states delivered hundreds of thousands of covid—19 vaccines to moldova — thousands of covid—19 vaccines to moldova and millions of dollars in pandemic— moldova and millions of dollars in pandemic relate is assistance. we will invest— pandemic relate is assistance. we will invest $18 million over the next _ will invest $18 million over the next year— will invest $18 million over the next year to help strengthen and diversified moldova's energy sector, greater— diversified moldova's energy sector, greater energy security is vital for your sovereignty. we support the osc lead 52 _ your sovereignty. we support the osc lead 5.2 negotiations to find a comprehensive settlement to the trans- _ comprehensive settlement to the trans— mystery and conflict that upholds — trans— mystery and conflict that upholds moldova's territory —— sovereignty and territorial integrity with a special status for trans- _ integrity with a special status for trans— mystery and we will seek every— trans— mystery and we will seek every opportunity to deepen the ties between _ every opportunity to deepen the ties between our countries, economic, educational, people to people ties, because _ educational, people to people ties, because we want our friendship with the people _ because we want our friendship with the people of moldova to grow even slrongep _ the people of moldova to grow even stronger. in the face of the global challenges we face today, we're all going _ challenges we face today, we're all going to _ challenges we face today, we're all going to be much more successful when _ going to be much more successful when we — going to be much more successful when we work closely together as partners. — when we work closely together as partners, especially democratic partners — partners, especially democratic partners. we know that countries that respect human rights, uphold the rule _

that respect human rights, uphold the rule of— that respect human rights, uphold the rule of law, support inclusive, accountable governance for all of their _ accountable governance for all of their citizens, produce the best solutions— their citizens, produce the best solutions to even the most difficult problems — solutions to even the most difficult problems. so we will support moldova as you _ problems. so we will support moldova as you pursue increasing integrity and accountability in the public sector and the _ accountability in the public sector and the judiciary and developing an independent media sector that can deliver— independent media sector that can deliver reliable information and help fight this information. moldova is a powerful example of a democracy rose into the moment with vision and determination. this partnership — vision and determination. this partnership between us is built on shared _ partnership between us is built on shared interests and values. we are grateful— shared interests and values. we are grateful for — shared interests and values. we are grateful for 30 years of friendship and look— grateful for 30 years of friendship and look forward to the next 30. on behalf— and look forward to the next 30. on behalf of— and look forward to the next 30. on behalf of the american people, thank you again _ behalf of the american people, thank you again for your generosity towards _ you again for your generosity towards the ukrainian refugees at this urgent moment for democracy and peace _ this urgent moment for democracy and peace. thank you. us

this urgent moment for democracy and peace- thank yon-— peace. thank you. us secretary of state antony _ peace. thank you. us secretary of state antony blinken _ peace. thank you. us secretary of state antony blinken and - peace. thank you. us secretary of state antony blinken and the - state antony blinken and the president of moldova. antony blinken saying the russian invasion of ukraine was unprovoked and kicked off a humanitarian crisis. he said 2000 and 40,000 people have now gone to moldova from ukraine and expressed his support for the sovereignty and integrity of moldova. i think we will hear some questions, actually. translation: it is a huge effort for our country. what can the international community do in order to directly help with the war in ukraine, the people? we will continue helping out all the people that have to flee from the

war. this is indeed a challenge and exactly the reason why we have requested the international assistance in the shape of financial assistance in the shape of financial assistance to compensate the expenditures we suffer in order to help out those people. we need clear mechanisms to re—channel the refugees continue theirjourney to reach another country. those are two requests, and obviously we also expect the expertise of the specialists that have been involved in managing the sort of situations earlier. the republic of moldova, those are the most important elements of assistance we are expecting from the international community and our partners. i agree

with what the president said. there is a major effort under way. evolving countries around the world to support refugees arriving from ukraine. but first and foremost the burden has been on neighbouring countries like poland, the republic of moldova, the immediate responders. we are seeing the international communityjoining to international community joining to support these international communityjoining to support these countries and to support these countries and to support these countries and to support the refugees. find support these countries and to support the refugees.- support these countries and to support the refugees. and so you have a major— support the refugees. and so you have a major international - have a major international organisations including the united nations— organisations including the united nations in particular bringing its expertise — nations in particular bringing its expertise and resources to bear. as i expertise and resources to bear. as i mentioned — expertise and resources to bear. as i mentioned a moment ago, president biden— i mentioned a moment ago, president biden asked our congress for emergency support to include very significant — emergency support to include very significant humanitarian support to help ukraine deal with the humanitarian consequences of this war of— humanitarian consequences of this war of aggression against ukraine, both within ukraine itself and also

within— both within ukraine itself and also within the — both within ukraine itself and also within the surrounding countries that are — within the surrounding countries that are receiving refugees. so we are bringing our own technical expertise _ are bringing our own technical expertise to bear including here and in the _ expertise to bear including here and in the republic of madonna, and also resources _ in the republic of madonna, and also resources to — in the republic of madonna, and also resources to help alleviate some of the burden— resources to help alleviate some of the burden moldova and other countries are carrying. the}t countries are carrying. they question — countries are carrying. they question to _ countries are carrying. they question to the _ countries are carrying. they question to the secretary i countries are carrying. theyj question to the secretary of countries are carrying. we: question to the secretary of state. which way do you assess the submission by the republic of both —— moldova, tojoin the european union. can we have support to strengthen our energy independence, importance of true independence in our country? i importance of true independence in our country?— our country? i cannot speak for the euro ean our country? i cannot speak for the european union — our country? i cannot speak for the european union but _ our country? i cannot speak for the european union but i _ our country? i cannot speak for the european union but i can _ our country? i cannot speak for the european union but i can say- our country? i cannot speak for the european union but i can say we i our country? i cannot speak for the l european union but i can say we very much _ european union but i can say we very

much support moldova's european aspirations and welcome the work being _ aspirations and welcome the work being done in that direction. this is the _ being done in that direction. this is the will— being done in that direction. this is the will of the moldovan people and we _ is the will of the moldovan people and we welcome the pursuit of closer ties and _ and we welcome the pursuit of closer ties and greater integration. but ultimately of course that processes up ultimately of course that processes up to _ ultimately of course that processes up to moldova and the european union and its _ up to moldova and the european union and its member countries. when it comes— and its member countries. when it comes to _ and its member countries. when it comes to energy independence, i think— comes to energy independence, i think that — comes to energy independence, i think that is absolutely vital. that independence or energy security is actually— independence or energy security is actually critical to maintaining one's— actually critical to maintaining one's cemetery and independence. —— sovereignty— one's cemetery and independence. —— sovereignty and independence. we are working _ sovereignty and independence. we are working to _ sovereignty and independence. we are working to help build greater energy independence. providing support to alternatives. ourambassador

independence. providing support to alternatives. our ambassador is an expert— alternatives. our ambassador is an expert in— alternatives. our ambassador is an expert in these very issues so we will be _ expert in these very issues so we will be working closely with moldova as we _ will be working closely with moldova as we have been ready to help produce — as we have been ready to help produce greater diversification, greater— produce greater diversification, greater energy security in the coming — greater energy security in the coming years. i think this is something vital to pursue for all countries — something vital to pursue for all countries and we know also what can happen— countries and we know also what can happen when any country, it is the case _ happen when any country, it is the case for— happen when any country, it is the case for many, overly reliant on others — case for many, overly reliant on others that— case for many, overly reliant on others that prove in one way or another— others that prove in one way or another not to be reliable supplier. this is— another not to be reliable supplier. this is very— another not to be reliable supplier. this is very much a focus of what we are doing _ this is very much a focus of what we are doing together and something we are doing together and something we are passing very actively right now and in _ are passing very actively right now and in the — are passing very actively right now and in the months and years ahead. the us— and in the months and years ahead. the us secretary of state. russian troops have continued their offensive against ukrainian towns and cities, with heavy bombardment reported in irpin, northwest of kyiv. cities in the south including mariupol,

and kharkiv in the north—east, are being attacked. visa and mastercard have become the latest western companies to suspend their services in russia. dan johnson reports. the pummelling of the ukrainian people shows no sign of relenting. it's getting closer to kyiv and it's causing more casualties as well as forcing more people on the move. it's also sparking more resistance. ordinary ukrainians of all ages are getting ready to fight. i'm a student, i'm 21, so that's the legal age for buying your first gun or rifle here. it's unfortunate to see how many students instead of going to classes, are going to stand in queues to get arms. it's our country. i can't step back, you know. never, never. they will die, for sure. everyone — every russian will die here. we will burn them. all of them. ukrainian forces say this shows their level of resistance, shooting down a russian helicopter. and the country's president has

given another defiant rallying speech, with a message to his own people living under occupation. translation: you have to go on the offensive. l it is necessary to fight if there is an opportunity. it is necessary to go out and drive this evil out of our cities, from our land. there have been protests around the world, but also in russia. with more companies pulling out of the country, life is getting harder. visa and mastercard have announced they are suspending their payment with more companies pulling out of the country, life is getting harder. visa and mastercard have announced they are suspending their payment services, so doing business will get even tougher. and speaking in their language, ukraine's president has something to say directly to the russian people in whose name vladimir putin is waging this war. translation: | know that - many of you came to believe that ukraine allegedly hates you,

allegedly will attack, allegedly will destroy. liars. liars talk about it every day on the russian television. it's theirjob to lie to you every day, but that shouldn't be your fate. russian promises of a temporary ceasefire weren't kept yesterday, which meant this evacuation centre stood largely empty, with ukrainians unable to escape from mariupol, which has been under siege for the last ten days. there are dead bodies everywhere in the streets of mariupol, that is why the calls keep coming for nato to impose a no—fly zone, including from ukraine's former president. the russian is completely bombing with the airborne, 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. we need to protect them. the us and other nato countries have so far resisted that, fearful of all—out war with russia. but the secretary of state was in poland yesterday and stepped

across onto ukrainian soil to show solidarity. good afternoon, everyone. we've seen an extraordinary surge of support from around the world against russia's aggression, against russia's war of choice. against what is happening every single day, every single minute in ukraine to civilians throughout the country as a result of this aggression. ukraine will win this war anyway, because this is the people's war fortheir land and we defend the right cause. the question is the price, the price of our victory. and that price will be paid by the ukrainian people, by the families split up and scattered in fear for their lives. dan johnson, bbc news. our correspondent, yalda hakim joins us now live from lviv in western ukraine.

i hope you can hear us. i can now. tell us about _ i hope you can hear us. i can now. tell us about the _ i hope you can hear us. i can now. tell us about the people _ i hope you can hear us. i can now. tell us about the people still- tell us about the people still arriving and the help for people arriving. arriving and the help for people arrivinu. ., , , ., ., arriving. the un commissioner for refu:ees arriving. the un commissioner for refugees says _ arriving. the un commissioner for refugees says there _ arriving. the un commissioner for refugees says there is _ arriving. the un commissioner for refugees says there is now - arriving. the un commissioner for refugees says there is now over i arriving. the un commissioner for| refugees says there is now over 1.5 million people who have left this country and many of them are coming here through lviv... with me now is yelena, who's here in lviv after leaving her home in odessa this morning. sound breaks up.

it was very difficult to sit on the train _ it was very difficult to sit on the train and — it was very difficult to sit on the train and leave the city. it is overcrowded. even if you have a ticket — overcrowded. even if you have a ticket in— overcrowded. even if you have a ticket... in the train and bus station _ ticket... in the train and bus station. when we came here, like this morning, it is so overcrowded, thousands— this morning, it is so overcrowded, thousands of people. everything in a ba- thousands of people. everything in a bag agitated take that. haste thousands of people. everything in a bag agitated take that.— bag agitated take that. have you come on your— bag agitated take that. have you come on your own? _ bag agitated take that. have you come on your own? there - bag agitated take that. have you come on your own? there would| bag agitated take that. have you i come on your own? there would be bag agitated take that. have you - come on your own? there would be no opportunity — come on your own? there would be no opportunity to — come on your own? there would be no opportunity to leave _ come on your own? there would be no opportunity to leave so _ come on your own? there would be no opportunity to leave so you _ come on your own? there would be no opportunity to leave so you should - opportunity to leave so you should leave _ opportunity to leave so you should leave now — opportunity to leave so you should leave now. so opportunity to leave so you should leave now. , ., . opportunity to leave so you should leave now— leave now. so you have left your arents, leave now. so you have left your parents. family _ leave now. so you have left your parents, family behind? - leave now. so you have left your parents, family behind? they i leave now. so you have left your. parents, family behind? they told leave now. so you have left your - parents, family behind? they told me ou should parents, family behind? they told me you should leave, _ parents, family behind? they told me you should leave, so _ parents, family behind? they told me you should leave, so i— parents, family behind? they told me you should leave, so i should - parents, family behind? they told me you should leave, so i should listen . you should leave, so i should listen to what _ you should leave, so i should listen to what my — you should leave, so i should listen to what my parents say, so i left.

that _ to what my parents say, so i left. that must — to what my parents say, so i left. that must have been difficult to do. it was difficult but i think like all these _ it was difficult but i think like all these people now leaving, they had the _ all these people now leaving, they had the same choices because it is mainly— had the same choices because it is mainly young people and older people also trying _ mainly young people and older people also trying to do it when you have your— also trying to do it when you have your health, with your hands and le-s your health, with your hands and legs and — your health, with your hands and legs and in— your health, with your hands and legs and in a nice mind, what more can you _ legs and in a nice mind, what more can you ask— legs and in a nice mind, what more can you ask for right now? nothing. do ou can you ask for right now? nothing. do you know _ can you ask for right now? nothing. do you know where _ can you ask for right now? nothing. do you know where you _ can you ask for right now? nothing. do you know where you will- can you ask for right now? nothing. do you know where you will go? - can you ask for right now? nothing. | do you know where you will go? now can you ask for right now? nothing. i do you know where you will go? now i willt to do you know where you will go? now i will try to cross _ do you know where you will go? now i will try to cross the _ do you know where you will go? now i will try to cross the border _ do you know where you will go? now i will try to cross the border with - will try to cross the border with poland — will try to cross the border with poland and i will try to go to warsaw— poland and i will try to go to warsaw and then maybe try to find may be _ warsaw and then maybe try to find may be a _ warsaw and then maybe try to find may be a boss cart to go to the netherlands. do may be a boss cart to go to the netherlands.— may be a boss cart to go to the netherlands. , ., ,, , ., netherlands. do you think you will come back to _ netherlands. do you think you will come back to ukraine _ netherlands. do you think you will come back to ukraine ever? - netherlands. do you think you will come back to ukraine ever? it - come back to ukraine ever? it depends on my situation because nobody— depends on my situation because nobody knows even right what will be --oin nobody knows even right what will be going on _ nobody knows even right what will be going on even in the next two days. we don't _ going on even in the next two days. we don't know anything about the

future _ we don't know anything about the future. but i hope, yes.— we don't know anything about the future. but i hope, yes. thank you so much- — yelena who has come from odesa, like so many who have left their wives behind and do not know where to go next. arriving in lviv like tens of thousands of others hoping for the best and uncertain about what the future holds. and stressful, your parents say we wanted to go but you do not want to leave them, do you? this time yesterday we were expecting a ceasefire in two areas in the south of the country, but in mariupol it had to be abandoned because it was not observed. we were expecting another ceasefire today, any news on whether that is holding so far this morning?— so far this morning? victoria, yesterday _ so far this morning? victoria, yesterday i — so far this morning? victoria, yesterday i spoke _ so far this morning? victoria, yesterday i spoke to - so far this morning? victoria,

yesterday i spoke to the - so far this morning? victoria, l yesterday i spoke to the deputy mayor of mariupol, he said to me initially they had 50 buses trying to get about 6000 people out of the city. about 450,000 population, they are saying around 250,000 people at risk of shelling and bombing every day so they are trying to get them out. as you say the ceasefire did not hold, did not get off the ground, the five hour window. they said people were still being shelled, fired at by russian forces. today the authorities say they are going to try to start that humanitarian corridor again and have it for longer than five hours. but still no clear indication as to whether people are being fired at or shout at this point in time. doctors without cap might border says the situation for the people of mariupol is catastrophic and they need to get people out of there. no access to

food, water and heating. many have got into underground bunkers but the situation is dire. they are waiting to be evacuated safely.— situation is dire. they are waiting to be evacuated safely. yalda hakim in lviv. if to be evacuated safely. yalda hakim in lviv- if we — to be evacuated safely. yalda hakim in lviv. if we get _ to be evacuated safely. yalda hakim in lviv. if we get confirmation - to be evacuated safely. yalda hakim in lviv. if we get confirmation of- to be evacuated safely. yalda hakim in lviv. if we get confirmation of a l in lviv. if we get confirmation of a ceasefire happening we will bring it to you as soon as we have the news. the un says 1.5 million people may have fled ukraine by the end of today. of those, more than 920,000 have crossed the border into poland. our correspondent kasia madera is in medyka on the poland—ukraine borderfor us now. talk about how cold it is. amongst

so much uncertainty and destruction that has happened in ukrainejust across the border from that has happened in ukrainejust across the borderfrom me, one thing is constant, the flow of people coming through. these people have just crossed over the border from ukraine, theirjourneys to get here have been a long, uncertain, we have been seeing the scenes back in lviv, what is happening, the people crossing with cars, leaving their cars running out of fuel, crossing by foot by these people here into poland. theirfirst by foot by these people here into poland. their first times by foot by these people here into poland. theirfirst times i have an opportunity to get something warm to drink, theirfirst time opportunity to get something warm to drink, their first time to get something to eat. this whole community, centre has popped up and is very transient. we have been here a week, things change, tents pop up and go. what is constant along with the flow of people coming across the border is the support that poland is offering to those people have fled.

volunteers in their hundreds dropping off things that children might need, the piles of nappies, the milk formula, the food for the children who are exhausted and overwhelmed. what is really, really touching isjust overwhelmed. what is really, really touching is just the little moments of generosity, how people just bring, people that have fled the border into their homes. this is the first moment, these people have crossed into this country and there is a sense of calmness and just exhaustion, given what they have been through. there is organisation. you see all the time people coming up, explaining we have a person who is travelling to crack of —— krakow.

and other places. this is continuous, people who have bits of paper explaining we will take such and such, we will take you on, provide transport, things for free. this is happening all the time, day in and day out on this border as people come across. it is cold and snowing here every now and again. people have spent days getting to the border about this is the next leg of the journey. the border about this is the next leg of thejourney. here the border about this is the next leg of the journey. here we have the queue of people waiting to get on a bus to take them to the next part of the stage of the journey, temporary reception areas. it is what antony blinken came to. people rest and move on. across the whole of poland, people opening their doors, websites offering advice of what to do if you want to take a refugee family n.

they are all coming together bringing people into their homes. every few minutes, a bus will come up, load these people own, move them further away because, ultimately, we know that more and more people continue to cross this border was already over 900,000 people have come into poland. that is higher than the population of poland for second largest city, krakow, coming into this country in such a short space of time. they all need help, attention and rest.— attention and rest. thank you very much, attention and rest. thank you very much. kasia _ attention and rest. thank you very much, kasia madera. _ there are five countries on ukraine's western and southern borders, and all of them are witnessing things the region hasn't seen since the second world war. from slovakia, rob cameron has this report. 10,000 people a day crossing

into slovakia from ukraine. 10,000 journeys, 10,000 stories, each similar, each unique, each terrifying in their own way. svetlana is an english teacher from the town of korosten who fled with her seven—year—old son iliya and their cat. without your house, without your clothes, because we went out we just nothing, like, we were hoping that we could come back someday, but i don't know, as far as watching the news, i'm losing my hope, actually. for now, she's heading to the polish city of rzeszow to stay with friends. central and eastern europe is home to a huge ukrainian diaspora. in homes across the region this evening, people will be making up

spare beds for their kin. and for those who have no—one in warsaw, bratislava, or prague will be put up by an army of willing volunteers. but not all of these people fleeing the conflict are ukrainians. russia's war has scattered thousands of migrant workers and students and most of them are trying to get home as quickly as possible, but not everyone. foreigners from all over the world were studying in ukraine when the war started. some just months away from completing their degrees. it is six years already i have been doing my thing, i have been studying late night for exams, i had plans for my life, i will do this, i'll write my exam, i will go to another country, i will become something in my life. but now i don't know what to do. degrees can be finished, of course, but lives lost can't be relived. the red army once liberated this part of europe and slovaks haven't forgotten. but now their neighbours are fleeing russian tanks, not welcoming them. and countries like slovakia

are the ones providing the shelter. rob cameron, bbc news, on the slovak—ukrainian border. 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 olaf 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? simon smith, the uk's former ambassador to ukraine, said while it's good to keep channels of communication open, there is limited room for successful talks given putin's current stance.

anyone going into talks with putin at this stage i hope they understand just how colossal a mountain of lies and deceit his aggression on ukraine is based on. i think going into talks with putin on a basis of their are two sides to this question and a middle way has to be found, i think that is a fundamentally wrong approach to this. this is a totally unprovoked war and as so many people have said, i think it is a vital objective that putin is seen to have failed, that his aggression on ukraine has failed. can i ask you, mr smith, how will that happen? how will he fail in your view? i think what we need is to sustain almost a multiple front in ways in which we can bring home both to putin that there is an unsustainable cost to what he has done, economic terms where we pile on not only the sanctions but also

the decisions that have been made all around the world to disinvest in russia, and fundamentally disconnect russia from its coexistence in the global economy. and do you think he will care about that? i think it would be foolish of us to stop and ask ourselves well maybe he doesn't care. the important thing for us is to continue to find ways of demonstrating the increasing costs of what he is doing. i think it is also important in the background that we remember this is notjust about putin, it is actually also about demonstrating in whatever way we can and getting through to russian peoplejust the extent to which, make sure they understand the extent to which putin has trashed russia's global reputation, apparently in their name.

and to continue the process of ensuring that many people understand, as many people do in russia, the immense damage that has been done by putin to russia and why it has to stop. what if that plays out in the way you describe? what if it takes three months or six or nine or a year or two? i fear we have to have our minds open to the fact that any of those scenarios you mentioned are possible. we have to bear in mind that none of this can be gone into with a quick and easy assumption that putin's effort will collapse in a heap any time soon. personally, i very much hope it does but we must also go into it aware of the possibility that this could be a very long haul. it might notjust be ukraine, it could be mulled over next

it could be moldova next from his point of view, and is the west and nato just going to keep on piling on the economic sanctions if that happens? no, as i say, i think this is notjust a matter of increasing economic costs, i think the economic costs are very significant and i think that will be an effective and telling pressure. it will be on the minds of the russian administration, the putin administration's decision—makers, however much they might like to bluster about it. we should continue on that course. but i think we should remind ourselves as well that militarily, the action in ukraine has been so far a fiasco for putin. it has delivered none of the results that he expected. he has encountered extraordinary resistance and resilience from the ukrainian people and the ukrainian armed forces. and again, we should be keeping in mind, in my view, i think we should be ruling nothing

out in terms of looking at how we go further. meaning what? in demonstrating there are military costs to putin's actions. sorry, meaning what? well, i think what i mean is something that is essentially a very general approach. i am saying that we rule nothing out. we are i don't think helping ourselves by saying, here is a menu of things, a list of things we won't do. i am not a military person myself but i can see an advantage in keeping your opponent guessing, in keeping your enemy guessing, and i think that anything we can do that provokes uncertainty in the mind of putin as to what may happen next and as to how much further the costs of his war on ukraine may escalate, i think that as i say, we need to keep him guessing... but it is not hard for him to guess, is it?

forgive me for interrupting but it is not hard for him to guess after crimea, we did not do much, after mh17 was shot down, after the poisonings in salisbury, we did not do very much. it is easy to guess what is next, not very much. i would dispute that, actually. but it is because of the lack of action... sorry, go ahead. i'm sorry, i think that there is a lot of ground to suggest that putin has been extraordinarily out of touch in recent years. i think that there is every value, as i say, in maintaining a broad front of options and measures, all designed at quickly driving up the cost of the aggression, the aggressive campaign that he is sustaining. and i think that already, we are in a completely different league to where we were.

yes, there was a degree of patience, there was a degree of caution in the responses to the previous episodes in putin's war on ukraine, and i'm sure that at that point, in the minds of the decision—makers, there was still an element of thinking, this is probably not the point to push right forward with russia's complete disengagement from global systems, we need to keep lines of communication open to russia, we need to ensure russia is understanding us and we need to ensure russia understands that there is actually a way back from this. i think that the situation we are in now is looking at responding to a much larger scale assault on ukraine and it is

a situation that calls for the kind of multi—front, effective response that we need to sustain, the one that, as i say, drives up the costs to putin of aggression on all fronts. the uk opposition leader, labour's sir keir starmer, has repeated his call for the uk government to further strengthen its sanctions regime against russia. hes been spekaing to the bbc�*s sophie raworth who asked if he felt the government was now taking enough action on oligarchs in the uk. yes, but i am frustrated, because many people, including the labour party, have been calling for these measures for a long time. there was a report called the russia report in 2020, two years ago, that set out in detail the problems with russian money in the united kingdom, among other political influences. the government has done nothing about that report. it has just sat there.

the economic crime bill, the bill we will discuss tomorrow and will pass, that has been talked about for a number of years and it was in the queen's speech last year, that it would come through and there is, i suppose the frustration is there is echos of afghanistan, a government that only start to get its act together in the heat of the situation, rather than prepare for it beforehand. we will support them tomorrow. our votes will be there for these sanctions. are we frustrated they're going slowly and they didn't look at this months ago? these sanctions could be in place by now if the government had a bit of forethought. i don't want to divide other than to push the government further and faster on this. the uk deputy prime minister dominic raab has also been speaking the bbc. he was asked whether he thought the proposed ceasefires and safe corridors in the port city of mariupol would hold. i'm very sceptical about any

assurances president putin makes. of course, we want to do everything we can and should exhaust all opportunities to try and provide humanitarian relief, but i think you nly need to look at his track record in syria to say that we need to be very careful to test any assurances vladimir putin gives. there have been talks held in belarus twice now, do you think it is pointless to keep holding those talks if he is not going to keep to his word? i think it is always worth keeping the diplomatic door ajar, but i am sceptical, at least at this stage, that it is likely to yield a reasonable solution to this. we have seen putin's initial gambit has stuttered. you can see that with the fierce resistance that they have had in ukraine, you can see it with the impact of sanctions, which i don't think he was expecting, the rouble falling, the stock market falling to record lows, the impact on interest rates in russia, but i don't think that

yet will have created a change of calculus. we need to keep up that pressure, keep supporting president zelenskyy and the heroic defence the people of ukraine have put up. the president of ukraine vladimir beletskiy has been speaking in the past hour. translation: i wish beletskiy has been speaking in the past hour. translation: i wish you freedom. sir, can you stop... can i freedom. sir, can you stop... can you restart? to support by specific steps. i speak to leaders of many countries every day, every night, to the business community come in every day of the war, there isn't an hour that ukraine would not hear about the support it received. i spoke to president biden this night. i am gratefulfor his president biden this night. i am grateful for his determination for preparation of solutions for ukrainians and europeans of new sanctions against the aggression.

before that, i spoke to american congressmen, senators, over 200 people, and maximum interest in real help to us specifically. conversations that will support us, because the word is —— the world has power to make us safe against russian military planes and helicopters and missiles. if anyone is in doubt, ukraine needs planes, this is really simple when you have the will to make the sky safe, the sky of ukraine, the sky of europe. i spoke to the australian prime minister. i am grateful to australia with regard to their moral position against russian exports. there should not be a port where a terrorist can make money. the prime ministers of albania, bulgaria, israel, are providing support for

ukraine. i spoke to elon musk, who makes the rockets of the future, not killing with rockets because of the past. we spoke about how to win now, how we can collaborate later, after we win the war, support from the global business, the leaders of global business, the leaders of global companies, isjust as global companies, is just as important global companies, isjust as important as the leading states in the world. when the whole world is with you, you have a triple defence, triple weapons, you have a future, ukrainians, we have two still fight for our today. we are fighting to where the border will be between life and slavery and it is notjust our choice. the citizens of the russian federation are making the same choice right now in these days, in these hours, between life and

slavery, today, tomorrow, in the next week. that is the time when evil can still be conquered without irreparable loss, where for your position you will be perhaps fired or put in a police van and not in a gulag, the financial losses are not executed by a firing squad. do not miss the opportunity. social networks, friends, people you know, you don't, your colleagues, your family members have to hear you. we are ukrainians. we want peace. citizens of russia, for you, this is a fight notjust for peace in ukraine. it is the fight for your country, for the best that it has, for freedom that you have seen, for the well—being that you have felt. if you keep silent now, later, only your poverty will speak for you and hear the reply of only your impressions, do not stay silent. the

russian military that we are captured by our defenders, they spoke —— that were captured. there are hundreds of captured russian military, among them pilots of the plane that bombed our cities, are peaceful people. we have heard their testimony. we saw their documents, maps and plans, not from yesterday, thatis maps and plans, not from yesterday, that is not an improvisation, that is war, they prepared this invasion cruelly, cynically, deliberately, in violation of the rules of war. kharkiv, jenners, sumy and mariupol, and many more ukrainian hero cities have seen pure evil atrocities that were planned, that will not kill our humanity. despite all that, we are treating prisoners in accordance with the geneva convention. despite it all, our missiles are not falling onto the civil infrastructure of

russia and belarus. despite missiles being fired at our territory every day, despite that, against civilians and peaceful towns, towns around kyiv, and they are preparing to bombard odesa. the russians always visited odesa, they always felt only warmth in odesa, only genuine warmth and now they are going to fire bombs against odesa, artillery, rockets and missiles against odesa. that will be a military crime, a historical crime. ukrainians, we are fighting for our freedom, our state. we will prevail. we understand already how we will be restoring our country. we are setting up special funds for the recovery of ukraine, there are four of them already, a fund for the restoration of destroyed property and

infrastructure, a fund for economic renewal and transformation, a fund for public debt service and repayment and small and medium business support fund. and many other programmes to support our people, the heroes fighting for our state. this is only the beginning. now we still need wisdom. we need force. we need well, we need victory, we need peace. president zelens , victory, we need peace. president zelensky, there. _ the uk chief of the defence staff say the uk and allies have to be very cautious about russia's threats. admiral sir tony radakin stressed that the uk is part of the world's largest military alliance, nato, and has a nuclear deterrent. also speaking on the sunday morning programme, he why he thought also speaking on the sunday morning programme, he explained why he thought the russian military convoy headed towards ukraine's capital kyiv had stalled. so, we don't have a complete

picture but we do know about a series of factors. so, one is russia hasn't operated at this scale since the second world war and to do what is called combined arms manoeuvre is incredibly complex and incredibly difficult, and we are seeing russia failing to do that in a competent fashion. so they were held up north of kyiv and their forces started to become dislocated. then you have seen the failure of russia with some basics in terms of the maintenance of its kit and their kit has been failing. and at the same time, russia has been attacked by ukrainian armed forces and their rear echelon, some of their logistics, have been attacked and now you are seeing that whole convoy stuck, it continues to be attacked and that is impacting on morale. there are stories of the troops in those vehicles, they don't want to stay in those vehicle so they are camping out in the forest. they are stuck there and russia has got itself into a mess,

not just with that convoy but in the whole of ukraine and we need to keep applying the pressure on russia. those stories of morale, you call them stories, do we know if that is true or not? we absolutely do. we know that there are some of the battalion tactical groups, those who have been leading the fight for russia, have suffered terrible losses. we know that russia acknowledges it has lost nearly 500 people. to put that into context, that is nearly 500 soldiers in one week and that is more than the uk lost in afghanistan over 20 years. ukraine claims nearly 10,000 casualties, we didn't know casualties, we don't know if that is true but we do know that some of the lead elements of russian forces have been decimated by the ukrainian response. how worried are you that president putin could use nuclear weapons? so i think we have got to be very cautious about president putin's threats.

we are part of the world's largest military alliance. we have our own nuclear deterrent. we have got to maintain a calmness and responsibility so that we don't just react rashly to whatever is the latest, frankly at times bizarre or ridiculous comment from president putin. so we are prepared, we are professional armed forces, we will approach this conflict with that level of professionalism and responsibility that you would expect and we will also be incredibly confident in our ability to face down president putin. would we know if the russians were preparing to use nuclear weapons in ukraine? could they do it without us knowing beforehand? so i don't want to go into the detail, but, if you look at this conflict, we have had a remarkable level of intelligence and we were saying for months that this is what president putin

was intending to do and there are some more discrete elements, in terms of warning signs, if this was going to start to chart a path towards nuclear escalation. and what about these nuclear plants. we have already seen one, the biggest in europe, being shelled this week. what is the risk to the others? there are three more in ukraine, what is the risk of those being attacked? i think there is a real risk because russia is struggling with its objectives on the ground in ukraine and we have seen from russia's previous actions in syria and chechnya where it will turn up the violence, it will lead to indiscriminate killings and indiscriminate destruction and we have to keep applying the pressure to russia that this is outrageous and a sense that because your invasion isn't going very well that you just become more and more reckless in applying violence is totally unacceptable and it is especially

unacceptable when you start attacking nuclear plants. the ukrainians keep calling for a no—fly zone. the west has made it very clear that is not going to happen. ukrainians want fighter planes to be provided. why do we not provide fighter planes when we do provide anti—tank missiles? there is a difference with... the anti—tank weapons are obviously very defensive. the weapons that we've provided have a range of about 500 metres, so you have to drive your tank several hundred kilometres before you are within the range of that anti—tank weapon. the no—fly zone, we have to be very careful and the advice that we as senior military professionals are giving our politicians is to avoid doing things that are tactically ineffective and definitely to avoid things that, tactically, might lead to miscalculation or escalation. the no—fly zone would not help... most of the shelling is coming from artillery,

most of the destruction is coming from artillery, it is not coming from russian aircraft and, then, if we were to police a no—fly zone, it means we would probably have to take out russian defence systems and we would have nato aircraft in the air alongside russian aircraft and then the potential of shooting them down and that leads to an escalation. 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, using saturday's matches to show support for ukraine in full view of the watching world. mixed messages in the chelsea stands, booing heard as some fans cheered for owner

roman abramovich, an alleged close ally of vladimir putin, something their manager stood against. we need ourfans to commit to this minute of applause. we 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 colours being held aloft in paris injust one of 120 protests in france, as anti—war protesters gathered to sing the ukrainian national anthem. singing. 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. stand with ukraine! switzerland. germany, where the russian consulate was covered in red paint. and austria. translation: it is important to send a sign of solidarity i and to say that it is wrong what is going on here. as well as in the united states. no—fly zone! 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. hospitals across ukraine are facing threats of supply shortages as the number of people injured in the war grows. a list detailing urgently needed supplies has been sent a list to medical teams here in the uk. in the north east, the nhs is gearing up to send donations with the first shipment expected to arrive within days. sharon barbour reports. boxes of potentially life—saving medical equipment brought here from across the north—east to be urgently sent where they are needed most in the world, to ukraine. this sent where they are needed most in the world, to ukraine.— the world, to ukraine. this is part of an absolutely _ the world, to ukraine. this is part of an absolutely huge _ the world, to ukraine. this is part of an absolutely huge network- the world, to ukraine. this is part of an absolutely huge network ofl of an absolutely huge network of donations and doctors across the uk to try to procure medical supplies,

surgical supplies and life—saving medication and this is the result of basically a week's worth of asking trusts to come forward and help and they have done so very quickly and rapidly and now this is starting to become quite a lot, really! we might have to get another warehouse if this continues. for have to get another warehouse if this continues.— this continues. for vlad, a “unior doctor working i this continues. for vlad, a “unior doctor working at i this continues. for vlad, a “unior doctor working at north i this continues. for vlad, a junior doctor working at north tees i doctor working at north tees hospital, the donations mean so much. he is from ukraine and has family still there. while also a doctor working in a hospital in kyiv. —— one is also. i doctor working in a hospital in kyiv. -- one is also.— doctor working in a hospital in kyiv. -- one is also. i have lots of family in — kyiv. -- one is also. i have lots of family in ukraine _ kyiv. -- one is also. i have lots of family in ukraine still, _ kyiv. -- one is also. i have lots of family in ukraine still, three i family in ukraine still, three cousins 90—year—old grandmother. unfortunately, the invasion has hit them hard and one of my cousins is in central kyiv at the moment, working in a children's hospital and she is looking after the oncology patients, the paediatric oncology patients, the paediatric oncology patients and they are being nursed in basements and corridors for fear

of shelling. i have been in contact with her. she is still keeping me updated but who knows when that might end, when a stray shell hits the hospital? it doesn't even bear thinking about.— the hospital? it doesn't even bear thinking about. doctors and medical teams across _ thinking about. doctors and medical teams across the _ thinking about. doctors and medical teams across the northeast - thinking about. doctors and medical teams across the northeast have i teams across the northeast have already donated 60 pallets of urgently needed medical and surgical supplies such as dressings for battlefield and burn wounds. they are also organising medicines like pain relief and antibiotics to send to hospitals in ukraine.— pain relief and antibiotics to send to hospitals in ukraine. some of it will no to hospitals in ukraine. some of it will go out — to hospitals in ukraine. some of it will go out very — to hospitals in ukraine. some of it will go out very soon, _ to hospitals in ukraine. some of it will go out very soon, within i to hospitals in ukraine. some of it will go out very soon, within the l will go out very soon, within the next _ will go out very soon, within the next 48—hour is and some of it will io next 48—hour is and some of it will go from _ next 48—hour is and some of it will go from here down to london and overland — go from here down to london and overland. some of it will be flown directly _ overland. some of it will be flown directly over to poland and out that way. directly over to poland and out that way by— directly over to poland and out that way. by any— directly over to poland and out that way. by any means that is humanly possible. _ way. by any means that is humanly possible. it — way. by any means that is humanly possible, it will get there.- possible, it will get there. planes will be coming — possible, it will get there. planes will be coming in _ possible, it will get there. planes will be coming in from _ possible, it will get there. planes will be coming in from ukraine i possible, it will get there. planes will be coming in from ukraine to j will be coming in from ukraine to fly this medical equipment out and the organisers, medical aid ukraine

north—east and the nhs are also considering sending doctors out to help. a reminder of our top story. across ukraine, the russian military is keeping up its intense bombardments of towns. irpin, northwest of kyiv, has come under heavy fire. people talked of constant shelling by the russian military as it tries to break through and advance on the capital. moscow says it's made gains in the donbas, which is in the east of ukraine. the turkish president will speak to vladimir putin on sunday, as efforts continue to end, or at least scale back, the fighting. the un's refugee agency says by the end of today, more than 1.5 million ukrainians will hve fled the war since it began. the high commissioner, filippo grandi, has called it the fastest growing refugee crisis in europe since

the second world war. we will bring you the latest headlines in a few minutes. hello. the fairly sunny conditions most are experiencing today are going to continue into the start of the new week but as we go through the week we are going to start to see the wind pick up even more and that, whilst it will bring in some milder air, will gradually allow some atlantic weather systems with the potential for rain, especially across western areas. no rain really today. only one or two isolated showers potentially from this area of cloud towards the south but it is more well broken than we saw through yesterday, so sunny spells compared with yesterday but quite a breeze blowing through the english channel and also the hebrides. that will make it feel a little chilly, temperatures only around 6—7 degrees for some across the south and south—east. further north, with lighter winds across scotland, after that frosty start, it will feel pleasant through the afternoon. sunshine boosting things to around 10—11 degrees.

this evening and overnight, the sun goes and the temperatures drop. there will be a bit of cloud at times in the south so temperatures may fluctuate here but further north, under clear skies, we could see temperatures again drop down to around —5 or —6 quite readily in one or two areas. but a more widespread frost across england and wales tonight with clearer skies and so a cold start to monday morning. but it will be a crisp and sunny one for the vast majority. a few changes for monday, though. more of a breeze this time in western areas compared with through the weekend. we will see areas of cloud drift away northwards. skies may be not as blue at times in parts of northern england, scotland and northern ireland but it will still be a day of sunny spells. when the sun is not with you, feeling a little bit chillier. chillier air coming around this area of high pressure which just about holds on into tuesday but as we go through the week, we are going to see atlantic weather systems pushing in. one gets close on tuesday. most places will be dry. the chance of some rain later on in wales, south—west england and northern ireland. still quite a stiff wind for many but sunny spells continue through much of scotland

and england in particular. notice the temperatures are starting to creep up. as these weather systems push their way in, we see milder air. there could be some rain pushing northwards and eastward as we go through tuesday night into wednesday. another weather system approaching with some stronger winds out towards the west. more in the way of rain potentially, butjust look, we are starting to drag in milder air as well. so as we go through the middle part of this week, as i say, that rain potential, particularly in the west. the breeze is still a feature as we go to wednesday and thursday but notice the temperatures starting to climb up back into double figures, if not the low teens.

this is bbc news — welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the globe. i'm yalda hakim live in western ukraine. our top stories.... russian artillery continues to pound cities and towns in ukraine — authorities in kyiv warn there is worse to come. the attacks on the civil population, including carpet bombarding of the cities, which are basically happening these days already in some cities, will be taking place and thousands and thousands of new civilian victims will be in ukraine. the besieged city of mariupol will attempt another evacuation of civilians — after a similar plan was abandoned yesterday due to continuing fighting. hello.

i'm victoria derbyshire in london. the un says one point five million people have already fled ukraine.