teenagers mental health. now i recognize that many in this room have deep reservations about our company. i want to assure you that we do have the same goal . they all want team to be safe on line. internet isn't going away. and i believe there's important work that we can do together, industry and policymakers. and we have a specific proposal. we believe there should be an industry body that will determine the best practices when it comes to what i think are the 3 most important questions that you guys to use. safety. how to verify age, how to build age appropriate experiences, and how to build parental controls. ah, hello that this is al jazeera and these are the headlines. so the africa has approved the use of the 5 vaccine bruce to shot as it battles. a 4th wave of this pandemic, the w h o says south african cases of increased by 255 percent just in the past

week. meanwhile, england is returning to title corona virus restrictions, as the only con variant cost a shadow over the coming christmas period. the health secretary has warned the u. k . could see a 1000000 on the con infections by the end of this month. 3 pro democracy activists and hong kong have been convicted of taking part in the band vigil last year. the media type, when jimmy lie is among them. more than a dozen people were charged for involvement in the event commemorating the chinaman square massacre. the bodies of 13 people killed in a helicopter crash, and india being brought to the capital where they will be led to rest of the aircraft, came down just short of its destination. a military training college in the southern state of tom a lie do. the highest ranking, military official was among those killed. elizabeth brought him has more now from new delhi. you also lead major operations on both of india troubled borders on the border with pakistan and also with china counter insurgency,

cross border operations with me on mom. and for all these reasons that both houses of parliament held 2 minutes of silence. that had been a really laying ceremony with the coffins and before they make their way to delhi. and now it was from the state of orthodox and they observing 3 days of mourning. now talks aimed at reviving the 2015 iran nuclear agreement have resumed in vienna . that's off that last week's negotiations made little headway. the u. s. and european participants of accused iran is not being serious about salvaging the deal . the u. s. president has ruled out sending troops to defend ukraine from a potential russian invasion unless there's agreement from nature. joe biden will speak with ukraine. the president brought me the landscape about the threats of the border nation on thursday. well, those are the headlines next. it's inside story. ah, ah,

ah, do not invade ukraine. the u. s. president has warned russia and threatened further sanctions. the jo biden's virtual summit was vladimir putin ended without a breakthrough. so did it do enough to prevent a new conflict in europe? this is inside school. ah. hello and welcome to the program and has some secret fears are growing of a possible russian invasion of ukraine. tens of thousands of its soldiers have amassed along ukraine's border along with russian military hardware. u. s.

intelligence agency say a multi front offensive could happen early next. year on tuesday, president joe biden used a virtual meeting with russian president vladimir putin to issue a warning bite and threatened more economic sanctions. if russia were to invade, put in court nato's presence in ukraine, a red line which threatened russia security. he asked for guarantees of no further nato expansion. eastwood will bring in our guests in a moment. but 1st, this report from our white house correspondent, kimberly how with a massive build up of russian troops, new ukraine, shared border, and u. s. intelligence indicating an invasion of ukraine could happen early next year. u. s. president biden met virtually with russian president vladimir poo. good to see you again. the pair spoke for 2 hours. who denies russian tends to invade ukraine calling it fear mongering,

but the u. s. president made clear today that if russia did tough economic sanctions would follow. i will look in the eye and tell you as president biden looked, president putin in the eye and told him today that things we did not do in 2014. we are prepared to do now. that reference is to the russian annexation of crimea from ukraine, that prompted us sanctions. biden also told putin the u. s. was prepared to assessors militarily. we would provide additional defensive material to the ukrainians above and beyond that, which we are already provided. and we would fortify our nato allies on the eastern flank for its part. russia is seeking assurances from the west that ukraine will not become a member of the north atlantic treaty organization, something the ukrainians have pursued for years. the u. s. national security advisor reiterated ukraine can associate with whom ever it watts. but when analyst

believes joining nato is unrealistic, it ought to be clear to them that we're not coming to the rescue. so you get a half delivered national russian or you are security guarantee. there were also questions about the controversial nord stream to pipeline which runs from germany to russia and whether it could be used as leverage and discussions over ukraine. the white house says it will pressure the german government to stop it. if russia invades the biden administration, will continue to work with it's european partners, promising a coordinated response. shit. russia ignore their warnings. president biden will also speak with ukraine's president lensky on thursday. kimberly, how can al jazeera the white house? ah, well let's bring in our guest now to talk more about this in belgrade we have victor ali, which lead experts at the center of actual politics in silver spring,

maryland, melinda harring, deputy director at the atlantic councils eurasia center. and joining us from kia or lexie heron, professor of comparative politics at key of marya academy, a warm welcome to each of you. so melinda, harry, let me start with you. then no break loose from this virtual meeting. but cards were laid out on the table from both sides or were they? that's right. i think the word i would use is impasse. some analysts are saying that the crisis has been resolved temporarily. i think that's flat out wrong. when you read the statements, when you parse the statements from the white house and from the kremlin, you get very different a portraits of what happened yesterday. we know the president biden did 3 things. he said that the u. s. would impose strong economic measures in tandem with its allies. if russia were to invade ukraine, the u. s. would send more defensive material and the u. s. would fortify nato

allies on the eastern flank. it also looks like the u. s. will joined the minsk agreements. these are the stalled peace accords. the u. s. has not been party to these agreements, and i think russia hadn't really wants the u. s. to join in. it would be an opportunity to revitalize these discussions. but when you read the statements, but moscow and the united states want very different things that the point that jumps out me to me the most is that moscow is, is saying they're, they're engaging in what about is them? they're blaming nato, and they're blaming key of for the aggression. they're not taking responsibility. this crisis is far from being result. victor, a leverage in belgrade. i'm sure you want to respond to some of that, but i want to ask you as well. russia has said that these fears about a russian invasion are unfounded. if that's the case, what a president puts his intentions over ukraine and what's behind the, the troop build up near its border with ukraine? well, a master full scale invasion of ukraine is simply not in russia's national interests

. first of all, russia does not really have the resources to maintain massive swath of territory and the people in ukraine for a long period of time. secondly, russia is really not interested in massive new political and economic sanctions levied against it by the united states, by americans, trans atlantic allies and other partners around the world. the russia economy is not in the great shape as it is in you. economic strength over that magnitude is simply not that would repeat, not in a rush is national interest. thirdly, on a lie, crimea, which has a predominantly ethnically russian population and where people are really where you support they were supportive of russia all along on like crimea. most the other

theories of ukraine are not as enthusiastic about, about the russian states. so russia would find more opposition there to its presence. all that being said, the kremlin, understands that full well. what moscow is really concerned about is the increase in western military presence in the ukraine inc, and increase in military cooperation between ukraine and the united states. on the one hand and ukraine and with europe and capable some of the other hand it is all moscow is also concerned about the use of new military systems. and technologists such as the by iraq are the ones that have been in use in ukraine in recent months. russia is also concerned that it's policy towards ukraine designed to get green one for more,

another back into russia. your interest has not been working. so by making these tough moves and by tough and then got its rhetoric, moscow is trying to squeeze out confessions from the west, especially from the by the white house. it is hoping that the bite in white house will, will give in, at least on some points, moscow understand full well that nobody is going to give it the written guarantee is that known, you might need, the members are going to be accepted. but russia, at least once some concessions as far as military the construction, the possible construction of military bases, american, british, or others on the territory of ukraine. russia, he is that as a red line, russia would like to limit the military cooperation between ukraine and its western partners of the whole. alright, we can get into some of that a little bit later, but i want to get your perspective on this. now this summit was generally seen as,

as constructive by the united states and russia. ultimately, nothing was resolved, and ukraine's fate still hangs in the balance elects they had. and how are they likely to view this in kia? well, i think 1st of all, oh, there was a strong statement from the u. s. president, and this is a very, very important president. and he's the advisors. they said about potential and not only so also suggest is talking in general, you know, the u. s. a 's they are seeing now, to guess it would be increased economic sanctions against russia. and this is very, very important. and for me to put you in all this talk. so basically that's what you would like to hear because we're really afraid of russian aggression. again, i would like to remind you to your viewers in 2014,

nobody expected to rational dec because ukraine and time was known l. a state. so we were hoping it would never imagine putting would and next crania was in don't boss. and then actually, and that's a sort of see, so here while it's a pre the game. so nobody expected the porch and we'll send troops, great regular troops. but it happens. it happened without any late involved. so we'll do that later. basically, you throw, you create. so that's why now it definitely weak affairs and i would like to stress one, again, this is a no natal soldiers? no, they don't the styles. so basically there's no threat to rush, but jim is trying to undermine ukraine to death. belies ukraine to split ukraine to

split a p and alice prose. busy the united states and that's what we are able so we can do it won't happen. and basically um basically press bye bye, send a good signal up. belinda herring. it was mentioned there in, in, in our pulse report from kimberly, how can about economic sanctions? you mentioned some of that as well. one of the things that was mentioned was this nord stream to pipeline that's running between russia and germany and that could be used as leverage the object sullivan. the u. s. national security advisor certainly made mention of that. he said is, it's leverage for the west, because if let me put in, wants to see gas flow through that pipeline. he may not want to take the risk of invading ukraine if things were to come to that they'd been altering to pipeline would be suspended, wouldn't what,

what i mean is that something that's obviously worked into the u. s. calculations on this has an it's and just respond to that you can yes, sure, absolutely. nurturing to is definitely on the table. there's a couple, a couple of different options. when you read the sullivan statement, he refuses to go in to what was actually discussed. but we, we know that, that the germans will cancel nurse room 2 if, if russia does invade of the stephen the, came out was very interesting. i, it says over and over again that the u. s. and its allies are willing to consider options that they have not considered before. so that probably means sanctions against big russian state banks, an investment agencies. it probably means of broadening of sanctions to maybe potentially areas like mining metals and shipping and state own companies could be in there. and then it could possibly mean using the cutting off access to the swift banking system. and that sort of the nuclear option, nurturing to though is, is

a big deal, and it's one odd that that was definitely discussed yesterday. according to the ukrainians. there are 94300 russian troops near ukraine's border in there in the northeast. there in the east and they're in crimea, and we saw on friday us intelligence a declassified some estimates the end. and we think the u. s. government thinks that russia will increase it true. it's true numbers to a 175000. and that invasion could come as likely as january 2020. i disagree with with victor. victor made a quite a powerful case that, that invading ukraine is not in russia's national interest. will. i think that there's a case to be made that, that it's serious this time. victor victor's right. we don't know if putin has made up his mind. this may be an elaborate ruse. he may be putting huge pressure on ukraine in the united states to given at the negotiating table. that's entirely possible. but vladimir putin may be thinking about this decision in

a different way. he may decide that the benefits outweigh the costs and he may invade. and this time, if he does, it will be different than it was in 2014. in 2015, he would use in soldiers. they would be in russian regalia, and he'd use the russian air force. so i see for reasons why put might go in 1st is that putin is an aging autocrat, and he's thinking about his legacy and seizing ukraine. could bolster is image is a great leader. when you look at the rhetoric coming out of the kremlin, they're talking about stalin, yvonne, the great, that's how he thinks of himself and he end to be a great russian leader means to take take territory. second, i think good looks at the map of the world and he sees an opportunity 2021 was a really good year for him. gas prices are up. there is no one to stop him. he sees weakness everywhere. and this is this chance to take you crazy wants to, let's, let's put, let's put some of that back to, to victor. then in belgrade, i mean,

puts in as might no secret of the fact hasn't a, that he's always seen on this as a historical wrong that the ukraine became an independent states a back in 1991 with the, with the collapse of the, of the soviet union, and that's ukraine must be in his mind if not part of the russian state and part of russians sphere of influence. and the end of this is, this is and manufactured crisis that has been entirely engineered by vladimir putin . what he say to that, well, fortune may believe that, but we have seen that throughout the last 2 decades of his rule. russia has not been able to change the cow pillows, the j political calculus, the political balance in ukraine in its favor. so in 2000 and just just a brief go back to history of 2004. the 1st ukranian

might done when russia was interested in the one outcome. and western states were interested in an other outcome of the election of the presidential elections at that time. and russia was unable to sustain its to, to get is case that elected you shaneka who was a pro, what more pro western came to the 110 years later. so then russia had 10 years to do something about that situation. and yet in 2014, when a new crisis emerged with western powers being on one side of the equation, the russian on the other russia, again last ukraine. and it was in the reaction to that last reaction to the, to the depot. the effect of young court, which was ukrainian president, that time being deposed and replaced by a more pro western government was a response to that, that russia in next crimea. because russia in

a way justifiably believed that had not taken those steps in crimea. the black she fleet, that is so central and so strategic to russia is military plans in the black sea area would have been asked to leave. and then russia fear that the western leave is, would be invited into to be waste there. so for russia, it was a way, knowing that it kept the last ukraine in 2014. it was a way to at least save crimea as a host of its black c fleet. and also to save faith in moscow itself because had russia abandoned crimea, it would have, she has domestic full out both among poachers loyalists in russia and in rushes in rushes, military ranks of which she called me as a strategic football outpost. so after that,

after 20147 years have passed, and the russia, despite all of its efforts, has not been able to change the calculus, change the equation in its favor and ukraine. ukraine is getting closer and closer to the width. so the ex, like what we saw in april, which was a similar situation when the western western intelligence sources reported that russian troops were messing along ukraine borders were sounding alarm bell alarms. and nothing happened after that. geneva, after the geneva talks between by them and in switzerland. all right, so let's get with him is using these pressure points to, to get some confessions is not interested in a full scale war you created, which will be catastrophic for us. let's put some of that to lex, they had, and then russia last ukraine in 2014 your response to that.

yes. and also ukraine. why? because which is that neutral you create before 2014 majority of ukrainians believed in our french friendship partnership with russia. supporters of natal with the side store and next crania, that's what happened. basically if people do, you can pay up to what saddam hussein, so don't say, wait this hours to chill is saying we're saying, you know, crania is our, so i have a next, by the way, despite the fact that he's in or out, correct me on the task well, natives muslim natives to korea, but their views were totally ignored by, by a rash or so. yes. as a result of rushes actions last, you claim that's true. what we are a free or now is not on the lunch military offense. we also have free over so called limited military offense because which and may try to cease one or

2 strategically important. see, this is the new create, like the in february, 2015 when, despite the cease fire, despite all the promises which russia di to invest and partners, russia can, i, you know, i could do a regular and see if i could just jump in here for a moment, let's see if what, what kind of assistance would you be wanting from, from the united states and the west if it's not in the form of, i mean, if, if russia were to invade ukraine, if you believe if it's not in a form of direct military assistance in the form of troops because ukraine is not a nato man. but what, what other assistance would you expect? well, i seen said if you cannot make sense, increase the economic sanctions. we should be applied. not only in case of large

military offense, but also if you would stock a limited military offense, they should also be apply and we need defensive weapons. we need defensive weapons . so also to reform the ukrainian army. so that's important. it's a long time strategy for us. yes, we understand that nato is not going to fight for us, but support those amendments. the increased economic suppliers, armaments in the column essential is that would be good, very important. and final, i would like to stress again, there is no freedom of navigation. ukrainian ships cannot move towards the sea, which is sure, see with russia. and that is a rational ukrainian, trina on it, but russia way, a late as well. so you, graham, she was a, may not n as a, so see, you know, so i think it should be on blog as well. all right,

melinda. factor back to you on this guy? yes, i, this is crazy. i agree with the, let's say, but that's not strong enough. i, i don't think that the package that president biden laid out yesterday, you know, we were not privy to all the details, but the details were privy to. i don't think that's enough to deter putin. i don't see why the united states isn't fortifying nato allies on the eastern flank right now. there's no reason why we shouldn't be doing that. i think the united states it of it yesterday. sullivan said that we have a pipeline to the ukrainians and we're sending. we're sending weapons through that pipeline fabulous. but if these estimates are right, and the russians are considering an invasion of partial invasion or full invasion in january, february, once the weather permits it, once tanks can move more freely, we got to get stuff there now and getting a big weapon, expensive weapon systems that are there now is difficult, there's a military theorist. his name is dr. t. x ham's. and he has some very interesting

ideas. he says that ukraine should be using autonomy drone storms. it should be thinking about ideas and minds and lining that the northern border to prevent it evasion and make it as difficult for russia as possible. and getting ready for a guerrilla warfare. he has a very interesting article on, on the lena council website that i would commend to your readers. all right, um, before we go, i think we got about a minute or so a left and i'll give will. what's probably going to be the last wood on this to you, victor lay rich in belgrade. well, look, ah, the situation in the full ones were in 1000 in the early 1000 ages, is very well known around the world, including in russia. when you go tyria, who, when ed middle, an urgency, was the divergent military dictated urgency of that time decided to wait the full balance in the hopes of reason, his ratings in his full engravings in argentina that he is all of that was not only

the collapse essential collapse of the invasion of full glance, but also here is full in argentina. that is also is well known in russia to brush understands that nate, though the united states and the sellers are not going to go have to carry with russian forces and ukraine. but it also understands that the economic damage that new political and economic sanctions, massive sanctions, europe by the united states, while they are part, would be a subject for russia that we're going to happen to have and leave it there. thanks very much to all 3 of you were out of time. good to have you all with us, victor leverage melinda herring and alexi harder. and thanks so much for being on inside story. and thank you. as always for watching from you can see the program again any time. just go to our website as a dot com and for further discussion, go to our facebook page at facebook dot com forward slash a j inside story. you can also join the conversation on twitter handle. there is at a j inside story for me hasn't speaker, and the whole team here,

bye for now. the ah for the 1st time since the lead up to the 2nd world war, the nobel peace prize has been awarded to journalists, murray arrests and dmitri morocco for to receive the 2021 prize for their courageous contributions to freedom of expression in the philippines and russia in an exclusive interview live from or slow. we'll talk to this year's laurie. it's

about the challenges and dangers of doing their job and the significance and protecting democracy. the nobel interview only on a just 0. if america held up a mirror to itself, what would it see in a sense, race is the story of america what's working and what's not? a lot of people were only talking about that. it wasn't at the top of the agenda. if america can't handle multiple challenges on multiple fronts, we need to go back to school. the bottom line on i was just there, i'm a get a

good, a revealing eco friendly solutions to come back. threats to our planet on al jazeera, the, i'm about to sit and do the top stories on our 0 south africa, approve the use of the 5 vaccine booster shot as it battles. a 4th wave of the pandemic. the w h o says cases have increased by 255 percent in the past week. tamila has more from johannesburg. if we look at the last 24 hours that be 900000 over 900000 cases. and i think what is concerning is the positivity rate and that that's gone up to 26.8 percent, which really is about the number of people going to get tested a quarter of them.