this is bbc news, i'm rebecca jones. the headlines at 5pm... the armed forces minister warns the uk will not be able to fly british nationals out of ukraine if russia invades, and says russia's in a position where it could attack "at no notice". this is re—escalating in a way that is really quite terrifying. this is the largest concentration of troops on the european continent in 70 years. —— this risks escalating. us presidentjoe biden speaks to russian president putin, as the ukrainian president says warnings of a russian attack are creating "panic". the best friend for enemies — that is panic in our country. and all this information, that helps only for panic. it doesn't help us. borisjohnson receives a legal questionnaire from police

investigating lockdown parties at downing street and whitehall. in paris, french police fire tear gas at demonstrators — it's after a convoy carrying protesters against coronavirus restrictions made it into the capital. doctors say thousands more lives could be saved by paying attention to earlier symptoms of heart attacks. a new campaign to spot the signs is launched by nhs england. an emotional trip home for chagos islanders. exiled by britain 50 years ago, their return highlighting the territorial dispute between mauritius and the uk.

hello, and welcome to bbc news. the armed forces minister, james heappey, says britain's military will not be able to fly uk nationals out of ukraine as it did in afghanistan. the united states has warned a russian invasion could come "at any time". moscow has repeatedly denied planning to invade. a number of countries including the uk and the us have called for their citizens to leave ukraine immediately. the us has told its non—emergency staff at its embassy in kyiv to leave and reportedly withdrawn nearly all remaining soldiers. russia has confirmed that it has reduced the number of staff at its embassy in kyiv as more diplomatic efforts are made to prevent war in ukraine. this afternoon, french president emmanuel macron and russia's vladimir putin have re—iterated their desire to maintain dialogue president biden has been speaking to his russian counterpart vladimir putin about the crisis. paul adams reports.

how best to leave? stuart mackenzie is looking for flights with his sons, robert and stuart. after 28 years of life here, he can't quite believe it. you have this moment of, is it real? this is just crazy. just crazy. it is a peaceful country. in this day and age, you're talking about tanks and bombs coming in, it's just crazy. i don't understand it. you're in europe! there's a lot to think about, what to do with stuart's elderly mother—in—law, his brother's family, also here, and his 20 local employees. so, plan a is we are looking at flights now immediately. we are having a look at that. if there are flights available for the family, then that is a good option for us, that gets us out within hours. if that is not the case, then plan b is taking the car and trying to get to the border. i'm praying that we're not too late.

at the british embassy, signs of urgency and departure. no—one here willing to talk. the foreign office says it is not in a position to help british citizens with their plans. while british and otherforeign nationals figure out how best to leave ukraine, embassies here in kyiv are beginning to shut down. at the british embassy, the ambassador tweeted this morning, "i am staying in kyiv and continue to work there with a core team." russia's war games in belarus are now well under way. this, american officials warn, is how an assault on ukraine could begin. moscow still says it has no plans to invade but there is a lot the russians can do without ever setting foot inside ukraine. the reason you've seen such a shift in messaging from western governments to their citizens in ukraine in the last 2a hours is that the russian troop build—up has now reached such a point that with no notice, it is possible that an attack could be launched. it could come from any direction, including the black sea,

where more than 30 russian ships are also conducting drills. frantic diplomatic efforts continue with the growing sense that these are critical days. pauladams, bbc news, kyiv. ukraine's president zelensky has warned that the west's continued suggestion that russia may be preparing to invade is not helping the people of his country. he said ukraine had lived with the threat since 2014, and is prepared for any such eventuality — and inciting panic was only serving russian interests. we have to be ready each day. it began not yesterday, it began in 2014, so we are ready. i have to analyse all the information which we have. we have a lot of information because we are on these borders. it's our borders, it's our territory, you know? i have to speak with our people, like, you know, like the president,

and say the people's truth, and the truth is we have different information. and, now, the best friend for enemies — that is panic in our country. all this information, it helps only for panic, it doesn't help us. our correspondent fergal keane is in kyiv, and he's been speaking to ukrainians who have been out in the city protesting, to get their thoughts on the situation. the event was organised by a right—wing nationalist group, along with an anti—zelensky group, but there were people all political spectrums. let's hear what they had to say. this is the first real manifestation we've had of public feeling since the anxiety of a possible russian invasion has increased over the last 2a hours. and what you can see around me here is people of all ages

and seemingly from all sides, all shades of political opinion coming out onto the streets here in a very important place, in terms of ukraine's progress to democracy. people saying they will resist any russian intervention. why have you come here? the main reason is to show the unity of the people before the threat of russian occupation. this is the main reason — that we are all united... because different people, different political orientations, different political parties — but today, we are altogether because we have a threat of russian invasion. -- all —— all together. and that's why we are showing to each other and the whole world that we are ready

to fight, we are ready to defend our motherland, our country. and that's the reason, actually. yeah, i'm here because i want to show that i'm not terrified by the threats. we are ready to oppose putin, or anyone who wants to invade our country even more, because you know that some regions already don't belong to us. so we are ready to fight with any means that we have. i didn't go into some training, but i will fight with anything i will have in my hands, and i will do anything my country asks me to do. medicine, shooting, anything. i love my country, i'm not afraid. this is quite a strong moment for you. this is quite a strong moment for ou. ~ this is quite a strong moment for 0“. ~ " ., ., , this is quite a strong moment for ou. ~ ~ . ., , ., , this is quite a strong moment for ou. a, ., i, ., you. we ukrainians are very strong. so i don't advise _ you. we ukrainians are very strong. so i don't advise anyone _ you. we ukrainians are very strong. so i don't advise anyone invade - so i don't advise anyone invade our country _

so i don't advise anyone invade our count . ~ ., ., , country. word on the street in the caital, country. word on the street in the capital. kyiv- _ let's speak to the conservative mp tobias ellwood — he's the chair of the house of commons defence select committee. welcome to bbc news, good to have you with us. the us has warned russia could invade ukraine at any time — in your view, how imminent is an invasion? i time - in your view, how imminent is an invasion?— an invasion? i think it's very likel , an invasion? i think it's very likely. it's — an invasion? i think it's very likely, it's something - an invasion? i think it's very likely, it's something i've i an invasion? i think it's very i likely, it's something i've been saying for some time. i've also been saying for some time. i've also been saying that our world is getting more dangerous, not less. we need to increase our defence budget, and now we've seen the biggest threat to european security for decades. well done to the uk, we've stepped in more than other nato countries have, but the bar was incredibly low. there was no appetite to really assist our ukrainian friends, and only now is the penny dropping of the huge applications to pan—european security, and prudent�*s wider objectives. we are not in control of events and we haven't been for some time. there is no been

single western year leader to unite, no appetite to seriously alter prudent�*s behaviour. so yes, an invasion is imminent. prudent's behaviour. so yes, an invasion is imminent.— prudent's behaviour. so yes, an invasion is imminent. what you make ofthe invasion is imminent. what you make of the rhetoric? _ invasion is imminent. what you make of the rhetoric? president _ invasion is imminent. what you make of the rhetoric? president zielinski i of the rhetoric? president zielinski says it's causing panic and not helping the people of ukraine. could it be making things worse? i helping the people of ukraine. could it be making things worse?— it be making things worse? i don't know what the _ it be making things worse? i don't know what the rhetoric _ it be making things worse? i don't know what the rhetoric you're - know what the rhetoric you're directing at me, i know zelinski and the ambassador here have requested nato support, something that we ruled out many months ago. we actually told them what we are not going to do — that is not a good strategy. we should be putting a nato division in there and setting up nato division in there and setting up to a putin, that is the language that he understands dash standing up to it putin. perhaps we've become a little risk—averse and timid after afghanistan, and remove tanks around ukraine but not in it. we are now

seeing the consequent as of that — we appreciate we are fitting into a putin's strategy, he wants to be an important player on the world stage, he's still angry about the demise of the soviet union. we are now giving him the spotlight he craves. we are also pivoting his country towards china in the long term, that's the calculation he's made. the idea that we now impose sanctions after an invasion will help him persuade his own people that it's time to pivot away from the west towards the east. that's interesting, so you don't think sanctions will deter him in any way? think sanctions will deter him in an wa ? , ., �* think sanctions will deter him in anwa? any way? they won't, because he will then retaliate _ any way? they won't, because he will then retaliate with _ any way? they won't, because he will then retaliate with oil— any way? they won't, because he will then retaliate with oil and _ any way? they won't, because he will then retaliate with oil and gas - then retaliate with oil and gas issues there. also we will see that sanctions will harm the other countries that trade with russia as well. we have very little leverage here whatsoever — and that's perhaps a concern, what do we have on the table that can actually alter a putin's behaviour? there isn't the

power in the right place, the collective resolve to stand up to russia. we've had tactical responses but no strategic coordination. i just wanted to finally ask you about matters closer to home — i think i'm right that you've already submitted a letter of no confidence in the prime minister, but i suppose given how perilous the international situation is, that you were outlining, is it the right time for a change of leadership?- a change of leadership? we've actually committed _ a change of leadership? we've actually committed ourselves. a change of leadership? we've. actually committed ourselves to limit, to cap how much we will help ukraine. we are benching... nato has decided they will not stand up to support ukraine. so in fact, our international policy — it's the absence of recognising the bigger picture, which i've spelled out, is the reason i've lost faith in the ability of number ten to understand and have the wider bandwidth to be

able to lead on the international stage. we need to rekindle that ability urgently. this won't stop, what russia does, it's alliance with china — we are in for a bumpy decade and we need to wake up. china - we are in for a bumpy decade and we need to wake up.— and we need to wake up. tobias ellwood, really _ and we need to wake up. tobias ellwood, really good _ and we need to wake up. tobias ellwood, really good to - and we need to wake up. tobias ellwood, really good to have - and we need to wake up. tobias| ellwood, really good to have you with us, thank you. the prime minister has received a questionnaire from the metropolitan police, as part of the inquiry into parties at downing street and whitehall during the covid lockdowns. number ten said borisjohnson would "respond as required". police are sending the questionnaires by email to more than 50 people. the met said the questionnaires will ask what happened and "must be answered truthfully". our political correspondent matt cole explained the implications of the questionnaires for number ten. they all went out yesterday, we understand, to at least 50 people. and those who have received them have now seven days to fill them in and get them back to the police as part of the operation, the investigation that is looking into a series of parties or events,

12 in total, between may 2020 and april 2021, both in downing street and in some locations around whitehall. now, those documents have to be returned within seven days so the clock is ticking, and once they have been filled in, the police will look at them. what they are trying to establish from these is why people were at events, what the reason or purpose for being at the event was. just receiving them doesn't mean someone will end up with a fixed penalty notice or be found guilty of something. however, as you said there, they do have to be truthful in their response, so there could be some sort of serious explaining being done by people putting pen to paper over the course of the week. do we know anything about what the questions are in this questionnaire? i spoke to the metropolitan police about this earlier and for operational reasons, they are not going into it. i was inquiring, as they were 12 events, whether everyone was going to get the same

questionnaire or whether it would be tailored to each individual recipient. the met police say that for operational reasons they aren't going to get into that. of course, it is a serious business, the prime minister is being asked, as are others, but the prime minister in particular, is being asked questions in a police investigation by the police. some of his supporters say that even if he gets a fixed penalty notice, he can still be the prime minister but others say his position would be absolutely untenable. i think a lot of tory mps particularly who might be able to decide his fate if they choose to put letters in calling for a vote of no—confidence, many of those are waiting for the outcome of this investigation and the subsequent full release of the sue gray report, the senior civil servant who has looked into this but who has only been able to release a little bit of her findings so far because of this police investigation. we are, i think, waiting, but we will probably have to wait a little longer than when the seven days is up because that is just when the police get it back.

the police say their investigation is moving at pace but they have already told us they have had 300 photographs to look at and 500 pages of documents, too. so, these answers could generate more questions, they could generate more questions about other people who may not have been caught in the trawl being asked why they were there, too. in the short term, the clock is ticking and the questionnaires have to be back by sometime late on friday coming. just to pick you up on that point you were making about more questions, is it basically the questionnaire? does this rule out direct questioning by the police of people involved further down the line? no, no, it doesn't. because the police can continue to explore their investigation. i mean, this was, you know, explained to me as a not dissimilar point of law, the way the covid rules were structured, in terms of fixed penalty notices, as perhaps like when you get

a photograph through the post showing you have been speeding and there is a picture of you in your car, and so the process can follow similarly and further down the line, you can be asked questions, clarifications. whilst this is equivalent, in terms of answering questionnaires, of being questioned by the police under caution, it is obviously slightly different because people are not being called into interview rooms and being grilled by the police, having questions bombarded at them. but make no mistake, this is a serious piece of investigatory work by the police, it is potentially very damaging for the future of both the prime minister and potentially others in downing street, too, but i don't think this is necessarily going to be the end of the investigation guaranteed, look, we can look at these and move on — i think there is the potentialfor more. but, as i say, the police playing most of their cards quite close to their chest for what they call operational reasons. matt cole there. bringing you an

update that that telephone call between presidentjoe biden and his russian counterpart regarding the troop build—up around ukraine has now ended. we understand that they spoke for a little over an hour — one hour in two minutes, to be precise. we unfortunately at the moment don't have any information about the substance of that phone call, but they spoke for just over an hour, and it has now ended. we will of course bring you news on what they spoke about as soon as we get it. french police have fired tear gas on demonstrators protesting against covid restrictions in the capital, paris. there were scuffles between police and protesters near the champs elysees. earlier, police stopped hundreds of cars that arrived in convoys from across france to take part in protests. the demonstrators say they've been inspired by the blockade by truckers on the us—canada border. similar protests have been taking place in countries across europe, including austria, the netherlands and belgium.

0ur paris correspondent hugh schofield has more. it's much improved. there are still skirmishes of a very limited nature taking place at the top end of the champs—elysees. essentially hat happened was that some of these vehicles that were driven by protesters did get through the various roadblocks and checkpoints, up to the champs—elysees earlier in the afternoon. there they stopped and got out of their cars, and blocked the traffic. and that formed a, kind of, hub for protesters to come on foot and engage with the police who were out in force. that went on for 2—3 hours — scenes that were very reminiscent of the yellow vest protests of three years ago, if you remember when we saw again, protesters out in force. here, there was a lot of tear gas being fired to break up little groups of protesters

who were forming, but nothing terribly serious. but still a certain degree of tension. and then gradually, the police were able to bring in special vehicles to tow away — tow trucks to take away the vehicles that had been accumulating at the top of the champs—elysees. it's more or less over now, but there's still lots of people and plenty of police out there. i don't think there's any more tear gas being fired. and hugh, are the reasons for the protests the same as the ones in canada — namely against covid restrictions — or is it more than that? well, it is both — it's that and more than that. there's no doubt that many of the protesters feel inspired by what's happening in ottawa, on the us border there. they feel that here, as there, there are restrictions on their liberties, because of laws about covid passports and so on, and vaccination that the government has imposed. but, in my mind and most people's mind, there is a clear link between this

and the yellow vest movement. this is a kind of aftershock of the yellow vest movement, a lot of the same people are out there today with the same visceral anti—macron feeling, and the same calls, as well, for caps on fuel price rises and so on. so there's the bigger issue of covid, but also very french issues of anti—macronism and price rises. and are these demonstrations limited to paris, or do they go into the rest of the country? this is paris, this covid freedom convoy, so—called protests started off in towns all over france. but what the people have done is drive up to paris, and today was to be the big day where they gathered in paris. i think they envisaged something much more effective than this. we've seen some quite dramatic pictures at the champs—elysees — but in reality, the impact has been very small, life has gone

on here without any real change at all today, except for a couple of hours. so they haven't had any real great impact on daily life — they've made the news today, and i think tomorrow, most of them will go home, and some will continue to brussels. very busy afternoon in support. here's chetan. good afternoon. we start with a cracker in cardiff — dan biggar kicked 15 points in his 100th international match to ensure wales got their first win of this year's six nations as they edged out scotland by 20—17 at the principality. scotland, without a win in cardiff for 20 years, got the first try of the match, finn russell putting a looping pass out to the wing for darcy graham to score. wales' only try came just before the break, tomas francis grounding the ball after a great attacking maulfrom the welsh. that made it 14—14 before

a dan biggar drop goal won it for wales, who bounce back from their disappointing defeat to ireland last weekend. that's what you're seeing on the screen at the moment. but let's hear from the main man today for wales. for me, this is one of the best victories in welsh... cheering. i think that _ victories in welsh... cheering. i think that says _ victories in welsh... cheering. i think that says it _ victories in welsh... cheering. i think that says it all, - victories in welsh... cheering. i think that says it all, you - victories in welsh... cheering. | i think that says it all, you know, it's been a really difficult week, we've had to put up with a lot of flak and rightfully so. but they come back with this crowd to roll up our sleeves is one of the best victories. for us, we didn't get carried away with ourselves. last week we were really _ with ourselves. last week we were really good, and other parts we could've — really good, and other parts we could've improved even more so. so it's fairly— could've improved even more so. so it's fairly disappointing at the

minute, _ it's fairly disappointing at the minute, but i'm sure will be back and we _ minute, but i'm sure will be back and we look_ minute, but i'm sure will be back and we look to get better. it's a horrible — and we look to get better. it's a horrible feeling right now, but that's— horrible feeling right now, but that's test match rugby, isn't it? france _ that's test match rugby, isn't it? france is — that's test match rugby, isn't it? france is up _ that's test match rugby, isn't it? france is up 16—7, with 36 minutes played, the latest over on the bbc sport website. it's three games without a win for manchester united now in all competitions, after they missed the chance to move into the premier league's top four in the early game. united did take the lead in the first half, marcus rashford setting upjadon sancho for his first goal at old trafford. but that lead was wiped out soon after the break, with che adams grabbing the equaliser. united were greeted with boos at the full time whistle — that's the second premier league game in a row were they have let a lead slip. in the other premier league matches this afternoon, frank lampard got off to a good start in his first home league match in charge with everton with a comfortable 3—0 win over

leeds. the problems continue to mount at watford as they were beaten 2—0 at home by brighton, whilst brentford and palace finished goalless. norwich against manchester city kicks off shortly. next to the winter olympics — where there's still no medal for team gb, but they've kept their play off hopes on track in the women's curling, after the british team won an important match against the united states. the americans went into this unbeaten, but despite losing two of their three matches so far, eve muirhead here, vicky wright, jen dodds, and hailey duff held off a fightback to win10—5. that means they're back on track in the round robin phase and return to the ice against denmark tomorrow. team gb though, have missed out on a skeleton medal for the first time since 2002, as laura deas finished second to last in the final, despite recording herfastest time when she went first in heat four. germany's hannah neise took gold with the last run of the heat.

that's all the sport for now. i promise we will show you wales versus scotland on sportsday at 6:30pm, join us if you can. it is 0-0 at 6:30pm, join us if you can. it is 0—0 at half—time. see you in an hour. the nhs has launched a new campaign to encourage people to dial 999 if they suspect they're in the early stages of a heart attack. doctors want to improve awareness of common initial symptoms such as sweating, feeling dizzy and tightness in the chest. jon donnison reports. a new tv ad urging people to look out for the early signs of a heart attack. a feeling of unease. but a poll of 2,000 people carried out for the launch of this nhs campaign found that fewer than half those asked knew to dial 999 if they or a loved one were experiencing some of the more vague symptoms, such as sweating, light—headedness

or feeling weak and uneasy. if people are suffering a heart attack, the earlier they call for help the better. there is a phrase amongst cardiologists which is "time is muscle". the longer you leave things, the more likely people are to suffer from a bigger heart attack which is likely to have a greater impact in their life going forward. so the sooner they call for help, the better. and nhs figures bear that out. each year in england, there are more than 80,000 hospital admissions for heart attacks. the overall survival rate is around seven out of ten people, but that rises to nine out of ten people for those who seek early hospital treatment. the doctors behind this new campaign say that a heart attack is always a medical emergency and that it is never too early to call 999 and seek advice. john donnison, bbc news. new research for the bbc suggests

a basket of standard groceries has gone up by as much as 8% in the past year — as our business correspondent emma simpson has been finding out. how are you all feeling right now? skint! worried! definitely nervous, a bit deflated. charlotte is a money—saving blogger, and she hosts a monthly zoom session, passing on tips. thank you for coming. we're going to be talking about the rising of food. —— the rising cost of food. i normally set a budget for £60 a week with two teenagers and myself, and it's gone up to nearly 75, depending on what shop i do go to. i have noticed, whilst - going around the store, a lot of the products have increased, i including squash, fizzy drinks. | have you changed your shopping behaviour? we're definitely cooking from scratch a lot more now, because it just works out cheaper. we will bulk buy, and buy a really massive laundry detergent, and washing liquid that we will then decant into smaller containers,

and that lasts for months. i have started doing online shopping, to stop me - from picking up impulse buys. according to the official statistics, food inflation is running at 4.5%. but that doesn't tell you the full story. because many everyday staples have gone up way more than that. take spaghetti. no brands, just a standard range. it's gone up by an average of a1% from last year. a standard tin of tomatoes has gone up by 29%. of course, every shopping basket is different, and the supermarkets can't prevent inflation. but how they keep a lid on it will have huge consequences for millions of households. this is a once in a generation moment forfood price inflation in this country. the supermarkets are incredibly competitive. it's a real dog—eat—dog situation here. and they can'tjust put up prices

without people noticing. they will, shoppers will shop around. here's a business hoping to nab some of them. this is poundland's biggest store, opening in nottingham today. this feels like a supermarket. well, i'd say it feels like the best of poundland. are you after the weekly shop? absolutely, absolutely. we serve millions of customers, there's lots of categories, such as fresh foods, where we haven't previously provided that to them, well, now we're doing that. but he's got rising costs across his supply chains too. high single figure inflation is what we're facing. that doesn't mean that our shoppers have to face that as well. so, you know, i'm nota magician, not paul daniels, i can't magic all of this stuff away. but what i can do is work as hard as i can on behalf of shoppers to make sure that we mitigate as much as we can to protect them. and after a tough pandemic, he says the discounters are growing once again.

emma simpson, bbc news, nottingham.