CNN "Erin Burnett Outfront" - Transcript: Current Situation in Ukraine

Interview

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BURNETT: OUTFRONT tonight, a top Democrat in the Intelligence Committee, Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger. He's been briefed on the M17 crash.

Good to have you with us, Congressman.

REP. C.A. "DUTCH" RUPPERSBERGER (D-MD), INTELLIGENCE CMTE: Good to be here, Erin.

BURNETT: You just heard that top Ukrainian officer talking to our Kyung Lah in Kiev, saying a Russian officer personally pushed that button to launch that missile deliberately. Do you think that's probable?

RUPPERSBERGER: Well, let me say this first, we are have an investigation and we hopefully will determine who fired that missile. At this time, though, we don't have the facts yet. It was classified, I couldn't tell you, but I don't have the facts.

But I wouldn't be surprised if there was a Russian who was involved.

BURNETT: All right. So, you wouldn't be surprised but you don't yet have the facts, important to know that it's not that it's classified. They honestly just don't know at this point, that you're saying that.

RUPPERSBERGER: At this point, we know it's out there. When you have an investigation the whole purpose is to get the facts, and then you come to your conclusions. At this point, we have some information, but we're trying to verify it. That's why we're investigating.

BURNETT: All right. People like Senator Schumer have said President Vladimir Putin has blood on his hands. Those were the words of Senator Schumer. Do you agree? Is Vladimir Putin directly responsible? Are you willing to say that at this point?

RUPPERSBERGER: Yes, I'll say it. First of all, I don't trust Putin. I think he has a tremendous ego. He cares about himself more than anything else, and then Russia. I think if you look at his past conduct, he's told untruth in order to make himself look good. He continues to be in denial on any serious situation against Russia.

Right now, we have a lot of evidence at this point showing Russia's involvement helping to train the people who can shoot these surface- to-air missiles. We know that right before the attack that they brought -- that Russia brought in over 150 tanks and surface-to-air missiles. We know that after the plane was shot down that there was media and -- milling about the fact that a Ukrainian separatist made a comment, that we shot someone down when they realized there wasn't a military Ukrainian plane, they took it away.

BURNETT: Right.

RUPPERSBERGER: I mean, look, the more you deny shows me the more that you probably are guilty.

BURNETT: So, Chuck Schumer uses the word blood on his hands, what is the words you would use?

RUPPERSBERGER: I would say that if he was in charge, if he was the individual who was responsible for these deaths, then he needs to be held accountable. And, you know, the unfortunate thing about this, if he would tell the truth and say they made a mistake, it's a horrific mistake, when people like die as a result of that mistake. But if he would at least admit it and say, this is an opportunity to stop what we're doing in Ukraine, try to come together and start working on some of these serious issues like Syria, and I think there's an opportunity.

But he's not doing that. He's in total denial and I do not trust him at this point at all.

BURNETT: So, if it is proven that the Russian military was involved and you then feel comfortable saying Vladimir Putin, what should the United States do about it? I mean, this is a tough situation. There are sanctions already on the table. They could get much, much tougher. No question about that.

But there are already a lot of sanctions on the table and the United States is certainly not going to war over this. So, what's left?

RUPPERSBERGER: Well, first thing, I didn't say Putin was directly responsible. In my opinion, I think he is.

Now, what happened right before this attack is that we came out with strong sanctions and that was good because Russia is being hurt by these sanctions. I think what we have to do right now, though, is to get the European Union more involved. You know, if Russia is not being impacted in negative way, because of the sanctions, Putin can continue to go on.

BURNETT: So, Congressman --

RUPPERSBERGER: So, I think the European Union has to stand strong.

BURNETT: But the E.U., I just want to quickly ask you about that. France says it's going to go ahead with the sale of the warship to Russia, because it already got the $1.5 billion for this warship. The ships are huge, 700 troops, 16 gunships, 50 armored vehicles. They're not going to give Russia they're not going to give the money back. They're going to go ahead with it.

Does that frustrate? Is France our (INAUDIBLE) ally?

RUPPERSBERGER: Extremely frustrating and that allows Putin to go forward and to continue to do the things he's doing. He's taking over another country. He's been involved with Iran. He's not a good person.

And yet we have the ability if we come together as a team, if we come together, the European Union, and United States and other countries, to punish Russia, it will be a deterrent so he will not continue to do the things he's doing now.

BURNETT: All right. Thank you very much, Congressman. Appreciate your time as always sir.

RUPPERSBERGER: Sure.

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