i'm live at stormont with reaction, and assessing the impact of northern ireland's devolved government. ukraine's president zelensky warns a new russian military offensive — may come in the next few months. and — it's one year — since the wall streetjournal reporter, evan gershkovich —was detained in russia on spying charges. his sister has spoken the the bbc�*s russia editor. the uncertainty is very hard to deal with, but we just see evan and how strong he is. hello, i'm matthew amroliwala, welcome to verified live, let's start with that stunning

development in northern ireland — news thatjeffrey donaldson — the leader of the democratic unionist party — has been charged with historical sexual offences — and has quit as leader. the dup says mr donaldson, who has been in politics for almost ao—years, has had his membership suspended pending the outcome of a judicial process. the party released a statement earlier, it says: police issued a statement earlier this morning. it read a 61—year—old man had been charged with "non—recent sexual offences" adding that a 57—year—old woman was also arrested and charged with "aiding and abetting additional offences". the statement confirmed two people

will appear in court on april 24. let's speak to our ireland correspondent, sara girvin. a quite stunning development. take us through it. a quite stunning development. take us through it— us through it. yeah, it's really remarkable. _ us through it. yeah, it's really remarkable. sir _ us through it. yeah, it's really remarkable. sirjeffrey - us through it. yeah, it's really - remarkable. sirjeffrey donaldson remarkable. sirjeffrey donaldson would be one of the best—known faces in politics here in northern ireland, he has been for decades. he's been the leader of the dup since 2021, he's been the mp for the lagan valley area since 1997, he is northern ireland's longest serving mp. it has been a tumultuous few years for the democratic unionist party, there is no doubt about that, and it was under sirjeffrey�*s leadership that they walked away from the power—sharing institutions here at stormont. that was over the northern ireland protocol which then became the windsor framework, the special trading arrangements

post—brexit, and just a few months ago he led the dup back into the power—sharing institutions here at stormont for the first time sinn fein with the biggest party here in northern ireland, they took a first minister position in the shape of michelle 0'neill, the dup's emma little—pengelly became the deputy first minister, the first time in that role, and things were going very well, the relationships were good between the parties, and today the shocking news, really, that so jeffrey donaldson is to step down as dup leader with immediate effect, we know that the party's deputy leader, gavin robinson, who and mp for this area that we are standing in now, east belfast, he will become the interim leader. we did hear that statement from dup, i'm to believe we may hear something from gavin robinson here today. we don't know what form that will take, but we don't expect him to be available for

interview today, that is perhaps to be expected, given the nature of these accusations, given the nature of the charges. just these accusations, given the nature of the charges-_ these accusations, given the nature of the charges. just give me more of a sense of the _ of the charges. just give me more of a sense of the reaction _ of the charges. just give me more of a sense of the reaction there - of the charges. just give me more of a sense of the reaction there has - a sense of the reaction there has been over the last few hours since this news broke.— this news broke. well, i think one of shock, absolutely. _ this news broke. well, i think one of shock, absolutely. really - this news broke. well, i think one of shock, absolutely. really no i this news broke. well, i think one. of shock, absolutely. really no one knew this was coming until we had the police statement from the police service of northern ireland you alluded to, and sojeffrey currie jeffrey was not named in that, we a statement from the tv saying he had stepped down as party leader and had allocations of the historical nature. given the nature of the accusations, of the charges, perhaps not that surprising we have had a lot of reaction, we had the former

northern ireland secretary of state julian smith welcoming the appointment of gavin robinson, saying it is a positive decision. he played a role in negotiations to restore power—sharing, and serie road a positive course in the future. you may hearfrom gavin robinson today, but we're not expecting to hear the dup. it was just three or four lines, first posted on x on the mic and social media and then e—mailed to journalists around the uk breaking the shock news, but the fact there is now live legal case, it's not that surprising that we haven't heard a lot from other political parties today. for heard a lot from other political parties today-— parties today. for now, thanks very much. reaction has been coming in. here's the former secretary of state for northern ireland julian smith, speaking on radio 4.

0h, oh, i 0h, ithink oh, i think first of all it is a big shock to everybody and will be a big shock to everybody and will be a big shock i think particularly northern ireland, and jeffrey donaldson had, as you know, played a key role in leading the dup back into power—sharing, which has over the past weeks since he's been back up and running in an extremely positive move, with michelle 0'neill and running in an extremely positive move, with michelle o'neill and emma little—pengelly for the sinn fein party in dup party respectively having a brilliant start, so if you shop, but i think actually one with the election of gavin robinson as interim leader today having the same interim leader today having the same in the dup havejust made, real continuity in the position that was taken by party officers and the dup to return to power—sharing. so, i'm not concerned anyway that this

shocking news today will lead to any change in the momentum behind power—sharing, and he had played in this political leadership role and absolutely critical part in the past few months. we lead their negotiations for the government and he worked with his own party to move them from their position of staying out on the executive, the basis that didn't agree with the northern ireland protocol. let's speak to british and irish politics professor at the university of liverpool, jon tonge. welcome to the programme. what were your first thoughts when you heard this news? ~ ., , this news? well, it was extraordinary _ this news? well, it was extraordinary news, - this news? well, it was - extraordinary news, absolutely shocking news. the british and irish governments will be shocked as well, because jeffrey governments will be shocked as well, becausejeffrey donaldson was someone eventually came to rely upon. he was known as the donaldson

deal, and that wasn'tjust a piece of alliteration, it was that he sold the deal to the dup to return to the power—sharing institutions, if it not been for him selling the deal it might have been on, and they might have been suffering from a lack of power—sharing.. we went on the airwaves and sold the restoration of power—sharing is a good dealfor unionism and a good dealfor northern ireland. it's true, as indicated, the gavin robinson is very much on the same political wavelength is jeffrey very much on the same political wavelength isjeffrey donaldson, and it's also true thatjeffrey donaldson wasn't part of stormont itself, he was at westminster. so, the institution should be secure, but nonetheless, unionism has lost its main leader here. remember, the dup is the only unionist party represented at westminster. yes. dup is the only unionist party represented at westminster. yes, and we will come — represented at westminster. yes, and we will come onto _ represented at westminster. yes, and we will come onto exactly _ we will come onto exactly that point, because for those people watching around the world, i mean,

just make your assessment, because he is such a huge figure within unionism, first with the ulster unionist party, then he left them to join the dup, and eventually become leader of the dup. he's been there at the forefront for almost a0 years, hasn't he? at the forefront for almost 40 years, hasn't he?— at the forefront for almost 40 years, hasn't he? that's right. jeffrey donaldson _ years, hasn't he? that's right. jeffrey donaldson was - years, hasn't he? that's right. jeffrey donaldson was elected | years, hasn't he? that's right. l jeffrey donaldson was elected to westminster in 1997, he is one of the longest serving parliamentarians. he was an opponent of the good friday agreement, he walked out on 26 good friday is ago today, he walked out on the good friday negotiations and argued that david trimble had not secured sufficient guarantees from the british government ira would decommission its weapons. he was an opponent of the good friday agreement, and eventually left the ulster unionist party to join the anti—agreement democratic union party, but he was seen as a pragmatist, and it was a surprise to many when he took the dup out of the

political treatment power—sharing institutions, because he said post—brexit trading arrangements back damaged unionism. but he was fairly soon after that determine to take the dup back in, and he succeeded six weeks ago and taking the dup back into political institutions, and if opinion polls to to be believed, most union supporters supported the decision. he was by far the dup's biggest player on the westminster stage, and in that sense politically he may be a hard act to fill, but the fact that he is obliged to stand down as dup lee doesn't mean that the power—sharing institutions are in danger of collapse. power-sharing institutions are in danger of collapse.— power-sharing institutions are in danger of collapse. you've covered a lot of territory _ danger of collapse. you've covered a lot of territory that _ danger of collapse. you've covered a lot of territory that answer. - danger of collapse. you've covered a lot of territory that answer. i - danger of collapse. you've covered a lot of territory that answer. i was - lot of territory that answer. i was fascinated by your reminding us of his politicaljourney within unionism, leaving the ulster unionist, he was against

considerable aspects of the good friday agreement. ijust considerable aspects of the good friday agreement. i just want to put onto the screen just pictures of the moment back in 1998 that he was there in a news conference and ended up there in a news conference and ended up ripping up the framework document. up ripping up the framework document-— up ripping up the framework document. �* ., ., ., ~ document. i've got the framework document. i've got the framework document here. _ document. i've got the framework document here. that's _ document. i've got the framework document here. that's what - document. i've got the framework document here. that's what we i document. i've got the framework. document here. that's what we think of the _ document here. that's what we think of the framework document. there document here. that's what we think of the framework document.- of the framework document. there it is, i know of the framework document. there it is. i know it's — of the framework document. there it is. i know it's a _ of the framework document. there it is, i know it's a short _ of the framework document. there it is, i know it's a short clip, _ of the framework document. there it is, i know it's a short clip, but - of the framework document. there it is, i know it's a short clip, but it - is, i know it's a short clip, but it tells its own story. it was an extraordinaryjourney tells its own story. it was an extraordinary journey for tells its own story. it was an extraordinaryjourney for him. i extraordinary journey for him. i thought extraordinaryjourney for him. i thought on that, and also wanted a's developments. how destabilising is it for unionism? yes, she rips up the agreement, jeffrey donaldson didn't like the ambiguities of decommissioning in the good friday agreement. he is often a stickler for details, and he was proud to join the democratic unionist party

is an anti—agreement party, so many ways it was a hardliner, but i think is leader of the dup gradually moderated his stance is that ultimately for the sake of ulster unionism, for unionists in northern ireland, was better to share power with nationalists and republicans and unionism have nowhere else to go. that theyjeffrey donaldson are very important figure, because he was the leader of the unionist tradition, the dup are the largest party representing the tradition, and in that sense unionism is potentially weakened today by the departure ofjeffrey donaldson, even though power—sharing and restoration of power—sharing is not immediately jeopardised. there's also an issue as to whether he will carry on now without the party whip an independent mp for lagan valley, whether he will step down as a member of parliament and that would trigger a by—election in what is a semi—marginal seats for the dup to defend. plenty of questions raised

by events over the last 2a hours, notwithstanding obviously all that will require much greater clarity in terms of the longer term successor to generaljeffrey donaldson within the dup. just to generaljeffrey donaldson within the dup, , ., to generaljeffrey donaldson within the dup., , . ., to generaljeffrey donaldson within the dup. , . ., ., the dup. just a final thought, because they've _ the dup. just a final thought, because they've been - the dup. just a final thought, because they've been under. because they've been under considerable pressure starting with brexit and power—sharing, but he was the salesman that effectively got that over the line, and stormont is back up and running. do you share julian smith's assessment that he doesn't think today's needs will impact to change the momentum of all of that? because that is so important for the people of northern ireland. , ., �* , , ireland. yes, i don't see the dup aauittin ireland. yes, i don't see the dup quitting the _ ireland. yes, i don't see the dup quitting the political _ quitting the political institutions any time soon, certainly not this side of a general election, it would almost certainly damage the party, so steady as she goes in terms of the political direction. it is also

of course true thatjeffrey donaldson was not a member of the assembly himself, he nominated any little pengelly to represent the dup as first minister, even though he could have taken up purse. he was really a person that west str more than he loved stormont, i think ultimately there's too much invested in power—sharing, and the fact that the public was increasingly open to age in northern ireland that 70% of the last seven years the institution was down, that it has no desire to give these institutions, i think jeffrey donaldson was probably the most moderate political leaders the dup could have found gavin robinson as a replacement.— as a replacement. let's go back and net more as a replacement. let's go back and get more analysis _ as a replacement. let's go back and get more analysis on _ as a replacement. let's go back and get more analysis on the _ as a replacement. let's go back and get more analysis on the ground - get more analysis on the ground in northern ireland, because we've been talking a little earlier to the

journalist anna mcbride, who is the tour then it's a very bad mistakes over the last few years, must obviously run brexit. this mistakes over the last few years, must obviously run brexit.- must obviously run brexit. this is another area _ must obviously run brexit. this is another area in _ must obviously run brexit. this is another area in which _ must obviously run brexit. this is another area in which unions - must obviously run brexit. this is another area in which unions and | must obviously run brexit. this is - another area in which unions and now finds itself on the back foot, and hopefully from their perspective trying to make up the ground now that they are losing. he and gavin would be some of the chief whips of the parties at the time, they sat in front of the parties and sign the document. he's been at the heart of the dup. it's a big beast of politics. it's a shock, the sense

that this raises questions which people aren't quite sure what the answer to the questions will be. this deal was very much his deal, he was at the heart of it, he had done quite a successfuljob for getting people very much a state where even though there is significant internal opposition to the move within the party, he managed to make it work, and suddenly everything goes into massive here because of something nobody thought was coming. there will be massive concern within the irish government, the british government, the european union in terms of what this means for the rc border, whether stormont will stay, i think it will, i think it's pretty durable now, because the party has made its bed, will have to lie in it. there is no other place for it to go politically. however, it's not the place they want to be in. he summoned the essential strategically behind the scenes in the dup. for

them to loosen, even if you hadn't been leader, would be a massive thing. to lose him in these circumstances, if indeed he is gone forever, it's very difficult to calculate at this point. for any political leader to face allegations of this nature, which got to the stage of charges from the police is incredibly rare, incredibly unsettling for people who support the political party, or even don't support the political party, and so whatever about the individual circumstances of this case would come to court, we can't get into that now, the mere fact of him being charged is beyond compare. i cannot think of an example of why this has happened to political leader while they are reading their party, certainly not in this jurisdiction, northern ireland. if you think about this beyond the realm of party politics, jeffrey donaldson was the leader of unionism in northern ireland. even in the ulster unionist party, he moved about 20 years ago to the dup, he shall boast those camps, but he was someone who had

wider responsibilities, if you like, within unionism than simply tourism political party, and so this was a blow notjust political party, and so this was a blow not just the political party, and so this was a blow notjust the dup, notjust to jeffrey donaldson personally, but a blow to unionism. unionism has come under immense pressure, it's made some very bad mistakes in recent years, most obviously run brexit. this is another area in which unionism finds itself on the back foot, trying to make up the ground rather than losing. just a pointer, there it is on the website, so much detail on that, our main story, with regular updates and are not of analysis. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

your life with bbc news. to ukraine now, and president zelensky is warning that — a new russian military offensive could happen in the next few months. and he says, his country is not ready to face it. the ukrainian leader made the comments during an interview with cbs news — confirming he believes it could happen between may and june. he stresses the need for more military aid. take a listen. so, you're expecting a counteroffensive in may, june, from the russians. i counteroffensive in may, june, from the russians— counteroffensive in may, june, from the russians._ what - counteroffensive in may, june, from the russians._ what sort i the russians. i think so. what sort of weapons — the russians. i think so. what sort of weapons do _ the russians. i think so. what sort of weapons do you _ the russians. i think so. what sort of weapons do you need _ the russians. i think so. what sort of weapons do you need to - the russians. i think so. what sort of weapons do you need to stop i the russians. i think so. what sort | of weapons do you need to stop the offensive? , ., , ., ., offensive? number one is anti-a defence and _ offensive? number one is anti-a defence and shells. _ offensive? number one is anti-a defence and shells. that's - offensive? number one is anti-a defence and shells. that's what | defence and shells. that's what we need _ the former us ambassador to nato, kurt volker, says he's not concerned about ongoing western funding to ukraine's — even in the event of another trump presidency. i spoke to him earlier — and started by asking about strikes which have hit ukraine overnight.

first thing to take into account that these are war crimes. these are direct attacks on civilian targets. they are designed both to terrorise the population, to make people uncomfortable, but also strategically to try to bring down the electricity grid in ukraine and separate eastern ukraine from the rest of the country. ina new in a new interview president zelensky has told cbs news well, there's a difference between russia attempting a major

offensive and russia succeeding in a major offensive. what we saw around of deka, for example, not too long ago was a massive loss of russian lives. putin just throwing wave after wave of soldier to their deaths in order to take one rather insignificant city in southeast ukraine right next to donetsk. that is the sort of thing that russia will likely try to do again. they will likely try to get their hands on more ukrainian territory. but they are also suffering from ammunition shortages. they're also suffering from manpower shortages. they have a terrible time with command and control, and they're having increasing difficulties with logistics thanks to ukrainian efforts to go after the supply lines. that being said, it is essential that we accelerate the delivery of western aid, military aid to ukraine. and here the us congress is due to reconvene after the 8th of april and i certainly hope that they move on this expeditiously. i saw that zelensky spoke with the speaker of the house, mike johnson, not long ago. and i hope that they have an understanding in the house now of not not that there's a difference of view over this because there's not. but they have a better understanding

of the urgency of the need. we will play you a longer part of that interview later. relatives of the wall streetjournal reporter, evan gersh—kovich, relatives of the wall streetjournal reporter, evan gershkovich, are making the anniversary of his detention in russia. he's the first american to be charged with spying, by the russian authorities, since the end of the cold war. the us government and the wall streetjournal have dismissed the charge, saying mr gershkovich is being used as a bargaining chip by moscow. live to the new york times moscow bureau chief, anton troianovski. welcome. how tough is that day like today? it’s welcome. how tough is that day like toda ? �*, .,., ., , welcome. how tough is that day like toda ? �*, ., , ., today? it's extraordinarily tough. i'm today? it's extraordinarily tough. i'm obviously _ today? it's extraordinarily tough. i'm obviously thinking _ today? it's extraordinarily tough. i'm obviously thinking back - today? it's extraordinarily tough. i'm obviously thinking back to - today? it's extraordinarily tough. | i'm obviously thinking back to the moment a year ago when i learned the news, and i'm here in berlin now,

were a lot of evenn's friends are located and based. we unfurled a big free evan banner outside the brandenburg gate recently, because it is key to stress that how long he has spent behind bars. in it is key to stress that how long he has spent behind bars.— has spent behind bars. in terms of the ublic has spent behind bars. in terms of the public protest, _ the public protest, the pronouncements we have had so many over the past 12 months, do you think that helps or hinders, potentially? i think that helps or hinders, potentially?— think that helps or hinders, potentially? i think it helps, because it's _ potentially? i think it helps, because it's really _ potentially? i think it helps, because it's really the - potentially? i think it helps, because it's really the only i potentially? i think it helps, - because it's really the only thing can get evan that out. the charges he faces are observed. he was simply doing hisjob. they are he faces are observed. he was simply doing his job. they are very serious and the carrier 20 year prison

sentence. the only way he can get out is if there is public pressure on, of course, first and foremost the russian government to release him, but also on western governments to make sure that everyone understands how much of a critical press freedom issue this is, because if we are not there to stand up for and helpjournalists if we are not there to stand up for and help journalists to get in trouble when they are doing a risky but incredibly important assignment, i don't know how we can expect as democratic societies to get this kind of critical information in the future. ., ., , ., , ., future. two more questions for you, because it is — future. two more questions for you, because it is fascinating, _ future. two more questions for you, because it is fascinating, because i because it is fascinating, because reading about him it is so obvious in terms of his own journey how much he loved russia, going back to there, recognising the risks were always trying to seek out stories, seek out people to tell their stories. that is so evident, but you know him. are you able to make any

sort of assessment on how he will be holding up given that he is being held in these conditions the 12 months? . �* , held in these conditions the 12 months? . v . . held in these conditions the 12 months? ., �*, ., ., , ., months? that's a great question, he has this just — months? that's a great question, he has this just extraordinary _ has this just extraordinary strength of character and of spirit. as you say, he understood the risks, he knew he was doing something that carries risk, but also that was extremely important in terms of reporting from on the ground inside russia, so after he got arrested i think he knew that he was in a very difficult situation and that he could end up being behind bars for a very long time, as his release is being negotiated and pressured for, and i'm in touch with him, as a lot of people are, by letter. he is able to send and receive letters from prison, and you can tell that he is

holding on, he still has a lot of hope and he still has his charm and a sense of humour that he had as a free man, you can still tell. thanks so much for— free man, you can still tell. thanks so much for talking _ free man, you can still tell. thanks so much for talking to _ free man, you can still tell. thanks so much for talking to us. - free man, you can still tell. thanks so much for talking to us. the - free man, you can still tell. thanks| so much for talking to us. the fear, of course, is that he is being held as a bargaining chip with russia's poker some sort of prisoner exchange, but thank you forjoining us here on the programme. more breaking news now on northern ireland. shallow and says that they continue to have leadership. more on the story and the rest of the headlines here on bbc news in a moment or two. hello there. good afternoon. well, a gradual improvement for most of us weather—wise over

the next couple of days. here's the forecast for the bank holiday weekend. so, today, sunshine and some heavy showers. lighter winds than yesterday. fewer showers on saturday and sunday, but there could be some more rain in the south on bank holiday monday. drierfurther north. lots of rainbows spotted today with the general sunshine and showers theme. already some lightning strikes across parts of pembrokeshire. there could be some heavy downpours, some hail and some thunder in some of these showers, but generally fewer of them than we saw yesterday, with more in the way of sunshine. it's still breezy for england and wales, but not as gusty as yesterday. could be a bit drier across northern scotland and for most it will feel a little warmer too. 0vernight tonight it's still going to be quite chilly by night. we'll see the skies largely clear. the showers fading away. a scattering of them still out towards the west. a touch of isolated frost, i think, into tomorrow morning, with lows in low to mid—single figures. also bit of patchy mist and fog, as well, but it will still be breezy for part of the night, but then lighter winds tomorrow morning.

that's because our area of low pressure is pulling away towards the west. so the winds are lighter and it'll feel a bit warmer in the sunshine tomorrow, but another area of low pressure possibly giving some patchy rain across the far east of east anglia for a while, more cloud in the south—east of england, but a lot of dry weather on saturday, plenty of sunshine. the focus for any showers out towards the north and the west. it will feel warmer again — 11 to 15 degrees celsius. now, don't forget that the clocks spring forward by an hour on saturday night into sunday, so darker morningsjust for a while and, of course, lighter evenings on the way. easter sunday isn't looking too bad either. again, we could see some showers out towards western spots as we head through the morning, largely fading away into the afternoon. a lot of dry weather around with some sunshine, but perhaps a bit cloudier and cooler towards north sea—facing coasts with more of an easterly wind developing. again, highs of 11 to 1a degrees. then we look to the south as we head through sunday night and into bank holiday monday because we are going to see some areas of rain perhaps

across england and wales. still a lot of uncertainty with the forecast, so do keep an eye on it. but it could be drier further north, perhaps. temperature—wise, it's a bit cloudier and cooler again towards north sea—facing coasts, so a bit milder further west. bye—bye for now.