lead on the weird and wonderful world of robots that learn. think for you and even trust. i feel like i'm alive, but i know i on the machine origins of his own, his yeah. ah, this is al jazeera. ah, hello again, i'm pete adobe. this is the al jazeera news, our and the tensions between russia and ukraine, dominate our coverage this our, the russian president, vladimir putin, has got approval from the parliament to deploy his army abroad. sanctions that has been approved by unanimity of a member to states where it hurt russia and he would hurt alot. the

european union has agreed to impose sanctions on all members of the russian duma, and limits moscow's access to its international markets. germany puts a brake on the nord stream to gas pipeline, and the u. k. imposes sanctions on russian banks and russian billionaires and as ukraine berries. the soldier kilted don bass president, loaded me as a lensky place down the risk of a major war. that ins for the us women's soccer team of won a landmark equal pay settlements. a multi $1000000.00 agreement ends a 6 year legal battle with the sports national governing body. ah. okay, let's get going with our continuing coverage of the fast moving events on the standoff between russia and ukraine. the russian parliament has, in the last hour or so approved a request from the president vladimir putin,

to allow the deployment of russian armed forces abroad on monday, couldn't recognize the independence of to break away regions in eastern ukraine. russia is now evacuating his diplomats from ukraine. these are the 2 regions in ukraine we're talking about. they are the epicenter of the current turmoil, hands, and nets. they encompass don bass with that persist, have been fighting against ukrainian forces since 2014 majority. bish, because we recognize the expanded version of the 2 ukranian breakaway regions, including their constituents, their borders were stated in their constitutions when they were part of ukraine and we hope to kiev and the breakaway republics can work out their differences on the border issue, dosage, baris, jonas lives from moscow here on the new usa. so door cert, mister putin got 21 suit. what does it mean?

well, it means that he can decide at any time where to send the russian troops for how long and for whatever task that they are needed. he now has the final official approval from the upper house of parliament here who voted unanimously 153 senators voted earlier this evening in moscow to give put in the powers that he was requesting. of course he is the commander in chief and he was making it very much official. and this is all part of the theatre that we've seen play out over the past few days here about what the events are going to be like in the coming days. i think it's important to point out that vladimir putin, making sure that this is very much played out for an international audience that process that he has gone through to get to where we are right now. and he spoke to the media shortly after meeting with the president of azerbaijan, who was here for an official visit, put an only addressing the media by himself on the podium. he took some air

questions from the press and he was asked whether or not the troops have been sent to dumbass region in ukraine. and he said, i have not decided to send them anywhere yet. they have not gone anywhere. and he left it at that. i also think its important to highlight that he mentioned that as part of their independence, li, declared states now of lugens and don. yes, that he signed a decree on monday evening. and he said that he recognized as those areas based on those and constitutions that they have. of course, the constitutions of those 2 regions that was drawn up in 2014, have a much larger area than what is actually it. they're in control of in reality, on the ground. so i think the idea of border will become very important in the coming days. even put in suggesting that this is an issue for ukrainian government officials to discuss with the separatist leaders now that of course, ukraine. so far has said they won't talk to those leaders because they don't

recognize them and they want to talk to officials from moscow. so that is also a possible issue that will be coming up in the next few days as well. and dor sir, there is another gray area in here, isn't there. we don't even know the size of these now. self declared republics. we don't know where they're borders. ah, and that's something that people are going to have to talk about and work around and work with the diplomatic aspects of that, between now and this meeting on thursday in geneva. and after that, if this becomes the new status quo. certainly, and i think this is why it's so important to wait for an official reaction from kiev because of whether or not these boundaries are drawn or determined. according to the russians depends on the ukrainian government who they've accused of not really having a right to have a sovereign nation. they say that kia is very much run by puppets of the west. but

regardless of how they feel, there is a sense that, that there is, the owner is now being put on the ukranian government. they are a russian president, has said that that is something they have to work out between themselves. in the meantime, i've flattery brewton has said that if the situation calls for it on the ground, if there is a security, a situation that is deteriorating, and there is a need for russian troops to go into that region and on bus, they will do so. and base their decision, you base his decision now according to the realities on the ground. but of course, the narratives coming out of that area are very difficult to follow it. which side says what? and as you said, there are different towns and different areas that they have to people there have different loyalties. so it's becoming a much more complicated situation as we move ahead and i think that the plumber path is very much and the people have lost hope in it because the russian for mississauga love. ralph has said that if anthony lincoln comes to judy vaughan

thursday, with the same rhetoric as he has in the past, there is nothing we can expect to come from this meeting. so we'll have to wait and see if that meeting even is going to take place now with everything that's happened over the past 24 hours, it remains to be seen whether or not that diplomatic path is still something the america's want to pursue. i think it's important to remember what vladimir putin said in his address the nation on monday evening. he ended it by saying that you did not want to be friends with us, but you did not have to make enemies of us. i think that's very important to remember how the current at government seized a relationship with the americans and moving forward. i think that will play a big part in how things unfold. daughter, thank you very much. talk to jabari that report in life from moscow. while the kremlin has dismissed claims that is actually violating the sovereignty of ukraine, bernard smith picks up that story from moscow as well. this soldier died for

a country vladimir putin doesn't think should exist. the russian precedence decree recognizing a part of eastern new crane as to new independent republics is according to keep defense minister an attack on its territorial dignity. i hold that leadership is income which promised us that the sanctions will be of the day. i think that that paper invasion, the applicant, a lot of ukraine's president that says, he doesn't believe russia will launch all out war against his country. but he wants the international community to react decisively against what he calls a new act of russian aggression. because i am assured, we believe that by taking this decision that the russian federation creates a legal basis for further military aggression against ukraine, violating all bilateral and multilateral agreements. sure. that's not how russia's

parliament sees it. i see here vladimir putin's decision is welcomed as the writing of an historical wrong, just by the annexation of crimea. no, this isn't historic day, just like 7 years ago when crimea returned to the fault and became part of the russian federation to day. now and forever. there will be 2 new sovereign states on the world political map that and ask and will guns people's republics. with putin met his counterpart from as a by john on tuesday. that does the man who wants lamented the collapse of the soviet union as the demise of historical russia have further expansionist plans through which was good. we predicted speculation that russia plans to restore its empire within its imperial border is that is absolutely does not correspond with reality. the continent as recognizing as independent the to break away ukrainian regions will help restore calm. adding that it remains open to diplomacy with the u . s and other countries. russia also dismisses allegations that it sent its forces

in the east and ukraine. the kremlin says whether it does or not depends on how the situation develops. bernard smith out his era, moscow e u foreign ministers have in the last 90 minutes, unanimously agreed to impose new sanctions on russia. the measures target banks, the defense sector, and russian and peas. we voted to approve the deployment of moscow's forces abroad . we target the ability of the russia and the state and government to access to our capital and financial marketing services, limiting the financing offer, they abolish through limiting the axis of the ash of the reign debt. though our financial market sanctions that has been approved by unanimity by the members stage, were hurt russia. any were hurt. a lot. the president of the european commission on the lion said the block needs to break its dependence on russian energy. no

stream to has to be assessed in light of the security of energy supply for the whole g o p and union. because this crisis shows that europe is still too dependent on rushing gas. we have to diversify our supplies and we have to go to reliable suppliers. we will have to massively invest and renewable energy. that's where the future is. because this is a strategic investment in our energy independence live to the my colleague diplomatic, as i said, james base. so james, as ever, with this crisis over the past couple of days, the events are stripping out, pacing the, the possible diplomacy. how do they come up with a diplomatic off ramp for thursday's meeting in geneva? if there is a thursday's meeting in geneva, that is, i think,

in doubt as we speak right now peter. and i think it's one of the things hopefully we might find out from president biden. we know that john eve lottery, all the french foreign minister was supposed to meet with. so caliber of the russian foreign minister on friday. he's called that meeting off. so will the meeting on thursday between the secretary of state and mr. lab roth. go ahead. we know from the state department earlier on that the word was they were consulting with their allies. well, one of their allies is decided not to take a meeting. will the u. s. not take a meeting either. i think the problem for the, the, the us is that on one hand, they know what's being said in moscow, they heard that long speech. and that's the speech that quoted a lot of history from president putin. they've heard a mr. lab rough saying a backing up and his arguments for what mr. putin said, saying ukraine is not a sovereign independent country. and i don't think they would want to have those

sort of comments coming out in a meeting in geneva would be, i think, from the us side, a publicity stunt by the russians. on the other hand that we lots of voices and they'll be in washington to and around the u. s. so say you got to give every chance to diplomacy. i can tell you in the last hour, the un secretary general or his spokesperson was asked about this and said, we are looking forward to that meeting in geneva. we hope it takes place. so i think is a difficult, finally balanced decision for, for the, for the administration. whether to have that meeting between mr. lab rav and mr. blanket and young sultan burg, the nato secretary general. he is clear in his mind, obviously, james, that this is a very dangerous time in the immediate sort of history of europe going back as far as the last generation. yeah, absolutely. he is talking about all of those trips that of that because remember,

for this recognition the to break away republics, you didn't need to have these troops of president putin just need to say that you can study without note without any trips. there are totally get done with the, with the element of surprise. so i think you know that, that, that, that shows that those, the worry that there is in the west that those troops might be there ready for the next phase. whatever the next phase may be, so that i think there's deep concern about what could happen next. i think the other thing we're saying about the nato secretary general is that he called this a further in the last 24 hours of the invasion of ukraine. and that's something that has been talks about as we wait for president putin in the white house, because remember what the president biden said earlier on that if there was a furthering invasion,

that that's what would trigger the strong strong report the response from the united states set to 2nd general believes what has happened, not just the recognition, but he's saying that there are russian troops who come in since that recognition. and he says it amounts to a further invasion. will that be backed by by president biden. when he speaks, we'll see soon. ok. yes. we will. james. many things. same space different to get it to there in vienna willis, james, just saying that you as president, jo, bike will address the nation this. our alan fisher joins is live here on the news out of washington. we'll get to mr. button in the 2nd. first alan, we've had these comments from lloyd austin, saying, mister putin can still avoid this quote's war of choice. what you're reading of that sponsors of all lloyd or snow so called this an invasion of ukraine. he's not going to be out of state with the president on this. so expect joe biden, to call it an invasion as well as lloyd austin saying that the vladimir putin can

avoid war would suggest that the still a diplomatic or from and they're working all avenues to try and get him or at least sergey oliver of to meet antony blinking on thursday so that they can discuss that the russians go no farther. no, the president himself is going to address the nation. probably in the next few minutes we were expecting him at the top of the oh, it is already 15 minutes late. it does tend to work on his own time scale, but we're expecting him to announce that there will be very severe sanctions imposed on russia, particularly on the banking sector. those involved in the russian duma. there will also hit the technology sector and people who are very close to vladimir putin himself. he is not going to throw the sanctions kitchen sink at russia at this stage. that is to allow some room for moon maneuver and negotiation that he believes that the threat is strong. he wants to show russia that he has committed, but also he believes that there should be room so that there can be diplomatic talks and by imposing full range of sanctions at the moment that would simply be

too much. it would leave no encouragement, nor can it essentially for vladimir putin to change plans if joe biden is correct, as he said last friday, and he has made the decision to invade ukraine. so we'll hear from the president probably in the next 10 minutes or so. but when expecting him to announce very strong sanctions, but not going as far as the full law and sanctions that he said he would impose, should any russian tanks cross the ukrainian border will carry that live as it happens? of course, alan. many thanks, alan fish adjoining sly from outside the white house there shall stratford is in the door next region in eastern ukraine. charlotte, just take us through what your sources are telling you what's happening on the front line there. well as we've been seeing throughout the day, we've be visiting villages close to the front line and from this morning effectively there has been sporadic heavy shelling in that area. i am and we

understand that that is ongoing. i think a big development. certainly the last couple of hours is these statements by vladimir putin that russia is but is recognizing the l. p r. and the dpr, according to their 2014 constitution. and the 2014 constitution takes in a vastly larger area of land than the separatists currently control. for example, it would take into control potentially, the city of mario for where we are at the moment, the hugely important port city. and further, further west of around 60 kilometers, an area that would stretch. am knowles taking in large towns like cremmit, all skin sla vianza. so that is of, of potential huge concern am. but is important also that puts in a said that possible actions of russian military in don bass will depend on the situation on the ground. i did not say our troops will go immediately. now we've

seen videos. ready shot by analogy, era arabic team inside donates to day of russian military vehicles. president putin says he hasn't sent in any a mandatory vehicles or any troops yet, including these peacekeepers. so when they're all of us concerns, certainly with respect to what he says, he recognizes the lp on the dpr as being according to the constitution, which would involve potentially an, a land grab and, and to, you know, warranties peacekeepers going to be up to what, what what are they doing? we know from speaking to people on the ground today, close to the russian border. one man described the build up of russian tanks and missile systems, according to him as being something he'd never seen before in his life. having lived in that region and throughout the 8 years of this conflict. so of course, this kind of language, this kind of truit build up, and this kind of potential are promised by or promised by the russians to recognize

these breakaway republics, according to their 2014 constitution has huge implications. and for those villages and towns and for the people in those gray areas, on the outskirts on, on the periphery areas of these 2 new republics. charlie, i guess for the inhabitants there because you've touched on this during your reporting. they, they are getting used to hearing the noise of gunfire the noise of shelling. but what's more frightening than that is the noise of silence because that makes them think and feel and behave as if somebody someplace is planning something bigger, something worse, and it's coming towards them. what it's very easy pizza for us to project. and certainly there is a, a growing sense of unease and fear. but bear in mind that, you know, for example, one village that we went to today, a village that has

a lot of military inside it. a lot of military have been there for years. and basically since this this conflict started, you will speak to people there and many of them will tell you that they just used to it, you know. and so i will say, well, how about the last couple of days? and as we're talking to them, we're hearing the shells going off and they're close. we're hearing gunfire, we're hearing machine gunfire. and many of these people will say literally, you know, we are, we are so used to this despite this recent escalation and, and then we'll say, will i, are you not? are you not afraid? and they said, well, yes, we are concerned. but where do we go? and they as if, as we've been reporting, they are well aware of this massive accusation, as it's described by the separatist leadership across their side of the front line . they are aware of these people being moved away, which would indicate a potential escalation. and they of course, they do ask, well, what about us, what about our safety?

a bear in mind that there are hundreds of villages like this close to the front line that runs 420 kilometers su, easton, ukraine. so yeah, this kind of language, these kind of developments that have happened to day. the fact that the shelling is ongoing, as serious, serious worrying implications for the many thousands of people that live on this side of the frontline charlie. thank you. so my son is not for the talking to us from mary apple. johnny's live here on the news from kiev, as peter's on a f executive director of the erasure democracy initiative pizza. welcome back to the news out. i'm sure you hung you hang are hung on his every word when vladimir putin was taking that impromptu news conference. one of the things that struck me that he said was this. there's an easy way out of this. it's if kiev, if ukraine jefferson's the idea of moving towards nato, that is clearly never going to happen. but what might happen

while that's a big, that's a $1000000.00 question. you know, all the pundits. you know, i have been guilty lately, especially ones here in ukraine, obviously underestimating of lighting and true intentions. i think they were made much more clear last night when he basically intimated i being, he, he said at point blank that he does not believe ukraine should be a separate entity from russia. we heard that the over the years, throughout his presidency, going back to 2002, when used in speaking with his counterpart, george w bush's. george ukraine, ain't even a country. and now, fast forward 20 years later, enlightenment, witness basically acting as an amateur historian, claiming that you could never have a full sovereignty. no, it was ethically true and truly separate from russians. and so should be

a part of mother russia. it is been a personal loss and tragedy for lady wouldn't to see ukraine go. she said it, she wants to bring it back to its knees under its control. and so all this talk about nato expansion, etc. and ukraine joining nato. that's been a read harry with the true true goal of lead report. and that's to keep countries like bella luce and ukraine under his control. was it, or is it a red rag to a bull? well, what is one aspect of what ukraine is today? a red rag to a bull when it comes, mr. pushing and as much as you know, a strong ukraine seems to almost at some level intimidate the kremlin where, whereas a weak ukraine, perhaps with a weak precedent. i'm not saying you got to be president because you clearly don't . but if you had a weaker president, combined with a weak country, that might be less attractive to mister mister putin, because it's almost as if he feels intimidated by this stance of quiet

determination on the part of the ukrainian leadership. indeed, he is, you know, he is seeing, you know, and then this very and not only that with obviously, you know, he's seeing west nefarious influence behind every color revolution in the region, starting with the tulip revolution in could you stand the joy of revolution that revolution of the roses, the, the, the orange revolution here in crane, i would not discount the fact that he's truly paranoid and truly believes that the west is trying to, to spread its influence, its ideas of liberal democracy in this country. some report does not one this idea of his doorsteps that explains, he is increasing in until the authoritarian china, the recent love fest we saw between putting in season been in beijing tells you that you know, they're coming to an agreement about how they're going to step forward and say loud

and clear that do the west and the liberal democratic west that it's time has its diamond. com. and you know, it's time to read, build a bipolar world order where russia would be playing junior parker to china. but both of them would, would try to claim a room for their own version of governance. and that would be like this or 3rd, darian very anti democratic police states which china and russia have increasingly been turning into. he also said during the address that the minister agreement was dead, i mean min squan, failed minced to that replaced mince one, failed. nobody else has said or would say that those 2 agreements are dead and buried. but what's your reading about? what was the reception to that aspect of what he said in ukraine? you think because he have, does he have to say that to justify maybe

a full swag operation in the coming hours or days? pat? well, you know, whatever the difficulties of implementing their agreements war and i'll just tell you that there was nothing but the way of rush shots, you know, insisted on you current implementation that was at the beach. elation by other means for ukraine. and it was simply not acceptable to recreate inside. and so no matter what the technicalities of that process was, it is indeed by recognizing these to break away states of lawns. socal spatial lawns can beneatha letter putting essentially put an end to minsk agreements. he unilaterally abrogated of the agreements himself. that is, that is probably no matter what he says. basically, he is now in the de facto invaded ukraine by recognizing his republics. and normally, that just today, just a few hours ago, he went further. and he claims that these republics have the right to reclaim more

of their territory, which is going to take their troops and therefore russian troops even further into you can still tory and now western allies currently debating what sanctions that little bite. but we're pretty much looking at the scenario where russia is going to be invading ukraine. very, very sold. okay. picking up on the, on the use of the word invading. if i may, peter lloyd austin, the us defense secretary talking to your foreign minister in the last half hour or so, use the word invasion. a military analyst i was talking to on our last news. i seemed to be saying, look, there are 3 scenarios here. scenario number one, a full scale invasion of the country and russia tries to get as far as key of which, militarily, it can't do it. constance, it can't start and sustain that kind of operation. scenario. number 2, some sort of messy, never ending cross border drive by shooting incursion. where they do it's saying

we're going to pro pop these 2 new republics. scenario, number 3, nothing happens. and moscow walks away. what do you think will happen? i believe nothing will happen. i still am at a loss as to the 1st the possibility of the scenario would be going for t f. i just spoke with a couple of days ago with our former defense minister, who said that ukraine and officials are currently operating on 2 possible assumptions or on the on 2 assumptions of possible scenarios. one of them has remained a st rational actor and we'll try to continue to skirt along the edge of the probable the possible continue to operate within the fog of war. sending mix signals and trying not to bring on severe sanctions against himself. have the plaza, but did i ability or the other should the area that he is really going off the

rails she you know kind of yielded to the cranium that surround him. who are, you know, taken up with his messianic notions of brushes destiny, and then all bets are off and then he may try to, you know, have a limited got going to you once again. yes, the figures did not a do not to provide go for a, you know, an easy walk into ukraine. and needless to say, an occupation of any length of time but surgical strikes against the critical infrastructure, including military installations throughout the country. that's a possibility. and that will be essentially the start of a war. interesting conversation. quite scary conversations. well, peters, i may have executive director of the erasure democracy initiative. good talk soon. get your opinion as ever. peter. many, thanks. okay, let's talk to my colleague my wind rush hour. he's al jazeera senior political

analyst, he's in london for us this hour morrow and still waiting for joe biden. the u. s. president. he's now running. what are 31 minutes late? he's the u. s. president. he can be as late as he likes. what will be the diplomatic impact of what we think he's about to announce, which is tough targeted sanctions what probably this is going to be the more important part of the saga, right? or by than has the one i that's been talking most about the potential escalation going on and ukraine. his intelligence community has told him so, and he's been persistent that, that put in sooner or later is gone to be taking the step into a ukraine. and i think in many ways he, if you want, he has a tom card, not what trump cards in the relationship with his european allies. i think he's sort of one of the day a within the nato,

a debate as to what to expect and how to move forward and how the europeans would probably need to get behind the americans. and, and i think if anything, the europeans today as we've heard the ruddy, they already know where washington is heading and they're getting ahead of it. i know exactly where it's going. and, and i think that makes sense for the european sort of not to sound like they're brought creston eating. but i think on in all peter, what are we going to see a sanctions that probably will hurt our russia but not hurt. it's so much that it will change as calculus. and i think or hope that this, these sanctions then will be used as leverage in order to go into the diplomatic, the track, you know, with more capacity to influenced rushes decisions would have fast forward through some very dangerous, predictably dangerous days and weeks. if we just kind of ejected or got rid of the idea of the geneva meeting on thursday, if it happens between mr. blinking mr laffer off and we went straight to

a summit meeting someplace neutral territory. helsinki, paris, perhaps, between mister biden and mister putin, cuz that's clearly what mister putin wants this and my understanding is that the washing that washington insisted on foreign minister level meeting 1st, or that probably they expect to prepare them for the summit because the americans don't want to got into a summit that will fail. and i think the foreign minister meeting will be able to r a large degree to basically predict what could be a possible outcome. and that willing, then encourage for either more homework or for a quick meeting between the 2 had to state. now having said that, be that i think i've heard a number of your guess in our correspondence, and i just want to try to put this fragmented picture together. because i think generally speaking, when we cover the such a complex crisis, we said within to confuse all of us that the different components in it. and

sometimes we get some ahead of others. and that's a choice of course. but i think in terms of superpower politics in terms of russian american calculus, i think 1st comes that geo politics 1st on put in on criminal mind, is the jew politics. what i mean by that? how will russia be able to throw its weight around in confrontation or in competition with how america throws its weight around in your that's what do you go down? of course the level 2 military deployments. you go, the level to the diplomacy. you've got a level of politics, you go to the level of sanctions, et cetera, et cetera, the narrative. and then you got the level, of course, human rights and so on, so forth about what would happen to people. but there are a number of levels and there is no point of us sort of a confusing the diplomacy with a jew politics or the politics with the human rights. because in the mind of empire, whether it's russian empire or an american empire, in terms of global power, politics for them. first and foremost comes the jew politics. how do you preserve

your power as superpower and hence sanchez? and that's why important, what's important is this understanding between, as you put it better, that had sales empires, duets of states when they, me, and they figured out exactly what are the configurations of power. what exactly is the deployment of and the projection of force, whether it's in ukraine, in eastern europe, in terms of nato, in terms of russian power and so on, so forth. and that when they start figuring out more about the secrets of the projection of military power, and then what needs to be done under to apply to track, how do you separate the forces in your brain? how do you open the way to worse? or, you know, listening of tension, an opening though airfoil towards a piece process. this are these as the candidate dynamics are so complex and what the level that always needs to be dissected and needs to be rearranged in our minds in order to understand how the situation,

how the escalation is spiraling downward or upward. but my, when, when these 2 big beasts of international politics, mister biden, and mister putin, they've both been around the block for many, many years now. you said they're right at the top of the answer struck me. you said mister biden doesn't want to go into a summit meeting that might fail. could it be that mister putin doesn't want to go into a summit meeting that might succeed? because if it fails, he then maybe gets the quid pro quo justification for doing what he's wanted to do . his critics might say for a long time now. anyway, this is the finger peter at watching the dynamic of russian american traditions over the last 30 years. and i'm more of a student of the cold war myself, but having to watch that over the past 30 years, either political analysts, as, as academic and saucers, i can you from the strategic point of view, the things that hurt putting the most,

which happened several years ago i would say 10 years ago was when president obama called him and called russia and mere regional power. that sort of, you know, one over them like i like what like like a heavy load of rhetoric. they couldn't stand the idea that you'd be so humiliated and not only by being named, calling that name called that way, that they are mere original power that they were treated as such. and if anything, what we know from the last several weeks of this collision is that we all understood from the very beginning what putting wanted was not meeting mccomb of france or morris of of the u. k. or shows all merkel of germany. he wanted to meet the american press because he wants to have to have that status of a g to of, to global power speaking to one another. again, about geo politics, about the deployment of massage in europe, about that near to expansion and about the future of security for structure,

infrastructure if you were in europe and that he would not discuss with the germans of the french he would discuss on you with the americans, so the idea of having a summit with biden and to be able to discuss those 3 important issues that are not only on buttons mine, they are on the kremlin, my own rush as mine, as a superpower. i think that is an important way forward. i was just finishing reading some of the stuff about nixon visiting. not only china, but russia in 72 and 72. he was a russia, china and iran in the same year. believe it or not, of course. then he's could it up with their, what they're getting a sense of what it was important for during the, the hottest and the most terrible years of the war for the american present to reach out to the chinese leader to the russia, to the soviet leader. and to the iranians, his clients at the time in order to discuss baton in order to discuss how to move forward in peace and security and so on, so forth. so i think 4 foot in the mere meeting with by then is an accomplishment.

now, because the 3 things on his mind is an accomplishment, and by them so far, had denied him that my, when, as ever thank you so much mom and bizarre, our senior political analyst. it's night in the chart. while russia has brought the danverse region further into its influence in recent years, let's take a look at how we got to where we are today. in 2014 pro russian separatists in the da nets and law hands greetings. that's what we're talking about. epicenter of the problems. well, those regions declared independent republics after moscow friendly president, petro polishing her, then was ousted by ongoing protests. moscow has issued 800000 russian passports to don bass resident since mister putin signed an order in april of 2019, allowing them to apply for citizenship. both separatist regions have abandoned the ukrainian currency in favor of the russian rouble as their official currency. it's last year mister bruton ordered the russian government to lift curves on exports and imports of goods between russia and parts of those 2 regions. donetta and law.

hans, let's talk now to maxim lacoff is an expert at the russian international affairs council. he joins, as we assume from moscow, mr. took off. welcome to the news hour. instead of putting together the composite bits of the jigsaw to invade and i use the word advisedly because lloyd austin, the u. s. defense secretary has used that word in the past hour. instead of doing that, why doesn't mr puts in just take a beat, step back a couple of paces and give diplomacy a 100 percent effort here. thanks for having me. i think mister fulton, in his yesterday's speech, made it clear that he has been over 20 plus years of his presidency. what he did was trying to give diplomacy to, to, to engage with the west. i think it was a remarkable reference to his meeting,

the bill clinton in late 990 s. and his speech yesterday where he asked whether us thinks it would be a good idea if russia joins me. joe, and he said that the time clinton didn't say anything, but american quarter action suggested that us thought that would be an awful idea. then of course, as you might know, when you listen to snow, you know, we go to the oldest grievances that russia had over the past decade with the west. only to make it clear that all means of diplomacy as of now have been exhausted. and the same applies to ukraine, i think, and he's thinking and he's approach russia has been engaging with this, missed a court and diplomacy since 2014. and i think the decision he did yesterday was not the best decision, but the best of all the options are the options that he thought were on the table for him. okay, now just let me pull you this, which i apologize. you,

we need to unpack what you've just said, because i get in the sense that you were listening to a completely different address to the address i was sitting here listening to 24 hours ago. mister putin came off kind of suggest you respectfully as hard man 101. if you want to be the tough guy as a president or a prime minister, you talk to the country for one hour, an hour and 10 minutes. and you are sure in your mind that it will be picked up by all the international news channels, tick, tick, tick, you talk there about the minced agreements. the minsk agreements arguably failed because of what russia has done. not because of what ukraine has not done. those 2 concepts do not overlap at all, and now he's gone ahead instead of going with diplomacy publicly and obviously today he's gone ahead and i'll go back to my 1st question and he's put together the jigsaw of being able to invade

a sovereign state. and he can talk about lenin and how the u. s. s. all came about all he wants. the reality is that ukraine is a bordering sovereign nation. well, let me respectfully, they're not back what you said and say, i totally agree that we may have heard different parts of this in speech because there were different players in that speech. one was addressed obviously to the russian domestic public. and in that sense, it was a thorough revision of russia's own history. that's why i think yesterday's speech was very important. and very pivotal moments for russia as much as was for europe and ukraine. as far as the, the minced codes mentioned, i do think the, the, they start to tangle, obviously, and ukraine obviously did not make complete spots. and that's, i think, the intense diplomacy of a european lead us president macro and schultz and the u. k. a for the secretary,

the charter shuttle diplomacy between moscow and p f, i think was kind of the last straw in the sense that president zelinsky himself openly shut. that's the day that we're not interested in the minutes because obviously was not in your raise interest, which i think it is not in the great interest, but still nonetheless the, the, the, the why, why is it mr. took off the ukraine as far as your president is concerned. why is it for mister putin? ukraine doesn't deserve sovereignty because it is a sovereign nation. i think it's a trick. the, the way you frame the question is on title affair, because it's not whether you can do so to sovereignty, whether it is able to execute sovereignty on so territory, and they say, and the question in moscow is why don't people in the east of ukraine, the russian speaking population don't deserve to be treated as equal citizens since

the 2014 my gun revolution in ukraine. you know, the might the be minced, echo it's clear suggested that this population should be engaged with the rest of the queen and it should be a referendum on language. not all the things that the key of record is not authorized, but i think it no longer is valid in this sense. because this seems to be the page toned. and what matters at this point now, whether the deployment of russian troops is a factor that for men's new war, or the factor that stops or that has been region in the country for 2014. but you can't, you can't just say mr. cough we are. you did last, really after occupying the delay. we are going to coalesce around the concept that we can cross the border into another sovereign country and say, actually these 2 regions now belong to us. because that let's be clear. that's in effect what mr. putin is saying he wants to guarantee as part of a new status quo,

at some point in the perhaps immediate future, perhaps the intermediate to long term future. i mean, why not just march into the outside region of france and see how that goes down with the french presidency. why not walk into parts of eastern germany that are very, very, very close to russia. see how that goes done with the government in berlin. you couldn't do it with those countries. why can you do it with ukraine? well, i think if you, if you, if you want to play in that domain, obviously many people would say are, what should the united states supposedly do in, in syria or did in libya? so obviously, all these interventions and violation of international law are very legitimate references. and in that sense, russia does act in the sense as, as you are, he did an inch because it's not the 1st kind of to wiley, just to so i'm gonna interrupt you again, sir, and i apologize one more time. and i, i really do mean to apologize most sincerely,

i don't want to have a conversation on this program about what ifs. because that doesn't take any one any further forward. isn't there another dynamic here? and it's the dynamic, the reality of what might happen in the next week or month or year. and it's this if scenario number 2, that every one is talking about is what actually happens. i. e, a messy cross border invasion surrounding those 2 new independent republics. thousands of people will die, there won't be any resolution to it. and the relationship between russia and every one else will go down the toilet. and the global economy will suffer as well because the price of oil is going up. the availability of staples around the world will go down because of the relationship between russia and ukraine. well, it stopped because of the relationship between russia because of the 2 in russia and ukraine and thousands of people have died over the course of a year. so ready, so you may not like the deployment of russian troops across eurasia,

but it's hard to argue that in places where they are deployed, they're no longer a military conflict regional b to an office. if you transmit syria or lately in the east you play now. so i don't want to engage in discussing scenarios, which i think are extremely speculative. and i don't think i'm going to materialize because i don't read the russian tour and actions as leading to a major warfare because the major warfare has been going on over the past a p. s. and i think the current developments are there to hold these precise major will fair scenarios. ok, maxim's look off, we must leave it there. so thank you so much for joining us, maxim because he's next person, the russian international affairs council. good to get your thoughts. i think one of russia's closest allies, china is careful not to take sides right now. katrina, you has more on that aspect from beijing. on tuesday, beijing sent out a statement warning all of its citizens in ukraine to try to avoid unstable areas,

but it stopped short of actually telling them to leave the country completely. unlike many other nations. no ton and recent weeks has criticized the us for what it says is hyping up. the threat of war. china has said that it believes that russia's security concerns all legitimate and the 2 countries all very close to pearson was justin beijing about 2 weeks ago. emphasizing the strength of his friendship with china and with she's in pain. but that doesn't necessarily mean that she didn't ping would welcome or support any war over ukraine. he's also has very good ties with. he has, and china very much relies on trade with europe. so china's ambassador to the ambassador to the un on tuesday. jung jones said that all party should really return to dialogue and exercise restraint will collect you farther. more hands on the current situation and ukraine is

a result of many complex factors. china always makes its position according to the merits of the matter itself. we believe that all countries should solve international disputes by peaceful means and in line with the purposes and principles of the un charter. we should certainly beijing, as watching what is happening in ukraine very, very closely and waiting to see how the international community responds to any possible invasion by russia. her matessa is in her rory. she has more for us now on african leaders reaction on that ukraine. russia situation so far, no african leader has come out publicly to speak about the crisis in ukraine. if and when they do, it's expected that opinions would likely be divided. some african diplomats at the united nations have been speaking out. we heard from king as ambassador to the you in, in this speech and security council, he says was happening in eastern europe reminds him of africa's colonial past way. outside players came onto the continent to try and extend the spheres of influence

. they try to divide cultures histories, borders, and people and africans are still trying to recover from that. russia relationship with africa is a long while. it helped some countries and to white men. oh, to rule from countries such as france and the united kingdom war recently is halting some countries with our investment or infrastructure development projects such as building roads and in mining. in west africa we seem and becoming more and more involved insecurity in miley, for example. you see that people of mildly pushing out the french in favor of the russians if war was to erupt in eastern europe, how could it affect the african continent? africans will be concerned about their economies. and countries such as south africa, which has a strong economy, could be the hardest hit countries in north africa import wheat from ukraine. and so there will be concerned about that. and then of course,

these are concerned that the could be arise in fuel prices. when that happens. normally, food prices also go up and that will affect millions of africans on a continent who already struggling still to come on you and use our for you. the sports news with andy will have reaction to a landmark legal settlement for the you are swimming, socrates ah, ah

ah ah ah ah. time to step back from the busy newsday and bringing some sports news with you. thank you so much. pay all the us women's soccer team have reached a multi $1000000.00 settlement with the sports national governing body bringing to

an end, a 6 year legal battle of re co pay. as part of the deal. the team has been promised $24000000.00 plus bonuses that match those of the men. scott, the u. s. soccer federation is said, it's now committed to an e court rates of paper. both the national teams, the women's team off, it will top rank side and the reining will champions. i think we are really in the midst of an incredible turning point and women's sports. i think we're all going to look back on this moment with incredible pride. i know for us as a team and for all the players that this lawsuit represented, this is just one step in furthering our support and getting the, the respect and the attention that we deserve. but if you're not paying attention to this right now, what's happening and as far as your sleeping on the whole thing. but we've been talking to nancy and editor of give me support women about the why does significance of this settlement? the fight for equal paven spool has been going on for decades and decades. so i

think for them to you know, i think the thing to remember as well is that they all the best women's international team in the world. they've won well cups. they've won a limp it gold medal, and the fact that they're not really being paid said to call it sends out quite experiencing message the you know, also just women around the world to kind of come to the end of the bus. so to find the get equal pay, i think is, is massively encouraging and you know, they're not the 1st country to give equal paid the national team. so england, ireland, australia, new zealand, they already do that. but hopefully such a big power house in women's football will just encourage more countries to do the same. people really getting invested in a lot of the female football as and i do think you're seeing that worldwide thought for instance barcelona. and after chemistry, playing the new come next month for the from the liquid,

find the one that sold out like 5000 people that i'm in terms of that great. it's just, it's been phenomenal over the past 10 years. and i think it's, you know, we would think that this was, that was the equal pay settlement with kind of just, it's just the message being sent out that female for blows a wife as much as my offer blows. now the governing body of your painful when your wife insists the now it has no plans to move this year champions league fond lot of russia due to the crime crisis. you're saying that it's monitoring the situation. the final set to happen in saint petersburg on may 2018, a prime minister boris johnson saying that should be no chance of holding football tournaments in russia that invade sovereign countries. i caught a performance from tennis, play stuff, and cousin over the mexican open. he went down with cramping. both legs during this match is because of the nature of the bulgarian, whence whose opponents, 8 in active schools can ship. he might have regretted, amazingly cousin was able to get up and eventually win the contest. in 3 sets. i

broke to got 53 in the 2nd, and then both of my clause is fully extended and i couldn't, i couldn't do anything other than just, you know, be extended. and they gave me as much time as they could. and then they told me, look, if you don't walk to line, we're going to can see the game. and to me that just just felt wrong. so i said already, i just hit my quads and just wait over obviously serve light rig or beat me up. those next 4. busy games and i, and i just got lucky in the 3rd really, you know, and a record breaking as it from defending champion. alexander barras or the general defeating jensen brooks. being 3 sets the 1st round contest finishing just before falling by him, locals on making it the latest ever finish to a tennis match. and i hope i didn't begin until 6 pm local time because of the heat and okay, that is a sports he's looking for now. pe sandy, thank you so much. when we come back on the other side of the break, it's our colleagues at the shop in london. he'll bring you the latest live coverage

with mariam. of course joe biden expected to announce out of the white house more sanctions pinged at russia. we'll see you soon. bye bye. ah ah. the day you decide to do something for the 1st time and make day the anything bigger? all the day in

energy. the rupa hotel is the oh tell that i've ever stated in the biggest box you have ever seen. how does it explode? taken out. so this was germany. we loved it when it was built and we loved it even when it was bombed. a major target of the conflict in northern ireland in the late 20th century belfast europa, a new episode of war hotels on all jazeera oh march. and i was just either south korean thought in a presidential election. but i scandals in controversies overshadowing policy. people in power of just the or as investigative document, the program looks at the use and abuse of power made to conduct the biggest military optic exercise in the cold war with 35000 troops from 28 countries.

time on them explores lessons learned from the global h i v epidemic and how that could help quite overnight after recent to mil 5th period, then sorry to make it in power. hong kong goes to the post to the chief executive march on. just eat up. ah rushes war, i trick gets concrete. backing president vladimir putin is given formal approval to deploy forces outside of the country. and europe responds after moscow recognizes to break why regions in easton ukraine. the north stream to gas pipeline project is suspended. ah, hello, i'm marianne was in london. you're watching al jazeera also coming up on a program. we are watching the white house right.