welcome to bbc news. our top stories. western officials say russia has mobilised enough troops to be able to invade ukraine at "the drop of a hat" — ukraine's president remains defiant. translation: they tell us that february the 16th will be - the day of the invasion. we will make this into unity day. so, what's motivating the kremlin, and what do ordinary russians think? we'll go to moscow to find out.

the russian skater will compete later in the day despite failing a drugs test but if she succeeds there will be no medal ceremony. ukraine's president volodymyr zelensky says his country is ready to fight for its freedom — as warnings persist of a russian invasion. president zelensky declared wednesday a day of national unity, after us intelligence suggested that could be the day russian forces attack. the british prime minister borisjohnson has beem speaking with president biden — the pair said that a"crucial window for diplomacy" over the crisis remained. (map around 130 thousand russian troops

are massed on ukraine's border. russia's foreign minister also said there is "always a chance" of a negotiated agreement. our eastern europe correspondent sarah rainsford is in kyiv and sent this report. russia still building up its forces, so much so that western governments are saying an invasion could be launched within days now. the ukrainian president has addressed the nation ensuring ukrainians the country is confident, stronger than ever. that russia is trying to scare them but they won't succumb. when the talks to defuse this crisis have been intensifying. today, it was the german

chancellor's turn in town showing support for kyiv, seeking ways to get russia to pull back its troops. the president underlined that will not be by ukraine dropping its rights tojoin nato. tomorrow, the german leader heads to moscow. �* . ~ . ., moscow. are making it clear once again _ moscow. are making it clear once again here _ moscow. are making it clear once again here in _ moscow. are making it clear once again here in kyiv - moscow. are making it clear once again here in kyiv that| once again here in kyiv that ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity are non—negotiable for germany. we therefore expect russia to take their steps to de—escalate the current tensions. their steps to de-escalate the current tensions.— current tensions. and most of the foreign — current tensions. and most of the foreign minister- current tensions. and most of the foreign minister was - current tensions. and most of i the foreign minister was shown urging president putin to keep talking to the west. it is worth it, borisjohnson spoke to the us visit today, to and both are still sounding the alarm. ~ ., ., ., ., alarm. we are on the edge of a --reciice alarm. we are on the edge of a precipice that _ alarm. we are on the edge of a precipice that there _ alarm. we are on the edge of a precipice that there is - alarm. we are on the edge of a precipice that there is still - precipice that there is still time — precipice that there is still time for— precipice that there is still time for president putin to step— time for president putin to step back and what we are urging _ step back and what we are urging is— step back and what we are urging is for everybody to engage _ urging is for everybody to engage in dialogue and the conversation to take place and for the — conversation to take place and for the russians to avoid for everybody in the uk considers a

disastrous— everybody in the uk considers a disastrous mistake. can everybody in the uk considers a disastrous mistake.— everybody in the uk considers a disastrous mistake. can be hard to make a _ disastrous mistake. can be hard to make a connection _ disastrous mistake. can be hard to make a connection between l to make a connection between all the politicians warning of imminent all—out war, even the bombing of the city, here. and how things actually feel here on the ground. because even as negotiations and diplomacy continued, so does life here, pretty much as normal. although, beneath the surface, people do say they're feeling increasingly nervous now. to be afraid every _ increasingly nervous now. to be afraid every hour _ increasingly nervous now. to be afraid every hour of _ increasingly nervous now. to be afraid every hour of our - increasingly nervous now. to be afraid every hour of our lives. i afraid every hour of our lives. we don't _ afraid every hour of our lives. we don't want to live like that and we — we don't want to live like that and we just want to live. we and we 'ust want to live. we are and we just want to live. we are patient _ and we just want to live. we are patient are _ and we just want to live. we are patient are ready for anything _ are patient are ready for anything-— are patient are ready for an hina. , , anything. we a city will be safe and _ anything. we a city will be safe and their _ anything. we a city will be safe and their families - anything. we a city will bej safe and their families will anything. we a city will be i safe and their families will be safe — safe and their families will be safe. ., ., , . ., , safe. for now, the musicians -la safe. for now, the musicians play on- _ safe. for now, the musicians play on- even _ safe. for now, the musicians play on. even the _ safe. for now, the musicians play on. even the school- safe. for now, the musicians| play on. even the school trips have not stopped as ukrainians still cannot quite believe the worst predictions.

putin wants far more than ukraine. he wants to end the western rising drive in ukraine. you want to divide nato, he wants to humiliate the western rewrite the rules of the european security architecture. he wants to be the boss in europe so it is all of the above. for it but given that, what do you expect to happen next? we have got wednesday being held up as the day of imminent strike, would you go along with that? for a while i thought he was going to go all in. i read an article explaining that. there are compelling reasons. he had a really good year 2021, i can make the argument. pretty persuasively. but everything about it and more convinced that teachers go to sit on the

border and ministers for the next couple of months that he can trade up the volume and turn down the volume as he pleases. so he can get what he wants without invading and without more punitive international sanctions. i think that is his game plan. i don't really expect to see anything on wednesday. there would be a _ anything on wednesday. there would be a reality— anything on wednesday. there would be a reality of— anything on wednesday. there would be a reality of russian i would be a reality of russian baits. you invade and perhaps move as far as kyiv and then what do you do? try to hold on to a country that does not want you a country of some 41 million people.— you a country of some 41 million people. that is right. whitaker tried _ million people. that is right. whitaker tried to _ million people. that is right. whitaker tried to take - million people. that is right. whitaker tried to take about | whitaker tried to take about one third of the country. he could go down to kyiv which would be very hard to take. he can take 41 is if you use the air force. it is a piece of cake modestly, but he can't hold it. 45% of ukrainians will ukrainians will resist putting those that are not limited ability to take a huge bit of

ukraine and if he does go when he loses power. everyone is paying attention to putin right now. you know, he is on the front page of every newspaper and he loves this attention. he is being treated like a big international player once again. international player once aaain. international player once a . ain. ., international player once aaain. ., ., , , international player once aaain. ., , ., again. there are two sides to this and we'll _ again. there are two sides to this and we'll get _ again. there are two sides to this and we'll get the - again. there are two sides to this and we'll get the view i this and we'll get the view from moscow a little bit later so do stay with us for that. the canadian prime minister, justin trudeau, has invoked rarely used emergency powers to try and end protests against covid measures. the powers would give police more tools to imprison or fine protestors — and to block their bank accounts, without a court order. the emergencies act is not something that has been used ever but it exists for a reason. invoking the emergencies act is never the first government should do, nor even the second. the act is to

be used sparingly and as a last resort. right now, the situation requires additional tools not held by any other federal provincial or territorial law.- federal provincial or territorial law. federal provincial or territoriallaw. , , territorial law. this is only the second _ territorial law. this is only the second time _ territorial law. this is only the second time in - territorial law. this is only i the second time in canadian history that measures of this kind of been implemented in peacetime. the political optics of this forjustin trudeau are somewhat sketchy. these measures enable the government to override constitutional rights and of course he has long been one who has campaigned and championed the human rights of the citizens. mr trudeau said he is not intending to bring in the army, to bring in military troops at this stage but by invoking the emergency act, he will basically be giving the police

powers to augment their ranks, to greater powers to arrest people and clear the blockades. they will also be new powers conferred under this act. for example, to block the insurance of certain truck drivers involved in these blockades and the ability to freeze the bank accounts of those using crowdfunding platforms to finance these measures that are going on in canada. he said it was essential to do this in the interests of national security. it has been one month since the volcanic eruption and tsunami that wreaked havoc in tonga. january 15 a volcano located 65 kilometres north of the capital erupted in the sheer scale of that explosion was unprecedented. nasa said this was hundreds of times more

powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on hiroshima during the second world war. tonga was covered in ash, power lines were damaged, serving its connection from the rest of the world. tsunami triggered by the eruption also destroyed houses and threatened peoples livelihoods. the international community did spend aid to the nation to help with the recovery effort but their strict covid measures prevented foreign aid workers from entering the country. the prime minister is given an exclusive interview to my bbc colleague about the challenge of rebuilding after the tsunami. . we were at home that night and, you know, that explosion was nothing. i about had something like that. it was terrible, but at the same time, you know, all of a sudden it was nightfall. just like in half an hour it

was daylight and then all of a sudden, it was dark. it was night—time. and that is in the middle of town. imagine going through that and some of the islands. be very terrifying. and that is where we believe that, you know, we can rebuild some of the houses but changing the mental state will take some time. i'd make this disaster struck i thinkjust a few days after you were sworn in as the prime minister. having to deal with the challenge this scale just how difficult was that? what happened here with the volcano and tsunamis, in terms of the scale, in terms of, you know, this is the first time that we actually had such a dramatic event so close to the capital of tonga so the big issue for us again as relocation. that comes with its

own challenges. taking away from your home. rebuilding it somewhere else. some of them are actually having second thoughts about moving back to the islands. they are looking at possibly relocating somewhere else. it is not an easy choice trying to decide whether you stay in a vulnerable place or move to a very new place, leaving behind all the memories and what have you. because, you know, or the homes were destroyed by the tsunami. but we recognise that there we might start rebuilding some of the houses in the next month or so. the other side of it would take that longer. i'd wake how difficult has it been not to have foreign aid workers on the ground, as many as you need, to help with the recovery and rebuilding process? very difficult. it would have a nice touch they have this extra hands touch the others with some of the efforts. they are to that covid is here to stay. it may have to leave the cave

at 19. it may have to leave the cave at19. now it may have to leave the cave at 19. now that the virus has made its presence felt, or you consider allowing foreign aid workers on the ground to help with the rebuilding and recovery process? in terms of changing the current protocols, we are still reviewing it. but hopeful that, with the current assistance and, of course, what we are carrying from neighbouring islands like new zealand and australia, we will have a better protocol in place given the situation we are in right now. the teenage skater who failed a doping test will compete later

in the day. 0rganisers say her entourage should be investigated. we will have the very latest. nine years and 15,000 deaths after going into afghanistan, the last soviet troops were finally coming home, the withdrawal completed in good order but the army defeated in the task it had been sent to perform. he has been murdered. that has a terrible effect on the morale of the people. i'm terrified of the repercussions on the streets. one wonders who is next.

as the airlift got under way, there was no letup from the eruption itself. lava streams from event low in the crater flow down to the sea on the east of the island, away from the town for the time being. it could start flowing again at any time. the russians heralded their new generation space station with a spectacular night launch. they call it mir, the russian for peace. this is bbc world news, the latest headlines . ukraine's president zelensky says his country is ready to "fight for its freedom" — as warnings persist that an attack by russia may be imminent. we've got to the hopes from the west but what about russia's perspective? president putin has long medically considers ukraine and russia as one people effectively meet by history. his desire to keep within worship as the sphere of influences threatened in fact

by ukraine's desire to be part of nato. since the end of the cold war, countries have been applying to join nato, expanding applying tojoin nato, expanding the organisation and pushing ever further eastward. ukraine has long wanted to join another word believes that russia may be willing to go to war to stop that happening. what is motivating the kremlin for these next crucial hours? steve from moscow. eight years after russia annexed crimea, is moscow on the brink of another invasion of ukraine? the west seems to think so, but what's the kremlin's view? western leaders may be warning of an imminent russian military escalation in ukraine, but moscow dismisses all of that as hype, hysteria. and if you look at the way the state media here has been

covering the ukraine story, you'll see that the picture presented to the russian public is the polar opposite of how the west sees things. so, according to that kremlin picture, russia has no plans for an invasion — instead, it's america who's the aggressor and pouring weapons into ukraine, it's nato that's threatening russia by expanding eastwards. still, that doesn't explain why russia is massing more than 100,000 troops right now near ukraine's border — and why it launched a large—scale military exercises in the region. so what is vladimir putin's aim? that is a difficult question to answer, because no—one's quite sure. some in the west think this is all about russia trying to force ukraine back into moscow's orbit. some believe the kremlin's objective is much wider — to carve out a new sphere of influence for itself in europe, basically to dismantle the post—cold war european security order, to push nato back. today, with moscow sensing a lack of unity in europe and perhaps feeling that america is too busy with problems at home, a resurgent russia may feel that this is the moment to take action. but if there was all—out war with ukraine, how

would the russian public react? it's hard to see the public here supporting a large—scale conflict with ukraine. many russians have said to me that they see ukrainians almost like brothers. there are very deep cultural, historical ties. war is the last thing that people want here. but it won't be the public that decides this. it'll be the president. so what happens next? well, that may depend on whether president putin is willing to compromise over ukraine and european security — even if he doesn't get everything he wants, like an end to nato enlargement eastwards. whether he's willing to reach a deal or determined to continue with coercive diplomacy. steve rosenberg,

bbc news, moscow. today marks the fourth anniversary of the parkland shooting in florida in the us. at least 17 people died when a former student opened fire on students at stoneman douglas high school. earlier, the father of one of the victims manuel 0liver climbed to the top of a construction crane near the white house, calling on the president to do more to get gun control legislation passed. earlier i spoke to zeenat yahya, director of policy at march for our lives, which honours those killed at stoneman douglas high school — and campaigns for greater gun controls i think one of the biggest things to highlight here is that 47,000 people have died under the president's watch and there is clearly a sense of urgency coming from our organisation and the movement for some immediate action on the part of the president to be able to address this issue. 47,000 are staggering. if you recognise that. the tenant has,

what you think the president can do, because congress, if you like, is the blog here, by the president.— the president. that's a great question- — the president. that's a great question- in _ the president. that's a great question. in virus _ the president. that's a great question. in virus what - the president. that's a great question. in virus what the l question. in virus what the president can do. their basic deal within the scope of power without congress approval right now. the first is pointing a gun violence prevention director in the white house specifically. when declaring the gun violence epidemic of national emergency and to say that we have a gun violence prevention director in the white house to address the issue, this is how we're going to do it. that does not require anything except his pen to paper. anything except his pen to -a er. ., anything except his pen to la per. ., ., anything except his pen to -a er. ., ., ., paper. how would that help? because. _ paper. how would that help? because. 0k. _ paper. how would that help? because, 0k, there - paper. how would that help? because, 0k, there is - paper. how would that help? because, 0k, there is a - because, 0k, there is a recognition perhaps that priority that are in control appear to be a year or so ago

has not lived up to its name, in a sense. some people recognise that. the president has urged states and more themselves. what difference would it be to have an officer in the white house? b, would it be to have an officer in the white house?- in the white house? a lot of the things — in the white house? a lot of the things that _ in the white house? a lot of the things that happened, i in the white house? a lot of the things that happened, a| in the white house? a lot of i the things that happened, a lot of the changes that happened particularly revolved around a lot of piecemeal, you know, he and their solutions. nothing thatis and their solutions. nothing that is comprehensive. he is nibbling at the edges so we really need somebody who is going to make this the top priority within his white house team. and so i think that is the most important thing here. that somebody needs to make this a priority and not come up with piecemeal solutions but this is a conveyancer plan and this is a conveyancer plan and this is a conveyancer plan and this is how we will address it at all angles. and we go forth with that. at all angles. and we go forth with that-— at all angles. and we go forth with that. . ,, ., , ., with that. talking to me 'ust a short while i with that. talking to me 'ust a short while ago. i with that. talking to me 'ust a short while ago. saying h with that. talking to me just a short while ago. saying in - with that. talking to me just a short while ago. saying in the| short while ago. saying in the us, the accountancy firm says

it can no longer stand by in ten years of financial statements for the trump organisation and has severed ties with its client. the declaration which was revealed in court documents, covers financial statements up to the year 2020 and the statements are seen as crucial to legal cases alleging the former president and his company exaggerated the value of its assets. mr trump denies wrongdoing. study of nearly 260 rivers around the world has detected potentially toxic levels of pharmaceutical drugs in a quarter of them. researchers are drugs used to treat epilepsy and diabetes with the most widely found. they believe believe the scheme the pollution threatens wildlife and could affect human health. the 15—year—old russian ice skater will be competing later in the day debating winter olympics despite having failed a drugs test. the court of arbitration for the sport on monday chose not to suspend. games officials have said that

if she finishes in the top three in the individual skating competition it will not be holding a medal ceremony. the head of the international committee said the case itself still has not been decided but it wants to see the team around the skater investigated. it is the skater investigated. it is clearl a the skater investigated. it is clearly a wish _ the skater investigated. it is clearly a wish and _ the skater investigated. it 3 clearly a wish and decision of the aoc but also we want to examine all aspects of this case. and including the situation of the entourage of the girl because, of course, you can imagine, of 15 would not do something wrong alone. so, yes, the entourage will be investigated.— investigated. the american government _ investigated. the american government has _ investigated. the american | government has suspended investigated. the american . government has suspended all avocado imports from mexico until it says the safety of

american inspectors is guaranteed. 0n american inspectors is guaranteed. on saturday, when its inspector working in mexico was threatened and all mexican avocado imports to the us to come from this state for pilot games often extort growers. i asked our international correspondent what more we know about the incident. you likely don't know a lot about the threat. the united states department of agriculture said it was a voiced threat. the mexican department of agriculture said they received agriculture said they received a threat via telephone, there are cellular. so we don't know much more. they have not said anything more about that. it is not the first time, is it, in relatively recent times, that there been incidents which put us inspectors on the line? this is the most _ us inspectors on the line? this is the most egregious - us inspectors on the line? “in 3 is the most egregious incident that we have seen. there is one held up at gunpoint in a transit event a few years ago but this is the first time that the us is actually banned exports from the state and, she said, all this state, it is the

only state in mexico allowed to export its products, avocados, to the us. that means all avocado exports to the us have been banned. whitebait that is a big hit, obviously, for a lot of people. huge mad money at stake. what response has there beenin stake. what response has there been in mexico, local or political? it is a big hit, she said. more than $2.4 billion a year that money flows in a lot of corners of that state and in mexico. it was interesting listening to the president. he is a morning press conference and was asked about the temporary suspension of avocado exports and he said he did not address the security concerns that we are hearing from the us officials. instead, what he talked about was sort of he was implying that there was some kind of conspiracy and economic, commercial, political

interests behind this band. than interests behind this band. an industry worth 2.4 billion us dollars to mexico. thank you for being with us. hello there. a very powerfuljet across the atlantic will pick up areas of low pressure and deepen them into storms later this week. notjust one named storm, but two are heading our way. before this very windy weather arrives, we'll find some spells of rain, again, coming infrom the atlantic, you can see all that cloud that's pushing in from the west. and, after a wet start in scotland in the morning, we'll see that rain pushing up toward the northern isles. we've got this rain pushing its way towards southeastern parts of england, where it could stay a bit wet into the afternoon. but away from here, many places will brighten up — there'll be some sunshine, a few showers, mainly in scotland, where they could be a bit wintry in the hills.

it will be a slightly cooler day here, but again, elsewhere, we'll find temperatures up to 9—10 celsius. it does cloud over in the afternoon in northern ireland, and that cloud will continue to thicken into the evening. rain soon arriving, and that rain will push its way quickly eastwards overnight. could be a bit more snow perhaps over higher parts of northern scotland, it'll still be quite cold here, but elsewhere it should be fairly mild, the rain having cleared away by wednesday morning. but it's only a brief respite because we'll find more rain coming in from the atlantic, mainly affecting northern and western areas of the uk. and ahead of that rain, it'll be extremely mild on wednesday across more southeastern parts of the uk, temperatures at 17 celsius. but the winds will be strengthening through the day, and they will continue to strengthen as we head into the evening and overnight — that's because storm dudley is arriving, it races to the north of scotland with the strongest winds to the south of the storm itself. and, whilst it'll get very windy in most areas, this is where the core of strongest winds is expected to be. this is where we have this amber wind warning from the met office — gusts of 80mph or so could bring some damage and some disruption, as well. the winds do gradually ease during thursday as the storm races away. we've got a few showers

and some sunshine, some wetter weather in scotland, a mixture of rain and some snow to higher levels, as well. temperatures around 6—7 celsius here, highs of 12 in the south east of england. things get windier, though, as we head towards the end of the week. the next named storm — this is storm eunice — this area of low pressure will deepen. there's still a lot of uncertainty about the track, but it'll bring some very windy weather to much of the country, particularly so across england and wales. and further north in the colder air, particularly in scotland, there's likely to be some snow and some blizzards.

this is bbc news —

the headlines... western officials say russia has mobilised enough troops to be able to invade ukraine at "the drop of a hat". in a phone call, joe biden and borisjohnson agreed a deal was still possible. moscow has dismissed the warnings of an invasion — its foreign minister said on monday diplomacy is "far from exhausted". canada's prime minister has invoked emergency powers to try to end the weeks of disruptive protests against covid measures. the emergencies act gives the government enhanced authority for 30 days — including the power to prohibit public gatherings and travel. the us accountancy firm mazars says it can no longer stand behind ten years of financial statements, for the trump 0rganisation — and has severed ties with its client. the statements are crucial to legal cases alleging the former president and his company exaggerated the value of its assets. mr trump denies wrongdoing.

now on bbc news, hardtalk.