this is bbc news, i'mjoanna gosling. our top stories. kyiv remains under ukraine control, despite more clashes with russian forces over night. a two—day curfew in the capital has been lifted, as blasts were heard again in the early hours. ukraine's president says the next 2a hours are crucial — as his forces fight the russian invasion. talks between ukraine and russia are expected to talk place at this table in belarus today. with sanctions beginning to bite — the russian rouble falls to an all—time low. the us says russia should tone down the rhetoric — after president putin puts his nuclear forces on high alert. western countries are not only

taking unfriendly steps against our country in the economic dimension, but the top officials of leading nato countries also make aggressive statements with regards to our country. statements with regards to our count . �* ., ., , «a, ., country. i'm on the polish ukrainian border where _ country. i'm on the polish ukrainian border where hundreds _ country. i'm on the polish ukrainian border where hundreds of— country. i'm on the polish ukrainian| border where hundreds of thousands of people have crossed to escape the fighting in ukraine. prime minister borisjohnson says ukrainians fleeing the russian invasion will be allowed to go to the uk — but only if they already have a close family member living there. for all of you watching on pbs and around the globe, a warm welcome. and in the uk. the ukrainian military says russian

forces have made repeated attempts to storm the outskirts of kyiv overnight. explosions were heard before dawn in the capital, and alerts have been issued in several cities, including dnipro and kharkiv. in the north, chernihiv was shelled all night, with an apartment block and nursery hit. the ukrainian president, volodymyr zelensky, said the next 2a hours would be "a crucial period" for his country. here are satellite images we've received of military vehicles heading towards kyiv. the images have not been independently verified, but they appear to show a large deployment of russian ground forces, including tanks, situated near the town of ivankiv, about 80 kilometres north—west of kyiv. the convoy is thought to be at least five kilometres long. shops are reopening in kyiv after the lifting of a curfew which has been in force since saturday evening, allowing residents of the city to emerge from their underground shelters. in other developments, russia has been forced

to double its key interest rate after the rouble slumped by 30% against the us dollar. the rate is now 20%. the bank of russia ordered companies to sell big chunks of their foreign reserves to try to shore up the currency. peace talks between ukrainian and russian representatives are due to begin on the belarus—ukraine border. belarusian state media have published a photo of the planned venue. president zelensky says he's not hopeful of a positive outcome. the un security council has called for a rare emergency session of the full general assembly. more on all that to come, but first, jonah fisher on the main developments in ukraine. the night was relatively quiet. but kyiv knows the worst is almost certainly still to come. these satellite images show a three mile long convoy of russian tanks and military hardware to the north of kyiv, almost certainly preparing

for a ground assault. but they are also vulnerable from the air. the ukrainian military posted this footage of a drone strike, possibly on the same convoy. if the russians were expecting the ukrainians to roll over, the first four days of this war have proved them wrong. on sunday, russian vehicles moved into the eastern city of kharkiv. they appear for now to have been repelled. fighting is reported again this morning. the mood is hardly promising for talks. but it looks like there could be talks today between ukraine and russia near the border of belarus. ukraine's president says there are no preconditions attached, but that he has little hope of a breakthrough. lviv in ukraine's west is now a hub

for those trying to flee. nina's husband must stay to fight, and she is trying to get out with her teenage son and two young daughters. translation: it is difficult to i describe the pain and fear inside. everything is burning. it is hard to explain to our children. they miss their relatives and friends. it is very painful. i can't describe it. ukraine has managed to slow the advance, but russia is gaining ground and unlikely to turn back. the more dogged the resistance, the more brutal the russian tactics may become. jonah fisher, bbc news. in the past few minutes the ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky has been speaking, one of his key point is to say he is asking

the european union for immediate accession under a new special procedure, following from the eu commission president ursula von der leyen saying over the weekend that she would like ukraine to become a member of the eu, saying ukraine is one of us. the response from for the mayor zelensky saying he is asking for immediate taxation. and speaking of the latest on the fighting. a500 russian soldiers have been killed so far, he says. we can go to moscow now and hear from our correspondent there, jenny hill. first, the impact of the economic moves made against russia, we are hearing this morning that the rouble is crashing, tell us more about that. ,, ~' ., is crashing, tell us more about that. ,, ~ ., ., ., is crashing, tell us more about that. ,, ~ ._, ., ., that. sinking to another record low. the moscow —

that. sinking to another record low. the moscow central _ that. sinking to another record low. the moscow central bank _ that. sinking to another record low. the moscow central bank a - that. sinking to another record low. the moscow central bank a central. the moscow central bank a central bank has doubled its key interest rate to 20%. people try to get out as much cash as they can. your average russian probably isn't noticing too much difference right now, that will of course change. very many people here get their main information from state television which continues to celebrate and support vladimir putin and his war in ukraine, not that that is what they are calling it. they are perpetuating the message from the kremlin, it is prepared for western sanctions, was expecting them. even when those sanctions start to bite and people start to feel the pinch here, the kremlin is likely to continue its message, which is these are another illustration of western aggression against russia. just yesterday when vladimir putin

announced he was putting the nuclear deterrent forces on a higher state of alert he said he was doing so in response not only to aggression from nato but also western economic sanctions. we nato but also western economic sanctions. ~ ., ., sanctions. we were hearing from president zelensky _ sanctions. we were hearing from president zelensky that - sanctions. we were hearing from president zelensky that 4500 - sanctions. we were hearing from - president zelensky that 4500 russian president zelensky that a500 russian soldiers have been killed so far. there has been a lot of discussion about this is not unfolding as russia had foreseen as we go into day five of the russian invasion. what is the message there about how things are unfolding? the what is the message there about how things are unfolding?— things are unfolding? the kremlin is keein: a things are unfolding? the kremlin is keeping a tight _ things are unfolding? the kremlin is keeping a tight grip _ things are unfolding? the kremlin is keeping a tight grip on _ things are unfolding? the kremlin is keeping a tight grip on how- things are unfolding? the kremlin is keeping a tight grip on how the - keeping a tight grip on how the information is being disseminated here in russia. this morning we had another update from the ministry of defence talking about the gains that russia is making, saying they have now destroyed something like 1500

military targets in ukraine. no mention at all of any russian casualties in that daily report. this is interesting, yesterday for the first time the ministry did admit there had been losses but did not specify numbers or give any further details. the authorities here have now banned an independent website which had been publishing information about dead and captured russian soldiers. the kremlin continues to try to keep a lid on how the information is getting to its citizens. state television continues to pump out vladimir putin's narrative, this is not a russian aggression, a special military operation necessary to defend the russian speaking population of eastern ukraine against the so—called aggression of

the government in ukraine. we against the so-called aggression of the government in ukraine. we are heafina the government in ukraine. we are hearing from _ the government in ukraine. we are hearing from the _ the government in ukraine. we are hearing from the united _ the government in ukraine. we are hearing from the united nations i the government in ukraine. we are l hearing from the united nations that 102 civilians have been killed in ukraine including seven children, those figures being reported by the afp news agency quoting the united nations. the bbc�*s james waterhouse joins uns now live from kyiv. what is the latest air this morning, and the situation overnight, james? in the grand scheme of things, it has been calmer. we have had a night of some explosions but they felt certainly around the outskirts of the city and fewer of those. but we do know there has been fighting in most of the city's district between ukrainian forces and the russian saboteurs we keep hearing about, the covert soldiers, if you like, who have infiltrated the city for a number of days. this morning one of

the long lost freedoms, taken away from ukrainians over the past five days, one was restored, the ability to venture outside and go to a shop, a supermarket. reason being is that the curfew imposed here on saturday has been lifted at 8am this morning. it will be brought in at 10pm but there were for the first time in what feels like a long time signs of normality, people going for a walk. at one point we saw someone going for a jog in the square, a few hundred metres away, the sound of automatic gunfire in the direction to my left. it is still a morning of deadly contrasts, to be honest with you, but given that the city was plunged into darkness, came under the shadow of war five days ago, it has been welcome news, especially for the ukrainians who have spent the last few days underground with no natural light and limited food

and drink. you think about fruit and vegetable starting to go a bit soft around the five day mark. and a chance of course to go out and enjoy what is a clear, crisp day here in the ukrainian capital. people are not going to be hanging around of course. , w not going to be hanging around of course. , .,, course. president zelensky has said the next 24 — course. president zelensky has said the next 24 hours _ course. president zelensky has said the next 24 hours will _ course. president zelensky has said the next 24 hours will be _ course. president zelensky has said the next 24 hours will be crucial, i the next 2a hours will be crucial, can you expand what he means by that? in can you expand what he means by that? , , ., , can you expand what he means by that? , , a, , that? in the sense that his country has held firm _ that? in the sense that his country has held firm in _ that? in the sense that his country has held firm in key _ that? in the sense that his country has held firm in key cities - that? in the sense that his country has held firm in key cities across l has held firm in key cities across ukraine, appearto has held firm in key cities across ukraine, appear to have held. there have been russian gains to the south in a small port town on the south. that is a naval base as well, that is seen as very much a russian gain. but there are talks as we speak about russian... the talks will be

happening close to the belarusian border. what comes out of those will of course be significant. this has already been a full—scale invasion where people have died, soldiers have died, lives have been transformed and the very existence of a country is under threat. it is significant what comes out of those talks. whether anyone is going to be optimistic of a political breakthrough is quite another thing because the idea for many year of making any concession to russia is something that is unpalatable for so many people. the idea of russia having any influence on the rushing by name —— any influence on the running of ukraine is a nonstarter. president zelensky himself has ruled out making any concessions. there has been a proposal of neutrality to be adopted by ukraine but for anyone

here says that for that to work moscow has to be neutral too, and thatis moscow has to be neutral too, and that is not going to happen. that is seen as another proposal from moscow to bring ukraine back into its orbit. nevertalks to bring ukraine back into its orbit. never talks are happening and in the background of what is now a war, we have to be clear about that, thatis war, we have to be clear about that, that is seen as a significant move. however, the government despite everything else, for now, for this morning on this fifth day of fighting, is striking a defiant tone, saying this war has changed. describing victories in certain areas. talking about people realising the defence it can mount. they say 100,000 ukrainians and counting havejoined the they say 100,000 ukrainians and counting have joined the armed forces. they are urging people from other countries to do the same, come here and fight. if ukrainians have taught us anything over the past few years, decades, centuries, they are willing to fight, i do not say that lightly, for the sovereignty of the

country. in a situation that changes hour by hour, there is optimism. there are technically talks happening but the concerns about what is a sizeable military threat posed by one of the most powerful countries in the world, those concerns are not going away. james, thank ou concerns are not going away. james, thank you for— concerns are not going away. james, thank you forjoining _ concerns are not going away. james, thank you forjoining us, _ concerns are not going away. james, thank you forjoining us, james - thank you forjoining us, james waterhouse. in the past few months we were bringing those comments from volodymyr zelensky, ukraine president, demanding immediate eu membership for ukraine. we can go to bethany bell whojoins us membership for ukraine. we can go to bethany bell who joins us from brussels. bethany, this follows on from the comments of the we can from ursula von der leyen saying she would like ukraine tojoin ursula von der leyen saying she would like ukraine to join the ursula von der leyen saying she would like ukraine tojoin the eu. saying ukraine is one of us. find saying ukraine is one of us. and also the eu _ saying ukraine is one of us. and also the eu at _ saying ukraine is one of us. and also the eu at the _ saying ukraine is one of us. fific also the eu at the weekend whilst another very, very big package of sanctions against russia, targeting

russia's central bank, freezing its assets, banning transactions. it is also freezing a band russia aircraft using european airspace. and said it would vary crucially buy and sell weapons to ukraine. this is a first for the eu. the first time they are doing this for a country at war. this is described by the eu's foreign policy chief is a taboo having fallen. the question is today for the eu, what the response will be from russia to this biting package of sanctions. today energy ministers from the eu are meeting in brussels to discuss the possible impact because energy is a very key issue. the eu gets a0% of its gas and over a quarter of its oilfrom

russia. if vladimir putin describes to start talking that, that can send prices skyrocketing. intense debate about how to handle that situation today. also eu defence ministers will be meeting to discuss the situation in ukraine.— will be meeting to discuss the situation in ukraine. here in the uk, the defence _ situation in ukraine. here in the uk, the defence minister- situation in ukraine. here in the uk, the defence minister dan i situation in ukraine. here in the - uk, the defence minister dan wallace has said the uk will do nothing to escalate the nuclear situation but this is a battle of rhetoric and we have to make sure we handle it properly. sounds like that is the same message in the eu. the properly. sounds like that is the same message in the eu. the eu has exressed same message in the eu. the eu has exnressed its — same message in the eu. the eu has expressed its support _ same message in the eu. the eu has expressed its support for _ same message in the eu. the eu has expressed its support for ukraine - expressed its support for ukraine and this significant move to buy and send weapons there is a new thing for the eu. there have been a long resistance to integration of the fence here but now they have decided to send weapons to a nation at war. they say these are not just a question of sending things like

ammunition, this will be sending arms and fighterjets. at the same time, yes, very fine understanding they do not want to escalate the situation either.— they do not want to escalate the situation either. bethany, thank you very much- — situation either. bethany, thank you very much- now— situation either. bethany, thank you very much. now we _ situation either. bethany, thank you very much. now we can _ situation either. bethany, thank you very much. now we can go - situation either. bethany, thank you very much. now we can go to - situation either. bethany, thank you | very much. now we can go to duncan kennedy in washington. duncan, calls from there to russia to tone down the rhetoric, what is the lightest? what we have today of course is this almost unique session in the general assembly of the united nation, only ten of these have ever taken place in the past 72 years. it has come about because last friday russia vetoed a resolution in the security council, angering the americans. 0ther council, angering the americans. other nations pushing through this idea of an emergency session of the general assembly. russia tried to block it, try to veto that, was outvoted, couldn't block it, it is going ahead today. he will see

ambassador after ambassador after ambassador after ambassador after ambassador condemning vladimir putin on this world stage. there will not be anywhere for him to hide from this combination. there will be no binding polities, not like un security council resolution. view it like a giant global opinion poll of vladimir putin. usually symbolic and it really will depict this president of russia as very isolated. this forms part of a triumvirate of pressures that the world's nations are trying to apply to him, military, and many nations are supplying weapons to ukraine. the financial mentioned there about what is happening on the markets, happening to the rouble. today by this general assembly session, huge diplomatic pressure applied to president putin, making him extremely isolated. i5

president putin, making him extremely isolated.- president putin, making him extremely isolated. president putin, making him extremel isolated. , ., , , extremely isolated. is there a sense that diplomatic _ extremely isolated. is there a sense that diplomatic pressure _ extremely isolated. is there a sense that diplomatic pressure will - extremely isolated. is there a sense that diplomatic pressure will do - that diplomatic pressure will do anything to change his actions? it is the question the whole world is asking. because of his unpredictable nature, it is almost impossible to answer. sanctions for example move much slower than tanks. we simply do not know whether he is going to buckle under all of this pressure. he has also announced, taking the american government by surprise, the whole idea of him preparing his nuclear forces. whole idea of him preparing his nuclearforces. the whole idea of him preparing his nuclear forces. the american government only heard about that when he spoke those words. it has really worried them, describing this as being a dangerous moment because they simply do not know what he means. is he talking about his long—range strategic missiles? which are meant to be covered by treaties. 0r are meant to be covered by treaties. or is he talking about his so—called tactical short range battlefield weapons? if it is that, in many

ways, that is more worrying say the americans because russian military philosophy is that the sort of weapons are usable on a battlefield, even though they are nuclear weapons. what the americans want to know is, is this just rhetoric from president putin, talking about putting his forces on higher alert, or is there something more to it? either way, they are saying this kind of talk has to be taken seriously. kind of talk has to be taken seriously-— kind of talk has to be taken seriousl . ., ,, , ., , we're going to the polish border with ukraine now, kasia madera is there for us. poland's president has been advocating that ukraine gets take candidacy status to join the eu given ukraine is notjust poland's geographic neighbour, it is also culturally incredibly close. alisa

culturally incredibly close. also where the _ culturally incredibly close. also where the largest _ culturally incredibly close. i"r where the largest number of refugees are coming through. estimates of a00,000 people leaving ukraine, 200,000 pressing into poland over the past few days. huge numbers. first place they will come to is here right on the border of poland and ukraine. local community groups gearing up, preparing places where people can get a hot drink because it is very cold here. get access to emergency services, access to some warm clothes, a little bit of shelter. and then get transportation onto the next leg of the journey. these people who have been coming over have had incredibly long journeys. we understand thousands of people have been waiting for many hours on the other side of this border. a couple of people who have

just crossed over this morning join me now. you have come overfrom car keys for a you are originally from morocco. tell me about yourjourney to get here. —— come from first may. it was a very long trip. by train. when _ it was a very long trip. by train. when we — it was a very long trip. by train. when we went to the unfortunately there is a big traffic jain _ unfortunately there is a big traffic jain a_ unfortunately there is a big traffic jain a lot — unfortunately there is a big traffic jam. a lot of cars. like a big 40 kilometre — jam. a lot of cars. like a big 40 kilometre line. people have to walk all this_ kilometre line. people have to walk all this way. when we are in here, like in_ all this way. when we are in here, like in the —

all this way. when we are in here, like in the borders, there are dozens— like in the borders, there are dozens of— like in the borders, there are dozens of people waiting, there is crowding — dozens of people waiting, there is crowding. a very hard situation, in my opinion — crowding. a very hard situation, in my opinion-— crowding. a very hard situation, in m oinion.~ , ., my opinion. when you say very hard situation, what _ my opinion. when you say very hard situation, what did _ my opinion. when you say very hard situation, what did you _ my opinion. when you say very hard situation, what did you witness? - my opinion. when you say very hard situation, what did you witness? a i situation, what did you witness? a huge volume of people waiting to get through. it takes a long time to get documents checked, what did you see? because of the crowd, people just faint _ because of the crowd, people just faint. some people didn't eat for two days — faint. some people didn't eat for two days. fortunately, people, they helped _ two days. fortunately, people, they helped us, — two days. fortunately, people, they helped us, people for example, we tried to _ helped us, people for example, we tried to give water and help them. the situation was very hard, in my opinion _ the situation was very hard, in my opinion we — the situation was very hard, in my oinion. ~ ., the situation was very hard, in my oinion. ~ . ., , ., opinion. we are hearing reports of otential opinion. we are hearing reports of potential segregation, _ opinion. we are hearing reports of potential segregation, in -

opinion. we are hearing reports of potential segregation, in terms i opinion. we are hearing reports of potential segregation, in terms of| potential segregation, in terms of prioritisation of who gets to cross. did you witness any of that? we had like two _ did you witness any of that? we had like two lines, one for foreigners, one for— like two lines, one for foreigners, one for ukrainians.— one for ukrainians. yes, this is what i witnessed. _ one for ukrainians. yes, this is what i witnessed. did - one for ukrainians. yes, this is what i witnessed. did they i one for ukrainians. yes, this is i what i witnessed. did they explain why there were two lines? in what i witnessed. did they explain why there were two lines?- why there were two lines? in my case, i did _ why there were two lines? in my case. i did not— why there were two lines? in my case, i did not get _ why there were two lines? in my case, i did not get any _ why there were two lines? in my i case, i did not get any explanation. i understand. well, listen, thank you for speaking to us, these are stories we are hearing time and time again, the difficulties of notjust getting to the border with poland itself and all the other borders that neighbour ukraine, but then when you get to the border or near the border, there arejust when you get to the border or near the border, there are just so when you get to the border or near the border, there arejust so many people trying to get across that it is adding to the difficulties and the experiences of the people coming through. 0nce the experiences of the people coming through. once they get here, though, there is a promise of warm food and transportation and summer to at least get some rest. thank you,

kasia madera. you are watching bbc news. looking at changeable weather, heavy rain coming our way. breezy conditions particularly across the north west and also the southwest. what has been happening, this weather front is fairly weak and this one bringing heavy and persistent rain. the isobars in the north tell us it is going to be windy, and currently is. the first front eventually petered out. more persistent rain coming across north—west england, wales and south—west england. as it moves

southward, the cloud ahead will build, staying largely dry across the south east. behind it across scotland and northern ireland we are looking at it brightening up with a few showers. gales across the far north—west of scotland, pretty breezy across the south—west. these are the average wind speeds, they will start to ease as we go through the course of the afternoon. heading into the evening, there goes the rain towards the south—eastern corner, behind the band of rain, the sky is clear, we will see a sharp first against scotland, northern ireland, northern england, temperatures in some shelter glands could be minus three. in the south, 7-9. could be minus three. in the south, 7—9. pasty mist and fog could form across here. but should clear readily in the morning. here is our weather front readily in the morning. here is our weatherfront tomorrow readily in the morning. here is our weather front tomorrow morning, high pressure building in across the north means for you things will be quieter. lots of fire weather, fair bit of sunshine, but you can see the

south east patchy rain and drizzle. this is the same weather front coming back into the south—west with some heavier rain. could push further east through the course of the day. from tuesday until wednesday, the weather front moves north. then we have another weather front coming in from the atlantic, high pressure being squeezed away. wednesday looks like it is going to be fairly cloudy, also some rain moving northwards. not particularly heavy. after a cold and frosty start against the north of scotland, some sunshine, here breezy. later in the day, the next band of rain comes our way. temperatures eight in the north to 11 in the south.

this is bbc news — these are the latest headlines in the uk

and around the world. kyiv remains under you can training control, despite more clashes with russian forces overnight will stop a two—day curfew in the capital has come to an end as blasts were heard again in the early hours. —— remains under ukrainian control. the ukraine president says the next 2a hours are crucial. talks between ukraine and russia are expected to take place at this table in belarus today. with sanctions are beginning to bite the russian rouble falls to an all—time low. the us says research should tone down the rhetoric after president putin puts his nuclear forces on high alert. translation: western countries are not only taking unfriendly steps against our country in the economic dimension, but the top officials of leading nato countries also make aggressive statements with regards to our country.

statements with regards to our count . ~ , , country. prime minister boris johnson says _ country. prime minister boris johnson says ukrainians i country. prime minister boris l johnson says ukrainians fleeing country. prime minister boris i johnson says ukrainians fleeing the russian invasion will be allowed to go to the uk, but only if they already have a close family member living there. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. we arejust we are just hearing from the nato secretary generaljens stoltenberg, who says he has just spoken with the ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky and he said, i commended him for the bravery of the people and armed forces of ukraine. nato allies are stepping up support with air defence missiles, anti—tank weapons as well as humanitarian and financial aid. we have heard from

president zelensky this morning saying he is now demanding immediate accession to the eu following on from those comments from the eu commission president ursula von der leyen, saying she would like to see ukraine in the eu. she said ukraine is one of us. volodymyr zelensky said he had a conversation with ursula von der leyen about that. meanwhile overnight the military operations have continued. the ukrainian forces say russian forces have made repeated attempts to storm the outskirts of kyiv overnight. explosions were heard before dawn in the capital and alerts have been issued in several cities, including dnipro and kharkiv. in the north there was shelling overnight with an apartment and nursery hit. ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky has said the next 2a hours will be a crucial period for his country. jonah fisher has this assessment of the latest developments.

this is the fifth morning since russia invaded ukraine. if wejust bring up the map, this is the overall picture on the ground. you can see how ukraine has been attacked from the north, east and south. and russia has gained some territories. overnight there were air raid sirens in kyiv and also in kharkiv, but the early indications from kyiv is that it has not been heavily struck overnight. the curfew that has been in place for more than 2a hours is now over. people can go outside and buy groceries. and perhaps ominously, russia has said that there is now a safe route out of the city leading down to the south—west. turning to kharkiv, which is the second biggest city, you may remember around this time yesterday we were reporting about an incursion. these are the russian military vehicles moving into kharkiv. that appears to have been repelled. this is the aftermath, the damage to vehicles, the ukrainian military there. we believe kharkiv is now back under ukrainian control.

there were reports of fighting and shelling there overnight and into this morning. now, in a phone call with borisjohnson last night, ukraine's president volodymyr zelensky is reported to have said that the next 2a hours would be critical. part of the reason why he might have said that is down to these satellite images. the line you can see here, that's a three mile long line of russian tanks and military hardware, about 30 or a0 kilometres north of kyiv. quite possibly preparing for a ground assault. obviously, when you have a lot of vehicles on the ground like that, they are exposed to air attack and yesterday this was posted by the ukrainian ministry of defence. it's a video from a drone and it shows a strike on a russian convoy, quite possibly the same one that we saw in the satellite pictures there. it is a reminder of how important it is going to be for ukraine not to give control of the sky to the russians. it's important that they still are up there in that space trying to keep an eye and attack russian targets if possible. now going back to this, if we look at the map,

the key movements that have taken place over the last 2a hours in terms of territory have been in the south. these are the russian troops that have moved up north from crimea towards mariupol, towards the east. yesterday evening, we had heard they had taken the town of berdiansk, it's a port town, population of about 100,000 people. and we believe they are now moving on to mariupol, which is an even bigger city on the sea of azov. so quite possibly in the next 2a hours or so, we could see mariupol surrounded and we could see the russian forces that are based in eastern ukraine here, in the donbas area, link up with the troops and tanks that have come from crimea. today there are supposed to be talks, peace talks, taking place. this is a picture posted by the belarus ministry of foreign affairs of a room in a town called gomel, not far from the ukrainian border in belarus. you can see the flags of russia, the flag of ukraine there.

it is set up for a meeting between both countries. we will have to see what actually happens. certainly expectations are not high for some sort of breakthrough, given what is happening on the ground at the moment. jonah fisher reporting. we can now speak to a woman who fled ukraine with her ten—month—old daughter and said goodbye to her husband at the border. she is now in germany. welcome and thank you for joining us. we can only imagine how difficult things must have been for you and we send our condolences. how are you now?— are you now? thank you. there is no description — are you now? thank you. there is no description for _ are you now? thank you. there is no description for the _ are you now? thank you. there is no description for the word _ are you now? thank you. there is no description for the word how. - are you now? thank you. there is no description for the word how. i i are you now? thank you. there is no description for the word how. i am i description for the word how. i am not starting my day asking friends and family how they are doing. it is

not the question. i ask them where they are. are they underground, or are they moving to the western borders, just to have a safe place. the right question is where. it must have been very _ the right question is where. it must have been very difficult _ the right question is where. it must have been very difficult for - the right question is where. it must have been very difficult for you i the right question is where. it must have been very difficult for you to l have been very difficult for you to leave. it have been very difficult for you to leave. ., , have been very difficult for you to leave. . , ., , ., , �* leave. it was, it was horrible. but i was leave. it was, it was horrible. but i was lucky- _ leave. it was, it was horrible. but i was lucky- i— leave. it was, it was horrible. but i was lucky. i assume _ leave. it was, it was horrible. but iwas lucky. i assume i— leave. it was, it was horrible. but i was lucky. i assume i was i leave. it was, it was horrible. butj i was lucky. i assume i was lucky, because we got this decision very fast, after the missiles come. i live in western ukraine so i had a short time to come to the border. but we didn't expect the war to start. on the morning of the 2ath i saw a yellow splash from my window, shortly after seven o'clock in the

morning, and there was a big boom and black smoke coming from our airport. we live close to it. we got the decision just to pack our stuff and maybe go for one or two days from the town, from the panic, just from the town, from the panic, just from the town and from the airport. just to move a little bit. and in a few hours my husband says, ok, you need to leave. this is no discussion, you need to leave. i can't describe how it feels like. it's horrible.— can't describe how it feels like. it's horrible. ., ., ., ., it's horrible. you had to leave him behind? yes- _ it's horrible. you had to leave him behind? yes. this _ it's horrible. you had to leave him behind? yes. this is _ it's horrible. you had to leave him behind? yes. this is the _ it's horrible. you had to leave him behind? yes. this is the only i it's horrible. you had to leave him j behind? yes. this is the only right decision. and _ behind? yes. this is the only right decision. and i— behind? yes. this is the only right decision. and i had _ behind? yes. this is the only right decision. and i had to _

behind? yes. this is the only right decision. and i had to take - behind? yes. this is the only right decision. and i had to take it, i behind? yes. this is the only right decision. and i had to take it, just| decision. and i had to take it, just because here or somewhere else far from ukraine, or evenjust shortly across the border, my kid has the privilege to sleep well and not to hear the bombs and the explosions and people crying. and she doesn't see the stress and it doesn't affect her. ~ , , . , see the stress and it doesn't affect her. . , , . , ., see the stress and it doesn't affect her. , _ , her. we see pictures here of your daughter- — her. we see pictures here of your daughter- as _ her. we see pictures here of your daughter. as you _ her. we see pictures here of your daughter. as you say, _ her. we see pictures here of your daughter. as you say, this i her. we see pictures here of your daughter. as you say, this is i her. we see pictures here of your daughter. as you say, this is why| daughter. as you say, this is why you are doing this, you are protecting her and herfuture. yes. protecting her and her future. yes. this is all for _ protecting her and her future. yes. this is all for her. _ protecting her and her future. yes. this is all for her. we _ protecting her and her future. yes. this is all for her. we were - protecting herand herfuture. yes this is all for her. we were blessed to have this chance to be in a safe place right now. we crossed the border with slovakia. i went to do nothing, you know. you don't know what you are walking into. butjust

after checking my documents i saw how many people are waiting there, and they were all around me, asking do i need a shelter, do i need to warm up. do i need anything, do i have someone to pick me up. and i neverfelt so have someone to pick me up. and i never felt so devastated and so happyjust in one day. 50 never felt so devastated and so happyjust in one day.— happyjust in one day. so much kindness from _ happyjust in one day. so much kindness from strangers, i happyjust in one day. so much kindness from strangers, it i happyjust in one day. so much i kindness from strangers, it must be an incredibly powerful thing to experience. an incredibly powerful thing to experience-— an incredibly powerful thing to experience. xties. have an incredibly powerful thing to experience. yes. have you been able to have any — experience. jazz have you been able to have any contact with your husband since? will he fight, do you know?

we have no internet connection still. we are texting with my family, to see what they are doing, what are their plans. so hopefully i will have this connection in further days too. to will have this connection in further da s too. ., ,, will have this connection in further da stoo. ., ., days too. to you said at the beginning — days too. to you said at the beginning your _ days too. to you said at the beginning your question i days too. to you said at the beginning your question is i days too. to you said at the i beginning your question is not days too. to you said at the - beginning your question is not how, to your loved ones. it is where. it's not knowing how they are and what they are enduring, but where they go. what's your sense? do you know how many are trying to leave and how many are stuck?- know how many are trying to leave and how many are stuck? during this, as soon as i — and how many are stuck? during this, as soon as i crossed _ and how many are stuck? during this, as soon as i crossed the _ and how many are stuck? during this, as soon as i crossed the border, i and how many are stuck? during this, as soon as i crossed the border, and l as soon as i crossed the border, and before that, we were always online on our cell phones, checking on our friends and family. where is everybody, how can we help? because we are already here next to the border, and they are not. we were

finding transport, we were helping them to get to each other. so a few of my dearest friends, who also have babies with them, they said that when they got the information, that i cross the border and i am safe, this was the reason why they decided to do the same and leave their families and moved to safer places without them. it's the hardest thing, and the heart warmest as well because now i feel i am doing something. there are so many people in ukraine doing something and i am here. and i think, how can i help. and now i see that four families, a friend of mine, are also somewhere

in hungary or slovakia or wherever, and we are coordinating. and i am looking for apartments for them, or volunteers who can take care of them. this is the one thing i can do and it fills me up that i can do something. and it fills me up that i can do something-— and it fills me up that i can do somethina. ., ., ., ,., something. you mentioned about the wa s of something. you mentioned about the ways of communicating. _ something. you mentioned about the ways of communicating. is _ something. you mentioned about the ways of communicating. is it - something. you mentioned about the ways of communicating. is it getting l ways of communicating. is it getting harder to communicate?— harder to communicate? yeah, basically not — harder to communicate? yeah, basically not because _ harder to communicate? yeah, basically not because of- harder to communicate? yeah, basically not because of the i basically not because of the internet connection, but because of the time, the reply is too long, because sometimes i need to go to the shelter. this time of silence is very hard, when you see that the message is not to read, or it's not delivered. you start to think of things, but you should stay strong, and they should always reply, they

will reply. and they should always reply, they will re-l .~ . and they should always reply, they willre-l .~ . , , and they should always reply, they willrel _. ., , . and they should always reply, they willrel .~ ., , , ., will reply. what support are you caettin will reply. what support are you getting there? _ will reply. what support are you getting there? can _ will reply. what support are you getting there? can you - will reply. what support are you getting there? can you give i will reply. what support are you getting there? can you give this once again. _ getting there? can you give this once again, please? _ getting there? can you give this once again, please? what i getting there? can you give this i once again, please? what support are ou caettin once again, please? what support are you getting there _ once again, please? what support are you getting there now _ once again, please? what support are you getting there now you _ once again, please? what support are you getting there now you are - once again, please? what support are you getting there now you are in i you getting there now you are in germany? you are staying with your husband's sister, is that right? yeah. i got a place to stay. it was such a joy to hear from her, yeah. i got a place to stay. it was such a joy to hearfrom her, so yeah. i got a place to stay. it was such a joy to hear from her, so she is the host of mine. she just dropped a message in a local chat, here i have my relative with a small kid. what can we do for her? and in an hour or so kid. what can we do for her? and in an hour orso she kid. what can we do for her? and in an hour or so she got over 100 messages from different people, even from strangers. someone provided us with clothing for the baby. diapers.

someone brought a stroller for her. by someone brought a stroller for her. by the end of the day, i'm here with my documents and with my kid, and i have everything i need just to be notjust have everything i need just to be not just safe but also have everything i need just to be notjust safe but also in comfort. here is a huge, huge community that even sends cars and buses close to the border, to bring people straight to the town and provide here, i would say not a shelter, but hosts who can... where people can have apartments, rooms orjust spaces, where people from my country can be safe. brute where people from my country can be safe. ~ . where people from my country can be safe. ~ , , ., ., where people from my country can be safe. ~ , i. ., ., where people from my country can be safe. ~ , ., ., , , safe. we send you all our best wishes and — safe. we send you all our best wishes and thoughts. - safe. we send you all our best wishes and thoughts. thanki safe. we send you all our best i wishes and thoughts. thank you very much for taking the time to talk to us. thank you.

much for taking the time to talk to us- thank you-— us. thank you. thank you. slava ukraine. us. thank you. thank you. slava ukraine- 0n _ us. thank you. thank you. slava ukraine. on sunday _ us. thank you. thank you. slava ukraine. on sunday russian i us. thank you. thank you. slava i ukraine. on sunday russian president vladimir putin — ukraine. on sunday russian president vladimir putin said _ ukraine. on sunday russian president vladimir putin said he _ ukraine. on sunday russian president vladimir putin said he was _ ukraine. on sunday russian president vladimir putin said he was placing i vladimir putin said he was placing his strategic nuclear forces on high alert to stop speaking to the bbc earlier, our defence minister ben wallace called the move a battle of rhetoric. . . wallace called the move a battle of rhetoric. , , , ., ., , rhetoric. this is predominantly about putin — rhetoric. this is predominantly about putin putting _ rhetoric. this is predominantly about putin putting it - rhetoric. this is predominantly about putin putting it on i rhetoric. this is predominantly about putin putting it on the l rhetoric. this is predominantly - about putin putting it on the table, to remind people, remind the world, that he has a deterrent. he had a very big nuclear exercise last week which included firing missiles etc, real, you know, just showing the world he had these things. by entering this into the conversation yesterday he did two things. he reminded everyone he has nuclear weapons, which as you stay starts to set people off being worried. but secondly he distracted from what's going wrong in ukraine. we are all

about it. he is clearly wanting to get people's attention distracted from what is going on on the ground. the uk defence secretary ben wallace. with me now is mathieu boulegue, research fellow, russia and eurasia programme at chatham house. he is also a expert on russian military strategy. what's your reaction to the threat from vladimir putin? if what's your reaction to the threat from vladimir putin?— from vladimir putin? if we talk about the _ from vladimir putin? if we talk about the nuclear _ from vladimir putin? if we talk about the nuclear deterrent, i from vladimir putin? if we talk about the nuclear deterrent, in from vladimir putin? if we talk i about the nuclear deterrent, in a way it's the necessary next step from the kremlin to signal that there will be escalation, should we choose to try and help ukraine, to a degree that would be inconvenient to the kremlin. it is a game of rhetoric. it is very dangerous signalling, of course, but it remains at the level of signalling and there should not be any form of panic at the moment. the problem is,

we have an increasingly frustrated president putin. frustration could lead to desperation, and this is where mistakes and miscalculations happen. this is potentially a harbinger of things to come so we should be extremely wary in this sense. it should be extremely wary in this sense. , , ., sense. it is day five. they have been suggestions _ sense. it is day five. they have been suggestions that - sense. it is day five. they have been suggestions that the - sense. it is day five. they have . been suggestions that the military campaign has not gone as vladimir putin envisaged. he had reportedly envisaged that kyiv would fall within 24—48 hours. there are also suggestions that financially it is not a conflict that vladimir putin can keep at this level for very long. what's your reaction to those points? long. what's your reaction to those oints? . , . long. what's your reaction to those oints? ., , ., .,y , points? the war started five days a . o. this points? the war started five days a90- this is _ points? the war started five days a90- this is a _ points? the war started five days ago. this is a war— points? the war started five days ago. this is a war that _ points? the war started five days ago. this is a war that was - points? the war started five days ago. this is a war that was 20 - points? the war started five days i ago. this is a war that was 20 years in the making, since putin came to power, so it's a long time coming. this is not the first war ukraine has had to fight against russia. in a way, the first five days are not

necessarily a good marker of what might be happening in the future, depending once again on how frustrated the kremlin leadership becomes. but it is of course in a way, there are a few tell—tale signs that show us it's not going according to plan. a lot of mistakes were made and there is a very rigidity in the way orders are sent. there are a lot of pressures ukraine forces are putting on russian ones. the inability of russian forces to establish air domination from the start. they probably came in with a lot of assumptions, a very different battle plan, believing the enemy would stand down or lay down their weapons because the russians have come to liberate, which is of course a fallacy, but it is probably this kind of fallacy that has been guiding the military strategy. at this stage they are losing battles and are not going as far as they should or what they wanted to, but

from a wider strategic point of view, we don't know yet what the kremlin potentially has in store, especially if they go into a much wider [and invasion. if they start sending unguided munitions, carpet bombing entire cities or entire urban areas. that might be the shape of things to come, which is even more damaging than what we are seeing over the first five days. thank you forjoining us. in the past few days almost 400,000 people have left ukraine due to the conflict and even more are displaced inside the country. red cross teams inside the country. red cross teams in ukraine and neighbouring countries are providing life—saving assistance to as many people as possible. the ukrainian red cross has distributed 30,000 food and hygiene parcels and helps to evacuate people with disabilities. we can speak now to europe's regional director for the international federation of the red

cross. birgitte ebbesen. what's the situation like and what do you need to? the what's the situation like and what do you need to?— do you need to? the situation is chanauin do you need to? the situation is changing every _ do you need to? the situation is changing every hour— do you need to? the situation is changing every hour and - do you need to? the situation is changing every hour and the - changing every hour and the situation and needs inside ukraine are rising now. the uk red cross has been extremely challenged because many of their own staff and volunteers have also been exposed to the fighting and have not been able to operate. but they are doing everything they can from where they are. we have the advantage of having many volunteers inside ukraine who have been providing very basic needs, hygiene kits, food, making sure people can get water and not least that people can get evacuated. also the ones that are vulnerable, disabled and elderly. so they are taking a very big toll already, from

a humanitarian perspective this is a very big game changer, not only in ukraine but also for neighbouring countries and potentially many more countries and potentially many more countries will be affected. what we are seeing is, as you said, more than 400,000 have already left, and that's probably a number that will increase quite dramatically over the next days. when i talk to the ukraine red cross, the director—general this morning, he said what was really difficult for them was there are situations where civilians have been hit and where they were actually not able to get to them because of the fighting. but they are doing everything they can to get to people, provide first aid, relief and supplies. and to mobilise

even more volunteers. volunteers are coming to the red cross quite automatically. they have seen a very big interest in helping out in the shelters we have just heard about, especially in the big areas, in the metro in kyiv. the volunteers have been involved in first aid activities, so they spend their time there. they have to be there anyway, and they make sure that people come there with extra skills, which are fortunately very useful at the time. they have also in ukraine been supporting the firefighters, they have been helping the medical and civil protection units. there is a lot of need for all sorts of basic

services that volunteers are able to provide. services that volunteers are able to rovide. ., , ., , services that volunteers are able to rovide. . , .,, ,., services that volunteers are able to rovide. . , ,. , provide. clearly as you describe there, provide. clearly as you describe there. the _ provide. clearly as you describe there, the scale _ provide. clearly as you describe there, the scale of— provide. clearly as you describe there, the scale of what - provide. clearly as you describe there, the scale of what they i provide. clearly as you describe l there, the scale of what they are doing and the difficulties of operating in ukraine are extraordinary. you also mentioned neighbouring countries. almost 400,000 people have fled so far but you mention many more are expected. some predictions as high as 4 million. tell us about the pressures on neighbouring countries and how you are managing to support refugees arriving in other countries. {line you are managing to support refugees arriving in other countries.— arriving in other countries. one of the big advantages _ arriving in other countries. one of the big advantages about - arriving in other countries. one of the big advantages about the - arriving in other countries. one of the big advantages about the red| the big advantages about the red cross is we already have both the structures, the red cross national societies in all the countries, that can assist the government in receiving these very high numbers of refugees. what we are seeing is they need, they have been in line for a long time so they need basic things like food and water and a cup of

tea. many go, as with the lady we heard from before, many go directly to friends and family and others need shelter. both the authorities and red cross societies are working to provide enough shelter to be able to provide enough shelter to be able to accommodate the people that don't have immediate connections or need a rest before they move on to wear their actual destination is. we see an enormous generosity and an enormous willingness to help, as was also described by the woman who is in germany. we have seen many that are interested in volunteering with the red cross societies in poland, hungary, slovakia and romania. so there is a big movement to help the people that are coming in at the moment. thank you very much indeed forjoining us. you are watching bbc

news. good morning. some of us already seeing some heavy rain this morning but for others, starting off the day like this. but there is rain across the west. we have watched it steadily come down this morning courtesy of this weather front. a second weather front is fizzling all the time but it still has some rain on it at the moment. as we go through the morning, this weather front will continue to fizzle. this one will continue to pep up. behind it we will see showers across western scotland and also northern ireland. quite a bit of cloud around this weather front with persistent rain in north—western gun, wales, south—west england, breezy conditions as well. gales with exposure across the north west. also

some sunshine coming in across parts of scotland and northern ireland. the cloud is building though as the weather front heads to the south—east, but the south—east itself should stay dry. these are average wind speeds. it is fairly breezy today. temperatures, looking at eight in stornoway and i3 breezy today. temperatures, looking at eight in stornoway and 13 in london and st helier. this evening and overnight, there goes the weather front, and overnight, there goes the weatherfront, taking rain down and overnight, there goes the weather front, taking rain down to the south—east quarter. behind it under clear skies it will be a cold night. looking at a sharp frost across northern ireland, scotland and northern england where you see the blues, temperatures falling as low as —3 in parts of scotland but still hanging on to milder conditions further south. some patchy mist and fog forming in east wales and the north and west midlands but that will lift quite readily tomorrow morning. tomorrow, the same with the front in the south. if anything it looks like it will flick back up to the south—west. high pressure in charge in the north of the country means that for you a lot of dry and settle conditions with a fair bit of

sunshine and light wind. in the south, all this cloud, patchy light rain and drizzle in the south—east. as the weather front curves round and comes back, heavier rain across the isles of scilly and cornwall initially and it could push further east. temperatures down a little bit on today, looking at 8—11. moving from tuesday into wednesday, the weather front starting to move north. high pressure squeezed away to the near continent and we have this next clutch of fronts coming our way from the atlantic. a lot of cloud on wednesday. as the front moves north we are looking at light rain. in the north of scotland, starting on a cold note with some frost but a fair bit of sunshine. later on we see different coming into the west and a temperature range of eight in the north to ii in the south.

this is bbc news, i'mjoanna gosling. our top stories. the un says 102 civilians have been killed including seven children as ukraine faces more clashes with russian forces, blasts were heard again in kyiv in the early hours. ukraine's president said the next 24 hours will be crucial as is forces fight the russian invasion. talks between ukraine and russia are expected to take place at this table in belarus today. with sanctions beginning to bite, the russian rouble. an all—time low. the us says russia should tone down the rhetoric after president putin puts his nuclear forces on after president putin puts his nuclearforces on high after president putin puts his

nuclear forces on high alert. western countries are