called the eu talks decision "a victory for ukraine". it's a significant move that comes as the us has approved an $886 billion defence bill, including $300 million for security assistance to ukraine through the end of september. but despite the promising eu talks for ukraine, a dealfor more eu aid is in limbo after opposition from hungary. in just the last few hours, hungary blocked a 50 billion euro aid package. in southern ukraine, a barage of russian drones attacked odesa, where debris of a drone that was shot down damaged a residential builing inuring11 people, including three children. ukraine's military says russian shelling also struck targets in kherson. residents were woken overnight with loud explosions. buildings throughout the area were damaged. in eastern ukraine, troops are under pressure because of a dwindling military supplies. our correspondent abdujalil abdurasulov has this report from the frontlines.

in the bitter cold of winter, this deadly war grinds on, and big guns, provided by western partners, still play a crucial role. ukraine's 93rd brigade is stationed near bakhmut. they say the russians attack at least twice a day. theirjob, to stop them advancing. as the conflict turns to stalemate, ukrainian soldiers say they need the support of their international partners more than ever. it is demoralising for them to hear that, instead, america's funding for ukraine has ground to a halt. translation: if there is no support from the western i countries, then it's going to get really bad. russia will seize ukraine, then it will be the turn of the baltic states and poland. i don't think the russians will stop here.

our conversation is interrupted by orders to destroy a new target. the crew has to be quick. after a long silence, they're told to stand down and hide the howitzer. but these soldiers worry their guns will remain silent for much longer without new us funding and supplies. these are 155mm calibre artillery shells, and most western weapons and artillery systems that ukraine has received use these types of shells, and therefore the shortage of these rounds will mean that those big guns will have to fire less, and that, in its turn, will have a huge impact here on the front line. there's already a serious lack of ammunition for western weapons, and the shortage is worse for old soviet guns. the commander of this ageing soviet howitzer unit admits that they have to use

shells carefully. after loading, the crew waits for hours for the command to open fire on a high—value target. they simply cannot afford to waste ammunition on anything else. the difficult days ahead are uncertain, but these soldiers say their determination is not. abdujalil abdurasulov, bbc news, donetsk region, in eastern ukraine. president putin says there will be no peace in ukraine until russia has achieved its goals. at his first major news conference since the start of the invasion, mr putin insisted that the war was going well and suggested that western support for ukraine was drying up. mr putin spent more than four hours answering questions at the choreographed event. our russia editor steve rosenberg there. there haven't been many — actually, any — opportunities for western media to get anywhere near vladimir putin since his full—scale invasion of ukraine.

but today, the kremlin invited us and otherforeign media to the president's end—of—year tv extravaganza — half press conference, half phone—in. on the war in ukraine, he sounded confident. translation: there will be peace when we achieve our goals. they haven't changed. practically along the entire line of contact, our armed forces are, to put it modestly, improving their position. they are in an active stage of operation. there was a definite military theme to the show, which was broadcast by every main tv channel in russia and went on for hours. the public had plenty of questions about what the kremlin�*s still calling its special military operation, like would there be a new wave of mobilisation in russia? mr putin said no.

this didn't happen last year. the kremlin had cancelled the annual putin phone—in and his end—of—year press conference following the full—scale invasion of ukraine. the fact that the four—hour tv marathon is back reflects his growing confidence nearly two years into the war. he was asked about two americans being held in russian jails — wall streetjournal reporter evan gershkovich and former marine paul whelan. is a prisoner swap possible? translation: we want to do a deal, but these agreementsj should be mutually beneficial. we're in contact with our american partners on this matter. a dialogue is under way. it's not easy. i won't go into detail, but in general i think we understand each other and i hope that we will find a solution. irina was lucky — she got a question about egg prices. "you're my favourite

president," she says. but all i got, afterfour hours, was a sore arm. pity, that. i have so many questions for vladimir putin. another day, perhaps. steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. i spoke with angela stent. she's a senior fellow at the brookings institution and author of putin's world: russia against the west and with the rest. very good to see you again. first off, i want to get your thoughts on that press conference, the first since russia's invasion of ukraine. putin certainly wanted to project an air of confidence, telling the russian people russia was winning this special military operation, again castigating the west for its policies and, you know, listening to questions from some "ordinary russians"

obviously all preplanned and promising them that the price of eggs would go down and he would fix roads and things like that, and i think this is part of his pre—election campaign. i think it was very important for him to hold this press conference again. he did not hold it last year. the first one the invasion in 2022. he is building up to the election where he wants to come out of it showing a vast of russians support him and that they believe russia is on the right path. putin saying there will be peace "when we achieve our goals." do you read that as a continuation of what we've seen in ukraine? certainly, because he articulated those goals and he said that demilitarisation of ukraine and ukraine has to remain a neutral country. now, no—one completely knows

what he means by that but clearly he has in his sights regime change, in kyiv a government that is pro—russian, and taking more territory. there is nothing he said today that would lead one to believe he is willing to sit down at the negotiating table and negotiate with president zelensky. we were trying to read between the lines. we heard putin sayjust before that "unless they want "to come to terms peacefully." and a pro—putin russian mp said to the bbc earlier that russia is "ready to negotiate," adding "we need security guarantees and we will get it on the "battlefield or by negotiations. we are ready to do both." do you think that is simply words? that is mainly words. what does he mean by security guarantees? presumably that ukraine will agree to remain neutral and that it will accept the annexation of the four territories, none of

which russia fully controls. yes, you hear somewhat different signals from different people but i do not think that putin would be ready to negotiate with ukraine other than on his own terms. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. the presidents of venezuela and guyana have agreed to not use force to resolve their border dispute. they will work according to international law instead. the agreement was reached after a two—hour meeting between presidents nicolas maduro and ifraan ali. the aim was to avoid an escalation following a referendum earlier this month, in which most venezuelans supported mr maduro's plans to take over essequibo. that's an oil—rich region controlled by neighbouring guyana. a state memorial service has been held at sydney's famous opera house for entertainment legend, barry humphries. the comedian, actor and creator of the beloved character, dame edna everage, died in april following complications from hip surgery. fellow comedians joined in the tributes. king charles sent a personal

message to be read out at the service. in the premier league football, rebecca welch is to become the first female referee, when she officiates fulham's match against burnley on december 23. welch has been refereeing since 2010 and became the first woman to referee a match in the men's championship at the start of this year. you're live with bbc news. there's no sign israel will halt its offensive in gaza. it comes after prime minister benjamin netanyahu told us national security advisor jake sullivan israel will pursue its war against hamas, designated a terrorist organisation in the us and uk — until what he called an "absolute victory." sullivan called for israel to scale back it's offensive to focus on high—value targets in gaza. the hamas—run health ministry says more than 18,000 people have been killed in gaza since the war began. communications are also down again.

0ur international editor jeremy bowen reports on whether the war in gaza has any chance of ending in a peaceful solution to the long—running conflict between israelis and palestinians. "jerusalem," a historian wrote, "is the only city where "the dead are more important than the living." he meant the weight of its bloody past, but it's the last two months and more of killing that have sent palestinians and israelis into new and unknown territory. and here in the holy city which both sides claim as their capital, they are tense, watchful, waiting. choices lie ahead. a ceasefire will come eventually. will itjust be a pause before the next war? or will israel and the palestinians decide that the only way to avoid more sorrow and death is to try again to make peace? arabs and jews have contested the land between the mediterranean and thejordan river for more than a century. this is hebron, on the

israeli—occupied west bank. do you have many families left here? i can see since october seventh... and this is issa amro, a palestinian activist. since the seventh of october, palestinians who live near hebron�*s illegaljewish settlement have been mostly under a curfew. so, the army's coming. what do you think they want? intimidation. yeah? everything they do, it's about intimidating the palestinian population and make them scared, to make this area empty. that is what they do. issa is well—known in hebron, and the army regard him as a troublemaker. they didn't want us to film, but we did when one of the soldiers butted into our conversation. you don't know what it's like to grow up in israel with neighbours like this. i know them. i live with them. i want peace. they don't want peace. even the ones working for me, they hate me. take your mask off. i'm not your enemy.

confrontation is built into israel's military occupation of the palestinian territories. peace is impossible while it continues. can you have peace? with them? no, we should force them to peace, pressure them. you should...? pressure them. pressure them? yes. the international community and international law must be implemented. the international community should make israel accept peace. do you think that the shock of the war in gaza and everything that's happened — the hamas attacks, everything that israel did in response — do you think that will change things orjust make them deeper and worse? i think its two opportunities. it's either we choose to make it deeper and worse, or we make it as an opportunity to solve the conflict and to solve the occupation, to solve the apartheid and make living together possible, because their security solution failed. israel says it has a right to be in hebron and this

is security, not apartheid. this was kibbutz be'eri just after the seventh of october. the government here says the only response is to destroy israel's enemies. vivian silver lived at the kibbutz. she was one of israel's best—known peace campaigners. she believed israelis would never have real security until palestinians had their own state. 0n the seventh, she was at home, in the place where she'd brought up her two sons. the bodies of israelis killed by hamas were still being recovered when we went there to try to find vivian's house. her family hoped she was a hostage inside gaza. as hamas shot their way into be'eri, she texted her son, yonatan, that she feared a massacre. her house was burnt. a month later, vivian silver's remains were identified in the ash left by the fire. so, you were there,

i was there afterwards, and her bones were in the safe room all the while. yonatan believes the war lacks a political objective. war, if we're not naive, it should be a means, right? but it feels like this war is a cause in itself, of revenge, of... ..of making a point. you are still a believer in peace even though these people came over into your country and killed your mother? they came into my country and killed my mother because we didn't have peace, so, to me, thisjust proves the point that we need it. after the war, the americans want israel's walls and fences, here between jerusalem and bethlehem, to go from a security measure into an international frontier

with an independent palestine. the current israeli government says the two—state solution will not happen. so, when the war is over, what needs to go right to give peace a chance? well, first of all, a change of leader on both sides. there's too much bad history, and they don't trust each other. next, there has to be even—handed mediation, something the americans have never managed to do. and as well as that, both israelis and palestinians are going to have to accept painful compromises on things that really matter to them, especially territory. so much has to go right to move from war to peace. so much has already gone wrong that peace might just be impossible. jeremy bowen, bbc news, jerusalem. earlier, i talked with nabil fahmy, egypt's former foreign minister, about the path forward and what the mass displacement of palestinians means for egypt.

there have been reports that egypt is highly concerned about the more than 1.8 million displaced palestinians from the war that they may be crossing over into egypt. tell us more about what those concerns are? the first concern is we do not accept the forced displacement of palestinians from the gaza strip in order to reduce the density of the population and consequently make it more of a israeli area. we don't support the method. moving them in a force fashion is a demented humanitarian burden on them and on everybody around them. we have provided and will continue to provide humanitarian support and we have accepted anyone who

needs substantial healthcare needs substantial healthca re into needs substantial healthcare into our hospitals within our own borders. but we want to ensure peace and security for all palestinians and as part of all palestinians and as part of a solution. all palestinians and as part of a solution-— a solution. your foreign minister _ a solution. your foreign minister was _ a solution. your foreign minister was in - a solution. your foreign i minister was in washington a solution. your foreign - minister was in washington last week and said that it would be a contradiction of international law palestinians from gaza were displeased to egypt's. your country and israel worked closely together on it military intelligence. what all that be at risk if there is a large displacement of refugees who then enter egypt? of refugees who then enter e . nt? of refugees who then enter 5. -t? ., ., of refugees who then enter eu nt? ., ., ., . egypt? the intentional forced displacement _ egypt? the intentional forced displacement of _ egypt? the intentional forced displacement of palestinians | egypt? the intentional forced l displacement of palestinians is a _ displacement of palestinians is a — would a direct fashion be in violation of our borders. consequently, it does raise concerns regarding the full and

faithful application of the peace agreement between the nations. ., ., , nations. that would be as it has been — nations. that would be as it has been described - nations. that would be as it has been described in - nations. that would be as itj has been described in some articles a rupture between israel and egypt?- articles a rupture between israel and egypt? well, again, it is premeditated _ israel and egypt? well, again, it is premeditated and - it is premeditated and therefore it is a policy decision. and that is a clear violation, a serious one of the treaty. and it will have consequences. i treaty. and it will have consequences.- treaty. and it will have consequences. treaty. and it will have conseuuences. ., ., ., consequences. i also want to ask ou consequences. i also want to ask you about _ consequences. i also want to ask you about israel's - consequences. i also want to l ask you about israel's strategy because they said clearly it must defeat hamas. what does that look like from egypt's perspective because you have raised great concern about their strategy and the loss of palestinian lives? the their strategy and the loss of palestinian lives?— palestinian lives? the first country in _ palestinian lives? the first country in the _ palestinian lives? the first country in the region - palestinian lives? the first country in the region to i palestinian lives? the first - country in the region to pursue peace between arabs and israeli in a peace agreement. there is no question about our motivation. for us peace has to involve nation birds for the palestinians and recognition and security for the israeli

cannot be one at the extent of the other. cannot be one at the extent of the other-— the other. that israel ambassador - the other. that israel ambassador to - the other. that israel ambassador to the i the other. that israel| ambassador to the uk the other. that israel- ambassador to the uk said the other. that israel— ambassador to the uk said today that a two state solution is not on the cards, what you think of that?— not on the cards, what you think of that? that is frankly incomplete _ think of that? that is frankly incomplete contradiction - think of that? that is frankly incomplete contradiction to l incomplete contradiction to everything the israelis have been sang maddick channels that they want peace and security. if that's the position taken by them today than they will not want peace and security. this is a violation of international law, the resolution to 11—2 and the security council talks about the viability of territorial acquisition by force and it talks about ending occupation in exchange for security for all. if you want to violate that than you want to violate that than you want to violate that than you want to violate also the concept of security. my concern frankly is now a temporary ceasefire. it

is a complete ceasefire and a process that links the ceasefire to the ultimate solution of the problem will stop otherwise we will have a recurring cycle of violence. let's talk about the ultimate solution. what you see as egypt's role in the rebuilding of gaza and beyond that after the war ends?— of gaza and beyond that after the war ends? first of all, the war has to _ the war ends? first of all, the war has to end _ the war ends? first of all, the war has to end with _ the war ends? first of all, the war has to end with one, - the war ends? first of all, the war has to end with one, a - war has to end with one, a termination of hostilities and two, a clear direction towards resolution in the whole conflict. a ceasefire and steps that will lead to humanitarian issues being resolved, hostages being exchanged and those incarcerated, the resettling of palestinians who have moved out of their houses back to their land. but also, also, and this is very important. the creation of a two state solution so that

palestinians and israelis with minor exchange of territory and that should include by the way those borders on the palestinian side isjerusalem. palestinian side is jerusalem. if palestinian side isjerusalem. if you don't have that in the conflict continues and it is not, and i will say this again, it will not be whether it is more violence, it will be when. and when i use the bod violence i don't mean palestinian, it goes on both sides and you can see it on the west bank where settlers are being aggressive with palestinians there. really treat to with palestinians there. really great to get — with palestinians there. really great to get your _ with palestinians there. really great to get your view - with palestinians there. really great to get your view on - with palestinians there. really great to get your view on thisl great to get your view on this today, thank you so much for joining us. today, thank you so much for joining ne— now to the sky, where around the world a meteor shower — known as the geminids — is peaking. pallab ghosh reports. blink and you'll miss it. meteors hurtle through the skies of northumbria earlier this year. tiny fragments of space dust burning up in the earth's atmosphere.

and these pictures from last night are the start of the biggest meteor shower of the year. we can see if we look up now... it's cloudy in most parts of the country tonight. but astronomers say it's still worth looking up at the skies as the storm starts to peak. so it's not too bad, is it? it's not bad and there are clear patches, and frankly, that's what i'd be looking at. if you go outside, have a look in a clear patch, see if you can see some meteors. any techniques, any suggestions? get a big, wide field of the sky in your eyes. don't focus on any particular point. just look up. you'll catch them out of the corner of your eye as well. the other thing, of course, is that if you're in company, you basically both have to be looking in the same direction because they're so fleeting, typically half a second. half a second? yeah, you have no time to point them out. there are ones that last longer. if you've a break in the clouds you'll be able to see the geminid shower wherever you are. it will be at its height tonight and tomorrow with dozens of colourful shooting stars every hour

lighting up the skies. pallab ghosh, bbc news. now if you think taking part in a marathon is tough, take a look at this. 68 runners have taken part in the annual antarctic ice marathon. it takes place just a few hundred kilometres from the south pole. no shorts for this one — in the sub—zero temperatures. american michael higgins won the men's race in a time of four hours, one minute and 45 seconds. the women's race was won by fellow american stephanie estridge. and before we go: new york commuters were delayed on thursday morning — not by weather or an accident, but by a bull. somehow the animal got loose and was spotted on the newjersey train tracks. no word on how the bull got loose — or where it came from. 0fficials eventually captured the bull and transported it in a trailer to safety. it was then sent on to an animal sanctuary. thank you for watching bbc

news. stay with us. hello. milder weather is set to develop across many parts of the uk over the next couple of days. that mild air spreading from the west — with it, a lot of cloud. yes, there'll be some sunshine, but i think it will often be cloudy. and the further north and west you are, particularly the north—west of scotland, we can expect strong winds and some heavy rain. but for friday, high pressure dominating to the south of us, keeping things mostly dry in southern parts. this warm front here introducing more cloud, cloud through the morning across northern ireland. that cloud then working its way up into a good part of scotland, clouding over across parts of north—west england, wales and the southwest. maybe the odd spot of rain or drizzle for coasts and hills, but for central and eastern parts of england, we should hold on to some spells of sunshine. not especially windy down towards the southeast, whereas the winds will be picking up all the while across

the north—west of scotland. temperature—wise, eight or nine degrees in some eastern parts, 12, maybe 13 out towards the west. and that mild air in the west continues to push further east as we head through friday night. with it, extensive cloud cover, some mist and murk, some spots of rain and drizzle, particularly across hills in western scotland. very windy in the north of scotland as well, but a milder night in prospect. temperatures generally between four and 11 degrees as we start saturday morning. that feed of mild air coming from the southwest and that mild air will be wafting across all parts of the uk as we head through the weekend. saturday will bring a lot of cloud. as you can see, that cloud producing some spots of rain and drizzle. it may be that things brighten up a little bit down towards the south with some sunshine. equally, though, this frontal system here will bring heavy and persistent rain into the north—west of scotland. and those temperatures, 12, 13, maybe 1a degrees, very windy up towards the north. now, that rain in the north—west of scotland just

keeps on coming through saturday night and into sunday. it may be that over some high ground in western scotland, we see up to 175 millimetres of rain. that could well bring some localised flooding and some travel disruption. a bit of rain into northern ireland and northern england. the further south you are, drier, brighter, a bit more in the way of sunshine, highs of 13 or 1a degrees. but after that milder weekend and a mild start to next week, it actually looks like temperatures will then drop away. we may start to see some wintry showers developing over high ground.

this is bbc news. we will have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour, straight after this programme. you may know actor hugh bonneville from his roles in downton abbey, notting hill and paddington. what you may not know is that he started out in shakespeare, so we met him at the globe theatre in london and couldn't resist trying a bit of acting ourselves. hugh bonneville, welcome to the globe. 0h... isn't this just heaven? beautiful. does it...

i have to... ifeel we need a line of romeo and juliet. something looking over. romeo, romeo, wherefore art thou, romeo? i mean, you've become globally famous. there isn't kind of a household in america that doesn't know you of course, for downton abbey, you, notting hill. for television and cinema. but you started out in theatre. do you, do you miss it? would you like to go back? yes, absolutely. when you kind of potter around backstage, are you getting that little pitter patter of... i know, definitely. definitely. the, you know, the roar of the greasepaint, the smell of the crowd. no, i love it. it's my, it sounds a cliche, but it is my home. it's where i started. and it's all i ever wanted to do, was be in theatre. i never thought i'd be on screen. i thought, in my sort of weird, teenage, early—20s brain, that screen acting was something that was over there, and that's what americans did brilliantly, and theatre was a sort of british tradition, and that's where i felt at home.