this is bbc news: i'm sally bundock with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. under a curfew and under attack — loud explosions are heard in the ukrainian capital kyiv as residents are told not to be out in public. nato's to draw up new plans to deter russia: its defence ministers meet later for the first time since the invasion. president biden signs off on a bill with over $13 billion of help for the ukraine. from comedian and reality tv star to wartime leader — a director who worked with volodymyr zelensky on his rise to the biggest role of his life.

hello and welcome. loud explosions have been heard in western areas of the ukrainian capital, kyiv, where residents are under a 35—hour curfew. a number of civilian areas were bombarded by russian forces yesterday. in southern ukraine, evacuation buses and aid trucks remain blocked from entering the beseiged city of mariupol. yesterday, hundreds of cars were able to leave the port along a humanitarian corridor. the ukrainian president, volodymyr zelensky, has said negotiations with russia are beginning to sound more realistic. officials from both countries are due to hold further talks over video link today. we start with this report from our international correspondent orla guerin.

it's starting to feel like the new normal — buildings burning after russian attacks overnight. it was too much for some here. this is a city living on its nerves. people wondering if their neighbours were safe in the shelter, wondering if they might be next. for the second day running, kyiv has woken up to this. this is a residential building, there's no sign of anything else around except blocks of flats. there is a real sense that the danger, the conflict, is coming closer and a feeling here now that nowhere is safe. four people were killed here — in their own homes. svetlana, who is russian and horrified by moscow's attacks, is worried for her friend.

"i saw from my window the building was on fire. "my friend lives on the 14th floor. "i assume she's dead because she was bedridden. "many people lived in the building," she says. "some left. "i'm very sorry i didn't leave this place earlier." funeral march. and this, too, is part of ukraine's new normal. the funeral of a soldier killed resisting the russians. colonel valeri was mourned in his home town outside kyiv. there is grief over the losses in battle. still, ukrainians are standing firm. united in sorrow.

behind the growing death toll here are agonising personal stories, like that of marina and her husband. their daughter's apartment in the town of irpin was shelled by the russians. the whole family was here at the time. marina survived with her daughter and grandson because her husband and son pushed them to safety. sergei, herson, died in her arms. marina, who fled to western ukraine, tells me about his final moments. translation: my son was screaming. - "mum, don't come in here, run away from here."

he was begging me to save his sister and his nephew. he was still conscious. he was in so much pain that he kept saying, "mum, kill me now." marina tells me her only son died cursing president putin. michaelo died alongside him. she says he was everything she could have dreamt of in a husband, and he adored his grandson. one russian shell destroyed this happy family. father and son remain in the rubble nine days on. it's been impossible to bury them. orla guerin, bbc news, kyiv.

nato�*s defence ministers will meet in brussels today to discuss what further support they can offer ukraine — having already made clear the alliance will not engage in a direct conflict with russia. it's the first such meeting since the invasion began 20 days ago. international sanctions on russia continue to grow — the prime ministers of poland, the czech republic and slovenia all travelled to kyiv to hold direct talks with president zelensky, just as the city's residents were preparing for the curfew. ukraine's president has now said his country should recognise that it won'tjoin the military alliance of nato. our diplomatic correspondent james landale has more. ukrainian troops north—west of kyiv, slowing the advance of russian forces, hoping to save their capital and, perhaps, focus minds in moscow.

officials from both sides continue to talk, looking for a negotiated settlement. the kremlin said the discussions were positive, but neither side says where progress has been made. today ukraine's president addressed talks with european union leaders and hinted at what may be part of a future settlement. translation: ukraine is not| a member of nato and we had heard for many years the doors would be open but also heard we could notjoin. it is a truth and must be recognised. that hint of giving up the idea of joining nato may be seen by some as a concession to this man, russia's foreign minister, who as today met his iranian counterpart, set out some of moscow's demands. translation: the neutral military status of ukraine, |

security guarantees of all participants, the demilitarisation of ukraine so that no threats to the russian federation ever come from its territory. the european leaders, hosted by borisjohnson, were not, however, in london to talk about possible peace deals but how to bolster their defences in case the war spreads and increase their support for ukraine. this is quite unbelievable what is happening in our continent and we need to make sure we build the strongest, widest possible coalition, to ensure that vladimir putin does not succeed and we wean ourselves off russian hydrocarbons. western leaders know that a negotiated settlement will become possible only if vladimir putin sees no alternative and that is why they are determined to keep up the pressure on moscow, militarily, economically and diplomatically. what better way to do that then this: three nato prime ministers from poland, slovenia and czech republic, visiting war—torn kyiv, a show of solidarity and russia's failure

to seize the capital. you are fighting for your lives, families, forfreedom, but we know you are also fighting for our lives and our freedom. we know it. and probably the main goal of our visit, or my message of our mission, is to say to you you are not alone. our countries stand with you. europe stands with your country. there were more economic sanctions for russia, too. the eu banning the export of luxury goods, and britain imposing asset freezes and travel bans on 370 russians, including a defence minister, a former prime minister, and oligarchs and theirfamilies, along with many allies

of vladimir putin. but all the pressure and diplomacy has yet to halt the russian advance and the devastation of ukraine cities continues. james landale, bbc news. the us president, joe biden, has signed a spending bill that includes over $13 billion in security assistance to ukraine. mr biden said president putin's attack on ukraine had united people across the world, and in america, including both democrats and republicans in congress. mr biden will head to europe next week to take part in an emergency nato summit. joining me now is anders ostlund, a resident of kyiv and a contributor at the center for european policy analysis. good morning. you are amidst the 35 hour curfew. talkers through how the night has been. good morning. the night has

been cold where i am. it is always a challenge in the mornings, in kyiv, to figure out what happened during the night. now i saw there was a missile attack but i have not figured out where yet. that is a pretty normal morning in kyiv these days, and it is the second two nights curfew we have had. i'm not sure exactly the reasons for this long curfew. last time it was that they wanted to clean out saboteurs and this time i presume it is about the shelling, they want to keep people safer. d0 shelling, they want to keep people safer.— shelling, they want to keep people safer. do you feel for ou in people safer. do you feel for you in the — people safer. do you feel for you in the capital— people safer. do you feel for you in the capital that - people safer. do you feel for you in the capital that the i people safer. do you feel for| you in the capital that the war is getting closer?— is getting closer? definitely. with the shelling _ is getting closer? definitely. with the shelling of- with the shelling of residential areas. with the shelling of residentialareas. for with the shelling of residential areas. for me that is a big difference between missile attacks and shelling is because at least missile attacks to get some morning before they strike and they are rather precise. the shelling,

thatis rather precise. the shelling, that is pure terror on the civilian population. artillery is very precise so they know where they are shooting. find is very precise so they know where they are shooting. and it is clearly dangerous _ where they are shooting. and it is clearly dangerous and - where they are shooting. and it is clearly dangerous and yet - where they are shooting. and it is clearly dangerous and yet we | is clearly dangerous and yet we had the prime ministers of poland, czech republic and slovenia in the capital yesterday. and we have a nato meeting today. defence ministers meeting today in brussels. how hopeful are you that these events will help your situation? that these events will help yoursituation? i that these events will help your situation?— that these events will help your situation? i think that ukraine's _ your situation? i think that ukraine's fierce _ your situation? i think that ukraine's fierce resistance | your situation? i think that - ukraine's fierce resistance and successes on the battlefield has definitely inspired the world. i think it is very good that the prime minister visited kyiv yesterday. i think it is braver then. kyiv yesterday. i think it is braverthen. i kyiv yesterday. i think it is braver then. i think is encouraging. my wish is that ukraine will be better armed by allies. my wish is that russia will be sanctioned harder and that europe and the united states will try to scare china

off from supporting russia. what do you think about the talks ongoing between representatives both of ukraine and russia? they have been going on for several days now. and also president zelensky indicating that ukraine will give up hope ofjoining nato as part of that negotiation process? i part of that negotiation process?— process? i think your correspondent - process? i think your correspondent is - process? i think your - correspondent is correct. you can only get vladimir putin to change calculus by winning on the battlefield. with russia, any deal or agreement is not worth anything because russia has broken so many agreements. it is a battlefield. it is to be sold on the battlefield and crushing sanctions and driving russia towards bankruptcy. those two things i believe can change negotiation points of russia. ~ . ., ., , russia. what are your thoughts about what _ russia. what are your thoughts

about what you _ russia. what are your thoughts about what you may _ russia. what are your thoughts about what you may be - russia. what are your thoughts about what you may be doing i russia. what are your thoughts | about what you may be doing in the days and weeks ahead? will you stay in the capital? or do you stay in the capital? or do you have an exit plan in place? it is very dangerous to leave kyiv right now, except for the southern exit towards odesa and there are russian forces here and there and let's not forget that even if the forces are massed on the north—west and towards the east, they have scout units and may be special forces, so we were hunkered down in kyiv. forces, so we were hunkered down in kym— forces, so we were hunkered down in kyiv. thank you so much for speaking _ down in kyiv. thank you so much for speaking to — down in kyiv. thank you so much for speaking to us _ down in kyiv. thank you so much for speaking to us and _ down in kyiv. thank you so much for speaking to us and we - down in kyiv. thank you so much for speaking to us and we were l for speaking to us and we were keeping close contact you. please stay safe. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: first day nerves — the little ukrainian girl starting a new life in france.

today, we have closed the book on apartheid and that chapter. more than 3,000 subway passengers were affected. nausea, bleeding, headaches and a dimming of vision — all of this caused by an apparently organised attack. the trophy itself was on the pedestal in the middle of the cabinet here. now, this was an international trophy and we understand now that the search for it has become an international search. above all, this was a triumph for the christian democrats of the west, offering reunification as quickly as possible, and that's what the voters wanted.

this is bbc news, the latest headlines: under a curfew and under attack, loud explosions are heard in the ukrainian capital kyiv as residents are told not to be out in public. nato's to draw up new plans to deter russia, its defence ministers meet later for the first time since the invasion. millions of ukrainians have fled the country in the past three weeks, and many more are either internally displaced or under siege and in dire need of aid. the governor of lviv region has criticised international aid agencies for not being visible on the ground and helping ukrainan refugees. maxim kozitsky says that western ukraine has been dealing with hundreds of thousands of refugees without much help. translation: i don't see real interest in systematic work - in ukraine from the un, humanitarian aid or refugee

agencies. i don't see active moves from osce, the red cross or council of europe. all work is shouldered by ukrainian volunteers, civil societies and volunteers who are helping ukrainians. where are all the organisations that talk so much about human values and help during difficult times? eric schwartz is president of refugees international, and also former assistant us secretary of state for population, refugees and migration. he gave us his response to the governor's criticism. i think you do have to make a distinction that there is a lot to what he says because the relief effort, the refugee response, outside of ukraine in neighbouring countries, ithink, it leaves reasons for encouragement. the european union has provided temporary protection directives are the millions of ukrainians crossing borders i think relatively speaking will be

reasonably taken well care of. the real challenge will be in ukraine. the aid has to go wean much more quickly and i don't want to sound offensive, but in fairness to the aid organisations, the international community and the humanitarian aid structure before the conflict had really only been exclusive in the eastern portion of the country. so the united nations, voluntary agencies and ukrainian partners have literally have to rebuild the humanitarian infrastructure and rebuilder in new ways so it covers the entire country. it has to build faster, it is not going fast enough but there was very little there by way of humanitarian

response infrastructure when the conflict broke out. in the west of ukraine, everyday since the war began between 30—40,000 internally displaced people arrive in lviv. in response more than 500 schools and theatres have opened their doors, offering refuge to those who've lost everything. bbc ukraine's zhanna bezpiatchuk went to visit one such school in the centre of the city. these centre of the city. teachers work day and night these teachers work day and night to accommodate people fleeing war. people in western ukraine in the city of lviv do all they can to feed the people this warm soup and pastor after they escaped from war. but lviv is going to the limits of its own resources and is struggling to cope. own resources and is struggling to co e. ., ., to cope. for the moment, we have enough _ to cope. for the moment, we have enough resources. - to cope. for the moment, we have enough resources. but i to cope. for the moment, we l have enough resources. but we have enough resources. but we have them only for two weeks. afterwards, the lviv region might face a collapse. then we will have to ask for help with

food shelves of local shops are already empty. food shelves of local shops are already empty-— already empty. this school became a _ already empty. this school became a temporary - already empty. this school became a temporary home already empty. this school. became a temporary home for women and children. beds replace school desks in the primary school. its corridors are silent. that where i met 45—year—old leela who escaped what she calls eight days of hal. relentless russian bombardment of kharkiv. she showed me her accommodation. the school cloakroom has been turned into a makeshift bedroom for five people and a turned into a makeshift bedroom forfive people and a dog. here, they are safe but tension and there are still on their faces. translation: how houses are destroyed- _ faces. translation: how houses are destroyed. our— are destroyed. our neighbourhood in kharkiv is burned to the ground. it was the world in which we live, we didn't have any other world. we worked, studied and raised our children in that world. what can i feel? pain and loss.

clean blankets and warm beds, much appreciated help in lviv. in a matter of one day, lelah's family lost everything. translation: family lost everything. tuna/mom- family lost everything. translation: ., , a, ., translation: the only ukrainian ci we translation: the only ukrainian city we could _ translation: the only ukrainian city we could flee _ translation: the only ukrainian city we could flee to _ translation: the only ukrainian city we could flee to was - translation: the only ukrainian city we could flee to was lviv - city we could flee to was lviv stopping the refugees from all over ukraine now but it is already overwhelmed. there are essential medicines —— there are not enough essential medicines here.- are not enough essential medicines here. her daughter was given _ medicines here. her daughter was given toys _ medicines here. her daughter was given toys and _ medicines here. her daughter was given toys and children'sl was given toys and children's books but it's impossible to replace all they lost from home with ade. so they will continue their journey out of with ade. so they will continue theirjourney out of ukraine to build a new life in safety, allowing other displaced families to take their place. zhanna bezpiatchuk, bbc news, lviv. as we saw in that report, a huge number of people have been internally displaced within ukraine, but many others have left the country altogether.

they have fled near and far, with no idea when, or if, they'll return. tim allman reports on one young girl and her mother who've sought refuge in france. first day in a new school can be daunting at the best of times. but camilla hasjust escaped from a country at war. along with her mum, she travelled five days from the ukrainian city of irpin to this town in south—west france. i'm happy to see my daughter running, playing, going to school with a smile, she says. it is the greatest happiness for me. camilla and her mum are just two of the roughly 3 million people who have left ukraine. so many of them children. a terrible trauma for a little girl who was not yet four, but she seems to be coping. translation: for the moment things _ coping. translation: for the moment things are _ coping. translation: for the moment things are going - coping. translation: for the moment things are going well. we have to give her time to get

her bearings. there is still the language barrier. we learned a few words in ukrainian for the essentials. day one of a new life and a little colouring and. so things can't be too bad. tim allman, bbc news. before russia invaded ukraine, president volodymyr zelensky was derided as the actor comedian turned unlikely politician. well, not any more. now he's seen by many as a wartime hero and a cultural icon. shelley phelps has more on the man himself we are all here, our soldiers are here, the citizens of our country are here. practically every day, a new video pops up. president zelenskiy in his office. president zelenskiy with his staff. president lenski appealing to the russian people. he melodies his troops and evokes ordinary ukrainians and evokes ordinary ukrainians and even may be people around

the globe a spirit of defiance which has arguably helped lunt the russian advance. so why does he appeal to people so much? ~ does he appeal to people so much? . ,, does he appeal to people so much? ,,,,_ ., ., does he appeal to people so much? , ,,,_ ., ., ~ much? we probably have to think of this in a _ much? we probably have to think of this in a sort _ much? we probably have to think of this in a sort of— much? we probably have to think of this in a sort of an _ of this in a sort of an authority and dynamic. the fact that the land is the king and the king is the land. i get asked a lot about whether or not i could have ever seen this coming and the truth is that the answer is yes. really, because he is ukrainian and the ukrainian heart is a heart that just doesn't give up. american director david _ just doesn't give up. american director david dodson - just doesn't give up. american director david dodson worked | just doesn't give up. american i director david dodson worked on ten films with the actor turned politician. ihis ten films with the actor turned olitician. , , , ., ~ politician. his biggest market for his movies _ politician. his biggest market for his movies was _ politician. his biggest market for his movies was russia. i politician. his biggest market| for his movies was russia. he was a lovett comedy star in russia. i directed two of his movies in russia and he was never thought of as being an enemy or an antagonist. president zelenskiy�*s rise was

unexpected and unpredictable, as are so many aspects of this war. what happens next could be a defining moment. and of course you can keep up—to—date on the very latest elements on our live page which is constantly updating 2a hours a day with all the latest news and developments but also analysis and of course the latest from our correspondence who are based in various places in the capital of ukraine, in the other key cities and of course other countries, poland, that border ukraine as well, that border ukraine as well, that it updated all the time with the very latest information but next here on bbc news they will be back with all the top business stories. it is a critical day today for financial markets, whereby the most powerful central bank in the world, the us federal reserve expected to raise interest rates for the first time in three years but also

russia is due to pay interest on debt and its likely many believe will default on that. we will talk about that in just a moment. hello. there could be the odd interesting sunrise for some of you across the south as we start wednesday, and there could be a few deposits on the car from this. this satellite imagery from tuesday afternoon shows a vast swathe of saharan dust sitting in the sky across much of western europe, and it's tracking its way northwards, but will start to interact with this weather front pushing in from the west. that'll have brought rain through the night and into the start of the day across parts of scotland and northern ireland. but our weather system thatjust drags up that dust is a developing one. it will be a lot of cloud to begin with and not quite as chilly as it was on tuesday morning. greatest chance of frost where we see the clearer skies across western scotland and northern ireland. but here, vastly brighter day, lighter winds compared with tuesday. that brighter weather pushes into eastern scotland during the afternoon, outbreaks of rain through the morning

across the western half of england and wales, slowly turning brighter later. but notice across much of england, we'll see outbreaks of rain develop here and there. some of the heaviest, most persistent into the afternoon will be across that southeastern corner. that's where we're still dragging in the airfrom the near continent, so 13—14 celsius possible here, a little bit fresher elsewhere. as i said, the winds not quite as strong as they were for a time on tuesday. a wet end to the day across parts of eastern england, east anglia and the southeast especially. that rain does eventually clear, though, during the first half of wednesday night. clear skies, then, to take us through much of the night into thursday morning, so a greater chance, certainly away from towns and city centres, we'll see a frost develop for thursday morning. but it will be a lovely, bright, sunny start for the vast majority. this little ridge of high pressure is with us first thing. notice, though, we do have weather fronts pushing in off the north atlantic. the isobars close together once again, so a breezier day, especially for the northern half of the uk. showers through much of the day across parts of scotland and northern ireland, but a bit of sunshine in between. those showers could be heavy. through the afternoon, some parts of northern england, north wales, maybe the north midlands

could catch the odd shower, but much of england, again, and southeast wales will be dry, feeling pleasant in the sunshine. and it's that sunshine which really takes over over the days ahead. it does mean that with clear skies into friday morning, frosty and in places, foggy start, most prone across wales, the southwest and the midlands. some of the fog lingering for a while, but overall, actually, more of you seeing blue skies overhead. temperatures of around 10—15 celsius. warm spring sunshine, a quite strong spring sunshine at that, which will continue into the weekend, maybe a small chance of one or two showers for southern england late on sunday. take care.

this is bbc news with the latest business headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. all eyes on the fed, with the us central bank poised to raise interest rates as the world's biggest economy grapples against rising prices. deadline day for russia as moscow has hours to repay millions of dollars of debt or risk a default. cranking up the pressure on the kremlin — lithuania's president tells the bbc current sanctions are not enough and his country is considering banning russian crude and gas imports. and borisjohnson heads to saudi arabia, looking to secure a deal which will fill—up the uk's oil supplies.