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 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 bloc. 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. bp breaks with rosneft — the british—based multinational will offload its stake in the russian oil giant. and searching for a safe haven — poland says at least 200,000 refugees have now crossed from ukraine since the invasion began. hello and welcome to bbc world news.

ukraine has agreed to hold talks in the coming days 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 �*aggressive�* 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. but italy's prime minister, mario draghi, is urging the eu to go further and to react with �*utmost determination�* as he describes the russian invasion as �*barbaric�*. british—based multinational bp says it's exiting the nearly 20% stake it holds in the russian oil giant, rosneft. at the end of last year,

that stake was worth about $14 billion. in the last few minutes, the english football association has announced england will not play against russia in any international fixture for the foreseeable future. it follows similar announcements by the football associations in poland, sweden and the czech republic. this is 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. our first report is from nick beake, in ukraine's second—largest city kharkiv. 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 woman 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. all children are crying and 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 ministers 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.

we can speak to ian kelly, former ambassador to the eastern republic of georgia and member of one of the few organisations which pretty much every european country as a member, not least russia. thank you for joining us on bbc news. i wanted to ask first of all about your response to the announcement from president putin of putting his nuclear weapons on special alert. do you regard this as further brinksmanship? first on special alert. do you regard this as further brinksmanship?- as further brinksmanship? first of all, thank as further brinksmanship? first of all. thank you _ as further brinksmanship? first of all, thank you for _ as further brinksmanship? first of all, thank you for having - as further brinksmanship? first of all, thank you for having me. - all, thank you for having me. 0bviously that is a very concerning thing when the russian president in response to aggressive statements, they are raising their nuclear preparedness. isee they are raising their nuclear preparedness. i see it as a sign that putin is feeling the bite of the sanctions, sanctions are proliferating virally, especially in europe, and he is afraid, so i think this is an attempt, really, to try

to deter the west from doing further measures to take down the russian economy. measures to take down the russian econom . g , measures to take down the russian econom ., , ., ., , ., ., economy. just on that question of sanctions. — economy. just on that question of sanctions, there _ economy. just on that question of sanctions, there have _ economy. just on that question of sanctions, there have been - economy. just on that question of. sanctions, there have been grumbles in washington last week, not least in washington last week, not least in the us congress, some sense that perhaps europe wasn't going far enough and fast enough. do you think the latest announcements from the european union might please people in washington in that regard? i know it leases in washington in that regard? i know it pleases me! _ in washington in that regard? i know it pleases me! and _ in washington in that regard? i know it pleases me! and i _ in washington in that regard? i know it pleases me! and i am _ in washington in that regard? i know it pleases me! and i am pretty - in washington in that regard? i know it pleases me! and i am pretty sure. it pleases me! and i am pretty sure it pleases me! and i am pretty sure it pleases me! and i am pretty sure it pleases my former colleagues in washington. i think particularly the statements of the german chancellor about changing their policy about sending arms to ukraine, i think that was a tremendous move. banning russian flights from european airspace, in many ways, europe is ahead of us in some of these moves.

you are as worried in the united states as people are in the other parts of the world about inflation and i wonder what your senses of us public opinion. do you think it is on the side with all of this because for many in the united states, ukraine is very far away and anything in europe is not of immediate daily concerned? itruiith anything in europe is not of immediate daily concerned? with the exce tion of immediate daily concerned? with the exception of some _ immediate daily concerned? with the exception of some outliers _ immediate daily concerned? with the exception of some outliers in - immediate daily concerned? with the exception of some outliers in the - exception of some outliers in the republican party, i think that in terms of messaging from the leadership, political leadership of both parties, it has been very forward leaning in terms of imposing costs on russia for its invasion. of course, the economy in the united states is fragile. because of the pandemic it is fragile, because of

inflation, and because of supply chain problems, but i think that right now, i don't see any problems, political problems with both administration and congress moving forward with even more tough sanctions. forward with even more tough sanctions-— forward with even more tough sanctions. ., ., ., ., sanctions. you have a background in the slavic languages _ sanctions. you have a background in the slavic languages and _ sanctions. you have a background in the slavic languages and obviously l the slavic languages and obviously spent a lot of time in central and eastern europe, what is your perspective on the kind of relationship between some of those countries that are not nato members, like georgia and ukraine, with russia under putin and where it will stand now as a result of this invasion?— stand now as a result of this invasion? . , ., . invasion? that is an excellent question. _ invasion? that is an excellent question. and _ invasion? that is an excellent question, and since _ invasion? that is an excellent question, and since my - invasion? that is an excellent question, and since my last i invasion? that is an excellent i question, and since my last post invasion? that is an excellent - question, and since my last post of course was georgia i am very concerned about knock—on effects to georgia, its security, to economic growth, and one thing i am really concerned about is one of the

results of this aggression, i think, is a tendency for countries around russia that don't have the protection of nato, and of course georgia is one of those, to try to keep their heads down and not to provoke putin even further. i think that has a real retarding effect on the development of democracy in the periphery of russia. i the development of democracy in the periphery of russia.— periphery of russia. i was struck, finall , periphery of russia. i was struck, finally. as — periphery of russia. i was struck, finally. as you — periphery of russia. i was struck, finally, as you served _ periphery of russia. i was struck, finally, as you served with - finally, as you served with secretary clinton and on president 0bama's hopes of a reset, spent time in moscow and talking to putin and her response in her memoirs is that strength and resolve the only language putin would understand. do you think that remains the case? is it even more so the case than when she wrote those seven years ago? even more so. the real kind of

paradigms shift is the european nations have begun to realise this too. that we can no longer give putin the benefit of the doubt, we can't coddle him, firmness and resolve are the only way to counter his expansionism and his aggression. thank you very much for being with us and forjoining us on bbc news. we are gratefulfor your us and forjoining us on bbc news. we are grateful for your insight. let's hear more from the president the european commission ursula von der leyen on those sanctions targeting russia's state broadcaster and — what she called — 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. 0ur 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.

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 in outrage for russia's invasion of ukraine, any remaining caution around ramping up economic 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 in 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—a0% 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 enjoyed, 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' privatejets. 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 get more on that announcement of those sanctions by ursula von der leyen, and speak to our correspondent in brussels,

jessica parker. i have been talking to the ambassador saying how delighted they will be at the moves announced, not least those two permit the supply of arms to those fighting against the russian invasion.— arms to those fighting against the russian invasion. seen as something of a watershed _ russian invasion. seen as something of a watershed moment _ russian invasion. seen as something of a watershed moment here - russian invasion. seen as something of a watershed moment here in - of a watershed moment here in brussels for the european union, because sometimes the eu is accused of being a little bit toothless, it is obviously not a military power. but what it is basically saying it wants to do, and foreign affairs ministers are discussing it right now, is to enable member states who want to send arms, military equipment to ukraine, to do so. the eu could potentially pay for that reimburse them so it wouldn't the eu directly funding or sending that equipment, it would be via member states but it is still seen as

highly significant. the eu foreign policy chief said it was something like a to—do being ended for the european union, and it is interesting because this kind of thing has been debated before and some member states have been in favour and some have not, but it seems what has happened with russia's invasion of ukraine has to some extent galvanised member states into doing things they were previously uncomfortable to do, but the bottom line is you could see eu funded military equipment being used in active conflict on european soil and ukraine. i in active conflict on european soil and ukraine-— and ukraine. i was struck by the remarks earlier _ and ukraine. i was struck by the remarks earlier from _ and ukraine. i was struck by the remarks earlier from mario - and ukraine. i was struck by the i remarks earlier from mario draggy, the prime minister of italy. saying that the eu has to go as far as it possibly can. italy was one of those member countries who have been quite anxious in recent years to maintain good relations with russia. there is the impression being left, and i would be interested in your views,

that the izzy kind of effect of pulling the eu together in a way few crises have done in the past? absolutely, i think that is true because there is an element of total shock, actually, at what has happened. which might sound a bit strange because for many months, western intelligence sources have been warning russia could invade ukraine, buti been warning russia could invade ukraine, but i think until the moment it happened some probably didn't quite believe it, and then the manner of the invasion as well and the apparent approach of russian troops to the capital kyiv i think has shocked a lot of eu countries into further action, action they would not have previously been comfortable with. it is interesting, 0laf scholz the german chancellor speaking earlier today said the day russia invaded ukraine was in his view a turning point in european history, and of course germany is

changing some of its defence policy in quite significant ways, so today pledging to not only match the nato target of 2% of gdp spending but possibly going over that. previously germany has been quite reluctant on these types of issues so i think it has galvanised member states but it is not to say there have not been disagreements and grumbling along the way about various countries and their views, the way about various countries and theirviews, but the way about various countries and their views, but as of tonight we are looking at the possibility of eu funded military aid, of the eu banning all russian aircraft from eu airspace, which not long ago i don't think we would have expected to be talking about this kind of thing. live in brussels, jessica parker. thank you so much. international petroleum giant bp has announced it is exiting its nearly 20% shareholding in the russian energy firm rosneft. let's speak to the business and markets commentator, justin urquhart stewart — co—founder of the regionally investment platform.

good to speak to you again. let me ask you first of all, what do you make of this decision? was a certain inevitability about it? you make of this decision? was a certain inevitability about it?— inevitability about it? you are riuht. inevitability about it? you are riht. at inevitability about it? you are right. at various _ inevitability about it? you are right. at various levels, - inevitability about it? you are right. at various levels, but l right. at various levels, but particularly when you have a large organisation, gazprom, which are large british shareholdings, effectively supplying oil facilities to an army invading ukraine. that is not something a british company would with —— would which wish to be associated with. in would with -- would which wish to be associated with.— associated with. in light of the resignation — associated with. in light of the resignation from _ associated with. in light of the resignation from the _ associated with. in light of the resignation from the board, i associated with. in light of the resignation from the board, it| resignation from the board, it almost closes a door because at least if you have someone on the board you have the potential to lobby and influence and once you lose that voice, you're just another voice shouting from the sidelines. do you think there might have been some reservations? this do you think there might have been some reservations?— some reservations? this is not “ust an issue recently, iti some reservations? this is not “ust an issue recently, it has i some reservations? this is not “ust an issue recently, it has been h some reservations? this is notjust| an issue recently, it has been going on for years with bp as they have always had a fraught relationship

with russia. they don't have the same accounting and operational standards we would expect. the reports tend to be one for you, one for me and one for the tax people. but what you also see is the lack of the letter so fashionable, environmental, sustainable and governance. you can look at gazprom and ask if bp wants to be involved and ask if bp wants to be involved and the answer is no. the problem is now they are rather over a barrel because effectively they are saying, we are selling out but who is going to be buying? find we are selling out but who is going to be buying?— we are selling out but who is going to be buying? and that was the next auestion i to be buying? and that was the next question i was _ to be buying? and that was the next question i was going _ to be buying? and that was the next question i was going to _ to be buying? and that was the next question i was going to ask. - to be buying? and that was the next question i was going to ask. the - question i was going to ask. the problem is that... that is why you are on, you are the expert. the question i would ask is, hang on a minute, they are presumably selling at the worst possible time to sell? absolutely, you're making yourself a forced seller. what is happening as

the oil companies are coming up with fantastic profits because the price of oil has gone up so dramatically, and when you look at the impact it has, it was over $12 billion last yearfor bp and has, it was over $12 billion last year for bp and about a fifth of that came from rosneft and take that away, it is bad news for shareholders are notjust ordinary shareholders are notjust ordinary shareholders but you and i and anyone else with a pension scheme, we will have product in bp and connected to russia. so at various levels, this is going to be almost inevitable, but who loses out will be bp and who benefits, i suspect some russian company will come in and buy it and take it off their hands. , , ., , , ., ,~' hands. these questions will be asked b lots of hands. these questions will be asked by lots of companies _ hands. these questions will be asked by lots of companies with _ by lots of companies with connections or stakes in russia. can we continue, should we continue? what are the reputational risks to continuing? i what are the reputational risks to continuing?— continuing? i think a lot of companies _ continuing? i think a lot of companies will _ continuing? i think a lot of companies will be - continuing? i think a lot of companies will be taking l continuing? i think a lot of companies will be taking a j continuing? i think a lot of - companies will be taking a step back and saying we don't wish to be associated with this at all, not just in terms of business practice but in terms of the amount of money

laundering that has been going on and you have to follow the money to see where the stink of that is going. whereas anybody a few years ago would have said let's invest in russia, it is opening up in the new capitalist society, it has shown itself to be a kleptocracy under your rule of commercial law doesn't apply. good investors will pull away from it, large investors will make sure they have no connection and the companies themselves will be saying, it is not worth the risk. but if you sell it now it is going to be the worst time to do so. figs sell it now it is going to be the worst time to do so.— sell it now it is going to be the worst time to do so. as ever, thank ou so worst time to do so. as ever, thank you so much _ worst time to do so. as ever, thank you so much for— worst time to do so. as ever, thank you so much for your _ worst time to do so. as ever, thank you so much for your knowledge - worst time to do so. as ever, thank you so much for your knowledge of| you so much for your knowledge of the markets and for keeping us up—to—date. let me bring you some breaking news from the sports world. fifa, the international governing body, has said it would like to reiterate its condemnation of the use of force by russia. the key thing is, no international competition will be played on the territory of russia, any home games that russia's team

will be playing will be on neutral territory and no spectators permitted, the member association representing russia will only be allowed to participate under the name the football union of russia, notjust russia. although whether they will be able to turn up, allowed by the russian government, is doubtful, but that is the plan, and no flag around some of russia will be used. fifa announced that it strongly believes the sport world should be united in this and should continue to be a vector for peace and hope, so another attempt of the use of soft power against russia because of the invasion of ukraine. 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". from the kremlin, a pointed message to the west, don't push russia. president putin summoned his military chiefs and gave them an order. from the kremlin, a pointed message to the west, don't push russia. president putin summoned his military chiefs and gave them an order. top officials of leading nato countries are making aggressive statements about our country. from the kremlin, a pointed message to the west, don't push russia. president putin summoned his military chiefs 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 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 war... we can say 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. let's speak to our washington correspondent, jane 0'brien. what has been the white house's reaction to this announcement by the putin government of putting its nuclear weapons on high alert? {line nuclear weapons on high alert? one of stron: nuclear weapons on high alert? iez of strong condemnation, of nuclear weapons on high alert? i9: of strong condemnation, of course, but also accusing president putin of fabricating, manufacturing a threat thatjust fabricating, manufacturing a threat that just doesn't exist fabricating, manufacturing a threat thatjust doesn't exist in order to justify his further aggression. we have also been hearing from pentagon officials who have described it as a dangerous escalation that raises the stakes of any miscalculation and also from the united states ambassador to the un, linda thomas

greenfield, who said that it was again a continuation of president putin's attempts to escalate this war in a manner totally unacceptable. she said she would also be raising this at the un, again continuing united nations efforts to bring vladimir putin to accountant hold him accountable for this type of action. so across the board than the us, strong condemnation and also saying that there is absolutely no justification for this latest move. has there is absolutely no “ustification for this latest move._ there is absolutely no “ustification for this latest move. has there been much sin for this latest move. has there been much sign of — for this latest move. has there been much sign of public _ for this latest move. has there been much sign of public anger— for this latest move. has there been much sign of public anger over - for this latest move. has there been much sign of public anger over this i much sign of public anger over this war in america so far? it is much sign of public anger over this war in america so far?— much sign of public anger over this war in america so far? it is such an interesting — war in america so far? it is such an interesting question _ war in america so far? it is such an interesting question because - war in america so far? it is such an interesting question because i - war in america so far? it is such an| interesting question because i think many americans still are questioning why america is getting involved in a war that they think is thousands of miles away and has little strategic value for america. i am struck by

just how normal people are behaving here in washington, dc, it is a bright sunny day and the cafe is awful, even though we are still in the early stages of post—pandemic and there is very little chatter about this, and i think that is partly because the pandemic is still first and foremost on people's mines, but also inflation. the cost of living is going through the roof and there are a lot of domestic issues that i think are uppermost in people's mines and that is something president biden will have to address in his state of the union speech coming up on tuesday. when ukraine will be i am sure, the top topic of his address to the nation. but he has also got to try and make americans understand why it is relevant to them. let me bring you a recap of some of today's developments. president

putin has ordered... 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 �*aggressive' 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 nearly 20 per cent stake in the russian oil giant rosneft. at the end of last year, that stake was worth about 1k billion us dollars. it's likely to be worse less —— worth less when it's sold.

all as we await the talks between ukraine and russia, close to the border of neighbouring belarus in the coming days. ian bond is director of foreign policy at the centre for european reform. he's a former british diplomat who served in russia in the 1990s and was at the protest in london's trafalgar square earlier. thank you very much for being with us. tell us about the mood at that protest. i us. tell us about the mood at that rotest. ~ ., , us. tell us about the mood at that rotest. ~ :, , , protest. i think it was very concerned. _ protest. i think it was very concerned. there - protest. i think it was very concerned. there were - protest. i think it was very - concerned. there were obviously a lot of people worried about their relatives in ukraine. it was also very determined, and they were looking to the west for further support and further help. but the termination was the main thing that i took away from it.— i took away from it. let's talk about the decision _ i took away from it. let's talk about the decision that - i took away from it. let's talk - about the decision that president putin made on thursday to invade ukraine. did you ever think it would come to this? i ukraine. did you ever think it would

come to this?— come to this? i thought for some months that _ come to this? i thought for some months that this _ come to this? i thought for some months that this was _ come to this? i thought for some months that this was the - come to this? i thought for some months that this was the most i come to this? i thought for some i months that this was the most likely outcome. putin wrote an extraordinary 5000 word essay last july, extraordinary 5000 word essay last july, which basically was because i historicaljustification july, which basically was because i historical justification for why ukraine had no right to exist as an independent country —— quasi—independent. why had —— once he had written that, i thought this was the direction we were heading in, and as the forces built up, i thought it was most likely that he was going to lose them up —— use them at some point. was going to lose them up -- use them at some point.— was going to lose them up -- use them at some point. we've heard this latest round — them at some point. we've heard this latest round of _ them at some point. we've heard this latest round of sanctions _ them at some point. we've heard this latest round of sanctions from - them at some point. we've heard this latest round of sanctions from the i latest round of sanctions from the european union announced on sunday afternoon. is it your sense that this is quite a significant move to make, given the debate within the organisation and outside about what role it should play in foreign affairs? i role it should play in foreign

affairs? ~' ., , affairs? i think the most significant _ affairs? i think the most significant thing - affairs? i think the most significant thing today . affairs? i think the most significant thing today is affairs? i think the most i significant thing today is the announcement that the eu will be supplying lethal equipment to be delivered to ukraine. that's a big step. i think that will be the first time that the eu has done that in a european content. the really big announcement in terms of sanctions were yesterday. that includes the freezing or partialfreezing, we don't know exact details yet, of the central bank of russia's foreign—currency held overseas. in the sanctions imposed on a number of russian banks, shutting them out of the swift interbank messaging system, these are already creating financial panic in russia. you're seeing pictures of long lines of people trying desperately to get cash out while there is still cash

to be had. the value of the rouble against the dollar is falling to the floor. quite extraordinary rate of decline. so these are really significant sanctions. much tougher than i think putin would have anticipated get than i think putin would have anticipated— than i think putin would have antici ated , ., ., ., anticipated yet we are told that the crum - lint anticipated yet we are told that the crumbling -- _ anticipated yet we are told that the crumpling -- kremlin _ anticipated yet we are told that the crumpling -- kremlin had - anticipated yet we are told that the crumpling -- kremlin had built- anticipated yet we are told that the crumpling -- kremlin had built up. anticipated yet we are told that the | crumpling -- kremlin had built up a crumpling —— kremlin had built up a force of $600 billion worth in foreign reserves. presumably, that gives them quite a cushion in the prosecution of this war, and in withstanding at least some of the economic impact of sanctions of public panic and rising prices. well, one has to look at what they have and what they can do with it. if it's denominated in dollars, euros or pounds, it's likely to be difficult to use that. it's not like

the bank of russia has a pile of fibres in the basement. this is all electronic money, which at some point, you have to deal with some other did bank to use it. what the eu, us, uk and others are making it difficult for the central bank of russia to do that, and one of the first impact of that is that last week, the central bank of russia was selling dollars and buying back rouble �*s in order to pump up the value of the rouble. i rouble 's in order to pump up the value of the rouble.— value of the rouble. i wanted to brina ou value of the rouble. i wanted to bring you and our— value of the rouble. i wanted to bring you and our audience i value of the rouble. i wanted to. bring you and our audience some breaking news from kathy either, who's at that meeting, discussing measures and she says the eu has agreed unanimously to take in

ukrainian seeking refugees —— katya adler. without asking them to apply for asylum. adler. without asking them to apply forasylum. i adler. without asking them to apply for asylum. i should say european interior ministers. what do you make of that? in the context, like britain has had a certain amount of reluctance to embrace refugees, seeking to escape war zones, is that a significant move?— a significant move? yes, very significant- — a significant move? yes, very significant. i— a significant move? yes, very significant. i think _ a significant move? yes, very significant. i think it - a significant move? yes, very significant. i think it reflects i a significant move? yes, very i significant. i think it reflects the view of the united nations a day or two ago. you might see as many as 5 million people trying to escape from ukraine. that would be more than 10% of the population. and this isn't somewhere where you can argue, well, we can stop them in turkey or in jordan, ukraine is right on europe's border. the first country of refuge

for many of the ukrainians will be poland or slovakia or hungary or romania. the countries with which it shares a border. so, ithink romania. the countries with which it shares a border. so, i think this is a generous gesture, but it's also realistic, reflecting the enormous numbers of people likely to turn up on those borders in the nearfuture. and i hope very much that britain will play its part in that. {line will play its part in that. one cuick will play its part in that. one quick thought _ will play its part in that. one quick thought on _ will play its part in that. one quick thought on that. it's one thing for the countries to say, yes, we'll take them, but the complaint — i heard it in malta many years ago — they come to us, but you guys in the west and north of the country, you always find excuses for not taking more. the burden is borne disproportionately. i use the term burden, this is a humanitarian duty, but it causes a burden on lots of systems to have extra people coming into a country. they feel that

sometimes, that's not fairly distributed. is there risk that that will be yet another way in which people's willingness to vote one way isn't matched by... they talked the talk but not walk the walk? isn't matched by. .. they talked the talk but not walk the walk?- isn't matched by... they talked the talk but not walk the walk? that's a ve aood talk but not walk the walk? that's a very good point- — talk but not walk the walk? that's a very good point. particularly - talk but not walk the walk? that's a very good point. particularly since l very good point. particularly since poland and hungary have been among the most reluctant to take refugees who have entered europe through greece or italy, so from that point of view, there must be a temptation to say it's payback time. but on the other hand, i think germany in particular is already indicating some willingness to take them. i submit suspect some northern european countries will, and i think the baltic states are open to this, because they have a certain shared history as countries which escaped from the soviet domination. so,

it'll be interesting to see, and i do hope that the uk will play its part in this. do hope that the uk will play its part in this-— do hope that the uk will play its art in this. ., ., a, part in this. forgive me, ian bond, thank ou part in this. forgive me, ian bond, thank you so _ part in this. forgive me, ian bond, thank you so much _ part in this. forgive me, ian bond, thank you so much for— part in this. forgive me, ian bond, thank you so much for being i part in this. forgive me, ian bond, thank you so much for being with l part in this. forgive me, ian bond, l thank you so much for being with us on bbc news. more 110w now from kyiv. earlier my colleague ros atkins spoke to the ukrainian mp sviatoslav yurash, who was out on the streets of the capital after returning from the front line. he spoke to us via his mobile phone. i just been from the front lines, based outside of kyiv, and i'm in kyiv already. the reality is that there is still such a little in is still such a lull in the fighting, i would say the reinforcement seems like it with the forces there. so, we got in a skirmish... we had a skirmish last night driving through the city. the point is now i think russians are preparing. it seems that this will continue onward because they are trying to send their agents into

kyiv every single day en masse and, again, this is but another step in trying to command i'm sorry to interrupt. life to the eu four affairs spokesman who is talking in brussels —— foreign affairs. talking in brussels -- foreign affairs. ~ :, talking in brussels -- foreign affairs. ~ . , . affairs. we are in unprecedented times. affairs. we are in unprecedented times- we _ affairs. we are in unprecedented times. we are _ affairs. we are in unprecedented times. we are leading _ affairs. we are in unprecedented times. we are leading a - affairs. we are in unprecedented | times. we are leading a historical moment, and i know the word historic is often overused and abuse, but this is certainly that moment. for two reasons. first because the first time since the end of the second world war, the military power invades another state in violation of international law. secondly, because europeans have been reacting in a way that has surprised a lot of

people, to start with the russians themselves. it's often said that most important advances is in european construction and through crisis or due to crisis, and i believe that maybe we are in one of these moments. when a crisis allow us to advance, move forward. the rule that the european union cannot use their resources to provide arms to a country who is being addressed. yes, they are unprecedented times, because the war is back in our borders, and that's why it is a defining moment for this european history. a page of history has been turned and we have been working around the clock during those days,

and i am proud to see that european union has been able to show its capacity to deliver, to help its neighbours, with idea of urgency. this is good. to be able to deliver with urgency when one of our neighbours and partners is being invaded by russia. we have been working very hard and we want to take some decisions that should be in place, agreed and implemented before tomorrow when the central banks will restart working. and today, we have... it's worth admitting it doesn't take concrete actions, political agreements that they will be converted on legal

instruments by procedure on the following hours. but the council has been given his assessment, his support, his political agreement for a package of support of ukrainian armed forces, for new sanctions, the diplomatic engagements in order to isolate russia, for measures support ukraine and the region and measures to counter disinformation. centuries of war in ukraine, and we want to do everything to support ukraine. we have decided to use our capacities to provide arms, lethal arms, legal assistance to the ukrainian army by a value of 415

million package, and 50 more million for the non—lethal supplies. fuel, protective equipment. all will be covered by the peace facility. this is the first time in the history that we will be doing that. and everybody at least not obstruct this decision. i want also to thank who have offered to serve as a logistic for the transfer of this assistance, this material assistance to ukraine, because now we have approved the financing. tomorrow, the ministers will make another to co—ordinate how we convert this financing into material and how the material is being supported to the front line to the ukrainian armed forces fighting against the russian invasion. thanks

to poland to serve as a hub, and we will also work to enhance the cyber defence of ukraine. 0n sanctions, we have agreed to increase people and entity that will be subject to restricting measures. the full list will be finished and published tomorrow. this includes russian oligarchs and businessmen whose listing carries huge economic impact and political leaders who hold the system in russia, both the ones who disseminate propaganda and military. in addition, we have decided to close eu airspace to the russian

aircraft. not a single russian aircraft. not a single russian aircraft will be able to land or take off from the european union airfields. in accordance with the women's... anticipated yesterday, after working with the g7 members, we are taking a package of measures that the council has approved, with some questions about scope, full support. these measures will effectively cripple the russian financial market. we are excluding a certain number of russian banks from swift, something that we have been talking about, and you in the press has been asking about it for days. it was discussed at the european

union council. it was not unnecessary consistence, but we continued working on it because everything is on the table, we have been continuing with that, working with our like—minded countries because of such a measure has to be taken in coordination with other countries. it's difficult to take this measure alone, and we have reached the agreement. restricted measures to will paralyse the assets for the russian central bank. more than half or about a half of the financial reserves of the russian central bank will be frozen thanks to this nation. they are in banks of the g7 countries, more or less half of the reserves of the russian

government. these will be frozen, and this is going to be affecting a lot. as i said, is being done in coordination with international partners, with a clear message, russians who enabled the invasion of ukraine, we have to pay a higher price for this action. we are going after the wealth of putin's elite. people who support him and benefit from this regime, and in addition to this new package of sanctions, we are advancing work on sanctions targeting corruption specifically, as well as funding information, manipulation and interference. third, line of work of the ministers today, engage in diplomatic efforts.

they are already producing results. you have seen on the security council, no one supporting russia, and work in order to make the widest possible international condemnation of russia. russia will be isolated by the international community. one of the results of our collective diplomatic outreach was the vote in the security council, and now will be on the resolution of the general assembly, expected on wednesday. studio: , that is josep studio: , that isjosep borrell, a former spanish... you'll know about the significant to supply arms to those fighting against invading forces. 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. 0ur correspondent zhanna bezpiatchuk has visited one centre handing out weapons in the capital kyiv. yellow armbands marked this man out as volunteer fighters. civilians answering the call to defend their country. across kyiv, 25,000 machine guns have been given out to ordinary ukrainians to fight the russian army. some of these men has been handed their weapons for the first time. some of these men have 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: everyone able to defend the country has to take up arms. i i'm 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 arejoining different territorial defence units now. it was scary to wait for an invasion. for an invasion endlessly. yellow armbands mark these men 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 for rebellion. i hope after victory to write a book about the history of this war. all men under 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. zhanna bezpiatchuk, bbc news, kyiv. the united nations says around 370,000 ukrainian 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. 0ur 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's new refugees would need, given by poles from across the country, volunteers like kamila stunned at 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, land 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. bartos came from a five—hour 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, support for 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 i 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. we see how the world supports ukraine, i but it's 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. mark lowen, bbc news, on the polish—ukrainian border. 0ur our latest from josep borrell, president putin does not only want to conquer space, but also people's minds. those of the main stories on bbc news, more from us on the next hour. thanks for your company. hello, we've seen a lot of sunshine today, but changes are afoot and we're looking to the west for our next atlantic system. gradually working its way it's worth, which

will start to bring rain into northern ireland and scotland initially through this evening and first tonight. ahead of that, we keep clear skies, and that cloud starts to build in, but where we keep the clear skies, temperatures could get close to freezing for some eastern counties. can't rule out an early frost. it sets us up for an unsettled day tomorrow with this band of rain clearing through the morning from scotland and northern ireland, sunshine and showers following. persistent rain and likely to get across south east england, coupled with that rain band with some strong winds. likely to see gail's across the western isles. it's a mild start for most, between 9-12 it's a mild start for most, between 9—12 celsius. that continues on its slow processes words overnight, reaching east anglia and south east

england, a few wintry showers feeding into northern scotland, where we can see some icy stretches as temperatures fall close to freezing. well above freezing. that's really how we continue into tuesday. high pressure building across much of the uk, but this lingering front likely to keep the cloud across southern counties of england. also some patchy rain. elsewhere, it's a fine day with plenty of sunshine. could see wintry showers over the higher ground, and the winds will start to ease. temperatures coming down slightly between 8—10 celsius for many. a messy picture as we head into wednesday. increasing the cloud, bringing some patchy rain, although scotland should have a fine day. through the middle part, it's

starting to turn more unsettled with rain 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 agrees to hold talks with russia on the border with neighbouring belarus. i don't really believe in the result of this meeting but let them try so that no ukrainian citizens will have any doubt i was not trying to stop the war when there was little but still a chance. washington condems vladimir putin's decision to place russia's nuclear forces on high alert calling it a dangerous escalation. 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 annouces it will to ship arms to ukraine —— 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. bp breaks with the russian oil giant rosneft — the british—based multinational will offload its stake — and quits its seat on the rosneft board. searching for a safe haven — poland says at least 200,000 people seeking refuge have now crossed from ukraine in just four days. hello and welcome to bbc world news. ukraine has agreed to hold talks in the coming days

with a russian delegation — without preconditions — on the border with neighbouring belarus. let's take a look at some of today's fast—moving developments. 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 �*aggresive' and �*irresponsible.’ earlier today, the european union 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. but italy's prime minister, mario draghi, is urging the eu to go further and to react with �*utmost determination�* as he describes the russian invasion as �*barbaric�*. british—based multinational bp says it�*s exiting the nearly 20%

stake it holds in the russian oil giant, rosneft. at the end of last year, that stake was worth about fourteen—billion us dollars. and in the last hour, fifa has announced that no international football will be played in russia, with home matches being played on neutral territory with no spectators. russia has also been banned from playing with their national flag and anthem following the invasion. back in ukraine, this is the latest map of russian controlled terrority. ukraine says it still controls all the cities — but there has been heavy fighting in the east in kharkiv. the second largest and very close to the russian border. so far — the united nations refugee agency estimates — 368,000 people have fled ukraine to escape the conflict. our first report is from nick beake, in ukraine�*s second—largest city kharkiv. there was not much talk of peace on the streets of ukraine�*s second city. instead, kharkiv gave the grim

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 woman 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. children are crying and 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 ministers 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. we were hearing in the last few minutes from the eu high representative for foreign affairs. his boss, the president of the european commission ursula von der

leyen gave a press conference earlier explaining the sanctions targeting russia�*s state broadcaster and what she called 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, chartered or otherwise controlled by a russian legal or natural person.

let me be very clear. 0ur airspace will be closed to every russian plane and that includes the private jets of oligarchs, as well. international petrolium giant bp has announced it is exiting its nearly 20% shareholding in the russian energy firm rosneft. a short time ago i spoke to the markets watcher justin urquhart stewart who said there�*s a certain inevitability about bp�*s decision. you are right. at various levels, but particularly when you have a large organisation, gazprom, which are large british shareholdings, effectively supplying oil facilities to an army invading ukraine. that is not something a british company would would wish to be associated with. in light of the resignation from the board, it almost closes a door because at least

if you have someone on the board you have the potential to lobby and influence and once you lose that voice, you�*re just another voice shouting from the sidelines. do you think there might have been some reservations? this is notjust an issue recently, it has been going on for years with bp as they have always had a fraught relationship with russia. they don�*t have the same accounting and operational standards we would expect. the reports tend to be one for you, one for me and one for the tax people. but what you also see is the lack of the letter so fashionable, environmental, sustainable and governance. you can look at gazprom and ask if bp wants to be involved and the answer is no. the problem is now they are rather over a barrel because effectively they are saying, we are selling out but who is going to be buying? and that was the next

question i was going to ask. the problem is that... that is why you are on, you are the expert. the question i would ask is, hang on a minute, they are presumably selling at the worst possible time to sell? absolutely, you�*re making yourself a forced seller. what is happening as the oil companies are coming up with fantastic profits because the price of oil has gone up so dramatically, and when you look at the impact it has, it was over $12 billion last year for bp and about a fifth of that came from rosneft and take that away, it is bad news for shareholders are notjust ordinary shareholders but you and i and anyone else with a pension scheme, we will have product in bp and connected to russia. so at various levels, this is going to be almost inevitable, but who loses out will be bp and who benefits, i suspect some russian company will come in and buy it and take it off their hands.

these questions will be asked by lots of companies with connections or stakes in russia. can we continue, should we continue? what are the reputational risks to continuing? i think a lot of companies will be taking a step back and saying we don�*t wish to be associated with this at all, not just in terms of business practice but in terms of the amount of money laundering that has been going on and you have to follow the money to see where the stink of that is going. whereas anybody a few years ago would have said let�*s invest in russia, it is opening up in the new capitalist society, it has shown itself to be a kleptocracy under your rule of commercial law doesn�*t apply. good investors will pull away from it, large investors will make sure they have no connection and the companies themselves will be saying, it is not worth the risk. but if you sell it now it is going to be the worst time to do so. as ever, thank you so much for your knowledge of the markets and for keeping us up—to—date. 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 in outrage for russia�*s invasion of ukraine, any remaining caution around ramping up economic 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 in 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—a0% 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 enjoyed, 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�* privatejets. 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. 0n the question of sanctions, one of the most significant is the decision

by the european union, for the first time, reportedly, to begin arming one side any conflict. it will send weapons or at least recompense member states to send weapons to ukrainians fighting the russians. here is correspondence. it is seen as something of a watershed moment in brussels for the european union. it is sometimes seen as toothless and it is not a military power and they are basically discussing it right now, as they want to enable member states who want to send arms and military equipment to ukraine to do so and the eu could potentially pay for that reimburse them so would not be the eu directly funding are sending that equipment to ukraine, things like ammunition, it would be member states, but it is still seen as highly significant. the eu foreign policy chief said it was something like a taboo being ended for the

european union and it is interesting because this kind of thing has been debated before and some member states have been in favour and some haven�*t but it seems what has happened with the russian invasion of ukraine has to some extent the galvanised member states into doing things they were previously uncomfortable to do, but the bottom line is you could see eu funded military equipment being used in active conflict on european soil in ukraine. i active conflict on european soil in ukraine. : , , active conflict on european soil in ukraine. , , _ ukraine. i was very struck by the remarks earlier _ ukraine. i was very struck by the remarks earlier from _ ukraine. i was very struck by the remarks earlier from mario i ukraine. i was very struck by the i remarks earlier from mario draghi, remarks earlierfrom mario draghi, the prime minister of italy, saying that the eu has to go as far as it possibly can. italy was one of those member countries that has been quite anxious in recent years to maintain good relations with russia. there is the impression being left, and i am interested in your views, that this is having a kind of effect of pulling the eu together in a way few

crises have done in the past? absolutely, i think that is true because i think there is an element of total shock, actually, at what has happened, which might sound a bit strange, because for many months, western intelligence sources have been warning russia could invade ukraine but i think until the moment it happened, some probably didn�*t quite believe it and then the manner of the invasion as well and the apparent approach of russian troops to the capital kyiv i think has shocked a lot of eu countries into further action, action they would not have previously been comfortable with. it is interesting, 0laf scholz the german chancellor speaking earlier today said the day russia invaded ukraine was on his pointy turning point in european history and of course germany is changing some of its defence policy so today pledging to not only match

the nato target of 2% of gdp spending on defence but actually going a little bit over it. previously germany quite reluctant on these types of issues so it has galvanised member states but it isn�*t to say there haven�*t been disagreements, some grumblings along the way about the various countries and their views, but as of tonight were looking at the possibility of eu funded military aid and looking at the eu banning all russian aircraft from eu airspace which not long ago i don�*t think we would have expected to be talking about this kind of thing. live now to you york and united nations were members meeting, we will hearfrom nations were members meeting, we will hear from linda nations were members meeting, we will hearfrom linda greenfield thomas, forgive me, thomas greenfield, un ambassadorfor the greenfield, un ambassador for the united greenfield, un ambassadorfor the united states and she is urging russia to tone down the dangerous rhetoric about united states ——

about nuclear weapons. irate rhetoric about united states -- about nuclear weapons. we welcome the invitation — about nuclear weapons. we welcome the invitation to _ about nuclear weapons. we welcome the invitation to speak— about nuclear weapons. we welcome the invitation to speak at _ about nuclear weapons. we welcome the invitation to speak at peace i the invitation to speak at peace talks. 0n the invitation to speak at peace talks. on friday night darkness descended on kyiv, missiles attacked a sheltering city, the next morning ukrainians woke up to a new citizen, a baby girl onto a mother and a bomb shelter. the baby�*s name is mia. photos of her tiny hand gripping her mother as they had underground have inspired the world. let us have the courage of mia�*s mother, letters have the courage of the ukrainian people acting bravely to defend their democracy, their way of life and theirfuture. let their democracy, their way of life and their future. let us show them that they are not alone. that the world stands behind them, that the united nations has a purpose. that the additional bravery of the

protesters in russia is not in vain. let us do everything, everything we can to help the people of ukraine as they stand up for themselves, for their sovereign country and for their sovereign country and for their children. thank you. linda thomas greenfield, _ their children. thank you. linda thomas greenfield, un - their children. thank you. linda thomas greenfield, un ambassador from the united states. she hasjust actually marked a year in thatjob. this is a special session of the un, debating the crisis in the ukraine. we had that vote on friday evening, you may recall, where russia vetoed condemnation of its actions in ukraine. it was supported or at least countries who supported its veto, united arab emirates and india. a number of significant countries didn�*t, they won there was most attention on was china who did not back the use of the veto. china

has a long—standing policy against intervention in other countries because it has always been there was a countries intervening in its affairs. and in that area at least it is likely to be approaching this problem differently to its ally russia. we will return to the un in new york if there are any further significant interventions. 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". 0ur 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 gave 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 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 war... 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. in the past hour president zelenskyy has been speaking at a news conference —

let�*s hear what he�*s been saying. alexander lu kashenko asked alexander lukashenko asked —— 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. chris york and his girlfriend yarina 0dynak made it across the polish border last night after a journey consisting of a long walk to the border, a packed train and a night

of queueing in freezing temperatures. good to speak to you, thank you very much for talking to us on bbc news. tell us about that journey. much for talking to us on bbc news. tell us about thatjourney. where were you coming from and how long and how difficult a journey was it for you? we and how difficult a “ourney was it for ou? ~ ,., ., for you? we were both in lviv and we decided we — for you? we were both in lviv and we decided we had _ for you? we were both in lviv and we decided we had to _ for you? we were both in lviv and we decided we had to get _ for you? we were both in lviv and we decided we had to get out _ for you? we were both in lviv and we decided we had to get out of- for you? we were both in lviv and we decided we had to get out of ukraine | decided we had to get out of ukraine because _ decided we had to get out of ukraine because she works for an organisation that works with building democracy, so when we found out that— building democracy, so when we found out that the _ building democracy, so when we found out that the russians might have had a list of— out that the russians might have had a list of people they were targeting, we thought that she would be in quite _ targeting, we thought that she would be in quite a lot of danger with the situation _ be in quite a lot of danger with the situation escalating, so we headed to the _ situation escalating, so we headed to the border and we drove and got to the border and we drove and got to about _ to the border and we drove and got to about 12— to the border and we drove and got to about 12 miles from their and then— to about 12 miles from their and then the — to about 12 miles from their and then the traffic snarled up so we had to— then the traffic snarled up so we had to walk 12 miles to the border and when — had to walk 12 miles to the border and when we got there it was just a

mass _ and when we got there it was just a mass of— and when we got there it was just a mass of people queueing to get through. — mass of people queueing to get through, and there wasjust... i think— through, and there wasjust... i think there _ through, and there wasjust... i think there been a lot of pictures from _ think there been a lot of pictures from the — think there been a lot of pictures from the other side of the polish border— from the other side of the polish border but not so much on the ukrainian _ border but not so much on the ukrainian side but it is pretty grim at the _ ukrainian side but it is pretty grim at the moment. there are no facilities, _ at the moment. there are no facilities, very few places to get food _ facilities, very few places to get food and — facilities, very few places to get food and water, no toilets or anything _ food and water, no toilets or anything. it took us two days to get through— anything. it took us two days to get through so— anything. it took us two days to get through so people have been stood around _ through so people have been stood around waiting for days with no sleep. — around waiting for days with no sleep, tempers are really flailing and fights breaking out. sorryr sleep, tempers are really flailing and fights breaking out.- and fights breaking out. sorry to interru t, and fights breaking out. sorry to interrupt. did — and fights breaking out. sorry to interrupt, did you _ and fights breaking out. sorry to interrupt, did you see _ and fights breaking out. sorry to interrupt, did you see evidence. and fights breaking out. sorry to. interrupt, did you see evidence of people being turned back because there has been a lot of talk of men who are regarded to be of potential fighting age being separated from theirfamilies. fighting age being separated from their families.— their families. yes, all ukrainian men younger — their families. yes, all ukrainian men younger than _ their families. yes, all ukrainian men younger than 60 _ their families. yes, all ukrainian men younger than 60 were i their families. yes, all ukrainian i men younger than 60 were turned back because you are right, all of them according to the current legislation in ukraine, you have to be

immediately mobilised with the armed troops. immediately mobilised with the armed troo s. ., . , immediately mobilised with the armed troos. ., . , ,, immediately mobilised with the armed troos. ., ., , ,, ., troops. your family i guess are still in ukraine. _ troops. your family i guess are still in ukraine. have _ troops. your family i guess are still in ukraine. have you i troops. your family i guess are still in ukraine. have you been| troops. your family i guess are i still in ukraine. have you been able to talk to them?— still in ukraine. have you been able to talk to them? yes, of course. my arents to talk to them? yes, of course. my parents are — to talk to them? yes, of course. my parents are still— to talk to them? yes, of course. my parents are still in _ to talk to them? yes, of course. my parents are still in ukraine, - to talk to them? yes, of course. my parents are still in ukraine, they i parents are still in ukraine, they are in the west of ukraine which is safer than the capital in the eastern part of ukraine and the internet works well, all platforms work well so we are in touch all the time. : �* , work well so we are in touch all the time. ., �*, work well so we are in touch all the time. . �*, ., work well so we are in touch all the time. ., , time. that's good, and i suppose if the situation _ time. that's good, and i suppose if the situation continues _ time. that's good, and i suppose if the situation continues you - time. that's good, and i suppose if the situation continues you will i time. that's good, and i suppose if the situation continues you will be | the situation continues you will be hoping to get them out, but from where you sit, chris was saying, chris studied in kyiv and has been doing freelance work as a journalist, you are working for a democracy promoting organisation. did you ever think this sort of thing would happen? did you ever think it was a serious prospect that russia would invade ukraine? yes.

for the last — russia would invade ukraine? yes. for the last eight _ russia would invade ukraine? yes. for the last eight years, _ russia would invade ukraine? 193 for the last eight years, russia has beenin for the last eight years, russia has been in very active conflict in ukraine, they started this conflict in 2014 when ukraine had their revolution of dignity, and russia annexed the crimean peninsula and also occupied donetsk and luhansk. for these eight years they were suffering from different hybrid warfare that included military invasions, also disinformation attacks, and constant threats coming from russia. ukraine has been in the state of war and anticipation of war for many years as i have said, but we always hoped that the conflict will be resolved on the terms of

diplomacy. ukraine was preparing for a fully fledged war, but of course civilians across ukraine were not prepared for such a huge scope of this military intervention, and as chris mentioned, me working in the civil society sector i felt a specially threatened and vulnerable. i'm sorry to interrupt you both. we are pressed for time, a lot to get in as you can imagine and we want to keep covering as much as we can, but i am interested to you both, are you kind of resigned now to being stuck in poland for some time now? ijust wonder what your hopes are of getting home? we wonder what your hopes are of getting home?— wonder what your hopes are of caettin home? ~ :, �* :, getting home? we haven't thought be ond the getting home? we haven't thought beyond the next _ getting home? we haven't thought beyond the next few _ getting home? we haven't thought beyond the next few days, - getting home? we haven't thought beyond the next few days, we - getting home? we haven't thought| beyond the next few days, we were 'ust beyond the next few days, we were just trying — beyond the next few days, we were just trying to get through the border, — just trying to get through the border, it took so long and we

thought— border, it took so long and we thought we were going to turn back because _ thought we were going to turn back because we couldn't get through, and finally— because we couldn't get through, and finally when we did get through and we realised on the polish side of the border, that they are being amazing, — the border, that they are being amazing, there are so many volunteers helping out and providing food and _ volunteers helping out and providing food and blankets so we decided tonight— food and blankets so we decided tonight we would stick around in warsaw— tonight we would stick around in warsaw and work out how we can help better— warsaw and work out how we can help better from _ warsaw and work out how we can help better from here because are going to be _ better from here because are going to be a _ better from here because are going to be a lot — better from here because are going to be a lot of people coming over who need — to be a lot of people coming over who need as much help as they can -et. who need as much help as they can get i_ who need as much help as they can net. , , who need as much help as they can iet_ , , :, who need as much help as they can net. , , :, , , :, get. i guess if nothing else your knowledge _ get. i guess if nothing else your knowledge of— get. i guess if nothing else your knowledge of russian _ get. i guess if nothing else your knowledge of russian will- get. i guess if nothing else your i knowledge of russian will perhaps get. i guess if nothing else your - knowledge of russian will perhaps be helpful as well. thank you very much for speaking to us. very glad you made yourjourney for speaking to us. very glad you made your journey safely. thank you very much. let's get more from kyiv — earlier my collegue ros atkins spoke to the ukrainian mp sviatoslav yurash who was out on the streets of the capital after returningh from the frontline. he spoke to us via his mobile phone. i just been from the front lines, outside of kyiv, and i'm in kyiv already.

the reality is that there is still such a lull in the fighting, i would say, the reinforcement seems like it of the forces there. so, we got the city in a skirmish. we had a skirmish last night driving through the city. the point is now i think russians are preparing. it seems that this will continue onward, because they are trying to send their agents into kyiv every single day en masse and, again, this is but another step in trying to command in trying to cut off command troops along the country, because they are invading everywhere, and the one thing to do is to fight. when you say you were 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 very different groups of people. they actually sent tanks once. they got as far as two

communities away from downtown. they got as far as two kilometres away from downtown. basically, this happens almost every day and every night. there are missiles fired onto kyiv basically last night and throughout the day today. 50, near the hotel where your crew here lives basically, you could hear very clearly the missiles being dropped. there was a big police station there, basically for central weapons for many, many parts of ukrainian defence. and you're an mp, as i was mentioning. do you intend to stay in the city or do you think you will have to move out if the fighting gets worse? absolutely will stay in the city. this is our capital, this is our country's capital, and we do not intend to give it up.

and people of kyiv are joining in the fight in every single way, and members of parliament, the least they can do is try to be useful here, join in, become soldiers in all this and try to basically destroy some of the enemy's forces while they're at it because, again, we have no other choice. this is our country and we are fighting for our country's existence right now. some breaking news from the us in new york. they have voted to hold an extraordinary —— united nations, an emergency meeting, all countries, not just the emergency meeting, all countries, notjust the un security council to take place in new york to debate the crisis in ukraine. 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. 0ur correspondent, zhanna bezpiatchuk has visited one centre handing out weapons in the capital kyiv.

yellow armbands marked this man out as volunteer fighters. civilians answering the call to defend their country. across kyiv, 25,000 machine guns have been given out to ordinary ukrainians to fight the russian army. some of these men are being 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: everyone able to defend 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 arejoining different

territorial defence units now. it was scary to wait for an invasion. yellow armbands mark these men 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 for rebellion. i hope after victory to write a book about the history of this war. all men under 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. zhanna bezpiatchuk, bbc news, kyiv.

the united nations says around 370,000 ukrainian 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. 0ur 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's 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 happy i am to see all of my citizens, all of my, all the polish people who want to help,

people from 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, land 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, support to 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. "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. "we see how the world support ukraine. "but it is not enough." as the temperatures drop, their lives are in limbo, not sure where to head, not certain they will have a home left to which to return. as the flow of refugees gathers

pace, some ukrainian expats are taking the opposite route and are returning to their country to defend it against the russian invasion. murad shishani reports from the polish— ukrainian border. siren wails the influx from ukraine to poland through this border grows by the hour. but these young ukrainians are heading in the opposite direction. to fight. they want to take more land for our country, we go to protect our country, our land, ourfamilies, our children. mark and max drove all the way from denmark, where they live. the two are preparing to walk across the border into ukraine. they are like many ukrainians abroad who want to join the fight against the russian invasion. are you joining the army or do you have your own kind of groups? civilian groups? maybe some groups, maybe an army, we will see. and how do you want to gain yourtraining? who will train you there?

i was in the ukrainian army, i know how to shoot. shortly before the invasion sweeps kyiv, the government called 900,000 reservists into action. they encouraged those with a ukrainian passport to enlist in the army. it was clear, then, that ukraine is heading to an all—out war. translation: we are all here, our soldiers are here, _ our citizens are here, we are here. we defend our independence, our country. this is how it will go. 0n the border with poland, there are others who think of different ways to support the resistance. like roman, who told me securing a refuge for ukrainian women and children as a priority, so the men back home can fight while less worried about theirfamilies. war always has a bitter price and it seems ukrainians, be it refugees or fighters,

are forced to pay it. still in kyiv, let's speak to an english teacher who is sheltering in a school with his wife and daughter. dan baker is with us now. you have lived there for five years? that's correct. 2017, we moved here. you have got a wife and a daughter? yes, my wife and daughter are with me at the moment.— me at the moment. where are you riaht me at the moment. where are you right now? — me at the moment. where are you right now? there _ me at the moment. where are you right now? there is _ me at the moment. where are you right now? there is a _ me at the moment. where are you right now? there is a curfew- me at the moment. where are you right now? there is a curfew in - right now? there is a curfew in place? {1371 right now? there is a curfew in lace? . :, , right now? there is a curfew in lace? _, , ., , right now? there is a curfew in lace? , , ., place? of course, there has been a curfew over — place? of course, there has been a curfew over the _ place? of course, there has been a curfew over the weekend _ place? of course, there has been a curfew over the weekend until - place? of course, there has been a curfew over the weekend until 8am tomorrow morning. we have left the apartment, we had an apartment on the 26th floor and did not feel safe with air strikes. we are lucky. we

have a school, an english school in the centre of kyiv. my wife is the manager, i am a teacher, and we have got the basement to ourselves. we are very lucky, most people have got nothing. we have got a lot of luxuries here, so we are trying to stick it out at the moment.- luxuries here, so we are trying to stick it out at the moment. when you see our stick it out at the moment. when you see your right — stick it out at the moment. when you see your right is _ stick it out at the moment. when you see your right is with _ stick it out at the moment. when you see your right is with you, _ stick it out at the moment. when you see your right is with you, is - stick it out at the moment. when you see your right is with you, is she - see your right is with you, is she british or ukrainian? she see your right is with you, is she british or ukrainian?— british or ukrainian? she is ukrainian. _ british or ukrainian? she is ukrainian. and _ british or ukrainian? she is ukrainian. and my - british or ukrainian? she is| ukrainian. and my daughter british or ukrainian? she is i ukrainian. and my daughter is ukrainian. and my daughter is ukrainian. b5 ukrainian. and my daughter is ukrainian-— ukrainian. and my daughter is ukrainian. ~ , , ., , ukrainian. and my daughter is ukrainian. ~ , , :, ukrainian. as your wife been able to talk to her family? _ ukrainian. as your wife been able to talk to her family? is _ ukrainian. as your wife been able to | talk to her family? is communication talk to herfamily? is communication still straightforward? it talk to her family? is communication still straightforward?— still straightforward? it seems that wa at the still straightforward? it seems that way at the moment. _ still straightforward? it seems that way at the moment. there - still straightforward? it seems that way at the moment. there seems. still straightforward? it seems that. way at the moment. there seems to still straightforward? it seems that - way at the moment. there seems to be a lot of mutation throughout all of the people i know in kyiv. we have a sister, my wife has a sister in kyiv and her parents are in a different country, but communication has been good. it country, but communication has been aood. , , country, but communication has been iood, , , ., ~' country, but communication has been aood. , , ., ,, ., country, but communication has been aood. , , .,~ :, , ., good. it must be a kind of surreal existence you _ good. it must be a kind of surreal existence you are _ good. it must be a kind of surreal existence you are living _ good. it must be a kind of surreal existence you are living when - good. it must be a kind of surreal existence you are living when you think of where you were on tuesday or indeed a week ago, last sunday evening when presumably you were

doing very ordinary things on the night before going back to what? yes, of course, it has been a long week. i don't know. i have taken up the resilience of the ukrainian people and it is day four. itjust seems normal at the moment. it has been very quiet in this area where we are. we are very close to the capitol building, to the government building, and we had a very quiet night last night. but yes, you cannot really get you stood, but we are trying. cannot really get you stood, but we are t inc. :, cannot really get you stood, but we aret inc. :, :, i. cannot really get you stood, but we aret inc. :, ,., cannot really get you stood, but we aret inc. :, :, ,., :, are trying. how do you explain it to our are trying. how do you explain it to your daughter? _ are trying. how do you explain it to your daughter? it _ are trying. how do you explain it to your daughter? it difficult - are trying. how do you explain it to your daughter? it difficult question | your daughter? it difficult question because we — your daughter? it difficult question because we have _ your daughter? it difficult question because we have not _ your daughter? it difficult question because we have not explained - because we have not explained anything, she has gone with the flow. she is very strong. i think it helps that she has got an ipad with tiktok and instagram, that has probably kept her busy. we have been trying to do normal things. yesterday, we were watching some

films, today, we did some spring cleaning, just to keep things normal. cleaning, 'ust to keep things normal. �* : cleaning, 'ust to keep things normal. �* ., , normal. but at some point, she will ask why can't _ normal. but at some point, she will ask why can't we — normal. but at some point, she will ask why can't we go _ normal. but at some point, she will ask why can't we go to _ normal. but at some point, she will ask why can't we go to the - normal. but at some point, she will ask why can't we go to the park - ask why can't we go to the park today? why can't i see my friend today? why can't i see my friend today? when am i going to school? those sorts of questions are bound to come up. those sorts of questions are bound to come ue— to come up. sure, except for the last one. — to come up. sure, except for the last one. she _ to come up. sure, except for the last one, she is _ to come up. sure, except for the last one, she is happy _ to come up. sure, except for the last one, she is happy she - to come up. sure, except for the last one, she is happy she does. to come up. sure, except for the i last one, she is happy she does not have to go to school.— have to go to school. good point. she has been _ have to go to school. good point. she has been communicating - have to go to school. good point. - she has been communicating through social media with all of her friends. this is not... this is not as strange in this country as it would be back in britain. people deal with this and have dealt with this for a long time. the problem is, they will not give up. what happens if russia fall back, they lose the war. if ukraine full back, they lose their country. so it's very important. they lose their country. so it's very important-— they lose their country. so it's very important. you make a very owerful very important. you make a very powerful point — very important. you make a very powerful point and _ very important. you make a very powerful point and that - very important. you make a very powerful point and that almost l

powerful point and that almost reinforces what is presumably the feeling of your family back in the uk, which must be very, very worried for you? uk, which must be very, very worried for ou? ,, ., , , uk, which must be very, very worried for ou? ,, ., ,, ,, , uk, which must be very, very worried for ou? ,, ., , , ,, , ., for you? sure. i happen keeping into contact with — for you? sure. i happen keeping into contact with them _ for you? sure. i happen keeping into contact with them of _ for you? sure. i happen keeping into contact with them of course. - for you? sure. i happen keeping into contact with them of course. social. contact with them of course. social media, i started a youtube channel, i was getting hundreds of messages every day. my friends and family have been absolutely amazing. they have been absolutely amazing. they have given me the strength to carry on. but it's difficult to keep in contact with everyone, so i started our youtube channeljust contact with everyone, so i started our youtube channel just to contact with everyone, so i started our youtube channeljust to make it easier, to post videos about general life to keep everybody happy. to you and our life to keep everybody happy. to you and your wife — life to keep everybody happy. to you and your wife and _ life to keep everybody happy. to you and your wife and daughter, - life to keep everybody happy. to you and your wife and daughter, good i and your wife and daughter, good fortune. thank you for talking to us and i hope you talk to you soon with any luck in happier times. thank you. any luck in happier times. thank ou. : ~' any luck in happier times. thank ou. : ~ , :, earlier, i spoke to ian kelly, former us ambassador to the georgia and also to the 0sce. i began by asking him for his reaction to president putin

putting his nuclearforces on special alert. obviously that is a very concerning thing, when the russian president, in response to aggressive statements, says they are raising their nuclear preparedness. i see it as a sign that putin is feeling the bite of the sanctions, sanctions are proliferating virally, especially in europe, and he is afraid. so i think this is an attempt, really, to try to deter the west from doing further measures to take down the russian economy. just on that question of sanctions, there have been grumbles in washington last week, not least in the us congress, some sense that perhaps europe wasn't going far enough and fast enough. do you think the latest

announcements from the european union might please people in washington in that regard? i know it pleases me! and i am pretty sure it pleases my former colleagues in washington. i think particularly the statements of the german chancellor about changing their policy about sending arms to ukraine, i think that was a tremendous move. banning russian flights from european airspace, in many ways, europe is ahead of us in some of these moves. you are as worried in the united states as people are in the other parts of the world, about inflation and i wonder what your sense is of us public opinion. do you think it is on—side with all of this, because for many

in the united states, ukraine is very far away and any conflict in europe is not of immediate daily concerned? and any conflict in europe is not of immediate daily concern? i think with the exception of some outliers in the republican party, i think that, in terms of messaging from the leadership, political leadership of both parties, it has been very forward—leaning in terms of imposing costs on russia for its invasion. of course, the economy in the united states is fragile. because of the pandemic, it is fragile because of inflation, and because of supply chain problems, but i think that right now, i don't see any problems, political problems with both administration and congress moving forward with even more tough sanctions. you have a background in the slavic

languages and obviously spent a lot of time in central and eastern europe. what is your perspective on the kind of relationship between some of those countries that are not nato members, like georgia and ukraine, with russia under putin and where it will stand now as a result of this invasion? that is an excellent question, and since my last post of course was georgia, i am very concerned about knock—on effects to georgia, its security, to its economic growth, and one thing i am really concerned about is one of the results of this aggression, i think, is a tendency for countries around russia that don't have the protection of nato, and of course georgia is one of those, to try to keep their heads down and not to provoke putin even further.

i think that has a real retarding effect on the development of democracy in the periphery of russia. i was very struck, finally, you served with secretary clinton and she famously, on president 0bama's hopes of a reset, spent time in moscow and talking to putin and her response in her memoirs is that strength and resolve the only language putin would understand. do you think that remains the case? is it even more so the case than when she wrote those seven years ago? it's even more so. the real kind of paradigm shift is the european nations have begun to realise this too. that we can no longer give putin the benefit of the doubt, we can't coddle him. firmness and resolve are the only way to counter his expansionism

and his aggression. here in the uk, britain's foreign secretary, liz truss, says she'd support anyone from britain coming here to fight alongside the ukrainians. she later modified her words, saying she wouldn't oppose people coming. her remarks followed an appeal by ukraine's president for international help. her remarks followed an appeal by ukraine's president for international help. she also said the government would look urgently at what more could be done to help ukrainian refugees who want to go to the uk. here's our political correspondent, lone wells. in chilling darkness, ukrainian refugees queue to cross the border in neighbouring poland, many with young children. the uk has sent humanitarian aid, but the government is under pressure to commit to taking in more refugees. natalia lives in the uk. her 69—year—old mother, valentina, fled from kharkiv in ukraine on the russian border to hungary.

we are not entirely sure, but i think she stopped some cars and got in and got herself to a train station somewhere, then got herself to budapest, and then from budapest, she 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. natalia met her mother, valentina, there. but when they reached the uk border in paris, valentina was denied entry, because she didn't have a visa. my mum has claimed asylum and humanitarian assistance and they said that they couldn't consider this, because the border post was not on uk soil. the problem for valentina is she is not a dependent of her daughter. the home office said british nationals and their dependents are their priority. visa services in ukraine are suspended for everyone else, but if 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 normal visa restrictions for ukrainians trying to flee war. we have to have a generous scheme that is equivalent to the scheme that we offered people after the balkans crisis. we are asking people tojump through hoops. there's bureaucracy, there's red tape. why would we ask people what their salary levels are, when you are fleeing war? so what is the uk doing to support? as well as military and humanitarian aid, the foreign secretary, liz truss, said while the uk has ruled out sending troops to fight in ukraine, she would absolutely support british citizens going to fight. i do support that. and, of course, that is something that people can make _ their own decisions about. when it comes to refugees, though, she said ministers were looking at what more they could do. britain has always welcomed

refugees fleeing from war, l and we are urgently— looking at what more 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 of ukraine want to live in ukraine. _ valentina is one of those people. she didn't want to leave her country, but missiles have rained down on her home town, and she tells me here that president putin must be stopped. let's just recap some of today's fast—moving developments. 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 "aggresive" and "irresponsible." earlier today, the european union 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. but italy's prime minister, mario draghi, is urging the eu to go further and to react with "utmost determination" as he describes the russian invasion as barbaric. british—based multinational bp says it's exiting the nearly 20% stake it holds in the russian oil giant, rosneft. at the end of last year, that stake was worth about $14 billion. and in the last hour, fifa has announced that no international football will be played in russia, with home matches being played on neutral territory with no spectators. russia has also been banned from playing with their national flag and anthem following the invasion. back in ukraine, this is the latest map of russian—controlled terrority. 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. all of this as we await the talks between the two countries, close to the border of neighbouring belarus in the coming days.

it has felt fairly springlike out there for many of us. not clear blue skies everywhere but this was the picture in the isles of scilly early on on sunday. more cloud towards the north and west and we have the next weather front approaching. that's going to continue its progress slowly east across the uk through tonight and into monday as well. rain across northern ireland and scotland and later tonight that rain will edge into western parts of england and wales. eastern and south—east england stay with the clear skies for longer. temperatures fall to about two or three but temperatures will pick up through monday morning. clear skies from the north west, blustery, gales for the

western isles through tonight and tomorrow. tomorrow, heavy slow—moving rain, parts of northern england, wales, south—west, not reaching east anglia and the south—east until after dark. blustery wind, and showers across the far north—west. a return to sunny conditions. top temperatures, 8-10 sunny conditions. top temperatures, 8—10 under the rain but clear skies, 12 or 13. monday evening, the rain urges east, wet weather over the next day or so. clear skies behind, high pressure with light wind, could be shot forced into tuesday morning. showers still blowing through for the northern isles. for most areas, high pressure dominating through tuesday. dry settled weather. this will linger south. uncertainty how far north it will get. could be rain

in southern england and wales. further north, after frost patches it will be dry and fine. lots of sunshine on offer. temperatures cooler than recent days. 9—10 for most of us. into wednesday, rain initially in the south but looks like a bit of a wave on the weather front pushing north across the uk. fairly weak affair, fizzling out that there could be some rain around over the next couple of days. sunny spells in between.

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 agrees to hold talks with russia on the border with neighbouring belarus. i don't really believe in the result of this meeting but let them try, so that no ukrainian citizens will have any doubt that i was not trying to stop the war when there was though a little but still a chance. washington condemns vladimir putin's decision to place russia's nuclearforces on high alert — calling it a dangerous escalation. 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 aggressive statements with regards lo our— aggressive statements with regards to our country. the european union announces it will to ship arms to ukraine calling the move a watershed moment for the eu. 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. bp breaks with the russian oil giant rosneft — the british—based multinational will offload its stake — and quits its seat on the rosneft board. and searching for a safe haven — poland says at least 200,000 people seeking refuge have now crossed from ukraine in just four days. hello and welcome to bbc world news. ukraine has agreed to hold

talks in the coming days with a russian delegation — without preconditions — on the border with neighbouring belarus. this neighbouring belarus. follows the rejection of an earlier this follows the rejection of an earlier attempt to hold those discussions in the belarusian capital of minsk. let's take a look at some of today's fast—moving developments. 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 'aggresive' and 'irresponsible.�* earlier today, the european union 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. but italy's prime minister, mario draghi, is urging the eu to go further and to react with 'utmost determination' as he describes

the russian invasion as 'barbaric�*. british—based multinational bp says it's exiting the nearly 20% stake it holds in the russian oil giant, rosneft. at the end of last year, that stake was worth about 14 billion us dollars. and in the last hour, fifa has announced that no international football will be played in russia, with home matches being played on neutral territory with no spectators. it is questionable whether a russian team would be willing to take part under those conditions. russia has also been banned from playing with their national flag and anthem following the invasion. back in ukraine, this is the latest map of russian controlled terrority. crimea was already annexed by russia backin crimea was already annexed by russia back in 2014. 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. our first report is from nick beake, in kyiv. 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 woman 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. children are crying and 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 ministers 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. more reactionjust into more reaction just into the russian invasion of ukraine. the uk prime minister boris johnson has been speaking during a visit to a ukrainian church in london in the past few hours — let's hear what he's been saying. when it comes to the russian leadership, that chose this path of violence. — leadership, that chose this path of violence, and i stress chose this path _ violence, and i stress chose this path of— violence, and i stress chose this path of violence and aggression, there _ path of violence and aggression, there can — path of violence and aggression, there can be no possible excuse. and never in _ there can be no possible excuse. and never in all— there can be no possible excuse. and never in all my study, of my memory of politics— never in all my study, of my memory of politics and international affairs. _ of politics and international affairs, have i seen so clear a distinction _ affairs, have i seen so clear a distinction between right and wrong.

between _ distinction between right and wrong. between good and evil, between light and dark _ between good and evil, between light and dark. and that is the real reason — and dark. and that is the real reason why ukraine is our neighbour today, _ reason why ukraine is our neighbour today, and _ reason why ukraine is our neighbour today, and by the way, i say to all the countries around the world who may only _ the countries around the world who may onlyjust be waking up to the horror— may onlyjust be waking up to the horror of— may onlyjust be waking up to the horror of what is going on, i say to everybody— horror of what is going on, i say to everybody around the world, that is why ukraine should be your neighbour too. why ukraine should be your neighbour too in _ why ukraine should be your neighbour too. , :, too. in the past hour, the un security council, _ too. in the past hour, the un security council, still- too. in the past hour, the un i security council, still meeting, too. in the past hour, the un - security council, still meeting, has voted on a wider meeting of the un general assembly, voted on a wider meeting of the un generalassembly, every voted on a wider meeting of the un general assembly, every country on the planet, to discuss the crisis in ukraine. the us ambassador demanded russia should tone down what she called its dangerous rhetoric about nuclear weapons. figs called its dangerous rhetoric about nuclear weapons. b51 called its dangerous rhetoric about nuclear weapons.— nuclear weapons. as i have said before, russia _ nuclear weapons. as i have said before, russia cannot _ nuclear weapons. as i have said before, russia cannot veto - nuclear weapons. as i have said before, russia cannot veto ourl before, russia cannot veto our voices. — before, russia cannot veto our

voices, russia cannot veto the ukrainian _ voices, russia cannot veto the ukrainian people, and russia cannot veto the _ ukrainian people, and russia cannot veto the un charter. russia cannot and will _ veto the un charter. russia cannot and will not — veto the un charter. russia cannot and will not veto accountability. now the — and will not veto accountability. now the security council has taken an important step forward towards that accountability. for the first time, _ that accountability. for the first time, for— that accountability. for the first time, for the first time in decades, it has— time, for the first time in decades, it has called — time, for the first time in decades, it has called for an emergency special— it has called for an emergency special session in the general assembly. the council members who supported _ assembly. the council members who supported this resolution recognise that this _ supported this resolution recognise that this is — supported this resolution recognise that this is no ordinary moment. we need _ that this is no ordinary moment. we need to— that this is no ordinary moment. we need to take — that this is no ordinary moment. we need to take extraordinary actions to rneet— need to take extraordinary actions to meet this threat to our international system and do everything we can to help ukraine and its _ everything we can to help ukraine and its people. just this morning, president — and its people. just this morning, president putin put russia's nuclear forces _ president putin put russia's nuclear forces on _ president putin put russia's nuclear forces on high alert, even though he is invading _ forces on high alert, even though he is invading a — forces on high alert, even though he is invading a country with no

nuclear— is invading a country with no nuclear weapons and is under no threat _ nuclear weapons and is under no threat from nato, a defensive alliance — threat from nato, a defensive alliance that will not fight in ukraine _ alliance that will not fight in ukraine. this is another escalate tory— ukraine. this is another escalate tory and — ukraine. this is another escalate tory and unnecessary step that threatens— tory and unnecessary step that threatens us all. we urge russia to tone down— threatens us all. we urge russia to tone down its dangerous rhetoric regarding — tone down its dangerous rhetoric regarding nuclear weapons. these are issues _ regarding nuclear weapons. these are issues that— regarding nuclear weapons. these are issues that affect all member states and now— issues that affect all member states and now in— issues that affect all member states and now in the general assembly, they can _ and now in the general assembly, they can all— and now in the general assembly, they can all make their voices heard on russia's— they can all make their voices heard on russia's war of choice. we will then— on russia's war of choice. we will then vote — on russia's war of choice. we will then vote on the resolution that will hold — then vote on the resolution that will hold russia to account for its indefensible actions and for its violations of the un charter. as we speak, _ violations of the un charter. as we speak, rockets continue to rain down on kyiv— speak, rockets continue to rain down on kyiv and _ speak, rockets continue to rain down on kyiv and across ukraine. tanks

are tearing — on kyiv and across ukraine. tanks are tearing through cities, russia readies— are tearing through cities, russia readies still more brittle weaponry, bornbs _ readies still more brittle weaponry, bombs that flatten buildings and indiscriminately target civilians for an — indiscriminately target civilians for an unjustifiable assault fabricated out of lies in the rewriting of history. russia also propagate outrageous lies about ukraine's— propagate outrageous lies about ukraine's conduct in its own defence _ ukraine's conduct in its own defence. we are alarmed by the mounting — defence. we are alarmed by the mounting reports of civilian casualties, videos of russian forces moving _ casualties, videos of russian forces moving exceptionally lethal weaponry into ukraine and the widespread destruction of civilian facilities like residences, schools and hospitals. to the russian officers and soldiers, i say the world is

watching _ and soldiers, i say the world is watchinu. : and soldiers, i say the world is watching-— and soldiers, i say the world is watchinu. ., :, ., , , watching. linda thomas greenfield, the us ambassador _ watching. linda thomas greenfield, the us ambassador to _ watching. linda thomas greenfield, the us ambassador to the _ watching. linda thomas greenfield, the us ambassador to the un - watching. linda thomas greenfield, i the us ambassador to the un speaking in the last hour. let's take a look at the sanctions announcement now by the european union on sunday afternoon. commissioner ursula von der leyen said the eu will ship arms to ukraine and will allow member countries to ship arms and compensate them for the weapons and ammunition supply. there will be sanctions targeting russian state broadcasters and a ban on private jets belonging to 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, chartered 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. 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 in outrage for russia's invasion of ukraine, any remaining caution around ramping up economic 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 in 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 enjoyed, 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' privatejets. as long as russia has customers buying its oil and gas, which the sanctions won't prevent, it will have financial fuel for its war machine. the ultimate sanction would be an international embargo which would damage both sides on this escalating international war. our correspondent in brussels told me these sanctions are significant. seen as something of a watershed moment in brussels for the european union. it is sometimes seen as toothless and it is not a military power and they are basically discussing it right now, is they want to enable member states

who want to send arms and military equipment to ukraine to do so and the eu could potentially pay for that reimburse them so would not be the eu directly funding are sending that equipment to ukraine, things like ammunition, it would be member states, but it is still seen as highly significant. the eu foreign policy chief said it was something like a taboo being ended for the european union and it is interesting because this kind of thing has been debated before and some member states have been in favour and some haven't but it seems what has happened with the russian invasion of ukraine has to some extent the galvanised member states into doing things they were previously uncomfortable to do, but the bottom line is you could see eu funded military equipment being used in active conflict on european soil in ukraine. i was very struck by the remarks earlierfrom mario draghi, the prime minister of italy, saying that the eu has to go as far as it possibly can.

italy was one of those member countries that has been quite anxious in recent years to maintain good relations with russia. there is the impression being left, and i am interested in your views, that this is having a kind of effect of pulling the eu together in a way few crises have done in the past? absolutely, i think that is true because i think there is an element of total shock, actually, at what has happened, which might sound a bit strange, because for many months, western intelligence sources have been warning russia could invade ukraine but i think until the moment it happened, some probably didn't quite believe it and then the manner of the invasion as well and the apparent approach of russian troops to the capital kyiv i think has shocked a lot of eu countries into further action, action they would not have previously been comfortable with.

it is interesting, olaf scholz the german chancellor speaking earlier today said the day russia invaded ukraine was on his pointy turning point in european history and of course germany is changing some of its defence policy so today pledging to not only match the nato target of 2% of gdp spending on defence but actually going a little bit over it. previously germany quite reluctant on these types of issues so it has galvanised member states but it isn't to say there haven't been disagreements, some grumblings along the way about the various countries and their views, but as of tonight were looking at the possibility of eu funded military aid and looking at the eu banning all russian aircraft from eu airspace which not long ago i don't think we would have expected to be talking about this kind of thing.

further developments in this area. international petroleum giant bp has announced it is exiting its nearly 20% shareholding in the russian energy firm rosneft. a short time ago i spoke to the markets watcher justin urquhart stewart who said there's a certain inevitability about bp's decision. you are right. at various levels, but particularly when you have a large organisation, gazprom, which are large british shareholdings, effectively supplying oil facilities to an army invading ukraine. that is not something a british company would wish to be associated with. in light of the resignation from the board, it almost closes a door because at least if you have someone on the board you have the potential to lobby and influence and once you lose that voice, you're just another voice shouting from the sidelines. do you think there might have been some reservations? this is notjust an issue recently, it has been going on for years with bp as they have

always had a fraught relationship with russia. they don't have the same accounting and operational standards we would expect. there are always used to be a joke of how many reports you would get on financial affairs. the reports tend to be one for you, one for me and one for the tax people. but what you also see is the lack of the letter so fashionable, environmental, sustainable and governance. you can look at gazprom and ask if bp wants to be involved and the answer is no. the problem is now they are rather over a barrel because effectively they are saying, we are selling out but who is going to be buying? and that was the next question i was going to ask. the problem is that... that is why you are on, you are the expert. iam the i am the amateur asking the questions on the audience.

the question i would ask is, hang on a minute, they are presumably selling at the worst possible time to sell? absolutely, you're making yourself a forced seller. what is happening as the oil companies are coming up with fantastic profits because the price of oil has gone up so dramatically, and when you look at the impact it has, it was over $12 billion last year for bp and about a fifth of that came from rosneft and take that away, it is bad news for shareholders are notjust ordinary shareholders but you and i and anyone else with a pension scheme, we will have product in bp and connected to russia. so at various levels, this is going to be almost inevitable, but who loses out will be bp and who benefits, i suspect some russian company will come in and buy it and take it off their hands. these questions will be asked by lots of companies with connections or stakes in russia. can we continue, should we continue? what are the reputational risks to continuing?

i think a lot of companies will be taking a step back and saying we don't wish to be associated with this at all, not just in terms of business practice but in terms of the amount of money laundering that has been going on and you have to follow the money to see where the stink of that is going. whereas anybody a few years ago would have said let's invest in russia, it is opening up in the new capitalist society, it has shown itself to be a kleptocracy under your rule of commercial law doesn't apply. good investors will pull away from it, large investors will make sure they have no connection and the companies themselves will be saying, it is not worth the risk. but if you sell it now it is going to be the worst time to do so. 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 corresopondent 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 gave 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 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 war... we can say 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. let's get more from kyiv. earlier, my collegue ros atkins spoke to the ukrainian mp sviatoslav yurash who was out on the streets of the capital after returningh from the frontline. he spoke to us via his mobile phone. i just been from the front lines, based outside of kyiv, and i'm in kyiv already. the reality is that there is still such a lull in the fighting, i would say the reinforcement seems like it with the forces there. so, we got in a skirmish... we had a skirmish last night driving through the city. the point is now i think russians are preparing.

it seems that this will continue onward because they are trying to send their agents into kyiv every single day en masse and, again, this is but another step in trying to command troops along the country, because they are invading everywhere, and the one thing to do is to fight. when you say you were 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 different groups of people. they actually sent tanks once. they got as far as two communities away from downtown. basically, this happens almost every day and every night. there are missiles fired onto kyiv basically last night and throughout the day today. so, near the hotel where your crew

here lives basically, you could hear very clearly the missiles being dropped. there was a big police station there, basically for central weapons for many, many parts of ukrainian defence. and you're an mp, as i was mentioning. do you intend to stay in the city or do you think you will have to move out if the fighting gets worse? absolutely will stay in the city. this is our capital, this is our country's capital, and we do not intend to give it up. and people of kyiv are joining in the fight in every single way, and members of parliament, the least they can do is try to be useful here, join in, become soldiers in all this and try to basically destroy some of the enemy's forces while they're at it because, again, we have no other choice. this is our country and we are fighting for our country's existence right now.

the view from the streets from a serving ukrainian mp. 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 given out to ordinary ukrainians to fight the russian army. some of these men have 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: everyone able to defend 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 arejoining different territorial defence units now. it was scary to wait for an invasion. yellow armbands mark these men 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 for rebellion. i hope after victory to write a book

about the history of this war. all men under 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. zhanna bezpiatchuk, bbc news, kyiv. let's just recap some of today's fast—moving developments as 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 aggresive and irresponsible. earlier today, the european union 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. but italy's prime minister, mario draghi, is urging the eu to go further and to react with utmost determination as he describes the russian invasion as barbaric. british—based multinational bp says it's exiting the nearly 20% stake it holds in the russian oil giant, rosneft. at the end of last year, that stake was worth about $14 billion. and in the last hour, fifa has announced that no international football will be played in russia, with home matches being played on neutral territory with no spectators. russia has also been banned from playing with their national flag and anthem following the invasion. back in ukraine, this is the latest map of russian controlled terrority. all of this as we await the talks between the two countries, close to the border of neighbouring

belarus in the coming days. earlier, i spoke to ian kelly, former us ambassador to the georgia and also to the 0sce. i began by asking him for his reaction to president putin putting his nuclearforces on special alert. obviously that is a very concerning thing, when the russian president says, in response to aggressive statements, they are raising their nuclear preparedness. i see it as a sign that putin is feeling the bite of the sanctions, sanctions are proliferating virally, especially in europe, and he is afraid. so i think this is an attempt, really, to try to deter the west from doing further measures to take down the russian economy. just on that question of sanctions, there have been grumbles

in washington last week, not least in the us congress, some sense that perhaps europe wasn't going far enough and fast enough. do you think the latest announcements from the european union might please people in washington in that regard? i know it pleases me! and i am pretty sure it pleases my former colleagues in washington. i think particularly the statements of the german chancellor about changing their policy about sending arms to ukraine, i think that was a tremendous move. banning russian flights from european airspace, in many ways, europe is ahead of us in some of these moves. you are as worried in the united states as people are in the other parts of the world, about inflation and i wonder what your sense

is of us public opinion. do you think it is on—side with all of this, because for many in the united states, ukraine is very far away and any conflict in europe is not of immediate daily concerned? and any conflict in europe is not of immediate daily concern? i think with the exception of some outliers in the republican party, i think that, in terms of messaging from the leadership, political leadership of both parties, it has been very forward—leaning in terms of imposing costs on russia for its invasion. of course, the economy in the united states is fragile. because of the pandemic, it is fragile because of inflation, and because of supply chain problems, but i think that right now, i don't see any problems, political problems with both administration and congress moving forward with even more tough sanctions.

you have a background in the slavic languages and obviously spent a lot of time in central and eastern europe. what is your perspective on the kind of relationship between some of those countries that are not nato members, like georgia and ukraine, with russia under putin and where it will stand now as a result of this invasion? that is an excellent question, and since my last post of course was georgia, i am very concerned about knock—on effects to georgia, its security, to its economic growth, and one thing i am really concerned about is one of the results of this aggression, i think, is a tendency for countries around russia that don't have the protection of nato, and of course georgia is one of those, to try to keep their heads down and not to provoke putin even further.

i think that has a real retarding effect on the development of democracy in the periphery of russia. i was very struck, finally, you served with secretary clinton and she famously, on president obama's hopes of a reset, spent time in moscow and talking to putin and her response in her memoirs is that strength and resolve the only language putin would understand. do you think that remains the case? is it even more so the case than when she wrote those seven years ago? it's even more so. the real kind of paradigm shift is the european nations have begun to realise this too.

that we can no longer give putin the benefit of the doubt, we can't coddle him. firmness and resolve are the only way to counter his expansionism and his aggression. the united nations says around 370,000 ukrainian 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's new refugees would need, given by poles from across the country, volunteers like kamila stunned at what is happening to their neighbours.

i'm really touched. i don't have words in my mouth to explain how much happy 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, land 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's sorted by volunteers old and young. bartos came from a five—hour 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, support for 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. "my mum and dad are sitting in their basement back "home and their town is surrounded," she said. "i'm very scared of what may happen to my country and the people i love. "we see how the world supports

ukraine, but it's 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. mark lowen, bbc news, on the polish—ukrainian border. as the flow of refugees gathers pace, some ukrainian expats are taking the opposite route and are returning to their country to defend it against the russian invasion. murad shishani reports from the polish— ukrainian border. the influx from ukraine to poland through this border grows by the hour. but these young ukrainians are heading in the opposite direction. to fight. they want to take more land for our country, we go to protect our country, our land, ourfamilies, our children. mark and max drove all the way from denmark, where they live. the two are preparing to walk across the border into ukraine. they are like many ukrainians abroad who want to join the fight

against the russian invasion. are you joining the army or do you have your own kind of groups? civilian groups? maybe some groups, maybe an army, we will see. and how do you want to gain yourtraining? who will train you there? i was in the ukrainian army, i know how to shoot. shortly before the invasion sweeps kyiv, the government called 900,000 reservists into action. they encouraged those with a ukrainian passport to enlist in the army. it was clear, then, that ukraine is heading to an all—out war. translation: we are all here, our soldiers are here, _ our citizens are here, we are here. we defend our independence, our country. this is how it will go. on the border with poland, there

are others who think of different ways to support the resistance. like roman, who told me securing a refuge for ukrainian women and children as a priority, so the men back home can fight while less worried about theirfamilies. war always has a bitter price and it seems ukrainians, be it refugees or fighters, are forced to pay it. well, couple chris york and yarina 0dynak made it safely across the polish border last night after a journey consisting of a long walk, a crowded train and a night of queueing in freezing temperatures. they told me about their journey a little earlier. we were both in lviv

and we decided we had to get out of ukraine because yarina works for an organisation that works with building democracy, so when we found out that the russians might have had a list of people they were targeting, we thought that yarina would be in quite a lot of danger with the situation escalating, so we headed to the border, and we drove and got to about 12 miles from there i think and then the traffic completely snarled up so we had to walk 12 miles to the border crossing and when we got there it was just a mass of people queueing to get through, and there wasjust... i think there been a lot of pictures from the other side of the polish border but not so much on the ukrainian side but it is pretty grim at the moment. there are no facilities, very few

places to get food and water, no toilets or anything. it took us two days to get through so people have been stood around waiting for days with no sleep, tempers are really flaring and fights breaking out. sorry to interrupt, did you see evidence of people being turned back because there has been a lot of talk of men who are regarded to be of potential fighting age being separated from their families. yes, all ukrainian men younger than 60 were turned back because you are right, all of them according to the current legislation in ukraine, you have to be immediately mobilised with the armed troops. yourfamily i guess are still in ukraine. have you been able to talk to them? yes, of course.

my parents are still in ukraine, they are in the west of ukraine which is safer than the capital in the eastern part of ukraine and the internet works well, all platforms work well so we are in touch all the time. that's good, and i suppose if the situation continues you will be hoping to get them out, but from where you sit, chris was saying, chris studied in kyiv and has been doing freelance work as a journalist, you are working for a democracy promoting organisation. did you ever think this sort of thing would happen? did you ever think it was a serious prospect that russia would invade ukraine? yes. for the last eight years, russia has been in very active conflict in ukraine, they started this conflict in 2014 when ukraine had their revolution of dignity, and russia annexed the crimean peninsula and also occupied donetsk and lu ha nsk.

for these eight years they were suffering from different hybrid warfare that included military invasions, also disinformation attacks, and constant threats coming from russia. ukraine has been in the state of war and anticipation of war for many years as i have said, but we always hoped that the conflict will be resolved on the terms of diplomacy. ukraine was preparing for a fully fledged war, but of course civilians across ukraine were not prepared for such a huge scope of this military intervention, and as chris mentioned, me working in the civil society sector i felt a specially threatened and vulnerable. but of course civilians across ukraine were not prepared for such a huge scope of this military intervention,

and as chris mentioned, me working in the civil society sector i felt a specially threatened and vulnerable. i'm sorry to interrupt you both. we are pressed for time, a lot to get in as you can imagine and we want to keep covering as much as we can, but i am interested to you both, are you kind of resigned now to being stuck in poland for some time now? i just wonder what your hopes are of getting home? we haven't thought beyond the next few days, we were just trying to get through the border, it took so long and we thought we were going to turn back because we didn't think we would get through, and finally when we did get through and we realised on the polish side of the border, that they are being amazing, there are so many volunteers helping out and providing food and blankets so we decided tonight we would stick

around in warsaw and work out how we can help better from here because there are going to be a lot of people coming over who need as much help as they can get. as we heard, the european union says it will begin shipping arms to ukraine — the first time in its history it has supplied arms in a conflict. ros atkins looks at how western military aid for ukraine has escalated, including a historic policy shift from germany. ukraine needs help, it has done for months. as russia sent more troops to the border, ukraine is receiving more military aid from the west. the us has given $2.5 billion worth since 2014. as ukraine's 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. this weekend, the west escalated its military support. first the americans 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 second world war, 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 germany's policy shift means that the countries that have german—made weapons can share those two. have german—made weapons can share those too. the support has been noted. president zelensky said ukraine

was been left alone. on saturday he tweeted... there is a challenge here. getting military aid into ukraine is more complicated now. for example, flying weapons in poses an unacceptable risk. anti—tank, anti—aircraft systems can be trucked across the border, - picked up by the ukrainians. the vital problem then is to get the stuffing in the volume that is needed as quicklyl as possible, but then of course, | the ukrainian forces to be able | to distribute them to battlefronts where they are needed. - and so putin's invasion is being resisted by ukrainians with western weapons. it cannot be known if that will be enough. here in the uk, the largest gdemonstration in support of ukraine this is a shift in german foreign policy in the last couple of days

since the invasion and this has come from government leaders from mainstream centre—left, centre—right opposition parties as well, from the government, but also from voters and the demonstrations you are seeing in their line of a culmination of a whole week of demonstrations across the country, today's burling protests are likely to be the largest, originally 20,000 people registered. looking at the streets now and who is coming in from where, we are going to see much bigger figures than this. this is what olaf scholz announced today, to a certain extent he is responding and his government is responding to pressure from german commentators, german leading figures and voters who have for a long time been voting germany to act more decisively and with more solidarity and support of ukraine. here in the uk, the largest demonstration in support of ukraine was in westminster in london. several thousand people were in the crowd, including

dozens of young people from st mary's ukrainian school in west london. paul murphy—kasp went to meet them before they set off. for over 60 years, this saturday school has taught young ukrainians living in london about their country's history, language and culture. the invasion back home is now putting into question ukraine's future but, while times are tough, community here is pulling together. what happened on thursday shook them all and they could see for the first time fear in their eyes. we started getting initiatives from our school children, from year eight, nine, year ten pupils that they would like to do something for the civilians back in their home country, that they would love to fundraise for the children. but what do young people actually think about what is going on? i feel very worried because that is my family, my grandmother and grandfather, i feel very sad for them and i hope everything will be

all right in the country. because it is my home. my family is there, my aunties, uncles, grandparents, - they are planning on staying - there but i don't want them to stay there, i want them to come here. raising awareness and protesting, having things on the news, i think that will definitely help spread awareness. it makes me feel very worried and, on the news, they say everything on the battlefield and what is happening so sometimes i even cry. they sing. while eyes are focused on the response from world leaders, ukrainians here want action. it is notjust a problem of our children, ukrainian children. children across the world are watching what their leaders in their countries are doing today. the children want to act, they don't want just to use the privilege of clear skies and continue with their lives. chanting: stand with ukraine!

under those clear skies, dozens of young ukrainians set off to demonstrate at downing street, proudly bearing the colours of their home nation but, most importantly, making sure their voices are being heard. paul murphy—kasp, bbc news. those are the latest developments this hour. it's approaching midnight in ukraine. we will see what the rest of the night brings. we will be monitoring it here on the bbc news. wherever you are, with few all night. let me bring you a couple of updates from the united states. the us state department is reporting that antony blinken has spoken with a japanese foreign minister and counterparts like japan's financial sanctions. japan has had disputes in the south china seas in the japanese islands with russia. those are the

developments. the state department urging any americans currently in ukraine, russia rather, to leave. good night. good evening. the weekend has brought us a good deal of dry, settled and sunny weather. it has felt fairly springlike out there for many of us. not clear blue skies everywhere, but this was the picture in the isles of scilly earlier on on sunday. more cloud towards the north and west and we have the next weather front approaching. that's going to continue its progress slowly eastwards across the uk through tonight and into monday as well. rain across northern ireland and scotland and later tonight, that rain will edge into western parts of england and wales. eastern and south—east england stay with the clear skies for longer. here, temperatures fall to about two or three but temperatures will pick up through the early hours of monday. clear skies from the north west, blustery, gales for the western isles through tonight and tomorrow. tomorrow, some fairly heavy slow—moving rain,

in parts of northern england, wales, south—west, probably not reaching east anglia and the south—east until after dark. blustery wind, and a few blustery showers across the far north—west. a return to sunny conditions here. top temperatures, 8—10 under the rain but under clear skies, 12 or 13. monday evening, the rain slowly edges east, we'll all see wet weather over the next 24 hours or so. clearskies behind, high pressure with light wind, could be sharp into tuesday morning. showers still blowing through for the northern isles. for most areas, high pressure dominating through tuesday. lots of dry settled weather. this frontal system will linger south. uncertainty how far north it will get. could see rain in southern england and wales.

further north, after a cold start with frost patches it will be dry and fine. lots of sunshine on offer. temperatures cooler than recent days. highs of 9—10 for most of us. into wednesday, that rain initially in the south, but looks like a bit of a wave on the weather front pushing north across the uk. fairly weak affair, fizzling out but there could be some rain around over the next couple of days. sunny spells in between.

it was scary to wait for an invasion. agrees to hold talks with russia on the border with belarus. i don't believe there is hope for this meeting so let them try so that no ukrainian citizen can have doubt i was not trying to stop the war when there was still a chance. washington condemns vladimir putin's decision to place russian nuclear forces on high alert calling it a dangerous escalation. high alert calling it a dangerous escalation-— high alert calling it a dangerous escalation. ~ , . :, , ., escalation. western countries are not only taking — escalation. western countries are not only taking unfriendly - escalation. western countries are not only taking unfriendly steps l not only taking unfriendly steps against their country in the economic dimension but the top