this is bbc news, i'm yalda hakim live in western ukraine. our top stories... russia and ukraine agree a temporary ceasefire in two southern cities to allow civilians to evacuate. during the night we had negotiations between ukrainian and russian parties. the decision for two or three hours we set up such corridor. but ukraine says the evacuation has been delayed over russian ceasefire violations. it had been intended for civilians

to be allowed to leave the cities of mariupol and volnovakha. and i'm victoria derbyshire in london — with more reaction to events in ukraine. ukraine's president, volodymyr zelensky, is expected to address the us senate by video link later today to appeal for more help. president biden agrees to deepen security and defence co—operation with finland — following talks with the finnish prime minister. but the two leaders stop short of suggesting finland might join nato. iamon i am on the poland— ukraine border, this country taking in the highest number of refugees. hello and welcome to bbc news. hello and welcome to bbc news. in hello and welcome to bbc news. in

the early hours of this morning we had the russian defence ministry through the russian media, announced a ceasefire and two cities of ukraine. within the last for minutes we have had a statement from the ukrainian side that say they are unable to evacuate civilians from mariupol because of ongoing shelling. we also spoke to the deputy mayor of mariupol who confirmed this to us by saying civilians are unable to get out of the city because they continue to be sheued the city because they continue to be shelled and face heavy fighting. danjohnson has the latest. every day, more ukrainians are experiencing the devastation of this war. close to kyiv, yevgen�*s house the latest to be hit as russian forces get nearer. crying. he says the fire started with a sudden explosion in his children's bedroom. they had gone to the shops just ten minutes earlier.

this fear and panic is spreading across the country, as this creeping invasion trudges on. this morning, a glimmer of hope. russia's defence ministry says humanitarian corridors are open from two cities, enabling people to leave safely. it has not yet been confirmed by the ukrainians, and the president had warned that without more help from nato countries, more of his people would be condemned. translation: for nine days we have been seeing a fierce war. _ they are destroying our cities, shelling our people, our children. residential neighbourhoods, churches, schools. they are destroying everything that ensures a normal life, human life. and they want to continue it knowing that new strikes and casualties are inevitable. nato deliberately decided not to close the sky. so who can blame families for trying to escape? these are ukrainian soldiers helping their own people over the remains of a wrecked bridge

so they can get to somewhere safe. "a rocket hit the building next to ours" irina says. "we are scared, we can't sleep". "people in panic don't know what to do", oleksandr says. "the children have been in the basement and they have nothing to eat." oi, oi, oi! this was kyiv�*s station yesterday. it has become a sending off point for separating families heading further west. fathers, sons and brothers are being left behind to fight. the un says 1.2 million people have now left the country. and yesterday we saw the real risk of more than just people crossing ukraine's borders. an explosion and fire next to the country's biggest nuclear power station underlying the potential for this conflict to spiral. and now there are reports russian forces are advancing on a second plant. cheering and applause. so other european

capitals are taking note. look at the crowd in prague in the czech republic! a huge show of support for ukraine, and opposition to vladimir putin. a new iron curtain has fallen in russia, and this time it is an information iron curtain. his invasion is affecting his own country as well. american networks like cbs joining british and other international organisations suspending reporting from russia. the kremlin refuses to call this a war oran invasion, and it has passed new laws threatening anyone it deems to be spreading "fake news" about what it terms a "special military operation" with 15 years in prison. siren wails. the biggest impact, though, is on ukraine's towns, cities and its people. increasingly bombarded and beleaguered, and it is likely worse is still to come. dan johnson, bbc news.

year ukrainian authorities are telling people in mariupol to wait to disperse until there are instructions about a potential evacuation. the deputy mayor of mariupol, sergei orlov, told me that people trying to evacuate are claiming the city is still being shelled, and that fighting is still taking place. our people tell shelling stops for a little time and then it continues. they continue to use hard artillery and rockets to bomb mariupol. that is why people are scared. they go to three specific points from which we will take them by municipal brushes. we had another situation where it

was confirmed over the road and they said the road from mariupol was safe. we see there are hard bytes on the road and it is not safe to go on this road because of these fights. two objections with the continued shelling of mariupol and then the fights. we understand the russians continued to destroy mariupol. we decided to move our citizens back because it is not safe to be on the streets. at the moment, people are unable to evacuate mariupol because the shelling continues. fix, evacuate mariupol because the shelling continues.—

evacuate mariupol because the shellin: continues. �* ., , shelling continues. a moment people are unable to — shelling continues. a moment people are unable to evacuate _ shelling continues. a moment people are unable to evacuate for _ shelling continues. a moment people are unable to evacuate for two - are unable to evacuate for two reasons, continued shelling in mariupol and will and fights on the route and it is impossible to evacuate people. figs route and it is impossible to evacuate people.— route and it is impossible to evacuate people. as the central government. — evacuate people. as the central government, the _ evacuate people. as the central government, the ukrainian - government, the ukrainian government, the ukrainian government, spoken to the russian side about this? this is obviously a breach of the ceasefire and humanitarian corridor that was agreed to. we humanitarian corridor that was agreed te— humanitarian corridor that was aareed to. ~ agreed to. we communicate with the covernor of agreed to. we communicate with the governor of the _ agreed to. we communicate with the governor of the donetsk _ agreed to. we communicate with the governor of the donetsk region. - agreed to. we communicate with the governor of the donetsk region. we l governor of the donetsk region. we received information from the governor of the donetsk region. that was the deputy _ governor of the donetsk region. that was the deputy mayor of mariupol telling me the shelling continues over his city and they are waiting for more instructions before they are able to tell people to evacuate. they are negotiating with the russian side to ensure people can

leave the area safely. despite ongoing fighting in the north, east and south of the country, the determination, the resolve and patriotism are people across this nation continues set me here in western ukraine, in lviv, where young people have gathered at this art gallery to make camouflage nets to send to the ukrainian army. you can see what is happening behind me, people using it almost in a crochet like fashion, to use whatever fabric they can get, fabric that has been donated they can then use to create these nets. with meares anastasia, one of those volunteers. anastasia, the music might be loud. tell us what you are doing and why you might be here to help? i am what you are doing and why you might be here to help?— be here to help? i am a volunteer and i am currently _ be here to help? i am a volunteer and i am currently responsible - be here to help? i am a volunteer and i am currently responsible for this building. the art centre gave

us this building so we can use it for making camouflage nets to hide our army. we are bringing here clothing and bed" everything we can currently find a different basics like fishing multiple, gardens. gazza cutting it into smaller pieces and making it into nets. —— girls are cutting it. we are organising also transferred to the hotspots. have you done anything like this before in your life? i have you done anything like this before in your life?— before in your life? i was volunteering _ before in your life? i was volunteering a _ before in your life? i was volunteering a lot - before in your life? i was volunteering a lot in - before in your life? i was volunteering a lot in myl before in your life? i was i volunteering a lot in my uni before in your life? i was - volunteering a lot in my uni years but not such a big projects. we have three floors here, 200 volunteers every day. they are making about a0 nets per day. they have 55 spots here in our city, that is amazing.

0ur volunteers coming mostly from lviv or elsewhere? our volunteers coming mostly from lviv or elsewhere?— our volunteers coming mostly from lviv or elsewhere? elsewhere. from every point — lviv or elsewhere? elsewhere. from every point in _ lviv or elsewhere? elsewhere. from every point in ukraine. _ lviv or elsewhere? elsewhere. from every point in ukraine. they - lviv or elsewhere? elsewhere. from every point in ukraine. they are - every point in ukraine. they are coming here from eastern ukraine, from kyiv, they are trying to help. they understand they have a lot to do. with scrolling news all the time, it is crazy. here we are trying to create a supportive atmosphere. we are announcing the news from the political level, the army each hour. we are screaming our national phrases and singing our national phrases and singing our national item each day and it is a really good atmosphere. i national item each day and it is a really good atmosphere.- national item each day and it is a really good atmosphere. i see you have created _ really good atmosphere. i see you have created a _ really good atmosphere. i see you have created a good _ really good atmosphere. i see you have created a good atmosphere, | have created a good atmosphere, there are people and music, trying to do it together. flit there are people and music, trying to do it together.— to do it together. of course we are afraid. to do it together. of course we are afraid- we — to do it together. of course we are afraid. we are _ to do it together. of course we are afraid. we are the _ to do it together. of course we are afraid. we are the same _ to do it together. of course we are afraid. we are the same people i to do it together. of course we are afraid. we are the same people as| afraid. we are the same people as all european residents. we are

working, studying abroad, travelling. we are used to the normal life. right now we cannot do sport stop i now have a cup of coffee. we are combining our normal work at the same time as volunteering will stop of course it is tiring. we want to believe it makes sense, it matters, and it will help. makes sense, it matters, and it will hel_ . ., makes sense, it matters, and it will hel. ~ ., , makes sense, it matters, and it will help. what message do you have to the international _ help. what message do you have to the international community? - help. what message do you have to the international community? i - the international community? i encourage them for a truce. it is important for all of us, do everything we can. we are here, we are not leaving, we are helping our army but unfortunately we do not have the resources to fight with russia, the super big country with a lot of resources stop we will do

everything we can. we are hiding right now, we are fighting for europe. putin will not stop here, definitely, 100%. people should understand we are fighting not only for us but for them all say.- for us but for them all say. thank ou for for us but for them all say. thank you forjoining — for us but for them all say. thank you forjoining us _ for us but for them all say. thank you forjoining us on _ for us but for them all say. thank you forjoining us on the - for us but for them all say. thank- you forjoining us on the programme. —— also. listening to one young programme, who used to be a student and is coordinating 200 volunteers. most of the young people where students that classes have stopped since the 21st of february when fighting began. they are doing all they can. 0ur correspondent kasia madera, is on the poland—ukraine borderfor us now. as busy as it ever is. it really is.

today particularly _ as busy as it ever is. it really is. today particularly south. - as busy as it ever is. it really is. today particularly south. we - as busy as it ever is. it really is. i today particularly south. we have been visiting different border crossing points here on the poland— ukraine border. i had to say we have not seen this place like this before. so busy with thousands of people coming through here all the time. buses bringing people from the border and taking people away onto the forward destinations. ijust had to stress the dignity with which these people are waiting. they are so patiently waiting for a bus to take them on the next leg of their journey, bearing in mind everything they have already experienced. waiting listening out. there is a tannoy system that is calling out destinations across poland and further afield as well. every now and again you will hear somebody say, we have a driver to crack of

full four people and hands raise. we have four people and we want to go there, or warsaw or further afield. people are coming from germany to pick people up, people are coming from sweden to pick people up all over europe. this is a huge movement of people in an extremely short space of time. everybodyjust waiting patiently. iam space of time. everybodyjust waiting patiently. i am trying to work out what it is they do next. we are seeing so many women and children come across. they have left their husbands behind, theirfathers behind my grandfathers, their sons behind. 18 to 60—year—old man stay behind. 18 to 60—year—old man stay behind in ukraine. ukrainian nationals stay behind to fight. the experience here is this is organised by the fire brigade, the police

board, local community groups coming together, and just volunteers who all want to help. we were speaking to some of the firefighters who were here in yellow uniforms you are seeing all the time behind me these past few days. some of them were telling me they were students, learning to be firefighters, training. they'll wanted to come. they had been volunteering to come here in the spare time because they want to support what is happening on the ground. if you think about the figures, 1.2 million people living ukraine, nearly 800,000 of them have come here to poland. poland absolutely stressing that everyone is welcome, all nationalities are welcome. there are boards everywhere in poland, in ukrainian, in english as well, saying you are safe, poland welcomes you. the government has stressed they are very thankful to the millions of people who had been getting involved and helping out

behind the scenes, in all of their tents providing hot food. there are people who help, people bringing in food and making themselves available. 0rganisations, these warehouses. this a shopping centre, it has been completely turned into a temporary emergency area where people can get a bit of sleep. this is happening all the time, volunteers in high vizjackets explaining to family members, i have a driver that can take it to this and this destination. they have never met, they do not know each other, but they had talked. people are opening up their homes, coming here to bring people onto the next part of their journeys. here to bring people onto the next part of theirjourneys. this is a huge effort to ensure the people who have just bled ukraine, huge effort to ensure the people who havejust bled ukraine, fled everything in their homes by family members, and certainty. they do not

know when they will go back, to make them feel secure and safe and they are waiting here patiently. this is what we find time and again, waiting patiently, children exhausted, waiting patiently in the cold after getting some respite inside. this is where they now go on the next journey. with such a huge amount of people on the move, the eu is looking into the bigger picture as well. they are talking about getting temporary residency in the sense of a temporary protection directive said his people will know if they can get medical access, also schooling. bear in mind these kids have not been at school for a while. they have to think about the next step. they will be here for the time being. what happens next is the beginning of thejourney, it is repeated across poland, scenes of help, people wanting to help the people who had fled from ukraine.

rank you very much. for now thank you very much. we spoke to the deputy mayor in mariel pull earlier. he said despite the fact there was meant to be a temporary ceasefire there and a second city to allow people to escape safely, the deputy mayor said the fighting and shelling had continued by russian forces. we had the statement which says, the evacuation of civilians is being postponed due to the fact the russian side has not observed the ceasefire regime and continue to fire a mariel pull and also on the outskirts. the evacuation of the population has been postponed for security reasons. —— on mariel pull. they said shelling from the russian forces has continued despite an

agreement that there would be a ceasefire for a number of hours to allow people to get out safely, described as a humanitarian corridor. that evacuation has been postponed because it isjust corridor. that evacuation has been postponed because it is just not safe for people. let's speak to nick thorpe now, who's in budapest where trains carrying refugees from ukraine are arriving all the time. you have moved inside the station. tell us about the stories you are hearing and how people are when they finally disembarked and realise they are safe. .,. , finally disembarked and realise they are safe. , , , finally disembarked and realise they aresafe. , , , q finally disembarked and realise they aresafe. , , , a are safe. exactly, yes. as you can see, are safe. exactly, yes. as you can see. behind _ are safe. exactly, yes. as you can see, behind on _ are safe. exactly, yes. as you can see, behind on platform - are safe. exactly, yes. as you can see, behind on platform ten, - are safe. exactly, yes. as you can see, behind on platform ten, that are safe. exactly, yes. as you can i see, behind on platform ten, that is the most recent refugee trainer has pulled into the station. to give you the scene as people get off the trains where volunteers are rushing forward, translators. the first thing they do is to help people get their bags down. people carrying all

their bags down. people carrying all their possessions, all they could manage to carry with them. all women often with a certain number of children as well. the first thing is they get help getting off the trains were then they are immediately offered help, a hot drink, a sandwich from all these brothers in poland, an outpouring of generosity from the hungarian public, as from the romanian republic, the slovak republic will stop all the countries absorbing the refugees. 0nce republic will stop all the countries absorbing the refugees. once they have come into the station, one of the ornate side halls, almost like a chapel of the station, just looking up chapel of the station, just looking up at the remarkable scenes of chandeliers, beautiful old 19th—century mirrors. in the middle of the scene, the red cross in their red jackets with the refugees flooding through here. to relay this

back to what is happening in ukraine now, you were saying they hoped for humanitarian corridor is not taking shape for now because of the continued shelling. talking to people this morning, looking at some of the places they have come from, looking at it on google maps, thinking it would normally take 12 hours or so to drive 1000 kilometres, people telling us on public transport they had taken three days, four days, six days, to make chinese that could normally be donein make chinese that could normally be done in a day or so. as they arrived here, people very tired indeed, being given bowls of hot soup. another little anecdote, some people who are visually or speech impaired hearing impaired. there were messages with people trying to communicate with one another in sign language to some of the refugees

here this morning. each refugees story is different but there is something in common to the mill and they are getting a lot of help here today. —— to them all. we are going —— i'm joined now by noah lloyd, an american who fled ukraine for slovakia, and is helping others who have crossed the border. how are you? doing 0k. how are you helinu how are you? doing 0k. how are you helping people? _ how are you? doing 0k. how are you helping people? what _ how are you? doing 0k. how are you helping people? what specific- helping people? what specific information do they need to get to safety? it information do they need to get to safe ? , ._ , ., safety? it is finding ways to get out of kharkiv _ safety? it is finding ways to get out of kharkiv and _ safety? it is finding ways to get out of kharkiv and all— safety? it is finding ways to get out of kharkiv and all of- safety? it is finding ways to get out of kharkiv and all of these i out of kharkiv and all of these cities, mariupol, that had been surrounded. it has been very difficult to get out of the city is by car. roads are blocked off and it

is dangerous. people have been shot in their cars, train lines have been stopped in many ways. that is the order they are faced with huge lines. i crossed on sunday. we sat on a bus and we crossed from the south—western side of ukraine, from slovakia stopped to go a of kilometres it took 16 hours. —— to go a couple of kilometres it took 16 hours. ii go a couple of kilometres it took 16 hours. , ., ., ., , hours. if you were in the north east of ukraine. — hours. if you were in the north east of ukraine, that _ hours. if you were in the north east of ukraine, that is _ hours. if you were in the north east of ukraine, that is really _ hours. if you were in the north east of ukraine, that is really tough. - hours. if you were in the north east of ukraine, that is really tough. if l of ukraine, that is really tough. if you are close to the russian border and you can see lviv and the polish border and where you are in slovakia and romania. you would not go in a car because it is too dangerous. you actually might be stuck there. that

is the case of _ actually might be stuck there. that is the case of a _ actually might be stuck there. that is the case of a lot _ actually might be stuck there. that is the case of a lot of _ actually might be stuck there. twat is the case of a lot of our friends, friends of friends met my fiance and her family's friends. just last night thankfully one of her friends could contact us after having a cell phone service, no self and battery stop she is located in a village near kyiv which has seen some the heaviest fighting. there was a post on her instagram story saying, hey, guys, i am alive. by, on her instagram story saying, hey, guys. i am alive-— guys, i am alive. a huge relief for ou as guys, i am alive. a huge relief for you as her — guys, i am alive. a huge relief for you as her friend. _ guys, i am alive. a huge relief for you as her friend. just, _ guys, i am alive. a huge relief for you as her friend. just, i - guys, i am alive. a huge relief for you as her friend. just, i am - guys, i am alive. a huge relief for| you as her friend. just, i am alive. this is a standard _ you as her friend. just, i am alive. this is a standard story. _ you as her friend. just, i am alive. this is a standard story. everyone | this is a standard story. everyone knows someone. in kharkiv, the second against city. everyone has family members and friends on that side of the country. this is a standard story, affecting everyone. there two cities we were told this

morning by the russian defence ministry, yes, there is going to be a temporary ceasefire so more people can get out. one of them, mariupol, there is no temporary ceasefire and there is no temporary ceasefire and the shelling has continued said evacuation has had to stop. i am not surrised evacuation has had to stop. i am not surprised by — evacuation has had to stop. i am not surprised by that _ evacuation has had to stop. i am not surprised by that seems _ evacuation has had to stop. i am not surprised by that seems the - surprised by that seems the strategy, to use my personal analysis, that seems to be the strategy of the russian army right now. it is devastating people are hiding in sellers where they would usually be having reserves. in winter days have become hands for many people, people living in the metro, in bomb shelters. this is unimaginable really, i think. in a wa we unimaginable really, i think. in a way we need _ unimaginable really, i think. in a way we need to, _ unimaginable really, ithink. in a way we need to, stop saying that now because it is happening.— way we need to, stop saying that now because it is happening.- it i because it is happening. exactly. it

is not unbelievable _ because it is happening. exactly. it is not unbelievable any _ because it is happening. exactly. it is not unbelievable any more, - because it is happening. exactly. it is not unbelievable any more, it. because it is happening. exactly. it is not unbelievable any more, it is| is not unbelievable any more, it is happening. are you going back to the states? where are you from originally? i states? where are you from originally?— states? where are you from oriainall ? ., ., ~ , originally? i am from los angeles, california. your _ originally? i am from los angeles, california. your family _ originally? i am from los angeles, california. your family must - originally? i am from los angeles, california. your family must be - originally? i am from los angeles, california. your family must be so| california. your family must be so relieved you _ california. your family must be so relieved you are _ california. your family must be so relieved you are out. _ california. your family must be so relieved you are out. my - california. your family must be so relieved you are out. my fiance i california. your family must be so. relieved you are out. my fiance and i. relieved you are out. my fiance and i, we relieved you are out. my fiance and i. we went — relieved you are out. my fiance and i. we went to _ relieved you are out. my fiance and i, we went to krakow _ relieved you are out. my fiance and i, we went to krakow because - relieved you are out. my fiance and i, we went to krakow because that | i, we went to krakow because that would not be an attack that the insane. he went back on tuesday because we missed family. if anything were to happen we would leave. two days later ukraine was attacked. we tried to cross into poland. 0urstory attacked. we tried to cross into poland. 0ur story was we took a taxi, tried to take a taxi to the polish border. after 20 minutes of driving it was a parking lot we were. walk 18 to 20 kilometres on

that, to the polish border, to wait six hours for the line not to me. when i told my parents, i had been keeping in touch with them, hey, guys, we cannot make it to poland. the line isn't meeting and it seems people who might get by, women and children, my parents were desperate. it was very difficult for them. thankfully, ings worked out. share it was very difficult for them. thankfully, ings worked out. are you auoin to thankfully, ings worked out. are you aoian tot thankfully, ings worked out. are you going to try to _ thankfully, ings worked out. are you going to try to get _ thankfully, ings worked out. are you going to try to get a _ thankfully, ings worked out. are you going to try to get a flight _ thankfully, ings worked out. are you going to try to get a flight home? - going to try to get a flight home? —— things. for going to try to get a flight home? -- thinas. ., , ., -- things. for the time being we are aoain to -- things. for the time being we are going to stay — -- things. for the time being we are going to stay put- _ -- things. for the time being we are going to stay put- i— -- things. for the time being we are going to stay put. i have _ -- things. for the time being we are going to stay put. i have a _ -- things. for the time being we are going to stay put. i have a couple i going to stay put. i have a couple of buddies and we are working at a summer camp facility. usually ukrainian kids would come here to english camps. we are organising as much help as we can to people at the border, people landing at the bus station in the local town. we have a good amount of donations from family

members, friends of friends, who had very graciously given to us through gelfand me. —— go fund me, things they will need. things like camp beds to ladles. knives for people to use for jam and butter. they simply do not have them. jam and butter. they simply do not have them-— jam and butter. they simply do not have them. thank you for talking to us. take have them. thank you for talking to us- take care- _ have them. thank you for talking to us. take care. let's _ have them. thank you for talking to us. take care. let's hear _ have them. thank you for talking to us. take care. let's hear from - have them. thank you for talking to us. take care. let's hear from the l us. take care. let's hearfrom the russian foreign minister who gave a news briefing in the last few minutes. ~ ., ., news briefing in the last few minutes. . ., ., ., minutes. what are the main disagreements? _ minutes. what are the main disagreements? i— minutes. what are the main disagreements? i won't - minutes. what are the main disagreements? i won't be. minutes. what are the main - disagreements? i won't be repeating that. there is no sense to dwell on

the subject. it has been publicly defined many times about the conditions we believe which are absolutely essential to resolve this crisis, to remove the threat which has been created by members of the north atlantic alliance on the territory of ukraine directed against the russian federation. we have identified that painting president's statements and our delegation. this is the neutral status, militarisation, because of the neo—nazis with the permissiveness of educated europe. it has achieved threatening level. naturally, that crimea has been russian long ago. this is a fact which needs to be recognised and also the independence of proclaimed

donetsk and luhansk people's republic of china recognised. as for the future perspective for negotiations, so far people are expecting any information from the ukrainian side. for the first round the situation looks quite strange my legs i everybody is interested in achieving the agreement as soon as possible to resolve everything, as i mentioned. 0n the other hand the most interested party, the ukrainian side are thinking about the pretext to delay the start of the next meeting at the next round. they rescheduled the agreed timeframes. we haven't received the new timings yet. as a ukrainian colleagues know

perfectly well, starting from last evening, we are starting to move towards round three of the negotiations, the future and the rounds of negotiations, it is difficult to call comment on them. it also does not really add some optimism, so to speak, all these angry statements of presidents are lenskl angry statements of presidents are lenski. here, for example, he criticised recent nato meeting and he was a bit rude to his curators. he was accusing them of inactivity. my he was accusing them of inactivity. my question is, if he is so disappointed that nato did not defend him, stepped in as he hoped does it mean he still hopes to get nato involved in resolving this conflict rather than negotiation for a resolution? it means he is not listening actually to the needs they

coming from washington, paris and other capitals that nato will not interfere in this complex. it looks like he is striving to provoke a conflict between nato and russia. when he woke up yesterday maybe he has changed since yesterday, but his military attitude actually shows that he is not really, he does not with any negotiations but is made might change. he is a personal change in mood, let's hope. a question concerning the future of

the iranian military programme. do you think there is a hope that the relaunch of this agreement will happen in the nearfuture? well, depends how you identify the nearest future. it is kind of flexible term. the negotiations, if you take quantity, has been a long way, a long way past, and all the issues have been agreed, though they are still some topics outstanding for the iranian colleagues would like to get more clarity and we believe this is a rightful demand. i'm not going to dwell on that but from our side,

if the iranians agree, we can launch the process of adopting and proving this document but there are some issues from the russian federation recently. and because the agreements, on the iranian programme, if you remember this agreement they provide for certain range of agreements, obligations from around in terms of its peace for nuclear programme and also some responsibilities from other participants that the project with the support of russia and china will be implemented in iran. for peaceful development of nuclear energy in accordance with the agreements under the control of international, cit.

all the participants should come back to the regime introduced in 2015. which was providing for. let’s 2015. which was providing for. let's leave russia's _ 2015. which was providing for. let's leave russia's foreign _ 2015. which was providing for. let's leave russia's foreign minister because we are going to hear from the polish foreign minister and the us secretary of state.— us secretary of state. poland will never recognise _ us secretary of state. poland will never recognise territorial - us secretary of state. poland willl never recognise territorial changes brought about by unprovoked, unlawful aggression. the way in which russia conducts hostilities based on the desire to break the will of ukrainian resistance by means of attacks that terrorise civilian populations, shelling residential areas, nuclear power plants, and non—military vehicles are war crimes under international

law which are not subjected to the statute of limitations. and will be persecuted with utmost determination. i call on russia to refrain from attacks on civilian populations. i called both parties to abide by international humanitarian law and to treat prisoners of war with dignity. all war criminals must be considered in future negotiations. due to its own painful experience in the past, poland will consequently demand prosecuting war criminals. this is our historic debt to the habitants who is sacrifices can never be forgotten. as soon war criminals is

an element of humankind's common memory. it is our common obligation. to achieve this, poland, the centre for war crimes in ukraine. we discuss opportunities for polish—american cooperation in this area. pa, polish-american cooperation in this area. �* polish-american cooperation in this area. ~ ., ., area. a call for the end of the bloodshed — area. a call for the end of the bloodshed and _ area. a call for the end of the bloodshed and the _ area. a call for the end of the bloodshed and the ceasefire i area. a call for the end of the l bloodshed and the ceasefire for area. a call for the end of the - bloodshed and the ceasefire for the duration of the talks between ukraine and russia. in my capacity, i welcome the understanding for the creation of humanitarian corridors that will facilitate the evacuation of civilians from ukrainian cities under siege. along with the majority

of oecd countries i appealed from the outset of the conflict. i view this understanding is a way of hope to prevent more ukrainian civilians from falling victim to war. everything possible must be done to ensure the evacuation. russia's aggression in ukraine caused a humanitarian crisis of an unimaginable scale. 0ur priority is organising effective aid to hundreds of thousands and soon, millions of refugees. poland already received up to 700,000 refugees and we will continue to do so for everyone that needsit continue to do so for everyone that needs it regardless of a nationality

or religious creed. the attack on ukraine already transformed europe and a sense of security. poland decided to immediately increase its defence spending budget to 3% of its gdp beginning next year. as a key country, poland wholeheartedly welcomed swift reaction to the new strategic circumstances. i have conveyed to secretary anthony blinken my thanks to president biden for his effective response regarding

russia's aggression. as a host country for nato response force and the eastern flank poland plays a critical role in this reaction and we are determined to abide by it in line with the charter of the united nations, poland will provide all support to ukraine who is currently defending itself from an unprovoked aggression. thank you. i defending itself from an unprovoked aggression. thank you.— aggression. thank you. i want to thank you. _ aggression. thank you. i want to thank you. as — aggression. thank you. i want to thank you, as always, _ aggression. thank you. i want to thank you, as always, for - aggression. thank you. i want to thank you, as always, for a - aggression. thank you. i want to thank you, as always, for a very | thank you, as always, for a very good exchange, the warm welcome. we were at nato together and washington togetherjust were at nato together and washington together just a few weeks ago were at nato together and washington togetherjust a few weeks ago and it is very good to be here with you. i

am especially pleased that the ambassador is now here in poland. the timing could not be better. it is vital we have all of our confirmed ambassador is in place at this critical time and we are in fact meeting at one of the most urgent moments in a long history of friendship between our countries. as allies and partners poland and the united states have stood together for many, many challenges. now the very ideals that bind us, freedom, democracy, peace, security, are under threat in this region as never before. certainly not since the second world war. the people of poland know how important it is to defend freedom. so do americans. and we will stand together as we have been standing together in support of ukraine and against russia's unprovoked, unwarranted premeditated invasion. nato and the european

union, the chairand invasion. nato and the european union, the chair and office this year. poland is doing vital work to respond to this crisis. it is hosted and increased nato presence. and it has done a great deal to facilitate assistance to ukraine. as nato allies, defensive cooperation between poland and the united states, closer than it has ever been. since january 30 of the united states has more than doubled the number of military personnel in poland to no more than 10,000. we have increased the amount of capabilities that we have positioned in poland. vice president biden said, we will defend every inch of nato territory. poland is the

leading responder to the crisis. as of today, more than 700,000 people have been forced to free their violence perpetrated by russia by crossing the border from violence perpetrated by russia by crossing the borderfrom ukraine violence perpetrated by russia by crossing the border from ukraine to poland. with more coming every single day. i will have the opportunity to speak to some of the folks who have come overjust recently from ukraine but i have to say, it is an incredibly powerful reflection of poland's values that people know that here they will find refuge. the biden administration just requested to congress 2.5, excuse me $2.75 billion in humanitarian assistance. that is both to meet the need of vulnerable people and communities inside ukraine as well as to support refugee services including here in poland. that is in addition to the assistance that we announced just

last week. we sent a disaster response team to poland working with humanitarian agencies to provide hygiene supplies, protection for vulnerable people especially women and children. we have delivered nearly 20,000 thermal blankets and provided funding for emergency supplies to sustain health care for five months and emergency surgical procedures. i am grateful that poland is hosting them. they in embassies are working hard to assist american citizens and their families departing ukraine and help them with the influx of us military personnel, humanitarian workers as well as

assistance. we established a us welcome centre close to the ukrainian border which has been operating 20 a7 since hostilities began and we have support teams stationed near the border. to assist any americans living ukraine. at this moment of crisis, for millions of ukrainians and is the security of europe hangs in the balance, poland has stepped forward with generosity, with leadership, with resolve. we are grateful for the strong foundation of friendship and cooperation we have built together over many, many which so many are now relying on today. thank you. time for some pictures. they're just taking they�* re just taking photographs they're just taking photographs of the two gentlemen. i'm not sure they

will be asked questions. let me bring you breaking news now. two bits of breaking news. first from the un refugee agency. they say, bear with me, they say that refugees are going where they have connections and there will be a bigger wave to come and that will be more complex. also they say there are currently 1.3 million people who have left the country and the situation remains dire. in cheshire in the north—west of england, workers at an oil refinery have been instructed by the union not to handle a cargo of russian oil which has arrived on board a german ship. the government has banned all russian vessels from entering uk ports but there is a loophole allowing them to come in on ships registered to others nations but the unite union says the members will not unload russian oil under any circumstances.

president zelensky is due to address the us senate later to plead for more help to repel the invasion. in another of his statements he's praised ukrainian civilians for putting up resistance in areas captured by the russian troops and called on others to defend their cities alongside the military. we have no days off any more, doesn't matter what your watch clock shows, your calendar shows. to the victory, forward. i have spoken to the president of france, macron, and the president of poland. 0ur contacts are daily, constant. i'm grateful to all of them. i am extremely grateful to onjay for his dedication to our common goal, protecting kyiv. grateful to his wife, agutter. those friends who i sincerely believed to be friends. we have managed to prevent a

humanitarian crisis over the border. it managed to organise the situation in such a way that thousands of ukrainian women and children were treated with dignity, nobody is asking their nationality. their religious beliefs. the money. basically we don't have a border with poland — with friendly poland, because we are together on the side of good. i'm confident that sin will be able to say to our people, come back, returned from poland, romania, moldova, and slovak republic. many other friendly countries. come back because there is no more threat, there is no more danger. we'll ready our thinking about the future for all ukrainians after the war. how to revise our cities, our economies. i've spoken to the head of the world bank, the executive director of international monetary fund. we have agreements with major financial institutions to support ukraine. there's already a decision on immediate help and tens of billions of dollars to help

after the war. these are just initial decisions, underscoring decisions. i spoken to the president of turkey, and again could , president and again, to the leaders of saudi arabia a and united arab emirates, the heads of european union. the main objective is the membership for ukraine in the eu. i'm grateful to the europeans, 200s and thousands people in different cities in our european continent. paris, bratislava, brussels. yesterday they came out on the streets to support ukraine. they came for the sake of peace and i'm thankful to the americans for their support. we saw the polls, we saw the opinions of ordinary americans without his support ukrainians, which they demand to increase

the sanctions to russia immediately and close the skies immediately to save our peoples lives. 7a% of americans support a no—fly zone, 7a% and an absolute majority. what has do you need to adopt decisions, approve decisions? we are confident in similar results in other democratic countries. ukrainian armed forces are contracting the invaders near kharkiv. they defend the city, they stay strong in other regions. the russian army didn't move to the planned areas that they achieved 10,000 of killed russian military, 10,000. this is scary. those guys aged 18, 19, almost kids,

soldiers who were not explained what they would be going to fight for and why they are in an alien land, ten thousands of people. russia could definitely have provided something else, an alternative to those other than death. russia's invasion of ukraine has sent shockwaves across its neighbouring countries including finland, which was invaded by the soviet union during the second world war. for the first time in the country's history public opinion has shifted in favour ofjoining nato — despite president putin's threat of �*military and political consequences'. map our world affairs editor, john simpson, reports from the finnish—russian border. a finnish border patrol stretches out along the frontier. times are changing here. russia's attack on ukraine has been a profound shock

to people in finland, and the majority of finns now want to give up their old neutrality and join the western alliance. a solitary red post marks the point where russian territory begins. and so, as a direct consequence of the invasion of ukraine, and of russia's heavy—handed warning to finland not even to think aboutjoining nato, this could one day be the border between nato and russia. it is the precise opposite of what russia wanted. at the border crossing point, a steady line of russians coming into finland. there are rumours that president putin will soon introduce martial law, and plenty of people who don't agree with the invasion of ukraine

are getting out in case of trouble from the authorities. this student is one of them. so while vladimir putin is in power, there is nothing much that can be done? no. for russians, coming to finland is an escape from the dangers of life there. the people on this side of the border there is realfear that the tensions within russia could boil over and engulf finland itself. john simpson, bbc news on the finnish border with russia. question, why are at the un not setting up borders with peacekeepers?- setting up borders with peacekeepers? setting up borders with areacekeeers? . ., , peacekeepers? will answer the

a uestion peacekeepers? will answer the question on _ peacekeepers? will answer the question on a _ peacekeepers? will answer the question on a podcast - peacekeepers? will answer the question on a podcast which . peacekeepers? will answer the | question on a podcast which you peacekeepers? will answer the - question on a podcast which you can download via bbc sounds. irate question on a podcast which you can download via bbc sounds.— question on a podcast which you can download via bbc sounds. we have in ruttain download via bbc sounds. we have in putting together _ download via bbc sounds. we have in putting together an _ download via bbc sounds. we have in putting together an episode - download via bbc sounds. we have in putting together an episode each - download via bbc sounds. we have in putting together an episode each day| putting together an episode each day since russian forces invaded ukraine and we really actively encourage questions from listeners right around the world. michael, we will ask that on ukraine cast in the addition which will be published later on today. if you want to keep up later on today. if you want to keep up with developments, every minute, actually, then please do go to the live page on the bbc news site. that is updated regularly. you people working on the live page, essentially, 20 a7. and then, here on bbc world news and the bbc news channel, we are here throughout the day, throughout the night, actually, bringing you the latest from ukraine and of course what is happening in russia and the surrounding countries just like the report we had from john simpson on the finish russian

border. thank you very much for your company. we will be with you in a few minutes' time. the cloud that we have should break up the cloud that we have should break up a bit more and we will see sunshine develop comity. that does mean with clear skies by night return again and could be lingering fog patches. the weatherfront crossed at the moment will push westwards particularly later today and into tonight so that here is where the weather front as for the west of the afternoon. 0utbreaks where the weather front as for the west of the afternoon. outbreaks of rain. we could see a few splashes get into the midlands but really come away from that, dry, sunny, the lightest winds so after a frosty start, cool to the north—easterly

breeze across central parts. temperature seven or eight. it seems breezy in these areas go into tonight. the cloud continues to push its way to wales and the south—west of showers are possible relief in the middle and southwards. in the northern half of the country clear skies continue. as the blue cover suggests a widespread first to take us into tomorrow morning. we will see damages as low as —5 —651 or two. lightest of the wind here again, best of the sunshine built up tension across lincolnshire, yorkshire and, whilst we will see cloud across the midlands, south wales, southern parts of england, there will be more breaks in it so an improved date was east anglia and the south—east but that to the breeze will still be there. more of a breeze of the english channel as well. best of the warmth when the sun is on your back will be further north but, as we have seen, clear skies into the night will see the fast return as we go through into monday morning. less so in northern ireland, a bit more in parts of

southern england. clearer skies here but more more of a breeze in the west. that breeze starts to shower a bit more as we go into monday which will make it through habitually. elsewhere, we will see a dry, sunny start but bits of quite pushing its way northwards. most sustained right throughout monday. chilly and at strengthening these and around seven or 9 degrees. these are the temperatures you could expect for this stage in march. really, it is a stage of how much this hold on as we go through the weekend how much low pressure tries to push on and off the addict. the assault on the borderline between the two so it could go a little bit either way. at the moment the weather were dominated tuesday and wednesday, turning a bit milder but also windier. like he is striving to provoke a

conflict between nato and russia.

this is bbc news, i'm yalda hakim live in western ukraine. our top stories... ukraine postpones the evacuation of civilians from the besieged city of mariupol, accusing russia of violating a supposed humanitarian ceasefire. they continue to destroy mariupol. he decided to move our citizens back because it is not safe to be on the streets. the city authorities say talks are under way with the russian side to establish a secure humanitarian corridor. dozens of people gathered

in kherson, the only large city taken by the russian army so far, in defiance of the invasion.