i'm ros atkins on bbc news as we continue our coverage of the russian invasion of ukraine. as the battle rages, i hope for peace, ukraine's president agrees to talk with russia but accuses the kremlin of war crimes. translation: russia's criminal actions _ crimes. translation: russia's criminal actions against - crimes. translation: russia's criminal actions against ukraine i criminal actions against ukraine show signs of genocide. i talked about this with the un secretary general. russia is on the path of evil. . _ , , evil. vladimir putin says he is movin: evil. vladimir putin says he is moving russia's _ evil. vladimir putin says he is moving russia's nuclear- evil. vladimir putin says he is - moving russia's nuclear deterrent to special alert in response to what he called aggression from nato. there has been heavy clashes in ukraine's

second largest city kharkiv, the country's foreign minister says people are fighting back. i country's foreign minister says people are fighting back. i want to stress that in _ people are fighting back. i want to stress that in the _ people are fighting back. i want to stress that in the first _ people are fighting back. i want to stress that in the first four - people are fighting back. i want to stress that in the first four days i stress that in the first four days of russia's invasion, russia has not achieved a single strategic goal. meanwhile in germany, huge protests over the conflict have taken place as berlin pledges a massive hike in defence spending. also, thousands of people are continuing to flee ukraine, hoping to find safety in countries to the west. figs ukraine, hoping to find safety in countries to the west.— ukraine, hoping to find safety in countries to the west. as you can see, countries to the west. as you can see. poland _ countries to the west. as you can see. poland is — countries to the west. as you can see, poland is now— countries to the west. as you can see, poland is now absolutely - countries to the west. as you can see, poland is now absolutely on| countries to the west. as you can | see, poland is now absolutely on a humanitarian front line of this crisis. hello. i'm ros atkins, welcome to

bbc news' ongoing coverage of the russian invasion of ukraine. the ukrainian government has agreed to hold talks with the russian delegation without preconditions on the border with neighbouring belarus. in another major development, presents putin has ordered russian military commanders to put the country's strategic nuclear forces on special alert, their highest level. he says it is in response to aggression from the nato military alliance. the move has been condemned by the white house and nato says putin's threat is dangerous and irresponsible. this is the latest map of russian —controlled territory in ukraine, ukraine says it still controls all of the major cities but there has been heavy fighting in the east, in kharkiv. so far, the un refugee agency estimates that 368,000 people have fled ukraine to escape the conflict. we begin our coverage with this report from angus crawford. combat on the streets of a european city. ukrainian soldiers using rocket—propelled grenades in kharkiv, in the north—east

of the country. putting up a fierce defence, but still, the russian forces come. —— here, searching through an abandoned russian convoy. ukraine's president again addressed his people. translation: last night was brutal in ukraine. - again, the shelling, again, the bombing of residential areas and civilian infrastructure. but a glimmer of hope, after a call with this man, president lukashenko of belarus, an agreement to hold peace talks with russia. but the killing goes on — four people died in this building close to the russian border. homes are now targets. apartment blocks in a northern suburb of kyiv burn, hit by russian fire, as attacks continue across the country. a complete curfew here — with mayor and former heavyweight boxing champion vitali klitschko

warning of russian infiltrators. "the situation in the capital is complex and tense," he said. "the enemy has not broken into the city but saboteurs are operating." singing ukrainian national anthem. people remain defiant. these women singing the national anthem as they pack supplies for the front line. to the west, the desperate, mobbing the trains, trying to escape. and at border crossings, tens of thousands arrive — queues stretching into the distance. siren. russia has not achieved the quick victory it wanted, and kyiv has not fallen. president putin reacted by placing his nuclear forces on president putin reacted by placing his nuclearforces on high alert.

translation: his nuclear forces on high alert. translation:— his nuclear forces on high alert. translation: ~ , ., . , ., ., translation: western forces are not onl takin: translation: western forces are not only taking unfriendly _ translation: western forces are not only taking unfriendly steps _ translation: western forces are not only taking unfriendly steps against i only taking unfriendly steps against our country in the economic dimension, i mean the illegitimate sanctions that everyone knows about very well but the top officials of leading nato countries also make aggressive statements with regards to our country. and in truth, despite losses in the south, the russian military has gained ground, with more troops and armour waiting in reserve should peace talks fail. angus crawford, bbc news. our 0ur correspondence our correspondencejenny hill our correspondence jenny hill is our correspondencejenny hill is in moscow and sent us the latest from there on vladimir putin's instruction to his military generals to put russia's nuclear capability on special alert. at this stage, it is a very dramatic sounding development and it certainly does increase i think the tensions here. it is not the first time that mr putin has referred to russia's nuclear capabilities around this particular invasion.

he has talked about russia's nuclear capabilities before, during the launch of the invasion. he has of course also warned any country that tries to interfere with what he is doing in ukraine, that there would be consequences which would go beyond anything that you have seen in your history, which most people took as a veiled reference to some kind of nuclear attack. it is clear that mr putin does not want to back down, despite the sanctions, despite his increasingly isolated position on the world stage, but this i think has dismayed many in the west, certainly in the us, who have said it is an irresponsible thing to have said. now to our chief international correspondence lyse doucet in the ukrainian capital, kyiv. thank you forjoining us. i mentioned at the beginning of the hour that the ukrainians have indicated they are willing to talk to russia. what form might this take?—

willing to talk to russia. what form might this take? they are willing to listen is what _ might this take? they are willing to listen is what the _ might this take? they are willing to listen is what the foreign _ might this take? they are willing to listen is what the foreign minister i listen is what the foreign minister said in a press conference on facebook, as happens these days. then we received reports that the delegates were arriving at that position close to the belarusian border. after that came reports that missiles were being fired from belarusian territory into ukraine, which raised the question, well, are the talks going to be off? the belarusian president had vowed to make sure there were no attacks or movement of russian troops or russian armoured vehicles, russian air attacks, and it does not seem to have stopped them. we are now hearing reports that they may start tomorrow. so belarus, neighbouring ukraine but are very close ally of president putin, is now trying to play mediator. but it is a very tall order right now. i play mediator. but it is a very tall order right now.—

play mediator. but it is a very tall order right now. i was going to ask ou about order right now. i was going to ask you about it _ order right now. i was going to ask you about it being _ order right now. i was going to ask you about it being a _ order right now. i was going to ask you about it being a tall _ order right now. i was going to ask you about it being a tall order- you about it being a tall order given that the russians did joint military exercises with belarusian troops just before this invasion, they are hardly a neutral third party. they are hardly a neutral third .a . ., . , they are hardly a neutral third party. exactly, that is what president _ party. exactly, that is what president zelensky - party. exactly, that is what president zelensky said - party. exactly, that is what i president zelensky said when party. exactly, that is what - president zelensky said when it was first mooted. you will remember that the first venue proposed was minsk, the first venue proposed was minsk, the capital of belarus and president zelensky rejected that, pointing out that belarusian territory was now being used as a launching pad for strikes against neighbouring ukraine, and as is his way, earlier today, he did one of his videos, directly speaking to the people of belarus, saying, "be belarus, don't be russia. you used to stand with us. why are you allowing your territory to be used against us in this war?" bear in mind that 2015, it was the venue for the 2015 minsk agreements, i was there at the time and the ukrainians now say they agreed to that deal because in their

words, they had a gun to their heads and russian forces had just invaded, annexing crimea and they felt they had to give in to international diplomacy. now it is a difference ukraine, a different army, and a different fight. they are going to not accept any demand that they feel are inconsistent with their sovereign objectives and ideals. you sovereign ob'ectives and ideals. you are in the sovereign objectives and ideals. you are in the capital and it is no doubt vladimir putin's number one goal to take control of it. what is the latest we have on the military status of the conflict around the city? status of the conflict around the ci ? , , ., ., status of the conflict around the ci ? , ,., ., city? yes, des four of the invasion, ukrainians — city? yes, des four of the invasion, ukrainians went _ city? yes, des four of the invasion, ukrainians went to _ city? yes, des four of the invasion, ukrainians went to bed _ city? yes, des four of the invasion, ukrainians went to bed last - city? yes, des four of the invasion, ukrainians went to bed last night . ukrainians went to bed last night with warnings that it could have been the night of all nights last night, the air raid sirens sounded, amplified by warnings on megaphones to stay downstairs, don't come out, don't go to any other rooms in your house except the basement, there are going to be russian attacks tonight

and they could be ferocious. today dawned clear and cold with no russian troops in the centre of we kyiv. learned it was another city, the second city, kharkiv, which was really the focus of the most intense fighting, street to street, russian armoured vehicles rumbling through the streets. but there have been explosions all through the day today, regular explosions, on the edges of this city, about 20 miles away, in some directions, about ten miles to the north—west. there is no doubt that russia wants to advance but the advance has stalled. the ukrainians are putting up resistance. i think the question now is, with all this talk about talks tomorrow, will there still be attacks on the capital kyiv tonight? i can tell you, if i look down here, it is absolutely eerie, chilling. the streets are completely empty. the streets are completely empty. the traffic lights are blinking

yellow because of course, the only cars on the street are meant to be military or security cars. and this silence, stillness has fallen over what used to be one of the most vibrant european cities. and what used to be one of the most vibrant european cities. and that silence will _ vibrant european cities. and that silence will be _ vibrant european cities. and that silence will be connected - vibrant european cities. and that silence will be connected to - vibrant european cities. and that silence will be connected to the l silence will be connected to the curfew the city's authorities have put in place. as i remember, that continues into monday morning. beyond that, what is the advice to families who are still in the city about how they should go about their lives? , ., , ., ., ., ~ lives? yes, families who have taken to basements. _ lives? yes, families who have taken to basements, bunkers, _ lives? yes, families who have taken to basements, bunkers, bomb- to basements, bunkers, bomb shelters, the metro stations, they are counting the hours until they can leave at 8am on monday morning. we are hearing that people are running out of food, running out of water, they need to perhaps go home and get things, they need to charge their phones. they are running out of everything. they have been down there since 5pm yesterday but if the

security situation deteriorates over night, they won't be able to leave. sorry, this is the way it is, i wondered if it was an aeroplane or a car. ~ , ., ., ., wondered if it was an aeroplane or a car. . car. we will let you go and check whether it _ car. we will let you go and check whether it is _ car. we will let you go and check whether it is one _ car. we will let you go and check whether it is one of— car. we will let you go and check whether it is one of the - car. we will let you go and check whether it is one of the other. i whether it is one of the other. thank you forjoining us. stay safe and to all of our colleagues, please stay safe as well. let's move from ukraine to jane o'brien who is joining us from washington, dc. every day the americans are talking to us about this crisis, talking to us about their reaction to it. what is the latest?— is the latest? well, the latest is the reaction _ is the latest? well, the latest is the reaction to _ is the latest? well, the latest is the reaction to president - is the latest? well, the latest isj the reaction to president putin's announcement that his nuclear forces are being put on alert. this has been condemned in the strongest possible terms by the white house, the pentagon and the us ambassador to the un, linda thomas—greenfield, who says that efforts in new york are now going to be ramped up to hold president putin accountable.

defence officials here say that they believe that president putin's announcement is genuine but at the moment, they don't have any information as to how it might be implemented. now, they are not commenting or giving any information about what effect this is having on america's own nuclear readiness. america, as we know, has the largest nuclear arsenal in the world, but officials say that they remain confident of america's ability to defend itself. so clearly we are reaching a new level in the war of rhetoric and new tensions very much heightened today by this announcement from russia. i am interested _ announcement from russia. i am interested in _ announcement from russia. i am interested in how _ announcement from russia. i am interested in how this _ announcement from russia. i am interested in how this story is being received in the us. sunday morning is a big morning for the political programmes on cable tv news, are they all focused on this or our domestic matters competing with this story? i

or our domestic matters competing with this story?— with this story? i think as far as the news cycle _ with this story? i think as far as the news cycle is _ with this story? i think as far as the news cycle is concerned, i the news cycle is concerned, clearly, this is the biggest news of the day and there has been a parade of us officials past and present giving their take on what this means and a real sense that the post—cold war era for america is now firmly over and that any ambition of president biden to focus on china is now going to have to be recalibrated, as russia is clearly posing a greater threat than anyone could possibly have imagined just a few months ago. we do have the state of the union address coming up, which president biden will address the nation from congress and outline his plans for his term, and take stock of what he feels are the concerns of americans. it will be very interesting to see how much of other issues elbow aside the current

crisis in ukraine. obviously, he is going to have to talk about ukraine because he has already warned that americans are going to feel pain from the sanctions that have already been implemented and americans are facing an enormous increase in the cost of living already because of rampant inflation that america is experiencing, much like many other parts of the world. so there are other domestic issues that americans themselves are probably going to consider more pressing than ukraine but at the moment, the political classes, congress, the white house and defence officials are obviously very much focused on ukraine and this latest move by russia. i very much focused on ukraine and this latest move by russia.- this latest move by russia. i know the americans _ this latest move by russia. i know the americans channel _ this latest move by russia. i know the americans channel a - this latest move by russia. i know the americans channel a lot i this latest move by russia. i know the americans channel a lot of i this latest move by russia. i know. the americans channel a lot of their responses to this crisis via nato which is a military alliance which dominates but it is very much the senior partner in that relationship with other countries. how isjoe biden coordinating the western response and maybe even consider coming to europe to meet his

counterpart here?— coming to europe to meet his counterpart here? well, america is takin: the counterpart here? well, america is taking the lead _ counterpart here? well, america is taking the lead in _ counterpart here? well, america is taking the lead in many _ counterpart here? well, america is taking the lead in many respects. l counterpart here? well, america is| taking the lead in many respects. it was ready to impose sanctions, disconnect russia from the swift messaging service that underpins the global banking system, long before the europeans were. but president biden also has two, and has made this very clear, he can't move ahead of european allies because the european economies are likely to bear the brunt of the impact of any sanctions against russia, far more than america is. so he has made it very clear that whatever america does, it has to be in absolute with europe. he can't get out ahead of that. —— in absolute lock step with europe. we have seen this in the last day with joint statements coming from the white house and the eu simultaneously, so there is very much a coordinated, very carefully calibrated response and i think that

is going to continue indefinitely. the other area that the un and the us can also take a lead in is of course at the un and i think we're going to see more of that in the coming days as well. linda thomas—greenfield, the united states ambassador to the un, has said that these efforts to hold president putin accountable will be ramped up in the coming days, and the us has already made a request to trigger an emergency meeting of the un security council which will trigger an emergency meeting of the general assembly in order to try to circumvent russia's veto as a permanent member of the security council. the us wants to try and get through its resolution that it holds russian actions as deplorable and demands the immediate withdrawal of

all forces from ukraine. so they are still going to be pushing for that and i think again, the united nations will take very much centrestage in the next couple of days. centrestage in the next couple of da s. . ~ centrestage in the next couple of da s. ., ~' , ., centrestage in the next couple of da s. ., ,, ., ., centrestage in the next couple of da s. ., ., ., , centrestage in the next couple of das. .mg ., ., m days. thank you for “oining us. we bean the days. thank you for “oining us. we began the hour— days. thank you forjoining us. we began the hour with _ days. thank you forjoining us. we began the hour with lyse - days. thank you forjoining us. we began the hour with lyse doucet l days. thank you forjoining us. we | began the hour with lyse doucet in the ukrainian capital kyiv and we have heard from jane in the american capital washington and let's go back to ukraine. we expected the capital to ukraine. we expected the capital to be the military focus today but as lyse doucet was saying, the much greater focus today appears to have been kharkiv, another big city in ukraine and we have been speaking to someone who escaped the city, from the ukrainian youth —— ukrainian youth delegate to the un who is now displaced within ukraine. this is his story. ijust left kharkiv yesterday, ijumped on one of the trains from kharkiv and now i am staying near the oil station which was blown up by russians yesterday but i am staying safe and working constantly because we need everyone to fight in this war.

we need digital warriors. we need you europeans to come to our country also to help us. i was not really frightened, i was frightened just in first few hours of the invasion but then the need to act took over so we gathered a lot of people and told everyone that there is a train next day that you can go. it was free to use, you could just come to it. we went to kyiv, i slept one night in kyiv, under severe bombardment, so it is really now hard but we are really resistant and we are protecting the whole of western civilisation from russia. hundreds of thousands of refugees are flooding towards ukraine's borders, particularly to the west. poland said this morning that at least 150 people have crossed from ukraine since the russian invasion began on thursday. a short while ago, our europe correspondent marc levin spoke to us from south—eastern poland close to the border with

ukraine. —— marc this is what solidarity looks like. these are all donations from the people of poland that have been gathered from people right across the country in fact, and brought here to the border with ukraine, where they are being kept and sorted in this converted sports hall, ready to take to the border with ukraine. we're very close to the border, but everything is being stored and sorted here because at the moment there aren't the facilities on the border to house all this material. but you can see there's a lot of food, there's water, there are blankets, there are nappies for babies, a lot of supplies and this has all been donated. and everybody here are volunteers of all ages, really from young to old. and you can see how the the poles are absolutely rising to this occasion, really, and the sort of outpouring of support and solidarity for their ukrainian neighbours.

poland says that more than 150,000 ukrainians have already crossed over the border to here in poland. they are being housed in hotels, dormitories, otherfacilities. polish hospitals are getting ready to be able to treat some of the wounded. and while poland has said that it is worried about the numbers that could potentially cross in the days and weeks ahead, it is showing full solidarity to the ukrainians facing the russian aggression. and as you can see here, poland is now absolutely on the humanitarian front line of this crisis. let's move from mark lowen in poland to germany because they have been mass pro ukraine protests there. damien mcguinness explains the background. damien mcguinness explains the background-— background. this is a shift in german following _ background. this is a shift in german following policy i background. this is a shift in | german following policy since background. this is a shift in i german following policy since the invasion and this has come from

government leaders, from mainstream ce ntre—left, government leaders, from mainstream centre—left, centre—right opposition parties as well, from the government but also from voters. the demonstrations you are seeing here in berlin by the combination of a whole week of demonstrations across the country. today's protests in berlin are likely to be the largest, 120,000 people originally registered. looking at the streets right now and who is coming in from where, we will see much, much bigger figures than this and this is what olaf scholz announced today is, to a certain extent, he is responding and his government is responding to pressure from german commentators, german leading figures and german voters who have for a long time been pushing on germany to act more decisively and with more solidarity in support of ukraine. as the russian invasion continues in ukraine, thousands of people are volunteering to fight to defend their neighbourhoods, despite many having no previous military

experience. the ukrainian foreign minister says 25,000 guns have been handed over to territorial defence members in the kyiv region alone. civilians answering the call to defend their country. across kyiv, 25,000 machine guns has been given out to ordinary ukrainians to fight the russian army. some of these men has been handed their weapons for the first time. this is one of them, a member of parliament, who says it is everyone's duty to fight. translation:— is everyone's duty to fight. translation: , ., ., , ., translation: everyone able to defend the country has — translation: everyone able to defend the country has to _ translation: everyone able to defend the country has to take _ translation: everyone able to defend the country has to take up _ translation: everyone able to defend the country has to take up arms. i i the country has to take up arms. i am glad that members of the parliament managed to impose martial law. afterwards, they lined up for guns. as far as i know, over 100 members of the ukrainian parliament took up arms and are joining different territorial defence units now. it was scary to wait for an

invasion. now. it was scary to wait for an invasion-— now. it was scary to wait for an invasion. ., ., ,., ., ,, , invasion. yellow armband mark this man out as — invasion. yellow armband mark this man out as volunteer _ invasion. yellow armband mark this man out as volunteer fighters. i invasion. yellow armband mark thisj man out as volunteer fighters. they come from all walks of life, from artists and lawyers to sportsmen. but whatever their background, they will all be expected to patrol the city under martial law. translation: there are people with military experience, war veterans, and then there are people who have swapped their pens or keyboards for guns. i know what huge potential ukrainians have full rebellion. i hope after victory to write a book about the history of this war. shill victory to write a book about the history of this war.— victory to write a book about the history of this war. all men under 60 have been _ history of this war. all men under 60 have been banned _ history of this war. all men under 60 have been banned from i history of this war. all men underl 60 have been banned from leaving history of this war. all men under i 60 have been banned from leaving the country and have been urged to fight. as russian forces move into the capital, the people here say it will take everyone's efforts to stop

them. a short while ago, my colleague matthew amroliwala spoke to our security correspondent gordon corera to discuss the wider military picture of this construct —— conflict. picture of this construct -- conflict-— picture of this construct -- conflict. ~ ., , ., , conflict. the white house has said that putin was _ conflict. the white house has said that putin was my _ conflict. the white house has said that putin was my order _ conflict. the white house has said that putin was my order on - conflict. the white house has said | that putin was my order on putting the deterrent forces as they are called in russia on high alert is a pattern of manufacturing threats that don't exist to justify aggression. what this order looks like from president putin is he is saying he is doing this because of aggressive statements from nato. remember last week he gave a coded warning, saying that if anyone tried to hinder his campaign in ukraine, they would seek consequences the they would see consequences the like of which they had never seen in their history and that was read as a kind of coded warning about the use of nuclear weapons and what we are seeing now is a much more explicit move with him going on tv with his defence minister and chief of general staff and saying, push them up to a higher level of readiness. that is a very public move and i think

what we can interpret as a kind of warning from putin to say to people, i want you to be nervous about russia using nuclear weapons, and what extent you give support to ukraine might trigger doing that, but it doesn't necessarily mean he is planning to do it now — it is a messaging warning move by moscow. does it perhaps indicates that some of the action that has been taken in western capitals is beginning to have an impact? we saw what the germans have announced today, just in the last few seconds, the white house adding to what you read out, that the us is open to providing additional assistance to ukraine. we know that more help is being given to ukraine and perhaps that is what vladimir putin is responding to? i think always the danger in these kind of crises is miscalculation. i think the risk for vladimir putin is that he miscalculated militarily about how quickly the campaign and the invasion of ukraine might go and how much resistance he would face but also he may have miscalculated about

how much pressure the outside world and the west would be able to put on in terms of sanctions and it may be that now those two things are hitting him and he is realising this is going to be a lot more challenging than he expected, and this is one of his ways, if you like, of escalating in response. let's try and look at what is actually happening on the ground, between us we have a map in terms of some of the key areas that we have seen the attacks, those orange areas are the ones now under russian control, just take us through what we are seeing and where the movement is and where the most serious fighting is. we have seen the russian incursion from three sides, into the donbas region where there has been fighting from the south from crimea, and on two fronts effectively in the north and north—east. what is noticeable is last night there was a lot of concern there would be a big battle over kyiv but that did not happen. what we have seen is russian troops encircle and move towards it, and more combat in kharkiv

and there was an attempt by the russians to go into the city there, not with the heaviest forces but with some forces, and there was fighting but ukrainians say they are back in control of the town. we have another map, i hope, which is one which comes from the uk government and what that map shows is some of the directions of travel which russia is moving. it is moving on different axes. i think the crucial thing to see here is the push towards kyiv and it looks like the russian strategy all along has been to tie up forces elsewhere but crucially get some of those heavy troops around kyiv. i think their strategy, it looks from that, is to encircle the city, i don't think they want to go in there and fight street by street, they would rather encircle it and get a surrender but obviously we are seeing a lot more resistance than they expected. what do we know about the pace of the russian progress, just coming away from that

conversation, to go live to the ukrainian capital kyiv. irate conversation, to go live to the ukrainian capital kyiv.- conversation, to go live to the ukrainian capital kyiv. we can speak to an mp who _ ukrainian capital kyiv. we can speak to an mp who is _ ukrainian capital kyiv. we can speak to an mp who is live _ ukrainian capital kyiv. we can speak to an mp who is live with _ ukrainian capital kyiv. we can speak to an mp who is live with us. - ukrainian capital kyiv. we can speak to an mp who is live with us. i i ukrainian capital kyiv. we can speak to an mp who is live with us. i know| to an mp who is live with us. i know that you are in a car but you are not driving. tell us about the situation in the city at the moment. well, i havejust come situation in the city at the moment. well, i have just come from the front line outside of kyiv and i and in kyiv already. the reality is that there is not so much a lull in the fighting, just a reinforcement of the forces there. we have got into the forces there. we have got into the city after we had a skirmish last night, in the city. the point is now, i think the russians are preparing. it seems this will continue onwards because they are trying to send their agents to kyiv every single day en masse and again, this is but another step in trying to cut off the military command

troops along the country. they are invading everywhere and the one thing we have to do is fight. imilieu thing we have to do is fight. when ou sa thing we have to do is fight. when you say you _ thing we have to do is fight. when you say you are — thing we have to do is fight. when you say you are involved - thing we have to do is fight. when you say you are involved in - thing we have to do is fight. when you say you are involved in a i you say you are involved in a skirmish, what exactly happened? last night there was basically a shoot—out near the ministry of defence in kyiv. again, russians are sending many different groups of people, and these got as far as two kilometres away from downtown. basically, this happens almost every day and every night. the missiles are fired onto kyiv, basically last night and throughout the day today. near the hotel where your crew is staying, you could hear very clearly missiles being dropped. there is a big police station there which is basically a centre for weapons for many parts of ukraine defence so thatis

many parts of ukraine defence so that is why there is a lot of activity there. you are an mp, do you intend to stay in the city or do you think you will have to move out if the fighting gets worse?— have to move out if the fighting retsworse? ~ , , gets worse? absolutely we will stay in the ci . gets worse? absolutely we will stay in the city. this _ gets worse? absolutely we will stay in the city. this is _ gets worse? absolutely we will stay in the city. this is our _ gets worse? absolutely we will stay in the city. this is our capital, i in the city. this is our capital, this is our country's capital, and we do not intend to give it up. the people of kyiv byjoining in the fighting in every single way and members of parliament, the least they can do is try to be useful here, join in, become soldiers and all of this and try to basically destroy some of the enemy forces because we have no other choice. this is our country and we are fighting for our country's existence. mr putin is very clear his intention is to destroy ukraine. those of us who have been born in independent ukraine wish to die independent ukraine wish to die independent ukraine. itruiith independent ukraine wish to die independent ukraine. with that... we lost ou for independent ukraine. with that... we lost you for a — independent ukraine. with that... we lost you for a moment. _ independent ukraine. with that... we lost you for a moment. let _ independent ukraine. with that... we lost you for a moment. let me i independent ukraine. with that... we lost you for a moment. let me ask. lost you for a moment. let me ask you, you will be aware in the last few hours that the idea has been

floated in some circles that perhaps they can be talks between or at least a delegation from ukraine can listen to russia via belarus on the belarusian border, are you interested in any form of talks with russia at the moment? let’s interested in any form of talks with russia at the moment?— interested in any form of talks with russia at the moment? let's see what the sa . russia at the moment? let's see what they say- let's — russia at the moment? let's see what they say- let's see _ russia at the moment? let's see what they say. let's see what _ russia at the moment? let's see what they say. let's see what they - russia at the moment? let's see what they say. let's see what they say. i i they say. let's see what they say. i mean, obviously we will have more lies and more claims against our sovereignty and those members of parliament like myself who are fighting the russians on the streets, on the outskirts every day, they will not be likely to vote for any kind of compromise, any kind of any kind of compromise, any kind of a solution russia desires which will cut our ability to become a proper state. so no, let's hear what they say. the point is ukraine always recommended peace, the diplomatic way out of the fighting in the last eight years. 15,000 people in the

fighting. our idea was to avoid war but putin has different intention. for people in the uk and watching you around the world, give us an idea right now of what it is like to drive through your city. it is martial law. _ drive through your city. it is martial law, it _ drive through your city. it is martial law, it is _ drive through your city. it is martial law, it is curfew. i drive through your city. it 3 martial law, it is curfew. the point is it is quiet but eerily so. last night when i was driving about half a kilometre away from here there was a kilometre away from here there was a ground shoot—out between russians and ourforces. the point here is it is quiet but there is always a question of being aware which is why i stopped the car and went to talk to you because i don't want to be surprised like that.— to you because i don't want to be surprised like that. thank you very much for speaking _ surprised like that. thank you very much for speaking to _ surprised like that. thank you very much for speaking to us, - surprised like that. thank you very much for speaking to us, many i surprised like that. thank you very i much for speaking to us, many thanks for stopping yourjourney to do that. let's go straight from that conversation to ursula von der

leyen, president of the european commission, who has begun a statement to. good afternoon. as the war in ukraine wages on an ukrainians fight bravely for their country, european union steps up once more its support for ukraine and the sanctions against the aggressor, that is putin's russia. for the first time ever, the european union will finance the purchase and delivery of weapons and other equipment to a country that is under attack. this is a watershed moment. we will present to you at the proposal in a few minutes. at the same time, we are strengthening once more our sanctions against the kremlin and its collaborator, lukashenko's its collaborator, lu kashenko's regime. its collaborator, lukashenko's regime. first we are shutting down the eu airspace for russians. we are

proposing a prohibition on all russian owned, russian registered, and russian —controlled aircraft. these aircraft will be no more be able to land in, take off, or overfly the territory of the european union. this will apply to any claim, owned, charted or otherwise controlled by a russian legal or natural person. let me be very clear. our airspace will be closed to every russian plane and that includes the private jets of oligarchs, as well. second, in another unprecedented step, we will ban in the european union the kremlin's immediate machine. the state owned rochette today and sputnik, as well as their subsidiaries, well known and be able to spread their lies to justify putin's at work and so division in

our union. we are developing tools to ban toxic and harmful disinformation in europe. and third, we will target the other aggressor of this for, lukashenko's regime. lukashenko's regime is complicit in the vicious attack against ukraine. so we will hit lukashenko's regime with a new package of sanctions. we will introduce restrictive measures against their most important sectors. this will stop their exports of products from mineral fuels to tobacco, wood and timber, iron and steel. we will also extend to belarus the export restrictions we introduced on dual use goods for russia. this will also avoid any risk of circumvention, of our measures against russia. and in addition we will sanction those

belarusians are helping the russian war effort. all these measures come on top of the strong package that i presented to you last night, agreed by our international partners, and under this package important russian banks will be excluded from the swift system. we will also ban the transactions of russia's central bank and freeze all its assets to prevent it from financing putin's war, and we will target the assets of russian oligarchs. we continue to coordinate closely with partners around the globe and we remain in close contact with our ukrainian friends. president zelensky�*s leadership, and his bravery, and the resilience of the ukrainian people are outstanding and impressive. they are outstanding and impressive. they are an inspiration for all of us. we

welcome with open arms those ukrainians who have to flee from putin's out bombs and i'm proud of the welcome they have been given. we are making every effort to support our eastern member states to host and take care of these refugees. we will do this in full solidarity and with this... will do this in full solidarity and with this. . .— will do this in full solidarity and with this... ., ,, , , with this... thank you, president. as ou with this... thank you, president. as you have _ with this... thank you, president. as you have said _ with this... thank you, president. as you have said we _ with this... thank you, president. as you have said we are _ with this... thank you, president. as you have said we are currently| as you have said we are currently witnessing — as you have said we are currently witnessing a fully fledged or directly in our borders. the war is again— directly in our borders. the war is again on— directly in our borders. the war is again on the _ directly in our borders. the war is again on the borders of europe. president — again on the borders of europe. president putin is trampling statehood and identity of a sovereign ukraine and its people. what _ sovereign ukraine and its people. what we — sovereign ukraine and its people. what we see is blatant violations of international law and with more and

more _ international law and with more and more civilian infrastructure being targeted. — more civilian infrastructure being targeted, bombing, launching missiles, _ targeted, bombing, launching missiles, strikes, killing innocent people _ missiles, strikes, killing innocent people. but ukrainian armed forces by fiercely— people. but ukrainian armed forces by fiercely fighting back and showing heroic resistance to this invasion — showing heroic resistance to this invasion it— showing heroic resistance to this invasion. it is people and an army fighting _ invasion. it is people and an army fighting against its invader. but the invader, putin, his war is not only— the invader, putin, his war is not only against— the invader, putin, his war is not only against ukraine. we need to understand the gravity of the situation for us, for the europeans, and for— situation for us, for the europeans, and for the — situation for us, for the europeans, and for the global security. this afternoon — and for the global security. this afternoon putin has announced that he is putting russian nuclear deterrent forces on high alert. it is important to stress that the nuclear— is important to stress that the nuclear forces of russia has been

put nuclear forces of russia has been out on _ nuclear forces of russia has been out on high — nuclear forces of russia has been put on high alert. we just had a conference with the g7 foreign ministers _ conference with the g7 foreign ministers and we were joined by a minister— ministers and we were joined by a minister who informed us of the latest _ minister who informed us of the latest developments on the ground and ukraine patient needs. itold him very— and ukraine patient needs. itold him very clearly, you came last week, — him very clearly, you came last week, we — him very clearly, you came last week, we ask for swift and we asked what i _ week, we ask for swift and we asked what land _ week, we ask for swift and we asked what i and now we are delivering on both sides — what i and now we are delivering on both sides. we are doing everything we can— both sides. we are doing everything we can to _ both sides. we are doing everything we can to support ukraine, we stand by ukrainian — we can to support ukraine, we stand by ukrainian people in practical terms — by ukrainian people in practical terms in — by ukrainian people in practical terms. in one hour, i by ukrainian people in practical terms. in one hour, lam by ukrainian people in practical terms. in one hour, i am convening for the _ terms. in one hour, i am convening for the fourth — terms. in one hour, i am convening for the fourth time this week the european — for the fourth time this week the european union foreign ministers council— european union foreign ministers council for— european union foreign ministers council for an extraordinary meeting and following up the request from mr kuleba. _ and following up the request from mr kuleba, foreign minister of ukraine. i will kuleba, foreign minister of ukraine. l will today— kuleba, foreign minister of ukraine. i will today propose to use the european _ i will today propose to use the european peace facility for

emergency assistance measures, to finance _ emergency assistance measures, to finance this _ emergency assistance measures, to finance this reply of lethal material for the ukrainian army, as well as— material for the ukrainian army, as well as urgently needed fuel, protective equipment, and medical supplies _ protective equipment, and medical supplies. the european union was not providing _ supplies. the european union was not providing arms in a war. yes, we are doing _ providing arms in a war. yes, we are doing. because of this war requires our engagement in order to support the ukrainian army. because we live in unprecedented times. like you did when _ in unprecedented times. like you did when the _ in unprecedented times. like you did when the pandemic came. we are this will not finish here. it is the first time — this will not finish here. it is the first time in— this will not finish here. it is the first time in our history at the european _ first time in our history at the european union will provide lethal equipment to a third country and i

have _ equipment to a third country and i have also— equipment to a third country and i have also instructed my team in the european _ have also instructed my team in the european union military to set up a mechanism — european union military to set up a mechanism to coordinate, to request of the _ mechanism to coordinate, to request of the ukrainian army, so that we can respond — of the ukrainian army, so that we can respond in the most effective way to— can respond in the most effective way to get— can respond in the most effective way to get the member states to their— way to get the member states to their needs that mr kuleba has explained today. today we will provide — explained today. today we will provide political endorsement also of the _ provide political endorsement also of the european union 27 member states— of the european union 27 member states to — of the european union 27 member states to the open package of measures outlined with president von der leyen, _ measures outlined with president von der leyen, to pave the way for the swift _ der leyen, to pave the way for the swift adoption of all necessary acts — swift adoption of all necessary acts. madame president, we will discover— acts. madame president, we will discover the foreign ministers announcement of tough sanctions. swift, _ announcement of tough sanctions. swift, the — announcement of tough sanctions. swift, the central bank. we will also put — swift, the central bank. we will also put forward additional listings against _ also put forward additional listings against oligarchs. we will target the elite — against oligarchs. we will target the elite of the putin regime who

benefit _ the elite of the putin regime who benefit financially from the system. we will _ benefit financially from the system. we will also enforce our measures against _ we will also enforce our measures against belarus, who have been facilitating the russian assault against — facilitating the russian assault against ukraine. with these measures, what then half of the central— measures, what then half of the central bank reserve of russia will be blocked. also, more and more member— be blocked. also, more and more member states are announcing to close _ member states are announcing to close their— member states are announcing to close their airspace to the russian airlines— close their airspace to the russian airlines and aircraft, and we will set a _ airlines and aircraft, and we will set a common approach to get that with the _ set a common approach to get that with the ministers. and finally, this information, because putin does not want _ this information, because putin does not want only to conquer the land, he also _ not want only to conquer the land, he also wants to conquer the spirits of the _ he also wants to conquer the spirits of the people through toxic messages, through lies. the kremlin and its _ messages, through lies. the kremlin and its supporters are engaging in mass _ and its supporters are engaging in mass disinformation campaign. in ukraine — mass disinformation campaign. in ukraine in— mass disinformation campaign. in ukraine, in our neighbourhood, and in european— ukraine, in our neighbourhood, and in european union itself. and we have _ in european union itself. and we

have been— in european union itself. and we have been fighting to get this information since 2015 with the task force and _ information since 2015 with the task force and the eu disinformation platform. — force and the eu disinformation platform, which, by the way, i invite — platform, which, by the way, i invite all— platform, which, by the way, i invite all of you to visit. today we are taking — invite all of you to visit. today we are taking a — invite all of you to visit. today we are taking a crucial step to turn off the — are taking a crucial step to turn off the tap _ are taking a crucial step to turn off the tap for the russian information manipulation in europe by banning — information manipulation in europe by banning russia today and sputnik from broadcasting in the european union _ from broadcasting in the european union we — from broadcasting in the european union. we will also continue working actively— union. we will also continue working actively in _ union. we will also continue working actively in ukraine and in our neighbourhood to fight the attempt to destroy reality and to seek confusion and uncertainty. let me close _ confusion and uncertainty. let me close by— confusion and uncertainty. let me close by underlying that we will continue — close by underlying that we will continue to coordinate with the ukrainian — continue to coordinate with the ukrainian government and neighbourhood countries and to do everything that we can to provide

all the _ everything that we can to provide all the necessary support to the ukrainian — all the necessary support to the ukrainian people and to put a stop to this _ ukrainian people and to put a stop to this senseless war. thank you. well, there was an awful lot to consider their in a statement from josep borrell, the foreign affairs representative of the eu, standing alongside ursula von der leyen, the president of the european commission. this will take a while to go through because there were a number of hugely significant announcements. first of all the eu will be closing european union airspace for russian planes, they will not be able to land anywhere in the eu, they will not be able to fly over the european union. the eu says any plane controlled by a russian person or company will not be able to access eu airspace. every mission plane with the emphasis, including the private jets of oligarchs. they

were explicit. then they went on another significant announcements, the eu is banning russia today, the russian tv channel from broadcasting anywhere within the eu. it is also targeting sputnik, which is an audio service. i make it move against russian media. we heard josep borrell say we are going to turn off the tap of russian misinformation. next, they focused on belarus. to the north of ukraine. bear in mind that russia, before this invasion, carried out a couple of weeks of military drills with the belarusians, president lukashenko in belarusians, president lukashenko in belarus is a close ally of vladimir putin, vladimir putin supported him when he was facing major anti—government protest and we know some of the russian troops who have moved into ukraine from the north came from belarus. belarus is now facing the consequences of that, the eu is introducing new sanctions that will target both of the country but also individuals in belarus who are

helping the russian war effort. next, they announced sanctions on russia's central bank saying they will freeze all assets of it within the european union and carried on to emphasise that there are severe reactions to the swift messaging service which international banking uses, russia will have a great deal of trouble using that service. next they talked about targeting oligarchs, notjust restricting private jets but saying they will target the assets of russian oligarchs. the reason that is significant is we know the west sees that applying pressure to oligarchs, very rich, almost always men who gain their money primarily in the 90s when the soviet union had collapsed and new companies were created off the back of what were once state assets and a small group of people were allowed to buy shares in those companies, often in exchange forfunding in those companies, often in exchange for funding certain politicians. well, those oligarchs

are now going to be focused on by the eu, they can expect to see their assets frozen. next they turned, and this was an extensive statement, so forgive me if this is taking a while to go through. they focused on those having to flee from ukraine. we know poland today has said several hundred thousand people have already crossed the border since the invasion started on thursday. to those, the eu says we will welcome ukrainians who are fleeing and the eu will put together funding to support eastern european members of the european union, for example poland, but there are others, who will inevitably take the majority of people leaving ukraine. the eu as a whole is looking to support those countries in eastern europe who will receive the bulk of ukrainians who have become refugees in the last few days. they may appoint, ursula von der leyen and josep borrell, speaking on behalf of the eu, saying that the ukrainians asked for two things across the weekend. action on swift, the banking messaging system,

and for weapons. the eu says we will give you both of those things. we also know the foreign ministers of the eu will be meeting once again withjosep the eu will be meeting once again with josep borrell the eu will be meeting once again withjosep borrell in the next hour but then crucially, and while it is difficult to pick out the most significant announcement of this, this will surely be right up there. the eu it says to boom has gone, there is a time when the eu will not provide irons directly into a conflict. josep borrell said, yes, we are providing arms. a direct response to the ukrainian request to be eu for specific assistance with weaponry. the eu says we will do that. josep borrell said we are facing biblical times, facing the pest and the water, meaning first the virus of covid—19 and now the actions of vladimir putin. in terms of how the eu supports ukrainian request, forfurther of how the eu supports ukrainian request, for further military assistance, the eu will now create a mechanism whereby the ukrainian

military and government can request certain types of military support, that mechanism will allow the eu to provide and respond to those requests as ugly as possible. a huge amount of detail in that european union response focusing on russian media, russian money, russian planes, also focusing on russia's or maybe belarus and how the eu can provide military assistance —— belarus, russia's out neighbour. we will continue to die just that but a significant shift in gear from the eu off the back of several days of already significant announcements. lets turn away from what the eu is same for the moment and turn to another dimension of this story, looking after those who are having to flee. the president of the european world congress joins to flee. the president of the european world congressjoins me now. you will have heard me first of all going through everything the european union has announced. what are your thoughts on that? fitter?

are your thoughts on that? very welcome. _ are your thoughts on that? very welcome, firstly, _ are your thoughts on that? very welcome, firstly, but _ are your thoughts on that? very welcome, firstly, but the i are your thoughts on that? - welcome, firstly, but the question is, is it too late? how quickly can we get the support to ukraine? if these initiatives which ukrainians have been asking for an president zelensky has been asking why for many weeks now, if that was implemented a week ago, would we have had the situation and the terrible attacks and invasion that is going on right now. i think it is a lesson learned so we need to make sure we act quickly and decisively and look more at what we can do because the key right now is acting quickly. this is where ukrainians are really at a disadvantage and thatis are really at a disadvantage and that is the air strikes, the airborne units being deployed into ukraine, missile launches and that is why the third things asked for it which was not mentioned in a press conference, was the no—fly zone. ukraine has been asking for the establishment of a no—fly zone to

allow to stop the barrage of air strikes and air force. you allow to stop the barrage of air strikes and air force.— allow to stop the barrage of air strikes and air force. you will be well aware _ strikes and air force. you will be well aware of _ strikes and air force. you will be well aware of the _ strikes and air force. you will be well aware of the risks _ strikes and air force. you will be well aware of the risks that i strikes and air force. you will be | well aware of the risks that come with trying to impose a no—fly zone over ukraine if russia does not concur with that idea.— over ukraine if russia does not concur with that idea. there are risks, of course, _ concur with that idea. there are risks, of course, but _ concur with that idea. there are risks, of course, but at - concur with that idea. there are risks, of course, but at the i concur with that idea. there are risks, of course, but at the end | concur with that idea. there are l risks, of course, but at the end of the day it is vladimir putin who has invaded, who is conducting air strikes, vladimir putin who has taken over at the chernobyl nuclear site and those things can pose risks to date to the rest of europe which is why we need to stop him now and it is a decisive measure. something that frankly will understand because he only understands when you stand up he only understands when you stand up with force and if you threaten him with a no—fly zone then that certainly puts a whole different perspective on the situation and the ukrainians will be able to take back their territory. he ukrainians will be able to take back their territory.— their territory. he may well understand _ their territory. he may well understand but _ their territory. he may well understand but he - their territory. he may well understand but he may i their territory. he may well i understand but he may respond their territory. he may well - understand but he may respond to their territory. he may well _ understand but he may respond to his understanding of that situation by escalating the conflict still further. is that really something you want to risk being played out inside ukraine?—

you want to risk being played out inside ukraine? escalating the risk across the globe, _ inside ukraine? escalating the risk across the globe, he _ inside ukraine? escalating the risk across the globe, he has _ inside ukraine? escalating the risk across the globe, he has made i inside ukraine? escalating the risk| across the globe, he has made that clear in his erratic, irrational statements he has been making, and i think what we need to do is keep him from taking ukraine as we have seen him take these patterns before when he has taken territory and used it as an opportunity to expand. ukrainians have been fighting this warfor over ukrainians have been fighting this war for over eight ukrainians have been fighting this warfor over eight years ukrainians have been fighting this war for over eight years and this is the strategy putin has taken. he aggressively takes, sees what push he gets, and then stops in his tracks. ukrainians need this, they have been asking for, people are being killed, their homes destroyed, they are living every night in subway bunkers and this needs to be stopped, the air strikes need to be stopped. flan stopped, the air strikes need to be sto ed. ., ., w stopped, the air strikes need to be sto. ted, ., ., a, stopped, the air strikes need to be stoned. ., ., ., stopped. can i ask you about the refu . ee stopped. can i ask you about the refugee crisis _ stopped. can i ask you about the refugee crisis being _ stopped. can i ask you about the refugee crisis being created? i stopped. can i ask you about the | refugee crisis being created? the stopped. can i ask you about the i refugee crisis being created? the eu is offering particular assistance to its eastern members who are having to take in many people. you are speaking to me from toronto, do you think in a longer term we may be in a situation where countries like canada need to be considering

offering support, as well? countries like canada, — offering support, as well? countries like canada, the _ offering support, as well? countries like canada, the us, _ offering support, as well? countries like canada, the us, australia, i offering support, as well? countries| like canada, the us, australia, have been offering support. right now this is a temporary refugee crisis because our communities in 65 countries around the world are working very closely with the ukrainian communities in poland, moldova, and we were hearing this morning, i was on a call with the community is helping these refugees, they are standing at the borders with signs saying i can take two people, and they take them into their homes and they are primarily women and children because the men have stayed to fight and these people will return back, this is temporary and it is great to see the international community is prepared to support these refugees but we want them to go back to their land for the huge rebuilding of ukraine after this terrible invasion. i for the huge rebuilding of ukraine after this terrible invasion.- after this terrible invasion. i have onl one after this terrible invasion. i have only one minutes _ after this terrible invasion. i have only one minutes but _ after this terrible invasion. i have only one minutes but i _ after this terrible invasion. i have only one minutes but i imagine . after this terrible invasion. i have i only one minutes but i imagine you are in touch with a lot of people in ukraine. i

are in touch with a lot of people in ukraine. . . , are in touch with a lot of people in ukraine. ., ., , ., are in touch with a lot of people in ukraine. . . , . , ukraine. i am, and they are very, very scared _ ukraine. i am, and they are very, very scared but — ukraine. i am, and they are very, very scared but they _ ukraine. i am, and they are very, very scared but they are - ukraine. i am, and they are very, very scared but they are also i ukraine. i am, and they are very, l very scared but they are also very, very scared but they are also very, very resilient. they note that this is a fight for their homes, for their futures. is a fight for their homes, for theirfutures. they have been fighting, whether it was during the orange revolution in 2004 and 2014 in the revelation of dignity. they want to live free, live in a peaceful european country that respects the dignity of its people, they want to live in a democratic country. they don't want to live in an oppressive russian regime which is what they are fighting for, their values and they are very motivated in that struggle.— in that struggle. thank you very much indeed — in that struggle. thank you very much indeed for _ in that struggle. thank you very much indeed forjoining - in that struggle. thank you very much indeed forjoining us - in that struggle. thank you very much indeed forjoining us from toronto, paul grod, president of the ukrainian world congress. to reiterate in the last few minutes we have had a highly significant press conference. well, press statement by the eu announcing amongst other things that it plans to introduce sanctions on the russian central bank and freezing its assets and freeze the assets of russian oligarchs are held in the eu. there

was a lot besides. we will continue our reaction to it in the coming minutes. hello. tuesday marks the start of meteorological spring, and there's a sense of spring in the air for many this afternoon — lots of sunshine around, tempered at times by quite a brisk breeze. and not everyone has the sunshine because, out to the west, we've got our next atlantic system approaching — that has been bringing a lot of cloud across northern and western scotland and northern ireland this morning, with some patchy rain — although it'll tend to ease through the rest of the day. we could see more cloud just pushing into the far west and south of wales and southwest england, but for most it's a fine, dry afternoon, plenty of sunshine, temperatures generally between eight and 12 celsius. but behind me, you can see that cloud and rain — that will be moving its way eastwards through this evening and overnight, initially into northern ireland and scotland, then eventually into northern england, wales and southwest england. further east we'll keep the clearer skies for longer, it will stay dry for much

of the night, and where we've got the clear skies initially temperatures getting close to freezing for some eastern counties of england. the temperatures will rise as the night wears on. it's an unsettled start to the new week — the rain will soon be clearing from scotland and northern ireland, but behind it, some showers interspersed with sunshine. heavy rain through the morning through parts of northern england, wales, southwest england, gradually working its way eastwards — may not get across to east anglia and south east england until later in the afternoon. coupled with that rain will be some strong winds — likely to see gales across the western isles. but it's still a mild day for many — ten to 12 celsius, the top temperature. and then through tomorrow evening, that band of rain will continue slowly on its journey eastwards, eventually arriving into east anglia and southeast england. then, behind it, we see some clearer skies, perhaps with the risk of ice across parts of northern scotland. then we see this area of high pressure building as we head through tuesday — complicated, though, by this frontal system, which wants to linger through tuesday. so for many on tuesday, underneath that area of high pressure, fine, dry, plenty of sunshine, with the winds gradually easing down

across northern scotland. however, more cloud across southern counties of england, perhaps with some rain lingering here through the day, and temperatures down slightly — so we're looking at nine to 11 celsius as a top temperature on tuesday. and then that system is still lingering through wednesday, pushing more cloud northwards, some patchy outbreaks of rain. and then our next atlantic system is arriving from the west. so through wednesday and thursday, a fairly unsettled picture across the uk, with many of us seeing further spells of rain. goodbye.

welcome to bbc news as we continue our coverage of the invasion in ukraine. as a battle rages there is a small hope for peace. ukraine's president agrees to talks with russia but is accusing the kremlin of war crimes.— of war crimes. russia's criminal actions against _ of war crimes. russia's criminal actions against ukraine - of war crimes. russia's criminal actions against ukraine show. of war crimes. russia's criminal. actions against ukraine show signs of genocide. actions against ukraine show signs of genocide-— actions against ukraine show signs of uenocide. , , ., ., ., of genocide. russia are on the path of genocide. russia are on the path of evil. vladimir _ of genocide. russia are on the path of evil. vladimir putin _ of genocide. russia are on the path of evil. vladimir putin says - of genocide. russia are on the path of evil. vladimir putin says he - of genocide. russia are on the path of evil. vladimir putin says he is . of evil. vladimir putin says he is moving russia's nuclearforces to high alert and response to what he calls aggression from western leaders. ~ , . ., , calls aggression from western leaders. ~ , _, , ., calls aggression from western leaders. ~ , , ., ., leaders. western countries are not only taking — leaders. western countries are not only taking unfriendly _ leaders. western countries are not only taking unfriendly steps - leaders. western countries are not| only taking unfriendly steps against their country in the economic dimension but the top officials of leading _ dimension but the top officials of leading nato countries also make aggressive statements with regard to

our country. ukrainian soldiers are fighting street to street in the country's second city were russian tanks and vehicles are on the streets. the european union announces tougher sanctions again including closing its airspace to russian aircraft. let me be very clear, our aircraft will be closed to every russian plane and that includes the private jets of oligarchs. find plane and that includes the private jets of oligarchs.— plane and that includes the private jets of oligarchs. and these people here are searching _ jets of oligarchs. and these people here are searching for _ jets of oligarchs. and these people here are searching for safety. - here are searching for safety. poland says at least 200,000 refugees have crossed from ukraine since the invasion began. hello, welcome to bbc news, let's continue our coverage of russia's invasion of ukraine. the ukrainians

have agreed in principle to hold talks with the russian delegation without preconditions on the border without preconditions on the border with neighbouring belarus. in another development, vladimir putin has ordered russian military commanders to put the country's strategic nuclear forces on special alert, their highest level. he says it is in response to aggression from the nato military alliance. the move was quickly condemned by the white house, nato says putin's threat is dangerous and irresponsible. the european union has announced a raft of new sanctions including the closure of airspace to all russian planes and a ban on pro—kremlin media. this is the latest map of russian —controlled territory in ukraine. the ukrainian government says it still controls all major cities though there has been heavy fighting in the east in the city of kharkiv. the un refugee agency has estimated 368,000 have fled ukraine to escape the conflict, many heading into poland, ourfirst report

to escape the conflict, many heading into poland, our first report now. there was not much talk of peace on the streets of ukraine's second city. instead, kharkiv gave the warning of more to come if this conflict does not stop. earlier locals in kharkiv had open their windows to see russian trucks roll in. othervehicles windows to see russian trucks roll in. other vehicles in the sights of the ukraine military did not get far. and in the south of the country this was said to be a drone strike on a russian convoy at an airport. but some appealed to the hearts of the russian soldiers to end this misery. what are you doing, this women asks. you are our brothers, please stop, we have kids, we are peaceful citizens. the capital kyiv has also been on fire. this was an

oil depot that was targeted but once again holmes also took the brunt and then another strike a child was killed. fears of a major russian bombardment last night did not materialise. although the fighting is moving ever closer to the city centre. hours after russia attacked ukraine on thursday morning, we met mark at a metro station. how are you? today we spoke to him from our bunker to his where he has been taking shelter like the rest of the city as a curfew remains in place. they are very afraid and we tried to keep— they are very afraid and we tried to keep calm — they are very afraid and we tried to keep calm-— they are very afraid and we tried to keep calm. ukraine's president said russia should _ keep calm. ukraine's president said russia should be _ keep calm. ukraine's president said russia should be prosecuted - keep calm. ukraine's president said russia should be prosecuted for- keep calm. ukraine's president said russia should be prosecuted for a l russia should be prosecuted for a brutal assault on civilians. russia's criminal actions against

ukraine shows signs of genocide. i talked about this with the un secretary general. russia is on the path of evil. secretary general. russia is on the path of evil-— path of evil. here in the heart of k iv we path of evil. here in the heart of kyiv we are _ path of evil. here in the heart of kyiv we are hearing _ path of evil. here in the heart of kyiv we are hearing the - path of evil. here in the heart of l kyiv we are hearing the explosions get louder as the russians draw ever nearer. seizing this european capital while the world looks on as for now president putin's prime objective and everyone living here simply has no idea just how much force he is prepared to use to do that and just how many people could die. this is now an age of wartime leaders. a moment when former ukrainian prime minister is post online tutorials instructing their people on how to make petrol bombs to defend themselves. and this is how children in the capital play today, in an underground world mirroring the gruesome reality of what is unfolding above them. let's

hear some more of what the european union hasjust announced. it is put a raft of sanctions in place on top of the ones already in place up to this point. we heard from ursula von der leyen, the president of the eu commission. they say they will target russia's state broadcaster and what she calls the private jets of russian oligarchs. for and what she calls the private 'ets of russian oligarchsi of russian oligarchs. for the first time ever the _ of russian oligarchs. for the first time ever the european - of russian oligarchs. for the first time ever the european union - of russian oligarchs. for the first | time ever the european union will finance the purchase and delivery of weapons and other equipment to a country that is under attack. this is a watershed moment. we will present to you the proposal in a few minutes. at the same time, we are strengthening once more our sanctions against the kremlin and its collaborator, lukashenko's its collaborator, lu kashenko's regime. its collaborator, lukashenko's regime. first, we are shutting down the eu airspace for russians. we are proposing a prohibition on all russian owned, russian register than

russian owned, russian register than russian —controlled aircraft. these aircraft will no longer be able to land then, take off or overfly the territory of the european union. this will apply to any plain, unchartered or otherwise controlled by a russian legal or national person so let me be very clear, our airspace will be closed to every russian plane and that includes the private jets of oligarchs. second, in another unprecedented step, we will ban in the european union the kremlin's media machine. the state owned russian today and sputnik as well as their subsidiaries will no longer be able to spread their lies tojustify longer be able to spread their lies to justify putin's war and to sow division within our union, so we are developing to rules, to ban the

toxic and harmful this information in europe, and third, we will target the other aggressor of this war, lukashenko's regime. lukashenko's regime is complicit in the vicious attack against ukraine. so we will hit lukashenko's regime with a new package of sanctions. we will introduce restrictive measures against the most important sectors, this will stop their exports of products from mineral and fuel to tobacco, fuel and timber and steel. we will also extend to belarus the export restrictions. in addition, we will sanction those belarusians helping the russian war

effort. all these measures come on top of the strong package that i presented to you last night, agreed by our international partners, and under this package important russian banks will be excluded from the swift system. we will also ban the transactions of russia's central bank and freeze all its assets to prevent it from financing putin's war, and we will target the assets of russian oligarchs. we continue to coordinate closely with partners around the globe and we remain in close contact with our ukrainian friends. president zelensky�*s leadership, and his bravery, and the resilience of the ukrainian people are outstanding and impressive. they are an inspiration for all of us. we welcome with open arms those ukrainians who have to flee from putin's bombs and i'm proud

of the welcome they have been given. we are making every effort to support our eastern member states to host and take care of these refugees. we will do this in full solidarity and soa so a raft of new sanctions from the eu and in addition to these sanctions european leaders have agreed other restrictions against moscow. among them excluding russian banks from the swift system and freezing overseas assets at the russian central bank. our business editor simonjack now looks at the wider economic consequences for russia of its invasion of ukraine. as thousands took to the streets in berlin and outrage for russia's invasion of ukraine, any remaining caution around ramping up sanctions

against europe's biggest energy supplier were replaced with a new resolve. we supplier were replaced with a new resolve. ~ u, , supplier were replaced with a new resolve. ~ _, , ., , resolve. we considered a significant tiuahtenin resolve. we considered a significant tightening of _ resolve. we considered a significant tightening of our _ resolve. we considered a significant tightening of our international- tightening of our international response. the european union and its partners are working to cripple putin's ability to finance his war machine. , , ., putin's ability to finance his war machine. ,, . , machine. russian banks will be excluded from _ machine. russian banks will be excluded from the _ machine. russian banks will be| excluded from the international payment system, isolating russia from global trade. perhaps even more damaging, russia's central bank will have its overseas assets frozen putting russia and the company of pariahs like iran, venezuela and north korea. pariahs like iran, venezuela and north korea-— pariahs like iran, venezuela and north korea. . , ., , ~ north korea. against a country like russia, these measures are completely unprecedented that not only in— completely unprecedented that not only in terms of the draconian nature — only in terms of the draconian nature of— only in terms of the draconian nature of the measures but the timing — nature of the measures but the timing of— nature of the measures but the timing of the measures and the degree — timing of the measures and the degree of— timing of the measures and the degree of coordination between the main countries in the west is something that potentially the russian federation would not expect. centrai— russian federation would not expect. central banks like the bank of england have reserves of foreign currency stashed in other central

banks around the world. in times of economic crisis you can use that money to buy your domestic product propping up its value. if you freeze those overseas assets you can't do it leaving the currency more vulnerable to collapse. for russia and its citizens, another plunge in the currency would present serious economic and social difficulties according to a moscow—based expert. it is facing collapse of 30—40% when the market opens tomorrow. prices are going to be higher, question marks overjob security. all these things have changed little in the last couple of days. and how this relates to the social and political stability russia has always enjoined, that is becoming quite an urgent question. in enjoined, that is becoming quite an urgent question.— urgent question. in the last hour, the eu banned _ urgent question. in the last hour, the eu banned all— urgent question. in the last hour, the eu banned all russian - urgent question. in the last hour, j the eu banned all russian aircraft from the eu airspace. that will hit russian holiday—makers and oligarchs private jets.

russian holiday—makers and oligarchs privatejets. these russian holiday—makers and oligarchs private jets. these sanctions won't prevent the purchase of oil and gas so it will have fuel for its war machine. that would mean an international embargo that would damage both sides in this escalating international war. let's turn back to this press announcement by the eu in the last few minutes. our correspondences live from brussels. an awful lot to take on but let's start with what was called the taboo that the eu was shaking off, that it will now feed arms into a conflict, something it has not done before. this is being seen as something of a watershed moment here in brussels, what they are doing is using an existing fund but for the first time they will use it to fund military aid. this will be via member states and it will be optional as we understand that that member states who want to supply military aid such as ammunition can effectively be reimbursed by the european union, so it is being seen as a massive mood

ljy it is being seen as a massive mood by the eu and as you say something of a taboo before. the eu not a military power and doesn't have an army but it is certainly a ramping up army but it is certainly a ramping up of what it is willing to do in the face of russian aggression. and of course this measure announced this evening on eu airspace, not entirely surprising that it is banning russian aircraft because we have already seen many countries, france, italy and the netherlands, announcing today they would be closing their airspace to russian aircraft. it looks now like they are going for an eu wide ban. these are proposals at this stage and some things will be signed off on something is developing over the coming hours, but certainly some significant moves by the european union this evening. l significant moves by the european union this evening.— union this evening. i also want to ask about this _ union this evening. i also want to ask about this move _ union this evening. i also want to ask about this move to _ union this evening. i also want to ask about this move to ban - union this evening. i also want to | ask about this move to ban certain russian media, particularly russia today. i understand you can turn off a tv station by removing its broadcasting licence but they get an awful lot of yours via youtube. is it proposing to try and control

every outlet russia today has? haste every outlet russia today has? we don't every outlet russia today has? , don't know the details yet to be honest with you. as you say it is a proposed ban and we have not yet seen how exactly they would look to implement it but they say they want to crack on what they say is the kremlin's state backed media machine putting out misinformation. again seen as quite a significant move by the european union and i think it is interesting to note because there have clearly been accusations that the eu and the west has done too little, too late and certainly hasn't stopped russian tanks rolling onto ukrainian soil. too late to prevent that. the manner of the invasion despite western intelligence caused profound shock intelligence caused profound shock in europe and the way things are unfolding on the ground has again caused even more sure and now seems to be leading to some pretty profound changes in european foreign and defence policy, in germany but also eu wide. flan and defence policy, in germany but also eu wide-—

also eu wide. can i ask you about the refugee _ also eu wide. can i ask you about the refugee situation. _ also eu wide. can i ask you about the refugee situation. i— also eu wide. can i ask you about the refugee situation. i was - also eu wide. can i ask you about| the refugee situation. i was struck by ursula von der leyen talking about offering support to eastern states within the eu because in the last few years that have been huge wranglings in the european union about refugees coming across the mediterranean and whether countries like greece and italy were being given enough support by the eu, so how is it proposing to get this issue right when it has struggled in the past? it issue right when it has struggled in the ast? . , issue right when it has struggled in the ast? ., , , the past? it has absolutely struggled _ the past? it has absolutely struggled in _ the past? it has absolutely struggled in the _ the past? it has absolutely struggled in the past. - the past? it has absolutely i struggled in the past. interior ministers and home affairs and justice ministers have been meeting in brussels today to discuss this very issue about how they can effectively try to share the burden going forward. we expect more details on that pretty soon but you do sense, to be honest with you despite ongoing wrangling, and it hasn't been easy to get here this week, after several packages of sanctions with disagreements along the way, but i think there is certainly a sense now that they are appalled by what is happening out there willing to go in directions

they have not gone before and find agreement on things they have struggled on before. in terms of refugees we have to wait for the news on what will come out of the meeting this evening but you do sense some unity because of course ukraine is not in the european union but a smack on the border, bordering poland and slovakia, so it is very closely felt issue here in brussels and across europe and the further east you go as well. so there has been some new found unity within the way they have been so profoundly shocked by what is happening and felt a lot of pressure as well to do something because of those accusations that it has been too weak in the past. a real frustration from countries like poland who think there has been a naive approach to president putin.— there has been a naive approach to president putin. thank you very much indeed. president putin. thank you very much indeed- let's — president putin. thank you very much indeed. let's turn _ president putin. thank you very much indeed. let's turn to _ president putin. thank you very much indeed. let's turn to another - indeed. let's turn to another pressure point to being applied on russia because in the last few minutes bp has announced it is exiting its nearly 20% shareholding

in the russian energy firm. how is it explaining this?— it explaining this? there has been ressure it explaining this? there has been pressure on _ it explaining this? there has been pressure on bp — it explaining this? there has been pressure on bp from _ it explaining this? there has been pressure on bp from the - it explaining this? there has been pressure on bp from the british i pressure on bp from the british government this week to do something about the 20% share it has in the russian energy giant. rosneft. when it pulled out it was left with this 20% share and i would say it has long been uncomfortable for bp to have a share in a state owned russian company and since then it has become untenable and bp have said that russia's attack on ukraine as an act of aggression having tragic consequences. what is not clear is that bp described this as a divestments. so they are taking rosneft off its books and at the moment it accounts for about one fifth of its profits but we don't quite know where it is going. one of the difficulties bp has quietly said

as it is difficult to get rid of a share like this because ultimately if you're selling something you need a buyer and who might buy a share like this, perhaps someone you don't want to sell to, so clearly the solution they have come up with his taking it off its books and taking it off its accounting and as a result taking a hit of about $20 billion. is result taking a hit of about $20 billion. , ., ., �* �*, billion. is that the limit of bp's involvement _ billion. is that the limit of bp's involvement in _ billion. is that the limit of bp's involvement in russia - billion. is that the limit of bp's involvement in russia more i billion. is that the limit of bp's - involvement in russia more broadly? they have about 200 people working there but they do receive quite a significant dividend from rosneft and so one of the things they are saying today as they will stop getting that money. people close to bp have said in the past that actuator is more of an thing, because they own 20% of rosneft they can account for that on the books but other than the dividend were not receiving cash or oil from them. none the less a lot of money involved so still a significant decision for the business of bt�*s scale. decision for the business of bt's scale. , , ., ., , ., ., ,

scale. huge sums of money and really reflectin: scale. huge sums of money and really reflecting on — scale. huge sums of money and really reflecting on what _ scale. huge sums of money and really reflecting on what is _ scale. huge sums of money and really reflecting on what is going _ scale. huge sums of money and really reflecting on what is going on - scale. huge sums of money and really reflecting on what is going on with - reflecting on what is going on with businesses around the world in terms of political pressure to pull out of involvement with russia and the russian state.— russian state. despite offering talks, president _ russian state. despite offering talks, president putin - russian state. despite offering talks, president putin has - russian state. despite offering i talks, president putin has actually today offered... sorry, told those in charge of his nuclear forces to be placing them on high alert. he said western leaders had made aggressive statements towards russia and that international sanctions are illegitimate. this means the order very tactical nuclear weapons threat can be more quickly given. the us has denounced the move as completely unacceptable. more from our correspondent steve rosenberg in moscow. from the kremlin appointed message to the west, don't push russia. president putin summoned his military chiefs and give them an order. ., , military chiefs and give them an order. . . , military chiefs and give them an order. . ., , ., ., ., ., order. top officials of leading nato

countries are _ order. top officials of leading nato countries are making _ order. top officials of leading nato countries are making aggressive i countries are making aggressive statements about our country. therefore i am ordering the minister of defence and the chief of the general staff to put the strategic nuclear forces on special alert. would putin really use them? he practised a week ago, overseeing exercises of russian strategic deterrence forces. typically on the subtle hints to america and nato not to stand in his way over ukraine. today's special alert, more presidential muscle flexing. across from the kremlin, muscovites gathered on the bridge to remember boris nemtsov, the putin critic gunned down right here seven years ago. for gunned down right here seven years ago. foeradimir, this was gunned down right here seven years ago. for vladimir, this was a date for remembering a friend and condemning the world. this for remembering a friend and condemning the world. this is not russia's ward, _ condemning the world. this is not

russia's ward, not _ condemning the world. this is not russia's ward, not a _ condemning the world. this is not russia's ward, not a war - condemning the world. this is not russia's ward, not a war by i condemning the world. this is not russia's ward, not a war by the l russia's ward, not a war by the russian people are ukrainian people, this is yet another military adventure, military crime by an unelected, unaccountable, authoritarian and frankly increasingly deranged dictator in the kremlin by the name of putin. brute the kremlin by the name of putin. we can see only special operation. independent media outlets in russia have been ordered by the authorities not to call this a war. what is the kremlin trying to do to the truth now in russia?— kremlin trying to do to the truth now in russia? ~ . , ., , ., now in russia? what they always do. they always — now in russia? what they always do. they always turn _ now in russia? what they always do. they always turn truth _ now in russia? what they always do. they always turn truth into _ now in russia? what they always do. they always turn truth into lies. i they always turn truth into lies. they _ they always turn truth into lies. they lie. — they always turn truth into lies. they lie, theyjust lie. they lie, they 'ust lie. censorship at home, they lie, they 'ust lie. censorship at home. war — they lie, theyjust lie. censorship at home, war abroad. _ they lie, theyjust lie. censorship at home, war abroad. in - they lie, theyjust lie. censorship at home, war abroad. in the i they lie, theyjust lie. censorship at home, war abroad. in the past| at home, war abroad. in the past hour, president zelensky has been

speaking at a news conference. let's hear some of what he said. i speaking at a news conference. let's hear some of what he said.— hear some of what he said. i have had a telephone _ hear some of what he said. i have had a telephone conversation i hear some of what he said. i have | had a telephone conversation with alexander lukashenko. we haven't spoken with him for two years but today i had a lengthy conversation with him. a very specific and detailed one. i agreed with him in detailed one. i agreed with him in detail the possibility of our clash. i don't want missiles, aircraft and helicopters flying to ukraine from belarus. i don't want the army to go to ukraine from belarus, and he assured me of this. my task as president is to defend our state and we have seen this during these ferocious days, how we are coping with this task. alexander lukashenko asked me for ukrainian and russian delegation to meet at the river prep yet. i must underline with no preconditions whatsoever. —— pripyat. i will tell you frankly as always i don't always believe in the

results of this meeting but let them dry so that later on though ukrainian citizen can have any doubt i as president was not trying to stop the war when there was those little a chance. the head of the president was offices here, prime minister this year, the army is here, commander—in—chief is here. we all will be defending our state and our borders. we all have to act pragmatically in order to achieve our goal, and our goal is our territorial integrity. we have seen this position of error is 100%. it is an unconditional protection for their statehood. as to our motivation, it is obvious that our military are fighting not for the sake of money but for our today and tomorrow. and they are responsible for what happened yesterday but we have to realise that today is the most importantjob to be a military and defend your country. that is why i do want for the state to pay for

thisjob i do want for the state to pay for this job adequately. we will be paying our service men who hold arms in their hands 100,000 a month, not for the sake of being thanked but for the sake of being thanked but for them to know the country is grateful to them and it will be like this until the war is over and one last thing, yesterday unfortunately we lost our aircraft, the dream. but it was an old one and we are building a new one right now, glory to ukraine. the building a new one right now, glory to ukraine. , ., ., to ukraine. the un says around 370,000 ukrainians _ to ukraine. the un says around 370,000 ukrainians have i to ukraine. the un says around i 370,000 ukrainians have already fled into neighbouring countries including moldova, hungary, slovakia and romania. the majority have crossed to poland. our europe correspondent is in south—eastern poland near its border with ukraine. a chain of solidarity from poland to ukraine. nearthe

a chain of solidarity from poland to ukraine. near the border the donations kept coming. everything europe's new refugees would need given by polls from across the country. volunteers stunned at what is happening to their neighbours. l is happening to their neighbours. i am really touched. i don't have words in my mouth to explain how happy i am to see all of my citizens, all of the polish people who want to help, people from the whole of the country trying to help, we are really wanting to do what we can. we are really wanting to do what we can, , ., , ., we are really wanting to do what we can. , ., ,., ., , can. loaded up for the border, many ofthe can. loaded up for the border, many of the supplies _ can. loaded up for the border, many of the supplies to _ can. loaded up for the border, many of the supplies to be _ can. loaded up for the border, many of the supplies to be picked - can. loaded up for the border, many of the supplies to be picked up i can. loaded up for the border, many of the supplies to be picked up by i of the supplies to be picked up by transport from the other side. we followed as they wend their way through the forests of eastern poland, land which decades ago saw russian occupation and the price paid for liberation. they had to off load before the borderfor the paid for liberation. they had to off load before the border for the lack of space at the crossing, from a sports hall to a store house, everything is sorted by volunteers

old and young,. bartos came from five hours to the west. brute old and young,. bartos came from five hours to the west.— old and young,. bartos came from five hours to the west. we want to hel as five hours to the west. we want to help as much _ five hours to the west. we want to help as much as — five hours to the west. we want to help as much as we _ five hours to the west. we want to help as much as we can, _ five hours to the west. we want to help as much as we can, in - five hours to the west. we want to help as much as we can, in a i five hours to the west. we want to i help as much as we can, in a country that can still live peacefully. putin, you cannot forgive this and he should be punished for his crimes that he did to the people.— that he did to the people. eastern euro -e in that he did to the people. eastern europe in particular _ that he did to the people. eastern europe in particular has _ that he did to the people. eastern europe in particular has been i europe in particular has been critical of a slow global response to russian aggression but now support ukraine is really picking up. poland are concerned about the numbers that could eventually come here but now on a political, military and humanitarian level, it is at the vanguard of aid to its neighbour. at the border itself the new arrivals keep coming, tens of thousands each day, cold and exhausted, some too young to understand the trauma russia has unleashed. we found this woman and her children who had fled from western ukraine is the sirens started. y .

western ukraine is the sirens started. g . ., ., , started. my mum and dad are sitting in their basement _ started. my mum and dad are sitting in their basement back— started. my mum and dad are sitting in their basement back home - started. my mum and dad are sitting in their basement back home in i started. my mum and dad are sitting in their basement back home in the l in their basement back home in the town is surrounded, she says. i am very scared of what may happen to my country and the people i love. we see how the world supports ukraine but it is not enough. as the temperature drops their lives are in limbo, not sure where to head are not certain they will have a home left to which to return. $5 not certain they will have a home left to which to return.— not certain they will have a home left to which to return. as well as those seeking — left to which to return. as well as those seeking safety _ left to which to return. as well as those seeking safety outside i those seeking safety outside ukraine, many have had to leave their homes and are displaced within their homes and are displaced within the country. our eastern europe correspondence sarah raynsford is in the eastern city of dnipro. just four days ago these corridors were filled with students. now this hostel is sheltering families fleeing a war that they don't understand. further ukraine that been fighting for eight years but

always at a distance, until vladimir putin declared open war on their country. it was when a shell landed next door that the family packed up and fled. brute next door that the family packed up and fled. ~ . ., , ., and fled. we are ashamed. i never thou~ht and fled. we are ashamed. i never thought we — and fled. we are ashamed. i never thought we would _ and fled. we are ashamed. i never thought we would be _ and fled. we are ashamed. i never thought we would be in _ and fled. we are ashamed. i never thought we would be in this i thought we would be in this situation. we were normal people, we had jobs, schools, a normalfamily. now we have to ask for help. the scariest thing is we don't know how long this is for and whether we will have anything left to go back to. ludmila tells me every time a door bangs they think it is an explosion and that they should grab the children and hide. she is constantly checking for news of family and friends they left behind. the town's group chat is now full of videos like this. the boysjust

group chat is now full of videos like this. the boys just miss their own toys and their kindergarten. just speaking to these families here, you realise the depth of what they are going through because she was just telling me that a few days ago the main things on her mind or home improvement and shopping and how the kids were getting on at kindergarten and out she tells me what the worries about is whether they are all going to wake up safely. this is where other families will sleep tonight, on the floor of a concert hall and bar. locals have rallied round to make it as comfortable as possible but this is tough for everyone. natalia's mother just made it here from the early front line and natalia herself is furious with vladimir putin. translation: he says he is bad defending us but who from? by burning alone down a house? for now, yes, it's come here, but my heart is shattered. mr; yes, it's come here, but my heart is shattered. y . , yes, it's come here, but my heart is shattered. g . , ., , , ,

shattered. my family has been pulled a art and shattered. my family has been pulled apart and i'm — shattered. my family has been pulled apart and i'm frightened _ shattered. my family has been pulled apart and i'm frightened for - shattered. my family has been pulled apart and i'm frightened for my i apart and i'm frightened for my children. ijust really want apart and i'm frightened for my children. i just really want this to end. children. i 'ust really want this to end. �* , . ., ~ end. it's a nightmare. and the dangerous _ end. it's a nightmare. and the dangerous following _ end. it's a nightmare. and the dangerous following her. i end. it's a nightmare. and the dangerous following her. as . end. it's a nightmare. and the| dangerous following her. as we finished speaking, an air raid siren wailed across the city for the first time. forthe wailed across the city for the first time. for the first time since the russian invasion, ukraine is planning at least to hold talks with russia. delegations from the two sides are meeting close to the border of neighbouring belarus. a short time ago, i spoke to our chief correspondent lisa doucet who is in the capital kyiv. she explained to me what for many possible talks between russia and ukraine could take. , ., ., , , take. they are willing to listen is what the foreign _ take. they are willing to listen is what the foreign minister- take. they are willing to listen is what the foreign minister said i take. they are willing to listen is what the foreign minister said in take. they are willing to listen is i what the foreign minister said in a press conference on facebook, as happens these days. then we received reports that the delegates were arriving at that position close to the belarusian border. after that

came reports that missiles were being fired from belarusian territory into ukraine which raises the question, well, are the talks going to be off? the belarusian president had vowed to ensure there would be no attacks and no movement of russian troops or armoured vehicles, russian air attacks, and it does not seem to have stopped them. we are now hearing reports that they may start tomorrow. belarus, neighbouring ukraine but a very close ally of president putin, is now trying to play mediator. but it is a very tall order right now. i it is a very tall order right now. i was going to ask you about it being a tall order given the russians did joint military exercises with belarusian troops before the invasion. they are hardly a neutral third party. invasion. they are hardly a neutral third party-— third party. exactly. that is what resident third party. exactly. that is what president zelensky _ third party. exactly. that is what president zelensky said - third party. exactly. that is what president zelensky said when . third party. exactly. that is what president zelensky said when it | third party. exactly. that is what. president zelensky said when it was first mooted. the first meant venue

proposed was minsk, the capital of belarus. president zelensky rejected that saying that belarusian territory was being used as a launching pad for strikes against ukraine. earliertoday launching pad for strikes against ukraine. earlier today he did one of his videos directly speaking to the people of bellary share. saying be belarus and don't be russia. used to stand with us. why are you allowing your territory to be used against us in this war? there remained the 2015 was the venue for the 2015 minsk agreement. i was there at the time. ukrainians now say they agree to that deal because in their words, they had a gun to their head. russian forces had just faded in annex in crimea. we had to give into international diplomacy. now it is a different ukraine, a different army and a different fight. they are not going to accept any demands that

they feel are inconsistent with their sovereign objectives and ideals. their sovereign ob'ectives and ideals. ., ., , ., ideals. you are in the capital, it is no doubt _ ideals. you are in the capital, it is no doubt vladimir _ ideals. you are in the capital, it is no doubt vladimir putin's - ideals. you are in the capital, it - is no doubt vladimir putin's number one goal to take control of it. what is the status of the conflict around the city? is the status of the conflict around the ci ? _ is the status of the conflict around the ci ? ., ., is the status of the conflict around theci ? ., ., the city? day four of the invasion, ukrainians — the city? day four of the invasion, ukrainians went _ the city? day four of the invasion, ukrainians went to _ the city? day four of the invasion, ukrainians went to bed _ the city? day four of the invasion, ukrainians went to bed last - the city? day four of the invasion, ukrainians went to bed last night| ukrainians went to bed last night with warnings that the pass night could have been the night of all nights, that the air raid siren sounded, amplified by warnings and microphones. stay downstairs, don't go out, don't go into any other rooms in your house except the basement. there are going to be russian attacks tonight. they could be ferocious. today, dawn, clear, cold, no russians in the centre of kyiv. we learned that the second city, kirk was subject of the most intense fight, street fighting,

russian vehicles rumbling through the streets, but there have been explosions all through the day to day. regular explosions on the edges of the city, about 20 miles away in some directions, about ten miles to the north—west. there is no doubt that russia wants to advance. the advances dolls. ukrainians are putting up resistance. i think the question now is with all this talk about talks tomorrow, will there still be attacks on the capital of kyiv tonight. it is absolutely eerie, chilling, the streets are completely empty. the traffic lights are blinking yellow because of course the only cars on the street are meant to be military or security cars. and the silence, stillness has fallen over what used to be one of the most vibrant european cities. and that silence will be connected to the curfew that the city public

authorities have put in place. as i remember, that continues into monday morning, but beyond that, what is the advice to families still in the city as to how they should go about their lives? , ., , ., city as to how they should go about their lives?— their lives? yes, families who have taken two basements, _ their lives? yes, families who have taken two basements, bunkers, . their lives? yes, families who have i taken two basements, bunkers, bomb shelters, the metro stations, they are counting the hours until they can leave at 8am on monday morning. we hear that people are running out of food, water, need to perhaps go home and get things, need to charge their phones. they are running out of everything. they have been down there since five o'clock last night, but if the security situation deteriorates overnight, they won't be able to leave.— deteriorates overnight, they won't be able to leave. james thinks he is director of the _ be able to leave. james thinks he is director of the wretched _ be able to leave. james thinks he is director of the wretched erasure - director of the wretched erasure programme at chatham house. he is live with us now from the bbc and penguin in berkshire. thank you for your time. a lot of different

elements from today's developments to get through. supplying arm the eu will supply arms into a conflict for the first time in its history. how significant do think that is? extremely significant if you are german of course because the german have been steadfast throughout their post—war history, so this really is significant, i think most of the eu countries are still playing catch up, the uk as well as sensibly, what seemed like measure... . up, the uk as well as sensibly, what seemed like measure. . ._ up, the uk as well as sensibly, what seemed like measure... . that is one element of — seemed like measure... . that is one element of what _ seemed like measure... . that is one element of what the _ seemed like measure... . that is one element of what the eu _ seemed like measure... . that is one element of what the eu announced . seemed like measure... . that is one i element of what the eu announced but it also announced finances, freezing assets of the russia banks and the ceasing operations of swiss. it’s ceasing operations of swiss. it's harsh, ceasing operations of swiss. it's harsh. but _ ceasing operations of swiss. it�*s harsh, but sounding like a broken record, the best time would have been to do it was 20 years ago. the second time is now. it will have an

effect. the issue with sanctions if they tend to be a long—term squeeze effect. ukraine is fighting for its survival over the next two weeks, so in fact what ukraine is asking for its weaponry, more than sanctions, which they are getting, unlike the bigger time is coming ukraine 2014, syria if you like in 2018, and this time it is a different magnitude altogether, and there is an increasing understanding across most western leaders these days, because it has no la is not even neighbouring hungary, that this time it needs to be defeated.— it needs to be defeated. vladimir putin will properly _ it needs to be defeated. vladimir putin will properly have - it needs to be defeated. vladimir putin will properly have been - it needs to be defeated. vladimir| putin will properly have been able to gain this out. he will not be surprised that sanctions are coming his way after the invasion. what will be the counter to these sanctions by putting in measures in russia. , , ., .,

russia. russia reverted to import substitution _ russia. russia reverted to import substitution in _ russia. russia reverted to import substitution in 2014 _ russia. russia reverted to import substitution in 2014 where - russia. russia reverted to import substitution in 2014 where it - substitution in 2014 where it basically tried to replicate what it imports by making it itself. that has actually been very successful in the agricultural sector but not very successful in the tech sector for example. they can do that for an a certain extent. china being as it is an easy la i suppose. but at the end of the day, it did go west and can't switch that overnight, and so vladimir putin is going to have a big long—term problem on his hands as well as the short term. big long-term problem on his hands as well as the short term.— as well as the short term. talking about mr putin, _ as well as the short term. talking about mr putin, he _ as well as the short term. talking about mr putin, he has _ as well as the short term. talking about mr putin, he has put - as well as the short term. talking about mr putin, he has put his . about mr putin, he has put his services on the highest alert that russia has. he would know the kind of coverage that would get and the move that will get. how do you assess his decision to do that? i wish we had access to the inner workings of his mind, but we simply don't have it. he has been on record

in the past to say that a world without russia in it is not a world anyone should be living in, sol think this is not the first nuclear threat russia has delivered down the ages, but we should probably take it more seriously than ever before. vladimir putin needs to be defeated, but the problem is that if putin loses, then we all lose. this is the $64,000 question if you like. somehow, we need to ensure that putin does lose but does not go for an all out, if you like, suicidal gambit, if you see what i'm saying. can i ask you about the fact that there seem to be some form of talks planned between russia and ukraine close to the border with belarus. do you think ukraine should be agreeing to that? i you think ukraine should be agreeing to that? ~ , to that? i think it is in the interest — to that? i think it is in the interest of— to that? i think it is in the interest of both _ to that? i think it is in the interest of both sides - to that? i think it is in the interest of both sides for| to that? l think it is in the - interest of both sides for what it is worth. i think volodymyr zelensky

is worth. i think volodymyr zelensky is in a relatively strong position because of the enormous amount of international backing he has had. just weeks ago, persuading him to agree to some compromises, but no one is going to get him to agree to that these days. russian forces are beginning to overwhelm the country and has a lot more in reserve, and zelensky finds himself in a stronger position. russia is not making the progress they expected to make. of course nobody is going to these talks to capitulate back down, but it does seem as there may be some room for manoeuvre on both sides. not that they should ever make concessions.— not that they should ever make concessions. �* , ., ., concessions. let's get more from the ukrainian capital _ concessions. let's get more from the ukrainian capital kyiv _ concessions. let's get more from the ukrainian capital kyiv right _ concessions. let's get more from the ukrainian capital kyiv right now. - concessions. let's get more from the ukrainian capital kyiv right now. a . ukrainian capital kyiv right now. a short time ago i spoke to the ukrainian mp.— short time ago i spoke to the ukrainian mp. �* , , ., ukrainian mp. i've 'ust been from the front line — ukrainian mp. i've 'ust been from the front line in _ ukrainian mp. i've just been from the front line in kyiv _

ukrainian mp. i've just been from the front line in kyiv and - ukrainian mp. i've just been from the front line in kyiv and i - ukrainian mp. i've just been from the front line in kyiv and i am - ukrainian mp. i've just been from the front line in kyiv and i am in l the front line in kyiv and i am in kyiv already. the reality is that there's such a lot of fighting in there's such a lot of fighting in the reinforcement like it, the forces there, so we've got in the city is now a skirmish, and we had a skirmish last night. the point is now that russia is preparing, it seems that this will continue one word because they are trying to basically send their agents into kyiv, every single day. again, this is but another step in trying to cut off our ability to command troops throughout the country. they are invading every and the one thing to do is to fight. invading every and the one thing to do is to fight-— do is to fight. when you say you were involved _ do is to fight. when you say you were involved in _ do is to fight. when you say you were involved in a _ do is to fight. when you say you were involved in a skirmish, - do is to fight. when you say you l were involved in a skirmish, what happened?— happened? last night, there was basicall a happened? last night, there was basically a shoot _ happened? last night, there was basically a shoot out _ happened? last night, there was basically a shoot out near - happened? last night, there was basically a shoot out near the - basically a shoot out near the ministry of defence in kyiv. russia is sending very different groups of people. they sent tank ones that got

as far of two kilometres from downtown. basically though, this happens almost every day and every night. there were missiles fired onto kyiv basically last night, and day—to—day. in the hotel where your crew lives basically, you could hear very clearly the missiles being dropped. there is a big police station there which is essential for weapons. for many parts of ukraine. —— for many parts of ukraine defence. so that's why there is a lot of activity there. find defence. so that's why there is a lot of activity there.— lot of activity there. and you are an mp. lot of activity there. and you are an mp- do _ lot of activity there. and you are an mp- do you _ lot of activity there. and you are an mp. do you intend _ lot of activity there. and you are an mp. do you intend to - lot of activity there. and you are an mp. do you intend to stay - lot of activity there. and you are an mp. do you intend to stay in | lot of activity there. and you are i an mp. do you intend to stay in the city or will you have to move out of the fighting gets worse? absolutely will sta in the fighting gets worse? absolutely will stay in the _ the fighting gets worse? absolutely will stay in the city. _ the fighting gets worse? absolutely will stay in the city. this _ the fighting gets worse? absolutely will stay in the city. this is - the fighting gets worse? absolutely will stay in the city. this is our - will stay in the city. this is our capital. this is our country is capital. this is our country is capital and we do not intend to get out. people in kyiv arejoining in

the fight in every single way, and members of parliament at least they can try to be useful here, become soldiers and all of this and tried to basically destroy some of the forces. we have no other choice. this is our country and we are fighting for our country's existence right now. fighting for our country's existence riaht now. , , right now. here in the uk, liz truss said she would _ right now. here in the uk, liz truss said she would support _ right now. here in the uk, liz truss said she would support anyone - right now. here in the uk, liz truss| said she would support anyone from the uk going to ukraine to fight alongside the ukrainians. she later modified her words saying she would not oppose people doing that. there are remarks from an appeal by the ukraine president for international help. his motherfrom a political correspondent anywhere else. in chilling darkness, ukrainian refugees cute the border in neighbouring poland, many with young children. the uk has sent humanitarian aid but is the eu is

under pressure for taking more ukrainian refugees. this woman's 69—year—old motherfled ukrainian refugees. this woman's 69—year—old mother fled from the border to hungary. the 69-year-old mother fled from the border to hungary.— border to hungary. the trip to hunua border to hungary. the trip to hungary was _ border to hungary. the trip to hungary was by _ border to hungary. the trip to hungary was by foot. - border to hungary. the trip to hungary was by foot. she - border to hungary. the trip to - hungary was by foot. she stopped some cars and and got herself to a train station somewhere that got us to budapest and then from budapest she managed to managed to fly to paris which was very brave of her, because she doesn't speak english and doesn't really travel so much on her own. ., ., ., and doesn't really travel so much on her own. . . ., ., her own. natalia met her mother valentino there, _ her own. natalia met her mother valentino there, but _ her own. natalia met her mother valentino there, but when - her own. natalia met her mother valentino there, but when they l valentino there, but when they reached the uk border in paris, she was denied entry because she did not have these. , ., , have these. they said that they could not consider— have these. they said that they could not consider this - have these. they said that they could not consider this becausej have these. they said that they - could not consider this because the border post was not on the uk soil. the problem is she is not

independent of her daughter. though these are services and ukraine are suspended for everyone else, but if they reach a neighbouring country, they reach a neighbouring country, they can apply for a visa to work or study in the uk under the points—based immigration system. but labour and some tory mps want the government to ditch these visa restrictions for ukrainians trying to enter. we restrictions for ukrainians trying to enter. ~ ., ., ., ., ., to enter. we have to have a general scheme that — to enter. we have to have a general scheme that is _ to enter. we have to have a general scheme that is equivalent _ to enter. we have to have a general scheme that is equivalent to - to enter. we have to have a general scheme that is equivalent to the - scheme that is equivalent to the scheme that is equivalent to the scheme we offered after the balkans crisis. we are asking people to jump through hoops. there is bureaucracy and red tape. why would we asked people what their salary levels are when they are fleeing war. 50 people what their salary levels are when they are fleeing war. so what is the uk doing _ when they are fleeing war. so what is the uk doing to _ when they are fleeing war. so what is the uk doing to support? - when they are fleeing war. so what is the uk doing to support? they . is the uk doing to support? they said while the uk has ruled out sending troops to fight in ukraine, she would absolutely support british citizens going to fight. i do su ort citizens going to fight. i do support that. _

citizens going to fight. i do support that, and - citizens going to fight. i do support that, and of - citizens going to fight. i u support that, and of course that is something that people can make their own decisions about. imitten something that people can make their own decisions about.— own decisions about. when it comes to refugees. — own decisions about. when it comes to refugees, though, _ own decisions about. when it comes to refugees, though, she _ own decisions about. when it comes to refugees, though, she said - to refugees, though, she said ministers were looking at what more they can do. ministers were looking at what more they can do— they can do. britain has always welcomed _ they can do. britain has always welcomed refugees _ they can do. britain has always welcomed refugees fleeing - they can do. britain has always. welcomed refugees fleeing from they can do. britain has always - welcomed refugees fleeing from war, and we are urgently looking at what we can do to facilitate that. but ultimately, what we need to make sure is that we protect ukraine as a sovereign democracy. ultimately the people in ukraine want to live in ukraine. . ., , ., ., ukraine. valentino is one of those --eole. ukraine. valentino is one of those people- she _ ukraine. valentino is one of those people- she did — ukraine. valentino is one of those people. she did not _ ukraine. valentino is one of those people. she did not want - ukraine. valentino is one of those people. she did not want to - ukraine. valentino is one of those people. she did not want to leave | people. she did not want to leave her country, but missiles have rained down on her home town. and she says president putin must be stopped. those in the ukraine who —— those in the uk who have families in ukraine. she has contact with her mother but they were sheltering in the basement of their building in

ukraine. she isjoined us now to talk about what she has heard from her mother. first and foremost, how yourfamily doing? iii her mother. first and foremost, how your family doing?— your family doing? hi everyone. i have heard _ your family doing? hi everyone. i have heard from _ your family doing? hi everyone. i have heard from my _ your family doing? hi everyone. i have heard from my mother - your family doing? hi everyone. i have heard from my mother who| your family doing? hi everyone. i l have heard from my mother who is your family doing? hi everyone. i - have heard from my mother who is now in journey ever and it is completely blocked with the russian army. just horrific in my hometown, and obviously for my mum it is very scary because there is not any way to get evacuated from where she is, and she just spent four days in the basement. so, yeah, just really, really bad and she is really scared because there is constantly shooting and a lot of explosions around the area where we live. but we will hope for the best. it area where we live. but we will hope for the best-— for the best. it sounds terrifying. is she able _ for the best. it sounds terrifying. is she able to _ for the best. it sounds terrifying. is she able to get _ for the best. it sounds terrifying. is she able to get food? - for the best. it sounds terrifying. is she able to get food? are - for the best. it sounds terrifying. i is she able to get food? are people able to bring supplies? 50. is she able to get food? are people able to bring supplies?— able to bring supplies? so, most of the supermarkets _ able to bring supplies? so, most of the supermarkets were _

able to bring supplies? so, most of the supermarkets were open - able to bring supplies? so, most of the supermarkets were open for. able to bring supplies? so, most of| the supermarkets were open for the first three days, but from today, everything just closed down, and the only get open for one hour a day. some of the neighbours went to the supermarket today but it was completely empty. it was fully sold out and they were only able to get two bottles of water and some bread. this is really worrying because the supplies, there is a shortage in the supplies, there is a shortage in the supplies, and i really hope that the local government will need to do something about it because the people will not have anything to eat. not only are they scared of the explosions around the areas but there is also a risk of not having food and drink. find there is also a risk of not having food and drink.— there is also a risk of not having food and drink. and when you speak to our food and drink. and when you speak to your mother— food and drink. and when you speak to your mother about _ food and drink. and when you speak to your mother about that, - food and drink. and when you speak to your mother about that, if- to your mother about that, if she able to leave the basement at all at the moment? 50. able to leave the basement at all at the moment?— able to leave the basement at all at the moment? ., ., , ., , the moment? so, from day one she was able to no the moment? so, from day one she was able to go home — the moment? so, from day one she was able to go home at _ the moment? so, from day one she was able to go home at least _ the moment? so, from day one she was able to go home at least once _ the moment? so, from day one she was able to go home at least once a - the moment? so, from day one she was able to go home at least once a day, - able to go home at least once a day, because we also have three cats at home and she was going to feed them.

but today, she did not leave the tour because it was very scary. there are some days, like the first three days the explosions were just uncertain times, but today it was just every two hours. also, following some challenges —— some channels with their local news and i always get local notification when there is a warning for an air attack, so today it was almost every hour, so i advised her not to leave the basement at all.— the basement at all. while she is auoin the basement at all. while she is going through — the basement at all. while she is going through this _ the basement at all. while she is going through this and _ the basement at all. while she is going through this and listening l the basement at all. while she is i going through this and listening out for news of those air strikes, is there also fighting on the ground nearby, or has that knot arrived in her neighbourhood yet? it did arrive from yesterday- _ her neighbourhood yet? it did arrive from yesterday. the _ her neighbourhood yet? it did arrive from yesterday. the mayor - her neighbourhood yet? it did arrive i from yesterday. the mayor announced this and are still people who would like to volunteer and have some experience in this, they were gathering altogether, the volunteers, to fight with all this

russian divergence. so that's another reason why the government to try not to evacuate these days. obviously a terribly worrying time for you and all the ukrainians in the uk. are you able to gather together to communicate with each other and support each other at this time? , ., ., time? the thing is that i am the onl child time? the thing is that i am the only child and _ time? the thing is that i am the only child and i _ time? the thing is that i am the only child and i am _ time? the thing is that i am the only child and i am currently - time? the thing is that i am the i only child and i am currently here, and she is there, and most of our relatives are in belarus from where all these russian soldiers are coming to fight and attack. obviously it is quite difficult to get the support you have from my belarusian family because they are really, like listen to a lot of russian media and they are very sceptical around the situation in ukraine so we just try to not talk

to that much, to avoid any political conflict. so i'm the only one who keeps in touch with my mum to support her in these hard times. so you have to carry that responsibility. i'm interested, when you talk to your relatives in belarus, they see what is happening in a completely different way by the sounds of it. in a completely different way by the sounds of it— sounds of it. yes. they are 'ust brainwashed i sounds of it. yes. they are 'ust brainwashed with i sounds of it. yes. they are 'ust brainwashed with all�* sounds of it. yes. they are 'ust brainwashed with all the h sounds of it. yes. they are just l brainwashed with all the russian propaganda. they only listen to those news and theyjust... my grandfather is a regionally ukrainian and it is easier to speak to him because he supports us, but the rest of my familyjust can't believe that that is happening. they think that it is ukrainians that are attacking russia for some reason. and ijust can't attacking russia for some reason. and i just can't speak to them any more because it is so much. i’ll and i just can't speak to them any more because it is so much. i'll go, thank ou more because it is so much. i'll go, thank you very _ more because it is so much. i'll go, thank you very much _ more because it is so much. i'll go, thank you very much indeed - more because it is so much. i'll go, thank you very much indeed for - thank you very much indeed for speaking to us at such a difficult

time. i can hear your phone going with no doubt messages coming in from friends and family in the ukraine quay in ukraine. i let you check those messages. best wishes to you and your mother. we have been hearing about prayer ukraine demonstrations taking place here in the world. here in the uk, the largest gathering was in westminster in london. dozens of young people from st marys ukrainian school in west london attended. for over six d years this saturday school has taught young ukrainians living in london about their country present history, language and culture. the invasion back home is now putting into question ukraine's future. while times are tough, community hero pulling together. what while times are tough, community hero pulling together. what happened on thursday shook— hero pulling together. what happened on thursday shook them _ hero pulling together. what happened on thursday shook them all. - hero pulling together. what happened on thursday shook them all. you - hero pulling together. what happened on thursday shook them all. you can l on thursday shook them all. you can see for the first time fearing their eyes. we started getting initiatives

from our school children here in year eight, year nine, year ten pupils that they would like to do something for the civilians back in their home country. that they would love to fund raise for the children. but what do young people actually think about what is going on. i ieei think about what is going on. i feel very worried _ think about what is going on. i feel very worried because _ think about what is going on. i f,,i very worried because there is my family, my grandmother and very worried because there is my family, my grandmotherand my grandfather. and i hope everything will be all right in my country. it's my home. or my family is there, my aunties _ it's my home. or my family is there, my aunties and uncles and my parents — my aunties and uncles and my parents. they are planning on staying — parents. they are planning on staying there but i don't want them to stay— staying there but i don't want them to stay there i want them to come here _ to stay there i want them to come here. ., , to stay there i want them to come here. . , ., ., ,, ., to stay there i want them to come here. . , . ., , , ., ., here. raising awareness and having it on the news. _ here. raising awareness and having it on the news, i _ here. raising awareness and having it on the news, i think _ here. raising awareness and having it on the news, i think that - here. raising awareness and having it on the news, i think that will- it on the news, i think that will definitely— it on the news, i think that will definitely help— it on the news, i think that will definitely help spread - it on the news, i think that will. definitely help spread awareness. it on the news, i think that will- definitely help spread awareness. it makes definitely help spread awareness. makes me feel very worried and definitely help spread awareness.- makes me feel very worried and the new sell everything on the battlefield and what happening, so sometimes they even cry. iudhiie

battlefield and what happening, so sometimes they even cry. while eyes are focused — sometimes they even cry. while eyes are focused on _ sometimes they even cry. while eyes are focused on the _ sometimes they even cry. while eyes are focused on the response - sometimes they even cry. while eyes are focused on the response of - sometimes they even cry. while eyes are focused on the response of world| are focused on the response of world leaders, ukrainian to need action. it is notjust a problem for our children, ukrainian children. the children, ukrainian children. the children across the world are watching what the leaders in their countries are doing today. the children want to act. they don't want just to use children want to act. they don't wantjust to use the privilege of clear skies and continue with their lives. ,, ., ~ ., clear skies and continue with their lives. ,, . ~ ., ,, ., lives. stand with ukraine! stand with ukraine! _ lives. stand with ukraine! stand with ukraine! proudly— lives. stand with ukraine! stand with ukraine! proudly bearing i lives. stand with ukraine! stand l with ukraine! proudly bearing the corners of the _ with ukraine! proudly bearing the corners of the home _ with ukraine! proudly bearing the corners of the home nation, - with ukraine! proudly bearing the corners of the home nation, and. with ukraine! proudly bearing the - corners of the home nation, and most importantly making sure their voices are being heard. paul murphy cursed, bbc news. just before we finish this hour of our ongoing coverage of their russian invasion of ukraine, just a quick reminder of some of our main news lines. russia's strategic nuclear forces have been advised to

go on high alert by president putin. he says he was forced to act because of nato. and the eu say they will supply arms into the ukrainian conflict, something that has never been done before. hello, we have seen a lot of sunshine across the uk today, but changes are afoot and we are looking to the west to annex atlantic system which will make its presence felt this to this evening overnight and into tomorrow. gradually working its way eastwards, and that will bring it into northern ireland and scotland initially. then starting to push into northern england and wales and south—west england and wales and south—west england later on in the night. close by skies for a good part of the night come across eastern counties, but where we keep the clear skies, temperatures could get close to freezing for some eastern counties, so we can't rule out an early thrust as the night wears on. set for an

unsettled day tomorrow. this band of rain clearing through the morning from scotland and northern ireland. some shares in scotland. unlikely to get across east anglia in south—east england in till later on in the day. coupled with that some strong winds like gales across the western isles. temperatures generally between nine and 12 celsius. that band of rain continues on its slow progress eastwards through monday evening and overnight eventually reaching east anglia in south—east england. behind it skies feeding into northern scotland. here potentially some 80 stretches. staying well above freezing in the south and south—east of england. that's how we continue into tuesday, high pressure building interested the west across much of the uk, but this lingering front is likely to keep the southern counties of england. rain that might start to

push back into southern counties during the day. elsewhere refine a dry day, plenty of sunshine. some wintry showers the high higher ground in scotland. winds coming down as well. temperatures between them to tell celsius for many. increasing the cloud, bringing some patchy rain, although scotland should have a fine and dry day. really, through the middle part of next week, starting to turn a bit more unsettled again with rain returning from the south and likely to linger into thursday.

front line and natalia herself is furious with vladimir putin.

hello, we continue our coverage of the situation in ukraine. as the battle rages — a hope for peace — ukraine's president agrees to talks with russia — but accuses the kremlin of war crimes. russia's criminal actions against ukraine show signs of genocide. russia are on the path of evil. ukrainian soldiers fight street to street in the country's second city kharkiv — as russia admits to military casualties for the first time. vladimir putin says he is moving russia's nuclear forces to high alert in response to what he called aggression from western leaders. western countries are not only

taking — western countries are not only taking unfriendly steps against their_ taking unfriendly steps against their country in the economic dimension but the top officials of leading _ dimension but the top officials of leading nato countries also make aggressive statements with regards to our— aggressive statements with regards to our country. the european union pledges to ship arms to ukraine, calling the move a watershed moment. for the first time ever, the european union will finance the purchase and the delivery of weapons and other equipment to a country thatis and other equipment to a country that is under attack. bi?! and other equipment to a country that is under attack.— that is under attack. bp says it is u-uloadin that is under attack. bp says it is uploading its _ that is under attack. bp says it is uploading its nearly _ that is under attack. bp says it is uploading its nearly 2096 - that is under attack. bp says it is uploading its nearly 20% stake i that is under attack. bp says it isj uploading its nearly 2096 stake in uploading its nearly 20% stake in the russian oil giant rosneft and searching for safety. poland says at least 200,000 refugees have now crossed from ukraine since the invasion began. welcome to bbc news.

we continue our coverage of the situation in ukraine. the sunday afternoon it is evolving at pace, let me bring you up—to—date with the latest developments. ukraine has agreed to hold talks with a russian delegation, without preconditions, on the border with neighbouring belarus. in another major development — president putin has ordered russian military commanders to put the country's strategic nuclear forces on special alert, their highest level. he says it's in response to nato aggression. the move has been condemned by the white house — and nato says putin's threat is 'dangerous' and 'irresponsible.�* in the last couple of hours, the european union has announced that it will begin shipping arms to ukraine, the first time in its history that it has taken such a step. it's also introducing more sanctions, the closure of airspace to all russian planes, and a ban on pro—kremlin media. also, in the last hour the british—based multinational bp says it's exiting its 20 % stake in the russian oil giant, rosneft.

at the end of last year, that stake was worth about $14 billion us dollars. well, this the latest map of russian controlled terrority in ukraine. ukraine says it still controls all the cities — but there has been heavy fighting in the east in kharkiv. so far — the united nations refugee agency estimates — 368,000 people have fled ukraine to escape the conflict. we have extensive coverage coming up for you in the next hour. our first report is from nick beake. there was not much talk of peace on the streets of ukraine's second city. instead, kharkiv gave the warning of more to come if this conflict does not stop. earlier, locals in kharkiv had opened their windows to see russian trucks roll in.

other vehicles in the sights of the ukraine military did not get far. and in the south of the country this was said to be a drone strike on a russian convoy at an airport. but some appealed to the hearts of the russian soldiers to end this misery. what are you doing, this women asks. you are our brothers, please stop, we have kids, we are peaceful citizens. the capital kyiv has also been on fire. this was an oil depot that was targeted but once again homes also took the brunt and in another strike a child was killed. fears of a major russian bombardment last night did not materialise. although the fighting is moving ever closer to the city centre. hours after russia attacked ukraine on thursday morning, we met mark at a metro station.

how are you? today we spoke to him from our bunker to his where he has been taking shelter like the rest of the city as a curfew remains in place. we have little food and water. we are very afraid and we tried to keep calm. ukraine's president said russia should be prosecuted for a brutal assault on civilians. russia's criminal actions against ukraine shows signs of genocide. i talked about this with the un secretary general. russia is on the path of evil. here in the heart of kyiv we are hearing the explosions get louder as the russians draw ever nearer. seizing this european capital while the world looks on is for now president putin's prime objective and everyone living here simply has no idea just how much force

he is prepared to use to do that and just how many people could die. this is now an age of wartime leaders. a moment when former ukrainian prime minister post online tutorials instructing their people on how to make petrol bombs to defend themselves. and this is how children in the capital play today, in an underground world mirroring the gruesome reality of what is unfolding above them. that is the city which has been the primary focus of the fighting today. let's turn from ukraine to brussels because a very significant press statement from the european union earlier. here is ursula von der leyen on some of the sanctions she is announcing including targeting russia's state broadcaster and what

she calls the private jets of russian oligarchs. for the first time ever, the european union will finance the purchase and delivery of weapons and other equipment to a country that is under attack. this is a watershed moment. we will present to you the proposal in a few minutes. at the same time, we are strengthening once more our sanctions against the kremlin and its collaborator, lukashenko's regime. first we are shutting down the eu airspace for russians. we are proposing a prohibition on all russian owned, russian registered, and russian —controlled aircraft. these aircraft will be no more be able to land in, take off, or overfly the territory of the european union. this will apply to any plane, owned, charted or otherwise controlled by a russian legal or natural person. let me be very clear. our airspace will be closed

to every russian plane and that includes the private jets of oligarchs, as well. second, in another unprecedented step, we will ban in the european union the kremlin's media machine. the state owned russia today and sputnik, as well as their subsidiaries, well no longer be able to spread their lies to justify putin's war and sow division in our union. we are developing tools to ban toxic and harmful disinformation in europe. and third, we will target the other aggressor of this war, lukashenko's regime. lukashenko's regime is complicit in the vicious attack against ukraine. so we will hit lukashenko's regime with a new package of sanctions.

we will introduce restrictive measures against their most important sectors. this will stop their exports of products from mineral fuels to tobacco, wood and timber, iron and steel. we will also extend to belarus the export restrictions we introduced on dual use goods for russia. this will also avoid any risk of circumvention, of our measures against russia. and in addition we will sanction those belarusians helping the russian war effort. all these measures come on top of the strong package that i presented to you last night, agreed by our international partners, and under this package important russian banks will be excluded from the swift system. we will also ban the transactions of russia's central bank and freeze all its assets to prevent it from financing putin's

war, and we will target the assets of russian oligarchs. we continue to coordinate closely with partners around the globe and we remain in close contact with our ukrainian friends. president zelensky�*s leadership, and his bravery, and the resilience of the ukrainian people are outstanding and impressive. they are an inspiration for all of us. we welcome with open arms those ukrainians who have to flee from putin's bombs and i'm proud of the welcome they have been given. we are making every effort to support our eastern member states to host and take care of these refugees.

we will do this in full solidarity. apart from the latest sanctions announced by ms von der leyen, european leaders have agreed other restrictions against moscow, among them — excluding some russian banks from the swift system for international transactions, and freezing overseas assets of the russian central bank. our business editor, simonjack, looks at the wider economic consequences for russia, of its invasion of ukraine. as thousands took to the streets in berlin and outrage for russia's invasion of ukraine, any remaining caution around ramping up sanctions against europe's biggest energy supplier were replaced with a new resolve. we considered a significant tightening of our international response. the european union and its partners are working to cripple putin's ability to finance his war machine. russian banks will be excluded from the international payment system, isolating russia

from global trade. perhaps even more damaging, russia's central bank will have its overseas assets frozen putting russia and the company of pariahs like iran, venezuela and north korea. against a country the size of russia, these measures are completely unprecedented that not only in terms of the draconian nature of the measures but the timing of the measures and the degree of coordination between the main countries in the west is something that potentially the russian federation would not have priced in. central banks like the bank of england have reserves of foreign currency stashed in other central banks around the world. in times of economic crisis you can use that money to buy your domestic currency propping up its value. if you freeze those overseas assets you can't do it leaving the currency more vulnerable to collapse. for russia and its citizens, another plunge in the currency would present serious economic and social difficulties according

to a moscow—based expert. it is facing collapse of 30—40% when the market opens tomorrow. prices are going to be higher, question marks overjob security. all these things have changed little in the last couple of days. and how this relates to the social and political stability russia has always enjoined, that is becoming quite an urgent question. in the last hour, the eu banned all russian aircraft from the eu airspace. that will hit russian holiday—makers and oligarchs private jets. these sanctions won't prevent the purchase of oil and gas so it will have fuel for its war machine. that would mean an international embargo that would damage both sides in this escalating international war. let's turn back to this raft of new

sanctions announced by the european union. our political correspondent jessica parker is in brussels, with the latest on that announcement of eu sanctions by ursula von der leyen. this is being seen as something of a watershed moment in brussels. what they are doing is using an existing fund but for the first time are using it to fund military aid. this will be via member states and will be optional as we understand it, but member states who want to supply military aid such as ammunition can effectively be reimbursed by the eu european union so this is being seen as a massive move. something of a to b before. the eu not a military power and doesn't have an army, for example, but this is a ramping up of what it is willing to do in the face of russian aggression. in the measure announced today on eu airspace. not entirely surprising it is banning russian aircraft because we have already said many countries, france, italy and the netherlands, announcing today they will be

closing their airspace to russian aircraft but it looks like the eu will be going for an eu wide ban. these are proposals at this stage and some things will be signed off by foreign ministers and some developing over the coming hours but certainly significant moves by the european union this evening. i also wanted to ask _ european union this evening. i also wanted to ask about _ european union this evening. i also wanted to ask about the _ european union this evening. i also wanted to ask about the move - european union this evening. i also wanted to ask about the move to ban certain russian media particularly russia today. i understand you can turn off a tv station by removing its broadcasting licence but they get enough a lot of viewers via youtube. is it proposing to try to control every outlet russia today has? ~ ., �* ~ ., control every outlet russia today has? ., �* ~ ., ., , control every outlet russia today has? ~ ., �* ~ ., ., , ., has? we don't know the details on that et to has? we don't know the details on that yet to be _ has? we don't know the details on that yet to be honest _ has? we don't know the details on that yet to be honest with - has? we don't know the details on that yet to be honest with you. - has? we don't know the details on that yet to be honest with you. as | has? we don't know the details on| that yet to be honest with you. as i say it is a proposed ban and we haven't seen how exactly they would look to implement it but they say they want to crack down on what they say is the kremlin's state backed media machine putting out this information. again the scene is quite a significant move by the european union and i think it is interesting to note because there have clearly been accusations that

the eu and the west has done too little, too late and certainly not stopped russian tanks rolling onto ukrainian soil, too late to prevent that. but the manner of the invasion despite all the western intelligence caused profound shock in europe and i think the way things are unfolding on the ground has again caused even more shock and now seems to be leading to some pretty profound changes in european foreign and defence policy, in germany but also eu wide. flan defence policy, in germany but also eu wide. ., ., defence policy, in germany but also eu wide. . ., i. ., eu wide. can i ask you about the refuuee eu wide. can i ask you about the refugee situation? _ eu wide. can i ask you about the refugee situation? i _ eu wide. can i ask you about the refugee situation? i was - eu wide. can i ask you about the refugee situation? i was struck l eu wide. can i ask you about the l refugee situation? i was struck by ursula von der leyen talking about offering support to eastern states within the eu because in the last few years there have been huge wranglings in the european union over refugees coming across the mediterranean and whether countries like greece and italy were being given enough support by the eu. how is it proposing to get this issue right when it has struggled in the past? right when it has struggled in the -ast? . right when it has struggled in the ast? ., ., ., , past? you are right, it has absolutely _ past? you are right, it has

absolutely struggled - past? you are right, it has absolutely struggled in - past? you are right, it has| absolutely struggled in the past? you are right, it has- absolutely struggled in the past. interior ministers, home affairs ministers and justice ministers have been meeting today to discuss this very issue about how they can effectively try to share the burden going forward. we expect more details on that pretty soon but you sense, to be honest, despite ongoing wrangling over issues and it has not been easy to get here this week after several packages of sanctions. there have been disagreements over the way but that is certainly a sense amongst eu countries that they are so appalled by what is happening that they are willing to go in directions they haven't before or find agreement on things they have struggled to find agreement on before. in terms of refugees will have to wait for news of comes out of that meeting but you sense some unity because ukraine is not in the european union but is smack on the border, bordering poland and slovakia, so it is a closely felt issue here in brussels and across europe and the further east you go as well. there has been some new

found unity within the eu because of the way they have been so profoundly shocked by what is happening and felt a lot of pressure to try to do something because of these accusations that it has been too weak in the past. real frustration from countries like poland who think there has been quite a naive approach to president putin. and in another development within the past hour, bp has announced it is offloading its nearly 20 per cent shareholding in the russian energy firm rosneft. our business correspondent katie prescott told me more there has been pressure on bp from the british government this week to do something about this 20% share that it holds in the russian oil giant rosneft. it has held the share since 2014. it used to have a joint venture in russia with oligarchs, and when it pulled out, it was left with this 20% share. i would say it has long been uncomfortable for bp to have a share in a state—owned russian oil company. now, this week, it has

clearly become untenable. and in the statement from bp this afternoon, they have said that russia's attack on ukraine is an act of aggression which is having tragic consequences. what is not clear, though, is bp's... they describe this as a divestment, so they are taking rosneft off its books. at the moment, it accounts for about a fifth of its profits. but we don't quite know where it is going. one of the difficulties that bp has quietly said this week is it is very difficult to get rid of a share like this, because ultimately, if you are selling something, you need a buyer, and who might buy a share like this? perhaps someone that you might not want to sell to. so, clearly, the solution they have come up with is taking it off its books, and as i say, taking it out of its accounting and as a result, taking a hit of about $20 billion. is that the limit of bp's involvement in russia more broadly? they have about 200 people working there, but they do receive quite a significant dividend from rosneft.

so one of of the things they are saying in the release today is they will stop getting that money. they have, or people close to bp have said to me in the past, that, actually, it is more of an accounting thing. because they own 20% of rosneft, they could account for that on their books, but they were not actually, apart from the dividend, receiving the cash or receiving the oilfrom them. nonetheless, a lot of money involved, so it is still a significant decision for a business of bp's scale. huge sums of money and really reflecting, i think, what is going on in businesses around the world in terms of political pressure to pull out of russia and involvement with the russian state. the decision by bp and we had a bit sanctions from the european union. in the past hour president zelenskyy has been speaking at a news conference — let's hear what he's been saying... i have had a telephone conversation with alexander lukashenko. we haven't spoken with him for two years but today i had a lengthy conversation with him. a very

specific and detailed one. i put mike explain to him in detail the possibility of a clash. i don't want missiles and aircraft and helicopters flying to ukraine from belarus, i don't want army to go from ukraine to belarus and he assured me of this. my task as president is to defend our state and i have seen this during these ferocious days how we are coping with this task. alexander lukashenko asked me for ukrainian and russian delegation to meet at the river pripyat. i must underline, with no preconditions whatsoever. i will tell you frankly as always, i don't really believe in the result of this meeting but let them try. so that later on though ukrainian citizen will have any doubt that i as a president was not trying to stop the war and there was though a little but still a chance. and while our guys are there, the president is here, the head of the presidential

offices here, prime minister is here, the army is here, commander—in—chief is here. we all will be defending our state and our borders. we all have to act pragmatically in order to achieve our goal and pragmatically in order to achieve our goaland our pragmatically in order to achieve our goal and our goal is our territorial integrity. you have seen this position of ours 100%, it is unconditional protection for our statehood. now as to our motivation. it is obvious that our military are fighting not for the sake of money but for our today and tomorrow and they are responsible for what happened yesterday but we have to realise that today is the most importantjob, to be a military and defend your country. that is why i do want for the state to pay this job adequately, we will be paying our servicemen who hold arms, not for the sake of being thanked but for them to know that the country is grateful to them, and it will be

like this until the war is over. and one last thing, yesterday unfortunately, we lost our aircraft, the dream. but it was an old one and we are building a new one right now. glory to ukraine. ihleori we are building a new one right now. glory to ukraine.— glory to ukraine. next we turn to russia, glory to ukraine. next we turn to russia. more _ glory to ukraine. next we turn to russia, more specifically - glory to ukraine. next we turn to russia, more specifically what i glory to ukraine. next we turn to russia, more specifically what is| russia, more specifically what is happening in moscow. despite offering talks, president putin has ordered russia's strategic nuclear forces to be placed on high alert. he says western leaders have made aggressive statements towards russia, and international sanctions are illegitimate. it means the order for a tactical nuclear weapon strike can be quickly given. the us has denounced the move as "completely unacceptable". our correspondent steve rosenberg is in moscow and sent this report. from the kremlin, a pointed message to the west, don't push russia. president putin summoned his military chiefs and give them an order.

top officials of leading nato countries are making aggressive statements about our country. therefore i am ordering the minister of defence and the chief of the general staff to put the strategic nuclear forces on special alert. would putin really use them? he practised a week ago, overseeing exercises of russian strategic deterrence forces. typically unsubtle hints to america and nato not to stand in his way over ukraine. today's special alert, more presidential muscle flexing. across from the kremlin, muscovites gathered on the bridge to remember boris nemtsov, the putin critic gunned down right here seven years ago. for vladimir, this was a date for remembering a friend and condemning the world.

and condemning the war. this is not russia's war, not a war by the russian people or ukrainian people, this is yet another military adventure, military crime by an unelected, unaccountable, authoritarian and frankly increasingly deranged dictator in the kremlin by the name of putin. if you use the words attack, invasion or ward... we can see only special operation. independent media outlets in russia have been ordered by the authorities not to call this a war. what is the kremlin trying to do to the truth now in russia? what they always do. they always turn truth into lies. they lie, theyjust lie. censorship at home, war abroad.

and as with any war, people are driven from their homes. the united nations says around 370,000 ukrainians have now fled the war to neighbouring countries including moldova, hungary, slovakia and romania. the majority have crossed into poland with at least 200,000 arriving there since thursday. our europe correspondent mark lowen is in south—eastern poland near its border with ukraine. a chain of solidarity from poland to ukraine. near the border, the donations kept coming. everything europe has made new refugees would need, given by poles from across the country, volunteers like kamila stunned by what is happening to their neighbours. i'm really touched. i don't have words in my mouth to explain how much happier i am to see all of my citizens, all of my, all the polish people who want to help, the whole country try to help.

we really want to do what we can. loaded up and bound for the border, many of the supplies to be picked up by transport from the other side. we followed as they wound their way through the forests of eastern poland, [and which decades ago saw russian occupation and the price paid for liberation. they had to off—load before the border for lack of space at the crossing. from a sports hall to a store house, everything is sorted by volunteers old and young. bartos came from five hours drive to the west. we want to help as much as we can since we are in a country where we can still live peacefully. putin, what he did is really... you cannot forgive it and he really should be punished for his crimes that he did to the people. eastern europe in particular has been critical of a slow global response to russian aggression. but now it support ukraine

is really picking up. poland is concerned about the numbers that could eventually come here, but for now, on a political, military and humanitarian level, it is at the vanguard of aid to its neighbour. at the border itself, the new arrivals keep coming. tens of thousands each day now, cold, exhausted, some too young to understand the trauma russia has unleashed. we found this woman and her children who fled from western ukraine, where it started. translation: my mum and dad are sitting in their basement back home in their town is surrounded, she says. i'm very scared of what may happen to my country and the people i love. i see how the world support ukraine. it is not enough. as the temperatures drop, their lives are in limbo, not sure where to head and not certain they will have a home left to which to return.

just as i was introducing mark's report, i was saying there are some estimates that over 350,000 people have been displaced outside of ukraine with over 200,000 going into poland. just as we were watching that, we can see some statements coming in from the eu commissioner for crisis management. this is in the last few minutes. they are saying that the russian war on the ukraine is displacing over 7 million people. this is the quote. we are witnessing what could become the largest humanitarian crisis on our european continent in many years. this was at a media conference after a meeting of european union interior ministers focused on the refugee flow. bearing in mind the eu has set a date is setting up funds and mechanisms to support its members on the east of europe who inevitably will have to take on the majority of people fleeing the ukraine and the eu are saying we will share the load and support those countries who are having to take in people day by day.

let me carry on with this quote. currently the expected number of displaced ukrainians is over 7 million but he cautioned he was only given rough estimates from the un because fighting prevented accurate accounting so to be clear this figure appears to reference notjust those who have left ukraine, the un estimate in the region of 350,000 heading to 400,000 but also includes people inside ukraine and evidently the european union feels that figure is far higher. he added that according to the un, if the war continued there will be around 18 million ukrainians who will be affected in humanitarian terms, be it ukraine or in neighbouring countries. he said the figures are big and we will have to prepare for this kind of emergency which is of historical proportions. so a stark warning here from the eu saying that this crisis is displacing over 7 million people. that includes people inside the country of course, the

majority of the 7 million would be in sight. however the eu is saying the figure is difficult to be definitive about because of the nature of the conflict and the people being displaced are most likely to be close to the fighting which means counting who isn't or is able to stay at home is very difficult. none the less these are stark figures and just to reiterate that he is saying the european union is saying, that according to the un, if this war continues as it is there will be around 18 million ukrainians that will be affected in humanitarian terms. so not so far from 50% of the population. we have just seen mark lowe in's report about those ukrainians who have already left. as well as those seeking safety outside ukraine, many have had to leave their homes and are displaced within ukraine. let's look at those who are still in ukraine. our eastern europe correspondent, sarah rainsford is in the eastern city of dnipro.... just four days ago, these corridors were filled with students. now their hostel is sheltering families

fleeing war don't understand. they've run to dnipro from further recent ukraine weather has been fighting for two years for but always at a distance. until vladimir putin declared war on their country. we are ashamed. i never thought we would be in this situation i never thought we would be in this situation. situation is situation. we were normal people, we had jobs, schools, a normalfamily. now we have to ask for help. the scariest thing is we don't know how long this is for and whether we will have anything left to go back to. ludmila tells me every time a door bangs they think it is an explosion and that they should grab the children and hide. she is constantly checking for news of family and friends they left behind. the town's group chat is now full of videos

like this. the boys just miss their own toys and their kindergarten. just speaking to these families here, you realise the depth of what they are going through because she was just telling me that a few days ago the main things on her mind or home improvement and shopping and how the kids were getting on at kindergarten, and now she tells me what the worries about is whether they are all going to wake up safely. this is where other families will sleep tonight, on the floor of a concert hall and bar. locals have rallied round to make it as comfortable as possible but this is tough for everyone. natalia's motherjust made it here from the early front line and natalia herself is furious with vladimir putin. translation: he says

he is defending us but who from? by burning down houses? for now, yes, it's come here, but my heart is shattered. my family has been pulled apart and i'm frightened for my children. i just really want this to end. it's a nightmare. and the danger is following her. as we finished speaking, an air raid siren wailed across the city for the first time. the most high—profile announcement of the day has come from vladimir putin. he of the day has come from vladimir putin. ., , , of the day has come from vladimir putin. . , , , ., . putin. he has put the strategic nuclear forces _ putin. he has put the strategic nuclear forces on _ putin. he has put the strategic nuclear forces on special- putin. he has put the strategicj nuclear forces on special alert. that is their highest level. he says it is in response to nato aggression. the move has been condemned by the white house. nato says this threat is aggressive and

irresponsible. also, over the last couple of hours, we have been talking about this. the eu is to start shipping arms to ukraine. this is a historical decision. it is never shipped arms into conflict before. it will close its airspace to all russian planes, and there is a ban on pro—kremlin media. also in the last half hour, the multinational bp says it is exiting its nearly 20% stake in the russian oil giant rosneft. its value is worth around 14 billion us dollars. all of this is happening while we wait for the talks between ukraine and russia which may happen close to the border with belarus. they are scheduled for the coming days, though given how fluid this conflict is, we are to see whether will happen. a short time ago i spoke to our chief international correspondent lyse doucet, who's in kyiv. she explained to me what form any possible talks between russia and ukraine could take.

they are willing to listen is what the foreign minister said in a press conference on facebook, as happens these days. and then we received reports that the delegates were arriving at that position close to the belarusian border. after that, came reports of the missiles being fired from belarusian territory into ukraine, which raised the question, oh, well, are the talks going to be off? the belarusian president had vowed to make sure there were no attacks, no movement of russian troops or armoured vehicles, russian air attacks, and it doesn't seem to have stopped them. we're now hearing reports that they may start tomorrow. so, belarus neighbouring ukraine, but a very close ally of president putin, is now trying to play mediator, but it is a very tall order right now. i was going to ask you about it being a tall order given that russians did joint military exercises with belarusian troops just before this invasion.

they are hardly a neutral third party. exactly. that is what president zelensky said when it was first mooted. you will remember that the first venue proposed was minsk, the capital of belarus. president zelensky rejected that, pointing out that belarusian territory was now being used as a launching pad for strikes against neighbouring ukraine. and as is his way, earlier today, he did one of his videos directly speaking to the people of belarus saying the belarus, don't be russia. you used to stand with us. why are you allowing your territory to be used against us in this war? and bear in mind that 2015 was the venue for their 2015 minsk agreements. i was there at the time. the ukrainians are now saying that they agreed to that deal because with their words, they had a gun to their head.

russian forces had just invaded annexing crimea, and we felt we had to give into international diplomacy. now it is a different ukraine, a different army and a different fight, and they are going to not accept any demands that they feel that they feel are inconsistent with their sovereign objectives and ideals. you are in the capital, it is no doubt vladimir putin's number one goal to take control of it. what is the latest we have on the military status of the conflict around the city? yes, day four of the invasion, ukrainians went to bed last night with warnings that this, the past night could have been the night of all nights, the air raid sirens sounded, amplified by warnings on megaphones. stay downstairs, don't go out, don't go to any of the rooms in your house except the basement.

there are going to be russian attacks tonight and they could be ferocious. today, dawn, clear, cold, no russian troops in the centre of kyiv. we have learned that it was another city, the second city, kharkiv, which was really the focus of the most intense fighting, street to street fighting, russian armoured vehicles, russia rumbling through the streets. but there have been explosions all through the day today, regular explosions. on the edges of the city, about 20 miles away in some directions, about ten miles to the north—west. there is no doubt that russia wants to advance. the advance has stalled. the ukrainians are putting up resistance. i think the question now is, with all this talk about talks tomorrow, will there still be attacks on the capital of kyiv tonight. we i can tell you, i look down here and it is absolutely eerie, chilling. the streets are completely empty, the traffic lights are blinking yellow because of course the only cars on the street are meant to be military or security cars. and this silence, stillness,

has fallen over what used to be one of the most vibrant european cities. and that silence will be connected to the curfew that the city bus to the curfew that the city's authorities have put in place. as i remember, that continues into monday morning. but beyond that, what is the advice to families that are still in the city about how they should go about their lives? yes, families who have taken two basements, bunkers, bomb shelters, the metro stations. they are counting the hours until they can leave at 8am on monday morning. we hear that people are running out of food, running out of water, need to perhaps go home and get things, need to charge their phones. they are running out of everything. they have been down there since five o'clock last night. but if the security situation deteriorates over night, they won't be able to leave.

the european union says it will can start to ship arms into ukraine. i'll be looking at how military aid has escalated in the last few days including a historic policy ship from germany. —— shift. ukraine needs help, it has done for months. ukraine is receiving more military aid from the west. it has given $2.5 billion worth since 2014. as the military has doubled in size, it has been fighting against separatists in eastern ukraine. but thursday night brought something new. faced with russia's invasion, ukraine needs more help. that will not be troops as president biden has made clear. we have no intention of fighting

russia. , ., ~ , russia. this morning the west escalated its _ russia. this morning the west escalated its military - russia. this morning the west escalated its military support. | russia. this morning the west - escalated its military support. they released a further $350 million. other countries offered more too. crucially, germany. translation: with the invasion of ukraine, we have entered a new era. since the end of the world well, germany has not sent weapons. not any more. he told germans there was no other choice. the list of weaponry continues to expand. javelin, anti—tank guided missiles from the uk, the us and estonia. drones from turkey and the policy shift means that the countries that have german—made weapons can share those two. the support has been noted. president zelensky said ukraine was been left alone. there

is a challenge here. getting military aid into ukraine is more complicated now. for example, flying weapons in poses an unacceptable risk. �* ., .. weapons in poses an unacceptable risk. ~ . ~ ., ., . ., risk. anti-tank, anti-aircraft systems _ risk. anti-tank, anti-aircraft systems can _ risk. anti-tank, anti-aircraft systems can be _ risk. anti-tank, anti-aircraft systems can be trucked - risk. anti-tank, anti-aircraft. systems can be trucked across risk. anti-tank, anti-aircraft- systems can be trucked across the border, picked up by the ukrainians, the vital problem there is to get the vital problem there is to get the stuffing in the volume that is needed as quickly as possible, but then of course the ukrainian forces to be able to distribute them to battlefronts where they are needed. and so put in perspective invasion is being resisted by ukrainians with western weapons. it cannot be known if that will be enough. these are very, very worrying time is of course for ukrainians who live in the uk and very much worry about their loved ones back home. let's speak to martin white. his wife is in ukraine. he is in regular contact with her. she is a medical doctor

who works in the main hospital in the west of ukraine. thank you very much indeed forjoining us. how is your wife doing? what are you hearing from her?— your wife doing? what are you hearing from her? your wife doing? what are you hearina from her? . hearing from her? good evening. we are in contact — hearing from her? good evening. we are in contact pretty _ hearing from her? good evening. we are in contact pretty regularly. - are in contact pretty regularly. sorry, this is a bit more difficult than i thought. things are not as bad as in other parts of the country, obviously, as your correspondence are saying. so, i've got a house, we got an apartment and obviously my wife is ukrainian, so she is able to walk to the hospital every third or fourth day which is her roster. at the moment, she has been able to leave the city during the course of the day and travel to the course of the day and travel to the countryside where we have other

family members. so, she has a door there and a mother and two little children from her sister, i beg your pardon. so, the city is not so bad. we have also got a son and daughter—in—law who are both in the military service. they are stationed in odesa, which is obviously, as you have been seeing, much more heavily bombarded, but we are in constant contact with them. and it is just one day at a time. my wife has plenty of food and water and things like that because we are in their luckier position that being say in the middle of kyiv. it is just one day at a time. i the middle of kyiv. it is 'ust one day at a that the middle of kyiv. it is 'ust one day at a time. i imagine it is and i can see her _ day at a time. i imagine it is and i can see her desperately _ day at a time. i imagine it is and i can see her desperately worrying | can see her desperately worrying these days are for you. your relatives in odesa, what are they telling you about the situation there? �* ., telling you about the situation there? �* . ., ., ., there? again, we have got an apartment— there? again, we have got an apartment there _

there? again, we have got an apartment there when - there? again, we have got an apartment there when my - there? again, we have got an| apartment there when my son there? again, we have got an - apartment there when my son stays. that is in arcadia which is probably, of the top of my head, about eight kilometres from the port itself. the port has been bombarded pretty regularly, but so far, the russians have not succeeded getting through the water is sort of into the main area. i am aware that it is pretty heavily defended by the ukrainians. and again, i have lived in... ., ukrainians. and again, i have lived in... you can take a moment if you want, in... you can take a moment if you want. martin- _ in... you can take a moment if you want, martin. it's _ in... you can take a moment if you want, martin. it's absolutely - in... you can take a moment if you want, martin. it's absolutely fine. l want, martin. it's absolutely fine. there is no rush.— there is no rush. i've lived in ukraine for _ there is no rush. i've lived in ukraine for six _ there is no rush. i've lived in ukraine for six years - there is no rush. i've lived in ukraine for six years now. i there is no rush. i've lived in | ukraine for six years now. the people are very honest people. i've lived there, all my time there. and there is just the thing that you can do. you know, especially when you

are... i work overseas for the majority of my life, and i am currently doing about four months in ukraine and working eight months overseas. that is myjob. but right now, the reason i am here in the uk is because i'm flying back to poland on saturday, and hopefully we will enter into ukraine and get home. i was going to ask you that. if you do get to poland, it sounds like it is your intention to cross the border and join up your intention to cross the border andjoin up with your intention to cross the border and join up with your wife. yes. and join up with your wife. yes, 10096. it and join up with your wife. yes, 100%- it is _ and join up with your wife. yes, 10096. it is impossible - and join up with your wife. yes, 10096. it is impossible to - and join up with your wife. yes, 10096. it is impossible to stay l 100%. it is impossible to stay outside. 10096. it is impossible to stay outside. , outside. some people, martin, might be watchin: outside. some people, martin, might be watching and _ outside. some people, martin, might be watching and thinking _ outside. some people, martin, might be watching and thinking perhaps i outside. some people, martin, might be watching and thinking perhaps you might want your wife to go the other way and come out. she might want your wife to go the other way and come out.— way and come out. she is a medical doctor contracted _ way and come out. she is a medical doctor contracted to _ way and come out. she is a medical doctor contracted to the _ way and come out. she is a medical doctor contracted to the armed i doctor contracted to the armed forces in ukraine, so it is like a desertion. she can't do that. she is

contracted to stay. she will not leave anyway. ukraine is her life. so, there is nothing much else you can say. you just have to work together as a family and hope and pray that everything comes right. when you talk to your son in odesa, presumably he has to say but wants to stay as well. has presumably he has to say but wants to stay as well-— to stay as well. has to stay at the moment. to stay as well. has to stay at the moment- i _ to stay as well. has to stay at the moment. i don't _ to stay as well. has to stay at the moment. i don't speak— to stay as well. has to stay at the moment. i don't speak to - to stay as well. has to stay at the moment. i don't speak to him i moment. i don't speak to him regularly because obviously there are a lot of people scaling what is going on and being said etc. but in reality, if the country stays as it is, they will stay in the country. if the country falls, they will definitely want to leave. nobody wants to... i know the western part of ukraine particularly, nobody wants to work under the russians.

you know the history of russia in the past. they fought for independence, they won their independence. they do not want to go back under russian rule. that is 100%. i think, back under russian rule. that is 100%. ithink, looking back under russian rule. that is 100%. i think, looking at what has happened, your commentators are saying that putin has underestimated the will of the ukrainians. he has totally underestimated it. she even ethnic speaking russians in and around the area we know do not want to be under putin plasma route regime. —— putin is regime. to be under putin plasma route regime. -- putin is regime. thank ou ve regime. -- putin is regime. thank you very much _ regime. -- putin is regime. thank you very much and _ regime. -- putin is regime. thank you very much and best _ regime. -- putin is regime. thank you very much and best wishes i regime. -- putin is regime. thank you very much and best wishes to | regime. -- putin is regime. thank- you very much and best wishes to you and your family. you very much and best wishes to you and your family-— and your family. thank you very much. speaking _ and your family. thank you very much. speaking to _ and your family. thank you very much. speaking to us _ and your family. thank you very much. speaking to us about i and your family. thank you very much. speaking to us about the contact he is having with family in the west of ukraine and odesa too.

as the russian invasion continues, thousands of ordinary ukrainians are volunteering to fight to defend their neighbourhoods, despite many having no previous military experience. the ukrainian defence minister says that 25,000 guns have been handed over to territorial defence members in the kyiv region alone. our correspondent, zhanna bezpiatchuk has visited one centre handing out weapons in the capital kyiv. civilians answering the call to defend their country. across kyiv, 25,000 machine guns have been doled out to ordinary ukrainians to fight the russian army. some of these men are being handed their weapons for the first time. this man is one of them. he is a member of parliament and says it is everyone's duty to fight. translation: everybody able to defend the country has to take up arms. �* ., defend the country has to take up arms. �* . ~ , , ., arms. i'm glad the members of parliament _ arms. i'm glad the members of parliament managed _ arms. i'm glad the members of parliament managed to - arms. i'm glad the members of parliament managed to impose arms. i'm glad the members of - parliament managed to impose martial law. afterwards theyjoined the

line—up for guns. as far as i know, all the 100 members of ukrainian parliament took up arms and adjoining different military defence units now. it was carried the weight of an invasion endlessly.— of an invasion endlessly. yellow armbands _ of an invasion endlessly. yellow armbands marked _ of an invasion endlessly. yellow armbands marked this - of an invasion endlessly. yellow armbands marked this man i of an invasion endlessly. yellow armbands marked this man out| of an invasion endlessly. yellow l armbands marked this man out as volunteer fighters. they come from all walks of life, from artists and lawyers to sportsmen. but whatever their background, they will all be expected to patrol the city under martial law. translation: there are people with military experience of vectoring is, and then there are people who swap their pens or keyboards for guns. i know what a huge potential ukrainians have the rebellion. i hope after victory to write a book about the victory of this will. all men over under 60 have been banned

from leaving the country and urged to fight. as russian forces move into the capital, the people here say it will take everyone's efforts to stop them. bbc news, k. liz truss said she would support anyone going to ukraine to fight, then she said she would not oppose people doing it. she also says the uk government will look urgently at more more will be done to help ukrainian refugees who want to reach the uk. in chilling darkness, ukrainian refugees cheap quick u—turn across the border in name ring poland, many with young children. natalia lives

in the uk. her 69—year—old mother valentino fled from car giving the ukrainian national border into hungary. i think she stopped a car and got in and got herself to change stations where. �* ., ,., , ., , and got herself to change stations where. �* ., , ., , , where. and from body of hers she mana . ed where. and from body of hers she managed to _ where. and from body of hers she managed to fly — where. and from body of hers she managed to fly to _ where. and from body of hers she managed to fly to paris _ where. and from body of hers she managed to fly to paris which i where. and from body of hers she managed to fly to paris which was j managed to fly to paris which was very brave of her because she does not speak english and does not really travel so much on her own. natalia met her mother valentino there, but when they reach the uk border in paris, valentina was denied entry because she did not have a visa. mr; denied entry because she did not have a visa-— denied entry because she did not have a visa. my mum has claimed as lum have a visa. my mum has claimed asylum and _ have a visa. my mum has claimed asylum and humanitarian - have a visa. my mum has claimed i asylum and humanitarian assistance, and they said they could not consider this because the border post was not on uk soil. the problem for valentino — post was not on uk soil. the problem for valentino as _ post was not on uk soil. the problem for valentino as she _ post was not on uk soil. the problem for valentino as she is _ post was not on uk soil. the problem for valentino as she is not _ post was not on uk soil. the problem for valentino as she is not a - for valentino as she is not a dependent of her daughter. the home office say british nationals and

their dependents are their priority. these are services in ukraine suspended for everyone else, but if they reach a neighbouring country, they reach a neighbouring country, they can apply for a visa to work or study in the uk under a points—based immigration system. but labour and some tory mps want the government to ditch these normal visa restrictions for ukrainians trying to flee war. you have to have a generous scheme which is equivalent to the scheme that we offered people after the balkans crisis. we are asking people to jump balkans crisis. we are asking people tojump through hoops. there is bureaucracy and red tape. why would we asked people what their salary levels are when you are fleeing war? so what is the uk doing to support? as well as meant military and humanitarian aid, while they have ruled out sending troops to fight in ukraine, she would absolutely support british citizens going to fight. i support british citizens going to fiuht. .,, , ., support british citizens going to fiuht. .,, ., ~ ., fight. i do support that. and of course, fight. i do support that. and of course. that — fight. i do support that. and of course, that is _ fight. i do support that. and of course, that is something i fight. i do support that. and of course, that is something that| course, that is something that people can make their own decisions

about. ~ . ., , people can make their own decisions about. ~ _, , ., , about. when it comes to refugees, thou . h, about. when it comes to refugees, though. she _ about. when it comes to refugees, though, she said _ about. when it comes to refugees, though, she said ministers- about. when it comes to refugees, though, she said ministers were i though, she said ministers were looking at what more they could do. britain has always welcomed refugees flood fleeing from war and we are always looking at what more we can do to facilitate that. but ultimately, what we need to make sure is that we would protect ukraine as a sovereign democracy. ultimately, the people of ukraine want to live in ukraine.— want to live in ukraine. valentino is one of those _ want to live in ukraine. valentino is one of those people. _ want to live in ukraine. valentino is one of those people. she i want to live in ukraine. valentino is one of those people. she did i want to live in ukraine. valentino i is one of those people. she did not want to leave her country but missiles have rained down on her home town, and president putin must be stopped. before we finish this hour i want to reiterate the latest estimates from the european union on how many ukrainians have been displaced by the conflict. these pictures are from the pollen side of the border. you can see awful conditions as tens of thousands of people come across everyday. the latest estimates are that 3/300 and 50,000 have left the country. the eu is saying an estimated 7 million

people have been displaced overall. we are continuing coverage of russia's invasion of ukraine in the coming hours. forwatching. we have seen a lot of sunshine across the uk today but changes are afoot and we are looking to the west to our next atlantic system which will make its presence felt through this evening, overnight and into tomorrow. gradually working its way eastwards, and that will start to bring rain into northern ireland and scotland initially through this evening and at first tonight. then putting into northern england, wales and south—west england later in the night. clearskies and south—west england later in the night. clear skies for a good part of the night particularly across eastern counties, but where we keep the cloud clear skies, temperatures could get close to freezing for some eastern counties. cannot rule out an early thrust as the temperatures rise from the west. tomorrow, we have got this band of rain clearing

through the morning through northern ireland and scotland. northern england, wales, south—west england and like unlikely to get to south—east england until much later in the day. you might see gales across the western isles. it is a mild start to the new week for most. temperatures generally between nine and 12 celsius. that band of rain continues on its slow progress eastwards through monday evening and overnight, eventually reaching east anglia. in south—east england. if you share wintry showers into north—east scotland. we could see some icy stretches if temperatures fall to if not below freezing. staying well above freezing in western and south—eastern england. patchy rain continuing into tuesday. this lingering front likely to keep the cloud across and counties of england. also some patchy rain which may start to push back into southern

counties through the day. elsewhere, a fine and dry day, plenty of sunshine, some wintry showers over the higher ground in scotland, and the higher ground in scotland, and the wintle start to push back into southern counties through the day. elsewhere, a fine and dry day, plenty of sunshine, some wintry showers over the higher ground in scotland, and the wintle starter is done as across the uk, bringing some patchy rain, although scotland should have a fine and dry day. trim the middle part of next week, it is starting to turn a bit more unsettled again with rain on returning from the south and likely to linger into thursday.

this is bbc news — these are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. as the battle rages — a hope for peace — ukraine's president agrees to talks with russia — but accuses the kremlin of war crimes. russia's criminal actions against ukraine the show signs of genocide. russia is on the path of either the. ukrainian soldiers fight street to street in the country's second city kharkiv as russia admits to military casualties for the first time. vladimir putin says he is moving russia's nuclear forces to high alert — in response to what he called aggression from western leaders. western countries are not only taking — western countries are not only taking unfriendly steps against

their_ taking unfriendly steps against their country in the economic