Crisis in Ukraine; Will NSA Leaker Edward Snowden Drop Any Surprises?
FEYERICK: Tensions are skyrocketing in the Ukraine crisis. But so far, weapons have for the most part stayed silent. Question number four, will the Ukraine crisis erupt into bloodshed? I want to bring in CNN International's Michael Holmes in Kiev, Ukraine, and correspondent Erin McPike in Washington. Michael, first to you. Will the Ukraine crisis erupt into actual combat as each side gets closer to Crimea's controversial vote on joining the Russian Federation?</s>MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Well, no way to know for sure. But everybody, of course, hopes not, Deb. It's certainly been extremely tense in some areas around Crimea. They're raising questions really about the state of rule of law. I mean, we've heard of pro-Ukrainian protesters being attacked by pro- Russian protesters. And also, no shortage of pictures of roadblocks man by really an odd assortment of people, some of them in uniform, some not, some armed, cars being searched. People really intimidated, having their papers examined, their baggage searched. This is, while not crossing any international frontier, remember, this is while people are technically traveling around within Ukraine. They're just going to or from Crimea. So, some very worrying developments in terms of how people are being treated in Crimea and these armed men who seem to be running the show, and very little in the way of official security forces -- Deb.</s>FEYERICK: All right. Michael Holmes for us. So, Erin, the follow question, this could all hinge on a crucial meeting in D.C. this week. Who is coming in to talk face to face with President Obama?</s>ERIN MCPIKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Deb, the interim prime minister of Ukraine is coming on Wednesday to meet with President Obama. Part of that meeting is simply to legitimize him on a world stage and also especially in the eyes of Russia. Now, that referendum that you referred to, the interim prime minister of Ukraine has said that is not legitimate. President Obama agrees with him. As do a number of European leaders. And they'll likely talk about how to address that if that vote moves forward and what happens next Sunday. Now, Ukraine also wants to hold elections in May. President Obama will likely talk about how to implement those elections, carry them out, and the assistance that the United States will provide. Ukraine wants to hold direct talks with Russia. They will talk about how the United States can help facilitate that. Also, Russian President Vladimir Putin has been speaking with President Obama. Those talks will continue as will the talks between Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. And the last thing that the United States will be doing in the next week or so is that legislation has been moving through Congress on potential additional sanctions against Russia. So we'll likely get some more details on that this week, Deb.</s>FEYERICK: Watching all the borders. Michael Holmes, Erin McPike, thank you so much for us. And question number five. Will NSA leaker Edward Snowden drop any surprises when he speaks to thousands of people in Texas tomorrow? These are live pictures from Austin, the site of the South by Southwest interactive film and music festival. That's where Snowden is expected to speak via satellite live from Russia. CNN's Money Tech correspondent Laurie Segall is in Austin. And, Laurie, who invited Snowden to speak and why?</s>LAURIE SEGALL, CNNMONEY TECH CORRESPONDENT: You know, the ACLU has partnered with Snowden to put on this talk. It's a pretty big deal, because he hasn't really addressed as many folks as this group of -- this group of people. I mean, this conference is all technologists. So, the people that are going to be in the audience are the people that have been affected very much so by these NSA revelations, who are unhappy. And they're going to have the opportunity to actually ask questions. You know, one thing he's going to be addressing is how tech can protect people against mass surveillance. I'll say this, Deb. He said before he's only released a little bit of what he's got. So, I can imagine a lot of folks are probably going to ask what else do you have? That's probably going to be a conversation happening here.</s>FEYERICK: My guess is he's probably not going to tip his hand as far as that goes. But clearly he's got enough that the U.S. government very worried about that. But how can he address questions about how to protect tech privacy when he's sort of -- did the greatest invasion of tech privacy of all times, in a way, stealing all that information?</s>SEGALL: You know, it's such an interesting question. Now is the opportunity for people to actually ask him those questions. We can have the opportunity to ask those questions. But, you know, one sentiment you really get here at South by Southwest and what's moving the conversation forward and what we're going to be talking about is the fact a lot of folks are very angry at the government for overreaching. A lot of the tech folks on the ground who are building out this technology. And there's also a bit of a tension that sometimes it seems as though Washington can't keep up with Silicon Valley. There are people, you know, this is the conversation people are having. And this probably, you know, what will be addressed, parts of this will be addressed, when Snowden speaks.</s>FEYERICK: Yes. Absolutely. Knowing when there's an intruder in your system, clearly of crucial importance to anybody who uses any sort of digital device. All right. Laurie Segall for us, thanks so much. We appreciate it.</s>SEGALL: Thank you.</s>FEYERICK: Well, a big week ahead for Pope Francis. The pontiff will celebrate the one-year anniversary since being elected. What may be in store for year two? We're going to explain that, coming up on the other side.