invasion of ukraine. as russia begins new military exercises in the region, the prime minister says this is the biggest security crisis europe has faced for decades. the stakes are very high and this is a very dangerous moment. and at stake are the rules that protect every nation — every nation — big and small. and the foreign secretary is in moscow, where she's been telling the russian government it must pull back its troops if it's serious about diplomacy. we'll be reporting from moscow, kyiv and westminster. meanwhile, at home borisjohnson

under new pressure over alleged downing street parties, with scathing criticism from a former conservative prime minister. day after day, the public was asked to believe the unbelievable. ministers were sent out to defend the indefensible. calls for millions of draughty british homes to be better insulated to help the fight against climate change. the mystery of why team figure skating medals have still not been awarded at the winter olympics, amid reports of a failed drugs test. and wayne rooney tells the bbc about his darkest fears when he was struggling with alcohol. it could have been drink—driving, which i've done., you know, killing someone. you could kill yourself. and that's a bad place to be. and coming up on the bbc news channel, curling takes centre stage once again for team gb at the winter olympics, with the men's team starting their round robin matches

with a win over italy. good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. the prime minister is stepping up british diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis over ukraine, amid continuing fears of a russian invasion. more than 100,000 russian troops are massed at the border. this morning, borisjohnson met the secretary general of nato, which russia wants to stop ukraine from joining. mrjohnson has warned the crisis is entering it's "most dangerous moment". he said the uk is putting a thousand troops on standby in case of a humanitarian crisis. in a moment we'll report from moscow, where the foreign secretary is holding talks.

but first, our political correspondent chris mason. the talk in ukraine is of possible invasion, and with it a march towards the prospects of a winter war in eastern europe. today we are seeing british diplomacy on both sides. the foreign secretary in moscow, the prime minister at the headquarters of the nato military alliance in brussels. this is probably the most dangerous moment, i would say, in the course of the next few days, in what is the biggest security crisis that europe has faced for decades. we've got to get it right, and i think that the combination of sanctions and military resolve, plus diplomacy, is what is in order. russia has amassed well over 100,000 troops,

with heavy equipment, missiles and command and control and medical units. we are closely monitoring russia's deployment in belarus which is the biggest since the end of the cold war. looking at the geography of the region really helps us to understand what is going on here. to ukraine's east, russia. to ukraine's west, members of nato. as well as geography there is history too, and lots of it. not least russia invading crimea in ukraine eight years ago. this is a dangerous moment for european security. the number of russian forces is going up. the warning time for a possible attack is going down. nato is not a threat to russia but we must be prepared for the worst.

the central point of tension is russia cannot stomach the idea of ukraine everjoining nato. but ukraine argues it is a sovereign country, it should have the right to choose. given that neither of these things are likely to change anytime soon, it's difficult to how either side can climb down. problems at home for the prime minister, problems are too. next stop, poland, as the diplomacy continues. chris mason, bbc news. meanwhile, the foreign secretary liz truss is in moscow for talks with her russian counterpart sergei lavrov. she's warned the kremlin that an invasion of ukraine would be disastrous. but russian troops are keeping up the pressure, and today they're starting ten days of military exercises with their close ally belarus, which has a border with ukraine. from moscow, caroline davies. clearing snow in moscow can be a thankless task. as soon as you're making progress,

a new flurry lands. today's meeting between the uk and russia was an icy affair. liz truss' warnings about harsh sanctions if russia were to take action in ukraine, were not well received. translation: i'm honestly - disappointed that our conversation turned out like the mute talking to the deaf. it seems like we are listening to each other but not hearing each other. at the very least, our very detailed clarifications on the whole fell upon deaf ears. well, first of all, i certainly wasn't mute in our discussions earlier. i put forward the uk's point of view on the current situation, and the fact that as well as seeking to deter russia from an invasion into ukraine, we are also very resolute in pursuing the diplomatic path. explosion. this is what worries the west. russia is flexing its military muscle with joint drills in belarus.

nato is concerned about russia building up more troops along its border with ukraine. russia wants guarantees that nato, which it sees as a threat, will not expand. meanwhile, the uk and the us have committed to sending more troops to nato countries to protect its eastern flank. but russia still insists that it is not the aggressor. today the head of russia's secret service chaired a discussion about russian history, but he also has an eye on the current situation in europe. translation: russia has never had and doesn't have any aggressive - plans towards the ukraine. we saw these dangerous lies spread from the other shore of the atlantic and these lies have been picked up in a number of western capitals. this disinformation is dangerous. first of all for ukraine and its citizens as well as for european stability and security. building trust while building troops is difficult to do. it is seen as a positive sign that both sides are still talking but after many weeks, many meetings and many press

conferences, it can feel like they are going over old ground with still no sign of resolution. more western politicians will land in moscow over the next week. a phrase and conversation are still better than all—out war. caroline davies, bbc news, moscow. our diplomatic correspondent paul adams is in kyiv. lots of diplomacy at the moment. do people in ukraine feel it will make a difference and russia will be persuaded to pull back? i a difference and russia will be persuaded to pull back? i think it is too early _ persuaded to pull back? i think it is too early to — persuaded to pull back? i think it is too early to tell. _ persuaded to pull back? i think it is too early to tell. the _ persuaded to pull back? i think it is too early to tell. the british i is too early to tell. the british and american officials argue still that the moment of maximum danger is approaching. they see no sign out all of a russian de—escalation. if anything, they say they are seeing the opposite. 30,000 russian troops in belarus to the north of here. six russian warships passing into the north sea. a sense of things ramping

up, not down. nato is deploying troops and assets of its own. as jens stoltenberg said this morning, russian aggression will result in more nato aggression in the east, not less. correct my presence. he said nato should think of long term changes to its present in these. he is trying to give what he says is an opportunity to fill moscow's bandwidth, to give russia things to think about. i think that is what the british sanctions on russia, the tougher sanctions that are coming into force today, also designed to achieve. but if there is this sense now that we are also deep into a diplomatic process that could in putting off the moment of danger. if those russian exercises in belarus and in ten days' time, and

the troops and equipment to go home, that mightjust be seen as the first flickering sign that this moment of maximum danger is passing. what an awful lot of other stuff has to happen in the meantime. and ten days does feel right now like a rather long time. does feel right now like a rather long time-— does feel right now like a rather lonu time. ., �* ., , , ., ~' long time. pauladams in kyiv. thank ou. well, while borisjohnson is abroad, dealing with the crisis in ukraine, here at home the former conservative prime minister sirjohn major has said mrjohnson and his officials broke lockdown laws over downing street parties. sirjohn says they made brazen excuses for their behaviour, and asked the public to believe the unbelievable. sirjohn's damning comments come as police investigate a total of 12 separate gatherings. let's speak to our political correspondentjonathan blake. this sort of criticism is the last thing borisjohnson wants when he's on the world stage trying to deal with the crisis in ukraine? yes, although this is hardly the first time — yes, although this is hardly the first time sirjohn major has been openly— first time sirjohn major has been openly critical of boris johnson and

his government. he has done so several— his government. he has done so several times in the past. while the two men _ several times in the past. while the two men are members of the same party, _ two men are members of the same party, they— two men are members of the same party, they are is perhaps as far apart— party, they are is perhaps as far apart in— party, they are is perhaps as far apart in style and substance as it is possible — apart in style and substance as it is possible to be. this is was a speech— is possible to be. this is was a speech about the state of democracy in people's— speech about the state of democracy in people's faith in it globally. nevertheless there was some striking new criticism for boris johnson in lhero _ new criticism for boris johnson in lhero as — new criticism for boris johnson in there. as you say, in the context of allegations — there. as you say, in the context of allegations of parties in whitehall during _ allegations of parties in whitehall during lockdown, sirjohn major echoed — during lockdown, sirjohn major echoed labour's phrase, saying the notion— echoed labour's phrase, saying the notion there is one rule for the government and one rule for everybody else is politically deadly and he _ everybody else is politically deadly and he said it had hit home. he made this specific— and he said it had hit home. he made this specific accusation. at number ten, the prime minister and officials broke lockdown laws. brazen excuses were dreamed up. day after day, the public was asked to believe the unbelievable. ministers were sent out to defend the indefensible, making themselves look gullible

or foolish as they did so. asked about that afterwards, sir john major appeared to backtrack slightly, — john major appeared to backtrack slightly, saying there was little doubt — slightly, saying there was little doubt laws had been broken, but that it would _ doubt laws had been broken, but that it would he _ doubt laws had been broken, but that it would be unwise and unfair on him tojudge _ it would be unwise and unfair on him tojudge at _ it would be unwise and unfair on him tojudge at this point before the police _ tojudge at this point before the police investigation had concluded. and while — police investigation had concluded. and while sirjohn major wanted today— and while sirjohn major wanted today to — and while sirjohn major wanted today to be about questioning people's faith in democracy, and those _ people's faith in democracy, and those words will carry weight, the reality— those words will carry weight, the reality is— those words will carry weight, the reality is it — those words will carry weight, the reality is it will be seen as the latest — reality is it will be seen as the latest in — reality is it will be seen as the latest in a _ reality is it will be seen as the latest in a long line of criticism from _ latest in a long line of criticism from a — latest in a long line of criticism from a former prime minister to a current— from a former prime minister to a current one. — from a former prime minister to a current one, which can at times appear— current one, which can at times appear pretty personal. jonathan blake, thank you. many of the sickest patients are facing long waits for a bed when they're admitted to hospital, according to new nhs figures for england. one in three of those who went to a&e and needed to be moved onto a hospital ward faced waits of more than four hours — the highest on record. 16,000 people injanuary

waited more than 12 hours. the government say they have provided 5.4 billion pounds to the nhs over the winter period to help tackle growing pressures. our health correspondent jim reed reports. angela suffers from a chronic condition and is waiting for an operation. last month she was in pain and her gp told her to call an ambulance. when we got to the hospital, i was sitting back, i had my legs up and i was on gas and air, because i had had a lot of pain at that point. the paramedics said we are going to be in for a bit of a wait. there was a queue of ambulances ahead of us — a long queue. he went out to go and check how many there were and they were probably about 18 ambulances. in the end, angela said she had to wait in two different ambulances for five hours. i was in here all night, there was no heating, i was freezing cold. she spent the night in a side room off a&e before being transferred to a bed on a ward

to the next morning. she has nothing but praise for the nhs staff involved but describes the situation as chaotic. it's really opened my eyes to the pressures that they are under and how overwhelmed they are, because i've heard loads of stories, people always talk about these things and you don't really believe it or you think it's only in the big hospitals. but this is happening everywhere. new figures show the pressure facing hospitals in england. last week a fit of ambulances had to queue for at least 30 minutes before discharging their patients. the number of people who then had to wait to be moved on to a hospital ward has hit a record high. last month, 120,000 patients were held in a&e for four hours before the transfer with more than 16,000 waiting for more than 12 hours. these figures represent tremendous pressures throughout the whole system, from primary care and ambulance services to the emergency department patients, to our general wards and to patients then being discharged

back to the community. and in each of these fields, colleagues are struggling to give time and high quality care to patients. the nhs as it has been dealing with record numbers of 999 calls at the same time as high levels of staff sickness caused by covid. hospitals in wales, scotland and northern ireland have all been facing similar pressures as this winter wave of the pandemic passes and more people seek treatment. jim reed, bbc news. our health correspondent nick triggle is here. the nhs still clearly under real pressure. are there concerns about the government's statement yesterday, that all covid restrictions in england should end very soon, and a month early? a lot of the experts have been expressing concern and surprise at the move. one called it either brave or stupid. the theory as it could push up infections. the number of

infections are still very high, the government surveillance programme estimated one and 19 people in england was positive last week although hospital cases are still falling. one of the theatres it could leave people feeling under pressure to return to work before they have recovered both one of the fears. we don't know what it means the sick pay and isolation payments some people are entitled to. there are others who say we can overestimate the impact that government rules have. the government rules have. the government didn't place any rules on mixing at christmas and the numbers of contacts people were having was actually very low, similar to levels in the first lockdown. it's not like the testing system picked up all the infections, it's only picking up half the cases so not everyone is being told to formally isolate. it's why some experts say it might not have that big an impact on infections. it was largely unenforceable so they think people

following the rules will still following the rules will still follow the guidance that we expect to be issued when the move does happen. to be issued when the move does ha en. . ~' ,. to be issued when the move does hauen. . ~' , to be issued when the move does hauen. . ~ , . the first minister of wales, mark drakeford, has tested positive for coronavirus and is self—isolating. the news comes a day before he was due to announce his latest review of covid legislation. economy minister vaughan gething will now take friday's press conference, with the latest guidance on restrictions in wales. the prince of wales has tested positive for covid—19 and is now self—isolating. clarence house says the prince received the positive result this morning. let's speak to our royal correspondent nick witchell. what more do we know? not an awful lot to add. what more do we know? not an awful lot to add- he — what more do we know? not an awful lot to add. he tested _ what more do we know? not an awful lot to add. he tested positive - what more do we know? not an awful lot to add. he tested positive in - what more do we know? not an awful lot to add. he tested positive in a - lot to add. he tested positive in a routine test this morning. he is now

self—isolating. clarence house won't say how he is, this is a private matter and patient confidentiality and all of that but i think we can assume he's coping with it. he is triple vaccinated, he had his booster, he cancelled a visit to winchester that he was due to make this morning. he was last night at a function at the british museum, a reception for the british asian trust. what isn't clear is when he last saw the queen. she returned from sandringham to windsor on monday and the prince of wales was taking part in an investor check at windsor on tuesday but it's not clear whether they met on that occasion. he had covid for the first time shortly after the pandemic started back in march 2020 and he made a full recovery from that. thank you. the time is 1.18. our top story this lunchtime. a new diplomatic effort to avoid conflict in ukraine as borisjohnson says this is the biggest security

crisis europe has faced in decades. and jamaica's first ever olympic competitor in alpine skiing. coming up on the bbc news channel, ireland will be without captain johnny sexton for their six nations match against france in paris on saturday. after initially declaring himself fit, the fly—half has been ruled out with a hamstring injury. wayne rooney has said he could have either died or killed someone as a result of his drinking problems. the former manchester united footballer, who's now manager of derby county, has also revealed that when he was a player, he felt he had to keep his struggles with alcohol and mental health a secret. he's been talking to bbc breakfast�*s sally nugent. wayne, the film is really

really, very, very honest. why did you decide to do it and why now? i just felt it was an opportunity for people to see me, to see the real me. the good moments, the bad moments, which, of course, have been there as well, and then for people to judge me on knowing a bit more about me, which i feel is more fair. we've always grew up quicker than what we were meant to, really, ithink. coleen is such a big part of the film. you met as children, were married really very, very young, and what comes across in the whole of the film is that you have this tremendous partnership. how important has she been in the last 20 years? we have a good relationship. we're friends, obviously, as well. and there is a good balance to the relationship, especially now, to how we are as parents

with the four children. and there's been difficult moments we've had, of course, which obviously has come through me, the mistakes i've made, and that i speak about that in the documentary as well. i forgive him. but, yeah, but it wasn't acceptable. but no, it's not something that, you know, if it come up, we talk about it, like we're talking about it now. i haven't got the anger that i did at the time. coleen knows there's been influences, in terms of, why i've made mistakes, in terms of... i don't mean people, i mean alcohol. you know, the dressing rooms that you've been in, particularly that manchester united dressing room, was there never a time when anyone put their arm around you and said, "i can help" ? no. ten, 15 years ago, you couldn't... i couldn't go into the dressing room and say "i'm struggling, i'm struggling with alcohol, i'm struggling mental health—wise". i couldn't do that.

and when you say you were struggling, what was the darkest time? what was your fear at that point? probably death. i think, you know, as i said before, you make mistakes, which i did, and that could have been... ..girls, it could have been drink—driving, which i have done, it could have been, you know, killing someone. you could kill yourself. erm, and that's a bad place to be. so i knew i needed help, i knew i had to get that help, in orderfor... ..to save myself, but also to save my family. wayne, thanks. thank you. the duke of cambridge is visiting the uae in his first major overseas tour since 2019. he's been visiting the largest port in the middle east, jebel ali, near dubai. he's there to learn about efforts in the region to tackle

the illegal wildlife trade — including new technologies being used. 19 million homes in the uk are in need of better insulation — with two in every three leaking heat, according to the climate change committee. it says the government must do better — and that insulation is the way out of the current energy crisis. the uk is believed to have some of the oldest and draughtiest housing stock in europe. our climate editor justin rowlatt reports. so, we've got lots of heat coming out of this window here, and under this window upstairs we've probably got a radiator here. that's money coming through your wall. we are hunting for draughty homes using this thermal camera, and it's easy pickings here in manchester. virtually every home has insulation issues. and here is the difference insulation can make. how would you rate this house?

this house is definitely losing less heat, especially from the weak spots spots that we identified on the other houses. but just look what it took to give the house an insulation makeover. so, there is insulation inside the room here, the windows are double glazed and the space under the floor is insulated too. up here at the top of the house, the entire roof area has been insulated as well. the walls used to look like this, bare brick. but they've put in this wood fibre insulation, external insulation, and the windows are double glazed. in monetary terms it's saved 40% of our gas on the heating and it made a really big difference to the comfort of the house as well. but here's the rub, even at current energy prices it will still take at least 20 years to cover the 36 grand it cost. down in london, it's this man'sjob to mark the government's homework on climate.

so, how is it doing? well, it's a d. could do much better, i think. so, that is something for the government to think about. i think the government policy on insulation has been very, very ineffective. it really is very poor. we need something that dramatically changes the number of installations of installations that we do today. so, this year will be in the tens of thousands of installations. we really need to scale that up to something like a year. and to do that quickly over the next four or five years. but if it's hard for middle—class homeowners to afford insulation, it's even tougher for local authorities like blackpool. energy efficient homes are popular with tenants, though. perfect. she laughs. but blackpool spent £33,000 insulating jean's one—bedroom flat. the council reckons it would cost some £125 million to bring all blackpool's social housing up to this standard. it's not financially viable to do it on scale, really. to get to be carbon neutral, there is a big bill to that, and we need support with it.

so, what does britain's climate chief think the government should do? we know that we need a sharper incentive from most people to make these investments in improving the energy efficiency of the home that they live in. for most people, the payback for that will be several years. so the government really does need to step in. so when you ask why so few homes in britain are well insulated, here is the answer. it's just so expensive. without some help, most of us will find it tough to get it done. justin rowlatt, bbc news, blackpool. at the winter olympics in beijing, mystery surrounds the cancellation of the medal ceremony for team figure skating amid reports in the russian press that 15—year—old russian star kamila valieva has tested positive for a banned substance. our sports correspondent laura scott is in beijing.

this is fast becoming the biggest story at the beijing winter olympics. on monday that she needs prodigy kamila valieva made olympic history when she landed two quadruplejumps helping history when she landed two quadruple jumps helping the history when she landed two quadruplejumps helping the russian olympic committee to win gold in the figure skating team event. at the medals are yet to be handed out, leading to intense media speculation about the possible causes to the delay. there are unconfirmed reports in the russian media that 15—year—old kamila valieva has tested positive for a banned substance. the ioc and other authorities are remaining tight—lipped on the subject, saying it is the subject of an active legal case and they can't be drawn into speculation. the fact that valieva is under the age of 16 means if there was an anti—doping rule violation she would be afforded more protection than adults but also her coaches and entourage would be automatically investigated for any potential involvement they might have had. the implications of this

potentially huge. valieva is the favourite in the women's individual event which starts on tuesday. but it raises wider questions about whether russian athletes should be competing at all given that russia is still setting sanctions for a state—sponsored programme. is still setting sanctions for a state-sponsored programme. thank ou. now, imagine competing at the winter olympics — having only started skiing at the age of 32. well, that's what alpine skier benjamin alexander will do at the weekend — when he becomes jamaica's first ever olympic competitor in the sport. andy swiss has been talking to him in beijing. from total novice to olympic skier, the jamaican trailblazer on a quite remarkablejourney. benjamin alexander grew up in northamptonshire, before forging a career as a globetrotting dj. skiing wasn't something even tried, he told me, until the age of — well, just listen. my first lesson out in whistler

in february of 2016, i was aged 32. so about 30 years behind a lot of my competitors. i fell 27 times on the first run, where i went without an instructor. but i went to the olympics in 2018 as a spectator and noticed that there were only three jamaicans in representation, for a country that is a powerhouse in the summer games. and i guess a kernel of an idea was formed. his plan? to qualify for beijing. ridiculous, surely. but despite having no full—time coach, his fearless technique has taken them into the giant slalom. he may not challenge for the medals, but as one of the few athletes of colour in his sport, he hopes to inspire others. what are your kind of hopes about what you can achieve at these olympic? i'm likely to be 13th, 35 seconds behind the winner. so what i'm really hopeful, and what i'm i really want this project to show, that if someone can go from zero to an olympian in six years, then people should be getting their kids onto skis much

earlier, from smaller nations, from smaller countries, and get more countries at the olympics. what do you hope your story can show people about what is possible? anything is possible. but honestly, i believe that if you can start something at the age of 32, where everyone believes it's a thing you have to do from a very young age, and i can get to where i've gotten to, then people should apply that to anything in their life. so, perseverance is really the motto of this story. jamaica! alexander has already led the way here, as one of jamaica's flag bearers. he'll now carry the hopes of aspiring skiers everywhere. proof that it's never too late. andy swiss, bbc news, beijing. never too late indeed. time for a look at the weather. here's stav da naos. good afternoon. the weather is slowly coming down as high pressure builds. we've got an area of low pressure affecting the north of the

uk