been a presidential candidates, a serious putting challenger, or he's dead on the eve of the election. no one is bidding on. any change in the kremlin all bets are on a landslide victory for vladimir putin. yet again, i'm for golf in berlin. this is the day. the big spices to underscore our cohesion and resolve and move forward together. every vote you cost is valued and meaningful and no one expects. rochelle selections this week to bring in the change in the kremlin, put in the participation in the election is the manifestation of patriotic sentiments. yes, i am voting for vladimir putin tomorrow free. i'm fair elections are core to

and the i'm going to say on the elections and restaurant will not be free. unfair also coming up the highest ranking, jewish official in the united states senate majority leader, chuck schumer, with a strong star message for israelis who want peace. your current leader, where he's standing in the way prime minister netanyahu has lost his way, or by allowing his political survival to take the precedence over the best interests of israel. and he has shown 0 interest in doing the courageous and visionary work required to pay the way for peace or to our viewers watching on cbs in the united states and to all of you around the world. welcome. we begin the day on the eve of a war time national election in russia, but you're not afraid to describe it that way inside russia. in fact, it's a crime to refer to the invasion of ukraine as a war. in fulton's, russia,

the thinking seems to be if you don't see it, it's not real. with a similar logic that could be applied to pollutants, politics on election day. after all, if you're challenger's names are not on the ballot, they won't be elected. and that is certainly true this year election of all the, the one opposition leader who may have had a chance to beat bulletin, where he's dead. and there are almost 240000 russian citizens who are living right here in germany. x pads. that number, it jumped following the invasion of ukraine in 2022. a many of these ex pants will have a chance to vote in rushes presidential election on friday. we spoke to some members of the russian diaspora right here in berlin. we asked them about their hopes and fears for the future of their home country. nationally, this gilded fortress is where a barrel ends russians would come to catch their boat. since on these elections.

these days, they mostly come to mon, alexia, violently flooding the approaching fish. this critic was fine day and a penal colony last month, another brutal nail in the coffin of democracy. try as we might, some are still hoping to keep the flame of life of the arrive in the back of the embassy routines. opponents are trying to link their right to freedom for political prisoners shots the campaign to rename the st. alexi, nevada and the stress of his deed, almost 50000 signatures the most. uh so when they come, i was in of only support. uh and i think that the fight is not over this basically stuff. sure. what am i going to do this today is a part of the fight against pollutants propaganda. we just have a space for our 2 nearby thousands of russians packed into

a closing theater in search of inspiration, hope of therapy on stage discussion about the upcoming vote, about war, about what to do next, your research. i don't expect any good from the selection you by. yeah. are you going to vote no no. why not? yeah. i don't know what nobody would say. why he would probably call to do something. right, because i don't know if i should go to the russian embassy. i will will. who will you vote for? i guess i will destroy the ballots. probably i will just vote for more than one candidates and maybe i will write our president is not on the right in the next president. i think most of the people who came to the germany to europe do not have

much expectations from these elections because it's very clear what the outcome is going to be. e, mid that feeling of helplessness got a sense of guilt prevails over vladimir per teams. war on ukraine. but no matter where you live in the west or in russia, you feel responsibility for this. just a demonstration. nerves are on edge. everyone here knows all too well approaching has deployed the boss a type of process to keep control and crush the same just a minutes ago actually called slaves. a person that has spoken to me is a set time. meaning is that she's been observing all she's been present of this action i answer has been registering ever since that is happening here is i'm really bad. how about i just muscles? i'm afraid to go back to russia. my homeland, who could think that,

that kind of thing, perhaps this month, a political exile who tells me he was imprisoned in russia for fighting corruption? fearful and the chair is forced open using we saw him a secret automated. and when the you create the, you, you create orders, go to, he said us from the some people, don't you put you in the what distinction he's going to see is, would be with the bottle field out of the question and to let go change a diminishing prospect all that is left for those here are small lights of coverage and expressions of defiance and hope for a better future. the window to me here in this video now is my colleague. we're only going to the info. he's a dw political editor, he's an expert on eastern europe for me. it's good to see you. we just all right there, there, there's quite a large russian diaspora here in germany. but when we talk about them, we can talk about them as being a monolith of russian opposition can of course not. so we see

a lot of rational position here because many came off to the full scale invasion of ukraine up to 22. but not so many, so we're talking about maybe tens of thousands of hundreds of thousands, like you're creating and refugees here in germany. but they will already hundreds of thousands of people living in germany who speak russian. not all of them have russian possible. but we can assume that the rod putting support has them on them. well, they are, they've shown russian flags and support for this war the war rallies. and so just like berlin or clown. but we don't know if those were on the russian citizens, some of them were german citizens as well. so it is a complicated picture, but i think what's interesting to to watch will be on sunday the russian deposition has called at citizens to show up at mid day and to show solidarity. it's called me day against 14 me and some opposition lead us. i think that it's

a good idea to show up and just to see how many people are against this war and against voting. so, i guess it will be easier for people here in germany to show up. this is probably the only legal way where you can show that your against voting and against this election against the war in russia just turning up to the election. i believe the optics are not good, provided me approved and that's for sure. but the number of votes outside of russia, they really can't make a difference in the outcome of the election. can they, even if the election were a fair and free election? well, not really. so there's absolutely no ground to believe that the election outside of russia will be farrah and then inside russia. so in germany last time, they were just about 30000. i think people who voted here in germany this time it could be higher, but we do not know the rest. the opposition is still divided on the issue. if you should vote on not some say don't go,

they don't do those just show up show solidarity and go away. i'll just say come and vote. maybe you can vote for anyone but pushing just like the video of alex and yvonne, the deposition. lita, who was presumably killed or because we don't know exactly at the moment, but this is what some people think that he was killed a few weeks for the election day. okay. and this is what makes dyslexia election special. this is the 1st presidential election without i'll explain of only. yeah, and it is also the 1st presidential election with a war in ukraine that you're not allowed to call it more. in russian, metals are probably going to rent or roman. we appreciate your reporting and your analysis. thank you. thank you. the leader of the us senate has made waves over comments about is real, its prime minister and hopes for peace. so the majority leader, chuck schumer, to day called on his relief to demand early elections and to vote for change saying if they want peace, including a 2 state solution, but the palestinians,

one man is standing in the way prime minister benjamin netanyahu. the 4th major obstacle to peace is rarely prime minister. benjamin netanyahu, who was all too frequently bowed to the demands of extremists like ministers, smoke trick, and bank of year. and the settlers in the west bank. the president net to prep prime minister netanyahu, whose carmen coalition remains in power after the war begins to wind down and continues to pursue dangerous and inflammatory policies that test existing us standards for assistance. then the united states will have no choice but to play a more active role in shaping is rarely policy by using our leverage to change the present course. i want to bring it into our washington correspondent benjamin alvarez group where he's been following this story for us today. yeah, benjamin, the us president. he has been rather open in his criticism of the israeli prime

minister, but now we've got the leader of the us senate joining in do we know why and do we know why now? so it is a sign of the growing frustration here in washington looking at how a the government opinion ended on jo has been handling the warring gaza. it's not just significant because he's also close to us, president biden, but also because it's actually rumor is the highest ranking, joy jewish official in the us. and he says quite clearly. and that's also what we heard, that if there is no changing course, the us will also need to online. it'd be on supplies that it's currently sending a to israel and should have put the conditional associated put conditions on israel to keep sending weapons as it does with a bit of a l. i was like a, another very powerful us senator, had a very different message today about this uh, what you take a listen. it is grotesque and hypocritical for

americans who hyperventilate about foreign interference in our own democracy to call for the removal of a democratically elected leader. of israel this is unprecedented. we should not treat valid democracies this way at all. so because a right, they're very clearly, this is grotesque. has there been comment or reaction from the bite whitehouse? so there has been reactions on one side, the state department stressing that the saw the comments of chuck schumer, he does not speak, will divide, not ministration. and there was also a question that was asked to national security and spokesperson don't kirby. and he said that's actually gave information, told the white house that he would a to this comments, but did not ask for approval or disapproval. so they were informed it'd before hand before. he said that, but the wife is also stressing what the state department is saying that these are

his remarks and he's not speaking for the volume administration in letting you know, let's look at the, the optics of this. the today. schumer saying that prime minister netanyahu is government no longer fits the needs of israel. i mean, this is unprecedented criticism being made by a us lawmaker of a foreign government of energy colleges that are allegedly allies. how do you explain what we're seeing and hearing us and knocked us any lawmaker. he is a staunch supporter of israel and over the past weeks and months he has also been pushing to get more security assistance for israel. there is, is we're getting closer to the presidential election. of course, this is also a big topic, especially with democrats even stronger. and then republicans, there are disagreeing. there are not in favor of the way the venue mean it's on yahoo is also it dealing with the world. it was reasons a paul also in january saying that 86 percent of democrats are against the way that

nathan yahoo was handling. and so we can be sure that there is a common both that goes into direction of israel, but also looking at the political discourse here, looking also how many people have even voted uncommitted. it'd be full voting for president biden. and the previous and primaries that we saw here in the us showing the criticism and asking a the us president to have a red line. that's what it took. schumer is set to that. it needs to be a lie to the conditions because that's a big question. and that's what many are criticizing joe biden for saying that he talks a lot and he criticized. but then no actions following this was to have real red lines a when, when he looks and when he talks to his radio officials. yeah, i mean if an engine yahoo word across this red line set by, by do, do we know what biting we do in concrete terms? what some officials are saying is that the u. s. might indeed israel all proceeds

with this ground invasion and buffer is something that a prime minister. nathaniel has repeatedly said that they might indeed be this conditions to the arms exports and disagree assigned to show how difficult the situation is. all right now is just if we look at the year drops from many, it's ameliorating that the us can not get one of its closest allies. it is to us, always talks about israel to get this trucks with a to go into guy that needs to air, drop them together, it with other countries to get food, to get it to, to gauze and also now with, with the us for us, we're going that to help with this peer with this a bridge to actually get a food in there. so the big question is, will that definitely be some consequences for the us and will some actions also follow if it was filled by our washington correspondent, benjamin alvarez group or on the story force tonight? benjamin, thank you. what to southeast asia. now we're thousands of young people are trying to lead me in more

after that countries, military hunter announced mandatory conscription. many of tried to flee to neighboring thailand in recent weeks to escape military service meeting. where is government is struggling to contain armed rebel forces that are fighting for greater autonomy in some parts of the country. of hundreds of people, q outside the ty embassy and young gone. mia malls launch is city. many here hoping to secure a visas, so they can leave the country and escape military service. you're going to somebody else come on as far as an older, from the one to the old men aged 18 to 5 to 5. and women from 18 to 27, most of and the all me for up to 2 years will be i will do my, the full, my members of the security forces. also being called back to walk 5. yeah, no, i'm already against the crew. and i have no desire to do service for this military

regime while i, but i also don't have any idea about where to go, what to do next, and i'm uncertain about my future january why the way i think this military service lives targeting youth young people in myanmar have lost their dreams, and this law makes them hurt even more. when they don't think on it, it makes a sad and feel even more fearful. our future is already fading away. so the list lot could be the greatest mistake the military has made, and it's breaking the young people the me and mom minute tree stage decruz 3 years ago, over throwing the democratically elected government. pro chess followed the one to responding with force against its own people. move in 6000 civilians were killed in the 1st 20 months after the february 2021 crew. according

to the peace research institute, also bridge level on to groups opposed to the one to have been growing across the country. and the government has struggled to keep control with reports. some of their own soldiers have even deserted. a forcing young people in to minute tree service appears to be an attempt by the one to get to tell me back on the front foot. but judging by scenes like this of cues baez's, it's driving people to see me and my more proof that rushes board time reach extends well beyond the front lines in eastern new grade. for the 1st time ever denmark plans to draft both men and women into military service. it's only the 3rd european country to do so. the following,

norway and sweden, beginning in 2026. the government wants to call up $5000.00 co wed conscripts a year. and the government says the decision isn't reaction to the war in ukraine and the russian threat in western europe's back yard. here's the danish prime minister mentioned frederickson speaking earlier today. advantage, protecting your country is one of the most honorable things you can do. that's why the government is proposing that we expand, conscription making the responsibility greater and the tasks more numerous. and we're proposing full gender equality is we have no doubt that increased gender equality will create a more modern and diverse defense that reflects the times we live in. what i'm doing now by on us of the alarm. she's a danish lawyer or there in journalist and she joins us tonight from the capital of denmark. copenhagen, it's good to have you with this. it maybe if you could put us in the money in the mind of, of the day to explain to us why. i'm making the military service more.

come with. why is that so important right now. uh well, uh we uh, in uh, in the middle of an effort to really uh, reinvigorating, so even maybe reinvent the danish defense forces at the carfax for years. so if there has been a lot of different scandals and trouble within the dataset defense forces and they also have the problem that it's very difficult to keep that post. now we have a lot of people leaving again. so this is in fact you have to see this is the government's effort to really try and create something entirely new. so it's not just us as a female, conscription but it's a and much longer constricts construction and for the,

for 4 months now it's going to be 11 months. um, and also a quite a big waste of money. going into the defense forces about 6000000000 euros over the next 5 years. and i am wondering why denmark has had a problem with retention. i mean, why have people been leaving the military? i think it says many different things. some, some organizational, some has to do salary. um, opportunities, uh the just shit. but it's quite significant. say i'll just verify these may be of 5 to says 7 to 9000 is stuff and not from the conscripts but stuff at 2000 in 2022 left. so it is quite a return of people that you have to get in and retrain, etc. and of course, new conscripts does not fix a that's

a problem and but it's a new stop. you know, we, we said earlier in the program that this decision isn't reaction to the russian invasion of ukraine, the russian threat to western europe and, but your foreign minister has said that, right. and i'm quoting here, russia does not pose a threat to denmark. is the right or uh, well, i think there is also a political. we want to say that we don't think that russia at this point, poses ad 0, tory or threats and denmark. but we've received russia to be a threat on europe in general. and we also do have a, along with sweden and finland and neighborhoods within the boys, a care c. and, and, and that means that we are neighbors with that with russia. and we feel to be off to the invasion of ukraine,

that threat to be quite present in coats and in this attempted to, to bulk up the military to make the military more attractive to civilians. how much of that isn't reaction to the pressure that we saw under former us president donald trump, for all would need to. and members to pay that 2 percent of g d, p to nato. and how much of it is a reaction to that and how much of it is may be a preparation for a possible 2nd. donald trump presidency. i think a lot of set says place to get the right now we have the one ukraine also we see. and, and the danes have very strong allies up and to ukraine. big don't. us also saw that and craft and, and so, so that's one thing we see the will not going that well from the ukraine perspective. we also see that it, that week maybe not be we'd maybe not in

a position where we could bet on an american support for the long run in europe. and so we need to create a much stronger, not only better funded to that stop, but a stronger european defense um and uh, and that is what we are trying to contribute to here. we also, for the next few years going to the to exceed the 2 percent to talk. it's up to you to be an industry. i've got about 15. so i just want to ask you, what's been the public reaction to the news of, you know, including women in this? conscription is a broad support for it. well, it's divided this divided support, and i also want to say, but there is a series of possible we have a lot of policies in the data part of it. but some this past is behind the general framework within the defense regulation. 2 of them do not agree with this,

so it's not set in stone. that is in fact going to be uh no, that is that the women who have become twice. and so i think i'll have joining us tonight from copenhagen. i know we appreciate your time and your insights tonight. thank you. thank you as well, the day continues online. you'll find this on the x also known as twitter and youtube that need to be news or you can fall in the a for a dot tv. and remember, when ever happens between now and then, tomorrow is another day we'll see you then at the

he paints castle, pen is b, m mid luck. and i do browse the clear internet dog and gifted on to the new national government as attacking him vehemently. get under a terrorism using his canvas as a weapon to fight full day focus on europe. next, on dw, the move, the private companies are ready to go off the move in

safety. he is the gun again. but this time it's not just about so should we everything the moon has to offer as big money at stake, made in germany in 60 minutes on d, w, the old friends, new friends and nature defend itself in case of an emergency. we cannot guarantee that we could protect munich, franklin, berlin, to face with russia's war against due to grace's military alliance spaces, new threats, would it really close ranks? if it were a top european security basically depends to 90 percent on the us out

to the hotel commentary. serious thoughts, april full on d, w. the hello and welcome to focus on europe is good to have you with us. europe is seeing a rise in populist app nationalist parties. in slovakia, the part of a coalition government that has for demonstrations across the country in the past weeks, tens of thousands of solutions took to the streets to put test government plans to manage the penal code. the proposed policies include reduced penalties for corrupt .