fighter jet that crashed while repelling a major russian attack, killing its pilot. you are very welcome. we begin with a key moment for us democratic presidential nominee vice president kamala harris: her first tv interview since she replaced joe biden in the race for the white house. she was interviewed by cnn's dana bash in the battleground state of georgia, alongside her running mate, tim walz. vice president harris has faced criticism from republicans for not giving a solo interview — and for not doing any interview sooner. and in the pre—recorded interview, ms harris said she would name a republican to her cabinet if she is elected. you had a lot of republican speakers at the convention, will you appoint a republican to your cabinet?— will you appoint a republican to your cabinet? yes, i would.

anyone? _ to your cabinet? yes, i would. anyone? one _ to your cabinet? yes, i would. anyone? one in _ to your cabinet? yes, i would. anyone? one in particular, . to your cabinet? yes, i would. anyone? one in particular, i. anyone? one in particular, i not anyone? one in particular, i ot 68 anyone? one in particular, i got 68 days _ anyone? one in particular, i got 68 days to _ anyone? one in particular, i got 68 days to go _ anyone? one in particular, i got 68 days to go with - anyone? one in particular, i got 68 days to go with the i got 68 days to go with the selection so i'm not putting the car— selection so i'm not putting the car before the horse but i would. — the car before the horse but i would. i_ the car before the horse but i would, i think it's really important, i have spent my career_ important, i have spent my career inviting diversity of opinion, _ career inviting diversity of opinion, i think it's important to have — opinion, i think it's important to have people at the table and some _ to have people at the table and some of— to have people at the table and some of the most efficient are being — some of the most efficient are being made that have different views, — being made that have different views, different experiences and i— views, different experiences and i think it would be to the benefit — and i think it would be to the benefit of the american public to have — benefit of the american public to have a _ benefit of the american public to have a member of my cabinet who was— to have a member of my cabinet who was a — to have a member of my cabinet who was a republican. the vice president about whether voters can trust. generally speaking, how should voters look at some of the changes that you've made, that you've explained some of here in your policy, is it because you have more experience now and you've learned more about the information? is it because you're running for president the democratic primary and

should they feel comfortable and confident that what you're saying now is going to be a policy moving forward? i saying now is going to be a policy moving forward? i think the most important _ policy moving forward? i think the most important and - policy moving forward? i think the most important and most| the most important and most significant aspect of my policy perspective and decisions is my values — perspective and decisions is my values do — perspective and decisions is my values do not change. you mention— values do not change. you mention the deal, i have always believed — mention the deal, i have always believed and i have worked on it that — believed and i have worked on it that the climate crisis is real, _ it that the climate crisis is real, that it is an urgent matter— real, that it is an urgent matter to which we should have plyometric setting with hauling ourselves to deadlines around time — ourselves to deadlines around time we _ ourselves to deadlines around time. we did that with inflation reduction act, we have — inflation reduction act, we have set— inflation reduction act, we have set goals for the united states — have set goals for the united states of america and by extension, the globe around when — extension, the globe around when we _ extension, the globe around when we should meet certain standards for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. let's have a look _ greenhouse gas emissions. let's have a look at _ greenhouse gas emissions. let's have a look at some _ greenhouse gas emissions. let's have a look at some other- have a look at some other noteworthy moments from that interview. kamala harris said the first thing she would do on day one and the white house would be to take measures as she said to support and strengthen the middle class. she was asked about the economy

and ms harris of the economic slump was because of mismanagement by donald trump during the covid pandemic. on immigration, she blamed the former president for calling on republicans to block a bipartisan water bill, she added that she would make sure the — she would side. kamala harris reiterated his support for a two state solution adding she would focus on a ceasefire saying we have to get a deal done. she brushed off donald trump's comments on racial identity saying it was the same old tired playbook. next question. earlier, idiscussed interview with the panel. brian brokaw, a democratic strategist who has managed numerous harris campaigns. and lanhee chen — partner at the brunswick group who served as policy director of the romney—ryan 2012 us presidential campaign. interesting getting both your thoughts to what has been broadcast on cnn tonight, i'll stay with you, brian. you know kamala harris really well, what's your view or how she

handled herself in that interview? i handled herself in that interview?— handled herself in that interview? ~ , interview? i think she did everything _ interview? i think she did everything she _ interview? i think she did everything she did - interview? i think she did everything she did it - interview? i think she did everything she did it to l interview? i think she did i everything she did it to do. there was a lot of hype around this interview because there had been several weeks since she had given a interview so she had given a interview so she got into the race and of course, a lot of expectations and i think she exceeded them. she showed that she is ready to be commander in chief and she showed she showed she is ready to start on day one, she has a vision for the country and she was able to handle the tough questions as well which is what opponent will find so frustrating because she has some pretty unrealistic viewpoints about her actual capabilities. she did everything you need to do tonight. everything you need to do toniaht. ~ , ., , tonight. think she did what she needed to do _ tonight. think she did what she needed to do to _ tonight. think she did what she needed to do to satisfy - tonight. think she did what she needed to do to satisfy those . needed to do to satisfy those critics who have been clambering to hear from critics who have been clambering to hearfrom her? i clambering to hear from her? i think most americans will consume this interview and hear various— consume this interview and hear various parts in various answers. _ various parts in various answers, i think some answers she gave — answers, i think some answers she gave were very good and very— she gave were very good and very credible, i thought other answers— very credible, i thought other answers were a bit of a disaster— answers were a bit of a disaster for example, her efforts— disaster for example, her efforts to explain her change of position on fracking which

she argues to place in 2020 but she argues to place in 2020 but she really— she argues to place in 2020 but she really can't explain why that — she really can't explain why that took place, then example of an— that took place, then example of an answer they will be particularly relevant in a place _ particularly relevant in a place like pennsylvania which is an— place like pennsylvania which is an important state for both donald — is an important state for both donald trump and kamala harris but i _ donald trump and kamala harris but i don't — donald trump and kamala harris but i don't think many americans will watch interview from _ americans will watch interview from start to finish and they will take _ from start to finish and they will take from it pieces of what _ will take from it pieces of what they want to see but overall. _ what they want to see but overall, as i said, there were strong — overall, as i said, there were strong points for her and there was some _ strong points for her and there was some very weak ones as well — was some very weak ones as well. ., , ., ., well. on that point that he raises about _ well. on that point that he raises about the _ well. on that point that he raises about the reversals | well. on that point that he - raises about the reversals and impositions he mentioned fracking, the issue of decriminalising legal border crossing and the green new deal, do you think she adequately explained why she had changed her positions on things? i had changed her positions on thins? ., ., , ., , ., things? i do and he is a smart ofthe things? i do and he is a smart of the smaller _ things? i do and he is a smart of the smaller -- _ things? i do and he is a smart of the smaller -- policy - things? i do and he is a smart| of the smaller -- policy person of the smaller —— policy person soon this well. elected officials, we want them to be thoughtful at a look at views on important issues as they are and politicians can evolve in their views over time. what are their views over time. what are the core values, what really matters to you and i think that's what she was able to

articulate so well, we don't want politicians who are stuck in the same position so their entire careers, even as the world changes around them so i think while the interview were from c and indeed a pretty aggressivejumping coming out aggressive jumping coming out of, aggressivejumping coming out of, i think the vice are — madonna forjob and extending her position, they got to where they are today and i think you did everything she needed to do in that regard. tim did everything she needed to do in that regard.— in that regard. tim walz was questioned _ in that regard. tim walz was questioned about _ in that regard. tim walz was. questioned about inaccuracies in his life story around this military record, the type of fertility treatment used with his wife pastoring driving charge, how do you think he handled dealing with that? again, these were tough questions and these are the types of questions that you get when you are running at this level and i think he handled very well. again, these are issues that he has dealt with several times in previous campaigns and i think the most important thing that he conveyed is how integral services to him not only his military service but a teacher service is an important part of the work that he has done as governor and i think anyone

criticises him first history is doing so at their own peril because i don't think i will work. ~ work. do you think the vice-president - work. do you think the vice-president would l work. do you think the - vice-president would have been vice—president would have been better doing the interview on her own without her running mate? , ., ., mate? yes, i thought that oint, mate? yes, i thought that point. i — mate? yes, i thought that point, i thought _ mate? yes, i thought that point, i thought tim - mate? yes, i thought that point, i thought tim walzl mate? yes, i thought that i point, i thought tim walz did an exceptionaljob, but it was an exceptionaljob, but it was a very— an exceptionaljob, but it was a very strong interview for him in a _ a very strong interview for him in a stronger interview for him than _ in a stronger interview for him than for— in a stronger interview for him than for her, i think the challenge on them to an interview together with the optics _ interview together with the optics of long period of time he was — optics of long period of time he wasjust sitting optics of long period of time he was just sitting there and vice—versa was she was sitting there — vice—versa was she was sitting there when he was answering questions sol there when he was answering questions so i think they would have _ questions so i think they would have been well served during a separate — have been well served during a separate interview, think she will need _ separate interview, think she will need to do a separate interview, i think that some can— interview, i think that some can have _ interview, i think that some can have performance tonight because — can have performance tonight because she did the interview together with the governor worlds _ together with the governor worlds but i thought the governor was was a net positive for her. — governor was was a net positive for her, and it positive for the — for her, and it positive for the ticket and we will see it opportunities, i think she does other— opportunities, i think she does other interviews and other opportunities to prove some of theissues opportunities to prove some of the issues that were recent night _ the issues that were recent niuht. ~ ., ., ., , night. what would have been the calculation _ night. what would have been the calculation for _ night. what would have been the calculation for having _ night. what would have been the calculation for having them - calculation for having them both together for this first

interview. both together for this first interview— both together for this first interview. , , ., ., interview. look, this is not a campaign — interview. look, this is not a campaign that _ interview. look, this is not a campaign that is _ interview. look, this is not a campaign that is two - interview. look, this is not a campaign that is two years l interview. look, this is not a | campaign that is two years in the making, we are literally about a month into did this campaign and a very short period of time before voters began to vote and i think this is a great opportunity for her to introduce not only herself but again, the vice—president which most people cross the country never even heard of until a few weeks ago and let's be clear, she got almost all of the screen time which is to be expected, she is the one running for president in the us but was a very smart move further show that would be ready to take the office on day one and so, it was a very effective and smother session, i have no doubt she would plenty of interviews on iran as well here but this was a great way to debut them to the nation and to the world.— and to the world. brian makes a oint and to the world. brian makes a point there _ and to the world. brian makes a point there about _ and to the world. brian makes a point there about the _ and to the world. brian makes a point there about the sprint - point there about the sprint from now to the finish day and it's another day where much of the media focus has been on the democratic ticket, how does donald trump, and the republicans take back that attention in the focus now? i

attention in the focus now? i think he is trying and unfortunately, from the headlines in the last couple of days, — headlines in the last couple of days, the _ headlines in the last couple of days, the way in which that's been — days, the way in which that's been done is not particularly positive _ been done is not particularly positive for the republican ticket, _ positive for the republican ticket, it's gotta be a relentless focus on the issues that americans care about and that americans care about and that overwhelmingly the economy cost of _ that overwhelmingly the economy cost of living issues in immigration and i think they are trying, if you look atjd vance, _ are trying, if you look atjd vance, republican vice president shall candidate, his very— president shall candidate, his very much on message, his out there _ very much on message, his out there but— very much on message, his out there but to brian's point, it's— there but to brian's point, it's the _ there but to brian's point, it's the top of the ticket that matters _ it's the top of the ticket that matters and the question is, can donald trump be a discipline campaigner on issues that i_ discipline campaigner on issues that i think will change the focus — that i think will change the focus of— that i think will change the focus of the campaign and would potentially, in order in our favour. _ potentially, in order in our favour, what we've seen so far is that— favour, what we've seen so far is that he _ favour, what we've seen so far is that he might be on message for a _ is that he might be on message for a few— is that he might be on message for a few minutes or for a brief— for a few minutes or for a brief period of time but at some _ brief period of time but at some point, the difficulty here really— some point, the difficulty here really is — some point, the difficulty here really is that the candidate himself doesn't always have the measure — himself doesn't always have the measure of focus they would be needed — measure of focus they would be needed to get to the issues that— needed to get to the issues that i— needed to get to the issues that i think would change the conversation and more positive direction — conversation and more positive direction for the republican

ticket _ meanwhile, the republican nominee, former us president donald trump, responded to ms harris's interview, saying "she didn't look like a leader." he later took to his own social media site truth social, to simply post "boring!" — apparently in reference to the interiew. earlier on thursday, while in the battleground state of michigan, he focused on his own policies, including outlining his stance on in—vitro fertilisation. i'm announcing today in a major statement that under the trump administration, your government will pay for all your insurance company will be mandated to pay for all costs associated with ivf treatment, fertilisation for women. ivf treatment, fertilisation forwomen. ivf ivf treatment, fertilisation for women. ivf treatment. because we want more babies to it very nicely. donald trump didn't specify where the money for ivf treatments would come from. around the world and across

the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. a 17—year—old boy has been found guilty of stabbing a teenage girl to death after he allegedly stalked her. 15—year—old holly newton suffered more than 30 injuries during the attack in an alleyway in hexham in january 2023. prime minister sir keir starmer has confirmed reports the government is considering tougher rules on outdoor smoking. the prime minister said smoking placed a "huge burden" on the taxpayer, with the cost to the nhs estimated to be around £2.6 billion a year. health experts have welcomed the plans, but some business owners have raised concerns that a ban on smoking in pub gardens and sports grounds could affect the hospitality industry. power is flowing from the shetland isles to mainland britain for the first time, from what's set to be the uk's most productive onshore windfarm. shetland is the windiest part of the uk and the ios—turbine project known as viking can

generate enough electricity to power nearly half a million homes, according to its operator, sse. you're live with bbc news. the world health organization says israel and hamas have agreed to three pauses in fighting to allow un teams access to vaccinate more than 600,000 children in gaza against polio, starting sunday. the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, stressed that the pauses do not amount to a ceasefire. the un has warned for months about the dangers of a widespread polio outbreak. the who says that 1.26 million jabs of the polio vaccine are already in the territory. a four—week interval is required between the first and second doses. meanwhile: israel's military is continuing an operation in the occupied west bank. the palestinian health ministry says at least 16 people have been killed in the raids. israel defence forces says it has killed 12 people. israeli forces deployed armoured bulldozers on the streets. israel says its launching

the operation to combat terrorism but the un says the israeli military is fuelling an already explosive situation. our middle east correspondent lucy williamson has more. born a month before the gaza war began, abdul rahman has played a role in pausing it — something world leaders have struggled to do. earlier this month, abdul rahman was diagnosed with polio — the first case in gaza for 25 years. the family, nine children in all, live in a camp in central gaza, displaced multiple times from their home in the north. the constant moving disrupted his vaccinations. his mother says others in the camp are afraid and stop their children playing with them. translation: the virus stopped his progress. i he stopped sitting, stopped walking, stopped crawling

and stopped moving. i want him to be treated. he wants to live and walk like other children. abdul rahman's diagnosis has raised fresh alarm over conditions in gaza's camps. the phased pause in fighting will allow medics to vaccinate more than half a million children in stages across the territory. but the conditions that caused this crisis are worsening, say aid organisations, and their solutions are not straightforward. due to the insecurity, the damage, the road infrastructure and population displacement, but also based on our experience with this kind of campaign globally and worldwide, the three days might not be enough to achieve adequate vaccination. israel's prime minister was clear that this was not a ceasefire.

the war has so far been resistant to both diplomacy and disease, but preventing another layer of tragedy is seen as one small victory. what the eu's foreign policy chief called a drop of hope in a sea of despair. lucy williamson, bbc news, jenin. a funeral has been held in ukraine for the pilot of an f—i6 fighter jet that crashed while attmepting to bring down a barrage of russian missiles. (box colonel oleksiy mes, codenamed moonfish, died monday, in an operation to repel a massive russian missile and drone strike against critical infrastructure on monday. the stricken f—i6 was recently donated by ukraine's nato allies. it comes amid unconfirmed reports that ukraine is slowing the tempo of its incursion into russian territory, and is now digging in to defend strategic locations it has already seized. our correspondent, nick beake, has the latest from ukraine's sumy oblast. the ukrainians aren't saying exactly how he died. an investigation is under way.

but a military source has told the bbc it wasn't a case of a direct hit by a russian missile. and this source was saying previous early media reports that it was pilot error were not accurate. but there will be a big investigation now. these fighterjets — they're multifunctional. they can be used for lots of things, chiefly shooting down the missiles at the moment. that was a key purpose. the nato allies have promised 65 in all. the time frame as you can imagine is being kept under wraps. we don't quite know what stage we're in the process. but certainly the ukrainian fighterjet pilots have had what appears to be a truncated training to be able to fly these, because ukraine have said they need them so desperately. so absolutely it was a massive victory for president zelensky. he went to washington, london, paris, and other capital cities, saying this would be a game—changer. they would finally give ukraine

an added level of defence and do something to dent this aerial superiority that russia has enjoyed for the past two and a half years. more than five million people injapan have been told to evacuate their homes after the country was hit by one of its strongest typhoons in decades. at least four people have been killed and more than 80 injured since typhoon shanshan hit. earlier, i talked to the bbc�*s jean mackenzie in seoul about the storm. jean, what is the latest on this typhoon, on the progress it's making?— it's making? the typhoon hit land on japan _ it's making? the typhoon hit land on japan on _ it's making? the typhoon hit land on japan on thursday i land onjapan on thursday morning, it's the strongest typhoon to have hitjapan in almost 65 years. but it has been weakening since it hit land. first the authorities issued the highest level of emergency warning they have, really quite rare. they've been downgraded now. but it's still causing devastation. that's

because it is bringing with this enormous amount of rain, even to areas that haven't been hit by the typhoon itself. so kyushu got two months' worth of rain in 72 hours. so millions of people have been told to leave their homes. even in parts of the country where the typhoon is not predicted to hit, and that's because the risk of landslides, because of this torrential rain, is just so great. and then you have these widespread power outrages, so 100,000 people in kyushu are currently without power. and it's summer injapan at the moment, it's very hot, very humid, not having power, that's going to be causing problems for people. so potentially _ problems for people. so potentially wide scale significant damage here? yeah, look, this typhoon _ significant damage here? yeah, look, this typhoon is _ significant damage here? yeah, look, this typhoon is more - look, this typhoon is more severe. we had one back in april injapan, where there was minor damage. but, you know, this is more severe and people are saying this is likely nothing they have ever seen

before. even though nothing they have ever seen before. even thouthapan is used to typhoons and it's used to preparing for them. now, what makes this typhoon particularly unique is how slowly it's moving. since hitting land, it hovered over japan, slowly over the northeast. that's what makes it so dangerous. it means so much rain is falling in these single locations. so that means that rivers are more likely to overflow, it makes this risk of landslides so much greater. it also makes its path very difficult to predict. so, it is expected to continue crawling up expected to continue crawling up north—easterly directions, so towards tokyo over the weekend, but meteorologists are warning it could stick around till early next week. the us and china say they are committed to stabilising their relationship, after a round of diplomatic talks between the two world powers. national security adviser jake sullivan is returning to washington after a three—day visit to beijing where he held talks with senior chinese ministers and military commanders.

after a surprise final meeting with chinese president xijinping, mr sullivan described the bilateral talks as �*a vigorous give and take' on economic security and trade tariffs, but that no new agreements were reached about the south china sea. the white house confirmed president biden and president xi will hold a call in the coming weeks. translation: white great changes —— while great have taken place, our goalfor a taken place, our goal for a stable taken place, our goalfor a stable relationship remains unchanged. based on mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win—win co—operation remains unchanged. under president biden's leadership the united states has and _ leadership the united states has and will continue to interest— has and will continue to interest its values and look out for— interest its values and look out for its friends. as we do, we believe _ out for its friends. as we do, we believe that competition

with— we believe that competition with china does not have to lead — with china does not have to lead to _ with china does not have to lead to conflict or confrontation. the key is responsible management through diplomacy. responsible management through diloma . ., ., diplomacy. earlier, we heard from a congressman, - diplomacy. earlier, we heard from a congressman, a - diplomacy. earlier, we heard - from a congressman, a democrat who serves as a ranking member of the house committee on the chinese communist party. next week, lawmakers will vote on new legislation to end china's dominance on e—commerce. we're trying to protect our interests and values, make sure we're in a position having opened up our economy, having opened up our economy, having opened up our economy, having opened up so many avenues for the ccp to kind of take advantage of commerce with the united states, they've kind of exploited our openness. and so now we're kind of ratcheting back a little bit and making sure for instance that certain technologies they utilise don't get embedded in our networks and used against us. also one of my bills is called the biosecure act. i hope that comes up for a vote as well.

that would prevent us taxpayer dollars from going to biotech companies that are controlled by foreign adversaries that actively work with those adversaries' militaries to undermine our security. those are the types of actions that i think our taxpayers and citizens want us to undertake. and finally, to a round—the—world cruise ship that's been stuck at port three months after its voyage was due to begin. the bbc�*s sara girvin reports from belfaast on the stranded cruise liner — and its passengers. for those on board, this is the adventure of a life time. they spent more time in one city than they bargained for. holly has been in belfast since may, with her cat captain for company. he's used to the yachting thing. he lived on a boat in the winter ever since he was a kitten. he's a trooper. he's raring to go.

what has been the best thing about your time in belfast and what's been the worst? the worst by far is the weather. i feel so sorry for you all. i have had to buy vitamin d for the first time in my life. in florida, we don't need that. the best thing — the people here, they've all been supportive. the best invention ever, half pints of beer. we don't have those in america. passengers on this cruise were given the option of buying their cabin outright, rather than paying a rate like a hotel. meaning they'll live on the ship for at least the next three years. and according to the company's website, buying a cabin can cost anywhere between $100,000 and $900,000. at the moment, passengers spend their days on the ship or on different trips, but sleep in hotels. there have been frustrations, but the passengers we spoke to have faith the ship will launch soon. sure, we've been

frustrated at times. but really it's all part of the adventure, you know, three months in belfast wasn't on the itinerary but we made the most of it. it's amazing to learn a new country, a new culture, all the food, all the drinks. so, i've enjoyed getting to know it. all the guinness. laughs what are you looking forward to the most now? departure. it's hoped departure from belfast will take place next week when sea trials are completed. when you're the first at doing something, you're going to run into hiccups. that's not me making excuses, that's the reality of how things are. although we were late, we'll launch and the vision and the dream of our residents will become a reality. it may not be the start to their dream they planned, but for the next few days, passengers will continue to make belfast their

unexpected home. thanks for watching. you can keep up to date with everything on our website. but for now, thatis on our website. but for now, that is it. do take care. stay here on bbc news. hello there. despite a few sharp showers in the far north of scotland, thursday was a perfect late summer's day. in fact, quite a rarity for august because we had sunshine topping and tailing the country. yes, it was glorious at times. now, it's likely that we're going to keep that quiet theme for the next few days, despite a little bit of early morning mist and fog around exposed west coasts, an the whole, there'll be a lot of sunshine to start the day on friday.

cloud will develop as we go through the afternoon, but nevertheless the temperatures will start to pick up quite nicely. we're looking at 15—19 degrees in scotland, maybe highs of 2a degrees across southeast england — that's 75 fahrenheit. high pressure stays with us into the start of the weekend. it is starting to pull its way north and east, and that will allow more of an easterly flow and this weak weather front could trigger a few sharp showers. so a little more cloud across southern england and a brisk easterly wind making it feel a little fresher on exposed coast. so west will be best for sunshine and despite that brisk westerly wind — which will be noticeable — in some shelter, it will still feel quite pleasant. so for western scotland we could see highs possibly of 22 degrees, that's going to be a similar value to the london area, with the cloud and the risk of a few isolated showers. on to sunday — our area of high pressure continues to move towards norway, and that's going to allow the wind direction to change once again, this time more to a south—easterly.

so that will tap into some very warm air across the near continent, so it will feel increasingly hot and humid and much of eastern england seeing more sunshine and more warmth on sunday. there will be some cloud furtherwest, but later on in the day that humidity could trigger a few sharp, thundery downpours into the southeast. temperatures, though, likely to peak at 26 celsius. so if you've got plans for sunday evening across southern england, keep abreast of the forecast, the subject potential for change. and then as we go into next week, it looks likely that low pressure will start to centre itself to the far north and west. a lot of uncertainty for the detail, but it does look likely that this settled story that we've been singing for the last couple of days will change to something a little bit more unsettled.

voice-over: this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme. welcome to hardtalk. i'm stephen sackur. ukraine's dramatic push into russian territory in the kursk region is a severe embarrassment foeradimir putin, but will it change the dynamic

in the wider war? in part, that depends on the russian response. will moscow divert resources away from its grinding offensive in eastern ukraine? it also depends on how kyiv�*s western allies react. will they decisively back zelensky�*s gamble or put caution first? well, my guest is latvia's defence minister, andris spruds. with the stakes rising, what can ukraine expect from its friends?