this is bbc news. the headlines.... the ukraine have been able to achieve this against a much more powerful army. achieve this against a much more powerfularmy. in achieve this against a much more powerful army. in places now they are notjust resisting, they are mounting a counter attack. fears of starvation in — mounting a counter attack. fears of starvation in the _ mounting a counter attack. fears of starvation in the besieged - mounting a counter attack. fears of starvation in the besieged city - mounting a counter attack. fears of starvation in the besieged city of. starvation in the besieged city of mariupol as hundreds queued for food and water. president biden visits

poland to show support for ukraine's neighbour and announces a deal on gas to reduce european alliance —— reliance on russian energy. and the duke and duchess of cambridge on the last leg of a caribbean tour that has attracted crowds and some controversy. as the war in ukraine enters its second month, there are signs of a possible shift in russia's military aims, amid reports that russia's advance on kyiv has stalled commanders in moscow as suggesting they may now refocus their military campaign on the east of the country. according to the latest british military intelligence, the ukrainians have reoccupied towns and

defensive positions 20 miles east of the capital kyiv while russian supply lines in the area are said to be overstretched. 0ur international correspondent 0rla guerin reports from the front line on the outskirts of kyiv. 0n the northern outskirts of kyiv, the burnt—out evidence of russia's defeat — at least for now, on this front line. ukrainian troops say russian forces tried to get through here four times this month and were stopped in their tracks. "it's a grad rocket," says salim, the commander, showing us what landed overnight. he takes pride in what his men from the 72nd mechanised brigade have done against the odds, and are continuing to do. there's plenty of outgoing fire against russian positions.

among the wreckage, a sleeping bag and a uniform from a russian soldier who perished. and what if the enemy tries again to advance here? "they may try," he says, "but i don't think we would let them through. we have let them know who the ukrainian armed forces are and who the boys from our brigade are. we have taken out four tanks and eight fighting vehicles, and killed about 60 of their people." well, this was a road of destruction for russian forces. there is one burnt—out vehicle here, another one just up ahead. there are two more a short distance away. and ukrainian troops have been able to achieve this against a much larger army, a more powerful army.

in places now they are notjust resisting — they are mounting a counterattack. for troops here, the priority is to guard this approach to the capital, to make sure the enemy cannot advance. retaining the city is critical for ukraine. taking it is critical for russia. he wants things the way they used to be. "putin came", he says, "as you see." "our children and grandchildren are dying. i am 62, i can't leave this place. i will stay here."

"if needs be, i will die here but i will not give them ukraine". "thanks to the english people for helping us". then in anger and in anguish he kicks at the charred remains of a russian soldier. in a village nearby, more evidence of the damage wrought by russia and of its many miscalculations. this tiny hamlet of no strategic value was hit by two ballistic missiles. russia's invasion is not going to plan, and ukrainian forces are emboldened. 0rla guerin, bbc news, on the northern outskirts of kyiv. according to the russians themselves, the focus of their operations is switching because the

objectives of the first stage of their military operation have largely been achieved. have a listen to the head of the general staff's main operational director at a little earlier. translation: the main objectives of the first stage of the operation have generally been accomplished. the combat potential of ukraine's armed forces have been considerably reduced, which makes it possible, i emphasise, to focus our core efforts on achieving the main goal the liberation of donbas. let's get more now from our correspondent in moscow, caroline davies. good to see you. what do you make of this change of strategy? has this come as a surprise from the russians? i come as a surprise from the russians?— come as a surprise from the russians? ~ ., ., , russians? i think we have to be careful about _ russians? i think we have to be careful about exactly _ russians? i think we have to be careful about exactly how - russians? i think we have to be careful about exactly how far i russians? i think we have to be l careful about exactly how far this change of strategy might go. of course we heard from the ministry of defence earlier talking about the fact that the plan is all going according to exactly as they intended it to. at the first stage of the operation now is complete, as you say, it means they are able to

focus their attention on liberating, in their words, dom bess in eastern ukraine. many people will point to the fact that when this conflict started, one of the justifications for it was demilitarisation and denazification of all of ukraine and many people will also, having seen the map we regularly show viewers of ukraine and where the russian troops are, will see they are very much not just in donbas which begs the question why was that the case, and is this change of focus? if you look further into the statements from the mod, it is still too early to say definitively they are changing tack entirely. they continue to talk about the fact president putin's aims are still going to be achieved and that while they have previously decided to surround cities and be close to cities like kyiv, they have decided not to storm those cities because they say they want to try to limit the loss of civilian life as well as their own soldiers as well,

and they still say they would maintain the ability to do those sieges in the future and storm them if they felt it was necessary. it's also important to bear in mind that here in russia one of the main key justifications for russia's involvement in ukraine has consistently been about looking after, defending and supporting people in the separatist held areas in eastern ukraine. so the fact russia is re—emphasising this again is not necessarily surprising. but given we have heard multiple things from the western side talking about the fact that they feel the operation that russia is mounting has not gone to plan, many will be hoping this is the first time potentially during the course of this conflict that we have seen a line where president putin might accept some form of negotiation, that this might be where he would be happy to come to some sort of conclusion but it is still not guaranteed what direction exactly russia will take next. i5 guaranteed what direction exactly russia will take next.— guaranteed what direction exactly russia will take next. is there any

indication what _ russia will take next. is there any indication what this _ russia will take next. is there any| indication what this announcement today might mean for people who are bearing the brunt of this in cities like mariupol which is in the south and is still being bombarded? mariupol is still technically within the regions russia is focusing on so there is still no guarantee or suggestion at the moment that there will be any let up in mariupol at the moment. in terms of that, we don't know. there is no indication at the moment whether russia will decide to move its troops away from kyiv, in fact there is no suggestion of that right now, so it is not certain exactly what russia means. it says it's the end of the first stage of the operation but hasn't detailed what the next stage of the operation apart from the terms of liberating donbas might actually mean. we don't know what russia will do next in the next stage, it says, of its liberation of ukraine.

no city has suffered more than mariupol, which has been virtually destroyed by remorseless russian bombardment. yet, the people of the city have held out — despite a lack of food, water and electricity. the authorities there now say they believe around 300 people may have died when russia bombed the city's theatre last week, at a time when civilians — including many children — were taking shelter in the building. the estimate is based on eyewitness accounts and can't be independently verified. 0ur correspondent wyre davies reports from southern ukraine. sergey scans the endless flatlands of southern ukraine — the rich, fertile farmland that russia wants for itself. the 62—year—old former fire engine driver never envisaged taking up arms against the might of moscow, but he knows full well what the russian army is capable of doing. translation: we can't see mariupol but we know what's happening - there, and we must not let that happen here.

these people know that we are here for them. these are the last ukrainian defensive lines in the south before the front line a couple of kilometres away, and all the while russia continues to shell and bomb the city of mariupol, just down the road. the big question here is, what does russia do next? here, they say they are armed and ready. towns and villages across the region are targets for russian artillery. the bombs are getting close. nowhere in the south is really safe. but there are few words to describe the horrors inflicted on mariupol and the 100,000 people trapped inside the city, a catastrophic landscape shredded by russian artillery. starving residents emerging from shelters queue for food.

new footage, too, from last week's theatre attack, in which 300 people died, according to ukrainian officials. there is no shortage of volunteers and reservists wanting to avenge what's happening in mariupol. translation: many of our fighters come from places that are currentlyj under russian occupation. all of them have parents, wives and families there, so each one of us is determined to win back our lands as soon as possible. but there's a reason these men are training underground in an undisclosed location. one thing they've learned in the last month is that the sky is full of russian drones trying to spot their every move. several military training facilities are reported to have been hit by russian fire.

the road to mariupol is fraught with dangers, and it's a road and a destination pivotal to how this war pans out. wyre davies, bbc news, southern ukraine. president biden is in poland tonight. he's meeting the polish president duda after earlier paying a visit to us troops and refugees close to the border with ukraine. he also announced a deal to provide more shipments of liquified natural gas to the eu to help reduce europe's dependence on russian energy supplies. our north america editor, sarah smith, reports from poland. every time air force one touches down, it is designed to send a message. president biden�*s trip to poland is notjust to reassure a nervous ally but is to make clear the us will back military action if russia attacked poland or any other nato member. the men in the military barbers are his — the us having sent thousands of extra troops to poland. he has always said they're not

headed to ukraine as america fears sending forces over the border could start a world war, yet biden seemed to tell them they would witness the bravery of ukrainians "when you are there". the average citizen, look how they're stepping up, and you will see when you're there, you will see women, young people, standing in the front of a damn tank, just saying, "i'm not leaving". the white house quickly clarified that america has not changed its stance on sending troops into ukraine. what these forces might be asked to do if russia uses chemical weapons is a more complex question. mr biden says russia would pay a severe price and that nato would respond "in kind". the us will not go into detail about what the response to a chemical attack might be, but on the way here to poland the president's national security adviser did say the us has no intention of using chemical weapons under any circumstances. while russia is accusing america

of talking about an ephemeral threat to divert attention. while the kremlin today was complaining that the west is trying to "eliminate russian culture", comparing cancelled performances with russian artists and composers to nazi germany in the 1930s. translation: today they are trying to cancel the whole _ thousand—year—old country and our people. i am talking about progressive discrimination of everything connected with russia. president biden and eu leaders know that russia will feel far more pain if europe buys less of its oil and gas, a tough ask for countries that are dependent on russian energy. i know that eliminating russian gas will have costs for europe, but it is not only the right thing to do from a moral standpoint, it will put us on a much stronger strategic footing. america is promising to help european nations wean themselves off russian energy supplies by providing

large quantities of liquefied natural gas, but only enough to replace about 10% of the gas the eu currently buys from russia. president biden is now on his way to warsaw, where the polish president is a close ally but one that wants to offer ukraine much greater military assistance, including war planes. biden so far has blocked that plan. there may be tense talks ahead. sarah smith, bbc news, warsaw. president biden has said nato would respond if russia resorts to using chemical weapons in the war here in ukraine, but what exactly did he mean? our security correspondent frank gardner has been looking at what the response could be. there is currently a fear in some western capitals that russia could be preparing to launch some kind of chemical weapons attack in ukraine. now, chemical weapons are abhorrent. they comprise poison gases, liquids, droplets, and they are banned by an international treaty, the chemical weapons convention

of 1997, to which 193 countries have signed up, including the us and russia. and yet, despite this, four years ago in salisbury the nerve agent novichok was used to try to poison a former kgb officer. this chemical attack was blamed on russia. and in syrian cities like aleppo and ghouta, poisoned gas has been dropped on residential areas, by the syrian air force supported by russian warplanes. so what exactly would be nato's response if russia used chemical weapons? well, the us national security advisor has absolutely ruled out any us use of chemical weapons. there are other things that nato could do. they could step up their military aid to ukraine. could that possibly include tanks and planes? we don't know yet. they could also increase the sanctions, although the sanctions already imposed on russia and its leaders are some of the strongest in history.

frank gardner, our security correspondent. the duke and duchess of cambridge are visiting the bahamas on the final leg of their tour of the caribbean to mark the platinum jubilee. they have been greeted by enthusiastic crowds throughout their trip but not every engagement went as smoothly as planned. the jamaican section attracted ecstatic crowds but also criticism from campaigners seeking reparations from the monarchy for slavery. the tour was overshadowed by what some are calling pr missteps including this trip which resulted including this trip which resulted in still photos of them making contact with the outstretched fingers ofjamaican children pushing through a wire fence. olivette otele is a professor of colonial history and memory at the university of bristol. thanks forjoining us. let's start with your reaction to the reception that the royals got on this tour.

there are two sides here. i'm hearing the reception was ecstatic but i also know that many people were preparing for that visit and they were not keen to have the royal family visiting specifically for the jubilee. they wanted them to engage with other issues that are really dear to some people there. what with other issues that are really dear to some people there. what sort of issues are — dear to some people there. what sort of issues are you _ dear to some people there. what sort of issues are you describing? - dear to some people there. what sort of issues are you describing? well, i of issues are you describing? well, the windrush _ of issues are you describing? well, the windrush scandal. _ of issues are you describing? well, the windrush scandal. what - of issues are you describing? -ii the windrush scandal. what happens after the death of george floyd, the social movement that happened, inequalities, but also the question of reparation and talking about the legacies of enslavement, so they wanted the royal couple not necessarily to be political about it but i acknowledge there is a broader debate happening.— debate happening. rather than the jubilee. so we did see them greeted in belize

and jamaica. talk us through why people are holding them accountable. they are, they have been seen for many years as the younger generation, the generation that brought some hope about tackling inequalities, at least talking about inequalities, at least talking about inequalities that are a result of transatlantic enslavement, and they have been engaging in many charities and doing some work. but the silence of the windrush generation was quite staggering to many people, and the lack of engagement what happened after george floyd in a global movement of solidarity also seemed at odds with what they have been doing so far. so it's not that they are expecting them to resolve everything but at least to acknowledge that this has marked a shift in the relationship between the african side of the caribbean and the royalfamily. so the african side of the caribbean and the royal family.— the african side of the caribbean and the royal family. so what would it mean if the _ and the royal family. so what would

it mean if the royal _ and the royal family. so what would it mean if the royal family _ and the royal family. so what would it mean if the royal family did - it mean if the royalfamily did acknowledge some of the issues you have mentioned and in fact apologised, which is again one of these things the protesters are looking for?— these things the protesters are lookin: for? , ., ., looking for? they are looking for a olo . ies looking for? they are looking for apologies but — looking for? they are looking for apologies but i — looking for? they are looking for apologies but i also _ looking for? they are looking for apologies but i also understand l looking for? they are looking for i apologies but i also understand this is a stance that has been taken by most european countries and former colonial powers. there is no formal apology given. it's mostly sorrow because apologies would mean repair and reparation and forms of restorative justice. the royal family cannot do that until the government has done that first. but what they expected is action to show some kind of care and to show they understand and to show that beyond them being the ancestors of the queen and the family that was engaging in the slave trade, they are new blood, they are new generations and they want to kind of repair the fences. d0 generations and they want to kind of repair the fences.— repair the fences. do you feel that this visit did _ repair the fences. do you feel that this visit did not _ repair the fences. do you feel that this visit did not do _ repair the fences. do you feel that this visit did not do much - repair the fences. do you feel that this visit did not do much to - this visit did not do much to reassure this generation that there

is a generation of the royal family that understands their concerns? it did not i'm afraid. 0k, _ that understands their concerns? it did not i'm afraid. ok, that - that understands their concerns? it did not i'm afraid. ok, that was - that understands their concerns? it did not i'm afraid. ok, that was a l did not i'm afraid. ok, that was a short and sharp _ did not i'm afraid. ok, that was a short and sharp answer. - did not i'm afraid. ok, that was a short and sharp answer. olivette| short and sharp answer. olivette otele, professor of colonial history and memory at the university of bristol, thank you very much for joining us. one of the most hotly tipped films at the oscars this weekend is coda. which celebrates deaf culture. we spoke to troy, and as you will see, the report is subtitled.

we will find out what happens at the oscars this weekend. you can get in touch with me on twitter. thanks for watching. stay with us on bbc news.

hello there. the weather story's certainly been dominated by the beautiful spring sunshine and warmth just lately, hasn't it? but all that is set to change over the next few days. i've taken york as an example, but we are going to start to see the temperature trend from above average temperatures to below average temperatures for the time of year through the middle part of the week. so, you really will notice the difference. hopefully you can get out and enjoy the spring sunshine over the weekend. there'll be plenty of it on saturday. as you can see, some of us will see sunshine from dawn till dusk, with some thicker cloud in the far north of scotland, maybe the odd spot or two of light rain into the northern isles. there will be a little bit more of a brisk breeze, particularly running down through channel coasts, but also coming in off the north sea. so, here, those temperatures may be a little bit subdued in comparison to the last few days.

sheltered western areas will see the best of the warmth, highs of 18 degrees. and don't forget, when you're off to bed saturday night into the early hours of sunday morning, we put the clocks forward. yes, it's the start of british summer time on sunday. so, we lose an hour in bed, but hopefully we'll gain some daylight hours. as you can see, the high pressure is still with us. there could be a little bit of stubborn cloud drifting in off the north sea, though, on sunday, and that could be a bit of a nuisance across england and wales. a level of uncertainty how far west that cloud is going to feed in, but it could just suppress the temperatures a little bit here. so, the best of any warmth and sunshine is likely to be further west. underneath that cloud, we're likely to see temperatures down a degree or so in comparison to of late. but the high pressure still stays with us. we have got this little front on monday starting to move in from the far north—east, and that's just going to enhance the risk of some showers. so, first thing on monday, there's perhaps a greater chance of seeing more low cloud, some stubborn mist and fog in the morning.

a few showers across north wales and northern england as well. to the north of that, it's going to start to turn a little bit cooler, 6—ii degrees. to the south of that, with some sunshine, we still keep some warmth. but the trend for this cooler feel arrives really from tuesday onwards as the wind direction changes and it drives that colder air a little bit further south. so, as you can see, from tuesday into wednesday, starting to get noticeably cooler with some outbreaks of rain at times. take care.

hello, and welcome. i'm shaun ley, and this is the programme which brings together leading columnists from the uk with foreign correspondents who write, blog and broadcast to the folks back home from the dateline london. here in the studio are isabel hilton, founder of china dialogue and a columnist in british newspapers. jeff mcallister is a trained lawyer and former white house correspondent and head of time magazine's london bureau. vera krichevskaya is a documentary film—maker whose independent tv station in russia has been taken off the air.