defend is of lithuania, preparing for the possibility of war. waiting for invasion, a witness documentary on al jazeera. ah, now that we see the invasions beginning in russia has may clear its wholesale rejection of diplomacy. ah, it does not make sense to go forward with that meeting at this time. the u. s. has talked diplomat cancels a high level meeting with his washing counterpart over the escalating crisis in ukraine. ah, hello, i'm adrian. and again, this is al jazeera, alive from doha, also coming up the u. s. response. president biden outlines a string of tuft you sanctions on russia saying vladimir putin is building his case

to invade ukraine. president putin gets the go ahead from parliament troops on all the rise for deployment outside of russia into separate is controlled areas of ukraine and divisions along the border. the threat of a russian invasion is creating a split amongst residents, living near the frontline ah, the u. s is imposed new sanctions on russia, cutting off 2 key financial institutions from western financing. the move comes off to president. vladimir putin recognized the independence of 2 separatist held areas of eastern ukraine. but it was only one move on a day that so dramatic action from all sides. al jazeera, alan fisher begins, are coverage from the white house. for weeks, he's warned of sanctions ne,

with what he sees is russian aggression in ukraine. joe, biting his act, it were implementing full blocking sanctions on 2 large russian financial institutions. v. e b and our military back room, lamenting comprehensive sanctions on russia's sovereign debt. that means we've cut off russian government from western finance. it will also impose sanctions on russia's, leech and their family members. they share in the crop gaze of the criminal policy and to sharon, the pain as well. the president has spent a lot of time with his national security team over the last 48 hours. they insist they've covered all possible moves for moscow. and the next step by vladimir putin will dictate further us reaction. biden's still hopes for a diplomatic solution, but there was a warning to the american public and extended crisis might hit them in the pocket. defending freedom will have cost for us as well. and here at home, we need to be honest about that. one expert says it makes sense. the biden hasn't

thrown everything at russia. they sadly leaving a diplomatic offramp thing. they need to keep, you know, part of their powder dry to see what his next move is. this, this gross violation the go further violation of ukrainian territorial integrity. there has to be a cost for that. whether the euclidean foreign minister has been in washington part of the international medical round of top level talks. he's been meeting defense. secretary, lloyd austin at the pentagon. he says the russians have tried to split the west with their actions. something that has failed. and i have never seen, they know more united, the more resolute standing firm is one alliance in support of ukraine's right to defend that sovereign territory. it's 2 years since then, candidate biden tweeted out that vladimir putin would be reluctant to take any aggressive action if he was president, because he's going to to tour with them. in the past,

he toted his foreign policy experience. he's going to need all that experience. if he's to reach a diplomatic solution to what is a growing military crisis, i'll and fisher al jazeera at the white house, un secretary general antonio gutierrez, shes appealed for restraint. reason, andy, escalation, when troops of one country entered the 3rd. he thought he of another country without its consents, they are not impartial peacekeepers. they have not peacekeepers at all united nations in line with the relevant security goslin general assembly resolutions thence fully behind the soviet entity political dependence. and that it's all the integrity of ukraine. within each international recognized barlow's we are continuing to support the people of ukraine. so all do many federal potations and human rights efforts. at this critical moments, i called for an immediate cease fire, and the establishment of the rule of law. we need restraint and reason. we need the

escalation. no more now from alzheimer's. rosalind jordan is at un headquarters in new york. essentially, the secretary general eviscerated russia's arguments for moving ahead and moving forces into the da boss, and recognizing what it calls the independent republics. a little hans and don yeske, the secretary general, was incredibly critical of a russia's use of a language such as are the deployment of peacekeepers, which is of course a, something that is essential to the you ends on global mission to justify an active military invasion of eastern ukraine, he also of basically accused russia of violating its agreement, banned by violating its promise to it. here by the un charter. he said that member states can't just pick and choose which of the rules of the charter they're going

to follow and which ones they're going to ignore. it was a very, very tough, a comment by the secretary general antonio good danesh a. we've gotten a summer early reaction from some diplomats on the un security council. and while they say that todd, they were welcomed antonio gutierrez. shes a tough stance on the situation. they're all wandering. what can he do to follow up this very top and very necessary rhetoric? and that's a very difficult thing. the secretary general has offered his good offices a many times to try to help resolve this crisis. but it's really going to being what can be done behind the scenes to try to resolve this crisis without many people losing their lives in eastern ukraine. asked rosalind mentioning the u. s. secretary of state and sleep. lincoln says the blood of a person's real views on ukraine amount clear, he calls them disturbing and says he's cancelled her meeting with his washing counterpart, sir gay lover of that was scheduled to take place later this week. president

putin's deeply disturbing speech yesterday and his statements to day may clear the world how he views ukraine, not as a sovereign nation with the right to territorial integrity and independence, but rather as a creation of russia and therefore subordinate to russia. it's a completely false assertion that ignores history international law and the 10s of millions of patriotic ukrainians who are proud citizens of a free and independent ukraine. regions in eastern ukraine recognized by the kremlin as independent extend far beyond areas under rebel control. that's creating more uncertainty for those living near the frontline of the countries long running separatist conflicts out zeros hotter abdel hamid has returned to one town. she reported from last month where the threat of invasion is now exposing. social divides. uncertainty is hanging over at the fca,

one of the frontline gowns in eastern ukraine. when we met chaplain no lena, 3 weeks ago, she brushed away the prospect of war. now she's worried and feels uncomfortable being on the streets. some of her neighbors are openly hostile to her pork. they've gone through my grandmother mike, me? yeah, you're the mon you. oh yes, butchering you had though i knew what they think ukraine is guilty party when it comes to this shelling they don't believe russia could act like this. my life is at risk in this kind of society. anything can happen, especially now, less than the kilometer away at the front line. soldiers on alert. recently the shelling has intensified evidence still fresh of the latest rocket attack. the front line here has in, moved, ever since the minced agreement was signed with leader sides making tutorial gains or losses. but now the recognition by russia after 2 says, proclaim republics of done yes, elegance,

puts into question. when do new lines are going to be drawn? the agreement set a full 120 kilometers demarcation line, giving the russian back separatist only a 3rd of what they see as their historical land. now, with official support from moscow, they could try again to expand their control. i seen that, i think it will be border old for the nascar, hans derision as they are, was at the bus not on with this era that already have brought further. and i think that is the reason of most dangerous station here. basically, we understand that there we are, are on the way of them do ukrainian army is in a difficult situation. many civilians in this area don't support it. they welcome to separate his back in 2014 and continued to support russia. now, others,

like victor, blamed a current situation under government in give us one. what are they fighting for who they fighting for here, i don't see any sense on that. if it's for me or my family, there's no need. what are they doing here? that you're shelling the separatist all the time? rush, i can't leave them on the ride with him if our president had negotiated with them, then things could have been different. with the minsk agreement now in touches, ukraine has declared at vive can other towns and villages along the frontline, restricted areas. but for the soldiers, the most difficult battle could be winning over the support of the people without their hamid of jesse were at viva, in eastern ukraine. in its 1st round of sanctions, the bite and ministration has cut off 2 small russian banks from the u. s. financial system, the e, b, and prom easy, bank or state own financial institutions with ties to the defense industry. western

sanctions are designed to punish and deter russia. but there are implications for the global economy to russia is one of europe's largest energy suppliers. fears that the market could be constrain, saw oil prices jump to almost $100.00 a barrel on tuesday. that's an 8 year high global stock markets down to. but russia is the hardest hit. with the moscow exchange losing around 10 percent of its value . on monday, the conflict even has implications for food supplies. russia and ukraine together exports around a quarter of the world's wheat. that'll disrupt its biggest buyers in the middle east and asia. now to serious heidi joe castro reports down from washington, the sanctions mainly target to major russian financial institutions. there is the bank called the v e b, which has been described by white house officials as a crumb ones. piggy bank and there's also the russian military bank. so this would block all transactions involving those 2 institutions. these sanctions also cut off

the russian government from more financial markets in the west and starting tomorrow. they would also target russian leads and their families. now what these sanctions do not do is they do not reach to fight to larger russian banks. they do not touch on the energy sector and they do not name of a lot of mere prudent himself the russian president as a target of the sanctions. but the white house has said that all of those are still on the table in the event that russia proceed further with its military invasion of ukraine. invasion is the exact language that was used by president joe biden. he said this was a flagrant violation of international law. put in won't feel a pinch from the sanctions. that's according to robert scott, senior international economists to be economic policy institute. but that would change. she says, if the u. s. cuts russia from the international banking system, in the event of a full blown invasion. it would cause significant pain not just to the average

russian citizen, but to the old guard, to control much of the economy and ultimately to put in himself that would cut off his access to cash. his ability to use is his reserves to purchase the resources as a, to most importantly, to pay members of the army for them to be able to care for their families. and ultimately, the greatest threat i think is it's going to result in instability within russia. and could undermine his own position as the president of the country. more coverage of the ukraine crisis shortly. also head argentina battles to contain wildfires that have been devastating rich agricultural land. ah, ah, look forward to brighter skies the winter sponsored my cattle airways. while

i was say, more heavy snow in to parts of japan, particularly across so western areas of honju up into kado and in factor where this stiff wind pushing in from the north. that coal, when it's going to continue feeding in across the warm waters of the safe to pam, we are going to see further snow for over the next couple of days. perhaps another 50 centimeters or so on top of the $27.00 centimeters that we saw in support. recently there we go. more snow coming in. we will see that when she makes lingering here, as we go through where widens day, then heavy rain, they're down towards taiwan. flooding problems here, easing out to the white brightest guys coming back in and noticed temperatures in hong kong. at last started to warm up, getting up to around 15 celsius. much of china will be dr. korea. initial ashi dry should be somewhat dry. are by thursday for japan, but still a few wintry flowers coming in here over the next day or so for the se about to will rain showers coming through here. the usual heat of the day showers just

banging away here, particularly towards the southeast corner of the region, but some lobby showers up towards the malay peninsula. easing into southern parts of the bay have been goal much of india will be fine and dry. we have got some windy weather across more than parts of pakistan all the way into morn. india, blue weather sponsored by katara always. oh, the shake hum odd award for translation and international understanding is accepting nominations for the year 2022. from february 15th until august 15th this year, for more information go to w, w, w dot h t a dot q a slash e n. ah lou

ah, hello again. this is al jazeera. let's remind you of the main news. the saw, the u. s. as imposed new sanctions on russia, cutting 2 key financial institutions off from western financing. the move comes a day after president vladimir putin recognized the independence of 2 separatist held areas. it east of ukraine. the u. s. secretary of state has canceled this week's plans, meeting with his washing counterpart. so gay love roth, until he blinked and said that it made no sense to hold the talk. since washer had started an invasion of you praying. and you and secretary general and her legal tellers. shes appealed for restraint. reason and the escalation. he said that, but every conflict between russia and ukraine would be catastrophic parliament and

moscow as approved a formal request by president putin to allow that employer as a brushing forces abroad. the decision by the upper house of parliament takes effect immediately. they so says that it's, he has another side that russia is planning a full scale attack on ukraine. will. these are the 2 ukranian regions of the heart of the current turmoil, low hands, and on yet, the encompassed dumbass was separatists had been fighting against ukrainian forces since 2014 measured to pitchbook a 3rd. ah, we have recognized the expanded version of the 2 ukranian breakaway regions, including their constituents, their boarders were stated in their constitutions when they were part of ukraine, and he hoped, the kiev and the breakaway republics can work out their differences on the border issue. i does legit. president putin says that the demilitarization of ukraine is the only way that conflict can be prevented. burnett smith's report now from moscow . pre dawn on tuesday, the russian military appeared on the streets of de next. it was just hours after

vladimir putin had recognized 2 new republics, which are an eastern ukrainian territory. but ukraine is a country the russian president thinks shouldn't exist a country this soldier died defending putins decree. recognizing bennett's and le ganske as 2 independent states is, according to kids, defense minister, an attack on its territorial dignity. i hope the leaders, which promised sanctions will be starting up today. i think that that paper invasion began ukraine's president 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. much i must show him or li,

believe that by taking this decision, the russian federation creates a legal basis for the military, aggression against the ukraine, for violating all bilateral and multilateral agreements. but that's not how russia's parliament sees it. here vladimir putin's decision is welcomed as the writing of an historical wrong just by the annexation of crimea. done the know this is an historic day just like 7 years ago when crimea returned to the fault and became part of the russian federation. today now and forever, there will be 2 new sovereign states on the political map that an esque and low guns people's republics. but separatists internet can le ganske only control about a 3rd of the territory. they claim where they were celebrating on tuesday. the other 2 thirds is held by ukrainian forces, who now find themselves on land. russia recognizes as to new republics, was about to sell a cheddar. we find agreements with both the don. yes. can you hands people's

republics that contain article, saying we provide helga including military stuff as far as there's conflict going on there, we're making it clear we will fulfill our obligations because of the comments as recognizing as independent the to break away ukrainian regions will help restore come adding that it remains open to diplomacy with the us and other countries. russia also dismisses allegations that extend its forces into eastern ukraine. the criminal says whether it does or not, depends on how the situation develops. bernard smith, i'll just 0 moscow. germany as put the north stream pipeline on ice berlin announced that its suspending certification of the pipeline which is designed to pump russian gas to german households. the $11000000.00 project bypasses ukraine by going under the baltic sea to transport twice as much gas from western serbia to germany out as heroes jr. how has more now on sanctions imposed on moscow by the west? he, there's, at least,

as president vladimir putin ordered russian troops into eastern ukraine. western sanctions were issued in response. today. the u. k is actually the following. 5 russian bans rossier. i s bang jim, but general bank a problem, the us bank and the black sea bank and we are sanctioned in 3 very high net worth in individuals. kanadi, tim jenko, boris rothenberg and eagle rothenberg. the british prime minister called it a 1st barrage, promising more if put in advance is deeper into ukraine. e. u sanctions were also restrained, targeting members of parliament and limiting russian access to european capital markets. and washington has banned us business dealings with the to break away regions in eastern ukraine. germany did go further calling a halt to the $11000000000.00 north stream to pipeline project, highly prized by russia,

and built to deliver gas to europe by passing ukraine. but russian investment experts say none of it will trouble the kremlin d. the banks that have been mentioned are, are all state banks that are funded domestically. i don't not rely and european markets have not for years because they have been subject to a us sanctions and the individuals have you mentioned are certainly a part of what kind of putins a circle of friends. but they have also been subject to us sanctions. ah, for many years, so it's a really, but they, you can, you, you are doing now is simply catching up with sanctions that been in place by the us for many years. the threat of full sanctions. retaliation is being held in reserve depending what put in does next. measures dubbed sanctions from hell by the us senate would in theory, target whole sectors and industries with crippling economic effect. it is a threat that one prominent criminal critic believes legs credibility. he invaded

georgia. no sanctions from hell. he took crimea, no sanctions from hell. he shot down a passenger plane with, with a 298 innocent people know sanctions from hell. and all of a sudden worked worth reading sanctions from hell. and what do we do? we make a, a minor, tepid addition to the us sanctions list basically coming up to where they were 4 years ago. that's not credible. that doesn't scare put and he doesn't believe were for real. part of the problem is western resolve, stiff sanctions against russia would hurt europe in return with strong ties in trade and energy. and other is russian resilience holding the world's 5th largest financial reserves built up especially to cushion the blow. ultimately, the calculation is putins alone to make. he's got away with it so far. he may feel this insufficient reason to turn back now, but he's my jonah how al jazeera, with me. in other news,

the syrian military says the israel has laws to miss out in the south, west the canadian province. according to the statement from syrian state media, the attack only caused some material damage. islands government is approved plans to remove almost all cove at 19 restrictions from monday. people will be allowed to use their own judgment on whether to wear face masks except in health care settings, where they'll be mandatory. the physical distancing rule is being scrapped, and testing and tracing will be scaled back. hong kong, meanwhile, has announced it's toughest cove at 19 measures, yet as cases skyrocket and hospitals continue to buckle under the pressure starting mid march, the entire population will have to be tested. and the one with a positive result, including those with those symptoms, will have to isolate singapore has recorded more than 26000 daily cove at 19 infections. it's highest number to date. around 294000 of tested positive in the

past month. health authority say that most have experienced mild or no symptoms of law at all. easing the burden on medical facilities. more than 90 percent of the population is vaccinated against the virus. focused on is put political differences with india aside to allow a large shipment of food for people in afghanistan, india sending 50 tons of wheat. that's emergency food aid. it's a rare gesture between the 2 countries. i'll just say was elizabeth ferrara was with the convoy as it left india where i'd be a tory wilder border between india and pakistan as the 1st of the trucks carrying wheat. all 50 of them begin to pass. now this delivery has been months and the making india 1st send the proposal to pakistan in october last year and approved it in november. but transportation had been a sticking point, loma bob wanted the weight to be transported and pakistani trucks. and the i wanted

to talk to the compromise has been to use afghan trucks with afghan drive is now this delivery is really significant because they have been no trade or travel relations between india and pakistan. and 2 and a half years since india suspended bilateral trade pakistan rob suspended bilateral trade with india after new deli revoked and data minister, push muse autonomy in 2019 both of them. missions and delhi and islam about have been significantly downsize to low high commission is present and either. and so the world food program has also played a part in programming this deal, which is so very important for the afghan people. the w. s p says 9000000 afghans are just one step away from famine. would the you when saying that if the on the on has the highest number of people in emergency food they emergency food need with more than 24000000 people in humanitarian need.

a u. s jury has determined the 3 white men killed black jogger ahmad ovary. because aubrey, i'm sorry, because of his race. the federal hate crime commission for follows the men's murder convictions 3 weeks ago. father and son, greg and travis from michael and neighbor, william bryan are all rece already serving life sentences for the murder of the 25 year old in georgia. the men's lawyer said they chased operate down because they believed he had committed crimes in the neighbourhood. fires fueled by an unprecedented drought, a ravaging hundreds of thousands of hector as of land and northeastern argentina. 15 separate blazes have destroyed farms, pastures and wild life, and continued to spread. i'll deserves to raise a bow reports down from central tommy argentina. there. the border with brazil the while fires are rapidly moving from one place to another and consuming almost

everything in this area in the argentine province of korean. this and fire fighters are also moving fast, trying to burn a control line that will slow down the advance of the flames. and i said it got loaded on, well, what they are doing is burning a line that will force the bar to slow down. but and then they will attack it with water. there's already group working inside and then what we have to stop it before it reaches the road. because if it passes there. yeah, there are thousands of heck to the pine trees and it will get even worse lower. so over 800000 hector is have already been destroyed and with it life stock grains and was life. this is an area that generally sees abundant rainfall, but strong winds, lack of humanity and drought. i'm making it easy for fire like this one to spread all across the province on an average of our own. 30000 hector's of land are burning every day. also at risk i $12000.00 hector's of marshlands

in e with out the area is a natural reserve where it came man's amphibians. another 300 species of birds are being affected. fire fighters from brazil and other parts of the country leguinn aside as have come here in an effort to prevent the fires from causing even more damage. no, no, no one would only damage, but it is in charge of the fire fighters that have come from when a site is, it only got money that goes along with address. and the only thing we can control is nature. so you need to control everything else. korean, this is lacking resources. they don't have the equipment, they need. they have great people, but they're not prepared for the pickup trucks, fire fighting kits, uniforms, among other things. so it was thrown young, have yet a store of these desperate. he says he has lost almost everything he owns. most of his land was burned by the fire, and like many others is currently in debt. so sometimes i don't want to continue,

but i have to because what am i going to tell my family? i have a family of 60 people, 19 work with me. where's my family going to work? there's no work here. aside from this rain is crucial at this point to prevent the fires from spreading to other provinces. but heavy rainfall is not expected until march. a long wait for those involved in the daily fight against the flames. that he said, well, i'll just cedar korean. this argentina, ah, it is good to be with us. hello, adrian. so they can hear it though. how bad lives allowed to syrup. the u. s. has imposed new sanctions on russia. cutting 2 key financial institutions off from western financing. the move comes a day after president vladimir putin recognized the independence of 2 separatist held areas of eastern ukraine.