may russian will be poorer but he may well end up as firmly in charge as ever. ., , , ., . , well end up as firmly in charge as ever. ., ,, ., . , ., ., ever. the observer touches on that as well, ever. the observer touches on that as well. the _ ever. the observer touches on that as well, the line _ ever. the observer touches on that as well, the line from _ ever. the observer touches on that as well, the line from the - ever. the observer touches on that i as well, the line from the televised address from putin and his warning that he views the western sanctions is akin to an act of war. that has quite a chilling overtone, given that nato has all throughout the conflict said it does not want to engage in direct conflict with russia because it doesn't want to provoke a war but if putin is changing the goalposts and saying sanctions and akin to an act of war it is almost what does he decide to the next asjudgment it is almost what does he decide to the next as judgment provocation to retaliate against nato militarily.

absolutely, the line was a no—fly zone _ absolutely, the line was a no—fly zone which— absolutely, the line was a no—fly zone which is why nato has said the cannot_ zone which is why nato has said the cannot put— zone which is why nato has said the cannot put it in over ukraine because _ cannot put it in over ukraine because it _ cannot put it in over ukraine because it would lead to having to shoot _ because it would lead to having to shoot down russian flights and that would _ shoot down russian flights and that would draw centre that conflict that we do _ would draw centre that conflict that we do not _ would draw centre that conflict that we do not want to be in. obviously the situation on the ground in ukraine — the situation on the ground in ukraine is_ the situation on the ground in ukraine is awful, heartbreaking by the way— ukraine is awful, heartbreaking by the way that conflict would be even more _ the way that conflict would be even more damaging. if putin is going to move _ more damaging. if putin is going to move the _ more damaging. if putin is going to move the goalposts and say this is what _ move the goalposts and say this is what we _ move the goalposts and say this is what we consider as a conflict that is dangerous. nato has said repeatedly that we defend every inch of nato _ repeatedly that we defend every inch of nato soil so it is a precarious situation — of nato soil so it is a precarious situation and everyone is going to be watching what they say and how they move — be watching what they say and how they move and the actions taken over they move and the actions taken over the next _ they move and the actions taken over the next few days to keep that balance — the next few days to keep that balance as safe as possible.

developing that point, i could be seen that the resilience of ukraine and the way it is repelling the onslaught from russia as in a way protecting nato from a conflict because with russia being so caught up because with russia being so caught up with the resistance and ukraine it cannot contemplate any similar move on a small nato country if it were thinking about that which would potentially trigger a much bigger conflict. it is almost as though single—handedly ukraine is providing this buffer to the rest of the world and they are asking for a no—fly zone to help them about the west and nato alliance feeling if they were to do that it would escalate things in all sorts of ways. that to do that it would escalate things in all sorts of ways.— in all sorts of ways. that is right and ukraine _ in all sorts of ways. that is right and ukraine is _ in all sorts of ways. that is right and ukraine is frustrated - in all sorts of ways. that is right and ukraine is frustrated by - in all sorts of ways. that is right and ukraine is frustrated by thisj and ukraine is frustrated by this that they are having to essentially fight russia and putin on their own

and getting very little on a modest help from the west and only latterly a supply of arms and economic sanctions. we are desperate for what they really want which is military intervention perhaps a no—fly zone, nato jets intervention perhaps a no—fly zone, natojets bombing russian forces outside kyiv or something like that. that is something they will not get other they desperately hope they can change western public opinion, i think that is highly unlikely that political opinion will change even if public opinion does. in the end as putin said with all these threats it is a reminder that russia is a leading nuclear power, perhaps the largest in the world and that means

for nuclear threat as the notable stay out and is going to be able to potentially bomb his way to a hideous victory in ukraine. the call on the us lawmakers _ hideous victory in ukraine. the call on the us lawmakers included - hideous victory in ukraine. the call. on the us lawmakers included several elements and part of that was to stop buying russian oil and gas. to stop buying russian oil and gas. to stop funding the military machine thatis stop funding the military machine that is causing such devastation and ukraine. i suppose the difficulty in the us is they are well aware that mid—term elections coming up, people already feeling high inflation squeezing their pockets and actually the fear is that would drive oil and energy prices up to such a degree that was because such real pain for people who are in many households just about managing. you

people who are in many households just about managing.— people who are in many households just about managing. you can make a similar argument _ just about managing. you can make a similar argument for _ just about managing. you can make a similar argument for it _ just about managing. you can make a similar argument for it here, - just about managing. you can make a similar argument for it here, we - just about managing. you can make a similar argument for it here, we do i similar argument for it here, we do not rely— similar argument for it here, we do not rely on — similar argument for it here, we do not rely on russian oil and gas as much _ not rely on russian oil and gas as much as— not rely on russian oil and gas as much as some other countries but the government— much as some other countries but the government has been quite upfront and said _ government has been quite upfront and said we are already in a cost of living _ and said we are already in a cost of living crisis— and said we are already in a cost of living crisis and this is going to push _ living crisis and this is going to push the — living crisis and this is going to push the price up, nothing compared to the _ push the price up, nothing compared to the price — push the price up, nothing compared to the price ukraine is paying all the price — to the price ukraine is paying all the price we should be prepared to pay to— the price we should be prepared to pay to battle putin and liz truss has made — pay to battle putin and liz truss has made that point on the express tomorrow— has made that point on the express tomorrow that this will cost money and to— tomorrow that this will cost money and to he _ tomorrow that this will cost money and to be frank with the british people — and to be frank with the british people may be ensured. it is not 'ust people may be ensured. it is not just the — people may be ensured. it is not just the us — people may be ensured. it is not just the us and the point to get across— just the us and the point to get across is— just the us and the point to get across is that defending democracy has consequences. give across is that defending democracy has consequences.— across is that defending democracy has consequences. give us your take on this, the — has consequences. give us your take on this, the struggle _ has consequences. give us your take on this, the struggle of _ has consequences. give us your take on this, the struggle of our - on this, the struggle of our generation and this gives the sense this is not going to be something that will be solved or concluded soon, this could effectively be felt

for years to come. i soon, this could effectively be felt for years to come.— for years to come. i have mixed feelinus for years to come. i have mixed feelings about _ for years to come. i have mixed feelings about this. _ for years to come. i have mixed feelings about this. i _ for years to come. i have mixed feelings about this. i think- for years to come. i have mixed feelings about this. i think it. for years to come. i have mixed feelings about this. i think it is | feelings about this. i think it is right in one way, that the struggle of the previous generation was the so—called war on terror and islamist terrorism that started with 911 and ended with the death of the isis leader to are moving to an era of old—fashioned cold war state on state competition of which russia is pre—eminent with this beautiful brutal and illegal attack on ukraine but china is also in the background and gently slightly embarrassed to be allies with russia at this moment. when i have some reservations as fit as the struggle of a generation one has to feel

sorry for ukraine who are having to fight russia alone, and outnumbered and heading for a slow motion defeat despite the fantastic spirit and mobilisation they have shown and are doing so with very late in the day western support. it is a struggle but it may be putin wins the first round. ~ ., but it may be putin wins the first round. ~ . ., ., but it may be putin wins the first round. . . ., ., ., round. we have had that line from liz truss, there _ round. we have had that line from liz truss, there is _ round. we have had that line from liz truss, there is a _ round. we have had that line from liz truss, there is a separate - round. we have had that line from liz truss, there is a separate line | liz truss, there is a separate line from the defence secretary ben wallace which is in the telegraph, do not test us. a direct warning to putin, saying any existential threat will be met with a response that halted russian tanks. the suggestion the uk stands ready to provide more support and we have equipment and military resources. i

support and we have equipment and military resources.— military resources. i think that is riaht, military resources. i think that is right. there's — military resources. i think that is right, there's obviously - military resources. i think that is right, there's obviously a - military resources. i think that is i right, there's obviously a message the government wants to get across, high—ranking cabinet ministers giving — high—ranking cabinet ministers giving interviews and the sunday papers — giving interviews and the sunday papers. borisjohnson motel wobbly papers. boris johnson motel wobbly does papers. borisjohnson motel wobbly does about his plan tomorrow. —— boris _ does about his plan tomorrow. —— borisjohnson will tell does about his plan tomorrow. —— boris johnson will tell world leaders _ boris johnson will tell world leaders about his plan. there has been _ leaders about his plan. there has been an— leaders about his plan. there has been an amazing response from the british— been an amazing response from the british public and donations, up to 85 million— british public and donations, up to 85 million disaster emergency and 25 million _ 85 million disaster emergency and 25 million match by the government but dan is _ million match by the government but dan is correct that unless further action— dan is correct that unless further action is— dan is correct that unless further action is taken at is difficult to see what— action is taken at is difficult to see what more can be done without entering _ see what more can be done without entering the conflict, it is a slow deciine — entering the conflict, it is a slow decline which is absolutely heartbreaking for the ukrainians iaving _ heartbreaking for the ukrainians laying down their lives and trying to fight—

laying down their lives and trying to fight for their independence and freedom — to fight for their independence and freedom. ben wallace also says it may be _ freedom. ben wallace also says it may be he — freedom. ben wallace also says it may be he seeks more money from the treasury. _ may be he seeks more money from the treasury. he _ may be he seeks more money from the treasury, he makes it clear he got a good _ treasury, he makes it clear he got a good amount last time but boris johnson — good amount last time but boris johnson said he would revisit it needed — johnson said he would revisit it needed a— johnson said he would revisit it needed. �* ., johnson said he would revisit it needed. . ., ., , ., needed. a final thought, it is all ve well needed. a final thought, it is all very well spending _ needed. a final thought, it is all very well spending on _ needed. a final thought, it is all| very well spending on bolstering needed. a final thought, it is all- very well spending on bolstering the defence and security but it is a time a lot of countries are still paying the cost of the pandemic and taking the economic kit of that. public finances will come under strain and this is not a happy time for chancellors and treasury secretaries around the world but what this government and every government and the west as to adapt and respond to crises over the last couple of years, the challenge here is ben wallace has talked about what

he says is a good defence funding settlement, it was not really britain was never a large spender of 2.1% of gdp on defence in western europe but one of the most amazing things about this crisis is watching germany saying it for head the 2% nato target it refused to hit and angela merkel saw britain as a significant player but it may not be the biggest spender. i think putin and his arms, ukraine has got days and his arms, ukraine has got days and i was potentially rich are critical, it has not got weeks and months. it is all very well for ben was to see these things but britain has to ukraine quickly. you have to fly them to poland and across by land and it is not easy.— fly them to poland and across by land and it is not easy. thank you,

both. land and it is not easy. thank you, both- thank _ land and it is not easy. thank you, both. thank you _ land and it is not easy. thank you, both. thank you for _ land and it is not easy. thank you, both. thank you for watching - land and it is not easy. thank you, both. thank you for watching we i land and it is not easy. thank you, l both. thank you for watching we will be back in just over half. our weather is much quieter than it was at the end of february, but there are still plenty of other contrasts out there across the uk to talk about. most of the sunshine today in northern ireland and scotland. a much cloudier picture across eastern and southern parts of england underneath an area of cloud, damp, drizzly, breezy, feeling cold. the cloud from a weather front hanging around for quite some time gradually pushing further west overnight and beginning to decay into tomorrow. overnight will take more cloud across one of the midlands, into parts of wales and south—west england. still some outbreaks of light rain and drizzle around. temperatures will be holding just

above freezing that is cloud. elsewhere likely to get a frost, coldest and parts of northern ireland and scotland. plenty of sunshine around. for wales and england some sunny spells. through the southern half of england and south wales, still some areas are for cloud initially, some patchy light rain and drizzle. it doesn't look like a brighter day across the eastern side of england compared to today. there will be a stronger wind in the far north—west of scotland. even where there is a lot of sunshine, temperatures will be a degree or so down compared to today. overnight and into monday, cloud breaks up across southern areas. more clear spells, more likely to see a touch of frost. lowest temperatures into rural scotland and northern england on monday morning.

monday looking like another quiet day with high pressure close by. areas of cloud drifting south to north across the uk, but with sunny spells around most places are looking dry. still looking chilly in the breeze and another frost on tuesday morning. midweek, a lot of uncertainty about the day today detail, but the overall detail looks like high pressure moves away, low moves in. we are more likely to see rain moving in, a windier picture in the west. but also with that things turning milder.

this is bbc news — welcome if you're watching here in the uk or around the globe. our top stories... as ukraine appeals for nato to impose a no fly zone to protect civilians from continuing russian attacks, a former ukrainian president tells the bbc his country is desperate. you see all these people are suffering from death and this is completely unacceptable and when we are asking the no—fly zone, this is exactly for these people. but nato has rejected calls for a no fly zone — and president putin warned the alliance today it would have catastrophic consequences. any movement in this direction would

be considered by us as a participation