securing the lives of billions of ukraine because we've been seeing attacks from jones and miss l. 5 flying from russia, and by the way, towards ukraine. so that will help save lives and cover the skies of ukraine as we've been requesting since the beginning of the war. i there are talks that there's going to be attackers, which is another long range air defense systems. so the package says, being prepared by the us is extremely important for ukraine to go on in this for. i don't know. let's go for tommy mike. thank you very much. we'll let, we'll stay with you and join you a little later. but let's bring in festival. and fisher, who's a monitoring developments force in washington. so alan, it's quite a, it's quite a big moment, isn't it for zaleski. and that took us through that kind of protocol as, as he arrives. well, of course it's significant because this is his 1st trip outside of ukraine since they, a russian invasion. exactly 300 days ago. he's arriving on the south side of the building, the south lawn. he will be brought in. i think people here. one of the questions

that had been asked, what will he, where? because of course, we've come to noon law demure zalinski is the man who wears a t shirt and combat fatigues. he's been here before he was here in 2021, just before the war. there were many discussions with the bite administration at that point because the bite administration was concerned that the russian build up . but since the war began any time we've seen him, he tends to be in his, his army uniform. so that will be interesting, but what's important is what he's going to do in the very short time. he's on the ground here. of course, he has a meeting with joe biden. it all came about from a phone call on the 8th of december between the 2 presidents. and then just a week ago there was a formal invitation given to the ukrainians for the president to come here to the white house. 2 days later, last friday at the ukrainians agreed that they would do that. and then by sunday it

was all confirmed. no, the americans have helped with the travel arrangements. they're not going to see how he got out of the country, but it was an american plane. the brought him here. we can speculate, having been in ukraine. the likelihood is that he made his way to the west, the country into, to poland. and then from there, it traveled to the united states and he landed at joint base andrews just a short distance away just a short time ago and will know head towards the white house where 1st of all, there is the very symbolic handshake in front of the building, he will then go to the oval office for a one on one with joe biden himself there will then be a meeting the national security team. so you're talking about people like lloyd austin, who is the defense secretary anthony blinkin, who's the secretary of state at the have of course announced that there's going to be a draw down of some of the budget system will be providing extra material to the ukrainians,

including the patriot missile system, which is something that the ukrainian pushing for, for a while, that will give them extended capability to shoot down things like cruise missiles, drones, and deer craft. essentially the missile system they have at the moment, operates at this level. the patriots mean they can shoot far higher and ticket things that are higher in the sky. now there will be a period where the ukrainians have to be trained on this. that will happen in a 3rd country not been declared. what country, but that will happen there, and then they will deploy those missile systems. it flooded me. zalinski has a shopping list of things that he would like. but the americans are very keen not to change the stance that they have in the way that the handling ukraine. they don't want to spark a white, a conflict. and of course with hide in the last week. i comments from those close to the kremlin, who say that they believe that russia is on a path to war with the united states. that is something that they are very, very keen to avoid. so you seeing the same pictures as i am lorden,

we're seeing the dress, maureen, who is a standing in front of the building. let me just check because there's one way to tell one second. yeah, yeah. i was taking a look to see whether or not there's a dress maureen in front of the oval office, which would suggest that joe biden hasn't left there yet. there isn't. so that means that he's on his way, in fact that he is there. we're seeing of they are in front of the building, so he is there ready to greet the president when he arrives. so it is in the was that i've had several times over the last couple of hours. a hugely important, significant and symbolic moment that in the middle of a war for the very survival, this country loading here. so landscape, here is the white house. and thank you very much for this to allison in ceiling hearing thing on that 10. those pictures quite of new the capillary bit of san assessment

with the there several. and now just watching them walk into the white house there. and that outs your, your question about the, the sartorial last situation. now, with the present lensky in a can across between smart and a minute. she had say, well, i think is a military. i think he's making a very clear point, a not just to the americans, but also to the rest of the world. he's here perhaps as the president of a country, but he's here is the leader of the armed forces of ukraine, which is fighting for its survival. so i think it was a very deliberate choice by the president, and rightly so, because he's here to remind them that in many ways he is at the forefront of the fight for democracy in eastern europe at the moment because of the russian invasion

. it was interesting that joe biden, being joe biden, put his arm around her shoulder and guided the president into the building. they're now heading to the oval office where they will begin at their face to face. there's going to be a news conference in a couple of hours as well. there's a lot of ground to cover, but some of the what will have been done by officials 1st. but vladimir zalinski also wanted to say thank you to the americans. they've already provided $20000000000.00 in aid. there is another, a 1000000000 and a half been announced just in the last couple of hours. and there is a spending bill which is in front of congress at which could give them $40000000000.00 over the next year. so he wants to see thank you. but he also wants to remind them that he is involved in this fight and he needs their support. what he doesn't want to do is fight the russians on the battlefield and have to fight with his biggest starlight and his biggest supporter to give them the tools that

they need. as far as he's concerned to win a war that he believes is still very much winnable fish. thank you very much indeed . or is it washington is just a day or 2 toward a front line city and east and ukraine, that has seen some of the faces battles in the war. but moot is now considered to be the focus of the conflict. russian forces have lost some of their positions on the southern side of the city, control back moot wood, gives the criminal a boost in their baffle for the don bus region. but ukrainian troops have held onto it. russia is believed to be relying on mercenaries, prison conscripts and newly mobilized soldiers in staging. attacks in the ukrainian city of chromatography say that optimistic about landscape. is it to washington? doesn't that says, but divine was bore. we hope to support because the united states want to down main partners. after a lot of means landscape trip to back, which is my home city, i hope so, lansky will be able to share his 1st hand experience about what's going on there.

how cities are being ruined. how are people civilians and servicemen a being killed? i think no one in the u. s. can remain keyless and that support will and the growth shows are meant to be in the loop. sam, i think, is better when the land skin by and talk and pass rather than over the phone. i think this will help on that. see i restart the modern, you know, to miss. and if he goes where he will certainly help us transfer to join us live from ukraine is capital cavan and a degree of optimism that expressed by those people. is that something that is generally shed i think optimism will be too strong a word. lauren, the situation in ukraine is critical at the moment. after 10 months of this war, the country can be facing some of the biggest challenges that it has so far. i mean, let's look at, for example, these ongoing bombardments of the countries energy infrastructure. these electrical

plans surround about a 1000 kamikaze, drones and cruise missiles have targeted and put out electricity across the country . millions of people still suffering rolling blackouts and having to jo, increasingly cold winter temperatures. president, since k last week said that he estimated that the damage to these electrical plants could cost up to $1500000000.00 to repair. and that was before 2 more big bombardments of chemicals you drones and cruise missiles hit more targets. then of course, you've got what seemed to be increasing phase amongst many in the military establishment here about what they describe as potentially a new russian offensive. in the coming weeks and months, a so called winter offensive, the head of ukraine's armed forces valerie's illusion. he only about a week ago saying in his words, that he had no doubt that the russians would have another go at cave. that brings

into the equation than all the naval better route. we saw putin there for the 1st time in building 3 years, going to minutes the federation capital couple days ago speaking with the better solution president, alexander lucas, shank and lucas lucas shank has repeatedly said that he will not involve better rouge and troops on the ground in ukraine, but of course better rouge was used as a staging point for the invasion on the 24th of february. we know that there are own going joint military exercises being conducted around that border area, the ukrainians. i am the last 20 for hours announced that they have boosted security and defensive positions along that border. and then of course, as you mentioned, listening to some of those voices coming from the east and heavy fighting in towns like buck, mood, which has been described as nothing less than a meat grind. a terrible war of attrition that we understand thousands of ukrainian

soldiers have been killed in russians in the fight for that town. a town of strategic importance because it basically if it was taken by the russians, it would give them an easier route towards towns like cremmit tools and sla janski's. we haven't seen really the kind of gains and the momentum being maintained by the ukrainian forces that they had back in september. and october, when there was a count to offensively re took control of tens of thousands of square kilometers around the city of called a cave and him, and of course they liberated the southern city of care song. things have pretty much ground to a hope. so as i say this visit by zelinski to washington for these talks, fully, se comes at a vital and critical time job structured to live in key. thank you very much indeed . and my kind of joins us live from capitol hill. now mike, what are we expecting?

from the joint session of congress, what was likely to be an overwhelmingly warm welcome for the ukraine president when he comes to speak to both houses of congress. here, a number of members we understand will be wearing clothes and the color of the ukraine flag to show their support. that being said, they all elements within congress who are opposed to continuing to give aid to ukraine. this a very small fringe minority, particularly among the republicans in clothing members like marjorie taylor green, who has said that when the republicans take over the house, then all a to ukraine will stop. and now the republicans do take over the house on the 3rd of next month. and the administration has been attempting to make the transition as smooth as the administration. officials have been talking to members of congress on both sides of the aisle in recent weeks, in a bid to ensure the ongoing support for the administration's efforts to get a to ukraine and certainly within the house as a whole and within congress as

a whole. there's massive support for ukraine. we've heard from both the leaders of the house and the senate stating such support in the warm as possible terms. that is the issue, though. i said of that fringe minority of republicans who are opposed to a publishing on 8 and this is going to be a question for whoever becomes the majority. speak in the house, which could be kevin mccarthy next month to hold his quality together in terms of support for ukraine. and in terms of the support this already promised more munition and more defense systems. is that something that you think will be increased again or was this is the latest chars related for a while? well, it does seem as though it will. that is certainly the pledge from most of the democrats in the house and many of the republicans. however, we haven't heard a few months ago from kevin mccarthy who i mentioned who may become the house

leader, saying that aid to ukraine is not going to be a blank check under republicans. he's back track from that statement in recent weeks. however, that is an element there that it will not be as open to non question as, as being to this date in terms of publishing giving permission for a to ukraine. there may be more discussion, there may be more argument, there may even be more resistance from a republican lead house. however, as i say, the majority off congress will give you cranium president, a very warm welcome. and to a degree, the ongoing a to ukraine is likely to be allowed by congress. although with the republican controlled house, there may be more questions to the administration when it makes its requests. my kind of thank you very much indeed. well, the latest to us from j to ukraine will include, as we mentioned, the sophisticated patriot defense system actually is defense to alex. the topless

explains how effective the weapons are. the patriot air defense system is 40 years old, but has constantly been improved over the years. and is designed to protect vital cities and air bases. the latest version can detect incoming crews and ballistic missiles, up to a 150 kilometers away. the advanced intercept to missiles once launched in the right direction, or then able to guide themselves to hit oncoming aircraft or missiles. well that's the idea anyway. is records been patchy when used during the gulf war in 1991. the failure rate was found afterwards to be between 60 and 95 percent, but it still sold to us allies in the gulf, like co 8 saudi arabia, the u. e. and cutter. a recently as 2017. the saudi armed forces were reporting regular failures against iranian design, missiles, norris by huffy rebels in yemen. despite these failures, the information received on these missiles has allowed the manufacturers to improve

the patriot into an effective air defense missile system. this information will be especially valuable as russian missile inventories run low in the war and ukraine and russia increasingly relies on iranian built drones and short range missiles. will the pottery make a difference to the war unlikely? the u. s. has few patriot batteries to spare, and the cost of each missile fired is $4000000.00 compared with 250004 russian cruise missile, and $50000.00 from the iranian drone. the arrival of the patriot is more about showing political support for ukraine than it will be about defending the country. as if, as an anchor is air ukrainian impeach is taking part in his identity. the ukraine event encouraging people to turn off their christmas lights for an hour in recognition of the past situation across ukraine. and thank you very much me for being with us. and it will come to the our for ukraine event in, in amendment. the 1st one to ask you what your hope is said to pull what you want to come out of is meeting with the biden and zelinski. i'm listen very positively

at this me thing. i hope that i see the 2 presidents meeting in person means that the results will be more, more means will you brain to bring victory g gradients. but also for the whole world of global democracy more quickly, i would like probably to see more weapons more ammunition more and she misses assistance and he can systems, the more artillery, all of that come to ukraine in the shortest time possible. so that the counter offensive prepared by our ministry of defense, our general staff can take place throughout the winter months. and so that victory can be driven home may be, even by the end of spring 2023. i mean, this would be amazing news and i'm pretty confident that the us on the brain and

ministry of defense have been working on, on a strategy around these days. and that now the meeting of the presidents for all the brain and of the united states is there to consolidate the strategy. and in the meantime, before that strategy has the chance to work or not out, tell us about how precarious the power situation is. and ukraine was very cold and dark winter, which started to mid october and which will probably last until the end of the heating season. which is around and march april over here. and this means that most of the houses are dark heaters, radiators. they are cold and this is in the country where the temperature dropped to minus lot of families that are dis united for christmas because 7000000 ukrainians, mainly women and children remain abroad because it's simply not safe for children

to be living in such conditions. and it's impossible because you cannot even cook baby food because your stove isn't was last time and there's no light. the mother makes shift to bunsen burner gas stoves that they put fast food on, on their balconies. so this is just to give you a picture of life and the brain these days, even though key of life can be offered, power cuts can be as long as 10 hours, 12 hours in some areas of key to capital, even for 3 days on end. and in the, some of the a that's been promised by the us now includes the, the patriot air defense system. but it will take a bit of time for people to be trained to use that. how concerned are you about the kinds of attacks have been in might continue until those kinds of things are, are brought in on, on the power infrastructure. the tax will continue and we know that 4 or 5, and this is exactly why we are asking for the patriot systems. and this is exactly why we are asking for the training of our men and women to commence as soon as

possible. in my opinion, it's actually a little too late because really, ukrainians were asking for these trainings to begin back in march or april throughout the summer. but every time the response that we were saying was that or the but there is no point because either you will not stand for so long or because we're not going to give you any of the systems that you require because it's long range may files and then there might be fear that you will be hitting rush. now the circumstances changed and we, any grain. we knew that the circumstances changed because we were saying from day one from the 24th of february that there is no other way. but for your brain to when there is no other solution to this global problem that russia has created. so these trainings which could have started back in march could have already had 3 rounds war rounds of men and women trained. and while the slight personnel to be

working the systems, instead we are still stalling. so my request probably would be to have these trainings in place as soon as possible. and you have the systems delivered to your grain in the earliest days possible. could you tell me a little bit about your effort to try and get people's attention on to the power situation? what, what do you want people to do? so it's christmas time. it's cleared that all the global issues they, they take 2nd stands when the families gather around the christmas table and as all festive lights and turkey and just spending nice lashley family time. but any grain . on the other hand, we have no christmas lights. we have no lights at all. as i've just mentioned. there will be no christmas tree. there will be no decorations, and many families will literally have to make do with candles on their tables and, and cold sandwiches to eat. at the same time we in ukraine, we bad lives inside of us and we are sure that the slide will win. but we all the

whole world to yet against and united was us and stand strong with us. and it's an action of full derrick that we are pulling on. so 8 pm to 9 pm local time. we are asking people all over the world to switch out their christmas decorations that christmas tree under lights in their homes and sit for that hour and reflection as to what is happening here in ukraine, in the cities of the brain on reflection as to the resilience of the brain, young people, and why we are fighting this fight, that russia has forced us to fight and india reflections. we are also asking to think whether you can do something more for your brain. for example, a donation to the united $24.00 project, which is now trying to collect $10000000.00 us dollars to buy generators for ukranian hospital schools, communal spaces, all those spaces that are so much needed by the people around the country in the,

through these very cold winter months unless you go thank you very much indeed for the trans tortoise. thank you. thank you. less return to the patriot missiles out of the latest foreign support offered to ukraine. akila institutes, ukraine to support track records, the value of support from foreign governments. it shows that european union is the biggest donor in total, giving almost $55000000000.00 to ukraine. to date, the blog posted its commitments this month, given the major role which will place in european security as a single nation. the u. s. government has committed to providing most funding for arms, weapons, and other equipment by far in total, washington has provided about $50700000000.00 just over $24000000000.00 of that amount is for military funding. that figure does not include the patriot missiles while 10500000000 is for humanitarian needs. a 2nd, right country, the united kingdom has pledged to follow that just over $7500000000.00 in the

canada is the 3rd rank country giving about $4000000000.00. i. lona, lisco is a for me you create an m p. along the base consultant. she's with us here in the studio, just on, on the, on the patriot missile system. as alan fisher was saying, they will need time to train people. how quickly do you think that this equipment will make a difference to the way things are going on the ground? it certainly takes them training to use patriot systems. i think it takes about several months to get people up to speed up with a very complex hardware. but according to my knowledge and speaking to british defense experts and military here who were training ukrainian soldiers on the ground in the u. k. they were saying that some things that take other soldiers up to 3 models take ukrainians only 3 weeks. they're very determined, very hard working and learn very quickly because obviously they want to get back home as quickly as possible to defend their country. so katie, that the motivation is that just to go back to the, to the,

to symbolism of the visit job on, in or in washington with joe biden. is there any, obviously the advantage to, in, in terms of image what the says, but also there are presumably political risks in that it could perhaps play into the hands of putins line that this is a war essentially against the westwood. and i mean that's, that's along he's been taking the start, isn't it? it is the line that he's been taken from the start, but i think he's exhausted that line tremendously. and there is no more fear. and we definitely shouldn't given to that your anymore that there is hand of the west or the specifically instigating this for. because we've seen from the very start that the war was started by putting himself in 2014, and he 1st invaded crimea and annex at the south and east of the country. and it's ongoing, it's not going to depends on whether the u. s. will support ukraine or not, but the existence of the country and the lives of hundreds and thousands of ukrainians will certainly depend on that help. and how concerned it should ukraine

be with this lessons denouncement from president breach in saying that he would increase the size of the armed forces by 30 percent. i think that was planned from the very beginning of the 2nd. and the 3rd waves of mobilization, they are planning to go up to as high as over a 1000000 of russian conscripts getting ready to fight the war and ukraine. we're not sure how that's going to play out, because we don't know how far the russian population will go in taking this and sacrificing their lives. basically for nothing. we're ready for rush people to stand up. that is probably not very likely in the short term, but ukraine is right. it's a fight. we are training our soldiers. we're getting all the support from the west military, financially wise intelligence wise. and i think we're ready to send up to them. and just to go back to something with the stratford elite alluded to the report that ukrainian officials been working on this theory that rushers integrated to new front in january. what are you hearing from your sources about how likely that is

and how much pressure that will put the ukrainian forces under where suddenly getting prepared for the new wave of war in spring and as soon possibly as late winter january, as you rightly say, there is going to be a reparation on the russian side. they're getting reinforcement from iran. they're going through the 2nd stage of mobilization. so certainly they will try to push back and retake the territories that ukraine is now fighting off a hot give in the north tips on in the south. they certainly don't want to miss crimea and occupied eastern regions of ukraine. so i'm sure we will be seeing rush and making its effort because put in survival in his position, and perhaps even physical survival depends of his success in the war of ukraine. but as i've said, ukraine is right. it's take that fine. i don't know if the school thank you very much. did her interest? as we mentioned, to washington prepared to welcome zalinski russian president vladimir putin

approved a proposal to increase the strength of the armed forces by 30 percent in defense officials. on wednesday, putin insisted there no financial limits on what his government would provide to the elementary a crime in says there is no chance of peace talks with ukraine as long as western countries continue to supply it with arms as what we believe what a room is you and you were, we was murdered in our army and military capabilities are increasing the yeah, constantly, every day. this process will make no mistake, luna, be sped up. we didn't out there is, i mean, doug army has more on the criminal reaction to president says, case visit to the us. i'm for lucky i kind of to not girdled for la ontario coll must go, reacted to the announcement with a statement from the kremlin spokesperson. he said, russia is not expecting any positive results from valencia's visit to the united states yet. i also added that providing more weapons to ukraine will prolong the conflict a more solid, the spokesperson also out of the rushes position remains the same. yeah, still condemning the united nation support to ukraine,

particularly with weapons which might result in a direct confrontation with moscow. america regarding romeo bruton meeting with leaders and commander of the defense ministry. he focused on the so called special operation in ukraine, and they discussed the results of the conflict b, r. c law. put an accused nato. and the united states, in particular, of trying to weaken russia through the prolonged conflict in ukraine, here or am why wouldn't said moscow will do its best to increase its military capability. i love you, couldn't also added moscow was ready with nuclear matter in order to maintain the stability of russia. when you had an auditor including peruse president dina blew out, it announces a cabinet re shuffle as the country faces ongoing protests. c thousands of ambulance staff in the u. k. strike overpay with the armed forces called in to help. ah,

here's how it's looking across europe in africa on thursday. nice to see will start in iberia. the winds off the atlantic picking up a bit of moisture dumping it out over this area. just a few showers northern portugal, the northwest to spain. nothing like we've seen over the last little bit some bigger downpours though in the forecasts west.