR THE EVENT OF A YEARS AGO, REALLY BECAUSE WE AND LIVED TOGETHER COMFORTABLE WANT TO 1991 OF THE BE CLEARED UNTIL SUMMER. BECAME A DIFFERENT COUNTRY WHICH FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME US TO TAKE THE HIGH HAVING GROWN UP WITH BOTH. IT'S COMPLICATED TO DO BECAUSE IT'S A COMPLICATED TO DO BECAUSE OF KNEE. IT CLEAR WHAT SIDE WE'RE ON THAT THE DEVASTATING THINGS. WE HAVE TO TAKE SOMETHING AND. >> ALONA TARKOWSKI AND PROFESSOR DANIEL 100, THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH. AND CONVERSATION. AND I KNOW A VERY PERSONAL ONE FOR BOTH OF US. WE APPRECIATE YOU SHARING YOUR THINKING ABOUT WITH YOUR FAMILIES. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> WITH EACH PASSING DAY MORE ATTENTION IS FOCUSED ON UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT ALONG WITH HIS FAMILY SPECIFICALLY THE FIRST LADY, MUCH LIKE HER HUSBAND IS TAKING TO SOCIAL MEDIA TO PUBLICLY SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE INVASION. NBC NEWS CORRESPONDENT KELLY COULD BE A JOINT US NOW FROM POLAND NEAR THE BORDER WITH UKRAINE. WITH MORE ON THAT. KELLY, GOOD MORNING. >> JOE. GOOD MORNING TO YOU. THE FIRST LADY'S LOCATION IS UNKNOWN AT THIS HOUR. BUT SHE'S BELIEVED TO BE WITH HER 2 CHILDREN IN UKRAINE HER ABILITY TO STAY THERE. HER DECISION TO STAY IN COUNTRY AND SUPPORT HER HAPPENED HAS DRAWN ADMIRATION FROM PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD. >> LONG THE DUE TO FULL PARTNER TO PRESIDENT VOLODOMYR ZELENSKY LENNON'S ELLEN SKY IS NOW EMERGING ON THE WORLD STAGE IN HER OWN SPOTLIGHT. A VOICE OF HOPE AND RESILIENCE FOR UKRAINE AND ITS PEOPLE AS HER OWN FAMILY FACES AN INCREASINGLY GRAVE THREAT TO THEIR LIVES. SO LET'S GET TAKING TO SOCIAL MEDIA THIS WEEK SHARING A MESSAGE OF RESOLVE THAT THE START OF THE RUSSIAN INVASION. I HAVE NO PANIC OR TEARS IN ME. I WILL BE CALM AND CONFIDENT. THE 44 YEAR-OLD MOTHER OF 2 ADMITS. SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN MORE COMFORTABLE IN THE BACKGROUND TELLING VOGUE UKRAINE IN 2019. SHE WAS CONCERNED WHEN HER HUSBAND DECIDED TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT. I WAS NOT TOO HAPPY WHEN I REALIZED THAT THOSE WERE THE PLANS. I REALIZED HOW EVERYTHING WOULD CHANGE AND WHAT DIFFICULTIES WE WOULD HAVE TO FACE. BUT SINCE ENTERING OFFICE ZELINSKY HIS FOCUS TO WORK ON SEVERAL KEY ISSUES INCLUDING WOMEN'S RIGHTS, THE FIRST LADY HIGHLIGHTING THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF UKRAINIAN WOMEN WHO HAVE STAYED BEHIND TO FIGHT ON THE FRONT LINES. I ONCE WROTE THAT WOMEN IN UKRAINE ARE 2 MILLION MORE THAN MEN NOW IT TAKES ON A WHOLE NEW MEANING MY ADMIRATION AND VOWS TO YOU. MY INCREDIBLE COMPATRIOTS ALSO AN ADVOCATE FOR CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENT. SO LET'S GET A DRAWING SPECIAL ATTENTION TO UKRAINIAN INFANTS, BORN IN BOMB SHELTERS. PROCLAIMING ONE DAY THE NEWBORNS WILL LIVE IN A PEACEFUL COUNTRY WHO DEFENDED HERSELF. LET'S HAVE A HER HUSBAND GAINED FAME IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA. SO LET'S GO WORK BEHIND THE SCENES AS A COMEDY WRITER AND SCREENWRITER. BOTH WERE BORN AND RAISED IN THE SAME CITY IN SOUTHEAST UKRAINE BUT DIDN'T MEET UNTIL THEY WERE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS ON VALENTINE'S DAY. THE COUPLE SHARING THIS VIDEO TELLING THE WORLD. LET'S LOVE EACH OTHER. AND LET'S LOVE UKRAINE SHOW WITH US. >> PRESIDENT ZELENSKY IS SAID THAT ACCORDING TO UKRAINE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION, HE IS RUSSIA'S TARGET NUMBER ONE, HIS FAMILY IS TARGET NUMBER 2, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO OVERSTATE THE GREAT PERSONAL RISK. THIS FIRST FAMILY IS TAKING BY STAYING IN UKRAINE. >> JOE SAVANA. ALL RIGHT. KELLY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT REPORT. NOW. MORE THAN 600,000 PEOPLE HAVE FLED UKRAINE AS RUSSIA ADVANCES FURTHER INTO THE COUNTRY. BUT SOME REFUGEES FROM AFRICA WHO HAVE LEFT UKRAINE SAY THEY FACED RACIST TREATMENT, SEGREGATION AND DELAYS BEFORE BEING ALLOWED INTO NEIGHBORING EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRY. NBC NEWS CORRESPONDENT IN AND RUNS US NOW WITH MORE ON THIS. AND SO HAPPY THAT WE ARE COVERING US IN CLAY. THANKS FOR JOINING US. NOW, THINK YEARS OF ANNA AND JOE. THAT'S RIGHT. DISTURBING VIDEO IS CIRCULATING ONLINE UNDER THE HASHTAG AFRICANS IN UKRAINE AS AFRICANS AND OTHER NONWHITE REFUGEES SAY THEY ARE FACING UNJUST TREATMENT. UKRAINE'S BORDERS. >> AFRICANS IN UKRAINE. ALLEGED RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION OF THE COUNTRY'S VIDEO POSTED THIS WEEK BY A NIGERIAN STUDENT STUDYING IN UKRAINE AND VERIFIED BY APPEARS TO SHOW MILITARY OFFICIALS POINTING GUNS AT REFUGEES WHO SAY THEY'RE NOT BEING ALLOWED OUT OF THE WAR STRICKEN COUNTRY. ACCORDING TO VIDEO OFFICIALS CONTINUE TO POINT THE GUNS EVEN AS REFUGEES RAISE THEIR HANDS AND ALEXANDER SOME 2 OR A NIGERIAN STUDENT WAS THERE. HE ALLEGES OFFICIALS AT MULTIPLE BORDERS TURNED REFUGEES OF COLOR AWAY AS INTO AND SEE YOU TAKE PEOPLE TO I SEE YOU TOO, CAN HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE BORDER. >> I DON'T LIKE THE NEW IN THE >> I WOULD SUSPECT SOME PEOPLE THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO BE MORE PEOPLE. SHOULDN'T THESE STATEMENTS ECHO TO OUR TEAMS IN POLAND ON THE BORDER WITH UKRAINE. THEY SPOKE WITH ONE MAN A SENEGALESE STUDENT WHO ASKED TO CONCEAL HIS FACE YOU HAD ALL THE DOCUMENTS TO CROSS. WAS IT. >> GET FASTER IS IT'S UNDER ONE OF YOU WANT HAVE TO GET ACROSS. >> AS RUSSIA INVADES UKRAINE, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS HAVE BEEN DISPLACED AND TRAVELED MILES BY CAR. AND ON FOOT LOOKING FOR A WAY TO SAFELY EXIT UKRAINE, MORE DISTRESSING VIDEO VERIFIED BY NBC SHOWS FOOTAGE OF UKRAINIAN FORCES SEEMINGLY DENYING A BLACK PERSON ENTRY ON A TRAIN. MANY
REFUGEES SHARING SIMILAR REFUGEES SHARING SIMILAR ACCOUNTS OF BEING STRANDED ON LIKE THE UKRAINIANS A CITY TO GET UKRAINE'S FOREIGN MINISTER TWEETED TUESDAY NIGHT THAT, QUOTE, AFRICAN SEEKING EVACUATION ARE OUR FRIENDS AND NEED TO HAVE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES TO RETURN TO THEIR HOME COUNTRY SAFELY. THE AFRICAN UNION RELEASED A STATEMENT ON MONDAY SAYING, QUOTE, REPORTS THAT AFRICANS ARE SINGLED OUT FOR UNACCEPTABLE DISSIMILAR TREATMENT WOULD BE SHOCKINGLY RACIST AND BREACH INTERNATIONAL LAW ON MONDAY. THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF POLAND TO THE UNITED NATIONS SAID THAT ALLEGATIONS OF DISCRIMINATION WERE QUOTE, A COMPLETE MY FOR OR DAYS AFTER FAILED ATTEMPTS TO CROSS. HE SAYS HE AND OTHER AFRICANS STORMED PAST THE BORDER. THEN WERE GRANTED LEGAL ENTRY. WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE OF AFRICANS IN UKRAINE RIGHT NOW. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW
>> THE PEOPLE ARE IN THE WAR >> THE PEOPLE ARE IN THE WAR FOR HELP. ONLY THING THAT WARM >> AND SAVANNAH AND JOE, IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT THAT AFRICAN STUDENT I SPOKE WITH REALLY EMPHASIZE THAT UKRAINIAN CITIZENS HAVE BEEN WELCOMING AND WARM OFFERING FOOD AND SHELTER. BUT HE SAYS AT THE BORDER IS WHEN HE'S BEEN MET WITH RESISTANCE OF COURSE, OFFICIALS AND THE COUNTRY'S HAVE DENIED THESE ALLEGATIONS. BUT IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE FOLLOWING CLOSELY IS DO SUCH IMPORTANT REPORTING LAST THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> AND AFTER THE BREAK, REACTION TO PRESIDENT BIDEN'S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS. COMING UP, WE'LL TELL YOU WHAT BLACK VOTERS THOUGHT OF HIS
SPEECH NEXT. SPEECH NEXT. ♪ >> THERE WERE RESIDENTS WHO >> WELCOME BACK. THERE'S PLENTY OF REACTION THIS MORNING TO PRESIDENT BIDEN'S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS THIS MORNING. WE'RE HEARING FROM A KEY GROUP OF VOTERS WHO HELPED HIM WIN THE WHITE HOUSE BACK IN 2020 NBC NEWS CORRESPONDENT BLAYNE ALEXANDER JOINS US NOW FROM ATLANTA. SPLAINE. GOOD MORNING. SPOKE WITH A GROUP OF BLACK VOTERS JUST THIS MORNING. WHAT DID THEY HAVE TO SAY ABOUT WHAT THEY HEARD LAST. >> YOU KNOW, JOE, THEY SAID OVERALL THEY WERE SATISFIED WITH THE TONE OF THE SPEECH. THEY SAID THAT THEY LIKE THAT IT WAS A UNIFYING MESSAGE. THEY ENJOYED HEARING THAT FROM THE PRESIDENT DREW A CONTRAST TO THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO SUBSTANCE, THEY SAY THEY WERE LISTENING FOR VERY SPECIFIC THINGS ALONG VOTING RIGHTS ABOUT CHILD CARE, ABOUT POLICING AND THEY SAY THAT THEY WISH THEY HAD HEARD MORE SUBSTANCE ON THAT FRONT. TAKE A LOOK. VOTING RIGHTS. I CANNOT EMPHASIZE ENOUGH. >> THAT WE DID NOT HEAR THAT. THAT WAS ONE MINUTE. I REMEMBER TIMING IT JUST YOU CHECK THAT BOX. AND NOW YOU'VE MOVED ON. HE TOUCHED ME. I HAVE 2 SONS. SO I MEAN, POLICE REFORM IS IS VERY IMPORTANT AND IT'S IMPORTANT. I AND ABOUT TEENAGERS THAT LITERALLY DON'T WANT TO GET THEIR
DRIVER'S LICENSE OR DRIVER'S LICENSE OR >> HOW TO SAY IT. >> I BOTH OF THEM DIDN'T SORT OF GIVE THE CABBIE OUT OF. LISTEN, THEY UNDERSTAND THAT HE HAS A LOT TO COVER A LOT OF GROUND TO IN IN A DEFINED AMOUNT OF TIME. BUT THEY DID SAY THAT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO VOTING RIGHTS. THE FIRST LADY THAT YOU HEARD FROM VOTING RIGHTS ACTIVISTS. SHE'S SOMEBODY WHO'S BEEN A LOT OF TIME IN THE RUN-UP TO THE 2020 ELECTION. REGISTERING VOTERS KNOCKING ON DOORS, MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE GOT OUT TO THE POLLS. HE SAYS THOSE ARE THE VERY PEOPLE WHO PUT PRESIDENT BIDEN IN OFFICE. AND SHE SAYS THAT VOTING RIGHTS AGAIN, STICKING POINT THAT WE'VE HEARD BEFORE IS SOMETHING THAT SHE REALLY WANTED TO HEAR MORE OF GUYS BLAINE WHAT ELSE ENDS UP FROM YOUR CONVERSATION WITH THESE VOTERS AND JUST SPOKE WITH THEM. YOU KNOW, I ALSO TALKED WITH SAYS SHE DIDN'T THERE. SHE SOMEBODY WHO WAS A MOTHER. WE ACTUALLY FIRST MET HER BACK DURING THE PRIMARIES IN TWENTY-TWENTY. SHE WAS SITTING OUT IN THE RAIN HOLDING HER THEN INFANT SON AND THEY'VE BEEN WAITING FOR SEVERAL HOURS. SO WE FOLLOWED HER. WE TALKED TO HER A YOU KNOW, SINCE THAT TIME. AND I ASKED HER, YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS THE TIME IN THE RAIN WORTH IT. SHE SAID ABSOLUTELY. BUT THERE'S SOMETHING THAT SHE WANTED TO HEAR AS WELL. TAKE A LOOK. >> A LITTLE DISAPPOINTING. IS LIKE PEOPLE LIKE INCREASED THEIR PRICES CHILD CARE AND MAKING IT ACCESSIBLE TO THOSE WHO HAVE MULTIPLE KIDS. AND YOU KNOW, MY SISTER JUST AS SO I SAID, OPTED MY HERE AND NOW I FIND PEOPLE ARE LIKE OVER PRICING. >> YOU HEARD HER THERE. SHE HAS HER 2 LITTLE BOYS WITH HER TODAY AND SHE SAID CHILDCARE THAT SOMETHING THAT SHE REALLY WANTED TO HEAR ABOUT. IN ADDITION TO THAT, A STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT SHE REALLY WANTED TO BRING TO THE FOREFRONT. SO OVERALL, AGAIN, THEY WERE SATISFIED WITH THE TONE. YOU KNOW, 2 OF THEM SAID THAT THEY WOULD RATE AT ABOUT AN 8. BUT THEY SAY AGAIN WHEN IT COMES TO THE MIDTERMS, WHEN IT COMES TO ENERGIZING VOTERS THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THEY HEAR THE THINGS THAT THEY BELIEVE ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO THEM. THE THINGS THAT THE PRESIDENT CAMPAIGNED ON AND EFFECTIVELY GOT HIM INTO OFFICE. THEY SAY THAT THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE THINGS REMAIN A PRIORITY GUYS PLAYING QUICKLY. I KNOW IT'S EARLY, BUT ANY CHANCE THE SPEECH, INFLUENCES, HOW THEY'RE GOING ABOUT THE MIDTERMS. I ACTUALLY ASKED THAT. I SAID, YOU KNOW, DO YOU THINK IT'S GOING TO GO ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. THIS IS NECESSARILY THEY'RE STILL GOING TO BE FIRED UP. THEY'RE STILL GOING TO BE EXCITED WHEN IT COMES TO GOING OUT AND GETTING VOTERS MAKING SURE PEOPLE TURN OUT TO THE POLLS, BUT THEY SAY AGAIN, NEEDS TO BE THAT RETURN ON INVESTMENT. SPECIFICALLY THE ACTIVIST I SPOKE TO SAID THERE NEEDS TO BE THAT RETURN ON INVESTMENT TO MAKE THAT THAT MOMENTUM SO KEEPS GOING FOR THE MIDTERMS. STILL A WAYS TO GO BEFORE THOSE TERMS. BLAYNE ALEXANDER, THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE THAT. THIS MORNING COMING UP, NEW YORK CITY IS HOME TO THE LARGEST POPULATION OF UKRAINIANS IN THE NEXT WE'LL TAKE YOU TO A RESTAURANT IN NEW YORK'S UKRAINIAN NEIGHBORHOOD NEXT, WHERE PEOPLE ARE LINING UP TO
SUPPORT THE BUSINESS. SUPPORT THE BUSINESS. >> THOUSANDS OF MILES FROM UKRAINE IN NEW YORK CITY. YOU'LL FIND A FAMILY OWNED RESTAURANT WITH DEEP TIES TO THE REGION. THE LONG KNOWN FOR ITS PRODI'S AND FAMILY ATMOSPHERE IS SEEING SEEING A SURGE OF SUPPORT WITH CUSTOMERS LINING UP AROUND THE BLOCK. I SPOKE TO THE OWNER ABOUT HOW EMOTIONAL THE LAST WEEK HAS BEEN FOR HIS STAFF AND WHAT THIS RESTAURANT REPRESENTS IN A TIME OF CRISIS. >> HAVE A I HAVE A YOUNG GUY THAT WORKS FOR ME. THAT'S LOST FOR WHAT HIS WHAT HE CONSIDERS HIS BROTHER'S GUYS THAT HE GREW UP WITH THE RIGHT. THEY WERE. >> ON THE FRONT INSIDE THE MANHATTAN RESTAURANT. THIS ELCA THE CRISIS IN UKRAINE IS CLOSE TO HOME. I WOULD SAY A GOOD 3RD TO 40% OF IT. EMPLOYEE BASES UKRAINIAN THAT HAVE THAT HAS DIRECT TIES TO UKRAINE. THEY'RE VERY CONCERNED THAT HAVE SIBLINGS AND FATHERS AND THAT ARE FIGHTING OWNER JASON BURCHARD'S SAYS THE LAST WEEK HAS BEEN A WHIRLWIND FOR HIS FAMILY'S BUSINESS. >> WITH NEW YORKERS ARRIVING IN MASSES TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT. THIS IS PRETTY MUCH DOUBLED IN THE LAST WEEK SINCE THE INVASION. I THINK A LOT TRAINING COMMUNITY PATRONS THAT ARE COMING. ARE. >> VERY HAPPY TO SEE THAT WERE HERE WERE OPEN. SO YOU ARE UKRAINIAN WERE BORN THERE ONE THERE WHERE WE NEED TO GET >> WHAT'S IT GOING TO MEAN TODAY. WOULD YOU GO IN THERE AND ORDER AND SUPPORT THIS BUSINESS SHOWING THEM MY LOVE. >> AND I HOPE THAT WE ALL GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER INSIDE THE EAST VILLAGE STAPLE. MANY EMPLOYEES ARE ANXIOUSLY WAITING TO HEAR FROM LOVED ONES IN UKRAINE. I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN OFFERING THEM PAID TIME OFF WHAT I SERVE AS A UKRAINIAN. >> HAS A DIRECT LINK. SOME PARENTS ARE IN KIEV AND THIS WANTED TO BE BY THE PHONE ALL DAY ALL WEEK THIS WEEK. SO SHE REQUESTED WE FALL FOR I >> SUPPLEMENT HER INCOME FOR THIS WEEK. OTHERS FIND THE WORK A WELCOME DISTRACTION AND A CHANCE TO BE TOGETHER. THEY DON'T WANT TO BE. >> JUST UP TO THE INTERNET TV AND SEEING, YOU KNOW, TRAGEDY WHICH IS A PERSONABLE AND I THINK IS IN WORKING IN UNITY. THEY KNOW THAT WERE STANDING THERE. THEY'RE STANDING TOGETHER. >> SOME HAVE EVEN CONSIDERED LEAVING NEW YORK AND JOINING THE FIGHT IN UKRAINE. I'VE HAD SEVERAL MALE EMPLOYEES ASKED ME, YOU KNOW WHAT, YOU KNOW WHAT MY THOUGHTS ARE. OF COURSE, I WOULD SUPPORT THEM. WHAT'S THAT LIKE FOR YOU. 1. ONE OF THEM COME AND MAKES ME WANT TO JOIN THEM CALLING UP ANY BODY MAIL. AND UKRAINE FROM 18 TO 16. I'M 55 I I WAS LIVING IN UKRAINE. I WOULD BE THAT HAS TO JOIN THE ARMY. CUSTOMERS SAY COMING TO THE SOUTH HUMANIZES THE CRISIS WHEN THEY UNFURLED THE UKRAINIAN FLAG LAST WEEK AND REALLY. >> MADE THIS SORT OF ABSTRACT THING. >> WE'LL AND FOR UKRAINIANS IN THE STATES. IT'S A SMALL PIECE OF HOME WHEN THEIR COUNTRY'S FUTURE REMAINS UNCERTAIN. >> AS A FAMILY SCARED DAILY THEY WORRY ABOUT BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, EVERYONE, MY FATHER'S SIDE WAS TOLD YOU NEVER KNOW TODAY IS HERE, BUT TOMORROW COULD BE THE REST OF EUROPE IN ADDITION TO SUPPORTING HIS EMPLOYEES. JASON IS USING HIS RESTAURANT TO SUPPORT UKRAINIANS FIGHTING OVERSEAS. WELL, WE'RE GOING TO START COLLECTING. >> A MEDICAL IN THE BASIC SUPPLIES THAT WILL BE THAT I PAY FOR THE SHIPPING WHERE OUR PARTNER WITH THEM. SEVERAL NONPROFITS THAT I WORK WITH THE 4 WERE PASSING OUT QR CODES SO PEOPLE WITH DIRECT LINKS TO DONATE GOING FORWARD. ANY OF OUR A UKRAINIAN BORST WAS A HOMEMADE BEET SOUP. ALL THOSE SALES WILL GO TO. >> HELP THE RELIEF EFFORTS. I THINK THE WORLD IS JUST MOVED BY THE RESILIENCE OF UKRAINIAN PEOPLE MAKING MOLOTOV COCKTAILS SHOWING UP TO FIGHT AND WE'RE VERY PROUD RESILIENT PEOPLE LEAVE, BUT WE'VE BEEN DOWN THIS ROAD BEFORE BEING 30 YEARS. >> SOVEREIGN THIS PAST YEAR ANNIVERSARY, >> GOING TO DIE FIGHTING HIS MESSAGE TO AMERICANS. THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT UKRAINE, THAT THIS IS A WAR OF THE FREE WORLD. WE HAVE TO REALLY THINK THIS IS A WAR AND ALL OF US AND WE NEED TO REALLY STAND UP AND AND HAVE OUR VOICES HEARD. >> IT WAS A REALLY QUICK FLASH IN THE PIECE THERE, BUT ACTUALLY IN THE KITCHEN THEM ARE WOMEN. WE'RE MAKING PRODUCE WITH THEIR PHONE POPPED UP TO BE CONTINUING TO WATCH THE NEWS EVENTS JUST SO HARD TO SEPARATE THE 2. BUT FINDING COMMUNITY AT LEAST THEIR INCREDIBLE TO HEAR THAT SOME ARE WILLING TO GO FROM NEW YORK TO UKRAINE TO FIGHT. THAT'S JUST HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS TO THEM AND HOW MUCH THEIR COUNTRY MATTERS TO THEM. ABSOLUTELY AND HE'S A GREAT BOSS IN GENERAL. THIS STEPPED IT UP 10 FOLD THEM IN SAYING HE MAKES HIM WANT TO DO THE SAME. AND HE'S HAVING PEOPLE COME INTO HIS OFFICE CRYING AND JUST COMFORTING SIR, WE DIDN'T HEAR FROM FAMILY BUSING. ALL THOSE LONG LINES AROUND THE JUST SO MUCH ACTUAL. YEAH. YEAH. THAT DOES IT FOR THIS HOUR MORNING NEWS NOW. BUT THE NEWS CONTINUES RIGHT NOW. ♪
♪
