children can and do die suddenly, unexpectedly and heartbreakingly. hello and welcome. i'm rajini vaidyanathan. the russian president vladimir putin is giving his first interview news conference since the full—scale invasion of ukraine. the event which is being carried live on all major russian television channels is happening as eu leaders meet in brussels to discuss further funding for ukraine. responding to questions in the war, mr putin affirmed his decision to invade the country and for rate last year saying the western aid ukraine relies on will soon run out. translation: unless they want to come to terms

peacefully we have to take action including military action but today, ukraine virtually produces or manufactures nothing, they have been dry to maintain their manufacturing capability but actually they have been importing things for free. free loading. but, you know, it will come to an end sooner or later. we can join my colleague vitaly shevchenko who has been watching the news conference, it's been going on for about an hour so far and what are the main headlines? so about an hour so far and what are the main headlines?— about an hour so far and what are the main headlines? so far we have seen a very — the main headlines? so far we have seen a very heavy— the main headlines? so far we have seen a very heavy focus _ the main headlines? so far we have seen a very heavy focus on - the main headlines? so far we havej seen a very heavy focus on ukraine. vladimir putin yet again defended his so—called special military operation against ukraine by saying russia was forced to start it after quote on quote a coup happened in ukraine. yet again, he questioned

ukraine's territorial integrity claiming huge swathes of ukraine were actually russian. he questioned ukraine's very identity by saying ukrainians and russians are one people and he painted a very rosy picture of the law as far as russian troops are concerned. he said the situation was improving along the whole of the contact line while according to the russian president, ukrainian troops were being slaughtered. he said it was a tragedy for ukraine. one part of his remarks that will be questioned less than other parts was for he said western assistance to ukraine was gradually running out and as we have

seen from reports coming out of the united states for example, this is a massive concern for ukraine but when vladimir putin spoke about the reduction in western aid for ukraine, he seemed very happy about it. �* , , ukraine, he seemed very happy about it. �* ,, ukraine, he seemed very happy about it. don't stay with us but let's cross live _ it. don't stay with us but let's cross live to _ it. don't stay with us but let's cross live to moscow - it. don't stay with us but let's cross live to moscow and - it. don't stay with us but let's cross live to moscow and go l it. don't stay with us but let's . cross live to moscow and go back it. don't stay with us but let's - cross live to moscow and go back to the news conference which vladimir putin is hosting. translation: so what needs to be done? translation: possibly, in the far east, we possibly need to get a higher allocation grant for regional doctors, up to 2 million rubles on four paramedics up to a million rubles. i think it will be a good stimulus. we have already adopted the federal budget but maybe we can do that in the nearest future. thank

you. translation: we can see that colleagues cannot wait for the end of your response. you are from moldova? please give the viewer to the lady in red. translation: mr putin, i am anastasio from moldova and i represent are multinational republic. i would like to invite you to our exhibition. thank you for this idea. we took stock and it seems 97% of russians are taking pride in their country after visiting the exhibition. naturally the regions have lots to be proud of. moldova is doing innovative manufacturing optic cable, pharmaceuticals and naturally the calling card of moldova, black diamond of our region is especially

treated oak tree. it's a possibility to take a look at the beauty of our region, this is an opportunity to solve matters with the business community and to solve other matters as well. i would like to invite you there and i would like to be present there and i would like to be present there as well. in the run—up to the new year, every girl dreams of a miracle... studio: bringing in my colleague vitaly shevchenko n. that question in itself was worth watching because it shows you the range of questions that he is asked and that was very pro—russia? i’zre that he is asked and that was very pro-russia?— that he is asked and that was very ro-russia? �* , ., . , pro-russia? i've been watching these events for 20 — pro-russia? i've been watching these events for 20 years _ pro-russia? i've been watching these events for 20 years now! _ pro-russia? i've been watching these events for 20 years now! and - pro-russia? i've been watching these events for 20 years now! and i - pro-russia? i've been watching these events for 20 years now! and i found | events for 20 years now! and ifound it slightly unusual that this one was so focused on foreign policy issues such as ukraine from the very beginning. normally, the vast

majority of such 0 and eight sessions, they'd start with domestic and economic issues and there'll be lots of questions from concerned members of the public, from regions, talking about problems they are facing but this it seems obvious that for the kremlin, and even putin, it is the war in ukraine and stand off with west that is a huge issue which he chose to tackle from the very beginning. what is less surprising is how he tackled it. it was characteristically upbeat, it's not like vladimir putin at all to admit any issues. he said the situation for russian forces in ukraine was improving along all of the contact line while ukraine

forces were suffering huge losses. so no surprises there. and also, unsurprisingly, he remains as defiant as ever when it comes to russia's declared objectives in ukraine. he said there will only be peace when those objectives are achieved. the objectives that he listed work the same goals that he announced right at the beginning of the full—scale invasion last february. he said ukraine needs to be de nancy found, demilitarised, it needs to have neutral status, in other words, needs to have neutral status, in otherwords, it needs to have neutral status, in other words, it will notjoin nato. —— de—nazified. we other words, it will not 'oin nato. -- de-nazified.h -- de-nazified. we will re'oin you very — -- de-nazified. we will re'oin you very and i -- de-nazified. we will re'oin you very soon and l! t -- de-nazified. we will re'oin you very soon and li want _ -- de-nazified. we will re'oin you very soon and li want to h

-- de-nazified. we will rejoin you | very soon and li want to highlight, very soon and u want to highlight, the international aspects highlighted, the united nations activations mechanisms remained in place, in response to a question vladimir putin was asked about the situation in gaza. asked about the humanitarian situation by a turkish journalist and vladimir putin said he hoped to me the turkish president in early 202a. if you want to stay with the news conference from vladimir putin, it will be going on for some time, you can stay with that, it is on the bbc iplayer and we are streaming the entire event there. go to the news category on your television and you will find it or if you are using a phone or tablet go to the iplayer app and find it there. if you want to stay there with that story, that is the way to do it!

as mentioned, the european council is meeting in brussels today at a summit to discuss key decisions regarding ukraine, increasing providing more funding and starting formal talks on the joining the bloc. the move comes as the european union leaders' agree to release more than ten billions euros worth of funding to hungary — which had previously been frozen over concerns about the rule of law in the country. prime minister, viktor orban, had been threatening to block the eu's plans to help ukraine. icy her right, the irish prime minister leo varadkar said the summit was the most crucial in years. summit was the most crucial in ears. �* , ., , years. i've been attending these meetinas years. i've been attending these meetings for — years. i've been attending these meetings for six _ years. i've been attending these meetings for six or _ years. i've been attending these meetings for six or seven - years. i've been attending these meetings for six or seven years| years. i've been attending these - meetings for six or seven years now and this_ meetings for six or seven years now and this is— meetings for six or seven years now and this is probably one of the most important _ and this is probably one of the most important because of the big decisions we have to make in relation — decisions we have to make in relation to ukraine, financial decisions _ relation to ukraine, financial decisions and a decision on whether to begin _ decisions and a decision on whether to begin negotiations and we have to say yes— to begin negotiations and we have to say yes to _ to begin negotiations and we have to say yes to at least one of those two and ideally — say yes to at least one of those two and ideally both of them because ukraine _ and ideally both of them because ukraine is— and ideally both of them because ukraine is in peril. ukraine will not stand — ukraine is in peril. ukraine will not stand without support, ongoing support— not stand without support, ongoing support from both the european union

and the _ support from both the european union and the us, _ support from both the european union and the us, the two towers of freedom _ and the us, the two towers of freedom and democracy in the world and if— freedom and democracy in the world and if ukraine does not have support from the _ and if ukraine does not have support from the eu — and if ukraine does not have support from the eu and us then vladimir putin— from the eu and us then vladimir putin wiii— from the eu and us then vladimir putin will win and all the consequences that flow from the world _ consequences that flow from the world after that.— world after that. lets 'oin our european * world after that. lets 'oin our european reporter h world after that. lets 'oin our european reporter in h world after that. lets join our| european reporter in brussels. sophia, tell us about we expect —— what we expect this morning. irate what we expect this morning. we ex-ect what we expect this morning. - expect quite a bit of diplomatic, behind—the—scenes. to give you context, the man chairing this summit, charles michel, said this is a pivotal european council meeting and he has urged all 27 eu leaders to make bold decisions when it comes to make bold decisions when it comes to ukraine. now there are two significant things on the table and one of them is the next package for kyiv which is worth 50 billion euros and it would ensure ukraine is financed for the next four years.

kyiv is desperate to get this money, we heard some days ago from the ukrainian first lady and she said ukrainians are in mortal danger of being left to die if aid from the west stops. but there is one big obstacle today in brussels and that is the hungarian prime minister viktor orban who is very much against sending additional money to ukraine. to be fair, he is not alone, there is definitely a sense of ukraine fatigue amongst some european countries like slovakia, for example but it is viktor orban who is seen today as the main hurdle and so we are expecting quite a long and so we are expecting quite a long and complicated negotiation. wejust heard from the prime minister up on land he said he has brought a set of extra shirts just land he said he has brought a set of extra shirtsjust in land he said he has brought a set of extra shirts just in case this meeting goes into the weekend! irate meeting goes into the weekend! we have also been getting some reaction from brussels. to the ongoing news

conference from vladimir putin, we've heard from nato chief yancey stoltenberg said there is a real risk vladimir putin will not stop with ukraine if he manages victory there. so what are concerns around ukraine still dominating beyond the calls for further funding? that ukraine still dominating beyond the calls for further funding?— calls for further funding? that is rirht and calls for further funding? that is right and that _ calls for further funding? that is right and that is _ calls for further funding? that is right and that is precisely - calls for further funding? that is right and that is precisely why i calls for further funding? that is l right and that is precisely why the european union today is very keen to send a strong message of solidarity to ukraine. a message that says ukraine belongs with europe and it is not in the russian orbit. and the way that they plan to deliver that message is by green lighting the start of formal talks so that ukraine canjoin start of formal talks so that ukraine can join the start of formal talks so that ukraine canjoin the european union. this is a really big deal and something ukraine really wants to see. we heard from president zelensky a couple of days ago and he said a positive decision from

brussels today would send a very powerful message of hope to his people and his troops that are fighting against russia. but again, the obstacle is the hungarian prime minister viktor orban who said if ukraine were tojoin minister viktor orban who said if ukraine were to join the eu, that would have devastating consequences for the block. he points to the fact ukraine is at war and that would pose quite a big challenge so quite a difficult negotiation there and of course what viktor orban says really matters because a decision on allowing a new country to join the eu needs to be unanimous. you've got quite a small country, hungry, that is holding a lot of power here and it could vt, derailed the whole thing. you know, the eu, as i said, is very keen to send a message of unity. we heard from the ukrainian foreign minister who was here in brussels and he said this is the mother of all decisions and that the eu fails to deliver on this, he

basically said it shows the european union is not keeping its promises to ukraine. ., ., union is not keeping its promises to ukraine. ., ,, , ., union is not keeping its promises to ukraine. ., ,, , . ., ukraine. thank you service for brinrrin ukraine. thank you service for bringing us — ukraine. thank you service for bringing us up-to-date - ukraine. thank you service for bringing us up-to-date on - ukraine. thank you service for| bringing us up-to-date on that bringing us up—to—date on that story. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. a person remains unaccounted for after a large fire broke out at an industrial estate in south wales. police responded to a "serious incident" at treforest industrial estate, pontypridd, around 7pm, on wednesday, and said roads in the area would remain closed for some time. eyewitnesses reported hearing a "massive explosion" and the area's mp said there were "walking wounded". police searching for a mother of three who went missing almost a week ago in norwich have released cctv of her last known movements. 55—year—old gaynor lord disappeared after failing to return home from work. norfolk constabulary also said it was "linking in" with police in lancashire because of similarities with

the nicola bulley investigation. a nurse who was found guilty of ill—treating patients by drugging them to "keep them quiet and compliant" will be sentenced at preston crown court today. 54—year—old catherine hudson gave unprescribed sedatives to two patients at blackpool victoria hospital between february 2017 and november 2018. you're live with bbc news. israel has continued its bombing of the gaza strip ahead of a visit on thursday by the us national security adviser, jake sullivan. this is the aftermath of a strike in rafah in the south of the gaza strip. the hamas—run health ministry says at least nineteen people have been

killed in air strikes this morning. us officials say mr sullivan is expected to call for greater precision in future israeli targeting of hamas. it follows mounting international criticism of israel over the number of civilian casualties, and overwhelming support for a ceasefire during a vote in the un general assembly. let me show you these pictures of israel's prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, who met military commanders in gaza on wednesday. he told them — and i quote: "we continue until the end, there is no question. i say this even given the great pain, and the international pressures. nothing will stop us, we will continue until the end, until victory, nothing less, another development coming in which i willjust read out to you from the foreign secretary lord david cameron, he said he was banning those responsible for settler violence against palestinians from entering britain. to discuss these developments we can join our middle east correspondent. i'm not sure how much you know about this developing news from lord cameron, talking about the ban on settlers who are

responsible for violence against palestinians from entering britain. any more you know about that? first of all this follows _ any more you know about that? f “st of all this follows hot on the heels of all this follows hot on the heels of all this follows hot on the heels of a very similar decision taken by the us, we know many people who live in the settlements have dual nationality and this could affect a wide number of them and reflects the growing international concern that there has been particularly in recent weeks but also through the entire year about a rise in settler violence in the occupied west bank. and so for once instead of having the strong rhetoric we have seen from the us and from the british as well, we are seeing that translated into action. settlers who may wish to travel in the future. drill into action. settlers who may wish to travel in the future.— to travel in the future. all of this cominr to travel in the future. all of this coming as _ to travel in the future. all of this coming as a _ to travel in the future. all of this coming as a senior _ to travel in the future. all of this coming as a senior us _ to travel in the future. all of this coming as a senior us official, i to travel in the future. all of this l coming as a senior us official, jack coming as a senior us official, jack sullivan the national security advisor is set to come to israel. what are you anticipating might come

from that visit? this what are you anticipating might come from that visit?— from that visit? this is a very important — from that visit? this is a very important arrival _ from that visit? this is a very important arrival time - from that visit? this is a very important arrival time for - from that visit? this is a very| important arrival time forjack important arrival time forjack sullivan. he is coming here after a week in which we have had the strongest public criticism from the us president about as rare �*s conduct in the war so far and after the un general assembly voted overwhelmingly in favour of an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. we understand that with this emerging vision between israel and its closest allies in washington, that jake sullivan will be talking about ways that israel can use more precise and targeted strikes to hit hamas inside gaza. he may be looking at ways of dry to increase the amount of aid going on, improve a distribution inside the territory and in the israeli media there is some speculation about whether he could be pushing for negotiations to take place on another release deal

with more than 100 hostages still being held by hamas in gaza. on top of that, looking to the future, linking to a timetable for an end to the war and looking to what happens after the war, what is the vision for israel because we are seeing a lot of the disagreements between israel and the us focusing on that. all of those latest developments, we thank you. plenty more on this developments from the middle east on the bbc news website, we are running that life page. some breaking news. the father, stepmother and uncle of ten—year—old sara sharif who died at her home in woking in august have pleaded not guilty to her murder. her body was found under a blanket in a bunk bed at the house in surrey, by then herfather, hurst

wife, and the uncle had left for a they returned to the uk and were charged with her murder and causing and allowing the death of a child. more on that story as and when we get it. going back to our main story. vladimir putin is continuing to deliver his end of your news conference. that is in moscow. this is the first one he has held since the russian invasion of ukraine, it is normally an annual event, let's listen in. translation: a great team. very upbeat, but their scope is limited, you know? as per the statutory documents. they cannot take direct participation. and i always was engaged in channelling

and managing funds but i am in favourat and managing funds but i am in favour at the same time to increase and enhance their rights with respect to the control of what amount is channelled where and what the outcomes may be. also in the sphere of rehabilitation and i will not delve into details now but i know the members of parliament after visiting one of the outlets of this foundation reported to me and we will improve the operation of that foundation, it is good to uphold the interests of the... you mentioned a huge and crucial role of the volunteers and the kind heart of them. lots of questions received from dan. madame marina from the

moscow region asks today we see a lot of help from the grassroots to the military in procurement and supply is, why do rank—and—file people... studio: let's bring in my colleague vitaly shevchenko who has spent watching the news conference. been going on for well over an hour, what are the main points we have heard so far? , ., ., , , ., are the main points we have heard so far? , ., .,_ ., . far? unquestionably, the main topic addressed by _ far? unquestionably, the main topic addressed by vladimir _ far? unquestionably, the main topic addressed by vladimir putin - far? unquestionably, the main topic addressed by vladimir putin as - addressed by vladimir putin as ukraine. and unsurprisingly, he's played a very upbeat and rosy picture of what is going on. and he claimed repeatedly that the situation is improving for his forces in ukraine. but this massive focus on ukraine clearly reveals how big an issue it is for the kremlin

and clearly, vladimir putin is keen to address any concerns surrounding the so—called special military operation. for example, he has spoken at length about the benefits that are being paid to veterans of this war and within the past few minutes, he was asked about difficulties in getting the necessary supplies to his forces in ukraine and he acknowledged that not all of them were being delivered on time. and he also hinted that some of the supplies that russia needs for this war and i quote, they are being purchased privately from abroad. so this could be seen as a hint at how successful russia is in

circumventing various western sanctions imposed with the purpose of cutting russia off for modern technology that can be used in this war. ., , ,, . ., ~ war. vitaly shevchenko, thank you for bringing _ war. vitaly shevchenko, thank you for bringing us _ war. vitaly shevchenko, thank you for bringing us up _ war. vitaly shevchenko, thank you for bringing us up to _ war. vitaly shevchenko, thank you for bringing us up to date - war. vitaly shevchenko, thank you for bringing us up to date from - war. vitaly shevchenko, thank you | for bringing us up to date from that news conference and as you see president vladimir putin continuing to deliver that news conference and we expect it will last for about an hour or so and we will come back to it later but before we go, some breaking news, father, stepmother and uncle of ten—year—old sara sharif the british pakistani girl who died at her home in woking in august had pleaded not guilty to her murder. her body was found under a blanket in a bunk bed at a house in surrey, by then herfather, his partner and her uncle had left the country for islamabad. they returned in september and they were charged with her murder and causing or allowing the death of a child. we

will have more on that and of course on the continuing is conference in moscow with vladimir putin. we will take a quick break after which i will be back. hello again. after a fairly cloudy start and patchy light rain and drizzle in england and wales for all of us it will dry in the west and brighton up bar one or two showers. the cloud and drizzle will be slow to clear from the south—east. courtesy of these weather fronts continuing to journey southwards, the isobars telling their own story, we have windy conditions across the north and west. the wind coming from the west blowing in showers to western scotland and northern ireland. you could see the odd isolated shower in the south—west and wales this afternoon but the clouds slow to clear in east anglia and kent. these are the temperatures,

7—9 in the east. into double figures in the west. heading through this evening and overnight under clear skies, expect some patchy mist and fog forming. and it's going to be cold enough for a touch of frost in the south—east and north—east of england but generally a cold night. high pressure still in charge of the weather but around the top of it tomorrow we have this weather front coming in and it will be windy across the north west and the north of scotland. here's our weather front coming in introducing rain, more cloud in the west, some spots of drizzle. push further east under the clear skies, there will be sunny spells but only 7—8 , 12 degrees in belfast but as we head to the weekend note how we return to the yellows on some areas of the chart meaning temperatures will rise a little bit. saturday, we still have this ridge

of high pressure clinging on, when the day with exposure in the north and west and we have a weather front drifting and bringing in some heavy rain. south of that there is showers but saturday is quite a cloudy day, the best breaks to the east of the hills for example in the pennines. temperatures widely10—13 degrees. on sunday, a little bit of uncertainty as to how far south the rain will travel but it looks like it will get as far south as north wales. to the south of that for southern england and through the midlands drier and brighter with sunshine and still mild!

carolyn brown random

this is bbc news. the headlines... israel contains its bombardment of gaza in the lead up to a senior us official. ambulance bosses say patients are being put at risk by dangerous delays with winter pressures already affecting the nhs. let's go back to our main story and

thatis let's go back to our main story and that is of course that russia's president vladimir putin is at the moment giving his first year end news conference since the full scale invasion of ukraine. it is being carried live on all russian tv networks. it comes as they are meeting in brussels to discuss further funding for ukraine and you can see them discussing questions on the war where he affirmed his decision to invade the country.