welcome to bbc news — i'm james reynolds. our top stories. as more people flee the bombings and missile strikes 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. israel's prime minister meets with president putin in moscow to discuss the ongoing conflict. the economic fallout from the war continues — visa and mastercard announce they're disconnecting their services in russia. solidarity in the streets — and in the football stands — thousands continue to show support for the people

we begin in the ukrainian town of irpin which has come under heavy fire. these are images we are receiving from the town — just northwest of kyiv where russian forces have been trying to break through. hundreds of people are fleeing irpin. some of those leaving said they had experienced constant shelling. irpin lies near the head of the russian convoy which has been making slow progress towards the ukrainian capital. our correspondent orla guerin is in the town and sent this report. this is the reality of russia's invasion. yevgen is watching his family home ablaze. his children had leftjust

ten minutes earlier. no military targets here. just his beloved german shepherd. all this is happening 16 miles from kyiv in the town of irpin. it is home to about 60,000 people. today, many were desperate to get out. they crossed the river on foot. ukraine blew up the bridge in self defence. a hurried rescue mission in an escalating war. we witnessed the exodus. frightened civilians converging on buses bound for the railway station in the capital and the next train out. among them, this mother with babe in arms. trying to comfort her daughter.

leading the evacuation, the former ukrainian president petro poroshenko, marshalling the crowds. he's pleading with nato to reconsider and impose a no—fly zone, for the sake of all those subjected to danger and indignity at the hands of vladimir putin. the russians is completely bombing, with air bombs, with missiles, the civilian people, and you see all these people are suffering from that. and this is completely unacceptable. and when we are asking the no—fly zone, this is exactly for these people. and with this situation, we need to protect them. katya tells us, "yesterday they shelled day and night, "hitting the hospital, the university and the tax office." "they are shelling every day," she says.

well, in the distance here, you can see the smoke is still rising. you get a sense of what people are fleeing from. there is a steady stream of people coming here now, they're carrying their bags, their suitcases, some of them have their pets. they're taking just what they can carry, and they're rushing for the buses to try and get out of here and get to safety. do you feel let down by nato? i am not sure. i think, look, we count on them, we still think that the chance is not missing yet. jets roar 0verhead, the russian threat. so far nato is not taking the chance or the risk

of closing the skies. ukraine claims to have shot down a russian helicopter north of the capital. this video seems to confirm that. president putin's invasion is not going to plan but he still has plenty of firepower. 0rla guerin, bbc news, irpin. president putin says any attempt to impose a no—fly zone in ukrainian skies would lead to what he called catastrophic consequences for the world. he said a no—fly zone could only be imposed with help from outside ukraine and that russia would consider any country that did so to have joined the conflict. it is possible to do only from the neighbouring states but any movement in this direction will be considered taking part in the armed conflict on the part of the country from which the territorial threats are being made and at that exact moment we will consider them as parties in military conflict. the israeli prime minister, naftali bennett, has held three

hours of talks with vladimir putin at the kremlin. mr bennett is the first western leader to meet the russian president since the invasion began. here's the bbc�*s tom bateman injerusalem. israeli officials say these talks went on for three hours in the kremlin between mr bennett and vladimir putin. i think the fact that the israeli prime minister flew to moscow in the midst of russia's increasing diplomatic isolation gives you a sense ofjust how extraordinary these particular talks are. they have not come completely out of the blue. we have known for some days now that there have been at least two phone calls between the israeli prime minister and the russian president and also at the same time, mr bennett has been talking to president zelensky of ukraine. the israeli leader believes he can try to position himself as a mediator between the two countries. he believes israel is uniquely placed to have dialogue with both moscow in the form of mr putin and with mr zelensky.

and the reason for that is that israel has significant relations with both countries. long, historical, culturalties with ukraine, and significant relations in russia because of russia's position controlling the skies and its presence on the ground in syria, where israel carries out repeated air strikes against iranian interests. they have had to develop a pretty delicate but quite deep relationship with russians because of that. now, what happens next? well, mr bennett's officials said he had a phone call with president zelensky after the meeting with mr putin, and that he is now flying to berlin where he will speak to the german chancellor 0laf scholz. the israelis say that the talks with the kremlin happened in coordination with key western partners, and

they say that in their words, with "the blessing of the white house", so it gives you some indication as to the seriousness, how the israelis are taking this as they think they can position themselves as mediators, and just how extraordinary these talks are, given russia's growing diplomatic isolation, but the question that emerges, even if you have a mediator, what substance is there, to be mediated over. ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky has told members of the us congress that he desperately needs russian—made fighterjets, which its pilots know how to fly. 0ne plan could see the us providing modern f16 jets to poland and other eastern european countries — with those countries, sending older planes, on to ukraine. here's duncan kennedy from washington. we know that the polish air force has some old russian—made jets, mig—29s and one or two others and president zelensky

was wondering if you could get hold of those because some ukrainian pilots had trained on those former soviet russian jets. how they would get across the border, they couldn't be flown, it wasn't made clear but that is one suggestion now being entertained if you like by the us congress and maybe be looked at by the pentagon as well. we know already, from pentagon sources that the ukrainians have about 100 or so combatjets, and we are told the majority of those are still intact, but president zelensky thinks he needs some sort of extra help to maintain air superiority or to fend off russia trying to get hold of air superiority, and this old jet policy is just one thing he's looking at, and is hoping people like the americans, who have the most resources, most of the money when it comes to this, might find a way of making it actually happen on the ground.

plans for humanitarian corridors — to allow civilians to leave mariupol in the south of ukraine — have failed to come off. 200,000 people are desperate to escape the city — to safety. 0ur eastern europe correspondent sarah rainsford has been to the town of zaporizhia — whose nuclear power plant was targeted by russian troops earlier this week — and which is ready to receive evacuees. zaporizhzhia was ready for crowds of people today, bus—loads of families, fleeing the fighting further south. this is the nearest safe city, just outside the conflict zone. wladyslaw remembers trips to the state circus as a schoolchild. he never imagined turning the ring into this, a refuge, in a war. but the thousands he was expecting to help didn't show up. there was no ceasefire, the safe corridor to allow people to reach here was never set up. translation: we were waiting

for them but i hear _ the russians didn't keep to the agreement so no—one dared risk it and the corridor slammed shut. but we still hope they can agree something and we are ready to take people in. for ten days, the port city of mariupol has been under bombardment, besieged and battered by russian troops. volnovakha has also been targeted relentlessly. the plan was to stop all this and let civilians take buses to safety. but hours into an agreed ceasefire, the mayor of mariupol published this... a warning to residents that russian forces were firing along their escape route. "don't panic," he told them, "but it's not safe now." this woman did make it out today, from another danger spot. she was given clothes for her daughter at the circus cloakroom. she'd had to leave everything at home

to run from the fighting. it was also unexpected, she says, and so stressful. all of these donations, the clothes, the bedding and food, it was all gathered here in the space of just a couple of hours today, when people of this town were told families were going to be fleeing here from the fighting further south, and they haven't arrived yet, but this does show very clearly how communities and how this country, in fact, is uniting, in the face of this enormous threat. all this beetroot soup won't get eaten today but there will be more supplies, more help, as soon as it is needed. edward wanted me to know that everything would be ok and he insisted russian troops wouldn't dare enter this city. then he crumpled... and the people all this is meant for had to spend yet another night in danger.

sarah rainsford, bbc news, zaporizhzhia. thank you forjoining us on the programme. the 11 invasion is beginning. where does the war stand? irate beginning. where does the war stand? ~ . ., , ., stand? we are realising that we overestimated _ stand? we are realising that we overestimated the _ stand? we are realising that we overestimated the strength - stand? we are realising that we overestimated the strength of. overestimated the strength of the russian military and underestimated the strength of the ukrainian armed forces. putin thought he would be able to roll into ukraine very quickly and on day 11 kyiv still stands. he hasn't done very well. there are reports of fuel shortages, food shortages and low morale among troops so this has been much harder than vladimir putin expected. the bottom point is that moscow doesn't understand ukraine. they have made a number of

political misjudgments and planning for the war and they did really badly. what assumptions? they assume the ukrainians would not fight and would not resist. if vladimir putin could be a newspaper he had known that the ukrainians would fight and resist. 45% of ukrainians with fight and resist with a weapon, and this was before the war started, so i am not surprised at all by the strength of resistance in ukraine, but ukraine has changed much since 2014, and russia doesn't really understand how much it has changed. the kremlin thought it could grow in and would be greeted with flowers and people would be ok with russian rule and that is clearly not the case whatsoever.- and that is clearly not the case whatsoever. what is the ukrainian _ case whatsoever. what is the ukrainian military _ case whatsoever. what is the ukrainian military tactic - case whatsoever. what is the ukrainian military tactic at. ukrainian military tactic at the moment?— ukrainian military tactic at the moment? the ukrainian military is— the moment? the ukrainian military is trying _ the moment? the ukrainian military is trying to - the moment? the ukrainian military is trying to defend i military is trying to defend its territory and hold the city

is much as possible. it depends which city you are talking about. the stitching is —— situation is dire and mariupol, in kyiv, they have managed to hold the city and it is specific for each different city. we would have to zoom in on a city if we wanted to talk about it with any specificity, but so far the ukrainians are doing quite well. is but so far the ukrainians are doing quite well.— doing quite well. is there a scenario — doing quite well. is there a scenario which _ doing quite well. is there a scenario which russia - doing quite well. is there a scenario which russia is i scenario which russia is finding it easier in the south, that they might breach —— bridge forces in the south and east and consolidate in one area, then consolidate in the north and then you have two fronts. ., , ., ., fronts. that is one of the concerns. _ fronts. that is one of the concerns, the _ fronts. that is one of the concerns, the concern i fronts. that is one of the i concerns, the concern that fronts. that is one of the - concerns, the concern that they are trying to build that land bridge to the south, they want to isolate ukrainian troops in the east, and there is concern that they want to try to eliminate the border that we have between poland and ukraine. that border is really important to be able to resupply the army and for

refugees to be free —— fleeing to the european union, so the ukrainian military has to do a lot of things at the same time. let's talk about diplomacy, there are efforts including one by the israeli prime minister, there are low level talks in ukraine and belarus, the expect any headway from those efforts? not at this point, i don't see any desire from vladimir putin to negotiate, he sent his former culture minister, robert says he is not serious about negotiations. it failed almost immediately. let's try, let's talk to them and see if we can get some humanitarian corridors put in place that are serious but i don't see at that point, my expectations are low, the things that vladimir putin has demanded are nonstarters for the west and for ukraine. thank ou. russia's invasion of ukraine

has sent shock waves across countries neighbouring russia, amongst them 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 of joining nato, although president putin has threatened "military and political consequences". our world affairs editor, john simpson, sent this report from vaalema a finnish border patrol sets out along the line of the frontier. times are changing here. russia's attack on ukraine has been a profound shock to people in finland, and a 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's the precise opposite of what russia wanted. at the border crossing point, a steady line of russians are 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's one of them. we tried to do something with our government, but... she sighs it's nothing. so, while vladimir putin is in power, there is nothing much that can be done? mm. historically, finland has always preferred to be neutral, but ukraine, plus the clumsy russian warning, has changed all that.

support for membership has shot up. in helsinki, two computer geeks, in this flat, at this laptop, started a small revolution. they, plus three friends, launched a campaign tojoin nato. they've now got over 70,000 signatures, more than enough to get it debated in parliament. a bit scary, yeah, and really remarkable. that just five guys on the internet could actually change the world. we really wanted that our politicians should have this discussion aboutjoining nato. the support forjoining nato would probably be even higher now. finland's government seems cautiously supportive. i would say no rapid changes, no changes this week or next week, but yes, people are debating, and for us it is very important that the nato door is open for us.

if this does change from being a neutral border, and becomes yet another nato facing—off point with russia, it will enrage the russian government. the calculation here is that, in this new atmosphere, finland would be safer under nato's protection. john simpson, bbc news, on the finnish border with russia. the payments giants mastercard and visa have announced that they are suspending their operations in russia in protest over the invasion of ukraine. mastercard said it will no longer support cards issued by russian banks and those issued outside the country will not work at russian merchants or atms. visa says it will cease all transactions in russia in the coming days. with me is our reporter leigh milner. what does this mean in

practical terms? basically if ou practical terms? basically if you have — practical terms? basically if you have got _ practical terms? basically if you have got a _ practical terms? basically if you have got a visa - practical terms? basically if you have got a visa card - practical terms? basically if you have got a visa card orl you have got a visa card or mastercard it outside of russia it will no longer work inside of russia and if you got the card out of russia it will no longer work, vice a versa so it is as simple as that. anybody that crosses the border, they have cut you off. it is a combined attempt to isolate the economy as we have been seeing over the past couple of weeks. the country's main bank to make it more confusing, has said the complete opposite and said it has told locals not to worry, that banks will accept these cards, you will be able to use them at cash points and still be able to buy milk and bread, so it does make it a bit confusing. we have not been told that by visa or mastercard just yet. we have been told by the visa boss alfred kelly is that the company has felt compelled to act following a's unprovoked invasion of ukraine and the unacceptable events that we as a company have witnessed. mastercard has told

us and issued a statement describing events as shocking and devastating, and they go on to say that we do not take this decision lightly, mastercard has operated in russia for more than 25 years. they have 200 colleagues based there as well who make up that company, so it is critical to stakeholders there. the ukrainian government had previously called on financial companies over the past ten days, lots of them have been pulling out due to the sanctions, paypal being one of them, announcing that it is suspending services there as well. ., ., suspending services there as well. . ,, , ., ., suspending services there as well. . ,, ., .,~ , well. thank you for taking us do that. tens of thousands of people have been demonstrating across european cities in support of ukraine — demanding an end to russia's invasion — as well as using high profile sports matches to get their point across— as stephanie prentice reports. with flags in the stands and applause on the pitch, the world's most popular football league, the english premier

league, losing saturday's matches to show support for ukraine in full view of the watching world. it's messages in the —— mixed messages in the chelsea stands as some fans cheered for owner roman abramovich, and allege close contact of vladimir putin, something their manager stood against. we something their manager stood a . ainst. ~ something their manager stood aaainst. ~ ., ., , something their manager stood aaainst. ., ., , ., against. we need our fans to commit to — against. we need our fans to commit to this _ against. we need our fans to commit to this minute - against. we need our fans to commit to this minute of - commit to this minute of applause, and there are meant do it for ukraine and there is no second opinion about the situation there, and they have our thoughts and our support, and we should stand together as and we should stand together as a club. it is not the moment for other messages. but won't matter off the pitch, the blue and yellow seen all over the world this weekend. ukraine's colour is being held aloft in paris in just one of 120 protests in france, as anti war protesters gather to sing the

ukrainian national anthem. solemn faces with a solemn message, stop putting now. translation: the ukrainian - resident translation: the ukrainian president is _ translation: the ukrainian president is some _ translation: the ukrainian president is some kind - translation: the ukrainian president is some kind of- translation: the ukrainian | president is some kind of hero, he is _ president is some kind of hero, he is a — president is some kind of hero, he is a hero, _ president is some kind of hero, he is a hero, i_ president is some kind of hero, he is a hero, i think— president is some kind of hero, he is a hero, i think that- president is some kind of hero, he is a hero, i think that the . he is a hero, i think that the ukrainian people _ he is a hero, i think that the ukrainian people show- he is a hero, i think that the ukrainian people show us i he is a hero, i think that the| ukrainian people show us an extraordinary— ukrainian people show us an extraordinary example. - ukrainian people show us an extraordinary example. the i extraordinary example. the scene was _ extraordinary example. the scene was mirrored - extraordinary example. scene was mirrored across europe. in croatia, in italy, in latvia, the netherlands, britain, switzerland, germany, where the russian consulate was covered in red paint... and in austria. translation: , ., ., translation: it is important to send a sign _ translation: it is important to send a sign of — translation: it is important to send a sign of solidarity - translation: it is important to send a sign of solidarity and - send a sign of solidarity and to say— send a sign of solidarity and to say that _ send a sign of solidarity and to say that it _ send a sign of solidarity and to say that it is _ send a sign of solidarity and to say that it is wrong - send a sign of solidarity and to say that it is wrong whatl send a sign of solidarity and i to say that it is wrong what is

going — to say that it is wrong what is going on— to say that it is wrong what is going on here _ to say that it is wrong what is going on here. is— to say that it is wrong what is going on here-— going on here. as well as in the united _ going on here. as well as in the united states. - going on here. as well as in the united states. a - going on here. as well as in i the united states. a reminder that the feelings about the war being discussed in chambers and meeting rooms, further amplified on the ground in all cities and streets. in ukraine, in kherson, russian occupation, with residents holding fierce protests of their own and aware that as their freedom is taken away in the space of a week, the world stands beside them to demand it back. stephanie prentice, bbc news. a reminder of our top story this hour, president putin has escalated rhetoric against international sanctions, calling steps taken tantamount to a declaration of war, and ward the west of a wider conflict if a no—fly zone was set up over ukraine. mr putin has had his first face—to—face meeting with a western leader since the invasion began, having had talks with the israeli leader,

naftali bennett, who has offered to mediate. stay with us, more coming up on bbc news. hello — it is cold and frosty across the northern half of the uk where we have clearer skies and light winds. sunday morning starts off on that chilly note, but some sunshine on offer for most of the day. the lowest temperatures will be across rural scotland, perhaps as low as —8 during the early hours of sunday morning. further south we have more cloud across england and wales producing some spots of drizzle through the morning. cloud should tend to break up with more sunshine for many areas compared to what we saw on saturday. perhaps a bit more cloud for south—western england and into wales as well. further north, light winds and lots of sunshine on offer back towards southern england and wales, a breeze coming

in from the north—east and that will take the edge off the temperatures. not particularly warm with high of between 7—9 celsius but with the light winds and the sunshine it should be a fairly pleasant day across the north. on sunday night and on into monday morning, cloud still towards the south and south—west, tending to fade so under those clearer skies with light winds, the frost will be even more extensive as we head on into monday morning. that is not quite as low, those temperatures, but many of us seeing a touch of frost to start monday morning. monday, largely dry with spells of sunshine, always a bit more cloud across england and wales, just drifting northwards into northern ireland and southern scotland at times but it will be well broken, so some sunny spells but still chilly at around 7—9 celsius. looking further ahead, high pressure will ease towards the east overnight into tuesday, allowing fronts to work in from the rest and as it does, the breeze will be picking up on tuesday from a south—easterly direction and we are likely to see some showers arriving across

south—west england and wales and northern ireland later in the day. ahead of that, warmer by this stage, around 7—11, the top temperature on tuesday. midweek and it looks as though low pressure will try to move in from the atlantic as high pressure slips away the east. that will mean a bit more cloud and rain at times but milder air working in, so a bit of a chilly start to the new working week. it looks like things will turn a bit more unsettled, but also milder for midweek.

russian forces have continued their offensive in ukraine with heavy bombardment reported north—west of the capital. 0ur correspondence as a steady stream of people has been seen in the area on foot, taking only what everyone can carry with them to try to find safety. the israeli prime minister has met president putin in moscow to discuss the war with ukraine. the two spoke for three hours. they also discussed the situation in syria and the iranian nuclear deal. he is now heading to germany. the payment giants visa and mastercard are suspending their services in russia. mastercard said it would no longer support cards issued by russia. mastercard is issued by russia. mastercard is issued outside the country will not work at russian merchants are atms. russia says —— but visa says seesaw transactions in russia in the coming days.