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 that 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 of ukraine.

across ukraine, the russian military is keeping up its intense bombardments of towns it's trying to capture. there have been heavy strikes against irpin, northwest of kyiv where the russians are trying to break through. a stream of people are fleeing on foot, taking a minimum of belongings. our correspondent orla guerin is in the town — just 25 kilometres outside the capital — 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 to prevent russian advance. 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 an 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. 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 zaporizhzhia — 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 all so 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. ukraine's president said he spoke to spacex ceo elon musk and announced

the country will receive more of its starlink satellite internet terminals. there conversations comes after musk annoucend last week said spacex's starlink satellite internet service had been activated in the country. volodymyr zelenskiy wrote on twitter... starlink provides high—speed internet from space with satellites flying in low earth orbit. but elon musk warned it could be targeted. 0n twitter he said... 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. gary kalman directs the monitoring group, transparency international in the united states. hejoins me now. thank you for joining us. how significant is this move by visa and mastercard? it this move by visa and mastercard?- this move by visa and mastercard? , . , mastercard? it is a significant move and _ mastercard? it is a significant move and continues - mastercard? it is a significant move and continues ongoingl move and continues ongoing efforts to blockade some of the finance is going in and out of russia. ~ ., ~' finance is going in and out of russia. ~ ., ~ , . russia. worked up particle effects on _ russia. worked up particle effects on the _ russia. worked up particle effects on the ground - russia. worked up particle effects on the ground in i russia. worked up particle - effects on the ground in terms of restraining people, oligarchs, whose behaviour the west views needs to be restrained because of their alliance with vladimir putin? the asset freezes that have been made are collectively, we believe, going to have an impact, so any specific and

individual move, it is hard to say whether or not that is the thing that will move the ball to the final endgame, but what we have seen in the past is a coordinated effort to freeze assets anger after all of the various ways in which oligarchs move money around the world and in addition to this move we saw the financial action task force, an international body that sets money—laundering scandals which put the uae on a greenness because of russian money that flows through the banks out of the buyer. so looking at all these things, adding up overtime, looking at all these things, adding up over time, should have a significant impact. how eas is it have a significant impact. how easy is it to — have a significant impact. how easy is it to go _ have a significant impact. how easy is it to go after _ easy is it to go after oligarchs were in the wealth is often so well hidden? that oligarchs were in the wealth is often so well hidden?- often so well hidden? that is actually the _ often so well hidden? that is actually the biggest - often so well hidden? that is|

actually the biggest unknown, and a very significant concerns. we, here in the united states, as some listeners may know, the united states is actually a safe haven for a lot of dirty money stock we have some good laws, our banks are pretty good at monitoring what kind of money is going in and out of them but when you look at the investment markets, in the united states, and $11 trillion market, the housing market, the real estate market, the commercial and residential real estate you are looking at a $50 trillion market so none of those have any kind of money—laundering responsibility like the banks do, so there is a huge concern that some of the money that we know about that is being moved around publicly because some of these oligarchs were not sanctioned, but we think there is a lot of money that is hidden secretly throughout the united states and throughout the world and it is going to be very hard to find that money

because we don't have the systems in place for some of the largest assets that can be held overseas.— held overseas. thank you so much for — held overseas. thank you so much forjoining _ held overseas. thank you so much forjoining us, - held overseas. thank you so much forjoining us, gary . much forjoining us, gary kalman. 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 of just 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, cultural ties 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 f16jets 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 hinting if he 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. duncan kennedy in washington. dr donald jensen is director of russia and europe at the us institute of peace. in the 1990s he was a diplomat at the us embassy in moscow. he joins us from washington. thank you so much. i wonder what your assessment is of the state of the conflict and invasion, 11 days in. thank you for having _ invasion, 11 days in. thank you for having me. _ invasion, 11 days in. thank you for having me. the _ invasion, 11 days in. thank you for having me. the state - invasion, 11 days in. thank you for having me. the state of. invasion, 11 days in. thank you | for having me. the state of the conflict is about to become more fierce and violent. the russians have been shocked at the amount of ukrainian resistance and have steadily shifted tactics, going from a so—called russian version of blitzkrieg, to grinding,

powerful, old—style soviet tactics including a lot of artillery and that includes unfortunately bombing cities and civilians and that is what we will face in the next couple of days. we will face in the next couple of da s. ., ., ~' we will face in the next couple ofda s. ,~ we will face in the next couple ofda s. ., of days. looking back through histo , of days. looking back through history, russia _ of days. looking back through history, russia had _ of days. looking back through history, russia had a - of days. looking back through history, russia had a long - of days. looking back through j history, russia had a long war in afghanistan in the 80s, any similarities with its war in ukraine?— similarities with its war in ukraine? . ., , ukraine? there are many, the coal of ukraine? there are many, the goal of ukraine _ ukraine? there are many, the goal of ukraine is _ ukraine? there are many, the goal of ukraine is not - ukraine? there are many, the goal of ukraine is not to - goal of ukraine is not to defeat militarily the russian forces, but not to lose. there is as we have seen lots of domestic opposition inside russia to what is going on. significantly in the putting elite there is also misgivings and opposition to what is going on but this is one of the reasons why i think the diplomatic front at the moment at least is largely a reserve, largely symbolic and if it gets any traction at all it will

have to have more developments in the fight. have to have more developments in the fight-— in the fight. how realistic is the danger _ in the fight. how realistic is the danger of _ in the fight. how realistic is the danger of direct - in the fight. how realistic is the danger of direct conflict between the us and russia are? it is dangerous and close but significant. we have seen in washington the debate today on a no—fly zone. this comes from calls for nato and the us to have superiority in the sky to a more limited understanding which would protect so—called humanitarian corridors to let the civilians to escape cities like mariupol, which have seen the most severe fighting all of this week. d0 the most severe fighting all of this week-— this week. do you see any chance of— this week. do you see any chance of successful - this week. do you see any - chance of successful mediation or potential back channels to allow de—escalation �*s there are always back channels. you may have _ are always back channels. you may have noticed _ are always back channels. hm. may have noticed there is a back channel for us and russian military as they say, an ugly word, deacon fiction, to make sure there are no accidents,

but they will have to resolve on the battlefield one way or the other before they turn back to meaningful negotiations, but the fact that their meeting is an opportunity, when both sides agree that there needs to be an off ramp, but for now it is going to be largely symbolic and possibility rather than showing any progress at the table. ., ., ~' showing any progress at the table. ., ., ~ . ~ table. looking back in the world and _ table. looking back in the world and europe - table. looking back in the world and europe since i table. looking back in the i world and europe since 1945, how dangerous a moment as this in historical terms?— in historicalterms? certainly the most _ in historicalterms? certainly the most dangerous, - in historicalterms? certainly the most dangerous, much l in historicalterms? certainly- the most dangerous, much more than the balkan war 20 years ago, we are talking about russia, a nuclear armed superpower trying to redraw the security architecture in europe, which europe has profited by since 1945, they want to upset that and that is why they have gone further, threatening poland as the baltic states and that is why the us and the rest has reacted so firmly now, they need to

stop this here, and they need to stop it now.— to stop it now. doctor donald jensen, thank _ to stop it now. doctor donald jensen, thank you _ to stop it now. doctor donald jensen, thank you so - to stop it now. doctor donald jensen, thank you so much . to stop it now. doctor donald l jensen, thank you so much for joining us. jensen, thank you so much for joining us— jensen, thank you so much for joining us._ the i jensen, thank you so much for joining us._ the top j joining us. thank you. the top story now. _ joining us. thank you. the top story now. on _ joining us. thank you. the top story now, on our _ joining us. thank you. the top story now, on our website, i joining us. thank you. the top i story now, on our website, many thousands of people trapped in the south after the failed possibility of humanitarian corridors. you will find analysis and background from our main correspondence in the region. head to bbc news online or use the bbc news app. the united nations estimates 1.5 million people will have led ukraine by the end of this weekend. thousands of refugees have made their way westwards towards poland, romania, hungary and moldova. at least 90,000 have crossed the border into slovakia as well. tens of thousands of people have been demonstrating across european cities in support of ukraine, demanding an end to the russian

invasion as well as using high—profile sports matches to get that point across. stephanie prentice reports. with flags in the stands and applause on the pitch, the world's most popular football league, the english premier league, using saturday's matches to show support for ukraine in full view of the watching world. mixed messages in the chelsea stands as some fans it's cheered for owner roman abramovich, an alleged close contact of vladimir putin, something their manager stood against. we need ourfans to 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 a club. it is not the moment

for other messages. 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 gathered to sing the ukrainian national anthem. solemn faces with a solemn message — stop putin, now. translation: the ukrainian | president is some kind of hero, he is a hero, i think that- the ukrainian people show us an extraordinary example. the 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: it is important to send a sign of solidarity - and to say that it is wrong what is going on here. i as well as in the united states. a reminder that the feelings about the war being discussed in official chambers and meeting rooms, further amplified on the ground in normal 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. give you an overview of life

might be like in kyiv and other cities many people will spend their night in shelters. we can show you a picture from the centre of kyiv were many people will be in basements or metro stations listening out for air raid warnings. bone will come in about one hour or so and people will venture out, some to get supplies, others to see if they can head west towards poland or other countries where they will be safe, or towards they will be safe, or towards the city of lviv. bringing you “p the city of lviv. bringing you up with some of the latest lines coming into the bbc. people in the south of the country had been hoping to escape, particularly from the city of mariupol buckland is therefore a humanitarian corridor, people said that they had been forced back into shelters, and our international correspondent 0rla guerin has told us that heavy bombardment has been reported in irpin, a

town on the north—western outskirts of the capital. do stay with us here 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 much 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 but towards southern england and wales, a breeze coming in from the north—east and that will take the edge

off the temperatures. not feeling particularly warm with highs 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 west 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, a bit 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 after a bit of a chilly start to the new working week it looks like things will turn a bit more unsettled, milder for midweek onwards. goodbye for now.

russian forces have continued their offensive in ukraine with heavy bombardment reported north—west of the capital. 0ur correspondent says 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 men 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. mastercards issued outside the country will not work at russian merchants or atms.