russian president vladimir putin trying to project an image of strength as he faces the biggest threat ever to his authority. is putin still in danger of losing power? his former prime minister says yes, and he will be outfront next. plus, where is yevgeny prigozhin? no confirmation that the wagner chief ever made it outside russia. as the fsb keeps its criminal investigation on prigozhin wide open. two moscow reporters who have covered him extensively with be reporting this hour. i m going to talk to the mayor of kyiv who warns ukraine is not prepared if putin attacks the biggest nuclear plant in all of europe. let s go outfront. and good evening, and welcome to a special edition of outfront. i am erin burnett live from ukraine tonight. tonight, putin on defense. the russian president speaking out three days after the armed rebellion led by his former ally yevgeny prigozhin. and make no mistake, a threat to putin s authority tonight is very well. putin right now
happening now, mass destruction in more than 3,400 people dead after a powerful earthquake, and dozens of after o armageddon. stand by for new reporting on the catastrophes in turkey and syria as rescuers search for survivors and the death toll keeps rising and rising. also tonight, u.s. officials reveal new information on the size, cape abilities and the vae of the downed balloon. amid rising u.s./china tensions, and as president biden faces new international emergencies, he s also engaged in last-minute preparations for his state of the union address. we ll tell you what the president just said about his prime time speech to congress and the nation a little over 24 hours from now. welcome to our viewers here in the united states, and around the world, i m wolf blitzer, you re in the situation room. let s get right to the unfolding earthquake disasters in turkey and syria and its truly devastating toll. cnn s jomana karadsheh is in istanbul. one of the most powerful quakes t
good evening from kyiv. i m ali velshi. a global superpower says it is calling for peace. early friday morning, beijing time, the chinese government released a 12 point plan which is calling, quote, china s which it s colin, quote, china s position on the political settlement of the ukraine crisis. while lacking in specifics, the document goes out of its way to urge russia not to use nuclear weapons in this war. quote, nuclear weapons must not be used and nuclear wars must not be fought. the threat or use of nuclear weapons should be a post, and quote. the document also takes a swipe at nato, with a section titled, quote, abandoning the cold war mentality. and it to cries u.s. anxious russia, quote unilateral sanctions and maximum pressure cannot solve the issue. they only create new problems. in a wide-ranging press conference today, ukrainian president zelenskyy seemed to signal and openness to a good faith peace plan from china and he says he hopes to meet with chin
defending his response to the massacre. he s reportedly denying he prevented officers from breaching the shooting scene and confronting the gunman. we want to welcome our viewers here in the united states and around the world. i m wolf blitzer. you re in the situation room. tonight, the january 6th select committee is expressing a sense of urgency ahead of the next public hearing on monday. members warning over and over again that democracy remains in danger and that former president trump is still fanning the flames. cnn congressional correspondent ryan nobles is covering the insurrection investigation. reporter: the january 6th select committee is making the case donald trump is to blame for what happened using the words of trump s closest allies like bill barr. i didn t agree with the idea saying the election was stolen and putting out this stuff the told the president was bull shit. reporter: and family members. i respect general barr and so i accepted what