welcome to bbc news — i'm simon pusey. our top stories. ukraine's president volodymyr zelensky appeals directly to the people of russia to prevent war — the un security council prepares to hold an emergency an emergency session. more russian military hardware heads to the ukrainian border as the us secretary of state says he believes a russian invasion is imminent — although aggression can still be avoided. ukraine braces for possible hostilities with reservists being called up tojoin hostilities with reservists being called up to join the regular army in preparation.

welcome to our viewers on pbs in america and around the globe. ukraine's president volodymyr zelensky has appealed us secretary of state, antony blinken, told nbc news that russian forces are in place for a �*major aggression�*. ukraine's president volodymyr zelensky has appealed directly to the people of russia for peace, saying: "the possibility of war depends on you". switching to the russian language in his daily address, he said 200,000 russian troops were now massed on ukraine's border, and had been ordered to move forward. a state of emergency is now in place in ukraine. the kremlin says the russian—backed separatists in eastern ukraine have requested its military support. an emergency meeting of the un security council is due to begin this hour at ukraine's request. us secretary of state, antony blinken, told nbc news that russian forces are in place for a �*major aggression�*. (tx sot) to have a reason to believe that before this night is over russian forces will begin to engage in something akin to a full invasion of ukraine? i

engage in something akin to a full invasion of ukraine?- full invasion of ukraine? i do. unfortunately, _ full invasion of ukraine? i do. unfortunately, russia - full invasion of ukraine? i do. unfortunately, russia has - unfortunately, russia has positioned its forces at the final point of edginess across ukraine�*s bodice to the north, to the east, to the south. everything seems to be in place for russia to engage in a major aggression against ukraine. typically, you think tonight that will happen? in the matter cannot be delayed or exact time on it everything is in place for russia to move forward. let�*s go to our correspondent in washington, david willis. anthony pinckney saying he believes russia will invade ukraine before the night is out. , ~ ,, . ., , ., out. yes, i think secretary of state blinking's _ out. yes, i think secretary of state blinking's response - out. yes, i think secretary of state blinking's response is l out. yes, i think secretary ofj state blinking's response is a state blinking�*s response is a little ambiguous. what we can take away from it is the fact that, as the pentagon said earlier today, an attack could come at any time and clearly it is possible that it could come as early as tonight. the pentagon making the point are 150,000 russian troops along the border with ukraine and that the russians are in a

military attack mode if indeed they choose to exercise that option. secretary of state blink and saying everything seems to be in place for russia to engage in a major aggression against ukraine. find to engage in a ma'or aggression against ukraine.— against ukraine. and tv reiterated _ against ukraine. and tv reiterated that - against ukraine. and tv reiterated that if - against ukraine. and tv reiterated that if russia | against ukraine. and tv - reiterated that if russia does continue to escalate then so will the us and i guess he is referring to more sanctions there. . , , , there. that is right, yes. today. — there. that is right, yes. today. the _ there. that is right, yes. today, the biden - there. that is right, yes. - today, the biden administration announced sanctions against the company behind the gas pipeline. that is the $11 billion project that will pump oil directly from russia to germany and also the biden announcing sanctions against two major banks. banks which the white house spokeswoman said today had served as a glorified piggy banks as she put it for the kremlin. those sanctions prevent the banks in question from basically

carrying out any transactions involving the united states and european financial institutions. further sanctions could come. it is possible they will target other banks and it is possible as well that they could target president putin more directly as well. the un security council _ more directly as well. the un security council are _ more directly as well. the un security council are meeting l more directly as well. the un | security council are meeting in half an hour. how unprecedented is a last—minute late—night meeting like this? is a last-minute late-night meeting like this?- is a last-minute late-night meeting like this? this is the second meeting _ meeting like this? this is the second meeting of _ meeting like this? this is the second meeting of its - meeting like this? this is the second meeting of its kind i meeting like this? this is the i second meeting of its kind this week to discuss ukraine and the measure is likely to condemn russia for its actions and brand them as against the international law but that resolution is unlikely to be upheld for the simple reason that russia has veto power on the security council. all this is an echo somewhat of 2014, of course, when the security council and manage the actions of russia in regards to crimea but that also was vetoed by

russia and later the full un general assembly adopted a resolution declaring the russian referendum on the status of crimea to be in the far lead. that meeting is due to get under way at the un any minute now. is to get under way at the un any minute "ow-— minute now. is a pretty bleak, isn't it? do — minute now. is a pretty bleak, isn't it? do think _ minute now. is a pretty bleak, isn't it? do think there - minute now. is a pretty bleak, isn't it? do think there is - minute now. is a pretty bleak, isn't it? do think there is any i isn�*t it? do think there is any diplomatic way out of this from the us perspective? you make the us perspective? you make the signals today were very much that the diplomatic and economic measures, you like, have been exhausted now. there�*s a feeling, really that, as far as the pentagon is concerned and the state department, that russia has engaged in what one diplomat called a sort of diplomatic theatre, pretending that it is looking to seek some sort of diplomatic solution to this crisis well on the other hand ramping up its forces in the region. as i mentioned, 150,000 russian troops now more or less

encircle ukraine and very sinking feeling that they are to be pressed into action soon. this really does feel like a landmark moment. this really does feel like a landmark moment. with me is our newsroom reporter mark lobel. reports of shelling in ukraine. what is the latest? in reports of shelling in ukraine. what is the latest? in ukraine, a similar mention _ what is the latest? in ukraine, a similar mention coming - what is the latest? in ukraine, a similar mention coming from j a similar mention coming from america from the president volodymyr zelensky. around four hours ago he published this 11 minute broadcast which was an appeal notjust ukrainians but to russians as well. he spoke in russian, telling them that he had actually tried to call so he was appealing to them because he felt that a major invasion was coming in the next few days unless major action was taken to avert that and so, in order to appeal to russians, he spoke to them and let�*s hear what he said.

he spoke to them and let's hear what he said.— he spoke to them and let's hear what he said. more than 200,000 soldiers, thousands _ what he said. more than 200,000 soldiers, thousands of _ what he said. more than 200,000 soldiers, thousands of combat - soldiers, thousands of combat vehicles — soldiers, thousands of combat vehicles. your leadership is approved at step forward into the territory of another country. and this step could be the beginning of a big war on the beginning of a big war on the continent of europe. the whole — the continent of europe. the whole world is talking about what — whole world is talking about what may happen from day to day and it _ what may happen from day to day and it could start at any time without— and it could start at any time without provocation. a and it could start at any time without provocation.- without provocation. a real -ivot without provocation. a real pivot from _ without provocation. a real pivot from the _ without provocation. a real pivot from the president i without provocation. a real- pivot from the president there. weeks of coming tensions, is now preparing his country for war saying that ukraine would defend itself. it has been a big day in ukraine on wednesday, notjust the wednesday, not just the conscription wednesday, notjust the conscription of the reserve is calling people up and preparing for that, cyber attacks reported as well and a state of emergency a couple of hours ago. that went into action so 30 days of really searching cars, looking around to find out what is going on. in a

conflict that has been predicted could end in a political coup. an extraordinary intervention, that speech. it can impact you think that would have heard or what impact was he hoping it would have? is looking around now at what you got 200,000 russian troops are so on the borders of ukraine. and really trying to target his efforts into repairing the country but also asking people if they can just appeal to president putin to hold. the focus is on east of the country and if we have a look at this map we can see these are the two areas that president putin, we will look at there. the two areas that president putin a nice few days has decided, you know, he considers to be independent and within the separatist areas we can hopefully show you another map of which will outline in greater detail, the conflict zone potentially not the separatist areas themselves were just beyond that but the

ukrainians are in charge. we have heard that there are but blasts in the last few hours in the early mornings of thursday the early mornings of thursday the in the separatist areas. we also have this appeal from readers of those areas, we can show this letter now. this was actually written on tuesday but published on wednesday and analysts are saying is part of analysts are saying is part of a russian playbook in order to show an appealfrom a russian playbook in order to show an appeal from those leaders to president putin to quell what they called ukrainian aggression in bringing the troops. it is a war of words and those in the ukrainian side are saying there�*s been far more aggression met out at them than inside the separatist areas. be hearing parts of russian airspace have passed few hours been closed. the element that is why it was ukraine. the airspace has been closed. no doubt there is speculation that russia is close the airspace in order to provide airspace space should tanks roll into the

disputed areas. the fear is that those tanks will keep rolling further into ukraine and create a conflict. thank you for the update. let�*s hear from the united states — andrea kendall—taylor is a former senior intelligence officer specialising in russia who is now director of the transatlantic security program at the center for a new american security, a national �*think tank�* in washington. this thing is moving at quite a pace. can you analyse the gravity of the situation? the event of this _ gravity of the situation? the event of this critical - gravity of the situation? tie: event of this critical window and that is what the us announcements were under scoring today. i think it is so critical because finally we are seeing a convergence of what has been happening in military space with what is happening politically. you know, for some time, peter�*s tried to reassure the westie does not want a in ukraine and he is withdrawing forces from the border. with a speech on monday that has all

changed. he reiterated his view that he does not think ukraine has a right to exist. you then in very short order went on to recognise the independence of those territories, moving russian forces into those regions, she now has legislative approval to use force outside of russia. he continues to make these very extreme demands on ukraine, saying that they now must recognise russia and demilitarised. the key here is, of course we had that 190,000 russian forces on the border. and all of a sudden it is a convergence of this military movement along with the political statements that suggest that we really are getting quite close to the major military incursion that the united states and the uk have been warning about. volodymyr zelensky has been speaking to the russian people saying that president putin

would not take his call. it saying that president putin would not take his call. it was an impassioned _ would not take his call. it was an impassioned speech, - would not take his call. it was an impassioned speech, very| an impassioned speech, very moving speech, a last—ditch effort to avert crisis. as the tension really grows inside ukraine. i think the really important point that his speech underscores, though, is that this is a war of choice. this up this is a war of choice. this up to one man. we saw, very much a charade on monday of putin kind of trotting out his national security council in front of the cameras, having each individual have to give their approval or their consensus about the need to take, to declare the region�*s independence. at that underscore to me is that there is no are now imposed on putin my inner circle who can constrain him and who would be willing to introduce ideas that are even at odds with the way putin thinks and that is extremely dangerous and so, again, this is a war of choice. russia is not under threat from ukraine, nato does not threaten russia and so this is the

choice i think very much of one man. ., ~ ., , man. do agree with anthony blinking's — man. do agree with anthony blinking's is _ man. do agree with anthony blinking's is then _ man. do agree with anthony blinking's is then spent? - man. do agree with anthony blinking's is then spent? he | blinking�*s is then spent? he said he thinks russia will invade night is over which is pretty dramatic and extreme. do you agree? where do you think you agree? where do you think you got that intelligence from? he said we don�*t know exactly for sure the timing of any evasion but i do think the point is that camilo, it is within the next 24—48 hours. the us intelligence community along with the uk has been doing amazing work in terms of their collection capacity to issue warnings about what russia is doing to take away the element of surprise, to make it very hard for russia to the fore the narrative about what is happening his i think, you know, after 9/11, you know, we were caught flat—footed in 2014. our intelligence community was not necessarily postured in a way that gave us visibility into what russia was doing. 2014 was a really

important wake—up call and so we are in a much better position this time around. the allies are much more prepared going into what will be a really upsetting period. base and everything _ really upsetting period. base and everything you _ really upsetting period. base and everything you have - really upsetting period. base and everything you have seen today and heard today, i do think there is any diplomatic way out of this now? it think there is any diplomatic way out of this now? it saddens me to say _ way out of this now? it saddens me to say n0- — way out of this now? it saddens me to say no. based _ way out of this now? it saddens me to say no. based on - way out of this now? it saddens me to say no. based on what i way out of this now? it saddens | me to say no. based on what we are hearing putin say, that he again believes that ukraine does not have a right to exist. his long—standing grievances that he harbours. the way the troops are moving into these prepared positions. that combined with the fact that secretary blinking of the regions in the donbas cancelled his meeting with the russian foreign minister and the french have cancelled their upcoming visits and so there is not even any diplomacy on the horizon and so, to me, we�*rejust waiting for that last foot to drop. you can feel the tension. it is palpable in ukraine and

so unfortunately i think, you know, we are moving towards this really unfortunate period. very, very serious situation. that is all we have time for. thank you very much for bringing us up to date from washington. we are hearing tonight is likely the night russia will invade. does that make sense from where you are? none of this make sense. but i�*m hearing the same thing. the latest news out of ukraine is not good. there are reports that the civilian airspace is now closed and that at last ukraine is mobilising and preparing for an imminent attack. i hope it does not come. ., �* ., .,

attack. i hope it does not come. ., ., ., ., come. you've had a lot of experience _ come. you've had a lot of experience working i come. you've had a lot ofj experience working under come. you've had a lot of- experience working under the 0bama administration. though ascension is the kind of things that you expected? the sanctions _ that you expected? the sanctions announced i that you expected? tte: sanctions announced yesterday were interim sanctions only. was a foretaste of things to come. the us and europe have hit two major russian banks. the fifth and eighth largest. they are prepared to hit most if not all including other state run companies. in other news that biden administration working with europe in the uk is ready if there is invasion tonight at think i�*d sanctions will be coming within a day or two. the sanctions yesterday were a foretaste, that is all. the west are serious, i think, about pushing back on putin�*s

aggression at least using economic tool.— aggression at least using economictool. , , ., economic tool. this staggered a - roach economic tool. this staggered approach is — economic tool. this staggered approach is obviously - economic tool. this staggered approach is obviously tacticall approach is obviously tactical to try to prevent pressure from a full—scale invasion. yesterday�*s sanctions were in response to his recognition of the russian —controlled separatist territories. the biden administration felt it had to respond. the choice is either don�*t respond at all or throw everything we have got at them. the biden administration wisely, in my view, chose to show that we are serious but reserve the heaviest part of the stake for the full—fledged invasion which i fear is coming soon. ~ ., ., soon. would you say that sanctions _ soon. would you say that sanctions have _ soon. would you say that sanctions have been i soon. would you say that - sanctions have been coordinated between countries, the us, australia, europe?- between countries, the us, australia, europe? yes. it has been good. — australia, europe? yes. it has been good, not _ australia, europe? yes. it has been good, not identical. i australia, europe? yes. it has been good, not identical. the | been good, not identical. the european sanctions announced

they were pretty strong. the uk sanctions were less strong but i expect the uk will catch up in germany made an important decision when it said it was suspending certification process on the gas pipeline. the us sanction that pipeline today but the german move, this is the one that counts because it shows putin that he is losing any sympathy in the german government, even one when the chance of the is a social democrat because of his aggression. that is an important step by germany and i applaud it. b, important step by germany and i a- laud it. �* ., ., important step by germany and i aulaudit. ., ., , applaud it. a lot of people talk about _ applaud it. a lot of people talk about just _ applaud it. a lot of people talk about just how - applaud it. a lot of people talk about just how strict i applaud it. a lot of people i talk about just how strict the german sanctions had been compared to the uk. what effect will the sanctions have in the future? how hard were they hit fresher? you make the full financial sanctions and technology sanctions could hit russia very hard indeed. the more moderate sanctions that we put on under the administration

of barack 0bama hit the russian economy by a loss of 1.25% of gdp growth, a rough estimate. these are going to be stronger. these are going to be stronger. the us also sanctioned russian sovereign debt, so did the eu. that means no more russian bombs hours of march one. that applies to the secondary market as well. these are serious blows. putin cannot count on foreign money. to make up for lack of reform at home. he�*s got a lot of reserves. the price of oil is high but these financial sanctions could easily cause a drain on those reserves. putin is going to do, well, i hope he doesn�*t. but if you invade ukraine that will do a lot of damage, not of death, a lot of damage, not of death, a lot of bad. but the west has two pushback on his aggression. we have to use them and we have

to re—evaluate our relations with russia. if putin launches this full—scale world war ii style invasion i think us and the eu are done with trying to reset relations with putin or have be forthcoming and talk about a mix of cooperation and competition. we will start having to treat him as a dictator at home and an aggressive tyrant abroad. a danger to european peace. that means we�*re going to have to push back on him and his aggression over a long period of time. i hope he does not in invade but an evasion like this invade but an evasion like this in a style of the european dictators of the first half of the 20th century is something we need to take seriously. as anthony brink and says if russia continues to escalate and obviously the us and

pushbackin and obviously the us and pushback in the same way. really interesting to speech about those sanctions and impacts they�*re likely to have. thank you forjoining us. thank you for the opportunity. a state of emergency is in force across ukraine because of intensified aggression from russia. 0ur correspondence has beenin russia. 0ur correspondence has been in the donbas region of eastern ukraine and sent us this report. more of moscow�*s military hardware on view today in the rostov region, close to the board with eastern ukraine. no movement here, but the fear is that russia is just biding its time before launching an invasion. and in ukraine, on the front lines in avdiivka, they are combat ready. they have been fighting kremlin—backed separatists for eight years. lieutenant ivan says things are heating up. in this region, a lot of snipers.

a lot of enemy using a lot of types of grenade launchers. it�*s also really heavy weapon. they can use it 24 hour per seven. now we are trying... ..like to stay in the shadows so if we have trenches, we move on with them. because the enemy also like to use drones. this destroyed hangar provides some cover from pro—moscow rebels. troops here call it the skeleton. we have been asked not to speak too loudly because russian separatist fighters are very nearby, near enough to hear us. since we have been here, there has been shelling and this front line has been more active in recent days. there is a real sense now that this conflict is building. so, it was just two days ago,

it is only two hits from the whole of firing into us. it was like 12 hits in this region... ivan, who is 30, knows that death could come raining down at any moment. i also think about it, it�*s very scary for me. as a simple guy, i�*m also afraid to be hurt or die here. and that�*s why i�*m stand here in the armour and try to do myjob as possible to stay alive. that�*s a daily battle. they scan for enemy snipers, who will also be scanning for them. if russian troops invade ukraine, there could be many young men lost, on both sides. and for the very young here, lessons in survival. this is school nmber one in the town of druzhkivka, a practice run taking children down to the bomb shelter,

packing them to the rafters. normally, it happens twice a year. today, an extra drill, as this nation faces a moment of grave danger. we arejust we are just hearing from a notice given to ukrainian airmen that there are restrictions on civilian aircraft in ukraine�*s airspace, that has been restricted due to a potential hazard for civil aviation. no doubt a response, as you say, to the closing of airspace. that is the area to the east of ukraine close to those two areas that we have

been discussing so much. how is the west responding?— been discussing so much. how is the west responding? looking at the west responding? looking at the west responding? looking at the west are _ the west responding? looking at the west are not _ the west responding? looking at the west are not prepared i the west responding? looking at the west are not prepared to i the west are not prepared to put troops on the ground. they do offer some military help in certain ways and deliveries arriving of the past few days but sanctions has been a key target. the eu hasjust published its sanctions list, in fact, naming the defence minister of russia, the chief of staff, the deputy prime minister, the construction and regional development all the way down to the editor in chief of russia today and the foreign affairs ministry spokesperson. 27 high—profile individuals and entities been named by the eu and we are expecting more sanctions if novation takes place from america which is being predicted by both the us secretary of state the ukrainian president to take place in the next couple of hours to days because they are saying the military is ready and the conditions are ready. but i will obviously have a lot more news coming out because you�*ve got a un security council meeting about to start any second now so i think we

will be talking to you again but thank you very much for now. that about it for now. do stay tuned right here. hello there. high pressure�*s expected to build in across the country to end this week and into the weekend to settle things down, bring us some sunshine and lighter winds. but before that point, thursday looks very unsettled. it�*ll be cold and windy with sunshine and even wintry showers. now, the cold air�*s been moving in across the country during the overnight period behind this weather front, this band of rain, which is actually a cold front. it�*ll be lying across the south east of england and east anglia to start thursday morning. some heavy rain on that, bit of sleet on its back edge, but eventually it�*ll clear out during the mid to latter part of the morning, and then we�*re all into brighter skies, sunshine and blustery showers. these will be wintry across northern and western areas, particularly on the hills. frequent snow showers across scotland, northern ireland, mixed in with thunder and lightning. also start off with an ice risk across northern scotland, too.

it�*s going to be a windy day across the board, widespread gales across the northern half of the uk. and these temperatures much lower than they�*ve been of late, 4—8 degrees across the south. factor in the wind, it�*ll feel even colder than those temperatures suggest. those showers with thunder and lightning and snow continue across the north of the uk during thursday night. the winds will start to turn light as a ridge of high pressure moves in, and that�*ll also help kill off some of the showers. temperature—wise, ranging from around freezing to five degrees across the south. so, you can see this ridge of high pressure building in for friday. it�*ll push the strong winds and the showers away from northern and eastern areas gradually through the day, so it could start quite windy across eastern england in towards the south east. one or two showers, but as that ridge of high pressure builds in, it�*ll settle things down, increasing amounts of sunshine, the winds falling lighter. so, temperatures will respond. highs of around 10—11, maybe 12 degrees across the south. a touch higher across the north, too. so, that�*s friday, then, a fine picture. we hold onto our area of high pressure into the weekend as well, particularly for england and wales, but you�*ll notice these weather fronts starting to push into the far north and the west, particularly as we head on into sunday, so it will be going

downhill there during part two of the weekend. so, plenty of dry weather around on saturday, particularly for england and wales. that lasts across england and wales on sunday, but it starts to turn breezier, cloudier and wetter across the north and the west.

this is bbc news, the headlines: this ukraine�*s prosecco volodymyr zelensky is appealing directly to the people of russia to prevent war. in a televised statement he said his latest call for talks with vladimir putin have been met with silence. addressing the russian people, he called for peace, saying what happens next depends on them. the un security council is about to hold an emergency session. russian military hardware is heading to the ukrainian border as the us secretary of state says russia could invade although aggression can still be avoided. antony blinken has warned russian forces at the final point of readiness. and ukraine is bracing for possible hostilities, bringing compulsory military service for all men of fighting age. reverse lists are being called up reverse lists are being called up to join the regular army in preparation —— reservists are.