relevant. the the first time announced that it would be purchasing weapons and to delivering them to a country in conflict. this is ukraine. over this weekend, germany has really made the headlines across all of europe and by turning its modern—day defence policy completely on its head, traditionally very wary of getting involved in military conflicts because of the second world war past, now it says it will be sending weapons directly to ukraine and will be massively investing in its own military. that will come as a relief to nato allies. and this idea to work together on the humanitarian efforts as well. so there are lots of dramatic moves afoot in the unprecedented moves with the western allies together on opposing those very big financial sanctions on russia. —— imposing. one of the concerns tonight is that because of this coordination in the west, because of the level of these kinds of sanctions, if vladimir putin now

feels on the back foot, what could he do next? it feels on the back foot, what could he do next?— feels on the back foot, what could he do next? , , ., ., , he do next? it seems as if poland is takin: the he do next? it seems as if poland is taking the pressure _ he do next? it seems as if poland is taking the pressure because - he do next? it seems as if poland is taking the pressure because we've l taking the pressure because we've seen so many images of ukrainians and other nationalities heading to the border to escape the violence, but from listening this evening, poland is also going to be the logistical hub for a lot of the weaponry and fuel and possibly the humanitarian aid as well. absolutely. poland has been kind of at the forefront and in fact the polish prime minister has been saying for months to brussels, but also to the west at large and also in an interview with me just before the winter holidays, he said, you have to wake up in the west, he said. vladimir putin wants to change geopolitics in all of europe and it's time for europe and the west to wake up from their slumber, he said and when we look at the kind of moves germany have made this weekend, the fact the polish foreign minister was in berlin talking to

the german chancellorjust this weekend as well, and yes, it's one of the eu countries bordering ukraine and we also have hungary and romania and they feel very much on the front line in receiving refugees but they have been assured by the eu and brussels and fellow member states that they will be supported if they want and need, financially and logistically, but poland, as other countries sending weapons themselves to help, and also with themselves to help, and also with the refugee crisis as well is. you mention a _ the refugee crisis as well is. you mention a number— the refugee crisis as well is. you mention a number of— the refugee crisis as well is. you mention a number of countries and we've heard the need for vigilance in terms of the impact that the conflicts will have on the western balkans. i wonder if you could lay that out for us quickly. the western balkans were _ that out for us quickly. the western balkans were already _ that out for us quickly. the western balkans were already seen - that out for us quickly. the western balkans were already seen as - that out for us quickly. the western j balkans were already seen as pretty unstable before the current crisis so the concern is and there are certain elements balkans that are very sympathetic to russia, so the fear is there could be a

destabilisation there and i think it's been interesting looking at eu countries, that those who have traditionally had friendly relations, if you like, with moscow, close business ties and definitely huge reliance above the european average on gas supply so i'm talking about germany, italy, but very much the prime minister of hungary, they have all changed and have all fallen into line here and i think because the west is coordinating so closely here it's very much a feeling of the west against the kremlin at the moment and seen as the kremlin's war and not the war of the russian people and what's happening in ukraine and its making countries in the eu think, i cannot dance to this tightrope with the eu and nato but also with russia and that they are actually very much falling into line, and i think that has been one of the surprises within brussels, particularly with hungary in this case. . ~' particularly with hungary in this case. . ~ , ., y particularly with hungary in this case. . ~ , .

particularly with hungary in this case. . ~' y . ., particularly with hungary in this case. . , . ., ., particularly with hungary in this case. ., , . ., ., ., case. thank you very much for all of that. case. thank you very much for all of that- thank — case. thank you very much for all of that. thank you. _ 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 has been handed their weapons for the first time. this is one of them, a member of parliament, who says it is everyone's duty to fight.

translation: 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. 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 and more troops to the border, ukraine was receiving more and more military aid from the west. overall, the us has

given $2.5 billion worth since 2014, and as the ukraine military has doubled in size, it has been fighting as well against separatists in eastern ukraine but thursday night brought something new. and faced with russia's invasion, ukraine needs more help. that won't be troops as president biden has made clear. we have no intention of fighting russia. but this weekend the west escalated its military support. first the americans released a further $350 million and other countries offered more as well. the uk, france, poland, turkey, belgium, and crucially, germany. turkey, belgium, and crucially, german . ~ ., turkey, belgium, and crucially, germany-— germany. with the invasion of ukraine we — germany. with the invasion of ukraine we have _ germany. with the invasion of ukraine we have entered - germany. with the invasion of ukraine we have entered a - germany. with the invasion of| ukraine we have entered a new germany. with the invasion of- ukraine we have entered a new era. since the second world war, germany has not sent weapons into conflict zones. not any more. new chancellor olaf scholz tweeted we are... he told germans there were no other choices on the list of weaponry continues to expand. javelin

anti—tank guided missiles from the uk, the us under estonia, drones from turkey and germany's policy shift means countries which have german—made weapons can share those as well. the extra support has been noted. on friday, president zelensky said ukraine was being left alone but on saturday night he tweeted, keep it up, chancellor olaf scholz, the anti—war coalition in action. but 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 and anti-aircraft _ unacceptable risk. anti-tank and anti-aircraft systems _ unacceptable risk. anti-tank and anti-aircraft systems can - unacceptable risk. anti-tank and anti-aircraft systems can be - unacceptable risk. anti-tank and i anti-aircraft systems can be tracked anti—aircraft systems can be tracked across the border, picked up by the ukrainians and the vital problem thenis ukrainians and the vital problem then is to get the stuff in and in then is to get the stuff in and in the volume needed as quickly as possible and then, of course, the ukrainian forces to be able to distribute them to the battlefronts where they are needed. and distribute them to the battlefronts where they are needed.— where they are needed. and so, putin's invasion is _ where they are needed. and so, putin's invasion is being - where they are needed. and so, i putin's invasion is being requested by ukrainians with western weapons. it cannot be known yet if that is

enough —— resisted by ukrainians with western weapons. hello and welcome to our look at how newspapers around the world are covering the ukraine conflict. with me are sian elvin, assistant news editor at the metro newspaper here in the uk and professor malcolm chalmers, deputy director—general of the royal united services institute. tomorrow's front pages. the situation in ukraine dominates the global front pages — the international edition of the ft leads with the news that putin has put russia's nuclear forces on high alert — as the west announces more sanctions. that line is also picked up by the arab news,

it says that the arab league will meet for an emergency session on monday to discuss the ongoing crisis. le figaro says that despite ukranian forces putting up a strong resistance to russian troops, there will be an intensification of the russian threat on the ground. the gulf news reports a joint statement from g7 countries threatening russia with further sanctions if it continues its invasion of ukraine. the i newspaper here in the uk leads with the humanitarian crisis at the border — queues stretching 25 miles as refugees try to flee to neighbouring countries. and in the guardian — a photo showing the tens of thousands who gathered in berlin on saturday to protest against the war in ukraine. let's begin our chart. sean and malcolm, lovely to have you with us.

let's start off with the ft, sian, putin puts nuclear forces on alert. what was your reaction when the news broke today? i what was your reaction when the news broke today?— broke today? i think the one thing thatjumped _ broke today? i think the one thing thatjumped out — broke today? i think the one thing thatjumped out at _ broke today? i think the one thing thatjumped out at me _ broke today? i think the one thing thatjumped out at me was - broke today? i think the one thing thatjumped out at me was the - broke today? i think the one thing i thatjumped out at me was the kuyt —— the quote from the foreign minister of ukraine, which the ft references saying it is an attempt to raise the stakes and that is something which i think was very felt across websites and across newspapers today and i think that this is something which by saying the nuclear deterrence are going to be ready and that is something that appears to be more of a wider threat across the eu, and i think that looking at what other countries have been saying, particularly germany, which we will discuss shortly as well, it was quite unusual for

germany to come out and say that they were going to support ukraine due to its history, of course, with world war ii and it does definitely feel like that pressure has been, the pressure has been put more widely across the eu and on vladimir putin as well. widely across the eu and on vladimir putin as well-— putin as well. malcolm, how did you read this move _ putin as well. malcolm, how did you read this move by _ putin as well. malcolm, how did you read this move by president - putin as well. malcolm, how did you read this move by president putin? l putin as well. malcolm, how did you j read this move by president putin? i think the first thing to say is that if russia — think the first thing to say is that if russia was preparing to use its nuciear— if russia was preparing to use its nuclear weapons then it would not make _ nuclear weapons then it would not make a _ nuclear weapons then it would not make a public announcement about it, so this— make a public announcement about it, so this is— make a public announcement about it, so this is more about signalling and ithink_ so this is more about signalling and i think it _ so this is more about signalling and i think it is — so this is more about signalling and i think it is a — so this is more about signalling and i think it is a sign that putin knows — i think it is a sign that putin knows that things are not going his way and _ knows that things are not going his way and we are only four days into this crisis— way and we are only four days into this crisis but already his troops feel as — this crisis but already his troops feel as though they are not performing anything like you expected and the ukrainians are performing much better—than—expected and the _ performing much better—than—expected and the international community has

agreed _ and the international community has agreed a _ and the international community has agreed a remarkably aggressive set of sanctions in a matter of days, so things— of sanctions in a matter of days, so things are — of sanctions in a matter of days, so things are not going his way and he's getting increasingly worried about— he's getting increasingly worried about a — he's getting increasingly worried about a reversal and threat to himself. — about a reversal and threat to himself, and he is using one of the most _ himself, and he is using one of the most powerful weapons in russia's arsenal, _ most powerful weapons in russia's arsenal, nucleararsenaland most powerful weapons in russia's arsenal, nuclear arsenal and sending a signal— arsenal, nuclear arsenal and sending a signal and — arsenal, nuclear arsenal and sending a signal and what signal is he sending? _ a signal and what signal is he sending? that is not entirely clear. one interpretation would be that this is— one interpretation would be that this is a — one interpretation would be that this is a way of saying to nato, whatever— this is a way of saying to nato, whatever else eugene not get involved — whatever else eugene not get involved directly in the conflict because you would then be at war with a _ because you would then be at war with a country that is prepared to use its— with a country that is prepared to use its nuclear weapons so all that talk of _ use its nuclear weapons so all that talk of a _ use its nuclear weapons so all that talk of a no—fly zones and so on which _ talk of a no—fly zones and so on which western governments have so far rejected, i think it is saying to us, — far rejected, i think it is saying to us, don't— far rejected, i think it is saying to us, don't even think about going there. _ to us, don't even think about going there. but— to us, don't even think about going there. but i— to us, don't even think about going there, but i think there was a sense in his— there, but i think there was a sense in his statement also, perhaps more worrying _ in his statement also, perhaps more worrying signs that this was also a

reaction _ worrying signs that this was also a reaction to— worrying signs that this was also a reaction to sanctions and there are counter— reaction to sanctions and there are counter sanctions which russia can deploy— counter sanctions which russia can deploy and — counter sanctions which russia can deploy and will be considering deploying right now but on the issue of financial _ deploying right now but on the issue of financial sanctions, the west has great _ of financial sanctions, the west has great superiority over russia and i think— great superiority over russia and i think he _ great superiority over russia and i think he is— great superiority over russia and i think he is saying, look, don't think— think he is saying, look, don't think you _ think he is saying, look, don't think you can push me into a corner and force _ think you can push me into a corner and force a — think you can push me into a corner and force a regime change in moscow without— and force a regime change in moscow without me _ and force a regime change in moscow without me doing a lot of very damaging things to you and russia's nuclear— damaging things to you and russia's nuclear forces are at the heart of that _ nuclear forces are at the heart of that in— nuclear forces are at the heart of that in the — nuclear forces are at the heart of that. in the end, i think we have seen _ that. in the end, i think we have seen a _ that. in the end, i think we have seen a lot— that. in the end, i think we have seen a lot of— that. in the end, i think we have seen a lot of implausible things happen— seen a lot of implausible things happen in the last week, but i think it's pretty— happen in the last week, but i think it's pretty implausible that he would — it's pretty implausible that he would ever use it, but the last thing — would ever use it, but the last thing i— would ever use it, but the last thing i would say is that there is a sense _ thing i would say is that there is a sense in— thing i would say is that there is a sense in which this begins to remind me of— sense in which this begins to remind me of what— sense in which this begins to remind me of what president richard nixon did in— me of what president richard nixon did in 1969 having discussed it with did in1969 having discussed it with henry— did in 1969 having discussed it with henry kissinger, his national security— henry kissinger, his national security adviser at the time, what nixon _

security adviser at the time, what nixon called the madman approach to nuclear— nixon called the madman approach to nuclear deterrence, that if you can convince _ nuclear deterrence, that if you can convince your opponent, at that time the north— convince your opponent, at that time the north vietnamese, that you might be mad _ the north vietnamese, that you might be mad enough to use this thing, then— be mad enough to use this thing, then even— be mad enough to use this thing, then even the chance of that can be a really— then even the chance of that can be a really powerful coercive tool so i'm a really powerful coercive tool so i'm not— a really powerful coercive tool so i'm not sure if putin is deploying a madman _ i'm not sure if putin is deploying a madman strategy now and it's entirety— madman strategy now and it's entirely possible that he feels he might— entirely possible that he feels he might be — entirely possible that he feels he might be prepared to get us to think of these _ might be prepared to get us to think of these things rather than press that _ of these things rather than press that as — of these things rather than press that. �* , of these things rather than press that. . , ., of these things rather than press that. �* , ., ., of these things rather than press that. . , ., ., that. as we turn to the front page ofthe that. as we turn to the front page of the arab _ that. as we turn to the front page of the arab news, _ that. as we turn to the front page of the arab news, and _ that. as we turn to the front page of the arab news, and this - that. as we turn to the front page of the arab news, and this story | that. as we turn to the front page i of the arab news, and this story on the front page. of the arab news, and this story on the front page-— the front page. that figure of 400.000 — the front page. that figure of 400,000 fleeing _ the front page. that figure of 400,000 fleeing war, - the front page. that figure of 400,000 fleeing war, sian, | the front page. that figure of. 400,000 fleeing war, sian, the numbers are growing and growing. absolutely and i think the front page picture here is something that really highlights that. of course, everyone is focused on looking at what the soldiers are going through

in ukraine at the