you're watching bbc news, for the latest news and analysis in the uk and around the world. ukraine's deputy prime mininster says a 12—hour ceasefire has been agreed in six of the worst affected areas, to allow civilians to escape. it was so terrible and my parents... i left my parents in sumy. i hope i will see them another time. but the country's foreign minister extends those calls for a ceasefire to chernobyl, after the former nuclear power plant's electricity supply was cut. shelling and fighting is continuing in some areas, but ukraine claims russia's military advance has slowed.

the us rejects an offer by poland to send all of its russian—made mig—29 fighter jets to ukraine, via us bases, saying it would raise serious concerns for nato. ukraine's uk ambassador urges for the temporary easing of visa rules to allow refugees to get out of the country faster. and the kremlin says the us has declared "economic war" on russia, following bans on the imports of oil. welcome to bbc news. we're broadcasting from lviv on day 14 of the war here in ukraine, where a fresh ceasefire is expected to allow more civilians to flee to relative safety, via humanitarian corridors out of besieged cities.

this map shows the areas, here in solid red, which are under russian military control. the striped areas show russian advances. some 7,000 people were evacuated from the city of sumy in the north—east yesterday. the city has seen fierce russian bombardment for days. russian state media said humanitarian routes will also be set up for kyiv, chernihiv, kharkiv and mariupol. ukraine's foreign minister has called on russia to agree to a ceasefire to allow for urgent repairs to be made to the former nuclear plant at chernobyl. it lost its power supply, following the site's seizure by russian troops. but the international atomic energy agency have said the volume

of cooling water at the plant is sufficient to, "maintain heat removal without the need for electrical supply." the number of refugees crossing ukraine's borders into neighbouring countries keeps rising, with the un now saying more than 2 million people have fled ukraine. james waterhouse has sent our first report from kyiv. it's been two weeks since ukraine found itself at war. a country and its very future under attack. the fighting hasn't stopped, but today, more routes announced for people to try and escape it. six humanitarian corridors agreed between ukraine and russia. so, most people here are escaping heavy fighting to the west of kyiv, and whilst it will be seen as a positive that they can get out, it also feeds into a very deliberate tactic by the invading troops to lessen the city's appetite to fight back, as well as bombard

it into submission. in the current safety of central kyiv, this is what awaits some. nights in the metro station, with confusion on where to go next. we have ten grandchildren, and thank god, they are far from here, but of course, we were all together in the first hours here. we are ready to be hungry, to be thirsty, but to see how our children die, it's impossible. these temporary ceasefires are fragile. tens of thousands of people are still stuck under heavy shelling without basic supplies in mariupol. humanitarian aid can't get in either. moscow is accused of shelling the agreed routes. the city is in total darkness. it's like a black, scary, you know, forest. then there is no heating because, of course, it is powered from electricity.

no heating and no water, because everything, all of the infrastructure was damaged. but there have been relative successes. more than 5,000 people made it out of sumy yesterday. the hope is more will follow today. translation: i am addressing the russian federation. - you have officially and publicly- committed to stop shooting from 9am on the 9th of march, 2022. we have a negative experience - when the undertaken commitments were failed along the - mariupol—zaporizhzhia routes. ukrainian army chiefs claim the russian advance has been slowed these last 2a hours. the worry remains, though, that they will continue to surround key cities instead. as of now, some people are managing to escape, but many ukrainians, like these in the central square of kyiv, have decided to stay.

james waterhouse, bbc news. we can talk now to our kyiv correspondent james waterhouse. just a little bit of a glimmer of hope there with those positive developments. we have been watching the humanitarian corridors being breached and civilians for shelling for several days but in the last 2a hours at local people have been able to evacuate safely?— to evacuate safely? yes, we knew auoin into to evacuate safely? yes, we knew going into this _ to evacuate safely? yes, we knew going into this that _ to evacuate safely? yes, we knew going into this that these - going into this that these humanitarian corridors were fragile. we have seen numerous attempts and infighting breaking out. sometimes within one hour of them being set up. we are continuing to see people successfully evacuated from sumy in the north—east, so that's a continuation on from the 7000 who have been thought to have made it out yesterday. equally, in western kyiv, more of a mixed picture. we have seen people arrive at the station, the central station here. if you want to get a sense of the human impact of this work, you need

to hang around at the entrance to the station and see people reluctantly leave home. we saw a group of people arriving, making use of the corridor from the town on the outskirts to central kyiv, they talked about trying to escape heavy shellfire but not want to leave. a real bind for people, getting on trains, westwards. their eventual destination not really known, but there are other parts of western kyiv on the outskirts where people have not been able to get out. they have not been able to get out. they have been trapped in the streets and different districts of the city. so it is a mixed bag of air and then we get to the dire humanitarian situation in mariupol in the south—east. another day where both people cannot get out, escape, continued heavy shelling there, people who are running low on basic supplies, for many days now. people who cannot get out and equally humanitarian aid cannot get in a long and agreed route. moscow is again accused of shelling that very

route. it's very much a mixed picture but we are seeing a continuation of people being able to escape this war as it goes into its third week. escape this war as it goes into its third week-— escape this war as it goes into its third week. , , , , ., ., third week. just bring us up-to-date on the situation _ third week. just bring us up-to-date on the situation in _ third week. just bring us up-to-date on the situation in chernobyl, - third week. just bring us up-to-date on the situation in chernobyl, we - on the situation in chernobyl, we are hearing some worrying reports of the power being severed and that potentially being quite risky. yes. potentially being quite risky. yes, we learned _ potentially being quite risky. yes, we learned about _ potentially being quite risky. yes, we learned about a _ potentially being quite risky. yes we learned about a week ago potentially being quite risky. 123 we learned about a week ago that the chernobyl nuclear power plant had fallen into russian control. for a lot of people watching, that will be a triggering name. it's the scene of the worst nuclear power disaster everin the worst nuclear power disaster ever in 1986. so it is currently contained, the nuclear reactors are under 24—7 control. now, we understand that the staff are able to continue working there, we think thatis to continue working there, we think that is still the case. but in the russian advance, a power cable was

damaged, so save the ukrainian authorities, and they were worried that power cut would lead to a nuclear waste heating up, but the global watchdog has, ifi nuclear waste heating up, but the global watchdog has, if i can use a pan, called such concerns, saying that because of the amount of time since 1986, it's not likely to overeat to the extent where more radioactive material can be released into the atmosphere, but it's an delicate situation. if you go to the south, to the biggest power plant in europe, it supplies you can with sizeable chunk of energy, that is also in russian control. a fire broke out there when russian forces advanced. staff, we understand, are being allowed to stay there and do theirjobs, but it's causing further worries on top of the deeply concerning advance we are seeing from the north and south in ukraine. james, thank you so much for that

update from kyiv and bringing us the latest from across the country. if you want to understand the situation, go to the train station. the effect of the war and of sanctions on russia is likely to hit other countries soon. analysts are predicting the decision by the us and uk to stop importing russian oil will raise energy prices to new record highs, which will then lead to higher inflation, already at its highest in 30 years. in russia, inflation is even higher and american—owned restaurants, from mcdonald's to starbucks, are closing their outlets there. meanwhile, a russian—owned private jet has been impounded at farnborough airbase. 0ur economics correspondent andy verity reports on the global response.

in moscow, it's the last chance to grab a mcdonald's before 850 outlets close their doors while the war is on. i like this food. mcdonald's decision in 1990 to open its first outlet in red square symbolised the end of the cold war. at the time, a big mac cost the average russian half their daily wage. other american brands followed, from coca—cola to heineken and now they are stopping sales to russia. for ordinary russians, putin's war has thrown the third of a century of opening up to western brands like starbucks into reverse. but according to the ukrainian president, every little helps. translation: it is very simple. every penny paid to russia turns into bullets and shells, which are directed at other sovereign states. either russia will respect international law will not wage wars,

or it will not have the money to start wars. what will have rather of a symbolic impact is the decision to stop importing russian oil immediately. britain is only phasing it out by the end of this year, but many multinationals are saying they refuse to buy russian oil. crude oil is already up 65% since the start of the year, and because ukraine's's wheat exports are disrupted, the price of wheat is up 56%, and wholesale gas prices are up 173%. even though the uk imparts only a small amount of oil, _ it's going to be competing - with other countries for supplies of oil now and the prices i probably a better than even chance it will break new records as the implications - of these coordinated bans on russian crude from the us and uk recalibrate through the markets. _ after the government banned aeroflot and all russian—owned private jets from landing in british airspace, a plane at farnborough airfield suspected of violating that ban, was impounded.

we need to stem the flow of putin's income, his blood money, whether that comes from gas or oil or anything else from funding his war machine, and that is what we are determined to do. while russian imports are only 8% of the crude oil we use, they are 18% of our diesel use. according to the latest data, the average price of diesel has hit a record high today of 1.65 a litre, up 3p from yesterday. even petrol cars now cost an average of £90 to fill up. andy verity, bbc news. let's speak now to our correspondent, jenny hill, who's in moscow, and the kremlin saying it's going to think seriously about how to respond to us sanctions? is it too early to tell the full extent of it and the impact on russia? i extent of it and the impact on russia? ~ , ., ., ., , , ., russia? i think your average russian is auoin to russia? i think your average russian is going to find _ russia? i think your average russian is going to find it _ russia? i think your average russian is going to find it difficult _ russia? i think your average russian is going to find it difficult not - russia? i think your average russian is going to find it difficult not to - is going to find it difficult not to see that things are changing. it's not just at those western brands are pulling out, it is also that they

are starting to see prices go up. some supermarkets limiting the amount people can buy. but you are right, we are yet to see the dietrich pain that most analysts say your average russian is going to experience once these actions really kick in. the kremlin is doing its best to mitigate the effects of some of the sanctions so far. for example, we have not seen the moscow stock exchange trading today and the kremlin has also crackdown on people who have bank accounts for foreign currency. they are limiting the amount of money people can take out. there is no doubt the kremlin is in bullish form and it has accused america of waging economic war on russia, which is an interesting turn of phrase, given that as you know, the kremlin has sought to stop journalists using the word war when it comes to describing russia's activities in ukraine. we heard from the spokesman there that the kremlin is currently analysing was the world, analysing president biden's

decision to stop buying oil before it responds. we do expect a response. the kremlin has been saying it will impose counter sanctions. vladimir putin now wants, we understand, to ban or block the export of raw materials from russia, but we don't really know exactly what he has got in mind. we are told the kremlin has not quite decided how that work and which countries it will affect, so we will have to wait and see what details we get on that. for the time being, the narrative from the kremlin is that we expected the sanctions, we are prepared for them, and we are going to do our best to make sure that russians are not hit by them. for example, today, the spokesman was asked what about potential millions of people suddenly losing theirjobs? as these western companies pull out. he said western companies pull out. he said we hope it's not going to be millions, but we have got a headquarters set up to deal with that. that's what they like to do here, set up a headquarters, a task force, to do with those problems. the word from the kremlin is very

much at the moment don't worry, we have got this in hand. when those economic sanctions really start to affect people's lives, it will be very interesting to see what the narrative is. the suspicion here of course is that people will simply be told via state media that this is just another example of western aggression against russia. in retaliation for what russia says is russia trying to recently protect its own interests by going into what its own interests by going into what it calls its special military operation in ukraine. it calls its special military oeration in ukraine. ., operation in ukraine. ok, thanks so much for that _ operation in ukraine. ok, thanks so much for that update _ operation in ukraine. ok, thanks so much for that update from - operation in ukraine. ok, thanks so much for that update from the - much for that update from the situation in moscow and across russia. here in ukraine the exodus of refugees continues.

the un estimates that more than 2 million refugees have fled refugees are moving into neighbouring countries, and as we've heard, the vast majority heading into poland. hungary has taken tens of thousand of people too. david miliband is former uk foreign secretary & president and chief executive officer of the international rescue committee. he joins me from new york. we are seeing huge numbers, 2 million people have left this country, that number is set to rise, this is going to be a massive crisis. , ., , , ., crisis. yes, good to be with you. i think that — crisis. yes, good to be with you. i think that the — crisis. yes, good to be with you. i think that the five _ crisis. yes, good to be with you. i think that the five 6 _ crisis. yes, good to be with you. i think that the five 6 million - crisis. yes, good to be with you. i think that the five 6 million figure that was quoted by the united nations to weeks ago will be reached in the next few weeks, but remember, they are arriving in a european continent of 500 million people and they will be safe and have rights to stay for three years. their kids will be able to go to school and they will be able to work, so you are right to highlight the challenge

for europe, but it's a manageable challenge, far more life—threatening is the situation inside ukraine as you have been reporting. it's not just the 2 million people on the move who have left the country, it's the many millions inside the country who are leaving their own towns and cities for safety and obviously there is a massive humanitarian concern about apple inside the country and the fair treatment and appropriate treatment of the refugees arriving in europe. haifa refugees arriving in europe. how concerned _ refugees arriving in europe. how concerned are — refugees arriving in europe. how concerned are you _ refugees arriving in europe. how concerned are you about people stop in places like mariupol. we are hearing about the most disturbing and horrific stories of bodies lying deadin and horrific stories of bodies lying dead in the streets, people hiding in bunkers away from the shelling without any heating, it's absolutely freezing here at the moment. you are riaht freezing here at the moment. you are ri . ht to freezing here at the moment. you are right to highlight _ freezing here at the moment. you are right to highlight the _ freezing here at the moment. you are right to highlight the position - freezing here at the moment. you are right to highlight the position of - right to highlight the position of besieged cities. this is a tactic that has been used throughout history, in recent european history it was used in sarajevo in the 19905,

it was used in sarajevo in the 1990s, we have seen the denial of an increasing tactic of parties to war around the world in yemen, ethiopia, north—east nigeria, now in it seems in ukraine and this is where the greatest danger on the humanitarian side is going to live. people trapped inside cities, in the cold, potentially with electricity cut off and the besieged meant of cities is clearly a violation of international law, there is an international legal right to civilians notjust law, there is an international legal right to civilians not just to law, there is an international legal right to civilians notjust to avoid targeting from military combatants but also to have access to humanitarian aid and organisations like international rescue committee are working with the united nations and others will be working around the clock to try to ensure that aid does reach besieged communities. it's notjust a human right, it's a legal and international right. yes. legal and international right. yes, let's talk about _ legal and international right. yes, let's talk about the _ legal and international right. yes, let's talk about the humanitarian corridors which of course were

violated civilians saying the word being shelled but in the last 2a hours we know there has been some positive development were several thousands of people were taken out of places like sumy in the north—east of the country. how closely are you working now with the various different parties to ensure that there are other corridors and that there are other corridors and that these corridors continue to remain open for civilians to get out? i remain open for civilians to get out? :, , :, remain open for civilians to get out? ., , ., ., ., ., out? i really want to warn about the dancers of out? i really want to warn about the dangers of doublespeak _ out? i really want to warn about the dangers of doublespeak in - out? i really want to warn about the dangers of doublespeak in the - dangers of doublespeak in the discussion of corridors. of course so—called humanitarian corridors, of course it is right that civilians should be able to leave, but we have extensive experience including most recently last week and the ukraine crisis of civilians being offered so—called corridors that are in fact corridors to nowhere, or worse, they are either targeted or invited in this case to go to belarus or to russia, in the case of the serie a crisis, a similar rhetoric around

corridors was called to use syrians into the part of the country where they were besieged. it's important they were besieged. it's important the appropriate authorities are between the authorities. the us should be involved but there needs to be appropriate recognitions of the limits of these corridors, because they are being bandied around as if they are an easy solution. they are not.- around as if they are an easy solution. they are not. yes, and 'ust tell solution. they are not. yes, and just tell us _ solution. they are not. yes, and just tell us a _ solution. they are not. yes, and just tell us a little _ solution. they are not. yes, and just tell us a little bit _ solution. they are not. yes, and just tell us a little bit more - solution. they are not. yes, and | just tell us a little bit more about that experience in syria. commentators have expressed similar concerns. :, , commentators have expressed similar concerns. ., about half the population size of ukraine, 23 million, but what we know is that fighting in damascus and elsewhere, humanitarian corridors were established we essentially anyone was headed into the north—west of the country, into

one province. now there are over 3 million people there, half are those who have been availed of humanitarian corridors to avoid shelling. two aspects of this that are vital. first of all, the shelling of civilian buildings, including hospitals that has been going on in syria and also now in the uk in crisis, is completely contrary to —— ukraine crisis. contrary to international law. the second is the denial of rights to civilians and the heading into besieged areas is itself an enormous challenge to basic humanity. i think it is very important we learn from this experience. civilians need a way out, but also aid needs in and of above all, the rights of civilians to live in peace needs to be respected, so the calls from the us secretary general and others for ceasefires absolutely fundamental to this discussion.—

this discussion. david miliband, thank ou this discussion. david miliband, thank you so — this discussion. david miliband, thank you so much _ this discussion. david miliband, thank you so much for- this discussion. david miliband, thank you so much forjoining i this discussion. david miliband, | thank you so much forjoining us this discussion. david miliband, - thank you so much forjoining us on the programme. thank you so much for “oining us on the programme._ tens of thousands of people having making their way to western ukraine, to live and it has been the city that has sheltered these internally displaced people, they have opened up displaced people, they have opened up things like gems, art centres, cultural centres, to these people. we have volunteers all over the city helping where they can. the city's mare has also said they are now overwhelmed. there are 200,000 people that have arrived in the city from other parts of the country and he is expecting that number to rise. earlier, i spoke to the mayor of lviv, and asked him about the sheer number of refugees who've travelled to his city. it's a very difficult situation today, very important for ukraine. in this moment, 200,000 refugees

from different cities in ukraine, and every day, more and more refugees arrive to lviv and we need support from international organisations. i predict maybe 100,000, today it is our maximum and we are ready, we are ready to host more, but only with support from international organisations. what more, but only with support from international organisations. what is it that ou international organisations. what is it that you need? _ international organisations. what is it that you need? we _ international organisations. what is it that you need? we need - international organisations. what is it that you need? we need mobile i international organisations. what is i it that you need? we need mobile ten for --eole it that you need? we need mobile ten for people -- — it that you need? we need mobile ten for people -- mobile _ it that you need? we need mobile ten for people -- mobile ten _ it that you need? we need mobile ten for people -- mobile ten for- it that you need? we need mobile ten for people -- mobile ten for people. i for people —— mobile ten for people. we need more food, we need more medical treatment. during two weeks, we use only citizens and research,

city council. zero support from international organisations. it's very, very difficult and... the international _ very, very difficult and... the international community says they are providing or going to increase more aid to ukraine. where is it? if we received support, we immediately sent to east ukraine. the kyiv. in this moment, my colleague, the mayor two of cities which have been attacked by russian troops need more of this help. i use only the research of the city council but our possibility in... limit. we maximum

share our possibility to my colleague. share our possibility to my colleague-— share our possibility to my colleauue. :, , ,, share our possibility to my colleauue. :, , ~ , colleague. how badly you think it is auoin to colleague. how badly you think it is going to get? _ going to get? translation: ~ ., ., , translation: ukrainians, with their couraue, translation: ukrainians, with their courage. have _ translation: ukrainians, with their courage, have broken _ translation: ukrainians, with their courage, have broken the _ translation: ukrainians, with their courage, have broken the plans - translation: ukrainians, with their courage, have broken the plans of i courage, have broken the plans of the aggressor, to conquer ukraine and the aggressor is using all illegal methods. they are attacking buildings, hospitals, schools, and they do not have the result they expected. so that is why it looks like this more is going to be a lasting war. that's why we need to use our forces sparingly. leave eve is critically important for our state to function. —— lviv. 0n the one hand, it's refugees, mostly women and children, and their husbands are on the front line. for them to fulfil their duties properly we need to keep the family safe. 0n

the other side, lviv is very important for our state to function properly. we have a lot of institutions that provide functioning of the state and also we have a lot of foreign representative institutions. it's a lot of for our city but we are managing, because we have been preparing for this. we have been preparing for this. we have been preparing for this. we have been the participants of a special programme resilience together with the british embassy and that is why we are better paired than the others.— than the others. embassies are leavin: than the others. embassies are leaving lviv. — than the others. embassies are leaving lviv, the _ than the others. embassies are leaving lviv, the west - than the others. embassies are leaving lviv, the west of - than the others. embassies are leaving lviv, the west of the i leaving lviv, the west of the country. weapons are flowing over the borders into the west of the country. how worried are you about the security situation here in western ukraine and of lviv? translation:— western ukraine and of lviv? translation: , , ., , translation: firstly, we are relying on resources — translation: firstly, we are relying on resources and _ translation: firstly, we are relying on resources and by _ translation: firstly, we are relying on resources and by accepting -

translation: firstly, we are relying on resources and by accepting here . on resources and by accepting here the ambassadors, we understand that some of them are scared. some are going to the polish territory, but the majority are stationed here in lviv. we have built a sufficient territorial defence for the city and we are going to fight for every metre of our land. we don't have another land, we are going to defend our country here, everyone doing what he has to do. share our country here, everyone doing what he has to do.— our country here, everyone doing what he has to do. are you worried lviv could come _ what he has to do. are you worried lviv could come under— what he has to do. are you worried i lviv could come under bombardment? translation: the city of lviv helps protect unesco combat the taliban, destroyed historical heritage in afghanistan. i'm ready. and today we meet maximum for protecting my city. historical

heritage. i am an optimist. i believe in our victory. never give up. 0nly victory. together, with democratic countries. very special moment. totalitarian system, democratic system. and ukraine as a special place for this war. ukrainian people, today, like david and goliath attacks david. david, victory. and goliath attacks david. david, victo . : : , and goliath attacks david. david, victo . ., ., , ., and goliath attacks david. david, victo . ., ., and goliath attacks david. david, victo. ., ., victory. that was the mayor of aviva s-ueakin victory. that was the mayor of aviva speaking to — victory. that was the mayor of aviva speaking to me _ victory. that was the mayor of aviva speaking to me earlier— victory. that was the mayor of aviva speaking to me earlier about - victory. that was the mayor of aviva speaking to me earlier about the - speaking to me earlier about the challenges. the fact that they remain defiant and will defend their city and country. more than two million people have now left ukraine since the invasion began, according to the united nations, and that number

is going to increase. in the last two weeks, the refugees have faced trauma, hunger, fear and fatigue. poland has taken in the most ukrainian refugees welcoming more than one—point—two million across its border. daniel rosney is on the poland ukraine borderfor us — we can speak to him now. it is plain stations like this where millions of people are coming through into poland. you might see people coming in now. a train has just left so we have a huge swathe of people that have just left the station and poland has given free travel across the country to refugees who are coming in from ukraine. they will need to get tickets, because they do not want the trains that are going into other parts of the countries to reach capacity. they want people standing up capacity. they want people standing up for long journeys. aside from that, there are volunteers who have come from all over europe. places like germany, lithuania they are standing with signs offering free taxes and journeys to anywhere where they want to go. this gentleman the other side of the platform is holding a sign saying i am from the czech republic, i have six spaces in my car, i can offer accommodation as

well. on the other side of the train station, there is an even bigger relief effort, offering hot drinks, food, people who havejust relief effort, offering hot drinks, food, people who have just got in. we expect a train shortly to come in from ukraine and we are told that as from ukraine and we are told that as from sumy were around 700 indian students who are on that train have been so far unable to leave ukraine. it is notjust ukrainians who are still trying to get into poland. there are plenty of internationals as well who have not yet been able to make it into neighbouring countries like poland. plenty of diapers being donated by locals, lots of toys and bankers for children, it is exceptionally cold here and poland, it has heavily snowed all night, you might still see some flights coming down.

0bviously people are exhausted, they have made a really tough journey, and there are women inside the train station zipping up jackets to make sleeping bags for children who are crying because they are unable to sleep. they are some camp beds in a room with around 80 people coming and going, they arejust room with around 80 people coming and going, they are just trying to get as much sleep as possible before they go on to their next destination. plenty of people here have a plan, they have friends picking them up, relatives, friends of relatives and people they have never met but people here who have no plan at a desperately hoping that they will be able to get back to ukraine soon. people are constantly on their phones, but not like in train stations are bus stations and other parts of the world, not checking instagram, but keeping up—to—date with their friends and relatives back in ukraine. up-to-date with their friends and relatives back in ukraine.- up-to-date with their friends and

relatives back in ukraine. thank you so much for— relatives back in ukraine. thank you so much for the _ relatives back in ukraine. thank you so much for the latest _ relatives back in ukraine. thank you so much for the latest there, - relatives back in ukraine. thank you so much for the latest there, danielj so much for the latest there, daniel on the border. 0ur correspondent lewis goodall is the train station in krakow. we are not far away from crack of central train station, it is absolutely very similar, except even more crowded, i have spent a lot of time in both stations, there is barely a square inch of space and crack off station, people from all of the ukraine trying to work out what they make smooth will be, trying to ask for information, to talk to relatives back home —— krakow station. the figure from the un of over 2 million, expecting that the updated today. who knows how much higher that figure could climb. who knows how many more people in poland will be asked to contribute and help with humanitarian efforts.

what is extraordinary is i have been up what is extraordinary is i have been up and down the border crossings, north and south between poland and ukraine, and although there are transit crossings, there are places where people can get cups of tea, something to drink, a couple of hours sleep after a long journey, what there are not, despite 1.2 million people at least crossing into poland, are refugee camps. if you think about the many refugee crises we have seen across the world over recent years, that is extraordinary. how has poland managed to achieve it? mainly through the generosity, extraordinary generosity of the polish people, a population not always known boys generosity in previous crises, but this is different. so many polls accepting and welcoming and asking ukrainian families to live with them. i was speaking to a family in krakow a couple of nights ago, a family of four, they have invited a family

from ukraine, phoned up the council, the council told them to go to the station, they have taken the family in, a mum and two kids, adults ready first thing monday, the kids were already enrolled local school. that is the extraordinary speed of integration happening in poland right now. the question on everyone's's lips, despite the enormous groundswell of solidarity and charity, how much more can poland absorb? bear in mind of those humanitarian corridors do manage to hold up as we have heard about in other parts of the programme, it is possible we will be in a position where even more people will be able to come over from where even more people will be able to come overfrom ukraine, i cannot tell you the amount of refugees i have spoken to who have relatives here but so many family and friends who are still in ukraine and have left an hour or two and they cannot

make it. if they corridors hold, and presumably the numbers will swell, even more. : ~' presumably the numbers will swell, even more-— even more. thank you so much for that update- _ even more. thank you so much for that update. of _ even more. thank you so much for that update. of course, _ even more. thank you so much for that update. of course, as - even more. thank you so much for that update. of course, as you - even more. thank you so much for| that update. of course, as you say, that update. of course, as you say, people are showing so much generosity, so much hospitality, 1.2 million people crossed over here, how many more can they take? thank you for that update. let's bring you up—to—date on the situation at the former nuclear power plant in chernobyl. that was seized by russian forces about two weeks ago when this conflict began, you would remember chernobyl was the sight of the worst nuclear power plant accident in 1986. the worst in the world. ukraine's foreign minister has called on russia to agree to a ceasefire to allow for urgent repairs to be made to the former nuclear plant at chernobyl

after the ukrainian authorities said that power to the facility had been cut. however, the international atomic energy agency has said that the volume of cooling water at the plant is sufficient to "maintain heat removal without the need for electrical supply." earlier my colleague lucy hockings spoke to german galushchenko, ukraine's minister for energy about the situation at chernobyl, which was seized last week by russian troops. it has stopped receiving monitoring data. galushchenko german said this, now we understand that we need to do as quickly as we can to repair the electricity supply, can to repair the electricity supply, to make sure that the security measures can be enforced in the station, unfortunately this station is not operating now, it is occupied by russian forces, that is also we ask the international atomic agency to participate actively in theseissues agency to participate actively in these issues concerning the nuclear object in ukraine, the issues of

occupation by russians. that is also one of the most important questions which we raise everywhere, a question of security from the point of you of non—fly zone over ukraine. do we know if any radioactive substances are being released from chernobyl right now? we substances are being released from chernobyl right now?— substances are being released from chernobyl right now? we good or have this information _ chernobyl right now? we good or have this information right _ chernobyl right now? we good or have this information right now, _ chernobyl right now? we good or have this information right now, at - chernobyl right now? we good or have this information right now, at this - this information right now, at this stage, the problem that we have is no access to the monitoring system at this stage, and of course we can also physically come to chernobyl to see what happened, but we do not have now at this stage information of the radiation. if have now at this stage information of the radiation.— of the radiation. if the electricity su lies of the radiation. if the electricity sopplies have — of the radiation. if the electricity supplies have been _ of the radiation. if the electricity supplies have been cut, - of the radiation. if the electricity supplies have been cut, is - of the radiation. if the electricity supplies have been cut, is there | of the radiation. if the electricity l supplies have been cut, is there a back—up? is there a way of cooling though spent fuel assemblies? 50 of though spent fuel assemblies? so of course we need _ though spent fuel assemblies? so of course we need to _ though spent fuel assemblies? so of course we need to repair _ though spent fuel assemblies? sr rrf course we need to repair as though spent fuel assemblies? 5r rrf course we need to repair as quickly as we can but we have also the

special system of security in case. electricity cuts, it has the possibility to maintain for several days using these generators. just to clari , days using these generators. just to clarify. there _ days using these generators. just to clarify, there are _ days using these generators. just to clarify, there are emergency - days using these generators. just to clarify, there are emergency diesell clarify, there are emergency diesel generators?— clarify, there are emergency diesel generators? yes, of course, that is what ukraine _ generators? yes, of course, that is what ukraine will— generators? yes, of course, that is what ukraine will fulfil— what ukraine will fulfil international obligations, we have these generators in all nuclear objects around ukraine. haifa these generators in all nuclear objects around ukraine. how are the staff they are? _ objects around ukraine. how are the staff they are? have _ objects around ukraine. how are the staff they are? have you _ objects around ukraine. how are the staff they are? have you had - objects around ukraine. how are the staff they are? have you had heard i staff they are? have you had heard any word? there are reports that they are not being treated well by russian soldiers. £31 they are not being treated well by russian soldiers.— russian soldiers. of course you could imagine _ russian soldiers. of course you could imagine that _ russian soldiers. of course you could imagine that from - russian soldiers. of course you could imagine that from the - russian soldiers. of course you i could imagine that from the first day of the war, 1a days, in chernobyl, they are very exhausted, even physically and mentally exhausted. but they are still doing

their work. they are still doing their work. they are still doing their work, they are very brave staff. : : , their work, they are very brave staff. ., ,, ., �*, their work, they are very brave staff. ., , staff. that was ukraine's minister for ener: staff. that was ukraine's minister for energy speaking _ staff. that was ukraine's minister for energy speaking to _ staff. that was ukraine's minister for energy speaking to my - staff. that was ukraine's minister i for energy speaking to my colleague earlier about the concerns around the chernobyl former nuclear power plant. let's get if you from kharkiv. i'm joined now by vachislav falii, he's living in a basement in kharkiv with his family, helping to deliver aid around the city, wingers up—to—date on your situation. wingers up-to-date on your situation-— wingers up-to-date on your situation. , , ., situation. -- bring us. right now the situation _ situation. -- bring us. right now the situation is _ situation. -- bring us. right now the situation is more _ situation. -- bring us. right now the situation is more quiet, i situation. -- bring us. right now. the situation is more quiet, because our army is full stay little back our army is full stay little back our opponent, —— forced a little back. my home region, i was today at

the home region and i saw that all the home region and i saw that all the borderline of the city is bombed and all the houses and apartments are not livable any more. so the situation is worse. in our safe place we are transferring people, 30 people from the safe place to the rail station every day. and helping for whom we can help, but in other safe houses from the first day there were 65 people and these days it is still 75 people, no one left because they could not make it. they do not have cars or anything like that. so ou have cars or anything like that. so you are under the basement, tell me how you are getting access to food, water, do you have heating? we

how you are getting access to food, water, do you have heating?- water, do you have heating? we do not have heating, _ water, do you have heating? we do not have heating, it _ water, do you have heating? we do not have heating, it is _ water, do you have heating? we do not have heating, it is a _ water, do you have heating? we do not have heating, it is a basement, j not have heating, it is a basement, zero level, full safe house. in our building if you want to find some food, we are going hunting, we call this hunting, we have six groups of people, one goes for water, one group goes for gas, one goes for medicine, one goes for food, group goes for gas, one goes for medicine, one goes forfood, and the other is transferring people to the rail station. other is transferring people to the railstation. so other is transferring people to the rail station. so from 6am. that must be cuite rail station. so from 6am. that must be quite risky — rail station. so from 6am. that must be quite risky for— rail station. so from 6am. that must be quite risky for you _ rail station. so from 6am. that must be quite risky for you to _ rail station. so from 6am. that must be quite risky for you to get - rail station. so from 6am. that must be quite risky for you to get out i be quite risky for you to get out and go and get the supplies. yes. be quite risky for you to get out and go and get the supplies. yes, it is ris , and go and get the supplies. yes, it is risky. all— and go and get the supplies. yes, it is risky. all our— and go and get the supplies. yes, it is risky, all our team _ and go and get the supplies. yes, it is risky, all our team is _ and go and get the supplies. yes, it is risky, all our team is from - and go and get the supplies. yes, it is risky, all our team is from the i is risky, all our team is from the people from the church, church servants, so these people who serve do not have fear. but people who

come to the same place, they are shocked, a lot of people came because of their house being destroyed. the people come with shaking hands and... find destroyed. the people come with shaking hands and. . ._ destroyed. the people come with shaking hands and... and you have children? he _ shaking hands and... and you have children? he moved _ shaking hands and. .. and you have children? he moved about- shaking hands and... and you have children? he moved about 100 i shaking hands and... and you have i children? he moved about 100 people and 50 of them _ children? he moved about 100 people and 50 of them were _ children? he moved about 100 people and 50 of them were children. -- i children? he moved about 100 people and 50 of them were children. -- we i and 50 of them were children. —— we moved. right now we have... just tell... moved. right now we have. .. just tell--- tell— moved. right now we have... just tell... tell me _ moved. right now we have... just tell... tell me how _ moved. right now we have... just tell... tell me how the children were reacting, they must have been really frightened. in were reacting, they must have been really frightened.— really frightened. in our safe lace, really frightened. in our safe place. they _ really frightened. in our safe place. they act _ really frightened. in our safe place, they act normally, i really frightened. in our safe place, they act normally, we really frightened. in our safe i place, they act normally, we say that this is a game all we know how to work with the kids, so for us it is not that, but the people whom we take from another safe place, they were sitting in a safe place for

five days in our safe place, and we say that you can go out and warm up, because they were very cold, but they are afraid. because we are all people from church to work with the people, for us, we know how to control these emotions and how to not, how to take damage from the kid mind. so our kids... inaudible. please keep safe and thank you for joining us here. we have been reporting over the last 24—hour about poland offering its fighterjets to 24—hour about poland offering its fighter jets to the 24—hour about poland offering its fighterjets to the united states to then offer to ukraine. the united states has dismissed this polish plan and said that the militaryjet

were offered by the airbase in germany as untenable, the polish government had suggested more than 20 of its russian—made fighterjets to ukraine via that air base, but the american say they were not consulted about the plan raised a serious concern for nato. 0f consulted about the plan raised a serious concern for nato. of course, the ukrainian president, volodymyr zelensky,, had made the request from the us senate, from nato, saying that they need these planes, russian—made militaryjets, because russian—made military jets, because thatis russian—made militaryjets, because that is what the ukrainian military hair can fly, but the us has dismissed that plan. the former president of ukraine believes those planes should be sent to ukraine, this is what he had to say. giee planes should be sent to ukraine, this is what he had to say.- this is what he had to say. give it from poland. _ this is what he had to say. give it from poland, from _ this is what he had to say. give it from poland, from slovakia, i this is what he had to say. give it i from poland, from slovakia, because everything, this is about humanity, this is the test you shoot

everything all day pass these tests, are you strong enough? strong enough to protect humanity and the future? can you imagine how difficult it is now, can he explain now the children who are having their second week in a bombshell to without water, without food, without medicine? could he explain the discussion about ukraine receiving fighter planes or not? i was very much appreciating that the people of the us, people of uk, europe, more than 60% of him to close this guy, but more than 85% support in giving ukraine the plane, nato, please understand, nato is already involved in the conflict. do not have any allusion. point number two,

ukrainian are here fighting for freedom and democracy for nato. making russia weaker. making europe safer. add paying for that the biggest price, they are light and they are blood. we are here with the position of russian troops several kilometres from this place, where we broadcast, and together with me it was the whole world journalist, they see how dangerous it is, and coming back to this position, i want to remind, when i was elected as president, in the year 2014, when russia had attacked us, do you imagine, ukraine was neutral. we do not have any nato perspective. and this is not to make it difficult for russia to attack my country.

let's go straight to washington, dc now and speak to our barbara flett ashia, quite dramatic the announcement from the polish government that they wanted to give these fighter jets to the government that they wanted to give these fighterjets to the united states free of charge to their base in germany, they could do whatever they wanted with it, and the us has rejected that plan. it they wanted with it, and the us has rejected that plan.— rejected that plan. it was dramatic because the _ rejected that plan. it was dramatic because the polish _ rejected that plan. it was dramatic because the polish did _ rejected that plan. it was dramatic because the polish did not - rejected that plan. it was dramatic because the polish did not consultj because the polish did not consult the americans beforehand and it took place when a senior state official was being questioned by a committee and she had to say this was a surprise move, they didn't consult us, so it was playing out in real time, the reaction. what is at stick is there is a great deal of willingness to arm ukraine but also a real concern about not wanting to cross a line that would make it seem

as if nato, the us, europeans are entering the conflict, they do not want to be drawn into the wider conflict and the americans in particular are clear about that. the original idea that was being talked about at the weekend was that the americans were considering poland, directly giving these planes to ukraine, the us would backfill substitute that loss of planes by poland by giving poland f—16s, it wouldn't be a direct connection. the russians any country allowing ukraine to use a soil to attack the russians would be considered a participant in the conflict, then you had the idea floated by poland yesterday saying, we are committed to sending these plays but we will not send them ourselves, in essence suggesting they were not ready to take that risk, this has to be seen as a united decision, either us or nato or eu or possibly the us if we

send them to the us base in germany. that is what took the americans by surprise and they have responded saying it is not tenable because you cannot send warplanes from a nato airbase into contested a space, that raises a lot of concerns. that is where we are right now, president zelensky made another appeal to congress last week for warplanes, he has now made another saying there is disagreements between poland and the us about this but do not, we do not have time for this, this is a human tragedy and so she is continuing to put on the pressure for these planes. —— so he is. for put on the pressure for these planes. -- so he is.— put on the pressure for these planes. -- so he is. for the last week and _ planes. -- so he is. for the last week and a _ planes. -- so he is. for the last week and a half— planes. -- so he is. for the last week and a half he _ planes. -- so he is. for the last week and a half he really i planes. -- so he is. for the last week and a half he really has i planes. -- so he is. for the last i week and a half he really has tried to put a lot of pressure on nato members and the us saying the no—fly zone are which was also rejected an nato made clear they were not going to do it, they said nato members would have blood on their hands. what was quite fascinating about this was how publicly it was played

out. , ~ this was how publicly it was played out. , ,, . ., out. yes, i think it will continue to -la out. yes, i think it will continue to play out _ out. yes, i think it will continue to play out today _ out. yes, i think it will continue to play out today because i out. yes, i think it will continue to play out today because the i out. yes, i think it will continue i to play out today because the vice president is on her way to poland, she was planning to visit because poland is a very important front line state with a lot of refugees, hosting a lot of us soldiers, the staging ground for getting weapons into ukraine, so she had been planning to visit anyway, but now, given this public disagreement, which as you said was sprung on the americans, as perhaps it was poland floating the idea to show that it was still ready to do so thatjust did not want to take all the responsibility for it, maybe knowing that the americans would not be pleased and might even reject rejected but wouldn't take the blame, that is speculation, that is something the vice president speak about with her polish counterparts, which is now on the agenda at well.

thank you for bringing us up—to—date. as we have been reporting, there have been several desperate attempts to evacuate those in the worst affected areas in the north and east and south of the country that had been experiencing russian bombardment and shelling over the past few days, and those evacuations had been running into some problems. ukraine's foreign minister says the bombardment of the besieged southern city of uppal has continued, humanitarian corridors were due to remain open until wednesday, we are monitoring those very closely —— barrier paul. i am joined by a ukrainian mp in mariupol. we have been hearing horrific stories coming out of mariupol, bodies in the

streets, people drinking modern water, children dying from dehydration.— water, children dying from deh dration. ., , ., , dehydration. that is too. that is the real situation _ dehydration. that is too. that is the real situation in _ dehydration. that is too. that is the real situation in mariupol, i the real situation in mariupol, bodies lie in the streets, and people do not have heating, gas, electricity, water in the city, they had prepared food in the open fire. they do not have any access to medicine. emergency unit in the central hospital was bombed and ruined. the majority hospital today, like several hours ago, was ruined with women and newborns in it. and in the district where i grew up, there are carpet bombings, my house was hit, and all the houses around it were hit, it is really carpet

bombing. yesterday they made a mass grave for more than 30 people because the cemetery is inaccessible. shelling is not stopping. that is a war crime and a human catastrophe because in the city the people have food for three to five days, then we will have hunger in europe. a city the same size... now i want to say that european countries and nato countries have to be desired, are you going to wait until this situation, which will not stop, or you will have a war on our territory? the only difference now for nato countries and european countries is on which territory we have a war, because world war ii in

europe, it is already started, that is reality. now you choose between when you get involved. i just is reality. now you choose between when you get involved.— when you get involved. i 'ust want to ick u- when you get involved. i 'ust want to pick up on i when you get involved. i 'ust want to pick up on something i when you get involved. ijust want to pick up on something you i when you get involved. ijust want to pick up on something you said i to pick up on something you said about the maternity hospital being hit. can you give us some more details? ,, :, hit. can you give us some more details? ,, ., ., , ., ., ., , details? several hours ago, it was hit, that details? several hours ago, it was hit. that is — details? several hours ago, it was hit, that is the — details? several hours ago, it was hit, that is the only _ details? several hours ago, it was hit, that is the only information i i hit, that is the only information i know because there is almost no cell phone network. but the information is that the maternity hospital was hit. it was pulled. —— it was full. and it was full? hit. it was pulled. -- it was full. and it was full?— hit. it was pulled. -- it was full. and it was full? yes. that is what we had, and it was full? yes. that is what we had. people — and it was full? yes. that is what we had, people published - and it was full? yes. that is what j we had, people published videos, and it was full? yes. that is what i we had, people published videos, we have not a lot of information but it is approved. it is real, it

happened. it is confirmed that the maternity hospital was hit. we will have to leave _ maternity hospital was hit. we will have to leave it _ maternity hospital was hit. we will have to leave it there, _ maternity hospital was hit. we will have to leave it there, thank i maternity hospital was hit. we will have to leave it there, thank you i have to leave it there, thank you forjoining us on the programme. as you are listening, a devastating situation, the ukrainian mp describing with some detail about that maternity hospital that he claims was hit by russian bombardment and shelling, the situation in mariupol is desperate, we had been speaking to residents and those who have managed to flee and those who have managed to flee and they say that people are living in pure horror and ndp children stuck there trying to get out i deeply affected and suffering psychologically. we will continue our coverage here on bbc news throughout the day and bring you all the very latest coverage, in the

meantime you can get in touch with meantime you can get in touch with me on twitter. do stay with us, lots coming up. goodbye for now from western ukraine. east—west differences in our weather for another day on wednesday, tuesdayit for another day on wednesday, tuesday it has western areas that saw some rain, weatherfront tuesday it has western areas that saw some rain, weather front moving in on wednesday with the wind and rain, but another one that will weaken as it attempts to move further east across the uk. low pressure on the scene, flow of air around it coming in from the south, males but it feels mildest where you are staying dry, seeing occasional sunshine. more especially in the east, cloud and rain moving in, this is where we will have the strongest wind. many will start the day dry, no frost out there, some sunny spells around, quite quickly in the morning it will turn wetter through

northern ireland, heavy, into the western side of scotland. the rain very slowly moves in the afternoon towards the far south—west of england, western counties in wales ljy england, western counties in wales by the evening, pushing into parts of north—west england. plenty of sunny spells breaking through, specially in the afternoon across the eastern side of england, it is blustery everywhere, gales and the west and for a time in the morning and the western isles some severe gales, 70 mph, could be disrupted before the wind eases later. contrast in temperatures, nine in the rain in belfast, up to 13—14 in the rain in belfast, up to 13—14 in the sunny spells in eastern england. notice how the weather system weakens moving east overnight into thursday, it will have some snow it was the highlands and southern are plans for a time, clear spells in north—west scotland and northern ireland thursday, frost and a risk of seeing some for, whereas for wales and england it is fairly mild. left with a weak weather front

setting somewhere through scotland, wales and england on thursday, uncertainty about where any patchy rain from it may linger, there will also be a few sunny spells around, into northern ireland, belfast, a different day, nine celsius. sunny spells in eastern england turning out to be mild, 15—16 c, still uncertainty about whether cloud will be sitting and any patchy rain. in weather front on friday, be sitting and any patchy rain. in weatherfront on friday, thursday looking like somewhat quieter, not as windy, the wind picking up again on friday, staying blustery through the weekend, rain or showers around but not wet all the time.

this is bbc news. welcome if you're watching here in the uk or around the globe. our top stories... efforts to evacuate civilians from some of the areas worst—hit by fighting in ukraine have again run into problems, due to russian shelling. iam i am live in ukraine's western city of lviv, where tens of thousands of people continue to arrive, fleeing the fighting. the country's foreign minister extends those calls for a ceasefire to chernobyl, after the former nuclear power plant's electricity supply was cut. shelling and fighting is continuing in some areas, but ukraine claims russia's military advance has slowed. the us rejects an offer by poland to send all of its russian—made mig—29 fighter jets to ukraine, via us bases,

saying it would raise serious concerns for nato. on day 14 of the war in ukraine, a fresh ceasefire is expected, to allow more civilians to flee to relative safety via humanitarian corridors out of besieged cities. this map shows the areas, here in solid red, which are under russian military control. the striped areas show russian advances. some 7,000 people were evacuated from the city of sumy in the north—east yesterday. the city has seen fierce russian

bombardment for days. russian state media said humanitarian routes will also be set up for kyiv, chernihiv, kharkiv and mariupol. ukraine's foreign minister has called on russia to agree to a ceasefire to allow for urgent repairs to be made to the former nuclear plant at chernobyl. it lost its power supply, following the site's seizure by russian troops. the international atomic energy agency have said the volume of cooling water at the plant is sufficient to, "maintain heat removal without the need for electrical supply." let's go live now to lviv in western ukraine, and join my colleague yalda hakim. it's been two weeks since ukraine found itself at war. a country and its very future under attack.

the fighting hasn't stopped, but today, more routes announced for people to try and escape it. six humanitarian corridors agreed between ukraine and russia. so, most people here are escaping heavy fighting to the west of kyiv, and whilst it will be seen as a positive that they can get out, it's been two weeks since ukraine found itself at war. a country and its very future under attack. the fighting hasn't stopped, but today, more routes announced for people to try and escape it. six humanitarian corridors agreed between ukraine and russia. so, most people here are escaping heavy fighting to the west of kyiv, and whilst it will be seen as a positive that they can get out, it also feeds into a very deliberate tactic by the invading troops to lessen the city's appetite to fight back, as well as bombard it into submission. in the current safety of central kyiv, this is what awaits some.

nights in the metro station, with confusion on where to go next. we have ten grandchildren, and thank god, they are far from here, but of course, we were all together in the first hours here. we are ready to be hungry, to be thirsty, but to see how our children die, it's impossible. these temporary ceasefires are fragile. tens of thousands of people are still stuck under heavy shelling without basic supplies in mariupol. humanitarian aid can't get in either. moscow is accused of shelling the agreed routes. the city is in total darkness. it's like a black, scary, you know, forest. then there is no heating because, of course, it is powered from electricity. no heating and no water, because everything, all of the infrastructure was damaged.

but there have been relative successes. more than 5,000 people made it out of sumy yesterday. the hope is more will follow today. translation: i am addressing the russian federation. - you have officially and publicly- committed to stop shooting from 9am on the 9th of march, 2022. we have a negative experience when the undertaken - commitments were failed along i the mariupol—zaporizhzhia routes. ukrainian army chiefs claim the russian advance has been slowed these last 24 hours. the worry remains, though, that they will continue to surround key cities instead. as of now, some people are managing to escape, but many ukrainians, like these in the central square of kyiv, have decided to stay. james waterhouse, bbc news. earlier, i spoke to david miliband, former uk foreign secretary

and president and chief executive officer of the international rescue committee. i asked him about the difficulties facing the 2 million people who have fled ukraine. so you are right to highlight the challenge for europe, but it's a manageable challenge, far more life—threatening is the situation inside ukraine as you have been reporting. it's notjust the 2 million people on the move who have left the country, it's the many millions inside the country who are leaving their own towns and cities for safety and obviously there is a massive humanitarian concern about people inside the country as well as about the fair treatment and appropriate treatment of the refugees arriving in europe. how concerned are you about people stuck in places like mariupol? we are hearing about the most disturbing, horrific stories of bodies lying dead in the streets, people hiding in bunkers, away from the shelling without any heating, it's absolutely freezing

here at the moment. you are absolutely right to highlight the position of besieged cities. this is a tactic that has been obviously been used throughout history, in recent european history it was used in sarajevo in the 1990s, we have seen the denial of aid as an increasing tactic of parties to war around the world in yemen, ethiopia, north—east nigeria, now in it seems in ukraine and this is where the greatest danger on the humanitarian side is going to lie. people trapped inside cities, in the cold, potentially with electricity cut off and the besiegement of cities is clearly a violation of international law, there is an international legal right to civilians, notjust to avoid targeting from military combatants, but also to have access to humanitarian aid like international rescue committee working with the united nations and others will be working around the clock, to try to ensure that aid does reach

besieged communities. it's notjust a human right, it's a legal and international right. yeah, let's talk about the humanitarian corridors, which of course were violated. civilians saying the were being shelled, but in the last 24 hours we know there has been some positive development were several thousands of people were taken out of places like sumy in the north—east of the country. how closely are you working now with the various different parties to ensure that there are other corridors and that these corridors continue to remain open for civilians to get out? i really want to warn about the dangers of doublespeak in the discussion of corridors. of course... 0r so—called humanitarian corridors. of course it is right that civilians should be able to leave, but we have extensive experience, including most recently last week and the ukraine crisis, of civilians being offered so—called corridors that are in fact

corridors to nowhere, or worse, they are either targeted, or they're invited in this case to go to belarus or to russia, in the case of the syria crisis, a similar rhetoric around corridors, so—called, was called to used to herd syrians into the part of the country where they were besieged. it's important the appropriate authorities are party to these negotiations. the us should be involved but there needs to be appropriate recognitions of the limits of these corridors, because they are being bandied around as if they are an easy solution. they are not. yes, and just tell us a little bit more about that experience in syria. the comparisons here in ukraine, many commentators have expressed similar concerns. in the syria conflict, syria is a country of about half the population size of ukraine,

a population of 23 million, but what we know is that fighting in damascus and aleppo, and elsewhere, humanitarian corridors were established where essentially anyone was headed into the north—west of the country, into one province. now there are 3.5 million people there, 1.5 million are those who have been availed of humanitarian corridors to avoid shelling. two aspects of this that are vital. first of all, the shelling of civilian buildings, including hospitals that has been going on in syria and also now in the ukraine crisis, contrary to international law. the second is the denial of rights to civilians and the herding into besieged areas is itself an enormous challenge to basic humanity. i think it is very important we do learn from this experience. civilians do need a way

out, but also aid needs in and of above all, the rights of civilians to live in peace needs to be respected, so the calls from the us secretary general and others for ceasefires are absolutely fundamental to this discussion. i'm joined now by ukrainian mp vadym ivchenko, who's been helping to coordinate some of those evacuation efforts near kyiv. in the last year meant we had a ukrainian mp confirmed to us, or tell us here on bbc news, that a maternity complex has been hit by russian bombardment in the strategic port city of mariupol. we are investigating that end will be following all the development very closely from across ukraine, especially those worst affected areas in the north—east and south of the country. from me and the team here in lviv come back to you in

london. let's stay with the situation in ukraine. i'm joined now by ukrainian mp vadym ivchenko, who's been helping to coordinate some of those evacuation efforts near kyiv. thank you forjoining us. how successful have those efforts been today? successful have those efforts been toda ? ., ., ~ successful have those efforts been toda ? ., ., ,, ., ., today? hello, thank you for having me. the negotiations _ today? hello, thank you for having me. the negotiations which i today? hello, thank you for having me. the negotiations which were i me. the negotiations which were started yesterday, today we have a lot of problems. for example, in the kharkiv region, to 4pm, the corridor has not worked. still people are waiting for the buses. near kyiv, it was a lot of problems with the

villages where the russian troops, because they stopped all the buses and the negotiations scratch local guard just negotiated to move them out of the villages where the russian troops... fits out of the villages where the russian troops. . ._ out of the villages where the russian troops... as they've been shellin: russian troops... as they've been shelling today? _ russian troops... as they've been shelling today? -- _ russian troops... as they've been shelling today? -- has _ russian troops... as they've been shelling today? -- has very i russian troops... as they've been shelling today? -- has very been | shelling today? —— has very been shelling? the world has watched in horror as civilians have tried to flee and there have been several people killed by russian shelling. what has the situation been there today? what has the situation been there toda ?, , : what has the situation been there toda ?, , ., ., what has the situation been there toda 7, , ., ., ., ., today? just an hour ago, the evacuation _ today? just an hour ago, the evacuation was _ today? just an hour ago, the evacuation was stopped i today? just an hour ago, the i evacuation was stopped because in the village, russian troops stopped all of the buses from the people and the local government tried to negotiate with the russian troops, just to move out these buses to kyiv

or the places where they should leave. we are the world leave. so thatis leave. we are the world leave. so that is a lot of problems and it seems to me russians are behaving like animals. in the highest level of negotiation was successfuljust to open these humanitarian corridors, in practice, the situation is quite indifferent places is quite different and the situation is in some cases, some areas, the situation is quite tough. because these local troops in kharkiv, they are not part of the negotiation and probably are doing their own policy. that's a problem... their own policy. that's a problem. . ._ their own policy. that's a roblem... , ., problem... mariupol has been without ower and problem... mariupol has been without power and water _ problem... mariupol has been without power and water for _ problem... mariupol has been without power and water for several _ problem... mariupol has been without power and water for several days i power and water for several days now. for the people still sheltering there. what about elsewhere? sumy

for example, is power still effective in sumy? which means that people can be heated in their shelters? i people can be heated in their shelters? ~ ., , people can be heated in their shelters?— people can be heated in their shelters? ~ ., , ., shelters? i know exactly that in mariupol. _ shelters? i know exactly that in mariupol. the _ shelters? i know exactly that in mariupol, the buses _ shelters? i know exactly that in mariupol, the buses with i shelters? i know exactly that in mariupol, the buses with the i shelters? i know exactly that in i mariupol, the buses with the people were shot by russian troops. the evacuation has not been stopped yet as —— started yet until full pm. elsewhere, nearto as —— started yet until full pm. elsewhere, near to kyiv, as —— started yet until full pm. elsewhere, nearto kyiv, it as —— started yet until full pm. elsewhere, near to kyiv, it wasjust stopped and in different cities in sumy as you mention, i have not heard the problems with the evacuation, but i have read in the news that russian troops just shot into the buses with people. so that

is a problem... ihla into the buses with people. so that is a problem- - -_ is a problem... no independent confirmation _ is a problem... no independent confirmation of _ is a problem... no independent confirmation of that _ is a problem... no independent confirmation of that yet. i is a problem... no independent confirmation of that yet. on - is a problem... no independent confirmation of that yet. on a l is a problem... no independent - confirmation of that yet. on a wider point if i may, do you understand poland's reluctance to send fighter jets directly to ukraine? do you understand the white house's reluctance to allow them to be the broker as well? because this would draw nato into a wider war. this situation. _ draw nato into a wider war. this situation. we — draw nato into a wider war. this situation, we should _ draw nato into a wider war. “in 3 situation, we should see a draw nato into a wider war. “in 2 situation, we should see a lot of political, a lot of other political issues. for example, these aircraft were promised to taiwan and this is bureaucratic process to move it to kyiv. between poland, between the united states, and ukraine. i know exactly about the situation. the

second one, as you said, the nato said if for example russian troops will shoot the humanitarian assistance from nato, it will be like steps against nato council and nato will react immediately. so as ukraine, we are waiting these aircraft, because we need these no—fly zone, we need a no—fly zone over the humanitarian corridor and we need a no—fly zone over western ukraine, probably where there is no russian troops and no war. in this territory. but a lot of missiles shooting into the civilian and not only civilian, in the west of ukraine. we need to save people, we

need to save a lot of infrastructure, we need to save atomic power plant, we need to save people who are not in war, not military people. we need to save ukrainians. ukrainians are a part of the european family, that is why we ask our nato allies to create this no—fly zone over notjust ukraine, butjust if it is possible to take this no—fly zone over some parts of ukraine as i have mentioned. {eek ukraine as i have mentioned. ok thank you forjoining us. thank. ukraine as i have mentioned. ok l thank you forjoining us. thank you thank you for 'oining us. thank you very much. —

as we've just heard, the united states has dismissed a polish plan to send militaryjets to ukraine via an american airbase as "untenable". the polish government suggested sending more than 20 of its russian made mig—29 fighterjets to ukraine via an airbase in germany. but the americans say they weren't consulted and that the plan would raise serious concerns for nato. but speaking to the bbc, petro poroshenko, the former president of ukraine, believes those planes should be sent to ukraine. give it from poland, give it from slovakia because everything is about humanity. this is a test, every single day, you should pass this test. are you strong enough to protect humanity? to protect future? can you imagine how difficult it is now? could you explain now to children, who are spending their second week medicine, could he explain this discussion about should ukraine receive the old soviet union plane, mig—29 or not?

i was very much appreciated that people of us, people of uk, people of europe, more than 60% supporting this time but more than 85% supporting give ukraine the plane. nato, please understand that. nato is already involved in the conflict, don't have any illusion. point number two, ukrainians here are fighting for freedom and democracy, and for nato, making russia weaker and making europe safer. paying for that the biggest price they can, their lives and their blood. we are here with a position of russian troops several kilometres from this place, where we are broadcasting, and together with me, it was all of the journalist from the whole world, including the bbc, they see how dangerous it is and coming back to this position,

i just want to remind you, when russia attacked us? imagine, please, ukraine was neutral. we did not have any nato perspective and this did not make it difficult for russia to attack my country. ukraine's foreign minister has called on russia to agree to a ceasefire to allow for urgent repairs to be made to the former nuclear plant at chernobyl, after the state—run company who runs the facility said that power to the plant had been cut. however, the international atomic energy agency have said that the volume of cooling water at the plant is sufficient to "maintain heat removal without the need for electrical supply." earlier, my colleague, lucy hockings, spoke to german galushchenko, ukraine's minister for energy about the situation at chernobyl which was seized by russian troops last week. the information concerning

the cutting of electricity supply is true and so now we understand that we need to do as quickly as we can to repair the electricity supply there, to make sure that all security measures are in force in the station. unfortunately, the station is not operating now. it is occupied by russian forces. we also ask the international atomic agency also to participate actively in all of these issues concerning the nuclear object in ukraine in the issues of the occupation of this object by russians. that is also one of the most important questions, which we raise everywhere. this is a question of security in the point of view of no—fly zone over ukraine. the effect of the war and of sanctions

on russia is likely to hit other countries soon. analysts are predicting the decision by the us and uk to stop importing russian oil will raise energy prices to new record highs which will then lead to higher inflation, already at its highest in 30 years. in russia, inflation is even higher and american—owned restaurants, from mcdonalds to starbucks, are closing their outlets there. meanwhile, a russian—owned private jet has been impounded at farnborough airbase. our economics correspondent andy verity reports. in moscow, it's the last chance to grab a mcdonald's before 850 outlets close their doors while the war is on. i like this food. their decision in 1990 to open the first mcdonald's outlet in red square symbolised the end of the cold war. at the time, a big mac costs the average russian half their daily wage.

other american brands followed, from coca—cola to heineken and now they are stopping sales to russia. for ordinary russians, putin's war has thrown the third of a century of opening up to western brands like starbucks into reverse. but according to the ukrainian president, every little helps. translation: it is very simple. every penny paid to russia turns into bullets and shells, which are directed at other sovereign states. either russia will respect international law will not wage wars, or it will not have the money to start wars. what will have rather of a symbolic impact is the decision to stop importing russian oil immediately. britain is only phasing it out by the end of this year, but many multinationals are saying they refuse to buy russian oil. crude oil is already up 65% since the start of the year, and because ukraine's's wheat exports are disrupted, the price of wheat is up 56%, and wholesale gas prices are up i73%. even though the uk imparts only a small amount of oil, _ it's going to be competing - with other countries for supplies of oil now and the prices i probably a better than even chance it will break new records as the implications -

of these coordinated bans on russian crude from the us and uk recalibrate through the markets. _ after the government banned aeroflot and all russian—owned private jets from landing in british airspace, a plane at farnborough airfield suspected of violating that ban was impounded. we need to stem the flow of putin's income, his blood money, whether that comes from gas or oil or anything else from funding his war machine, and that is what we are determined to do. while russian imports are only 8% of the crude oil we use, they are 18% of our diesel use. according to the latest data, the average price of diesel has hit a record high today of 1.65 a litre, up 3p from yesterday. even petrol cars now cost an average of £90 to fill up. andy verity, bbc news.

it was a milder start this morning. cloud breaking in eastern areas. forthe morning. cloud breaking in eastern areas. for the next few days, even though there will be cloud around, most of the rain will be across the western side of the uk. weather fronts weakening across this high pressure further east. with wind from the south it should remain reasonably mild. sunshine around, breaking through in cambridgeshire, sunshine ahead of the west of wales. that weather front creeping east accompanied by gale force wind, using across the west of scotland, transferring to the north. some of that rain turning to snow across the

highlands and grampians. when the and wet afternoon across parts of northern ireland, much of southern and western scotland, creeping into the western fringes of england and wales. further east, 13 or 1a celsius mild for the time of year. that weather front will weaken overnight, clinging close by to northern ireland but for northern ireland and western scotland, prone to not only frost but patchy dense fog whilst particularly england and wales it will be a mild night because we have all the southerly wind and the remnants of the weather front which will be around on thursday. thursday looks like the weather front will weaken. rain around but either side, the east of it, sunshine breaking through and further west, it, sunshine breaking through and furtherwest, much it, sunshine breaking through and further west, much brighter across northern ireland and western scotland. we have the sunshine in

eastern areas, 15 or 16 celsius to come on thursday. we still keep the wind from the side on friday but they are more brisk with the approach of the next weather front and it looks like a more active weather front. and it looks like a more active weatherfront. we and it looks like a more active weather front. we will see brightness across the east, phasing marching eastwards, followed by heavy showers, even ramblers of thunder. it looks more unsettled and breezier. into the weekend, we will see the rain clearing away, with more to come over the weekend.

the kremlin these rules to allow

refugees to get out of the country more quickly, before a committee of he said that more than 7 million people had been displaced because of the conflict there. more headlines at the top of the hour, now it is time for hard talk. welcome, that may puke in's in v8 vision of ukraine welcome, that may puke in's in v8 vision of ukrain - , , , welcome, that may puke in's in v8 vision of ukrain - , , , vision of ukraine represents the most violent — vision of ukraine represents the most violent seismic _ vision of ukraine represents the most violent seismic shock - vision of ukraine represents the most violent seismic shock to l most violent seismic shock to european security since the collapse of the soviet union.

the us, nato allies, and the eu are now arming the ukrainian government. the return of hot war to europe seems destined to lead to a new long—term cold war. my guest is michael carpenter, us ambassador to the organization for security and cooperation in europe — an organisation which right now would seem to have failure written into its name. are we entering a new age of conflict? michael carpenter in vienna, welcome to hardtalk. good to be with you. ambassador carpenter, you've spent many years of your professional life making it your job to study very closely vladimir putin and his intentions. when did you conclude that he was going to mount a full—on invasion of ukraine?

well, stephen, we saw the indications of this already in the early fall, that the combat power that was being assembled on ukraine's borders was notjust for show, but had all the enablers and all the other elements that would be necessary for a full—scale invasion. and we've been telling allies this for some time. a lot of them were incredulous. unfortunately, i didn't want to believe myself, but we are where we are today with a full—scale russian invasion of ukraine. it's just tragic. if you felt that way and the administration felt that way, because i dare say you weren't the only adviser looking at this very closely, why did the administration not do more to try to pre—empt putin's invasion? look, we warned the world that this was coming. we also told the kremlin, in no uncertain terms, that there would be massive and unprecedented repercussions

for a military escalation in ukraine of whatever variety, whether a full—scale invasion or something smaller. unfortunately, it looks like the kremlin didn't believe us or concluded that somehow, it could get away with this sort of a massive invasion of a peaceful neighbour. it's very unfortunate that deterrence didn't work, but here we are today and now we have to impose massive consequences, notjust so that the pain is felt immediately in the kremlin right now, but also so that future kremlin leaders see that this operation was a failure, that it did not achieve what russia wanted to achieve, and in fact, that it left russia weaker as a result of this war than when it started. interesting that you say deterrence didn't work, and i guess we can conclude that many of the attitudes and indeed the institutions of diplomacy, as it was pre—ukraine invasion, are no longer useful.

and i'm just thinking, as i look at you and i look at the board behind you, which has those initials, osce, you are the representative of the united states to the organization for security and cooperation in europe. that's redundant now, isn't it? well, we certainly have a lot less security and a lot less cooperation across the european continent. but let's not forget that this organisation was born of a set of dialogues that took place in the early 1970s, when indeed there was very little security or cooperation in europe at the time. and so we managed to carve out a space to have dialogue with the soviets back then, in the 1970s, it led to the adoption of the helsinki final act, which is today regarded as a flagship — properly regarded as a flagship document that enshrines our common principles. but at the time, it was tough going. we're in a very difficult time now. it doesn't mean that this organisation is dead or that it doesn't serve a purpose,

especially in the future. well, what service is it providing right now? you had the osce as an institution, had monitors in ukraine monitoring the front line of the eight—year—long conflict in the donbas region. as soon as putin's invasion happened, all of those monitors were pulled out. the entire osce presence in ukraine was pulled out. i just wonder why that happened when, goodness knows, monitoring what is happening across front lines is so very important at this moment. well, stephen, the special monitoring mission was designed to be able to call out ceasefire violations and the deployment of prescribed heavy weapons, and if it was falling on the russian—controlled side of the line of contact, we wanted the world to know that it was russia that was responsible. and i think the osce

monitoring mission — these are unarmed civilians, by the way — did a heroic job of doing just that. they let the world know that this aggression, that this war was unprovoked. it came from russia, it came from across the border. the ukrainians were peacefully in the same force posture they had been in for years. and so, it actually served its purpose. now there's a hot war on the ground, and we're into a different phase of this conflict, and we need different tools and mechanisms to try to resolve it. right, but my organisation, the bbc, still has courageous staff on the ground, very close to the front lines, monitoring and reporting on what is going on. and we value that. i'm just wondering, what is the point of the osce if you can't maintain some sort of presence providing independent monitoring and verification of what is happening during this war. i notice your government, the us government, is very keen to move ahead with a prosecution at the international criminal court

of the russian government and vladimir putin, but how can you do that if there isn't independent, verifiable evidence? well, stephen, i think it's hardly necessary at this point to verify ceasefire violations. i mean, we're watching russia pummel ukraine with missile strikes, artillery, aircraft. there's no need at this point to call out a ceasefire violation across the line of contact. the line of contact is a thing of the past. we're in a new reality. and so therefore, we have adapted the osce�*s mission in terms of what we're focusing on right now — as you rightly said, to document gross violations of human rights, to look at possible war crimes, possible crimes against humanity, and the osce has experience there, too. and so we have now deployed, or we will shortly deploy a set of monitors to look at precisely those sorts of egregious and gross violations of international humanitarian law. yeah, you've used very strong language — i mean, you personally —

about what you've seen in the first days of this war. you've referred to "barbaric acts". you've referred to evil being done by russian forces on the ground. we're not yet two weeks in. that's the way you see what is unfolding on the ground. do you believe that your government, nato, and european allies are doing all that they could do to try to stop this war? well, i think it's clear that we all need to do more. however, that said, this is a very complex security environment in which we are trying to deter and defend nato space, which we have an obligation to do, and president biden has clearly said that the article five commitment to the defence of nato is ironclad, we'll defend every single inch of nato territory. now, ukraine is not a nato member, and we are very cognisant

of the escalation risks, given that russia is a nuclear power, in fact, has the most nuclear weapons of any country on earth. yeah, i understand that, but you have said things which suggest — and maybe i'm misreading you — you have said things which suggest that you see some sort of valid comparison to the 1939—45 war, and the activities of the nazis. you have said this — "amongst the many early warning signs of mass atrocities is the use of rhetoric denying a nation's right to exist. humanity has witnessed this sort of rhetoric before. shockingly, we are seeing it again today." so if i'm not misreading you, you are making direct comparisons with the nazis. and if that's the case, then surely you cannot just sit by and watch these — your word — atrocities happen time and again, can you?

look, i'm not making a comparison with a specific regime, i am issuing a warning that we are in a stage where mass atrocities could very well become a reality. and so we have an obligation to try to get the russians to agree to a ceasefire, to have a humanitarian pause, to surge humanitarian relief into ukraine, which we are doing — by we, i mean the united states, as well as some of our allies — and also to allow ukrainians to defend themselves. we heard an impassioned plea from the mayor of zhytomyr in the osce permanent counciljust a few days ago, in which he said, "look, we've got still some water, still some food. what we need is weapons to allow our citizens to defend their homes, their neighbourhoods, their cities, their homeland." and so, we're doing all of that. we're surging humanitarian relief. we're surging weapons and other equipment to allow ukrainians to defend themselves. and we're sounding an early warning that, look, we're

into uncharted territory here, and there could be things that are egregious, barbaric, as i have said, in terms of what we might see in the near term future. yes, so my question again to you, ambassador, is what the united states ultimately will do to try to stop it? volodymyr zelensky, just a couple of days ago, said this direct to nato — looking into the camera, he said, "all the people who die from this day forward will also die because of you — you, nato — because of your weakness, your lack of unity. the alliance has given a green light to the bombing of ukrainian cities and villages by refusing to create a no—fly zone." your position on that may have to change, may it not? look, the reality is that nato is more united than it has ever been. we have complete unanimity in terms of the types of steps that we're going to take to oppose russia's barbaric invasion of ukraine.

that said, a no—fly zone involves kinetic... this is not like iraq, this is not like libya, this is not like the balkans. we're talking about russia, a nuclear power. and so, a no—fly zone is not some sort of antiseptic operation. it involves taking out aircraft and air defence systems. so president biden has been very clear, we're not going to do that. however, we are going to give weapons and equipment to ukraine to defend itself. we are going to give medicine, food, humanitarian supplies. we're going to do everything we can to support diplomatic efforts to end this conflict. so you see barbarism, you see depravity, you see evil. but in the end, because vladimir putin has nuclear weapons and has recently implied that he's prepared to use them, you are giving him some sort of veto over nato applying force in the skies over ukraine.

have i got that right? well, we're not giving him a veto. we are providing... i'm not going to get into the specific types of equipment and systems that we're giving to the ukrainians because i don't think that would be wise for a variety of reasons. but we are providing, as i said earlier, our ukrainian partners with the sorts of tools and weapons, frankly, to enable them to defend themselves. it may not be a no—fly zone, it may not be everything that potentially could be done. but i've laid out those escalation risks very clearly and they are real. i'm intrigued by some of the hints you are giving me about the extent of us military assistance. senator ben sasse in washington said recently the us should be arming ukraine to the teeth and also offering "tactical, actionable intelligence to the ukrainians

on the ground so they can kill these russian invaders." is that deep sort of military intel cooperation happening hour—on—hour, day—on—day between the us and ukraine right now? well, again, i don't want to get into specifics, but i can say that we are coordinating very closely with our ukrainian partners. and when it comes to warplanes, which again, zelensky is desperate to get his hands on, you are, should i say, encouraging very strongly poland to give those mig warplanes to ukraine quickly, are you? look, that's poland's sovereign choice. we are looking at all range of platforms to enable ukrainians to defend their skies and more importantly, to defend their neighbourhoods and their neighbours. because we are seeing a lot of civilians dying as a result of this unprovoked conflict, including strikes on hospitals,

orphanages, schools, ambulances, pharmacies, etc. and so we're looking at a range of different systems. you have also — you, the government in the united states — have talked a lot about strengthening sanctions. there seems to be a move afoot to get an oil ban, oil purchase ban issued by the us government. but it's clear that when it comes to fossil fuels, europe isn't necessarily going to follow america's lead. the german chancellor, olaf scholz, has made it plain that as far as he's concerned, it's simply not tenable to think of a boycott of russian gas in particular. so there's a division there, isn't there? well, you know, stephen, i think that's ok, because look, we import a lot less russian oil and gas than our european allies do. for sanctions to have an effect, it's not necessary that the europeans do every single thing

that the united states does, or that the united states mimic every action that the europeans do. we want to be in lockstep as much as we can. we want to be coordinated. but sometimes that involves different countries taking different actions. and that's ok, because we have indeed — and i want your viewers to know this — we have indeed imposed unprecedented sanctions in terms of the severity of what the russian economy will see in the coming days and weeks. i mean, their economy is really going to take a hit unlike anything we've seen in recent times. at the beginning of this interview, i referred to your long experience. you've been a russia adviser, an expert to the us government, both in the state department, the pentagon, inside the national security in the obama—biden white house. when you reflect on two decades and more of policymaking from the us toward russia, do you now acknowledge that maybe you got things wrong? you didn't appreciate just how much the eastward expansion of nato was going to build resentment, angerand, ultimately,

the sort of response we've seen from vladimir putin in the last couple of weeks? no, i don't buy that at all, stephen. i think mistakes were made in the past, but i think those mistakes were actually of a completely different nature. i think the response after russia's invasion of georgia in 2008 was likely insufficient and more could have been done after 2014 as well. as far as nato, consider this. if we had not enlarged nato — and by the way, it wasn't nato that decided to expand into other countries — it is countries seeing the threat coming from russia, desperately wanting to join nato so that they could have some protection. well, with respect, it's a two—way street, of course. you know, there is a feeling in many of the post—soviet east european countries that they wanted the protection of nato, but the existing nato membership had to want to embrace them and feel that was a wise thing to do. i mean, you're a very experienced diplomat.

did you never read george kennan before his death writing and saying, "expanding nato would be the most fateful error of american policy in the entire post—cold war era"? look, i don't... i think the enlargement of nato was the single wisest security decision taken in europe in the last three decades. imagine the citizens of warsaw, prague, and budapest if they were not guaranteed their security by nato's article five. imagine where they would be right today. imagine the citizens of the baltic states and the threat that they would feel from putin's russia. i mean, we're talking about tens of millions of peaceful citizens across eastern europe that would potentially be suffering the exact same fate as the citizens of ukraine are today. that's not a place we would want to be. nato is a defensive alliance, stephen. so nato has never posed a serious threat to russia.

and all you have to do is look at the nato infrastructure on russia's borders. look at the battalions that nato has deployed to the baltic states and compare that to the divisions russia has fielded just on the other side of the border. we're talking about orders of magnitude of difference. the only reason i'm rehearsing some of this history is because it seems to matter in terms of maybe a misunderstanding of russia and putin over years. i mean, we can talk about the '90s and decisions taken then, but we can also talk about the years where you were directly involved in the obama—biden white house — 2012, for example, that famous quote of barack obama when he was mocking mitt romney for talking about getting tougher on putin. and obama said, "oh, it seems the 1980s are calling to ask for their foreign policy back." "listen," he said, "the cold war�*s been over for 20 years." even after the invasion of the donbas by russian forces, which of course led to that line of conflict, which we've already discussed,

and the annexation of crimea, the national security strategy of the united states under obama—biden talked of needing strategic patience toward putin's russia. this immensely relaxed attitude to vladimir putin, despite what happened in georgia, despite what happened in ukraine in 2014, seems to have been plain wrong. well, i think senator romney, to his credit, was very prescient, and i think we've had, frankly — we, meaning collectively, the west — has had decades of failure in assuming that russia's modernisation and the growth of a middle class in russia would somehow lead russia to be a more responsible stakeholder in the international system. but when you have a country that's run by a clique of kgb agents, things have turned out very differently. and i think that was a collective mistake that the west has made, as i said, over a much longer period of time. where's the, you know, there's this phrase —

of course you know — the off—ramp for vladimir putin? you study him carefully, even to this day. where do you think the off—ramp for him is now? because right now, itjust looks like he is prepared to double down to do whatever it takes to subjugate ukraine. and it's not clear that he's going to back off, and it's not clear what we're going to do. yeah, well, the near—term future does not look auspicious. he does appear to be doubling down, engaging in much more indiscriminate attacks on civilian objects and civilian neighbourhoods. but look, our goal has to be to expand ukraine's runway and shorten russia's, right? i mean, we need to apply those significant massive costs that we talked about to russia so that their timeframe collapses and ukraine's expands, so they can survive and they can defeat this brutal aggression. so what you call the atrocities, the barbarism, the depravity, the evil, will continue until a point at which you think vladimir putin's grip on power will break —

is that it? well, i think we need to pursue all diplomatic avenues whenever and wherever they present themselves, precisely so that we do not end up with mass atrocities. we need to leave no stone unturned in terms of the diplomatic efforts to prevent that from happening. but at the end of the day, you do have a nuclear power that is invading its peaceful neighbour, and thatjust presents a very complex situation in terms of what we can do. sure, sure, sure... we're trying to change the equation on the ground, as i said, to enable ukraine to survive and to repel this attack. you know what one senior washington official told the new york times recently? a cornered putin is a very dangerous animal. and if you add that to what fiona hill, a former senior adviser to the us government on russia said, which is that we are already in world war iii, it would seem to me it is time

for europeans to be extremely worried about what could come next. well, i think we do have to be extremely worried and cautious. it is necessary to prevent escalation in this conflict, which is why we've just discussed the no—fly zone and why there are enormous escalation risks involved in that endeavour. but we have to look at how we can blunt this offensive and how we can impose such costs on the russian economy that if the leadership in the kremlin does not realise that something is going wrong, at least those around them will signal the alarm that this is not a sustainable posture. that's what we've got to try to do. when people talk about... well, i mean, you're at the osce, organization for security cooperation in europe. i keep reminding myself of that phrase. when people talk of world war iii, do you think that is overblown? or are we very close?

look, i wouldn't say that we're very close. but again, we have to manage the escalation risks in such a way that we do not end up pushing this conflict higher and higher up the escalatory ladder. i mean, certainly, there is the potential for that, and that is why wise and cool leadership is necessary at this moment to find other ways to exert pressure without leading to a military spiral, getting out of control. michael carpenter, i thank you very much indeed forjoining me on hardtalk. thank you. my pleasure.

more cloud cover this morning, it is baking and eastern areas, and for the next few days, even now there will be quite a lot of card around, most of the rain will be a the western side of the uk, weather fronts weakening as they come across this high—pressure further east. it should remain for most reasonably mild. sunshine around, bringing to the east, little sunshine this morning ahead of the weatherford across the west of wales, about whether front is creeping eastwards, accompanied by gill. when, using across the west of scotland, transferring to the north, some of that rain will turn to snow across the highlands and grampians. a windy entry at the wet afternoon across parts of northern ireland, southern and western scotland, and into the

western fringes, but where the sun comes further east, 13—14 c is mild for the time of year. overnight at weather front will weaken as you can see, clinging close by to the coast of northern ireland but for northern ireland and western scotland, the west about whether front, prone to a little bit of frost and patchy dense fog. for many, particularly england and wales and eastern scotland, and night once again, because we have all those southerly winds and remnants of the weather front around for the day on thursday. thursday looks like the weather front weakening, splashes of rain around, either side of it, sunshine breaking through, west as well, brighter day across northern ireland and dryer for western scotland, parts of western wales. where we have the sunshine in eastern areas, we will see the 15—16 c to come here under thursday. still keeping those winds

in the south, briscoe with the approach of the next weather front, approach of the next weather front, a more active front again. we will see some brightness initially across the eastern side, it will fade as an weatherford matches eastwards followed by heavy showers for wales and the south—west, numbers of thunder, reasonably mild, 13—15 c, it looks more unsettled, breezy as we head into the weekend, rain clearing away, more to come over the weekend.

economic this is bbc news. breaking news from ukraine. the authorities there say a maternity hospital in mariupol has been hit by a russian attack. president zelensky has described it as an atrocity. these are the first pictures, verified by the bbc, showing huge damage. there are no casualty figures yet. a ukrainian mp tells the bbc the hospital was full. the information is that a maternity hospital was hit, yes. elsewhere, there's ongoing shelling in the beleagured city of kharkiv. and ukrainian officials say most attempts to create humanitarian corridors have failed today. every day is worse and worse. they are making it worse for civilians, and we need...

every day can be the last, for our relatives left behind. people flee the key city of irpin, close to the capital, the place where russia shelled civilians on sunday during a so—called ceasefire. the us rejects an offer by poland to send all of its russian—made mig—29 fighterjets to ukraine, via us bases. and the kremlin says the us has declared "economic war" on russia, following bans on the imports of oil. welcome to bbc news. there are reports from the southern ukrainian city of mariapol that ukrainian city of mariupol that maternity and children's hospital has been hit by russian strikes. these are the first pictures verified by the bbc, the city council says the destruction is colossal, adding that they didn't yet

know casualty figures. president zelensky has described the attack as an atrocity, adding... "how much longer will the world be an accomplice in terror?" he went on to add that children and people are under the wreckage. he says to close this guy right now, stop the killings, you have the power but you seem to be losing humanity. as we look at these pictures, it shows you the scale of the damage as the camera pans around the damage as the camera pans around the multiple buildings. this is a children and maternity hospital. you can see all of the windows blown out in this picture shows a huge crater, the result of the blast. the city council has been talking about air strikes. we are trying to work out what exactly the nature of the attack that whatever it is you can see the end result, a huge amount of

damage and as the authorities are saying, they still don't know in terms of casualties, any sort of number. a ukrainian mp saying a little earlier that the hospital was full. i'm joined now by our chief international correspondent lyse doucet live from kyiv. and other terrible development? there is always a cruel and horrific logic to war that every time in our time, a military operation is unleashed, this moment comes. the moment of an atrocity where the most innocentin moment of an atrocity where the most innocent in this conflict are the victims of a devastating strike. the difference this time is that this strike, which has been verified by the bbc on that maternity hospital in mariupol, comes many days after the united nations, including the head of the united nations children fund, had already raised concern

that hospitals and kindergartens and orphanages were coming under russian fire in this invasion of ukraine. be world health organization had said days ago that at least 16 hospitals were no longer operative because of russian artillery and gunfire. there has been repeated calls on the russian forces to stop their indiscriminate fire, but day in, day out, it happens, and it's happening in the city mariupol, where, for the past week, the city has been encircled by russian forces. people are running out of food, out of water, we began this day with the international committee of the red, never known to sensationalise a situation, describing it as apocalyptic. but the first report of the strike on a maternity hospital in the city on the southern coast of

ukraine came while bbc colleague, my bbc colleague yalda hakim was interviewing a member of parliament. let's listen to what he had to say about this strike. a maternity hospital several hours a -o a maternity hospital several hours ago was _ a maternity hospital several hours ago was ruined with women and newborns— ago was ruined with women and newborns and in the district where i .rew newborns and in the district where i grew up. _ newborns and in the district where i grew up, the easternmost district, there _ grew up, the easternmost district, there are — grew up, the easternmost district, there are carpet bombing and my house _ there are carpet bombing and my house was— there are carpet bombing and my house was hit and all the houses around _ house was hit and all the houses around it— house was hit and all the houses around it were hit. so it is really carpet _ around it were hit. so it is really carpet bombing. several hours ago, it was— carpet bombing. several hours ago, it was hit. _ carpet bombing. several hours ago, it was hit. it — carpet bombing. several hours ago, it was hit, it is now the information the eye now, because there _ information the eye now, because there is— information the eye now, because there is almost no cell phone network— there is almost no cell phone network but the information is that a maternity hospital was hit, yes. it was _ a maternity hospital was hit, yes. it was full! — a maternity hospital was hit, yes. it was full! we have several videos

from _ it was full! we have several videos from mariupol, and we have not a lot of information, but it is real, it — of information, but it is real, it it — of information, but it is real, it it is _ of information, but it is real, it... it is confirmed that the maternity— it... it is confirmed that the maternity hospital was hit. it is real, as maternity hospital was hit. it is real. as the _ maternity hospital was hit. it is real, as the member _ maternity hospital was hit. it 2 real, as the member of parliament for mariupol told yalda hakim a short time ago. this is the reality of this war now in a third week and maria paul of course is on the list of the six humanitarian corridors —— mariupol. to try to rescue people who are trapped by the shelling, trapped in situations like we have just seen, but across the country, again, it is a chequered situation. many of the routes have still been blocked by shelling. on some,

hundreds in some places, thousands and others, have been able to escape, have been able to board the buses to go somewhere safer, it also allowed food and essential supplies to reach besieged areas which had been under incessant shelling for many days. let's look at the situation across this country. this report from james waterhouse. it's been two weeks since ukraine found itself at war. a country and its very future under attack. the fighting hasn't stopped, but today, more routes announced for people to try and escape it. six humanitarian corridors agreed between ukraine and russia. so, most people here are escaping heavy fighting to the west of kyiv, and whilst it will be seen as a positive that they can get out, it also feeds into a very deliberate tactic by the invading troops to lessen the city's appetite to fight back, as well as bombard it into submission.

in the current safety of central kyiv, this is what awaits some. nights in the metro station, with confusion on where to go next. we have ten grandchildren, and thank god, they are far from here, but of course, we were all together in the first hours here. we are ready to be hungry, to be thirsty, but to see how our children die, it's impossible. these temporary ceasefires are fragile. tens of thousands of people are still stuck under heavy shelling without basic supplies in mariupol. humanitarian aid can't get in either. moscow is accused of shelling the agreed routes. the city is in total darkness. it's like a black, scary, you know, forest. then there is no heating because, of course, it is powered from electricity. no heating and no water, because everything, all of the infrastructure was damaged.

but there have been relative successes. more than 5,000 people made it out of sumy yesterday. the hope is more will follow today. translation: i am addressing the russian federation. - you have officially and publicly- committed to stop shooting from 9am on the 9th of march, 2022. we have a negative experience when the undertaken - commitments were failed, along. the mariupol—zaporizhzhia routes. ukrainian army chiefs claim the russian advance has been slowed these last 2a hours. the worry remains, though, that they will continue to surround key cities instead. as of now, some people are managing to escape, but many ukrainians, like these in the central square of kyiv, have decided to stay. james waterhouse, bbc news.

we wait for more details of that attack on a hospital in mariupol, specifically about any casualty figures and the latest in terms of the news on the ground but a number of ukrainian officials in interviews today have said the same thing, it's not about whether the west will end “p not about whether the west will end up joining the fight against russia, it's about when. when you read president zelensky�*s tweets after this hospital attack, that's exactly what pressure he is putting on the west as well in the last hour or so. the phrase they use here is close this guy. president zelensky used it again when he tweeted about what —— close the sky. a direct strike on the maternity hospital where we are being told children were buried. close the sky means ukraine wants a

no—fly zone. president zelensky mentioning when he spoke to the houses of parliament in britain, i'm sure it will come up today in the news conference of liz truss the foreign secretary and antony blinken the us secretary of state, president zelensky has asked for time and again, he hasjust asked zelensky has asked for time and again, he has just asked for it again, he has just asked for it again today, he always receives a thunderous note. because the west fears that if it applies a no—fly zone to try to stop russian warplanes and missiles, it will be drawn into direct conflict with russia, because maintaining a no—fly zone means that first of all you have to attack russian aircraft but you also have to attack their facilities on the ground. they feel this is a step too far. while they continue to say they will provide defensive weapons of all kinds, military support, but they say this one is not on the agenda for now. thanks very much. those pictures you

see from mariupol, those first pictures verified from the bbc and we return to them and that is the creator, when you see the shotjust out you will get the perspective of what we are talking about, because the local authorities are talking about colossal damage and as the camera flips around, you can see those buildings surrounding that crater with windows blown out. this is a maternity hospital so it is women, children, the ukrainian mp talking to the bbc said hospital was full. ukraine's president is talking about people being under the rubble and that rescue effort is clearly ongoing, these are early moments after this russian strike. more details will come in all the time. stay with us, we will bring you let regular updates in terms of information and pictures as they come into us.

when the press conference starts we will carry that live because i suspect a lot of questions about that latest incident and the polish offer for that latest incident and the polish offerfor mig—29s. all of offer for mig—29s. all of that here in the minutes ahead. the effect of the war and of sanctions on russia is likely to hit other countries soon. analysts are predicting the decision by the us and uk to stop importing russian oil will raise energy prices to new record highs which will then lead to higher inflation, already at its highest in 30 years. in russia, inflation is even higher and american—owned restaurants from mcdonald's to starbucks are closing their outlets there. meanwhile a russian—owned private jet has been impounded at farnborough airbase here in the uk. our economics correspondent andy verity reports on the global response. in moscow, it's the last chance to grab a mcdonald's before 850 outlets close their doors while the war is on. i like this food.

mcdonald's decision in 1990 to open its first outlet in red square symbolised the end of the cold war. at the time, a big mac could cost the average russian half their daily wage. other american brands followed, from coca—cola to heineken, but now they are stopping sales to russia. for ordinary russians, putin's war in ukraine has thrown the third of a century of opening up to western brands like starbucks into reverse. but according to the ukrainian president, every little helps. translation: it is very simple. every penny paid to russia turns into bullets and shells, which are directed at other sovereign states. either russia will respect international law and will not wage wars, or it will not have the money to start wars~ — what will have more than a symbolic impact is the us decision to stop importing russian oil immediately. britain is only phasing it out by the end of this year,

but many multinationals are in any case saying they refuse to buy russian oil. crude oil is already up 65% since the start of the year, and because ukraine's's wheat exports are disrupted, the price of wheat is up 56%, and wholesale gas prices are up 173%. so, even though the uk imports only a small amount of oil, _ it's going to be competing - with other countries for supplies of oil now, and the prices, probably a better than even chance it - will break new records, - as the implications of these coordinated bans on russian crude from the us and uk recalibrate - through the markets. after the government banned aeroflot and all russian—owned private jets from landing in british airspace, a plane at farnborough airfield, suspected of violating that ban, was impounded. we need to stem the flow of putin's income, his blood money, whether that comes from gas or oil or anything else from funding his war machine, and that is what we are determined to do. while russian imports are only 8%

of the crude oil we use, they are 18% of our diesel use. according to the latest data, the average price of diesel has hit a record high today of £1.65 a litre, up 3p from yesterday. even petrol cars now cost an average of £90 to fill up. andy verity, bbc news. our correspondentjenny hill in moscow explains what the kremlin's response has been to the us sanctions. we heard from the spokesman there that the kremlin is currently analysing was the world, analysing president biden's decision to stop buying oil before it responds. we do expect a response. vladimir putin now wants, we understand, to ban or block the export of raw materials from russia, but we don't really know exactly what he has got in mind. we are told the kremlin has not quite decided how that work

and which countries it will affect, so we will have to wait and see what details we get on that. for your foi’ your average for your average russian even if they get information from state telephone the kent help but notice something is afoot. prices are starting to go up supermarkets are limiting how much you can buy and these western brands are disappearing. we are not seeing the deep economic pain that many analysts predict will come to most russians. but when that does happen, it is going to be interesting to see how the kremlin handles that because the suspicion is that vladimir putin will simply say to russians this is another example of western aggression against russia. we had a taste of it this morning from a spokesman who said america is now waging an economic war on russians, which is an ironic choice of word,

given that the kremlin has sought journalists not to use that word when discussing russia's actions in ukraine. british american tobacco says our business in russia continues to operate but they go on to say we have suspended all planned capital into russia, bit of a halfway house but we will have the latest, the latest company to adjust their position. let's bring you some live pictures now from washington, where the us secretary of state antony blinken is meeting with the british foreign secretray liz truss. the united states has dismissed a polish plan to send militaryjets to ukraine via an american airbase as untenable. the polish government suggested

sending more than 20 of its russian made mig—29 fighterjets to ukraine via an airbase in germany. but the americans say they weren't consulted and that the plan would raise serious concerns for nato. but petro poroshenko, the former president of ukraine, believes those planes should be sent to ukraine. give it from poland, give it from slovakia because everything is about humanity. this is a test, every single day, you should pass this test. are you strong enough to protect humanity? to protect future? can you imagine how difficult it is now? could you explain now to children, who are spending their second week in a bomb shelter without water, without food, without medicine, could you explain

this discussion about should ukraine receive the old former soviet union plane, mig—29 or not? i very much appreciated that people of us, people of uk, people of europe, more than 60% supporting close the sky, but more than 85% supporting give ukraine the plane. nato, please understand that. nato is already involved in the conflict, don't have any illusion. point number two, ukrainians here are fighting for freedom and democracy, and for nato, making russia weaker and making europe safer. paying for that the biggest price they can, their lives and their blood. we are here with a position of russian troops several kilometres from this place, where we are broadcasting, and together with me, it was all of the journalist from the whole world, including the bbc, they see how dangerous it is and coming back to this position,

i just want to remind you, when i was elected as a president in the year 2014, when russia attacked us, imagine, please, ukraine was neutral. we don't have any nato perspective and this did not make it difficult for russia to attack my country. power has been cut off from the former nuclear power plant at chernobyl. ukraine's state energy company, blamed the outage on actions by russian troops who seized chernobyl nearly two weeks ago. the head of the un nuclear watchdog said the outage did not impact

that breaking news coming out of ukraine, mariupol, more pictures coming into us of this attack on a hospital there and these are the pictures that accompanied president zelensky�*s tweet earlier from the inside of one of those buildings where he talked about the atrocity of this attack and he said that people, children, were still under the wreckage. we have no idea at this stage in terms of casualties, but as these pictures swing around, you get a sense of the scale of the destruction inside this building. we were looking at the pictures from outside earlier, that showed a huge crater and then all of the buildings around have been damaged, so those, some of the latest pictures in that we still don't know anything from the authorities in terms of a number of casualties, those killed or

injured, but one mp talking to the bbc made the point that the hospital was full at the time of the strikes. city authorities talk about an air strike but that still has not been confirmed with the various weaponry the russians have been using against ukrainian targets. russia of course continues to maintain they do not target civilians, despite of course two weeks of evidence on the ground, the variety of attacks we have seen in so many places, mariupol the place that so many people have been so concerned about over the last couple of days. you heard earlier the red cross who are always very moderate described the situation as apocalyptic. day and night there has been shelling there in mariupol and so much damage in the city, the people they are without food,

without water, without electricity, and various efforts to try to get people out and establish humanitarian corridors have failed and that picture there gives you a real sense of what we are talking about. you saw that man at the bottom of the crater and a huge crater created by whatever has struck this hospital building, the authorities describing it as a maternity unit, hence women and children being the principles involved in the casualties, but that is bound to dominate the news conference we are going to get in the next few minutes with the us secretary of state and the uk foreign minister, that due to kick off any time now, it was supposed to start ten or 15 minutes ago. we will obviously carry that life. that's the situation there as those talks are about to conclude and that news conference about to start. let me

tell you more about what president zelensky has been saying about that attack, we were looking at as we stay with his pictures because a few officials in the last few minutes have come through and shuffle paper on the podium, we are not far away from the news conference starting but president zelensky in his tweets about the latest attack said it was about the latest attack said it was a director strike of russian troops at the maternity hospital, people, children, underthe at the maternity hospital, people, children, under the wreckage. at the maternity hospital, people, children, underthe wreckage. he then writes, atrocity. how much longer will the world be an accomplice, ignoring terror? close the sky right now, that's the appeal he has made for a no—fly zone over ukraine, a plea that has been ignored by the west as they worry about a wider war with russia and president zelensky says stop the killings, you have power but you seem to be losing humanity. that news conference has not got under way, so we are going to take a short

break, we are back in a moment with more details, from washington. don't go away. good afternoon. it was a milder start this morning. we had more cloud cover through the night, but that breaking in eastern areas. for the next few days, even though there will be cloud around, most of the rain will be across the western side of the uk. these weather fronts weakening across this high pressure further east. with wind from the south, it should remain reasonably mild. sunshine around, breaking through in cambridgeshire, a little sunshine ahead of the weather front in the west of wales. that weather front creeping east accompanied by gale force wind, easing across the west of scotland, transferring to the north. some of that rain turning to snow across the highlands and grampians. windy and wet afternoon across parts

of northern ireland, much of southern and western scotland, creeping into the western fringes of england and wales. further east, 13 or 1a celsius, mild for the time of year. that weather front will weaken overnight, clinging close by to the coast of northern ireland but for northern ireland and western scotland, we're prone to not only frost but patchy dense fog whilst for many particularly england and wales it will be a mild night because we have all the southerly wind and the remnants of the weather front which will be around on thursday. thursday looks like the weather front will weaken. rain around as you can see but either side, the east of it, sunshine breaking through and further west, much brighter across northern ireland and western scotland. we have the sunshine in eastern areas, 15 or 16 celsius to come on thursday.

we still keep the wind from the south on friday but they are more brisk with the approach of the next weather front and it looks like a more active weather front. we will see brightness across the east, fading as the weather front is marching eastwards, followed by heavy showers, even ramblers of thunder. it looks more unsettled and breezier. into the weekend, we will see the rain clearing away, with more to come over the weekend.

welcome back to bbc news, let's return to that breaking news last hour or so. there are reports from the southern ukrainian city of mariapol that a maternity and children's hospital has been hit by russian strikes. these are the first pictures verified by the bbc — the city council says the destruction is colossal, adding that they didn't yet know casualty figures. president zelensky has described the attack as an atrocity.

the governor says the air strike had happened during an agreed ceasefire period, those humanitarian corridors had been negotiated in six different areas, mariupol was supposed to be one of those areas, but you see in these pictures the huge crater in the middle of the buildings, and as the cameras and pictures swing around, you see the scale of the damage, pictures from inside showing damage inside, but every window blown out of the children's hospital and surrounding buildings. we know from a ukrainian mp, he said the hospital was full at the time of the strike. another of the time of the strike. another of the lines coming into us from the ukrainian government in the last few minutes saying that in mariupol, since the start of the invasion, the deputy

may assess 117o civilians had been killed in that city, not in that strike, but generally since the start of the invasion in mariupol that has seen such a pounding from russian attacks, 117o civilians have been killed, according to the city may. these are the pictures from inside one of the buildings, swinging around and showing the damage inside, a huge blast. the city authorities talk about air strikes, we have it me unable to confirm that because so many different pieces of military equipment being used by the russians, they continue to deny they target civilians, but this is a hospital that has been struck, just like those residential areas we have seenin like those residential areas we have seen in different parts of ukraine that have also been hit. more evidence stacking up, we know that the icc is gathering evidence as we speak with their teams on the

ground, trying to collate details, incidents, because this is not the first hospital that has been hit, we heard from the icrc early in the week that they were looking at 16 different hospital locations that had been hit by various strikes, so this another. this seems like the worst damage in terms ofjust the enormity of the destruction we're seeing from pictures, but those are some of the latest lines after this strike in mariupol, that maternity hospital, and we wait for that news conference that is due to get under way in washington. i will show you those pictures, the same picture from about 15—20 minutes ago, the podiums all set up. we thought the news conference would start 20 minutes ago, it hasn't. as they take in perhaps some of these recent events, but as soon as the british

foreign secretary arise there at the microphones, as soon as anthony blinken that arise, we will cross the washington and carry that lie. —— antony blinken arrives. that gives us a chance to pause and return at soonest they are any developments. let's get a check on how global markets have been absorbing the latest developments related to the war in ukraine — ben boulos is here. we begin with further sanctions against russia which has sent oil prices up once again. it comes after the us and uk announced they were banning russian oil and the eu said it's ending its reliance on russian gas. the move sent the price of brent crude above $130 per barrel. however it's already having an impact across the world. petrol prices are currently at record highs in the us and the uk and experts warn they could go even higher. so who will make up for the shortfall? well, one option is venezuela.

the association that represents venezuelan oil companies told the bbc that the country could potentially raise its production levels by 400,000 barrels a day. away from oil, we've also seen more major brands, such as mcdonald's, coca—cola and starbucks announce they are halting their operations in russia. all three firms said they would continue to pay their staff. and this is how the financial markets have reacted to the news today. the ruble is under pressure after fitchratings warned russia is likely to soon default on its debts, as it downgraded the country's bonds further into "junk" territory. european equities markets recovering somewhat from early in the week, and rent crude easing off slightly, it is just above 122 dollars a barrel. we're nowjoined by

michelle fleury in new york. this offer by venezuela, 400,000 barrels a day, tell us more detail. i think everyone was surprised to learn that us officials travelled to venezuela last weekend to meet with members of president nicolas maduro's government, and the speculation was, does this mean the us will lift sanctions that were proposed by donald trump on the oil sector back in 2019, which have had a really crippling effect? the iranian all of this of course is that the us started buying more russian oil to replace venezuelan oil, now the question is will they turn back to venezuela to pump more i'll back to replace the russian oil list is now banned? there is that suggestion, i was talking to the head of the association that represents venezuelan oil companies who said, given our current infrastructure, we could increase

production, 400,000 barrels a day would account for 2000 the gap left by russian oil, but there is a long way between where we are today, even with the release of two american hostages, a sign of goodwill on the part of the venezuelans, and the lifting of sanctions. this person i was talking to suggested that perhaps what you might see instead is the granting of more licences to american and other foreign countries to provide foreign capital into the venezuelan oil market, that would help allow them to increase supply at this critical time. we've just heard in the last half an hour that congress has finalised a £13.6 billion aid package to ukraine, doubling the white house's initial request. how will this money be used? this was fascinating to watch play out in the last three days, we heard president biden, his initial request

was for about $10 billion, then that grew to closer to 12 billion, and finallyjust a day later grew to closer to 12 billion, and finally just a day later to grew to closer to 12 billion, and finallyjust a day later to close to 14 billion, and are driving this was the huge bipartisan support we saw in congress which is also what propelled the us to ban those russian oil imports. how this money will be used, about half of it will go towards defence spending, some of that will be to replace equipment at the ukrainians need, some of it will be for us troops who are helping to defend nato in europe, and the other half of the money will be split across various things, whether we were talking about humanitarian aid, support for ukraine's energy grid, also some of it will be used to fight this information, which has been something of a feature in this current conflict —— disinformation.

this happened during the ceasefire period, we are told 17 wounded in this air strike on the hospital, including women in labour. the first reference to a number after the strike, 17 people had been wounded in the air strike, including women in the air strike, including women in labour. as we have heard, some people in ukraine have managed to get out after the attacks we saw a tuesday, but among those who left sumy are thousands of foreign students, most from africa and india who made long busjourneys students, most from africa and india who made long bus journeys towards poland and some have just been arriving at the border, let's head to that border and the bbc corresponded their start though

students have been through a colossal amount in recent days, but some have got to where you are, what are you hearing? irate some have got to where you are, what are you hearing?— are you hearing? we are still waitin: are you hearing? we are still waiting for— are you hearing? we are still waiting for them, _ are you hearing? we are still waiting for them, they - are you hearing? we are still waiting for them, they have l are you hearing? we are still - waiting for them, they have crossed the border is what we are getting to hear, but they have been put on trains that will ring them to poland. they don't have to go to border checkpoints, they have gone through emigration on the trains, those trains will bring them to the station where i am at, close to the border, they have been in spacing delays because these are special trains that have been put in place to transport them, and as you pointed out, they have been through a lot. they could not come out of the city because it was a centre of continuous yelling, and russia announced a ceasefire a couple of days earlier but it was not observed, the students were put on buses, they waited for hours on the buses, they waited for hours on the buses and they had to rush back to their bunkers and the buses were parked back inside. there was an

announcement of another ceasefire and finally they were able to leave the city of sumy yesterday. this is a huge contingent now coming, indian embassy officials in the interim made their way to a city close to sumy and are now accompanying them on their long journey back. for example, they have taken 12 hours to cover a distance in a bus which generally takes four hours because they said bridges were broken and they said bridges were broken and they had to keep diverting to other longer routes. i do have with me a couple of volunteers, indians who are based in poland, students, they have been working on odd jobs to support themselves. they are here part of a massive volunteer effort to support the indian students being evacuated and help them once they come here. this man has been working with the indian embassy and has been speaking to the students, or other students in sumy telling you, what

has their journey students in sumy telling you, what has theirjourney be like so far? wendy students contacted me, they were crying because they had run at a food, _ were crying because they had run at a food, there was no water, they were _ a food, there was no water, they were using — a food, there was no water, they were using this now to get water, it is really— were using this now to get water, it is really unhealthy for them, that was the _ is really unhealthy for them, that was the main problem for them. in sumy. _ was the main problem for them. in sumy. there — was the main problem for them. in sumy, there was a power station which _ sumy, there was a power station which was — sumy, there was a power station which was taken out when there was a blast, _ which was taken out when there was a blast. so _ which was taken out when there was a blast. so in _ which was taken out when there was a blast, so in curfew time, night time, — blast, so in curfew time, night time, there is no electricity provided~ _ time, there is no electricity provided. no heating? no heating, the main _ provided. no heating? no heating, the main issue, very cold. emmanuelle, you have joined the emmanuelle, you havejoined the effort today, you are here because reinforcements were needed because there is a huge contingent of students, thousands have been evacuated from poland, one of the biggest centre points for the evacuation of students, expose the

indian students, but they spit contingent coming is being seen as a key effort that the indian government has made, what is expected of you once the students arrive? how argument to support them? i arrive? how argument to support them? . , . ., them? i have been evacuated from poland, them? i have been evacuated from poland. one _ them? i have been evacuated from poland. one of _ them? i have been evacuated from poland, one of the _ them? i have been evacuated from poland, one of the biggest - them? i have been evacuated from poland, one of the biggest centre i poland, one of the biggest centre points— poland, one of the biggest centre points for— poland, one of the biggest centre points for the _ poland, one of the biggest centre points for the evacuation - poland, one of the biggest centre points for the evacuation of- points for the evacuation of students, _ points for the evacuation of students, expose _ points for the evacuation of students, expose the - points for the evacuation of| students, expose the indian students, _ students, expose the indian students, but _ students, expose the indian students, but this _ students, expose the indian students, but this big - students, expose the indian- students, but this big contingent coming _ students, but this big contingent coming is — students, but this big contingent coming is being— students, but this big contingent coming is being seen— students, but this big contingent coming is being seen as - students, but this big contingent coming is being seen as a - students, but this big contingent coming is being seen as a key. students, but this big contingent. coming is being seen as a key effort that the _ coming is being seen as a key effort that the indian _ coming is being seen as a key effort that the indian government - coming is being seen as a key effort that the indian government has - coming is being seen as a key effort i that the indian government has made, what is _ that the indian government has made, what is expected — that the indian government has made, what is expected of— that the indian government has made, what is expected of you _ that the indian government has made, what is expected of you once _ that the indian government has made, what is expected of you once the - what is expected of you once the students — what is expected of you once the students arrive? _ what is expected of you once the students arrive? how— what is expected of you once the students arrive? how argumentl what is expected of you once the i students arrive? how argument to support— students arrive? how argument to support them? _ students arrive? how argument to support them? iso _ students arrive? how argument to support them? iso glad _ students arrive? how argument to support them? iso glad to - students arrive? how argument to support them? iso glad to be - students arrive? how argument to support them? iso glad to be a i students arrive? how argument to i support them? iso glad to be a part of this _ support them? iso glad to be a part of this -- _ support them? iso glad to be a part of this. ., . , ., ., support them? iso glad to be a part of this— we i of this. -- how are you going. we were so happy — of this. -- how are you going. we were so happy for— of this. -- how are you going. we were so happy for that, _ of this. -- how are you going. we were so happy for that, we - of this. -- how are you going. we were so happy for that, we have l of this. -- how are you going. wej were so happy for that, we have a proud _ were so happy for that, we have a proud moment— were so happy for that, we have a proud moment to _ were so happy for that, we have a proud moment to be _ were so happy for that, we have a proud moment to be helping - were so happy for that, we have a proud moment to be helping the. proud moment to be helping the students — proud moment to be helping the students coming _ proud moment to be helping the students coming from _ proud moment to be helping the students coming from there, - proud moment to be helping the students coming from there, it i proud moment to be helping the . students coming from there, it has been _ students coming from there, it has been so _ students coming from there, it has been so hard — students coming from there, it has been so hard for— students coming from there, it has been so hard for them, _ students coming from there, it has been so hard for them, and - students coming from there, it has been so hard for them, and as- students coming from there, it has been so hard for them, and as we. students coming from there, it has i been so hard for them, and as we can see, there— been so hard for them, and as we can see, there are— been so hard for them, and as we can see, there are lots— been so hard for them, and as we can see, there are lots of— been so hard for them, and as we can see, there are lots of people, - been so hard for them, and as we can see, there are lots of people, happy. see, there are lots of people, happy faces _ see, there are lots of people, happy faces. ., . . ., , faces. you are waiting to help themselves _ faces. you are waiting to help themselves that _ faces. you are waiting to help themselves that they - faces. you are waiting to help themselves that they happy i faces. you are waiting to help l themselves that they happy and faces. you are waiting to help - themselves that they happy and go back home, this is a huge volunteer effort, like i said, the backbone of the indian government evacuation programme, in which they are taking students back on flights operated by the indian air force, back to delhi from where they are going back to

their different states. as volunteer workforce is actually manning these massive relief shelters that have come up overnight in different cities in poland, including warsaw, seeks temples, hindu temples, they are basically providing hot food, bedding, clean toilets and course a safe place for the students to halt before they are taken over by the indian officials back on flights to india. let me bring you the latest lines from borisjohnson who has said in response to reports of the russian bombing of ukraine children's hospital, there are few things more depraved that targeting the vulnerable and defenceless, that the latest from boris johnson, vulnerable and defenceless, that the latest from borisjohnson, he has also gone on to say the uk is exploring multiple for ukraine to

defend against air strike and will hold putin to account for his terrible crimes. that the latest from borisjohnson. let me take you back to washington and show you the pictures, we are still waiting for that news conference with the british foreign secretary and us secretary of state, due to kick off about half—an—hour ago, some delay they are, but as soon as it starts, we will go to it. meantime, let's talk to an expert on air power at the defence think tank, and bound to come up at the news conference was what we heard overnight from poland, the offer for mick 29 queue supposed to go to us air bases in germany but very quickly washington stopping any sort of movement on that talk. it is uuite sort of movement on that talk. it 2 quite interesting, there seems to be an acceptance across nato that there is a desire to see fighters supplied to ukraine but that also each side

keeps giving each other the green light to do it themselves, but is reluctant to take the step of actually supplying the jets because while there have been weapons provided to ukraine fighter aircraft that are seen as a step above, perhaps a greater symbol of active participation. i perhaps a greater symbol of active participation-— perhaps a greater symbol of active participation. i am sure we will get auestions participation. i am sure we will get questions in _ participation. i am sure we will get questions in the _ participation. i am sure we will get questions in the news _ participation. i am sure we will get questions in the news conference i participation. i am sure we will get| questions in the news conference at around that, if you put aside how aircraft will be transported into poland, let's leave that to one side, or is the logic, the difference between lethal weapons that are being sent into ukraine and an aircraft being sent into ukraine? ultimately, there isn't a huge practical difference. in fact, ultimately, there isn't a huge practical difference. infact, in many ways, given how the russian air force is flying, it may be more valuable tactically to have more anti—tank missiles and would be more valuable to transfer ground—based surface to air missile vehicles, which certain counties do have

within europe from either cold war days or during the 90s when russia supplied them. but with fighters there is the question of where they take off from and where they land, because an aircraft is considered liable in terms of where it goes, there is a liability from the country in which it took off as well as their wedding which it lands. unlike a weapon system which might be supplied across—the—board a... that is why said to aside how you get the aircraft in situ, if you put them in on the ground somehow, with that not mitigate exactly the sort of worries that you are talking about? it of worries that you are talking about? , ., , , ., . about? it probably would mitigate it but disassembling _ about? it probably would mitigate it but disassembling aircraft, - about? it probably would mitigate it but disassembling aircraft, putting i but disassembling aircraft, putting them in trucks, transporting them takes time. them in trucks, transporting them takes time-— takes time. sorry to interact, we are heading _ takes time. sorry to interact, we are heading to — takes time. sorry to interact, we are heading to washington, - takes time. sorry to interact, we are heading to washington, that| takes time. sorry to interact, we - are heading to washington, that news conference getting under way. especially good to see my colleague and friend, foreign secretary liz truss, i have been working with her

almost nonstop on the most immediate matter at hand, but any multiplicity of other things because our countries are joint in having shared interest across virtually every significant issue before the world now. we are where just in brussels last week that ministers from our fellow nato allies, the g7, european union, focused particularly on continuing what has been extraordinary close coordination and cooperation in response to moscow's about, unjustified and increasingly brutal war in ukraine. we and our teams are in almost constant contact as we calibrate a response, notjust between our two nations, which have a long history of working hand—in—hand the special relationship, but with allies and partners across europe and indeed beyond. at least in my experience, of doing this for nearly 30 years, i cannot remember a time when we have seen such unity in the translating

relationship, both in policy and in principle. we are united in setting our security assistance to ukraine for its heroic defenders, increasing our assistance to the people of ukraine who are suffering previously due to the ground humanitarian catastrophe inflicted upon them by moscow's invasion. and we are united in our efforts to raise the cost on the kremlin for waging this ongoing war of choice, which is already displaced more than 200 million ukrainians. earlierthis displaced more than 200 million ukrainians. earlier this week prior mrjohnson and i announced additional 80 ukraine, mrjohnson and i announced additional80 ukraine, bringing the total support to approximately £400 million. this includes direct assistance for the ukrainian government to pay the salaries of ukraine's public sector employees who are keeping critical services running where they haven't been bombed by the russians. the uk was one of the first european countries descend defensively for security

assistance to ukraine, and the covenant has imposed severe sanctions on president putin, his inner circus, —— in a circle, and russian oligarchs. the house of commons passed an economic crime bill to make it easier to section groups of corrupt individuals and harderfor groups of corrupt individuals and harder for those trying to hide their money in the uk. yesterday in their money in the uk. yesterday in the latest of the many steps we have taken together to hold the kremlin accountable, peasant bite and banned all imports of russian oil, gas and coal, prime ministerjohnson committed to banning imports of russian oil by the end of 2022. we are also united in calling on the kremlin to immediately allow ukrainian civilians to safely depart the cities and towns of ukraine besieged by russian forces. every country has a response ability to join us in pressing moscow to do this. this is not the time to equivocate by calling on both sides to allow civilians and ukraine cities to live safely. doing so

obfuscate the basic facts around why these corridors are necessary and who is blocking them. russia invaded ukraine without justification. russian forces now in hole multiple cities after having destroyed much of the critical infrastructure, leaving people that water, electricity, without access to food and medicine. russia's relentless bombardment, including off civilians trying to flee, prevents people from safely escaping the hellish conditions that they have created. the criminal�*s proposals are absurd. it is offensive to suggest the cranial people should seek refuge from the government that is demonstrating disregard for their lives. the civilians able to escape yesterday from sumy shows that this is possible but it must be allowed to happen on a much broader scale. it is not only in europe at the us and uk are working together to address threats and international

peace and security. we also share a grave concern about iran's nuclear advances. we discussed our work to achieve compliance, the so—called iran nuclear agreement. either way, we are committed to ensuring that iran can never acquire a nuclear weapon. northern ireland, present supported the good friday agreement which he views as an historic achievement which must be protected to ensure peace is preserved. the us continues to support both size efforts to engage in productive dialogue to resolve differences over the northern ireland protocol. before handing it over to liz, let me just make one final point. it is notjust the british government me just make one final point. it is not just the british government that is stepping up to help ukraine, we are also seeing incredible solidarity and compassion from the british people. people like the one leading a campaign to buy second ambulances and drive them packed

with supplies to human to respond is at ukraine's border. another who on the second night of russia's invasion set a message to a facebook group called polish mums of leeds, appealing for donations. within days she had received enough to fill 318 wheelers. i believe one reason garcia such an outpouring of support from the british people is because they have been through something similar. —— one reason we are seeing. the blitz of world war ii inflicted colossal suffering on the country's people, killing 186 8020 civilians, winning 86,000 more. it is impossible to see the images are people seeking refuge in 2022 and not think of those who sheltered in the london underground in 1942. the great, compassion and determination that britain exhibited eight decades ago it inspired the world, it is

exactly what we see in the people of ukraine today, is why we need to stand with them. over to you, liz. thank you very much, it is great to be here _ thank you very much, it is great to be here with — thank you very much, it is great to be here with my friend and ally, secretary — be here with my friend and ally, secretary blinken, we see have seen a lot of— secretary blinken, we see have seen a lot of each — secretary blinken, we see have seen a lot of each other around the capitals— a lot of each other around the capitals of europe over the last week, — capitals of europe over the last week, working closely with our allies — week, working closely with our allies. putin's illegal invasion of ukraine — allies. putin's illegal invasion of ukraine is— allies. putin's illegal invasion of ukraine is causing immense pain and suffering _ ukraine is causing immense pain and suffering. yet he is not making the progress _ suffering. yet he is not making the progress he planned. since the build-up— progress he planned. since the build—up of the border, the united kingdom _ build—up of the border, the united kingdom and united states have led work in _ kingdom and united states have led work in the g7 and through nato to challenge _ work in the g7 and through nato to challenge putin's aggression. before the invasion, united states and uk called _ the invasion, united states and uk called out — the invasion, united states and uk called out his playbook are full flags, — called out his playbook are full flags, attempt to install a puppet regime _ flags, attempt to install a puppet regime in — flags, attempt to install a puppet regime in kyiv, fake provocations. we worked — regime in kyiv, fake provocations. we worked with our 67 allies to warn he would _ we worked with our 67 allies to warn he would face severe costs and a determined ukrainian people. we have

surprised _ determined ukrainian people. we have surprised putin with our unity and the toughness of our sanctions. hitting — the toughness of our sanctions. hitting the banks, ships, planes, oligarchs, — hitting the banks, ships, planes, oligarchs, and the oil and gas revenues _ oligarchs, and the oil and gas revenues. the brave ukrainian people have surprised him with their determination and leadership. now is not the _ determination and leadership. now is not the time to let up. putin must fail. not the time to let up. putin must fait~ we _ not the time to let up. putin must fail. we know from history that aggressors only understand one thing added _ aggressors only understand one thing added that his strength. we know that if— added that his strength. we know that if we — added that his strength. we know that if we do not do enough now, other— that if we do not do enough now, other aggressors around the world will be _ other aggressors around the world will be emboldened. we know that if putin is— will be emboldened. we know that if putin is not— will be emboldened. we know that if putin is not stopped in ukraine, there _ putin is not stopped in ukraine, there will— putin is not stopped in ukraine, there will be terrible implications for european and global security. we would _ for european and global security. we would be _ for european and global security. we would be sending a message that sovereign nations can simpler be trampled — sovereign nations can simpler be trampled on. so we must go further and faster— trampled on. so we must go further and faster in— trampled on. so we must go further and faster in our response. we must double _ and faster in our response. we must double down on our sanctions. that includes _ double down on our sanctions. that includes a _ double down on our sanctions. that

includes a full swift man and a g7 ending _ includes a full swift man and a g7 ending issues of russian oil and gas _ ending issues of russian oil and gas. united states, uk this week announced our plans to stop importing russian oil and the eu have _ importing russian oil and the eu have announced their plans to reduce their dependency also. we want to encourage — their dependency also. we want to encourage a wider group of countries to get— encourage a wider group of countries to get on—board with our sanctions effort, _ to get on—board with our sanctions effort, 141— to get on—board with our sanctions effort, 141 countries voted against russian _ effort, 141 countries voted against russian aggression. we must continue to supply— russian aggression. we must continue to supply defensive weapons to ukraine — to supply defensive weapons to ukraine i— to supply defensive weapons to ukraine. i am to supply defensive weapons to ukraine. lam proud to supply defensive weapons to ukraine. i am proud that the uk was the first— ukraine. i am proud that the uk was the first european country to do that and — the first european country to do that and i— the first european country to do that and i welcome the decision of germany, — that and i welcome the decision of germany, japan and many others to send military aid. since the end of the cold _ send military aid. since the end of the cold war, we took our eye off the cold war, we took our eye off the bath — the cold war, we took our eye off the ball. but we are now stepping up together _ the ball. but we are now stepping up together. we must never let down our guard _ together. we must never let down our guard again _ together. we must never let down our guard again. we are determined to keep strengthening nato and urge all allies to _ keep strengthening nato and urge all allies to increase their investment.

we must _ allies to increase their investment. we must accelerate nato's modernisation and deepen our cooperation on tech and cyber. we will edit— cooperation on tech and cyber. we will edit strategic dependence on authoritarian regimes or our energy and other— authoritarian regimes or our energy and other vital resources. we will step up— and other vital resources. we will step up our— and other vital resources. we will step up ourwork and other vital resources. we will step up our work to build economic and security— step up our work to build economic and security alliances around the world, _ and security alliances around the world, including with india and the gulf nations, to further isolate russia — gulf nations, to further isolate russia. we will keep working to bring more countries into the orbit of those _ bring more countries into the orbit of those who believe in the sovereignty of nations and by playing — sovereignty of nations and by playing by the rules. the war in ukraine — playing by the rules. the war in ukraine is— playing by the rules. the war in ukraine is a _ playing by the rules. the war in ukraine is a struggle for the future of freedom and self—determination. we must _ of freedom and self—determination. we must not rest until putin fails in ukraine — we must not rest until putin fails in ukraine and the country's sovereignty is restored. thank you. two questions per side, alternating, starting _ two questions per side, alternating, starting with — two questions per side, alternating, starting with cnn. _ two questions per side, alternating, starting with cnn. good _ two questions per side, alternating, starting with cnn.— starting with cnn. good afternoon, thank ou

starting with cnn. good afternoon, thank you for— starting with cnn. good afternoon, thank you for doing _ starting with cnn. good afternoon, thank you for doing this. _ starting with cnn. good afternoon, thank you for doing this. secretary | thank you for doing this. secretary blinken, yes or no, do you believe it is possible to get the ukrainians fighterjets? if so, when and how? first, as we have said, the decision about whether to transfer any equipment to our friends about whether to transfer any equipment to ourfriends in ukraine is ultimately one date each government will decide for itself and has to make. we are in close consultation with allies and partners about the ongoing security assistance to ukraine, but because in fact i think what we're seeing is that poland's proposal shows there are some complexities that the issue presents when it comes to providing securities assistance, we have to do it in the right way. you heard from the department of defence yesterday

about the particular proposal, prospect of fighter jets about the particular proposal, prospect of fighterjets at about the particular proposal, prospect of fighter jets at the disposal of the us government. departing from a us nato base in germany to fly into essbase contested with russia over ukraine raises some serious concerns for the entire nato alliance, we have to work through the specifics —— into air space. there has to be a sufficient rationale for doing it. what we're doing right now is to consult closely with poland, other nato allies on theirs, and the logistical challenges that it presents. together with poland as well as with the uk and many other partners, as we have noted, we have provided extraordinary support to ukraine and those defending it from the russian aggression. support that has been used extremely effectively. by has been used extremely effectively. by ukrainian defenders, support that

will continue in the days, weeks and months ahead, just yesterday, with the supplemental legislation put forward, we have an additional $6.5 billion in security assistance now on tap from the united states for ukraine, that will of course include the kinds of things they need to effectively defend ukraine against russian aggression. just to clarify, basically what you're — just to clarify, basically what you're saying is there is a creative way to _ you're saying is there is a creative way to get — you're saying is there is a creative way to get the fighterjets, possibly, but you have not figured out the _ possibly, but you have not figured out the pathway forward on that. my second _ out the pathway forward on that. my second question, for both of you, with ukrainian deaths mounting right now, with ukrainian deaths mounting right now. what— with ukrainian deaths mounting right now, what more can the us and the uk to? would _ now, what more can the us and the uk to? would either country he now, what more can the us and the uk to? would either country be open to considering — to? would either country be open to considering the possibility of a limited — considering the possibility of a limited no—fly zone over humanitarian corridors to be set up in the _ humanitarian corridors to be set up in the country?