good afternoon. the defence secretary, ben wallace, says it's highly likely vladimir putin will order russian

forces to attack ukraine. mr wallace says current diplomatic efforts have "a whiff of munich in the air" — a reference to the efforts to make a peace deal with hitler before world war two. russia now has up to 130,000 troops along its border with ukraine. the kremlin has repeatedly denied any plans to invade. here's our political corresponent charlotte rose. visits to moscow this week by the uk defence secretary ben wallace along with phone calls by the prime minister and us presidentjoe biden seem to have done little to change the minds of russian leaders. and scenes of tanks rolling up to a european border have made some western politicians fearful of history repeating itself. in an interview with the times this morning, mr wallace said the current situation had, "a whiff of munich in the air from some in the west."

which many had thought was a reference to attempts by european leaders to appease hitler before the second world war. but it's been stressed that he still believes attempts at diplomacy to de—escalate the situation are important. his cabinet colleague was asked to clarify his remarks. he's not talking about appeasement. i think the comparison ben was drawing, i know the comparison he was drawing, it was around the attempts for a diplomatic outcome that it turned out adversaries at the time were not really interested in. is he directing this at france, germany? no, no, the point he is making is that we are all working on this to find a diplomatic outcome. labour says it shares the government's concerns about the seriousness of the situation. it is immensely serious and nobody should be naive about what russia is up to. and the scale of the troops amassing on the ukraine border. and that's why i think there has to be this extremely strong and swift and severe economic sanctions, financial sanctions, looking at the energy sector. meanwhile, this morning came this warning from an american foreign

policy adviser. war can take an unpredictable path and we think if— russia does act in the way we fear it will, it will bring _ tremendous hardship and greaterl insecurity into the heart of europe and that is a concern to all of us. it's a concern to the - united states as a nato ally. brits living in ukraine have been told to leave the country whilst commercial flights are still available. but that's not an option for ukrainian people and the country's president says talk of an invasion is overblown. with the german chancellor due to visit moscow next week, nato allies hope that talking can stop the march towards war. charlotte rose, bbc news. let's speak to our corresponent james waterhouse, who's in the ukrainian capital kyiv for us this lunchtime. what is the mood there, james? what is the mood there, james? well, the government _ what is the mood there, james? well, the government here _ what is the mood there, james? well, the government here has _ what is the mood there, james? at the government here has described this information about what could

happen as unhelpful, whether it will be a full—scale invasion, an air strike on the capital kyiv, or otherwise. they have called it less than helpful, but they are striking a defiant tone. the foreign minister says the country's diplomacy, military and economy are all stronger than they were eight years ago when russia first annexed crimea. he also gave an assurance that ukraine would be ready for any scenario. that said, it is a crisp day here. ukrainians are getting on with their sunday as normal, going for a coffee and a walk, completely at odds with the growing urgency in political language by western leaders as well as the growing movement of russian troops along the border as well as to the north, a movement of troops that is getting harder and harder to ignore. thank ou, harder and harder to ignore. thank you. james- _ an nhs doctor has been arrested on

suspicion of child assault following complaints of examinations of two girls at russell halls hospital in dudley. staffordshire police have launched a major incident review with the nhs. the 34—year—old doctor rejects any allegations they committed a criminal act and is cooperating with criminal investigations. at least 13 people have been injured after a mezzanine floor collapsed at a pub in east london. firefighters rescued seven people who became trapped after the incident at the two more years bar in hackney wick yesterday. paramedics said three people were seriously hurt and ten more had minor injuries. the public inquiry into the wrongful convictions of post office branch managers begins tomorrow. more than 700 sub—postmasters were given criminal convictions and some were jailed after being wrongly accused of stealing from their own tills when a computer software issue was responsible. ahead of the inquiry, the sub—postmaster thought to have been given the longest prison sentence has been talking to our business correspondent colletta smith. harjinder butoy ran a post office

with his wife in nottinghamshire, but he's spent the last 1a years fighting to clear his name. charged with stealing £208,000, he was sentenced to three years and three months in prison for a crime he didn't commit. they found me guilty on ten counts out of the 11. that's when everything just... like you're hearing voices in the background while the charges are being read. it was horrible. were your family there in court? sorry... yeah. i can still hear it from this day, that cell door slamming behind me. with three children under ten, her husband sent to prison, her own news agency business in ruins, balbinder has suffered just as much. it destroyed me. me, the kids.

i had nobody. for years, the butoys have been told by the post office that there wasn't a problem with the accounting system. but there was. a big problem. and that's what this public inquiry is supposed to get to the bottom of. who in the post office knew? and why did they continue to blame and prosecute sub—postmasters? the company who sold the software to the post office was fujitsu. jez thompson used to work for them, training sub—postmasters on the new computer system as it was rolled out nationwide. when we did start to get towards, you know, the real meat end of the training, when we were teaching them how to do the closing of accounts at the end of the month, then we did find and discover a few faults. we could never reckon up everything to be exact. more often than not, it was wrong, yeah. and those reports were always passed up through our managers

to fujitsu services and i would imagine to the post office, saying there is still a fault on the live system. the post office have again said they are sorry and that their first priority is providing full, fair and final compensation, but that's not what harjinder wants. i want somebody on the other side to be charged and jailed like i was. they are the ones who signed the final paperwork off. they are the ones who knew if there were any faults on the system or not. you were fighting this for 14 years. does it still feel like you are fighting this?— yeah, it does to me. harjinder butoy ending that report there by colletta smith. heavy snow has caused disruption at the beijing winter olympics but the men's giant slalom did go ahead, marking the appearance of one of the games' more unlikely competitors. andy swiss reports from beijing. commentator: oh, and he's out! it was a day when just staying upright deserved a gold medal. amid appalling conditions, nearly half the giant slalom field didn't even make it down.

of those that did, switzerland's marco 0dermatt managed it the fastest to take victory. for the olympic title, and 0dermatt has it for 2022! but it was the man who did it the slowest that shared the limelight. benjamin alexander is a former dj who only started skiing when he was 32. now jamaica's first—ever alpine skier, he finished over a minute behind the winner, but his place in olympic folklore was guaranteed. it was the hardest race course that i have ever been on. my back is aching. my legs are aching. i had some treatment with the physio in the break in the middle. still not enough. i need a hot bath and maybe half a dozen beers. well, the heavy snow is certainly causing some disruption. we were meant to have qualifying for the slopestyle skiing here, but that's had to be postponed. fingers crossed for better weather tomorrow. and, on a good day to stay indoors, britain's curlers certainly

enjoyed themselves. both the men's and women's teams winning their latest group matches. meanwhile, the 15—year—old russian skater kamila valieva trained this morning ahead of a hearing into herfailed drugs test. she's expected to find out tomorrow whether she can compete in her individual event here or whether her games are now over. andy swiss, bbc news, beijing. you can see more on all of today's stories on the bbc news channel. the next news on bbc one is at 5.35. bye for now. hello. you're watching the bbc news channel. protests against covid regulations are continuing in canada, where traffic has been brought to a standstill at a key trading route with the united states. police were called in to clear the blockade which has been

going on for nearly a week. jessica murphy reports. it didn't take that many vehicles to block the busiest land border crossing in canada, but it's taking hours for police to clear the ambassador bridge blockade. for the moment, the officers are trying negotiation tactics as they try to get protesters to leave peacefully after six days of demonstrations. their message that they tried to send from the very beginning has clearly lost its way and i don't think the people here — notjust the police, but i don't think the people in our community or on the other side of the border — are interested in hearing it any more. who are you protecting? with a vital trade route interrupted, the province of ontario declared a state of emergency on friday that brought in penalties like heavy fines and possible jail time for those participating in the blockades. that came into force hours later alongside a court granted injunction to remove the protesters. it took just days for the blockade on the ambassador bridge to put a squeeze on the supply chains and car—makers on both sides of the border. it's an economic link between the us and canada. hundreds of millions of dollars in trade cross

the border there each day. copycat protests in europe and around the world have sprung up in recent weeks, with supporters calling for an end to covid—i9 restrictions. this is grassroots people with their children and grandparents and parents coming together and saying, "hey, my rights and my freedoms are being infringed and denied here." drop the mandates, we go home. 15 minutes, we're gone. facing growing pressure from the white house and at home, prime ministerjustin trudeau made this vow on friday. so, make no mistake, the border cannot and will not remain closed. but despite efforts to get dug—in protesters to leave, demonstrations continue nationwide. protests in ottawa are entering their third weekend now, with demonstrators and their trucks continuing to block much of the city centre. government officials are meeting to discuss these ongoing protests, but for the moment there is no clear end in sight. jessica murphy, the bbc news, 0ttawa.

votes are being counted in switzerland at the end of a national referendum lasting just two hours on whether to tighten tobacco laws. many people voted in advance by post. the proposals — if passed — would include a ban on advertisements where young people might see them. opponents of the initiative, which include the swiss government and parliament, say it goes too far. 0ur correspondent, imogen foulkes is in bern. a lot of the population smoke, don't they? a lot of the population smoke, don't the ? , ., , ., , a lot of the population smoke, don't the? , ., they? yes, an estimated 27% and the studies show — they? yes, an estimated 2796 and the studies show that _ they? yes, an estimated 2796 and the studies show that most _ they? yes, an estimated 2796 and the studies show that most of _ they? yes, an estimated 2796 and the studies show that most of them - studies show that most of them started when they were teenagers. cigarettes are comparatively cheap here compared with other european countries, particularly compared with the uk and advertising in some spheres, not on tv but on billboards, cinemas, is still

permitted in the campaign is a saying, look, we need to protect our young people, they shouldn't be starting smoking, it is known to be harmful, causes almost 10,000 deaths per year in switzerland, time to ban. and the results are trickling in now and it looks as if voters have gone along with that and it looks like 5758% of voters are saying yes to a ban on advertising, going further than the government wanted them to. is going further than the government wanted them to.— wanted them to. is there a feeling this may be _ wanted them to. is there a feeling this may be the — wanted them to. is there a feeling this may be the first _ wanted them to. is there a feeling this may be the first step - wanted them to. is there a feeling this may be the first step in - wanted them to. is there a feeling this may be the first step in a - this may be the first step in a greater push back against smoking? there is public health tobacco prevention going on in switzerland and the cigarettes you buy here have the big warnings, smoking kills, on them as well but we also have the will�*s biggest tobacco companies having their biggest headquarters here and they contribute a lot of money to this economy, they create a

loss ofjobs and this may be or some people say this may be one of the reasons the swiss government is not so keen basically to put a blanket ban, and what the health minister of all people said is you cannot have a blanket ban on advertising illegal product. but i think the voters are thinking, do you know what? we know better than the government, we want a blanket ban, we want to protect our young people and it looks like that will be the outcome. the headlines on bbc news... a russian invasion of ukraine is �*highly likely�*. that's the assessment of the uk defence secretary — comparing some western diplomatic efforts to the appeasement of nazi germany — ukraine says that is not a �*helpful�* comparison. thirteen people are injured after a mezzanine floor collapses at a pub in east london. following the resignation of the met police chief — the labour shadow home secretary warns that there is a perfect storm facing policing in the uk,

and the force needs to be reformed. the northern ireland secretary, brandon lewis, has clarified comments by his cabinet colleague, ben wallace, after he apparently compared efforts to stop a war in ukraine to the appeasement of nazi germany before the second world war. the defence secretary told the sunday times there was a "whiff of munich in the air". mr lewis said it wasn't a criticism of any western ally, but was rasing a question about whether russia was genuine about seeking a peaceful solution. more on that in a moment, but first, our diplomatic correspondentjames landale has the background to the crisis. in the last three months there have been fears in the west that russia is planning to invade ukraine and it and it all began last november when satellite in villages showed russian troop movements close to the border with ukraine. president putin denied planning an invasion but he has written publicly about how he sees russians and

ukrainians as one people and he also wants to block ukraine from our —— ever joining nato. this led western powers to bolster nato's eastern flank here and threaten severe economic sanctions against russia if it invaded and there the matter largely stayed but there have been suggestions in recent days that the crisis is coming to a head. here is the prime minister. 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. why is he saying that? primarily because russian troop numbers have continued to rise and for some time it was estimated there were about 100,000 troops around ukraine's borders with new units arriving and that estimate in... with thousands of troops in belarus year to the north and what they say are military exercises, exercises taking place close

to the capital city of kyiv. they also say they have suggestions that including the way russia configures its forces and plans false pretext for invasion and the truth is that no one really knows what is intended but the white house issued a stark warning on friday. we are in the window and an invasion could begin at any time should vladimir putin decide to order it. with me now is vadym prystaiko — ukraine's ambassador to the united kingdom. those comments making a comparison with what happened in the run—up to world war ii, do you believe that russia has absolutely no intention of engaging diplomatically with the only outcome it wants to invade? i don't in that at all. how can you believe that in all these years of war? we will defend you if you give

up war? we will defend you if you give up the nuclear weapons and will get out of premier by 2017 and then they are still there, so we cannot believe in the contrast the russians but at the same time, we want to work with them so we don't trust but we have to find where we work together to see how the situation can be diffused. write back what is the scope for that? we are unfortunately reaching the moment are all the cards are already on the table. need telephone calls, collectively, personally, individually, you know the russians are quite unhappy. the demands which they put to nato, with the network and everything which was done already can be done may be something more, and you're reaching this point where the decision has to be made. is there any way do you think that

ukraine could give any sort of assurance to moscow on future membership of nato because as things currently stand, it is hard to see how ukraine does become a member of nato in the immediate future. there are so many — nato in the immediate future. there are so many different _ nato in the immediate future. there are so many different realities - are so many different realities brought to the table at the same time, talking about vulnerability, ukrainian possible membership in nato, eastern ukraine, with ukraine having to be pressed and so many different things. if we talk about nato only, ukraine have been trying to get into nato for at least 20 years, they were promised they would become a member. when and how is the decision of the family so all the members have to decide when and if ukraine becomes a member. we get prepared and we ask, it is not wanting to poke a bear from prepared and we ask, it is not wanting to poke a bearfrom behind the bars of nato. d0 wanting to poke a bear from behind the bars of nato._ wanting to poke a bear from behind

the bars of nato. do you understand russia because _ the bars of nato. do you understand russia because 's _ the bars of nato. do you understand russia because 's concerns - the bars of nato. do you understand russia because 's concerns about. russia because �*s concerns about this? i russia because 's concerns about this? ., �* , ., , this? i don't understand my concerns. — this? i don't understand my concerns, we _ this? i don't understand my concerns, we are _ this? i don't understand my concerns, we are already i this? i don't understand my. concerns, we are already dying this? i don't understand my- concerns, we are already dying with what they are doing is killing us. they wanted to prove a point and it's not like nato is getting... not getting to russian borders, each and every nation to the soviet union, they are fleeing and trying to look at the mirror and understand what is actually happening. is nato encroaching or is everyone else running away? share encroaching or is everyone else running away?— encroaching or is everyone else running away? are they concerned about an existential _ running away? are they concerned about an existential threat - running away? are they concerned about an existential threat if - about an existential threat if ukraine becomes a member of nato and that increasing westward —looking soviet state? i that increasing westward -looking soviet state?— that increasing westward -looking soviet state? i understand the way the are soviet state? i understand the way they are ruled _ soviet state? i understand the way they are ruled but _ soviet state? i understand the way they are ruled but it _ soviet state? i understand the way they are ruled but it is _ soviet state? i understand the way they are ruled but it is not - soviet state? i understand the way they are ruled but it is not russian | they are ruled but it is not russian resources and cities, maybe this is the danger of putting the own people where they can become something democratic like the west and got her

in a bid to them. whatever the name will be, truly will be against what the vault can be friends like ukrainians, we are a huge nation. 12 countries have now told their citizens to get out of ukraine because of the troops. notjust that, it is the hardware, the infrastructure around that which indicates they are now in a position to attack at any moment. they could bring an aerosol or, on wednesday. young people need to understand how they see nonperishable food and the bomb shelter and at the same time, more ukrainians are getting ready to fight and we have reserves of almost 2 million people signed up for reserve and people in territorial

defences which are taking your hunting rifles and all got their cities and villages so the whole nation is getting unfortunately prepared for the war but the problem is that people are living... foreigners are leaving —— people are leaving in the foreigners are leaving. this is not helping us. maybe vladimir putin wants exactly this and we panic when we cannot function as a state and we will tell you, i was not actually encouraging this on my side and they shot a ukrainians soldier, they toppled down themselves. do you believe that the 16th is looking like a likely date and what is your understanding? not personally. i still believe something can be done and they have better intelligence than ourselves and the rest of the world because of the abilities and maybe they are doing just to tell people, we know your plans, you want to attack on wednesday, everyone knows it already, you cannot do the and this

is one of the ways united states is trying to disassociate. ii is one of the ways united states is trying to disassociate.— trying to disassociate. if russia does launch — trying to disassociate. if russia does launch an _ trying to disassociate. if russia does launch an attack - trying to disassociate. if russia does launch an attack or- trying to disassociate. if russia j does launch an attack or invade trying to disassociate. if russia - does launch an attack or invade with ground troops, it is clear that western countries will not put their own boots on the ground, there are currently nato and other trips around but they will not get involved on the ground in ukraine. what is your view of that message being so clear and so upfront? it is clear for you _ being so clear and so upfront? it is clear for you and _ being so clear and so upfront? it 3 clear for you and clear for everybody in the us that you don't want to send your soldiers, no mother would like to send a son or daughter to fight in some distant land but believe me, a also don't want to send the girls and boys to fight. the problem is here that that is what russia wants, they want us to stay ourselves, alone in this fight with much bigger armies and much bigger economies. i would ask leaders to turn down this and i understand it is politically

important but tell russians that these guys on their own can do whatever they like and we need help with what you're doing but a couple of nations in the united states, maybe they cannot be like that, and they need help with finances which are now seeking an escape from the country but i would like them to tell vladimir putin that we will do most of what we can do to help ukrainians defend and not limiting the options. ukrainians defend and not limiting the options-— the options. there are military su lies the options. there are military supplies and — the options. there are military supplies and also _ the options. there are military supplies and also the - the options. there are military supplies and also the prospectj the options. there are military i supplies and also the prospect of sanctions which president biden says will be the like of which russia has not seen before. ukraine is not alone. ~ ., , ., ., ., , alone. ukraine is not alone but in other nations _ alone. ukraine is not alone but in other nations you _ alone. ukraine is not alone but in other nations you can _ alone. ukraine is not alone but in other nations you can count - alone. ukraine is not alone but in other nations you can count on i alone. ukraine is not alone but in i other nations you can count on one hand and it is not important by themselves. some other nations like germany are notjust themselves. some other nations like germany are not just sending everybody else from helping us. this is the problem because they still

believe that russia can be the people who you talk to. this is just over seven years, notjust recent one week ago problem. in over seven years, notjust recent one week ago problem.— over seven years, notjust recent one week ago problem. in order to avert war. — one week ago problem. in order to avert war. do _ one week ago problem. in order to avert war, do you _ one week ago problem. in order to avert war, do you think... - one week ago problem. in order to avert war, do you think... you've l avert war, do you think... you've already mentioned the myth that mike minsky caught —— you have mentioned the minsk accord. that would mean institutional change in ukraine, decentralisation, new elections in the areas which are linked with russia. . , the areas which are linked with russia. ., , ., ., , ., m russia. changes to constitution. and at this point. — russia. changes to constitution. and at this point. is _ russia. changes to constitution. and at this point, is that _ russia. changes to constitution. and at this point, is that something - at this point, is that something that ukraine would see as a way through? that ukraine would see as a way throu~h? ~ , , through? well, this was signed when we are had a — through? well, this was signed when we are had a gun _ through? well, this was signed when we are had a gun to _ through? well, this was signed when we are had a gun to our— through? well, this was signed when we are had a gun to our head - through? well, this was signed when we are had a gun to our head in - through? well, this was signed when we are had a gun to our head in 2013| we are had a gun to our head in 2013 and 2014 where they were attacking and 2014 where they were attacking and killing people, dozens dying each and every minute so the president at that time of the

ukrainian society was at such pressure of immediate danger, so we had to sign quite unfair, quite unclear document as a short document, not precise at all so if everybody sing out the differences in the reading of that, we believe that before we have elections and resolve the political issue, if we have any, we need control over the border in ukraine and russia is differently, we are having everything. then later on we have control of their own border and we cannot agree on the principal moment and there is no way that we can move around the table about it. imilieu and there is no way that we can move around the table about it.— around the table about it. when you sa that around the table about it. when you say that was — around the table about it. when you say that was signed, _ around the table about it. when you say that was signed, and _ around the table about it. when you say that was signed, and the - say that was signed, and the situation where it was effective, it's like an existential threat. is it's like an existential threat. is it not the same risk again now if russia invades? it was not signed by the ukrainian leadership and can do never been verified by ukrainian

parliament. it was not approved by the nation, it was a working document at very difficult moment historically so it is not perfect at all. are you saying it is just not going to happen or could it even now be the basis for something that could? ~ ., ., ., could? we are doing it right now, the advisers _ could? we are doing it right now, the advisers to _ could? we are doing it right now, the advisers to the _ could? we are doing it right now, the advisers to the president - could? we are doing it right now, the advisers to the president in l the advisers to the president in berlin and paris, and the active negotiations are going on in the ground and you consume because you can see what western leaders are doing, orwhat can see what western leaders are doing, or what western media outlets are doing. we are trying to find a compromise which will allow us to survive us all. look at our neighbours in belarus and kazakhstan, they were trying to... russia who had belarus and kazakhstan who signed to give... a back nuclear weapons to russia in exchange for defence and that is the reality on the ground. what exchange for defence and that is the reality on the ground.— reality on the ground. what do you believe, if there _ reality on the ground. what do you believe, if there is _ reality on the ground. what do you believe, if there is a _ reality on the ground. what do you believe, if there is a russian - believe, if there is a russian attack, where that goes and what the

strategy is? does it stop with ukraine? . , strategy is? does it stop with ukraine? ., , ., , ukraine? have seen how they can attack their— ukraine? have seen how they can attack their own _ ukraine? have seen how they can attack their own people _ ukraine? have seen how they can attack their own people and - ukraine? have seen how they can attack their own people and their| attack their own people and their own russian citizens. they totally destroyed the capital and were killing people because they wanted to separate and have the referendum but they say this, cat how can we expect that they will treat ukrainians better and the problem is when involved in by having such a big nation, they are creating a soviet union, i don't understand how people can believe that they knew soviet union can be more peaceful than the previous one.— than the previous one. ukraine's ambassador— than the previous one. ukraine's ambassador to _ than the previous one. ukraine's ambassador to the _ than the previous one. ukraine's ambassador to the united - than the previous one. ukraine's - ambassador to the united kingdom, thank you very much.— ambassador to the united kingdom, i thank you very much._ now, thank you very much. thank you. now, time for a look — thank you very much. thank you. now, time for a look at _ thank you very much. thank you. now, time for a look at the _ thank you very much. thank you. now, time for a look at the weather. - driest and brightest. scotland. elsewhere soggy. we have been dry so far today for some and east anglia seeing rain or spreading through the afternoon the heaviest of the rain drying out a bit later. still summer

times but may be a better chance of some sunshine, northern ireland lessen way of rain but more in parts of central and south—eastern scotland. the rain continues tonight, some eastern skies, shattering for north and west. going to a northerly direction, calder and the best of some morning sunshine. that is on monday and is wintry in nature through northern scotland, some in southern scotland stinks and completely dry in the dry weather which into northern england as cloud —— in southern scotland and completely dry. it will feel chillier as the day goes on. goodbye for now. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines... a russian invasion of ukraine is �*highly likely�*. that�*s the assessment of the uk defence secretary, comparing some western diplomatic efforts to the appeasement of nazi germany — ukraine says that is not a �*helpful�* comparison. the us evacuates most

of its embassy staff in kyiv as it