hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching context on bbc news. president biden arrives in brussels ahead of key meetings tomorrow — determined to present a united front against russia. in ukraine, reports of a fightback against russian forces in a suburb west of kyiv — but ukraine says russia has destroyed a bridge that had been vital for getting aid into the city. madeleine albright — america's first female secretary of state — has died at the age of 8a. she'll be remembered as a foreign policy veteran and a champion of democracy. and a senior adviser to president putin leaves his post as a kremlin special envoy — reportedly fleeing overseas because of the war in ukraine. tonight with the context, former mi6 officer christopher steele,

and general philip breedlove, former supreme allied commander of nato in europe hello welcome to the programme. from the moment vladimir putin began planning his invasion of ukraine, the west has had to grapple with a painful dilemma. how to confront a nuclear power like russia without risking nuclear war. tomorrow the nato leaders will gather in brussels to decide what further measures they can take. so far the answer has been to send as much equipment as they can to the ukrainian forces, while strenghtening nato�*s position in the baltic states. and today the secretary general annouced the alliance will be doubling its battlegroups on the eastern flank. the ukrainians are doing their bit.

these past 48 hours they have retaken the strategic town of makariv and most of irpin to the west of kyviv. but sustaining that counter offensive will depend on whether they can keep supply lines open. and that is where the russians are putting their focus. today they destroyed a key bridge over the desna river, cutting off a vital route between the northern city of chernihiv and the capital. the blitz of mariupol is the other concern. the latest maxar pictures reminding us just how empty russia's assurances are. and if that were to be repeated in odesa, or keev, or kharkiv, would nato still stand by. are there any red lines? what about the use of chemical or nuclear weapons? to know what your enemy will do, you must understand his mindset. and putin is complex. a tyrant, a russian orthodox, whose mission in ukraine he sees as transcendent. how far will he go? and is there anyone to stop him? tonight we have the very best panel to answer all these questions.

let me start, christopher, with you. you know the game off an intelligence officer intimately and i am curious to know how the role of an mi6 officer might have changed in the last two months when it comes to russia? ,., ., the last two months when it comes to russia? , ., ., russia? good evening christian and thank ou russia? good evening christian and thank you for— russia? good evening christian and thank you for having _ russia? good evening christian and thank you for having me _ russia? good evening christian and thank you for having me on - russia? good evening christian and thank you for having me on the - thank you for having me on the programme. i don't think the role of either intelligence officers or diplomats has especially changed in the last few months. i think it is all a matter of understanding what your adversary is planning to do and how he has the means or not to carry out his objectives. i think the interesting thing here is that i don't believe that putin and the russians do have the means to achieve what appear to be their objectives in ukraine, which is the neutralisation of ukraine and its occupation, certainly in the short and regime change which has always been the fundamental objective this

operation. iii been the fundamental ob'ective this 0 eration. i. been the fundamental ob'ective this 0 eration. ,, , been the fundamental ob'ective this 0 eration. , ., , ., operation. if you were sitting on the russia _ operation. if you were sitting on the russia desk _ operation. if you were sitting on the russia desk at _ operation. if you were sitting on the russia desk at mi6, - operation. if you were sitting on the russia desk at mi6, what i operation. if you were sitting on - the russia desk at mi6, what would you most want to know tonight? i think you would want to know what was going on in backer of the kremlin itself and what the disagreements and the divisions and the debates were taking place as churchill once said, like bulldogs fighting under the rug, and i think thatis fighting under the rug, and i think that is the fundamental challenge for us all. specifically i think beyond that, it is understanding the mindset of where putin and his supporters have come from and what they might be trying to achieve. you clearly have — they might be trying to achieve. you clearly have very good contacts in russia and i know you're still in touch with them, what are they telling you about the atmosphere in the kremlin? i telling you about the atmosphere in the kremlin?— the kremlin? i think it is very clear from — the kremlin? i think it is very clear from what _ the kremlin? i think it is very clear from what we _ the kremlin? i think it is very clear from what we are - the kremlin? i think it is very clear from what we are being | the kremlin? i think it is very - clear from what we are being told that very few people in the kremlin knew exactly what this operation was going to be beforehand and i think that probably explains quite a lot of what we have seen, for example, the fact that the central bank funds, hard currency fund, much of

which was vulnerable and stored abroad or was vulnerable to freezing, it is a clear indication that economic decision—makers high up that economic decision—makers high up in the government did not know the scale of this operation or what it might entail. fin the scale of this operation or what it might entail.— it might entail. on that point, i will show our _ it might entail. on that point, i will show our viewers - it might entail. on that point, i l will show our viewers something it might entail. on that point, i - will show our viewers something they saw before the war started and this was the dressing down that putin give to the chief of the russian foreign intelligence agency. basically, what he was asking him, was whether luhansk and donetsk should become independent states. the humiliation is uncomfortable to watch, christopher, do you think it speaks to the mistakes that the kremlin has made?— speaks to the mistakes that the kremlin has made? yes, i think in aeneral, kremlin has made? yes, i think in general, intelligence _ kremlin has made? yes, i think in general, intelligence services - kremlin has made? yes, i think in general, intelligence services in l general, intelligence services in particular have to live in the real world and have two report, really, what they think is the ground truth of any particular situation. the problem here, of course, is in an

authoritarian system like russia, which has become increasingly dictatorial, i would argue, you have got a situation were clearly there is disagreement and were probably a lot of information has been fed up to the leadership and particularly put in which he wanted to hear rather than an objective assessment of what was going on on the ground. i think in particular, the idea that there was a sort of shadow government structure in ukraine, of pro—russian ukrainian sochal come to power and run the country as a sort of vassal of russia was completely unrealistic and i suspect that he knew two things, one, but that was not actually the case, but secondly the degree to which economic sanctions would destabilise russia and would undermine the government. i want to brina undermine the government. i want to bring general — undermine the government. i want to bring general breedlove _ undermine the government. i want to bring general breedlove in _ undermine the government. i want to bring general breedlove in on - undermine the government. i want to bring general breedlove in on this - bring general breedlove in on this on a second but i think what you are saying would inform what he has been sane in testimony, the final question i wanted to ask in this

section, you were remarkably pressing on this when you spoke in an interview in october, that i watched today, you said the fact is we are not understanding on the west that the russian resume is now totalitarian. you said there were warmongers in the kremlin who the governments of europe are not taken seriously enough. this was all before they had amassed these troops on the ukrainian border. how would you assess where we are today and the attitude towards moscow and where do you think this ends? i think it ends, ultimately, in failure for putin in terms of his original objectives. i mean, he played big here and i think that very soon, before the invasion there were a series of options, offers the putin of different types of political intervention in ukraine, which could help achieve at least some of his objectives and he went for the most ambitious of military

plans and i have to say that i did not foresee that and i think that a lot of people around him did not foresee it, certainly because russia does not have the capabilities to achieve these objectives, to subjugate a country of 43 million people to its well, using 150,000 troops. i think probably this ends in some kind of deal and some kind of negotiation, but i don't see how it ends well for putin and i think that ultimately he will probably be removed from power as a result of this adventure.— this adventure. that is really interesting. _ this adventure. that is really interesting, let _ this adventure. that is really interesting, let us _ this adventure. that is really interesting, let us bring - this adventure. that is really interesting, let us bring in i this adventure. that is really - interesting, let us bring in general breedlove and concentrate on the military side. it is good of you to join us, you are literallyjust coming from giving testimony to the helsinki committee in washington about the state of things in europe and i want to read something that you said to them. you said that we should be dictating this...

how do you deal with him when he has his finger on the nuclear button? first of all, question, thank you for having — first of all, question, thank you for having me on and i may run out of voice _ for having me on and i may run out of voice here — for having me on and i may run out of voice here in a few minutes after having _ of voice here in a few minutes after having talked to our senators and congressmen for almost two hours. the bottom — congressmen for almost two hours. the bottom line is, we need to make a looh— the bottom line is, we need to make a look at _ the bottom line is, we need to make a look at risks, there are a lot of people _ a look at risks, there are a lot of people who _ a look at risks, there are a lot of people who believe that we can get out of _ people who believe that we can get out of this— people who believe that we can get out of this problem if we just do what _ out of this problem if we just do what we — out of this problem if we just do what we are doing now. and i don't believe _ what we are doing now. and i don't believe that — what we are doing now. and i don't believe that to be the case, i think my colleagues, being an intelligence officer. _ my colleagues, being an intelligence officer, would agree that mr putin is getting — officer, would agree that mr putin is getting more and more upset with the performance of this war every day and _

the performance of this war every day and that is going to drive him to new— day and that is going to drive him to new and — day and that is going to drive him to new and ugly options out there. our risk— to new and ugly options out there. our risk is — to new and ugly options out there. our risk is increasing everyday. in the terms — our risk is increasing everyday. in the terms of— our risk is increasing everyday. in the terms of what we do to affect who is— the terms of what we do to affect who is driving the train in this battle, — who is driving the train in this battle, everyone wants to do nothing and hope _ battle, everyone wants to do nothing and hope that that means no risk. i think— and hope that that means no risk. i think that _ and hope that that means no risk. i think that we have to look at the options — think that we have to look at the options that we have and we have talked _ options that we have and we have talked about a lot of them, from humanitarian corridors to airlifts, to humanitarian no—fly zones etc and examine _ to humanitarian no—fly zones etc and examine risk— to humanitarian no—fly zones etc and examine risk and have a reasoned, calm _ examine risk and have a reasoned, calm conversation, rather thanjust calm conversation, rather than just taking _ calm conversation, rather than just taking the — calm conversation, rather thanjust taking the status quo. calm conversation, rather than 'ust taking the status quoi calm conversation, rather than 'ust taking the status quo. because you have said, and christopher has - have said, and christopher has talked about the mindset and where it comes from in moscow, but you have said that there is no doubt in your mind that given an opportunity, russia would use its troops beyond ukraine, but even though you're trying to minimise the risk, the

risk is there. ii trying to minimise the risk, the risk is there.— trying to minimise the risk, the risk is there. if we go back to the documents _ risk is there. if we go back to the documents that _ risk is there. if we go back to the documents that mr _ risk is there. if we go back to the documents that mr putin - risk is there. if we go back to the documents that mr putin gave i risk is there. if we go back to the documents that mr putin gave to | risk is there. if we go back to the - documents that mr putin gave to the west and _ documents that mr putin gave to the west and they were first targeted at the west. _ west and they were first targeted at the west, but they were for the whole _ the west, but they were for the whole west and they said, here are our draft _ whole west and they said, here are our draft documents, draft agreements, draft treaties, whatever you want— agreements, draft treaties, whatever you want to _ agreements, draft treaties, whatever you want to call them, and essentially they directed us, sign them, _ essentially they directed us, sign them, or— essentially they directed us, sign them, orwe essentially they directed us, sign them, or we will use other measures. we now— them, or we will use other measures. we now know— them, or we will use other measures. we now know what those other measures — we now know what those other measures were. if you look at those documents, — measures were. if you look at those documents, as much as we love and want _ documents, as much as we love and want the _ documents, as much as we love and want the support and are going to try and _ want the support and are going to try and help fight through this, our ukrainian _ try and help fight through this, our ukrainian brothers and sisters, this is bigger— ukrainian brothers and sisters, this is bigger than them. these documents really do _ is bigger than them. these documents really do set a framework which reorganises the security infrastructure of europe. russia is trying _ infrastructure of europe. russia is trying to— infrastructure of europe. russia is trying to re—establish the soviet union, — trying to re—establish the soviet union, warsaw pact days, where they have control — union, warsaw pact days, where they have control of their border nations, _

have control of their border nations, establishing a border, and i nations, establishing a border, and nike _ nations, establishing a border, and nike to— nations, establishing a border, and nike to say— nations, establishing a border, and i like to say it sort of glibly, they— i like to say it sort of glibly, they want nato to move back and they want the _ they want nato to move back and they want the us to move out. that is what _ want the us to move out. that is what they— want the us to move out. that is what they are demanding. it is bigger— what they are demanding. it is bigger thanjust ukraine. what they are demanding. it is biggerthanjust ukraine. i what they are demanding. it is bigger thanjust ukraine. i think moldova — bigger thanjust ukraine. i think moldova and georgia and places like that are _ moldova and georgia and places like that are sitting on the edge. as we on the _ that are sitting on the edge. as we on the west— that are sitting on the edge. as we on the west continue to signal, listen _ on the west continue to signal, listen to— on the west continue to signal, listen to howl on the west continue to signal, listen to how i say this, as we continue _ listen to how i say this, as we continue to— listen to how i say this, as we continue to signal, we will fight and defend every inch of nato territorv _ and defend every inch of nato territory. what does that say to the non-nato — territory. what does that say to the non—nato nations. it territory. what does that say to the non-nato nations.— territory. what does that say to the non-nato nations. it also telegraphs and i non-nato nations. it also telegraphs and i wonder— non-nato nations. it also telegraphs and i wonder what _ non-nato nations. it also telegraphs and i wonder what you _ non-nato nations. it also telegraphs and i wonder what you think - non-nato nations. it also telegraphs and i wonder what you think about i and i wonder what you think about this, it also telegraphs, asjoe biden did, before it started, that they were not going to get involved. that is right. we have told mr putin. — that is right. we have told mr putin, overand that is right. we have told mr putin, over and over, almost every senior— putin, over and over, almost every senior speech by both nato and us leaders _ senior speech by both nato and us leaders across the last three weeks or so, _ leaders across the last three weeks or so, within the first two or three senses, _ or so, within the first two or three senses, they— or so, within the first two or three senses, they always say the same

thing. _ senses, they always say the same thing, we are not going to fight russia — thing, we are not going to fight russia and —— in ukraine. ithink thing, we are not going to fight russia and —— in ukraine. i think mr putin— russia and —— in ukraine. i think mr putin has— russia and —— in ukraine. i think mr putin has got— russia and —— in ukraine. i think mr putin has got the message loud and clear. _ putin has got the message loud and clear. the _ putin has got the message loud and clear, the usa is not going to fight him in _ clear, the usa is not going to fight him in ukraine. i believe he feels he has _ him in ukraine. i believe he feels he has a — him in ukraine. i believe he feels he has a pretty free hand. christopher, come in on that, the kremlin puts a lot of focus on psychology and it is a zero—sum game they fight, if we win, you lose, if you win, we lose. how do we change the mindset in the kremlin, given the mindset in the kremlin, given the risks that obviously they pose with nuclear weapons? i the risks that obviously they pose with nuclear weapons?— the risks that obviously they pose with nuclear weapons? i don't take the nuclear — with nuclear weapons? i don't take the nuclear threat _ with nuclear weapons? i don't take the nuclear threat as _ with nuclear weapons? i don't take the nuclear threat as seriously i with nuclear weapons? i don't take the nuclear threat as seriously as l the nuclear threat as seriously as some people do. i think that putin is more of a poker player really than a chess player, ironically, given that he is russian, and he has always tried to effectively do things that are shocking and

surprising and beyond russia's apparent capabilities, and i think the worst is a lot of strength and advantages, which we have to use in the situation and one of them of course is the economy and our sanctions regime and the fact that the russian economy is very vulnerable to it, clearly. second source of power and ability to communicate with people, i think ultimately russia, as i have said, has been a mismatch historically between its intent, if you like, which of course is to create a great empire and great power again with a buffer zone in eastern europe and its capabilities. i would say, yes, its capabilities. i would say, yes, it is intent is very dark and black and concerning, but it's and concerning, but its capabilities, short of a few new —— full nuclear exchange are quite limited in some regards and i think everyone a surprise, really, at how poorly their conventional force that market forces seem to have performed in this war. clearly they are purely

motivated and organised and they are brutal, which is a problem, but they are not as capable as one might of thought. are not as capable as one might of thou:ht. ., , are not as capable as one might of thou:ht. . . . , are not as capable as one might of thou:ht. ., . . , , thought. that is really interesting, because i think _ thought. that is really interesting, because i think he _ thought. that is really interesting, because i think he is _ thought. that is really interesting, because i think he is right, - thought. that is really interesting, because i think he is right, we i because i think he is right, we almost say the russian military as ten foot tall and we have seen over the last few weeks it is not the case on the ground. christopher's job is to analyse the kremlin and how the politics interact and the power structure, yours is to study the way it looks on the battlefield and i wonder what you see tonight and i wonder what you see tonight and what you might see where the belarusian forces to join the russians? belarusian forces to 'oin the russiansafi belarusian forces to 'oin the russians? , ., ., , russians? first of all, there is this lib russians? first of all, there is this glib saving _ russians? first of all, there is this glib saying among - russians? first of all, there is this glib saying among those l russians? first of all, there is i this glib saying among those who go to the _ this glib saying among those who go to the various war colleges that amateurs— to the various war colleges that amateurs talk about operations and fighting _ amateurs talk about operations and fighting and professionals talk about— fighting and professionals talk about logistics. one of the big tales — about logistics. one of the big tales of— about logistics. one of the big tales of what we have seen with the trouble _ tales of what we have seen with the trouble that russian forces have had is there _ trouble that russian forces have had is there logistics are all out of kilter— is there logistics are all out of kilter and _

is there logistics are all out of kilter and part of that starts with, i kilter and part of that starts with, ithink. _ kilter and part of that starts with, i think, some kilter and part of that starts with, ithink, some bad kilter and part of that starts with, i think, some bad assumptions at the beginning _ i think, some bad assumptions at the beginning of the war about how long it would _ beginning of the war about how long it would last and i believe there are actually those who felt that after _ are actually those who felt that after an — are actually those who felt that after an initial skirmish they would probably— after an initial skirmish they would probably be welcomed with open arms are not— probably be welcomed with open arms are not turned out not to be the case: _ are not turned out not to be the case, they— are not turned out not to be the case, they have been behind the power— case, they have been behind the power curve, as we say in the flying business. _ power curve, as we say in the flying business, ever since and they are trying _ business, ever since and they are trying to— business, ever since and they are trying to catch up and frankly, the ukrainian — trying to catch up and frankly, the ukrainian military has seized up on that and _ ukrainian military has seized up on that and is— ukrainian military has seized up on that and is literally getting after all of— that and is literally getting after all of those supply lines and things that are _ all of those supply lines and things that are stretched all over ukraine i’i l ht that are stretched all over ukraine right now — that are stretched all over ukraine right now and giving them an incredibly hard time. the possible futures, _ incredibly hard time. the possible futures, i— incredibly hard time. the possible futures, i have been criticised because — futures, i have been criticised because i_ futures, i have been criticised because i actually believe that in the way— because i actually believe that in the way that ukraine is fighting now, _ the way that ukraine is fighting now. if— the way that ukraine is fighting now, if russia does not figure out its logistics — now, if russia does not figure out its logistics problems, russia may actually— its logistics problems, russia may actually not get to their objectives any time _

actually not get to their objectives any time soon and need to re—evaluate their way ahead. but i agree, _ re—evaluate their way ahead. but i agree, with — re—evaluate their way ahead. but i agree, with mike compaore, i believe this has— agree, with mike compaore, i believe this has got— agree, with mike compaore, i believe this has got to work out in some sort _ this has got to work out in some sort of— this has got to work out in some sort of a — this has got to work out in some sort of a settlement. and what we will see _ sort of a settlement. and what we will see now, it is both sides trving — will see now, it is both sides trying to— will see now, it is both sides trying tojockey for will see now, it is both sides trying to jockey for advantage, to -ive trying to jockey for advantage, to give them — trying to jockey for advantage, to give them a better place at the table. — give them a better place at the table. as— give them a better place at the table, as this agreement works out. just one _ table, as this agreement works out. just one more point, my hope is that great _ just one more point, my hope is that great nations around the world do not lean _ great nations around the world do not lean into ukraine and try to force _ not lean into ukraine and try to force them _ not lean into ukraine and try to force them to accept less than acceptable positions. this is a great — acceptable positions. this is a great nation, with a real wartime leader— great nation, with a real wartime leader and — great nation, with a real wartime leader and we should allow them to work out _ leader and we should allow them to work out how they see this finishing in negotiations.— in negotiations. good point, maybe we will come _ in negotiations. good point, maybe we will come back— in negotiations. good point, maybe we will come back to _ in negotiations. good point, maybe we will come back to that _ in negotiations. good point, maybe we will come back to that later i in negotiations. good point, maybe we will come back to that later in i we will come back to that later in the programme. that is a really good starter. some breaking news this evening, madeline albright, the first female us secretary

of state, who served under bill clinton has died at the age of 84. dr albright first arrived the united states in 1946 as an 11 year old refu—gee. at the beginning of the war her jewish family fled to england shortly after hitler s tanks had rolled into czechoslovakia. three of her grandparents were murdered in the concentration camps. and in many way underpinned dr albright�*s life long focus on human rights. she was an ardent campaigner against the mass atrocities in eastern europe while serving as us ambassador abroad, and as the un ambassador at home. "my deepest regret she once said, was the failure of the united states and the international community to act sooner to halt the genocide in rwanda". anthony zurcher is our correspondent in washington. she was a towering figure in internationalforeign she was a towering figure in international foreign policy and politics, anthony, and as i said, entirely relevant to what we are talking about at the moment, the

instability in eastern europe, where she came from and how she saw the us role in intervening in these kinds of atrocities.— of atrocities. absolutely. i think ou're of atrocities. absolutely. i think you're going — of atrocities. absolutely. i think you're going to _ of atrocities. absolutely. i think you're going to hear— of atrocities. absolutely. i think you're going to hear a _ of atrocities. absolutely. i think you're going to hear a lot i of atrocities. absolutely. i think you're going to hear a lot of i of atrocities. absolutely. i think| you're going to hear a lot of talk about her life right now and the ground—breaking nature of it, being the first us woman secretary of state, but more relevant, as you point out, is that she was pivotal during the post—soviet era of the 19905 during the post—soviet era of the 1990s in determining what us foreign policy would look like going forward, she had this term, assertive multilateralism, the way she described the us should be abroad and daily with allies and use this military force to back up american diplomacy and charting a path for what the world would look like after the soviet union fell apart. she was a big proponent for nato expansion, very relevant right now, when she was secretary of state in 1999, nato expanded to poland, to hungary, to the czech republic, she chartered a course for nato after

the soviet union, getting them involved in bombing campaigns, in the balkan states, to try and bring security to that area and to define nato, notjust as a counterpoint to the warsaw pact, but as an alliance that could endure after the fall of the soviet union and i think it is very clear right now that nato has found its role again, and nato expansion, these are in front of nato, the borders there were defined by work that madeline albright did in the 1990s and foreign policy that she set the us on course on. we can speak to nathalie tocci, an italian political scientist and an international relations expert. hello. i was just reading today that she was the first person, the first senior us official to meet vladimir putin when he came to power and she wrote a note back to washington saying, putin is embarrassed by what happened to his country and he is determined to retrieve and restore

its greatness. how prescient that is. of course, a lot of people over the last few weeks have asked the question whether the nato expansion that she oversaw has brought us to this point. i that she oversaw has brought us to this oint. .. ., , ~ that she oversaw has brought us to this oint. .. . , ~ . this point. i actually think, i have been amongst — this point. i actually think, i have been amongst the _ this point. i actually think, i have been amongst the people - this point. i actually think, i have been amongst the people in i this point. i actually think, i have been amongst the people in past| been amongst the people in past years— been amongst the people in past years that actually had some sympathy for the argument, do we really— sympathy for the argument, do we really take — sympathy for the argument, do we really take russia's security accounts _ really take russia's security accounts into concerns efficiently, was the _ accounts into concerns efficiently, was the nato expansion a little bit to rapidly— was the nato expansion a little bit to rapidly accelerated? i think what is happening in you can —— michael ukraine— is happening in you can —— michael ukraine proved that madeline albright was right and people like myself— albright was right and people like myself are actually wrong. i do ask myself— myself are actually wrong. i do ask myself the — myself are actually wrong. i do ask myself the question, would this be happening, for the sake of argument, if ukraine _ happening, for the sake of argument, if ukraine was a member of nato? now, _ if ukraine was a member of nato? now. i_ if ukraine was a member of nato? now. ido— if ukraine was a member of nato? now, i do not have an answer to that question. _ now, i do not have an answer to that question. but— now, i do not have an answer to that question, but i think it is worth reflecting — question, but i think it is worth reflecting on. if we look at this

question— reflecting on. if we look at this question through a geopolitical lens, _ question through a geopolitical lens, it — question through a geopolitical lens, it is — question through a geopolitical lens, it is all about the nato expansion and russia's security concerns, — expansion and russia's security concerns, ratherfrom expansion and russia's security concerns, rather from the perspective of those countries that ithink— perspective of those countries that i think madeline albright understood very well, _ i think madeline albright understood very well, that wanted to join nato, mavbe _ very well, that wanted to join nato, maybe because they knew the kremlin better— maybe because they knew the kremlin better than we did. i think it is precisely— better than we did. i think it is precisely what is happening at the moment, — precisely what is happening at the moment, that in many respects actually— moment, that in many respects actually proves that madeline albright's line was right all along. some _ albright's line was right all along. some really warm tributes paid to her which you can raid on bbc online, let me kick it forward to tomorrow, the european council meeting, joe biden will be there, what are the bullet points, the key issues that you will be looking for out of this meeting tomorrow? i think that the main point is to really— think that the main point is to really reassert in concrete measures unitv _ really reassert in concrete measures unity and _ really reassert in concrete measures unity and purpose across the atlantic— unity and purpose across the atlantic and particularly as far as

sanctions — atlantic and particularly as far as sanctions are concerned. we know that particularly as far as energy sanctions — that particularly as far as energy sanctions are concerned, the us is ahead _ sanctions are concerned, the us is ahead of— sanctions are concerned, the us is ahead of the europeans, for the us it is easier— ahead of the europeans, for the us it is easier than for europeans, to move _ it is easier than for europeans, to move forward on an oil embargo, we are not— move forward on an oil embargo, we are not quite — move forward on an oil embargo, we are not quite there as far as a gas embargo, — are not quite there as far as a gas embargo, but i think that the time has come — embargo, but i think that the time has come for europeans to step up on energv_ has come for europeans to step up on energy as _ has come for europeans to step up on energy as well, because we are in a situation _ energy as well, because we are in a situation where we are essentially paving _ situation where we are essentially paying vladimir putin close to 1 billion— paying vladimir putin close to 1 billion euros per day.— paying vladimir putin close to 1 billion euros per day. what about the pressure _ billion euros per day. what about the pressure he _ billion euros per day. what about the pressure he is _ billion euros per day. what about the pressure he is applying? i billion euros per day. what about the pressure he is applying? he i billion euros per day. what about i the pressure he is applying? he said today that countries that are not favourable in moscow will have to pay for their oil and gas in roubles?— pay for their oil and gas in roubles? ~ ., ., [m roubles? do you know what? fantastic isa !as roubles? do you know what? fantastic i say! as the — roubles? do you know what? fantastic i say! as the rouble _ roubles? do you know what? fantastic i say! as the rouble collapses, - i say! as the rouble collapses, maybe that is a good thing? this it maybe that is a good thing? as it colla ses, maybe that is a good thing? as it collapses, that _ maybe that is a good thing? as it collapses, that is _ maybe that is a good thing? as it collapses, that is a _ maybe that is a good thing? as it collapses, that is a good thing, but let us— collapses, that is a good thing, but let us not— collapses, that is a good thing, but let us not forget, the long contracts that exist between

european buyers and russia are denominated in euros, so if, on the russian _ denominated in euros, so if, on the russian side, — denominated in euros, so if, on the russian side, there were to be the request— russian side, there were to be the request to — russian side, there were to be the request to actually start paying in roubles. — request to actually start paying in roubles, we would not be able to do it and _ roubles, we would not be able to do it and we _ roubles, we would not be able to do it and we would be in a position not to pay— it and we would be in a position not to pay and — it and we would be in a position not to pay and therefore for russia not to pay and therefore for russia not to supply _ to pay and therefore for russia not to supply that gas, so in a sense, putin— to supply that gas, so in a sense, putin would — to supply that gas, so in a sense, putin would be taking the embargo decision— putin would be taking the embargo decision for us, so for someone like myself— decision for us, so for someone like myself who— decision for us, so for someone like myself who are favourable of moving in this _ myself who are favourable of moving in this direction, i say fantastic! bring _ in this direction, i say fantastic! bring it— in this direction, i say fantastic! bring it on _ in this direction, i say fantastic! bring it on. i wish we could talk to more, this programme is never long enough. thank you natalie for your contributions on the summit tomorrow. forviewers contributions on the summit tomorrow. for viewers who are watching here in the uk, the ten o'clock news is coming up for you, but for world talk about the state of the battlefield in ukraine and we will hear from the mayor of moira who has interesting thoughts on the battle thatis interesting thoughts on the battle that is going on around his city, notably that they appear to be pushing the russians back ——

mykolaiv. we will talk about the oligarchs with christopher and the role they may play in moscow, stay with us for that. hello. we have all had another fine sunny day and warm and spring sunshine across the whole of the uk on wednesday. this was one of our weather watch pictures from the plockton area in highland scotland. those blue skies were repeated not just across the uk but actually across the vast majority of europe. why? we have a big area of high pressure with us and it is giving this fine spring sunny weather, but there will be changes over the next few days. very gradually, this area of high pressure is going to move west, against the usual flow of weather traffic, eventually it will work to the rest of the uk when that happens, next week we are looking at a big change with these cold

northerly when spreading down and they will bring chilly air are away. spring is a fickle season, do not get too used to the word just yet. thursday, anotherfine get too used to the word just yet. thursday, another fine and sunny day, could be an odd isolated shower for the north of scotland, but the vast majority will have sunshine from dawn until dusk and temperatures will be similar to those on wednesday, reaching 20 degrees or so in the warmest areas. however, one word of caution, we are starting to say hi or even very high levels of air pollution and there are a few reasons for this. the air is being polluted as it comes across north west europe and we are having to the pollution, but high pressure has something to do with this as well. we can't have inversions, a layer four that traps aleutian low down, this is an inversion from last year, trapping an area of low cloud, but the pollution can be concentrated that way. one of the big reasons is that right now we need temperatures to reach 19

celsius for the air to start rising up celsius for the air to start rising up through the atmosphere and we do not really have temperatures that high for any length of time and instead of the pollution getting mixed and dispersed through 12 kilometres of the atmosphere, it stays stuck as low as one or two kilometres bringing hazy skies and high levels of pollution. we have more of that to come towards the end of the week and another chilly start to the day, friday morning with patchy frost around, first thing in the morning, friday anotherfine patchy frost around, first thing in the morning, friday another fine day with hazy spells of sunshine across the board, in the far north of scotland, pick a cloud, the patch of light rain, pushing into shetland from time to time, temperature share about 9 degrees, not especially warm compared to the work that will be widespread. there is no great change in the forecast, even into the weekend, high pressure is beginning to sit further west, they're probably still be high levels of air pollution mixed in with this air mass, temperatures still reaching

high times, perhaps 20 degrees in the warmest areas, signs of things cooling down a touch across the far north of mainland scotland. for sunday, second half of the weekend, expect a largely dried out, still with largely sunny skies, a few mist and fog patches to start the day, dispersing and still warm for this stage of the year, temperature 17 london and 18 in cardiff, but this really will be the last of the very warm days, because we will get those northerly winds feeding into next week, bringing something of a shock to the system. there will be showers on the northerly winds and it will turn wintry of the higher ground in the north of scotland, but we will see frost becoming more widespread and temperatures are nowhere near as high as they happen this week. that is your latest weather, goodbye for now.

tonight at ten: the chancellor sets out plans to help hard—pressed families facing some of the worst economic headwinds in decades. delivering his spring statement, he warned we should all be prepared for "the economy to worsen." but, he told the commons new tax cuts, would ease the burden for millions. a tax plan that cuts taxes on working families by over £330, that cuts taxes on fuel by 5p a litre, cuts taxes on fuel by 5p a litre, cuts taxes on businesses, and yes, for the first time in a long time, cuts income tax.— for the first time in a long time, cuts income tax. inflation is at its hi . hest cuts income tax. inflation is at its highest level— cuts income tax. inflation is at its highest level for _ cuts income tax. inflation is at its highest level for 30 _ cuts income tax. inflation is at its highest level for 30 years - cuts income tax. inflation is at its highest level for 30 years and i highest level for 30 years and rising — highest level for 30 years and rising. energy prices at record highs — rising. energy prices at record highs. people are worried sick.