good afternoon. ukraine's president has called for comprehensive peace talks with russia "without delay". volodymyr zelensky also accused russian troops of causing a "humanitarian disaster" in the besieged city of mariupol. the mayor of the eastern city says street fighting is hampering efforts to rescue hundreds of people trapped inside the basement of a theatre that officials say was bombed by russia on wednesday.

our correspondent jonah fisher reports. mariupol is russia's warning to the rest of ukraine. for more than two weeks this city of several hundred thousand has resisted. russia's response has been to surround it and destroy it. local officials say more than 2000 people have died and 90% of the buildings have been damaged in some way. it is a similar story in some way. it is a similar story in kharkiv. in the first few days of this war the russians tried to drive into ukraine's second city. they were repelled and now kharkiv is being targeted by shelling. incredibly, this man emerged almost unscathed after a university building was hit. he said there were two strikes, and the second one was above them and he fell down and covered his head. "i was lucky the wall came down in a way that didn't crush me". russia is making very

little progress on the ground, so its tactic now appears to be one of fear. by targeting and destroying mariupol and kharkiv by artillery and air strikes it is sending a very powerful message to the rest of ukraine. this could happen to you too. ukraine's president knows things could get much worse, and in a late—night video he appealed yet again for russia to seriously talk peace. translation: we again for russia to seriously talk peace. translation:— again for russia to seriously talk peace. translation: we have always insisted on negotiations. _ peace. translation: we have always insisted on negotiations. we _ peace. translation: we have always insisted on negotiations. we have - insisted on negotiations. we have always— insisted on negotiations. we have always offered dialogue, offered solutions for peace, not just for 23 days of— solutions for peace, not just for 23 days of the — solutions for peace, not just for 23 days of the invasion. i want everyone _ days of the invasion. i want everyone to hear me now, especially in moscow _ everyone to hear me now, especially in moscow. it's time to meet, time to talk _ in moscow. it's time to meet, time to talk it _ in moscow. it's time to meet, time to talk it is — in moscow. it's time to meet, time to talk. it is time to restore territorial _ to talk. it is time to restore territorial integrity and justice for ukraine. 35st territorial integrity and 'ustice for ukrainefi territorial integrity and 'ustice for ukraine. . ,, . �*, , for ukraine. at ukraine's borders with the european _ for ukraine. at ukraine's borders with the european union - for ukraine. at ukraine's borders with the european union people| for ukraine. at ukraine's borders - with the european union people keep on leaving. this group crossed today

into romania. the united nations said 6.5 million people are displaced inside the country. president putin's liberation war has now driven a quarter of all ukrainians from their homes. jonah fisher, bbc news, lviv. let's speak to our chief international correspondent lyse doucet, who's in the ukrainian capital kyiv. lyse, at the moment this looks like a conflict in which the army are simply not going to be able to resolve this through fighting. it is down to the diplomats and politicians. does president zelensky�*s remarks last night offer any hope of a resolution to this war? ~ ., ., , ., any hope of a resolution to this war? . ., ., , ., war? well, media ears often said, shaun, war? well, media ears often said, shaun. the _ war? well, media ears often said, shaun, the politicians _ war? well, media ears often said, shaun, the politicians will- war? well, media ears often said, shaun, the politicians will start i shaun, the politicians will start talking once their militaries tell them and indeed once the politicians decide there is nothing more to be gained on the ground. but even a month into this war, which becomes more devastating by the day, both

militaries still have work to do on the ground. for example, we know that the minimum strategic goal for president putin in launching this invasion of ukraine, even though he doesn't call it that, is to secure that land corridor along the southern coast. big port cities like mariupol are standing in the way, and that is why it has been the focus of ferocious bombardment, encirclement and now fighting in the centre of the city or what is left in the centre of the city. but, yes, now we are hearing from both sides that they are ready to talk. from president zelensky, "time to meet, time to talk", he said. we understand president putin is also ready to meet, but on what kind of table and what will be the topics? the thick red lines are still as thick as ever.— the thick red lines are still as thick as ever. , , . , thick as ever. lyse doucet in kyiv, thank yom — borisjohnson has told his party that russia's invasion of ukraine is a turning point for the world and a moment of choice. speaking at the conservative party

spring conference in blackpool, the prime minister said president putin's war is intended to cause economic damage to the west. our political correspondent tony bonsignore is here. what else has the prime minister been saying? yes, speaking in the last hour or so, shaun, two things on the prime minister's speech. the first, as you can imagine, ukraine. he called it a turning point and said the end of freedom in ukraine would mean the extinction of any hope of freedom in countries like jordan extinction of any hope of freedom in countries likejordan and moldova —— georgia and moldova. he said it would be a green light to autocrats everywhere in the middle east, the far east, and he did say he thought president putin had made a catastrophic mistake. the second theme is linked to ukraine of course and that is the cost of living, crisis already there but deepened by the events in ukraine. in particular he wanted to talk about something we have all noticed, our energy bills, fuel bills. this is what he had to say about that. ..the biggest cost that families now face, and tackle these rising fuel bills, the energy spike, we must take

the bold steps necessary to end our dependence on putin's oil and gas. and that is what... applause that is what we are doing. in the immortal phrase, it is time to take _ in the immortal phrase, it is time to take back control of our energy surrpties — yes, take back control. what he means by that, we have what he calls i'm joined now by our chief international correspondent lyse doucet, who's in kyiv. give mea give me a sense of what it is likely you are in terms of how people are

actually coping. you are in terms of how people are actually taping-— you are in terms of how people are actually coping. when people wake up here, if actually coping. when people wake up here. if they — actually coping. when people wake up here. if they are _ actually coping. when people wake up here, if they are not _ actually coping. when people wake up here, if they are not woken _ actually coping. when people wake up here, if they are not woken up - actually coping. when people wake up here, if they are not woken up by - here, if they are not woken up by the air raid sirens, i guess the first question always says how close are the russian forces. it has to be said, the earlier feeling, the real sense of foreboding here that russian forces, these armoured convoys, it would just be a matter of time before they were approaching from multiple directions, now we know because we can see and hear the surface to air missiles being fired by the ukrainian forces. we can see the black smoke principally from the north—west where there is said to be intense fighting as ukrainian forces actually succeed in pushing back the russian forces. have they decided to focus on other parts of the country now while they regroup and reassess around the capital? it doesn't seem

to be the principalfocus, but of course it remains the main prize of this war. the same question has been around since before this invasion. how much does president putin once before he decides it is time to bring an end to this conflict? on that point, president zelensky talking and urging president putin to add meaningful talks. what are you hearing about the potential of those two leaders actually meeting? president zelensky has been asking to meet president putin since january. i remember his bitterness here when one after another to german chancellor, the french president, borisjohnson, the president, boris johnson, the american president, borisjohnson, the american president were all talking to president putin and he said, why isn't he talking to me? on the eve of the invasion he appealed notjust your presentation but the russian people in the russian language to stop the invasion. now he says let's talk. what will be the topics on the

table? we understand that the negotiators have been making progress. the main points we know from what president putin has already demanded, that ukraine must renounce any ambition to join nato. russia wants the recognition of crimea as part of russia, once the independence of the east. ukraine wants a ceasefire, it wants russia to pull out all of those forces. the negotiators have said that some of theissues negotiators have said that some of the issues are easier to resolve. the tougher ones will need a meeting. president zelensky definitely wants to meet. we understand from the mediators that president putin has already agreed. what will be the venue? how big a table? remember how big the table with president macron? president zelensky says he doesn't want to meet at a table metres long. the meeting will have to be the first of many. there is so much to discuss,

so much disagreement and those thick red lines on both sides. everything out of mariupol is hellish. the pictures. tell us the significance of that southern port city and why russia is pushing so hard around mariupol.— city and why russia is pushing so hard around mariupol. mariupol used to be blessed — hard around mariupol. mariupol used to be blessed by _ hard around mariupol. mariupol used to be blessed by its _ hard around mariupol. mariupol used to be blessed by its geography. - hard around mariupol. mariupol used to be blessed by its geography. it - to be blessed by its geography. it is that big boards, it was an industrial town, central to the economic development of this country. now it is cursed by its geography. it stands in the way of russia seizing a land corridor which connects eastern ukraine and the crimean peninsula. the two areas of land it is held sway over since 2014. that is why literally it is throwing everything at mariupol. when i couldn't get it with land forces, it has been bombarding aids, encircling it in the type of cruel

medieval stages we sought time and again in syria. mariupol is now on its last legs. we heard from the mayor today saying we are fighting back, but their numbers are more than we have. we are fighting back in the city centre, but the city centre, like 80% of mariupol, has now been flattened. they have even said they had lost control at least for now of the sea of as ours. it mayjust be tragically a matter of time for what was a city of nearly half a million people. what next? where else? will the forces go along the southern coast to the magnificent city of odesa? these are life and death questions for ukraine. ,, ., ., . , ukraine. then getting russian forces to withdraw even _ ukraine. then getting russian forces to withdraw even if _ ukraine. then getting russian forces to withdraw even if there _ ukraine. then getting russian forces to withdraw even if there is - ukraine. then getting russian forces to withdraw even if there is some - to withdraw even if there is some sort of ceasefire becomes even more difficult. in terms of the

resistance, and you were talking about it, it has been ferocious from the ukrainians. already, as she suggested, russian tactics are morphing into a more grinding offensive, weeks, months, perhaps even longer. offensive, weeks, months, perhaps even longer-— even longer. starting a city into submission. — even longer. starting a city into submission, that _ even longer. starting a city into submission, that seems - even longer. starting a city into submission, that seems to - even longer. starting a city into submission, that seems to be l even longer. starting a city into - submission, that seems to be what has been happening in mariupol. en kharkiv, close to the russian border, the ukrainians are fighting back and holding back. in mykolaiv in the south, recently they were able to repel a major russian advance. in city after city, region after region, we are saying the ukrainians fighting back on the ground and in the air. we have seen the resistance of civilians, but if this war continues to drag on, it becomes a question of numbers and firepower. on both counts, russia is far mightier.

firepower. on both counts, russia is far mightier-— far mightier. thank you very much for now. thank you very much for now. we can hear now from the west of ukraine. our correspondentjames reynolds has just sent this report from an aid distribution centre near the city of lviv. in normal times, this was a furniture warehouse, but since the start of the war this has become an aid distribution centre. it receives them sort through tonnes and tonnes of supplies which have been sent from across the world. let's catch up, you could that way and how good this way, just to get a sense of the scale of what has been donated. you are now walking through this column where people are sorting out clothes and shoes. on my side they are sorting through tens and tens of food. there are lots of volunteers here. some of them have been older,

retired people. they have decided to sign up for sex — eight hour shift here. they get bus rides in and they then sort through everything to make sure everything is in good order. then the business people who run this centre organises its and they will start to repack it and they then are in contact with places across the country which really need food and shoes and tens and tens of food. one of the most important needs of all its medicine. if you look over there you will see the pallets that need to be sorted out. they need to be sorted out by specialists, doctors, pharmacists, and they will be driven out to the hospitals that need them most. i was talking about the situation

around mariupol. 300,000 people are trapped in that city. there has been our prolonged bombardment there and people are trapped there without utilities. we have seen the car convoys, some people have been able to get out. looking at some of the latest pictures, some of the latest accounts from people who have managed to get out, one woman saying there is now no mariupol. we sat in a cellar for there is now no mariupol. we sat in a cellarfor ten there is now no mariupol. we sat in a cellar for ten days and there is now no mariupol. we sat in a cellarfor ten days and didn't leave once. we had nothing at all. i wouldn't really call it a bomb shelter that we went to, but it was a place where we could be safe. communications are also difficult. let's stay with that. i'm joined now by anton levsiushkin, whose family has managed to escape from the besieged city of mariupol. he hadn't been able to reach his twin sisterfor 11 days.

thank you so much for being with us stop i know that your sister has finally got out. what did she describe to you what it has been like there in mariupol? she describe to you what it has been like there in mariupol?— describe to you what it has been like there in mariupol? she said it was absolutely _ like there in mariupol? she said it was absolutely horrible. - like there in mariupol? she said it was absolutely horrible. they - like there in mariupol? she said it| was absolutely horrible. they have been two or three weeks now without any electricity, water, heating, nothing. food was running out. she was more afraid of hunger than being shelled. the shelling never stops since the beginning of march. on the street they have ended up, all of the nearby houses were destroyed. only their house, luckily, survived. that house was the sole place she has been hiding since the start of the war. has has been hiding since the start of the war. �* . ,. has been hiding since the start of the war. a ,, .,~

the war. as you were speaking we were running _ the war. as you were speaking we were running some _ the war. as you were speaking we were running some pictures. - the war. as you were speaking we were running some pictures. yourj were running some pictures. your sister has only recently had a baby, hasn't she? in terms of the days she was in mariupol, where was she hiding? in was in mariupol, where was she hidin: ? . . �*, hiding? in a child food friend's. they started — hiding? in a child food friend's. they started in _ hiding? in a child food friend's. they started in the _ hiding? in a child food friend's. they started in the apartment i hiding? in a child food friend's. - they started in the apartment they lived in but it was on the easternmost district in mariupol. they knew they would have to move towards the centre of the city. then they had to move further to the house of my friends and basically they were all hiding in the cellar of a house. there were 13 of them. tell me about her escape. the mayor of mariupol was making the point that although 30,000 or so have got out, they have been using car convoys and really it has been at their own risk, it has been attached to safety. tell me what your sister

said about that basic calculation that she had to make, whether to stay put or try to get out when she did? . ~ , ., stay put or try to get out when she did? . ~ , . ., stay put or try to get out when she did? a , . ., ., ., did? luckily a friend and a wife had two cards in _ did? luckily a friend and a wife had two cards in their— did? luckily a friend and a wife had two cards in their family. _ did? luckily a friend and a wife had two cards in their family. people i two cards in their family. people with new cars in the family, either they are lucky to jump into someone because 's car if there is a space, or they have to stay inside because russians don't allow humanitarian convoys in. they don't allow buses. even many fans are stopped at checkpoints coming into mariupol. regarding the calculations they had to make, it was that or basically risky being dead. they were not that far away from the drama theatre that was blowing up a few days back. as

long as these convoys of cars started pretty much self organising, people started self organising and taking risks because they had run out of water, food. on day two or day three from that happening, they held a meeting between themselves, made the decision and just went for it. forajourney made the decision and just went for it. for a journey that would normally take, it used to take about three or four hour hours, it took them two days because they were constantly stopped at checkpoints by russians. all the messenger apps, all their photos, their videos, the russians looked through them to make sure there were no first—hand accounts of the atrocities, or as little as possible of that. they are clearly doing it to get a grip on their own people. i have more

relatives in russia than ag in ukraine, i am a quarter ration myself. it ukraine, i am a quarter ration m self. . . ukraine, i am a quarter ration m self. , , ., ., , myself. it must be a tremendous relief that your _ myself. it must be a tremendous relief that your sister _ myself. it must be a tremendous relief that your sister is - myself. it must be a tremendous relief that your sister is out. - relief that your sister is out. absolutely. you are trying to get to come here to the uk. you got your godmother, who is still in mariupol, still staying in her apartment? yes. still staying in her apartment? yes, that is true- — still staying in her apartment? yes, that is true. she _ still staying in her apartment? yes, that is true. she is _ still staying in her apartment? yes, that is true. she is 70 _ still staying in her apartment? yes, that is true. she is 70 years - still staying in herapartment? is: that is true. she is 70 years old. she has difficulties walking. she is on the eighth floor of the apartment block. she doesn't drive, she doesn't have a car. her neighbours were helping her out, bringing her food and stuff like that. for all i know, from her son a few days ago, she will not go to the shelter. all people will be like that. if the evacuation is announced that certain

point she will have to go and she has difficulty walking. she can't duck and hide from shells when the shelling starts. that is why she prefers to stay where she is. again, i have not heard for three days any news about her. nobody knows what is happening there. news about her. nobody knows what is happening there-— happening there. communications are so difficult. happening there. communications are so difficult- it — happening there. communications are so difficult. it is _ happening there. communications are so difficult. it is a _ happening there. communications are so difficult. it is a desperate - so difficult. it is a desperate situation. i'm glad your sister has got out and good luck for the rest of your family. thank you so much for taking time to speak to us. the uk prime minister borisjohnson has been speaking about ukraine at the conservative party's conference. he said was vital that putin's invasion failed, and he directly addressed the ukrainian ambassador to the uk, who was there. we stand with the ukrainian people and our hearts go out... tens of

thousands of people in this country are opening our homes to the people of ukraine. with every day that ukraine putts macro resistance continues, it is clear that putin has made at catastrophic mistake. two former british prime ministers, gordon brown and sirjohn major, have called for a new international tribunal to be set up to investigate vladimir putin for his actions in ukraine. they have signed a petition, alongside 140 academics, lawyers and politicians — calling for a legal system modelled on the nuremberg trials of nazi war ciminals after the second world war. this was gordon brown talking to bbc radio 4 this morning. go back to 1942, when the allies got together and said that they would punish war crimes and that led to the nuremberg trials. what is unique about this is that we are seeing, as you just reported from mariupol, the indiscriminate bombing of civilians, which is against international law, the targeting of schools and hospital buildings, which is against international law, we are seeing the breach of humanitarian ceasefires

and humanitarian corridors that are being created by the russians and of course we are seeing a nuclear blackmail. all of these things are adding up to massive loss of life, david scheffer, who was the first us ambassador—at—large for war crimes under president bill clinton said the suggestion from gordon brown was 'constructive' i think the issue that might arise is whether this is regarded as victor's justice, is whether this is regarded as victor'sjustice, that is whether this is regarded as victor's justice, that is is whether this is regarded as victor'sjustice, that is put together by a group of allied governments, particularly those who are sympathetic to the ukrainian calls. i would suggest that one model that could be used here would be a treaty between the united nations and the ukrainian government is setting up at tribunal to prosecute the war of aggression. the international criminal court is already investigating war crimes and crimes against humanity and

genocide, but what it does not have jurisdiction over with respect to russia is aggression, so this would be a tribunal focused strictly on aggression. it is —— if it is set up in agreement with the united nations, it might have a more acceptable character, particularly to the russian people, and a more universal character because it has the backing of the united nations behind it. here in the uk, a convoy of 18 fire engines has set off from kent heading for ukraine. they will be donated to firefighters there, along thousands of items of kit and equipment. simonjones reports. the biggest convoy of its kind ever organised by the fire service sets off from ashford. 18 fire engines laden with life—saving equipment to be donated to ukrainian firefighters on the front line in the war against russia. i think it's part of the fire service dna. we're here to help people and we're very passionate about it. we know what the fire service in ukraine are going through,

therefore, any way we can help them, we want to be involved. this is the type of equipment being sent to ukraine. there are uniforms and ppe, which has all been sorted into sizes. there are generators and also thermal—imaging cameras. this is all kit that is surplus to requirements here in the uk. a toughjob has become even tougher for the emergency services in ukraine, trying to rescue people from besieged areas, searching the rubble of destroyed buildings for survivors and, recently, fighting a fire at a nuclear power plant that was shelled. i mean, the footage i've been watching on the television has been horrific and i've seen firefighters dealing with the most terrible set of circumstances in ukraine, often with equipment that is outdated or damaged by the conflict, so the stuff we have sent across from every fire service in the uk is going to be vital for them to support their local communities and to keep those firefighters in ukraine safe, as well.

the convoy, being driven by serving and retired firefighters and charity volunteers, will take three days to reach the polish border. all those taking part say they hoped the kit will help save lives in a show of solidarity with ukraine. well, some of the latest helping sent to ukraine. i am back in 30 minutes. all the latest from kyiv, kharkiv, mariupol. all of that here with me in 30 minutes. stay with us. hello there. it certainly has been a glorious start to the weekend. hardly a cloud in the sky out there at the moment. take a look at suffolk from a few hours ago. a beautiful scene here along the coast, but there is a nagging easterly breeze which willjust take the edge of the feel of the weather through this afternoon. a different story, though,

further north and west and in the highlands, absolutely beautiful this morning. here is where we could see the highest values as we go through the afternoon. it is this area of high pressure keeping things pretty quiet. it is drifting off into scandinavia and so that is where we have more of a squeeze on the isobars. stronger winds around the edge of that high pressure and trhey are coming from an easterly direction, a coolish source at this time of year. there will not be much in the way of cloud at all. we keep the blue sky and the sunshine and because the wind direction is coming in from the east, that could have an impact because the sea temperatures at this time of year are on the cool side. here they are, around seven or eight degrees. so the wind direction widely around 25 to 30 miles an hour, but we have seen gusts of wind so far today in excess of 40 miles an hour across the channel coast and the south—west. so, here, temperatures perhaps around nine to 12 degrees. further west, across england and wales, we will see 16, but it could be that the highest temperatures today will be across western scotland and the highlands, where we could see 17,

possibly 18 degrees. if we get 18 degrees, it will be the warmest day of the year so far. high pressure stays with us tonight. the isobars open up just a touch and the winds will fall lighter. we keep more cloud out to the west, so temperatures holding up, but in central and eastern areas, we could see temperatures low enough for a touch of light frost, maybe some patchy mist around, as well. on the whole, as we go into a sunday, we keep that dry theme, but it could be a little bit colder and there could be more in the way of cloud around, as well. some early morning mist and fog across the north—east and, as we go through the day, east anglia and south—east england could see more cloud drifting in and a few nuisance showers by the end of the afternoon. temperatures through sunday afternoon nine to 13 degrees, but the dry weather is here to stay and, if you haven't already heard, it is going to continue to warm up, particularly through the middle part of the week, with temperatures at mid—to—high teens, perhaps 20 degrees somewhere in the south—east by wednesday.

this is bbc world news, the headlines: street fighting in the besieged city of mariupol hampers efforts to rescue hundreds of people trapped inside the basement of a theatre. it's estimated around 80% of residential buildings have been damaged or destroyed. ukraine's president zelensky tells russia to join 'meaningful�* peace talks or face catastrophic losses. translation: | want - everyone to hear me now, especially in moscow. it's time to meet. time to talk. it is time to restore territorial integrity and justice for ukraine. and former uk prime ministers gordon brown and sirjohn majorjoin calls for a tribunal to investigate vladimir putin for his actions in ukraine. unspun world provides an unvarnished

version of the week's major global news stories — reliable, honest and essential