depending on claims russian troops, more russian troops, are entering east ukraine. the kremlin is saying the two breakaway regions in the east are now calling for russian military help. it does feel as if the situation is changing tonight. we have to see if the guessing game isn't over. there is still a hoping against hope among many that ukraine will not be plunged into an even more terrible chapter of a war which would have profound and dangerous consequences across europe and beyond. but tonight feels different and is different. many of our viewers will know that, for weeks, resident biden has been warning of an imminent invasion. in several days, in a few days, tonight, and for weeks, days, in a few days, tonight, and forweeks, president days, in a few days, tonight, and for weeks, president zelenskiy of ukraine has been saying, calm down, don't escalate, and now a president

who held off on mobilising troops has called up the reservists and we hear ukrainians are buying more guns, and some world leaders i met in munich last week said, i don't think president putin is going to attack, they are changing their mind and their language. the big, consequential questions are still hanging over kyiv tonight. how far is president putin prepared to go? how far is the west prepared to go to stop him or at least to try? lyse doucet, our _ to stop him or at least to try? lyse doucet, our chief _ to stop him or at least to try? lyse doucet, our chief international correspondent. much to ponder. that's it. now on bbc one, time for the news where you are. have a very good night.

this is bbc news. hello, and welcome to our look ahead to what the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with me are aubrey allegretti, political correspondent at the guardian, and sam lister, deputy political editor at the daily express. lovely to see you both. thanks so much forjoining us tonight. tomorrow's front pages, starting with...

the guardian report the situation in ukraine a "state of emergency" as the us warns putin is ready to invade. the i also report on the state of emergency in ukraine as it feels a "knot of fear". the ft says that "brussels hits putin's inner circle" as us hardens it's "invasion warning" to russia. meanwhile, the metro report that putin has gone "full tonto" in response to comments made by defence secretary ben wallace over the russian president sending troops into ukraine. meanwhile, the telegraph say that chancellor rishi sunak vows to slash the tax burden. but not just yet. the daily mirror simply say, "welcome to hell." so, let's begin. with the guardian if we can and operate let's begin with you because the front page is leading with ukraine. it is still moving with developments obviously coming in all the time on this. but everyone is warning of a potentially imminent threat here. warning of a potentially imminent threat here-—

warning of a potentially imminent threathere. , ., , . ., threat here. yes, actually. we have had us intelligence _ threat here. yes, actually. we have had us intelligence last _ threat here. yes, actually. we have had us intelligence last week- had us intelligence last week indicating they thought they would be an attack imminently then and obviously the suggestion still is that that could come very soon. white house officials are saying in the next 48 hours because they say the next 48 hours because they say the way that president putin has moved his troops mean that they are all going to have to start getting very tired quite soon. so they think he is going to have to launch is offensive. obviously ukraine is also having to gear up to prepare for the threat of invasion and some the report here tonight are about reservists being mobilised, about 3 million ukrainians who were living in russia being told to try and come home, so it's one of those very messy situations where it's hard for one side not to have to respond defensively because the other one is seen to be getting closer and closer to a full—scale attack, possibly beyond the two regions that we know president putin is expressed an interest in retaking.— president putin is expressed an interest in retaking. yes, and we have heard _ interest in retaking. yes, and we have heard within _ interest in retaking. yes, and we have heard within the _ interest in retaking. yes, and we have heard within the last -

interest in retaking. yes, and we have heard within the last hour. interest in retaking. yes, and we l have heard within the last hour or two of this apparent separatist appeal to russia which could be the pretext that obviously i wonder if these from pages will actually change because this is clearly moving at the moment, but honestly we also had to be very careful about the information that's coming out. yeah, and if you say is difficult to know _ yeah, and if you say is difficult to know exactly what's going on on the ground _ know exactly what's going on on the ground when we are clearly not there — ground when we are clearly not there but _ ground when we are clearly not there. but very concerning reports about _ there. but very concerning reports about the — there. but very concerning reports about the letters that had been sent to president putin asking for help to president putin asking for help to deal_ to president putin asking for help to deal with ukrainian aggression and this— to deal with ukrainian aggression and this is— to deal with ukrainian aggression and this is a moment we all feared, i suppose. — and this is a moment we all feared, i suppose, that these false flag operations, this pretext for war. thrat's— operations, this pretext for war. that's what— operations, this pretext for war. that's what certainly the west is been _ that's what certainly the west is been fearing all along and obviously with the _ been fearing all along and obviously with the reports that actually putin's— with the reports that actually putin's troops are pretty much 100% in position— putin's troops are pretty much 100% in position now to strike at any given— in position now to strike at any given moment, it reallyjust seems a very dangerous point in this whole crisis _

very dangerous point in this whole crisis. �* ,, ., ., crisis. bringing in the fts one of the other papers, _ crisis. bringing in the fts one of the other papers, they - crisis. bringing in the fts one of the other papers, they have - crisis. bringing in the fts one of| the other papers, they have gone crisis. bringing in the fts one of - the other papers, they have gone on brussels heating putin's inner circle as a us hardened invasion warning and the question whether sanctions from the us, the uk, the eu have been tough enough, deep enough, fast enough is a real one, is it not? , enough, fast enough is a real one, isitnot? , , ., is it not? yes, absolutely, and i can imagine _ is it not? yes, absolutely, and i can imagine that _ is it not? yes, absolutely, and i can imagine that for— is it not? yes, absolutely, and i can imagine that for political. can imagine that for political leaders it is very difficult to co—ordinate actions to ensure that essentially you don't move too quickly in one area and open up a sort of pocket and another native country that is still catching up. but at the same time, obviously, the complaint has been for a lot of conservative mps as well as opposition parties that this has not gone fast enough and essentially it's given the russians who might be affected by a second charge of sanctions the early warning signal to start withdrawing all of their money and funds that are invested here in the uk in other parts of europe, so the line at the ft has

lit on is to do with the fact that the eu has started sanctioning 27 people and entities. they include the chief of staff to putin's residual executive office and the defence minister, so not exactly unlikely names in there. the question will really be is 27 individuals and entities enough? yes and somehow there have been questions here about whether the british government should have gone further, questions from the opposition parties and a number of conservatives, too.— opposition parties and a number of conservatives, too. clearly concern from across — conservatives, too. clearly concern from across the _ conservatives, too. clearly concern from across the house _ conservatives, too. clearly concern from across the house and - conservatives, too. clearly concern from across the house and the - from across the house and the conservative back benches if you mentioned as well as labour and the other— mentioned as well as labour and the other parties in westminster and there _ other parties in westminster and there was— other parties in westminster and there was quite a strong defence from _ there was quite a strong defence from the — there was quite a strong defence from the forms are returned this morning who says regulus of sanctions, actually, putin is belt-bent _ sanctions, actually, putin is hell—bent in her words on invasion regardless — hell—bent in her words on invasion regardless of the sanctions. and there _ regardless of the sanctions. and there is— regardless of the sanctions. and there is this since that actually he has factored in sanctions all along into his _

has factored in sanctions all along into his plans, so it does make you wonder— into his plans, so it does make you wonder actually how effective these can be _ wonder actually how effective these can be if— wonder actually how effective these can be if he is utterly hell— bent wonder actually how effective these can be if he is utterly hell—bent on invasion — can be if he is utterly hell—bent on invasion. but certainly i think both the eu _ invasion. but certainly i think both the eu and — invasion. but certainly i think both the eu and the westminster governments have made it clear that they wiii— governments have made it clear that they will go much further if the full-scale — they will go much further if the full—scale invasion does take place. they are _ full—scale invasion does take place. they are ready to hit back harder. but to _ they are ready to hit back harder. but to what — they are ready to hit back harder. but to what and? we shall have to see. �* , but to what and? we shall have to see. ~ , ., , see. and 'ust finally, there are auoin to see. and just finally, there are going to be — see. and just finally, there are going to be a _ see. and just finally, there are going to be a lot _ see. and just finally, there are going to be a lot of— see. and just finally, there are going to be a lot of impacts . going to be a lot of impacts everywhere if this does escalate, evenif everywhere if this does escalate, even if this seems like a reasonably remote part of europe to people sitting in the uk, actually in terms of potential refugees, energy prices, you know completely changing political outlook can people will feel this if this does ratchet up. yes, absolutely, and the political opinion here in the uk seems to be

aware of the problem although i was at the energy price situation is not quite as severe as it is in germany where the cancellation of the pipeline is going to have huge repercussions for their interview process and we've already had russian ministers boasting about how difficult this is going to be for germans. obviously here the concern is that there will be a huge outpouring of refugees from ukraine into eastern europe and that potentially creates some quite big political problems, migration honestly have slipped on the political agenda since brexit happen here, but i imagine if we sort of see images of hundreds of thousands of deaf and he will try to flee the country again, those images are going be back on our screens and i met we will talk about that and whether the uk then needs to start taking a lot of these refugees because obviously we have not been able to move in, to send any personnel to actually sort of fight so what can we do to offer the country support? maybe thing refugees is one of those answers. brute refugees is one of those answers. we will see how this moves certainly whilst we are looking at the front

pages under the next hour or so but let's just move on if i pages under the next hour or so but let'sjust move on if i can, sam, to a domestic news now and on the front page of the guardian they have a story about student loan payments extended to 40 years. we are getting university news at the moment and how you think this is going to go down? i how you think this is going to go down? .. ., ., ., down? i cannot imagine it will go down? i cannot imagine it will go down particularly _ down? i cannot imagine it will go down particularly well _ down? i cannot imagine it will go down particularly well with - down? i cannot imagine it will go i down particularly well with students and obviously when you come out of university _ and obviously when you come out of university now with more than 50.000 _ university now with more than £30,000 worth of debt, that is a huge _ £30,000 worth of debt, that is a huge burden to carry throughout your working life and i think the way and what the _ working life and i think the way and what the treasury is trying to do is safe and _ what the treasury is trying to do is safe and find ways to save billions ithink— safe and find ways to save billions i think one — safe and find ways to save billions i think one of the ways they are try to sweeten— i think one of the ways they are try to sweeten this pearl is to reduce the interest rates on repayments for new students taking out loans. but obviously _ new students taking out loans. but obviously if you go from 30 years to 40 years. _ obviously if you go from 30 years to 40 years. it — obviously if you go from 30 years to 40 years, it is an entire working life you — 40 years, it is an entire working life you are paying back those loans and it will— life you are paying back those loans and it will no doubt make some students — and it will no doubt make some students question whether they want

to actually pursue a university career~ — to actually pursue a university career~ i— to actually pursue a university career. i think when it is anything that did _ career. i think when it is anything that did strike me from this is actually— that did strike me from this is actually only around a quarter of students — actually only around a quarter of students ever actually pay off their loans _ students ever actually pay off their loans in _ students ever actually pay off their loans in full at the moment, but under— loans in full at the moment, but under this— loans in full at the moment, but under this plan is expected to basically— under this plan is expected to basically hit more than half, so you can see _ basically hit more than half, so you can see why— basically hit more than half, so you can see why the treasury is keen to push ahead — can see why the treasury is keen to push ahead with this. and can see why the treasury is keen to push ahead with this.— can see why the treasury is keen to push ahead with this. and you think this is 'ust push ahead with this. and you think this isjust a — push ahead with this. and you think this isjust a necessary _ push ahead with this. and you think this isjust a necessary move - push ahead with this. and you think this isjust a necessary move for. this is just a necessary move for before he dies perhaps the treasury has got to find ways to raise revenue?— has got to find ways to raise revenue? ~ , ,., , ., ~ revenue? absolutely and i think there's obviously _ revenue? absolutely and i think there's obviously a _ revenue? absolutely and i think there's obviously a difficult - there's obviously a difficult balancing act and speaking to department for education sources this week they help be welcomed by universities because it will help shore up a lot of their concerns about funding in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. so that will certainly be the hope that some of these institutions will try to attract huge talent from overseas don't go under and will stay

supported anonymously it will be very difficult if i were an mp standing in the house of commons out orfor standing in the house of commons out or for everyone standing in the house of commons out orfor everyone to my standing in the house of commons out or for everyone to my register of members interest because obviously i have a very large student loan to pay back but there are millions of countries had the same problem but typically much worse. does countries had the same problem but typically much worse.— typically much worse. does it weigh on ou typically much worse. does it weigh on you having _ typically much worse. does it weigh on you having the _ typically much worse. does it weigh on you having the student - typically much worse. does it weigh on you having the student loan? - typically much worse. does it weigh on you having the student loan? i i on you having the student loan? i would like to say yes but to be honest it's one of those things that you just factory and as a sort of normal tach. you just factory and as a sort of normaltach. so you just factory and as a sort of normal tach. so you obviously see on your paycheque but you have no control over it, so it'sjust something you treat exactly as is written today, as a graduate tax campus whether goetz would become more like that.— more like that. sam, let me move on to the telegraph _ more like that. sam, let me move on to the telegraph and _ more like that. sam, let me move on to the telegraph and more _ more like that. sam, let me move on to the telegraph and more untaxed i to the telegraph and more untaxed with their headline on the chancellor vowing to slash the tax burden. obviously there's a lot of leadership contenders speculation going on and the chancellor is going

to do a big speech, we see, on making a claim to ultimately want to cut taxes but not yet. we making a claim to ultimately want to cut taxes but not yet.— cut taxes but not yet. we have seen this a few times _ cut taxes but not yet. we have seen this a few times now _ cut taxes but not yet. we have seen this a few times now from _ cut taxes but not yet. we have seen this a few times now from the - this a few times now from the chancellor, making promises about how he _ chancellor, making promises about how he will— chancellor, making promises about how he will cut taxes as soon is he is physically— how he will cut taxes as soon is he is physically possible. he is very keen— is physically possible. he is very keen to — is physically possible. he is very keen to stress that despite putting up keen to stress that despite putting up taxes _ keen to stress that despite putting up taxes in april by 1.25% of the national— up taxes in april by 1.25% of the national insurance to raise money for the _ national insurance to raise money for the carrot backlogs, that he is a traditional tory when it comes to taxes _ a traditional tory when it comes to taxes and he does want to keep them low. taxes and he does want to keep them iow now— taxes and he does want to keep them low. now obviously as you mentioned you to factor — low. now obviously as you mentioned you to factor in the fact that there is a potentially leadership contest in the _ is a potentially leadership contest in the offing depending on the outcome — in the offing depending on the outcome of police investigations and reports _ outcome of police investigations and reports and what have you. but certainty — reports and what have you. but certainly the chancellor is setting out his— certainly the chancellor is setting out his stall here and basically trying — out his stall here and basically trying to— out his stall here and basically trying to appeal to the party and tell them — trying to appeal to the party and tell them i am a traditional tory when _ tell them i am a traditional tory when it— tell them i am a traditional tory when it comes to that. i think he will reference margaret thatcher and point out _

will reference margaret thatcher and point out that during her time a government, sometimes taxes went up before _ government, sometimes taxes went up before they— government, sometimes taxes went up before they came down because that is a sensible or prudent way to manage — is a sensible or prudent way to manage the economy. you cannotjust last manage the economy. you cannotjust iast taxes— manage the economy. you cannotjust last taxes willy—nilly in hope that everything will work out from there. you have _ everything will work out from there. you have to — everything will work out from there. you have to put in the hard work, he was looking to make sure taxes can be kept _ was looking to make sure taxes can be kept iow — was looking to make sure taxes can be kept low and that is what he is pledging to do. | be kept low and that is what he is pledging to do-— be kept low and that is what he is pledging to do. i may i was the tory backbenchers _ pledging to do. i may i was the tory backbenchers are _ pledging to do. i may i was the tory backbenchers are all powerful, - backbenchers are all powerful, aubrey, and the telegraph talks about paper reports that the foreign secretary and other widely expected mp who could run in a leadership contest will potentially double the national insurance rise and collect the chancellor tax and bow to scrap it. so amongst these potential leadership candidates, one imagines we are to be hearing quite a lot or we are to be hearing quite a lot or we are hearing quite a lot. band i we are hearing quite a lot. and i think the chancellor _ we are hearing quite a lot. and i think the chancellor is _ we are hearing quite a lot. and i think the chancellor is very - think the chancellor is very nervous about being painted into a corner during a potential tory leadership contest, particularly as obviously

he has sorta been on the best footing possible coming off the back of the furlough scheme. but going into the spring with the national insurance rise in the cost of living and inflation he will come under a lot of pressure i suspect and his star also to fall. this will be him sorta making his mark yet again using sort of words that are not exactly backed up by eight promise to do anything on a date even when the telegraph references in its copy that it will probably be dismissed by critics as a lofty promise, then again people are really waiting for substance when they go exactly what taxes are you going and win because all begin do so far is judge you on your record and that is not a very couple pleasure to be sitting right now. .. couple pleasure to be sitting right now, ,,., ., ., , now. sam, again bringing in the ft, which has got _ now. sam, again bringing in the ft, which has got their _ now. sam, again bringing in the ft, which has got their take _ now. sam, again bringing in the ft, which has got their take on - now. sam, again bringing in the ft, which has got their take on it - now. sam, again bringing in the ft, which has got their take on it as - which has got their take on it as linking british brings forward tax rises to head off inflation, imf tells the chancellor, say the imf

says they should bring forward