especially advances recently, especially in the southeast, and president zelensky, we have seen and very quick to defend the progress that has been made, in particular, as he has said, they're not lost territory to russia, what are you concerned that ukraine is not good to be able to win this war against russia? a, able to win this war against russia? �* , a, a, , able to win this war against russia? �* a, , t, a, russia? a stalemate is not a wing and _ russia? a stalemate is not a wing and i — russia? a stalemate is not a wing and i think _ russia? a stalemate is not a wing and i think we - russia? a stalemate is not a wing and i think we looking i wing and i think we looking at such a long war, ukraine losing thousands of their soldiers, their troops, they are now getting airpower, but it has been a long, long time in this war, and am sure it is very difficult, but having said that, the spirit of the ukrainian people is awesome. they have to win, it is important that they win because we all know, those of us who have been dealing with russia

at nato and beyond, that if putin wins, he will not stop. he will go to other countries think he has a free reign to stop and then if nato is invaded, then all of us are going to have troops on the ground in ukraine defendant against this invasion of their country. that is what we have agreed, not ukraine, but if it is an nato country i have meant, but we have agreed we will fight for any nato country thatis will fight for any nato country that is invaded. and if president putin thinks he can go forward and defeat ukraine, he will be emboldened, there's no doubt about it. the he will be emboldened, there's no doubt about it.— no doubt about it. the two candidates _ no doubt about it. the two candidates who _ no doubt about it. the two candidates who appear - no doubt about it. the two candidates who appear to l no doubt about it. the two l candidates who appear to be running for second place, i want to go through what they've said recently on ukraine in the

last debate before the caucuses. ron desantis said he rejects the amount of aid spent on ukraine, saying it's more important for the us to defend its own borders, he doesn't want to be dragged into a war with no clear end. that's contrasting with nikki haley, who says it's important to prevent a broad war and support a freedom loving country. i want to get your sense is a former republican senator from texas how much you think that resonates with republican voters. i resonates with republican voters. ., ~' resonates with republican voters. ., ~ ., voters. i do think that people in congress. _ voters. i do think that people in congress, the _ voters. i do think that people in congress, the vast - voters. i do think that people | in congress, the vast majority understand the consequences of not helping ukraine win. i want to tell you that the southern border, which is my state, is a number one issue in texas and any of these states that have had either fentanyl deaths are illegal immigrants who have committed crimes, the overwhelming force of this

illegal immigration that's come from our southern border is a very big issue. but i think that the american voters in the american people, and republicans understand the importance of ukraine and i don't think it's a trade—off. we need to help ukraine win, there are no american troops on there are no american troops on the ground and as long as we can help ukraine win this war, then we won't have to have nato involved because vladimir putin will move on a nato country if he defeats ukraine. that is our long—term interest. but we must also address that illegal immigration coming into our country that is overwhelming my state and many states where the illegal immigrants have been transferred in these states don't have the capability to be able to take care of them in a humane way. able to take care of them in a humane way-— able to take care of them in a humane wa . �* , ., ., ~ humane way. ambassador, thank ou so humane way. ambassador, thank you so much. _ humane way. ambassador, thank you so much, great— humane way. ambassador, thank you so much, great to _ humane way. ambassador, thank you so much, great to have - humane way. ambassador, thank you so much, great to have you l you so much, great to have you back on. ., ~ ,,

over to you, caitriona. thanks, sumi. evangelical support is crucial here in iowa, with born—again christians expected to make up around two—thirds of all republican caucusgoers. rob vander plaats is an influential evangelical leader here as president and ceo of the family leader, a socially conservative organisation. in 2016, he backed texas senator ted cruz, who beat donald trump. this time he has endorsed ron desantis. i caught up with him earlier. rob, thanks forjoining us on bbc news. the night is finally here, it's caucus night. house team to santos feeling? i here, it's caucus night. house team to santos feeling? i think we are feeling _ team to santos feeling? i think we are feeling very _ team to santos feeling? i think we are feeling very good. - team to santos feeling? i think we are feeling very good. he's| we are feeling very good. he's done everything right, he's built an outstanding organisation, i think he speaking at the right time, then you add in a little bit of snow and ice, some wind chill and you might have the ingredients for a perfect storm tonight where he will definitely beat expectations, and i think he could knock on the doorfor a caucus

and i think he could knock on the door for a caucus victory tonight. fix, the door for a caucus victory toniaht. �* ., .,, , the door for a caucus victory toniaht. �* ., ., , ., the door for a caucus victory toniaht. �* ., , ., ., tonight. a lot has been made of the national _ tonight. a lot has been made of the national weather _ tonight. a lot has been made of the national weather service i the national weather service telling us it's the coldest caucus night since records began, but iowans are tough. will that put them off? i think the 'll no will that put them off? i think they'll go out- _ will that put them off? i think they'll go out. my _ will that put them off? i think they'll go out. my bigger - they'll go out. my bigger concern in the cold as the ice. some of the elderly may brave the cold, but the ice is another issue. so i hope all the caucus locations are very careful, they get rid of the snow and ice and people are safe when they come on and. find safe when they come on and. and is team to — safe when they come on and. and is team to santos _ safe when they come on and. and is team to santos doing anything to help people get to the caucus sites?— the caucus sites? right now the caucus sites? right now the are the caucus sites? right now they are calling _ the caucus sites? right now they are calling people - the caucus sites? right now they are calling people and | they are calling people and reminding people — they will do anything they can to get people to the polls. at that again is the blessing of a great organisation. the blessing of a great oruanisation. , , organisation. nevertheless,

donald trump _ organisation. nevertheless, donald trump is _ organisation. nevertheless, donald trump is way - organisation. nevertheless, donald trump is way ahead | organisation. nevertheless, i donald trump is way ahead in all the polls, including the most recent one, and this looks like a contest for second place that ron desantis a slightly slipping off. can you explain that? ., ., 4' slipping off. can you explain that? ., , , , that? look at the des moines re . ister that? look at the des moines register poll _ that? look at the des moines register poll and _ that? look at the des moines register poll and read - that? look at the des moines register poll and read the - register poll and read the narrative. in the narrative, they say trump probably won't get as high as 48%. nikki's voters aren't all that enthused, a lot of them are democrats or independents. however the polls also show the desantis people are showing up with enthusiasm. so when you add those factors in, i think you could be a really good night for governor desantis. politics is about expectations. the former president says he'll dominate iowa 50—60%, governor chris sununu tells us nikki haley will take second place — i think the one that could actually beat expectations is ron desantis.— actually beat expectations is ron desantis. he's planned to fl out to ron desantis. he's planned to fly out to south _ ron desantis. he's planned to fly out to south carolina - fly out to south carolina

tomorrow morning on his way to new hampshire, but it's not his next stop, though it's the next state. what's the logic to that considering nebraska comes before south carolina? running for president — before south carolina? running for president is _ before south carolina? running for president is a _ before south carolina? running for president is a big _ before south carolina? running for president is a big job - before south carolina? running for president is a big job and i for president is a big job and you have to go to a lot of states. this event in south carolina has been scheduled for sometime, has 7a legislative endorsements for nikki haley, her home state only has iii. so south carolina is really excited for ron desantis. so he wants to make sure everything is good before he goes to new hampshire. they'll be doing a lot ofjuggling, all the campaigns will startjuggling. campaigns will start juggling. i won't campaigns will startjuggling. i won't weigh into much about the strategy — he's not going home, he's staying on the campaign trail.— campaign trail. now your endorsement _ campaign trail. now your endorsement and - campaign trail. now your endorsement and the - campaign trail. now your| endorsement and the the campaign trail. now your - endorsement and the the family leader group here is referred to as the kingmaker of candidates in iowa, you bring a lot of sway with evangelical voters. will that be enough for

ron desantis tonight? i voters. will that be enough for ron desantis tonight?- ron desantis tonight? i don't know, ron desantis tonight? i don't know. and — ron desantis tonight? i don't know, and first _ ron desantis tonight? i don't know, and first of _ ron desantis tonight? i don't know, and first of all - ron desantis tonight? i don't know, and first of all it's - ron desantis tonight? i don't know, and first of all it's a . know, and first of all it's a personal endorsement, not a ministry endorsement. but we always say we don't want to be always say we don't want to be a kingmaker, buta standard—bearer. my endorsement isn't so much about me but the people of iowa and america weighing in, letting them choose. as i even told ron desantis, my endorsement is worth one vote. now trump will also compete for that evangelical vote, somehow keep, or can he compete? he's got a record. in his first term, he appointed three supreme court justices, the abraham accords, so a lot of evangelicals are appreciative of the former president. does that mean they'll stay with him or turn they'll stay with him or turn the page and move to a governor? i know you are backing governor desantis, if president trump becomes a nominee, will you back him? i tell people regardless of whoever becomes the nominee, it

is on them to earn the support of those people that didn't endorse them. because that makes them a better candidate. right now with a primary process, let's keep the focus where the focus needs to be. but whoever becomes the nominee needs to earn people's support, they shouldn't just expect that. they shouldn't 'ust expect that. , ., ., �* that. does that mean there'll be a question _ that. does that mean there'll be a question mark— that. does that mean there'll be a question mark over - that. does that mean there'll- be a question mark over whether you'll vote for the nominee? when you look at the trump administration in 2016 and the biden administration of 20/20, there's no doubt, i would go with the trumpet ministration. the reason the reason i say and it is we want to make sure he's the same type of candidate that he was in 2016 as he will be in 24. �* y g, �* he was in 2016 as he will be in 24. �* , ., �* ., , he was in 2016 as he will be in 24.�* a �* he was in 2016 as he will be in 24.�* �*, 24. but you're hoping it'll be president — 24. but you're hoping it'll be president ron _ 24. but you're hoping it'll be president ron desantis? - 24. but you're hoping it'll be president ron desantis? i i 24. but you're hoping it'll be l president ron desantis? i do,

art of it president ron desantis? i do, part of it is — president ron desantis? i do, part of it is because _ president ron desantis? i do, part of it is because he - president ron desantis? i do, part of it is because he took. president ron desantis? i do, part of it is because he took a| part of it is because he took a toss—up state like florida and turned it deep red, he won in demographics we never win end, he'll be a very compelling candidate about america's future than its past. milli candidate about america's future than its past. will wait see what happens _ future than its past. will wait see what happens over - future than its past. will wait see what happens over the l see what happens over the night, thanks forjoining us on bbc. night, thanks for 'oining us on bbc. ., ~ night, thanks for 'oining us on ssc. ., ~ , g, night, thanks forjoining us on bbc-_ those - night, thanks forjoining us on i bbc._ those caucuses bbc. thank you. those caucuses nettina bbc. thank you. those caucuses getting under— bbc. thank you. those caucuses getting under way _ bbc. thank you. those caucuses getting under way in _ bbc. thank you. those caucuses getting under way in iowa, - bbc. thank you. those caucuses getting under way in iowa, will. getting under way in iowa, will bring you up—to—date all night long. stay with us. hello. this week is certainly shaping up to bring some of the coldest and snowiest weather of the winter so far. we started the week on monday in the grip of this arctic air. cold northerly winds feeding frequent wintry showers, especially into northern, eastern, and some western parts of the uk. tuesday remains cold — snow and ice will cause problems for some. but a slight shift in the wind direction, more of a west or northwesterly wind — so that means not as many showers across eastern parts, more showers out towards the west. and then, this little frontal system here will generate a mix of rain, sleet and snow across the northern half of the uk. ice as we move

through the morning — that could cause some quite poor travelling conditions. and then, we will see frequent snow showers in northern scotland. this area of snowfall in central and southern scotland, this could bring snow to quite low levels. for northern ireland and for northern england, at low levels, it may be that we see some rain and some sleet mixing in — most of the significant snow over high ground — but there could be some travel disruption, say, over the high—level routes in the pennines. to the south of that, well, mostly dry with some spells of crisp winter sunshine. maybe not quite as cold in southern counties of england or south wales, whereas parts of scotland will stay below freezing all day long. and in scotland, we'll see further snowfall during tuesday evening — could cause some disruption for the rush hour. mix of rain, sleet, and snow across parts of northern england into wales, the odd snow shower pushing down across the midlands. a very, very cold night indeed, some places likely to get to —10 in the highlands. now for wednesday, we're keeping a close eye on this area of low pressure, which is moving its way in towards france, but it may just graze this weather system close enough to southern

counties of england to bring the risk of a bit of light sleet and snow here. we'll keep an eye on that one for you. the channel islands seeing rain, maybe something wintry mixing in. elsewhere, sunny spells, a scattering of wintry showers, a very cold—feeling day — many places around or, perhaps in some spots, below freezing even through the afternoon. now that weather system moves away, thursday will bring further snow showers. high pressure builds in for friday, so it is a drier end to the week for many. and then, we start to develop a westerly wind. atlantic weather systems will bring wind and rain, and something milder as we head into the weekend, so this cold spell may not last all that long.

live from iowa, this is bbc news the iowa caucuses are now underway — as the 2024 presidential primary season officially begins. and in dc, i'm sumi somaskanda. from foreign poicy to donald trump's legal challenges there are number of key issues that voters in iowa and across the country will be watching in the lead—up to november. the iowa caucuses now are underway and republican voters across 99 counties are now

making their selection for the republican party's presidential nominee in the first contest of 2024. we are live from iowa watching as the caucuses unfold and we'll have the results as they happen. while the winner of tonight's contest is expected to be former president donald trump, anything can happen. but many are watching what is being called the race for second — as former governor nikki haley and current florida governor ron desantis battle for support at crucial phase of their campaigns. haley has surged ahead to second place in iowa according to recent polls, but desantis continued to make a strong showing in iowa in the final hours before the caucuses began. i think president trump was the right president at the right time. i agree with a lot of his policies. but, rightly or wrongly, chaos follows him. you know i'm right. chaos follows him. and we can't be a country in disarray in a world on fire and go through four more years of chaos. we won't survive it.

donald trump is