strategic point of view, it's much easier to enforce ukraine into solely the issue here before you let all of these freaky people come to the territory of nato and strategically, it would not be right. so, this is the question about the political decision—making first of all. most of the military in nato countries i spoke with, they absolutely assured us that putin will not go from ukraine and he will overcome it although we expect and we believe that we will win in this war, but if putin has a possibility to go further, he will go further. what do you think about the humanitarian corridors or lack of corridors for people wanting to leave the country? i

corridors for people wanting to leave the country?— corridors for people wanting to leave the country? i think we cannot trust nothing — leave the country? i think we cannot trust nothing with _ leave the country? i think we cannot trust nothing with russian _ trust nothing with russian diplomacy, there is no agreement they are keeping and following soap for the last few days there were a few corridors which were agreed, they started to shoot the civilian population during the evacuation. that was in the last two days and we lost a lot of civilians who were killed during the evacuation so i don't trust that they will do any corridors working for now and that is unfortunate to come again the issue we have here. red cross is doing nothing, just collecting money but we don't see them. all this daft of red cross were sitting in the centre and doing nothing so most of the evacuation, humanitarian corridors and other stuff is being done by ukrainian volunteers and

ukrainian authorities. it's like a question why we should have un, why we should have the red cross if they don't do this job they were created for. how until now it can be that the security council, the country which makes our aggression is sitting in the security council of the united nations?— sitting in the security council of the united nations? thank you very much, the united nations? thank you very much. alina — the united nations? thank you very much, alina florova, _ the united nations? thank you very much, alina florova, talking - the united nations? thank you very much, alina florova, talking to - the united nations? thank you very much, alina florova, talking to us | much, alina florova, talking to us from kyiv. thank you for talking to us on bbc news. russian forces have taken over several nuclear sites in ukraine including the largest nuclear plant including the largest nuclear plant in europe, zaporizhzhia, and the site of the plant at chernobyl. a relative has spoken to the bbc about the conditions for workers there,

saying many are forced to work long hours with little sleep or food. we have called her valerie to protect your identity. this is what she had to say to the international atomic energy. to say to the international atomic ener: . , ., . to say to the international atomic eneru. , ., ., ., , energy. first of all he wants somehow — energy. first of all he wants somehow for _ energy. first of all he wants somehow for the _ energy. first of all he wants somehow for the iaea - energy. first of all he wants somehow for the iaea to i energy. first of all he wants - somehow for the iaea to manage the process of rotation between the shifts because first of all there is no staff responsible for some of their processes and functions at chernobyl plant, so they actually haven't access to some control systems, the staff currently there. second of all it is that they are exhausted and their health stage could affect the normal functioning of the nuclear plant, and third, the worst scenario, they are just asking

for some humanitarian aid, so some food, blankets, soap, medicines. because there is no medicines. i’m because there is no medicines. i'm “oined because there is no medicines. i'm joined now by rafael grossi, director of the international atomic agency from vienna. thank you for joining us and bbc news. you heard what valerie had to say about the conditions under which a relative is working in chernobyl. does not tally with what you have heard? it’s working in chernobyl. does not tally with what you have heard? it's good to be with you. _ with what you have heard? it's good to be with you, thanks _ with what you have heard? it's good to be with you, thanks for _ with what you have heard? it's good to be with you, thanks for the - to be with you, thanks for the interest in this important matter. as part of our mission we are in permanent contact with the ukrainian nuclear regulator who is our normal natural counterpart but also with some of the operators in chernobyl and also zaporizhzhia and other

parts of the country, and yes, we are aware that for example the shifts are not being regularly exchanged or changed, as should be the case, and we have been in contact with the russian side as well, indicating that this is not something that should be happening. as you know, i have launched an initiative to come personally to chernobyl or to other places in order to put some logical functioning order into what's going on. on the one hand in terms of safety and security of the nuclear plant, i don't want to look into other things that would be overstepping my mandate. we are looking into safety and security of the nuclear plants. we indicated we

would be ready to agree on a framework of a number of fundamental actions that should be observed when it comes to the safety and security of the nuclear power plants and other facilities and we are in consultation at the moment, of course with ukraine first and foremost but also with the russians since they are present. i have been in contact with a number of world leaders who are taking this up with russia and with ukraine and we are trying to establish some sort of direct communication and possibly to come there, like others who may be leaving, we are here, the iaea once again and we want to help. you want in but how likely _ again and we want to help. you want in but how likely is _ again and we want to help. you want in but how likely is it _ again and we want to help. you want in but how likely is it the _ again and we want to help. you want in but how likely is it the russians i in but how likely is it the russians will let you in? i in but how likely is it the russians will let you in?— will let you in? i don't think that is impossible. _ will let you in? i don't think that is impossible. there _ will let you in? i don't think that is impossible. there have - will let you in? i don't think that is impossible. there have beenl is impossible. there have been contacts which are private forward

not —— public or would not reveal them, i have been consulting with president macron of france who has subsequently been talking to both presidents and i note there is interest in our initiative so we will try to build it up.- interest in our initiative so we will try to build it up. how worried are ou will try to build it up. how worried are you about _ will try to build it up. how worried are you about the _ will try to build it up. how worried are you about the state _ will try to build it up. how worried are you about the state of- will try to build it up. how worried are you about the state of affairs. are you about the state of affairs right now? i are you about the state of affairs riaht now? . are you about the state of affairs right now?— are you about the state of affairs riaht now? ., , ., , , right now? i am very worried because what we had — right now? i am very worried because what we had last _ right now? i am very worried because what we had last week _ right now? i am very worried because what we had last week especially - right now? i am very worried because what we had last week especially at l what we had last week especially at zaporizhzhia was a close call and something like this should never happen again. i said that we have seen what happened, luckily the situation was contained but we cannot be expecting this to be the case every time so we know what needs to be avoided. we have the situation like the example of the witness you were airing just now, where the staff at the facilities

are not being allowed to work normally, for example at that nuclear power plant, unlike chernobyl, which was the key she was referring to. now we learn that the technical staff has to get approval for a number of actions from the military in place which is unacceptable. one thing is to recognise the de facto situation and another is to have this kind of chain of command which is absolutely irresponsible, i would say, because this is not the way to run a nuclear power plant safely. we know the staff is there, very professional staff is there, very professional staff are continuing their activities but the pressure is increasing, its a stressful situation so this is why i want to intervene, i want to agree with the ukrainian counterparts and also with the russian forces on site that

there are certain things that should not happen and the iaea has the authority, the global membership in the technical expertise to be able to manage this process successfully for both sides.— for both sides. before i let you go i want to ask _ for both sides. before i let you go i want to ask about _ for both sides. before i let you go i want to ask about talk _ for both sides. before i let you go i want to ask about talk of - for both sides. before i let you go i want to ask about talk of russia | i want to ask about talk of russia stalling out revised iran nuclear agreement. is there any truth of this, what is the situation? i don't have any information _ this, what is the situation? i don't have any information on _ this, what is the situation? i don't have any information on that, - this, what is the situation? i don't have any information on that, i i this, what is the situation? i don't l have any information on that, i note there are important aspects and what you were referring to is not something that has to do with the nuclear part of the agreement, if i understand correctly what is being reported. the nuclear part of the agreement, and i was in tehran this weekend negotiating important aspects of the safeguard operations we have in tehran, i understand the negotiators are very close to

closing the nuclear part and i know that there are aspects that could be related in an indirect way to technical sides of the agreement on the nuclear side, but i don't have any complete information of stalling or things like this. my impression is that there is a negotiation. at the last moment the more difficult aspects need to be solved so i hope there will be a solution to those. it's very important in these negotiations conclude satisfactorily for all and the iaea has the role of guarantor of all these things. when they agree it is our inspectors that will step in and start verifying that all these agreements on paper or a reality on the ground.- or a reality on the ground. rafael grossi, director— or a reality on the ground. rafael grossi, director general- or a reality on the ground. rafael grossi, director general of - or a reality on the ground. rafael grossi, director general of the i grossi, director general of the international atomic energy agency, thank you for talking to us. now i

will hand over to yalda hakim, who was in lviv for us. over to you. thank you, and as the fighting rages in this country 12 days into the war, diplomacy also continues and we have been reporting that the us secretary of state antony blinken has been in europe, poland and then moldova and today he has been in lithuania where he has spoken to his counterpart about the unity nato members have been showing as this conflict goes on into its 12th day. he also spoke about the importance of expanding an increasing us troop deployment in the region. b, of expanding an increasing us troop deployment in the region.— deployment in the region. a threat to the rules-based _ deployment in the region. a threat to the rules-based order _ deployment in the region. a threat to the rules-based order anywhere to the rules—based order anywhere has the potential to weaken it everywhere. this includes the principle that every nation is free to associate with whom it chooses. that's why we respect and support

lithuania's decision to expand commercial ties with taiwan. beijing has responded to this with economic coercion and political pressure designed to divide the eu and punish lithuania into reversing course. we support the eu's decision to launch a legal challenge against china at the wto. we have to keep trade fair. raising talks about the importance of upholding international order, stability, respecting sovereignty, but from its coercion of vilnius to its failure thus far to condemn moscow's flagrant violation of the territorial integrity of ukraine today and in 2014, asian cosmic actions are speaking louder than its words. . . , actions are speaking louder than its words. ., ., , ,, actions are speaking louder than its words. ., ,, ,, . ., , ., words. that was the us secretary of state speaking _ words. that was the us secretary of state speaking in _ words. that was the us secretary of state speaking in that _ words. that was the us secretary of state speaking in that there - words. that was the us secretary of state speaking in that there near i state speaking in that there near earlier. joining me now is the former us ambassador to the un and

also the us national security adviser from 2018 to 2019, who also served in the state department. john bolton, thank you forjoining us. we were listening to antony blinken speak and in the last few weeks we have heard joe biden talk about the importance of the unity that nato has been showing and the west has shown. how would you assess the weight the us government and the west has handled this crisis and conflict? i west has handled this crisis and conflict? ~ ., , , conflict? i think we are suffering from a basic— conflict? i think we are suffering from a basic failure _ conflict? i think we are suffering from a basic failure and - conflict? i think we are suffering from a basic failure and every i conflict? i think we are suffering l from a basic failure and every day this word there is all it reflects that failure. you can talk about the unity of nato all you want, that's not doing ukraine any good and it's not doing ukraine any good and it's not teaching vladimir putin or xi jinping the right lesson. the objective of the policy before ten or 11 days ago was to deter russia from attacking ukraine. that failed.

it failed because the west wasn't credible after not doing anything serious to russia when it invaded georgia in 2008 or doing anything serious to russia when it invaded crimea in 2014 and after the catastrophic us and nato withdrawal from afghanistan last summer, so what wasn't credible or strong enough. hooton's calculus was that he would simply not face debilitating sanctions and so he went ahead. that failure, let's get that straight and start there. you can talk about unity all you want but we are united in failure and as the days go on we can welcome and applaud that heroism of ukraine cosmic forces which have done far better than anyone expected and we can see the failure is both of russia at the strategic level and the operational level but it doesn't

disguise the fact that in ukraine... but ambassador, what could the west have done differently? what could the us have done because you have often spoke about the fact that president trump permit you were his national security adviser, spoke about wanting to exit nato and in many ways and build a link vladimir putin. just a few weeks ago he said what putin had done was genius. i agree with what you have said, you may have seen donald trump is not president now. what he did was impair the development of a sound bilateral us ukrainian relationship and i think it impeded our ability to provide in those days the kind of assistance that might have borne fruit in subsequent times but for the past year donald trump hasn't been present so as bad as things are, let's talk about president

biden. he did not do what was necessary to deter putin, in fact if anything right now putin is deterring the west, so you can celebrate night out unity but right now the sanctions being imposed on russia will not halt this military activity. the president to american military force of the table in early december and didn't get anything for it. if you believe the objective was to stop the war, we failed. it wasn't that the objective, or am i wrong? wasn't that the ob'ective, or am i wron: ? ,, ., ., ., wasn't that the ob'ective, or am i wronu? ,, ., ., ., ., ., , wrong? should nato impose a no-fly zone? president _ wrong? should nato impose a no-fly zone? president zelenskyy _ wrong? should nato impose a no-flyj zone? president zelenskyy continues to ask for it, in fact he said if the west doesn't impose a no—fly zone they will have blood on their hands, blood of the women and children of ukraine. the president of the us has flatly ruled it out, the prime minister of great britain has ruled it out, the secretary general of nato has ruled it out.

what do you want me to do? if you were national— what do you want me to do? if you were national security _ what do you want me to do? if you were national security adviser i what do you want me to do? if m. were national security adviser would you have advised differently? yes. you have advised differently? yes, ou are you have advised differently? yes, you are asked _ you have advised differently? yes, you are asked to _ you have advised differently? yes, you are asked to meet _ you have advised differently? yes, you are asked to meet not to do now and move 25 in a chess game when in my view 20 of the last 25 moves have been erroneous. it is irrelevant to create unity if the unity isn't achieving anything. the create unity if the unity isn't achieving anything.- create unity if the unity isn't achieving anything. the fact we didn't deter _ achieving anything. the fact we didn't deter putin _ achieving anything. the fact we didn't deter putin earlier i achieving anything. the fact we didn't deter putin earlier and i didn't deter putin earlier and indeed the failures of the russian military, i think i have caused him to double down. he now has try to shout military victory. i don't think there is a negotiated way to end this so the real issue is is that bina nato going to sit by and watch ukraine getting ground into the dust? we are supplying weapons and intelligence now, if you wanted and intelligence now, if you wanted

a pretext to say nato was committing aggression against russia was a party to the conflict, he already has it. people are trying to feel good about this... you has it. people are trying to feel good about this. . ._ has it. people are trying to feel good about this... has it. people are trying to feel aood about this... ., . good about this... you have met him. just based on — good about this... you have met him. just based on the _ good about this... you have met him. just based on the calculus _ good about this... you have met him. just based on the calculus and - good about this... you have met him. just based on the calculus and the i just based on the calculus and the way he has led his foreign policy in places like syria, what is the endgame in your opinion? there are a lot of theories _ endgame in your opinion? there are a lot of theories and _ endgame in your opinion? there are a lot of theories and speculation - lot of theories and speculation going around that putin has a screw loose now and i'm not a shrink, i don't do shrinking analysis, maybe he does, i don't think so. i think he does, i don't think so. i think he is a cold hard calculating man and right now he is probably quite irritated at the performance of the russian military but i don't think that one may back away. he is a man who understands force. we didn't deter him before the invasion, we

are not deterring him now and are leaders of the alliance have said we will not use force are words that leave us? i'm not speaking to you personally but in the immediate generally and in elite circles in the west we have to get past the euphoria that seems to have engulfed us when we watch what's actually happening underground.- us when we watch what's actually happening underground. should we be lookin: to happening underground. should we be looking to china, _ happening underground. should we be looking to china, then, _ happening underground. should we be looking to china, then, because i looking to china, then, because josep borrell, the eu foreign policy chief, said if anyone can work out and mediate a deal here, it's china? that statement confirms what winston churchill once called the confirmed and teach mankind. bringing china in two mediate this or try to resolve it is like figuring out how to enhance china's power in europe. i don't see the logic to that at all.

russian and ukrainian foreign ministers are scheduled to meet today in turkey, that isn't much better but is certainly better than china. ., ., ., ., ., china. you have also said that hard donald trump _ china. you have also said that hard donald trump been _ china. you have also said that hard donald trump been re-elected i china. you have also said that hard donald trump been re-elected in l donald trump been re—elected in 2020, that he would potentially have pulled out of nato. how do you think things would have panned out now because you are saying the unity seems to not be making any kind of difference? ii seems to not be making any kind of difference? , ., ., , difference? if trump had one things would be worse, _ difference? if trump had one things would be worse, the _ difference? if trump had one things would be worse, the russians i difference? if trump had one things| would be worse, the russians would already have captured kyiv may beat six months ago. already have captured kyiv may beat six months ago-— already have captured kyiv may beat six months ago. ambassador bolton, thank ou six months ago. ambassador bolton, thank you for— six months ago. ambassador bolton, thank you forjoining _ six months ago. ambassador bolton, thank you forjoining us _ six months ago. ambassador bolton, thank you forjoining us on _ six months ago. ambassador bolton, thank you forjoining us on the i thank you forjoining us on the programme and sharing your thoughts with us. �* , ., programme and sharing your thoughts with us. �*, ., , , ., with us. let's not be exuberant about the _ with us. let's not be exuberant about the position _ with us. let's not be exuberant about the position we - with us. let's not be exuberant about the position we are i with us. let's not be exuberant about the position we are in. l with us. let's not be exuberant. about the position we are in. we with us. let's not be exuberant i about the position we are in. we are not. ~ ., ., ., ~ not. ok, ambassador bolton, thank ou. we not. ok, ambassador bolton, thank you- we were _ not. ok, ambassador bolton, thank you- we were just — not. ok, ambassador bolton, thank you. we were just listening - not. ok, ambassador bolton, thank you. we were just listening to i not. ok, ambassador bolton, thank you. we were just listening to john | you. we were just listening tojohn bolton, who shared as donald trump's

national security adviser expressing his frustration and talking about not having a sense of euphoria because nato is showing disunity, nato can —— ukraine continues to be bombarded. we will be coming up with a special in the next few minutes so please stay with us for that. the international gymnastics federation has launched an investigation into a russian compelled her after he wore a symbol associated with the war on his vest at eight gymnastics competition at the apparatus world cup in doha. ivan kuliak typed the letter z onto his clothing which has been frequently seen on a russian military vehicles in ukraine. he was standing next to the winner of the event on the podium. among the 1.5 million people who fled ukraine since the russian invasion or a family who have been separated. reach myles and her four

children left the north of ukraine for ammonia, where they are reunited with her partner andy, who travelled there from england. a family that were separated by war. rita and the children were in the north of ukraine, andy was in the south of england. several days of intense bombardment meant rita and the family bunkering down in their basement. but after days of planning their escape, it was time. were there any moments when you thought this could end in the worst case scenario? i think it was probably from the second night. because on the second night, we, again, woke up from these horrible noises, and that was scary. they ploughed through cold weather and heavy traffic and made it across the border to moldova. walking across the bridge, we are not in ukraine any more. the heartbeat was faster and faster,

and i couldn't believe, actually, that we managed to do all this way without actually some big trouble from soldiers or from anybody else. when do you think you'll see your mum again? it is very difficult to answer this question, but when i was hugging her and my brother as well, i said, i am not going to say goodbye, i'm going to come back very soon and be annoying, as much as possible. i really hope it's going to finish quite soon. it can't be like this, it's not right. and then across another border, the family reunited in romania. a moment they envisaged through the dark times. this is really quite the moment. the family have been separated for days now.

and after a lot of worry, a lot of panic, a lot of anxiety, they have finally come together. now a new life awaits in hampshire, away from the war, but memories still linger on. relief for one family who have managed to get to safety. in the midst of the chaos for millions of people in ukraine, two people on the front line decided they will not let a war get in the way of their plans. tim orman explains. meet this bride and groom, defenders of ukraine. no dress, no tuxedo, but still there were flowers, a veil and confetti. the ceremony taking place at a checkpoint in kyiv. they have been together for 20 years, and never saw any reason to tie the knot.

but a military invasion does tend to focus the mind. translation: we decided to get married because we live - in challenging times. and you never know what's going to happen to you tomorrow. we must live in the moment. many people talk about it, but just a few people live according to theis rule. to remain sane, we need to live in the moment. both are members of the ukraine territorial defence unit and the was service carried out by a military chaplain. there was champagne, a wedding breakfast, and even a cake. one imagines not much chance of a honeymoon and an uncertain fight for them and their country, despite it all, a day they will never forget. a little ray of light and happiness in what has been a very dark story.

you can reach me on twitter. you are watching bbc news. goodbye. a quiet start to our new working week but it will not last. it was also a cold start this morning, —7 in glasgow, a hard frost widely in scotland but accompanied by beautiful blue sky and sunshine. there was a little more cloud across england and one or two nuisance, fairly light showers, they are drifting steadily north and west as we go through the day but the emphasis is with that dry and settled story, some breaks in the cloud giving sunny spells, the best sunshine into scotland. in the afternoon the wind will strengthen along west—facing coasts down through the irish sea and with the wind direction coming from a cooler south—easterly source

those temperatures will struggle for the time of year, highs between seven and nine celsius. tonight winds will strengthen out to the west, more cloud tending to develop, cloud across england and wales continues to push north and that means the coldest weather as we go through the night is likely to be through central and eastern areas and that is where we are likely to see a frost first thing on tuesday, but again lots of sunshine to start the day, a beautiful start. as we go into the afternoon cloud will thicken and the winds will strengthen further with rain, some of it have heavy pushing into northern ireland and western fringes by the end of the afternoon. by the end of it we might see temperatures returning back to double figures. as we move out of tuesday into wednesday that front players away but will be replaced by another and we will continue to see winds strengthen further so gale force gusts are likely but the good news

is the wind direction changing to more of a south—westerly, a milder source so temperatures will return to where they should be for the time of year but gale force gusts along west facing coast of scotland, some of the rain heavy as it continues to drift east but from east yorkshire down to east anglia and the south—east it should stay dry with some sunshine and highs around 13. that front has to clear its way through wednesday and into the early hours of thursday, it will allow for a dry day on thursday before more wet and windy weather returns by friday. take care.

this is bbc news — welcome if you're watching here in the uk or around the globe. our top stories... russia offers to temporarily stop attacks to allow ukrainian civilians to escape from some cities — but ukraine says the plan is �*immoral�* as most routes lead to russia or belarus. meanwhile, ukrainian authorities say rocket attacks have continued on residential areas in several cities. the head of the international atomic energy agency tells the bbc of his fears over fighting your power plants in ukraine. i fears over fighting your power

plants in ukraine.— plants in ukraine. i am very worried- — plants in ukraine. i am very worried- i— plants in ukraine. i am very worried. i very _ plants in ukraine. i am very worried. i very worried i plants in ukraine. i am very i worried. i very worried because plants in ukraine. i am very - worried. i very worried because what we had