i'm ben brown live in lviv, these are our headlines. president biden visits poland to show support for ukraine and meet refugees who've fled the fighting. ukraine's president says there must be urgent, meaningful talks with russia — and claims his troops have dealt the invaders a series of "powerful blows". ukrinian troops have been able to achieve this against a much larger army, a more powerful army in places, now they're notjust resisting, they are mounting a counterattack. and i'm lukwesa burak in london with our other top stories:

with the spotlight on russian oligarchs and their assets, we've been taking a look at one of the biggest yachts ever built — and asking who actually owns it. the united states calls for tougher sanctions on north korea — after tests on its largest ever inter—continental ballistic missile. a ferry operated by p&0 has been detained in northern ireland because of fears about staff training. and tributes from across the music industry for taylor hawkins — the drummer with the rock band, the foo fighters — who's died at the age of 50. welcome to bbc news, live from lviv in western ukraine.

well, the big question everyone here is asking today is whether russia has changed its war aims in this country and scaled back its ambitions so that its forces focus on the eastern front and — for the first time being at least — put less emphasis on trying to capture the capital kyiv. the russian advance on that city has stalled badly — in fact ukrainian troops are successfully counterattacking them. russian troop morale is said to be at rock bottom with supply lines badly overstretched. so maybe that's why a top russian general — sergei rudskoi — made the surpise announcement in moscow that the first phase of russia's operations here is over and that its forces will now concentrate on the donbas region in the east. ukraine's president, volodymyr zelenskiy, has urged russia to engage in serious peace talks, and claimed that more than 16,000 russian troops have now died in a month of fighting, including several senior officers. mark lobel reports.

after days of silence, russia's military appears in public to proclaim the first stage of their operation complete. translation: the main tasks i of the first stage of the operation have been completed. the combat potential of ukraine's armed forces has been significantly reduced, which allows us to focus our main efforts on achieving the main goal — the liberation of donbas. some saw that as an admission of a russian pre—war strategy gone wrong. president zelensky responded by saying over the past week, his forces have dealt powerful blows to the russians, causing significant losses. the humanitarian crisis continues in mariupol. president macron is trying to organise an evacuation of civilians and will discuss it with president putin. ukraine has requested emergency food aid for encircled cities.

the uk will provide $2.6 million worth. there are warnings disrupted crop production in ukraine may cause a food crisis in africa, too. this is a scramble for sugar in russia, driven by government attempts to regulate prices, skyrocketing demand and a crash in the value of the russian currency. it imports little, but the state has temporarily banned exports, blaming consumer panic—buying. meanwhile, on their tvs at home, president putin accuses the west of discriminating against russian culture by calling off events involving russian cultural figures who backed the war. translation: not so long ago.

they have cancelled a children's writer, joanne rowling, because she, the author of the books which spread around the world in hundreds of millions of copies, failed to please the supporters of the so—called gender liberties. she responded, saying critiques of western cancel culture are possibly not best made by those currently slaughtering civilians for the crime of resistance or who jail and poison their critics. the fallout from this war continues to affect everyone and everything beyond ukraine's borders, as those remaining within them fight mark lobel, bbc news. president biden is on the second day of his visit to poland, where he'll hold further talks about the war in neighbouring ukraine. mr biden will meet refugees who've fled from the fighting, and discuss the conflict with his polish counterpart, andrzej duda. the two leaders are expected to raise mr duda's previous offer to hand overfighter jets to ukraine. let's cross live to our correspondent mark lowen who's in warsaw. the second day of the visit, what will resident biden be doing? we have had a very interesting

announcement from the white house that ukraine foreign and defence ministers are here in warsaw making the president and secretary of state and the polish president and prime minister. that is the very significant meeting with top level ukrainian officials hid in warsaw and shows the importance of this stop on the two—day visit by president biden to poland. he was in the east yesterday meeting humanitarian workers omitting american troops in talking about shoring up the eastern flank of nato and when he spoke to american troops he said he they were engaged in a battle between autocracy and democracy itself. he will also meet some of the refugees, new arrivals. poland has welcomed more than 2.2 million refugees and he will meet them in the warsaw national stadium

and then he will give an important address the white house is billing as a major address that will speak to the states of this moment. he will talk about the united efforts of the free world to support the people of ukraine and hold russia accountable for its brutal war and defend a future rooted in democratic principles. an important address given in a country here that was for decades behind the iron curtain, part of the warsaw pact and really a satellite state for russia and a sign of how much the tectonic plates in europe have changed and how much is change the last month with president biden keen to present the western alliance is totally united in the face of aggression by russia. totally united, but there is a difference in the sense of poland wanting to do more and offering its warplanes to ukraine, something

president biden thinks could be potentially rather dangerous. will the talk about that? i think we will be because pullen says that proposal still on the table, even although when the polish government announced the plan a couple of weeks ago which would basically involve polish fighterjets being transferred to an american military base in germany to then be deployed in ukraine and manned by ukrainian pilots, the american said that was a surprise proposal and rejected it because they sought as potentially being seen by the russians as an escalation of the conflict between ukraine and russia. that was a disagreement booth in poland and the united states and i think president biden want to smooth things over on that trip but the pools have been more hawkish than many other western nato members and they want a

peacekeeping force in ukraine which america is not keen on because it would mean natal boots on the ground in ukraine. i think all of this is likely to be in the discussions between polish and american officials as poland tries to reassure its population with the support of america which is the guarantor of european security. thank you so much. good to talk to you. in one of its largest military exercises in recent years, nato has been simulating its response to an attack on a member state. it's been taking place in norway, which shares a border with russia and was planned before the invasion of ukraine. but as our defence correspondent jonathan beale reports ? the war has given the training a sharper focus. gunfire. another neighbour of russia has been invaded. this is northern norway, but it is just an exercise — a test for nato allies

to come to its defence. something nato says it will do to protect a member state, though not for ukraine. but what's happened in ukraine has suddenly made this training feel more real. an exercise like this, is really good to have, to prove to countries like russia and other foreign states that you don't want to mess with nato. i think there have been some discussions about if the co—response should take place, but i think it's more important to do it now than ever. and what signal does it send to russia, do you think? that we're willing to fight. we will not give up our land. exercise cold response in norway is one of nato's largest, involving 30,000 military personnel from 27 countries. it was planned long before russia invaded ukraine, but russia's been building up its military presence

in the arctic, too — one reason why british and american marines are also stepping up their training here in this harsh, unforgiving environment. president putin wanted less nato near his border. what he's getting is more. notjust more exercises like this, but thousands more nato troops stationed along nato's eastern flank, all the way from the baltic to the black sea. it's notjust nato allies taking part. so are finland and sweden, with a long history of neutrality. but both countries have seen a recent surge in public support tojoin nato. russia's war in ukraine is forcing more of europe to pick sides. the military is ready, if the political decision — and there is a decision tojoin, but it's not up to us to make that decision. russia's war in ukraine has sent shockwaves throughout the world. i met borisjohnson yesterday...

and the head of nato, who met troops taking part in cold response, says the consequences will be felt for many years to come. resident putin is getting exactly the opposite of what he wants. he wants less nato at his borders, he's getting more nato at his borders. he wants to divide nato. he has actually united, is uniting nato. but there's still a limit as to what nato is willing to do. it stands ready to defend its members, but it won't be using its military power to intervene in ukraine. jonathan beale, bbc news, narvik, norway. joining us now is philip ingram, a former senior military intelligence officer and nato planner. it is difficult to interpret exactly what _ it is difficult to interpret exactly what is — it is difficult to interpret exactly what is happening with the russian war aims_ what is happening with the russian war aims and what is happening with the russian waraims and military what is happening with the russian war aims and military strategy in ukraine — war aims and military strategy in ukraine but from the announcement by

the general— ukraine but from the announcement by the general yesterday it appears they are — the general yesterday it appears they are shifting their focus purely to the _ they are shifting their focus purely to the east, to donbas and maybe not giving _ to the east, to donbas and maybe not giving up _ to the east, to donbas and maybe not giving up on _ to the east, to donbas and maybe not giving up on kyiv. we to the east, to donbas and maybe not giving up on kyiv-_ to the east, to donbas and maybe not giving up on kyiv— giving up on kyiv. we have to take it with a pinch _ giving up on kyiv. we have to take it with a pinch of _ giving up on kyiv. we have to take it with a pinch of salt _ giving up on kyiv. we have to take it with a pinch of salt and - giving up on kyiv. we have to take it with a pinch of salt and see - giving up on kyiv. we have to take it with a pinch of salt and see how| it with a pinch of salt and see how it with a pinch of salt and see how it translates into manoeuvres on the ground because the russians have a doctrine which is all about masking and they say one thing and do something completely different and therefore until we see actual movement and actions on the ground we have to be slightly sceptical but if they do it, it is an admission they have failed, and this would play into the hands of president zelensky because a lot of the commentators thought they would have originallyjust on n two capture the

donbas region are put russian ships in and see for some form of settlement but i think the numbers of civilian casualties even the retention of that would be unacceptable to the ukrainians. that is an interesting _ unacceptable to the ukrainians. that is an interesting point about masking their intentions. what they cannot hide as they have sold in many areas, there are advances stalled, and they are being counter—attacked. morale in many parts seems to be at rock bottom and they have lost several generals who have been killed on the battlefield. hugely. the last their immediate operational objectives. president vladimir putin and his leadership said they wanted to topple the ukrainian government and their primary objective was kyiv and the government in the field with their special forces and intelligence services to find them and capture them, they have failed to take over them, they have failed to take over the airports around kyiv and encircle it and have failed to get

airborne forces in and to get the link from armoured columns coming from the north and they have been fixed in the rest of ukraine and transitioned from an offensive operation, which they are still carrying out an small local areas, to more traditional operations and defensive operations, and the ukrainians are having some success in very localised counterattacks. they are counterattacking logistics and command control elements forcing combat elements to withdraw so they can reconnect with the logistics but russian logistics is appalling, the morale is appalling and the support they are giving their troops on the ground is terrible and their command and control is a disaster, to lose so many senior officers means they are having to be pushed forward to try to get some form of control and thatis try to get some form of control and that is just not happening. you try to get some form of control and that isjust not happening.- that is 'ust not happening. you talk about that isjust not happening. you talk about ukrainian _ that isjust not happening. you talk about ukrainian counterattacks, . about ukrainian counterattacks, which they have done very successfully, but they're asking for more weapons from nato and the west,

asking for more tanks and warplanes. if they do not get those and just get more missiles which is what countries like the uk are promising to send, is that enough to carry on the fight against the russian invasion force? tote the fight against the russian invasion force?— the fight against the russian invasion force? ~ ., ., invasion force? we then get into a name of invasion force? we then get into a game of who _ invasion force? we then get into a game of who can _ invasion force? we then get into a game of who can cause _ invasion force? we then get into a game of who can cause more - invasion force? we then get into a - game of who can cause more damage. the ukrainians will fight and attack the russian military capability in there and keep chipping away at it. is it enough? i don't really think so. the russians, they will attack centres of population and killing civilians, they have the capacity to increase the volume of that and the horrors are significantly more and the danger is trying to break the will of the people and therefore break the will of the political masters in ukraine. tanks, the ukrainians may have a capability of an additional manoeuvre capability allowing them to manoeuvre against russian forces when the weather and

the ground allows and we have seen pictures of russian tanks bogged in and ukrainian tanks will get bogged in as well but as the weather improves on the ground hardens that would indicate better conditions for a manoeuvre type counter attack of bigger formations and potentially push the russians back further. i don't think the russians can defend. more broadly, we are more than a month into this conflict, we are into the second month, how long do you see this continuing for and how it are we talking in the end about some sort partition of this country for the russians hold on to the areas the have taken on the east and south and leave the rest to ukraine? there is only going to be a diplomatic solution working out what is acceptable to both sides and at the moment i think within the horns of a dilemma. if russia had come in initially and just taken the donbas region and then sued for a police settlement to keep that in crimea

president zelensky might have given it to them if there'd be no civilian casualties but with the volume of civilian casualties and the destruction of beautiful, beautiful cities, president zelensky is in a position where he and the ukrainian people will not accept russia retaining one square metre of ukrainian land. better vladimir putin cannot be seen to fail and therefore we are a game where this could be set for a long time and a long period of attrition against the ukrainian people. our biggest hope is that as some form of palace coup in moscow and vladimir putin is removed but who takes over for him —— much from him? there are a lot of insurgencies here.

the world health organization has recorded 72 incidents so far. it is deeply worrying when we see a tax on medical structures. what i can say is that clearly not enough is being done to ensure they are being protected because even if it is accidental and collateral damage it is also not acceptable. hospitals must be protected and civilians and non—competence and innocence should be protected. whilst we have not

seen the rules of war being respected enough.- seen the rules of war being respected enough. what is your assessment _ respected enough. what is your assessment now _ respected enough. what is your assessment now of _ respected enough. what is your assessment now of the - respected enough. what is your - assessment now of the humanitarian situation as you and medecins some frontier see it? in situation as you and medecins some frontier see it?— frontier see it? in some areas of the country _ frontier see it? in some areas of the country are _ frontier see it? in some areas of the country are absolutely - frontier see it? in some areas of. the country are absolutely critical. mariupol remains one of our highest is a focus where we think needs are possibly the greatest. i say possibly the greatest. i say possibly because we do not have the access we need to know for sure. there are 100,000 people still there. one slightly positive movies people are able to come out. we have been receiving some of the patients are coming out and seeing the conditions of these people is an indicator to how serious the needs are in mariupol and on the other side of the contact line many wounded have started showing up in the hospitals. people are traumatised and talk about the

conditions not only an mariupol but in the towns along the route people have taken to get out. they are absolutely full of displaced populations, people who need medical attention and we have not had access to get to those areas to assess the need to know exactly how great they are and bring in the materials and resources necessary to respond to those needs. teiiii resources necessary to respond to those needs-— resources necessary to respond to those needs. tell us what medecins sans frontier— those needs. tell us what medecins sans frontier and _ those needs. tell us what medecins sans frontier and able _ those needs. tell us what medecins sans frontier and able to _ those needs. tell us what medecins sans frontier and able to do - those needs. tell us what medecins sans frontier and able to do at - those needs. tell us what medecins sans frontier and able to do at the l sans frontier and able to do at the moment. your mac we are all over the country in areas we can access. our highest poetry since the beginning is making sure hospitals are receiving wounded and have all the material they need to perform life—saving interventions and we have made massive donations across the country which is continuing. we would also like to do that in areas we don't have access to super negotiating everyday to have that access and get resources into those hospitals. we are to the displaced

populations, hundreds of thousands of people across the country, people have chronic conditions and need access to care and people have mental health conditions before the war are caused by the war and we are trying to respond to those needs and supporting health systems in areas around the country that suddenly have a massive influx of population from elsewhere and did not have the medical supplies planned to respond to these needs and the medical supply system throughout the country has been disrupted so we are also supporting and local levels to help everyone's to respond to needs throughout the country. i everyone's to respond to needs throughout the country.- everyone's to respond to needs throughout the country. i know you 0 erated throughout the country. i know you operated war _ throughout the country. i know you operated war zones _ operated war zones throughout the world incredibly courageously. i have seen medicine signs frontier

operating ——msf operating throughout the world but to be the situation in 2022 must be extraordinary to you? nobody expected this. a possible flare—up of the conflict in the east was always on our radar but on the scale i think everyone was taken by surprise. scale i think everyone was taken by surrise. , ., ., ., scale i think everyone was taken by surrise. , ., ., ~ ., surprise. very good to talk to you and aood surprise. very good to talk to you and good luck _ surprise. very good to talk to you and good luck with _ surprise. very good to talk to you and good luck with all _ surprise. very good to talk to you and good luck with all the - surprise. very good to talk to you and good luck with all the work i and good luck with all the work you're doing here in ukraine. alex wade from medicine signs frontier. we can speak to the deputy foreign minister of poland what more would

poland light from the west in terms of the massive refugee influx you are dealing with, more than 2.2 million so far?— are dealing with, more than 2.2 million so far? ukraine itself right now when it _ million so far? ukraine itself right now when it comes _ million so far? ukraine itself right now when it comes to _ million so far? ukraine itself right i now when it comes to humanitarian assistance and political support and we are providing that with our allies. the second thing is to continue sanctions on russia in order to push russia to withdraw their troops from ukraine. when it comes to the refugee influx, 2.5 million refugees in the last four weeks have crossed the polish border and right now on the territory of poland and are very much welcome to stay here although of course it is a challenge for the entire state of poland, for the government and local authorities and ordinary polish people. any kind of financial support which could be provided by the european institutions are the european partners, nato allies, is

of key importance and that will be the topic of discussion between president biden and president duda. we were not much prepared when it came to the infrastructure. the schooling system, half pupils coming tojoin schooling system, half pupils coming to join the polish school system. this is a challenge for us and we are doing quite well but any assistance would be very welcomed. can i ask about military assistance for ukraine. poland famously offered some of its warplanes to the ukrainians. neto and joe biden did not think there was a good idea

ukrainians. neto and joe biden did not think there was a good idet light blinken said there was a green light on that. we do not pursue it as a provocative step that has a reasonable position of poland. we are ready to do it as a natal ally and we should first discuss it at the natal level that will be the topic of the discussion between the polish and american presidents of the need the consensus of that and so far there is no natal consensus

on that. we are providing other support to ukraine starting from humanitarian assistance throughout political and diplomatic support thatis political and diplomatic support that is what we are concentrating on now. ~ ., ., ., ., ,, ., that is what we are concentrating on now. ~ ., ., ,, ., ., now. the ukrainian troops are doing reall well now. the ukrainian troops are doing really well on _ now. the ukrainian troops are doing really well on the _ now. the ukrainian troops are doing really well on the battlefield - now. the ukrainian troops are doing really well on the battlefield and - really well on the battlefield and they are counterattacking around kyiv and in other places but is your sense they need more military assistance from nato? i do sense they need more military assistance from nato? i do believe the ukrainian _ assistance from nato? i do believe the ukrainian nation _ assistance from nato? i do believe the ukrainian nation is _ assistance from nato? i do believe the ukrainian nation is fighting - assistance from nato? i do believe the ukrainian nation is fighting for| the ukrainian nation is fighting for european values and they want to be a member of the european premier league and they are fighting for democracy and for all those principles very important to all of us, to all the western are euro atlantic community and these countries have the right signs of the conflict, ukraine was invaded by the conflict, ukraine was invaded by the aggressor, russia so i believe

kyiv deserves our support and that is why we are so active is poland trying to encourage other western partners to do so. as we said we are doing quite well, surprisingly. many experts thought before the war that russia would conquer ukraine in a couple of days. this is not the case from already one month of this war and it us russia was not prepared and it us russia was not prepared and this image of the russian army is a false image. they have problems with logistics and they do not have fuel. they are even trying to still steal chicken from ukrainian farmers which is not showing the prestige of the russian army stop we need to continue our support to the european nation of ukraine. and what is the mood in poland? you

nation of ukraine. and what is the mood in poland?— mood in poland? you now find ourself mood in poland? you now find yourself effectively _ mood in poland? you now find yourself effectively on - mood in poland? you now find yourself effectively on the - mood in poland? you now findl yourself effectively on the natal front line. —— on the front line of nato. front line. -- on the front line of nato. ~ ., ., , front line. -- on the front line of nato.~ ., ., , , front line. -- on the front line of nato. . ., ., , , ., nato. we have always been on the eastern flank _ nato. we have always been on the eastern flank of _ nato. we have always been on the eastern flank of nato _ nato. we have always been on the eastern flank of nato since - nato. we have always been on the eastern flank of nato since 2008 l eastern flank of nato since 2008 when russia invaded georgia. throughout 2014 when russia took crimea and donbas we have been warning our allies that russia is an aggressive actor. we need to push back some russia from the borders and to mitigate aggressive goals, not every country was really listening to us. it seems that the eastern flank countries were quite right about russia's position. now is the time to increase the natal presence on the soil of poland and the border of the stone allies, that was the decision of the recent natal summit. the madrid summit coming in

june this year we believe will show again the unity of natal and there will be more troops and more equipment of nato in poland and the baltic states and other eastern allies and we are at the defensive alliance. we wanted to show to russia, don't even try to think about attacking and hitting any goals on the territory of nato because it would be a response and we are absolutely committed to doing it jointly, we are absolutely committed to doing itjointly, just likejoe biden it jointly, just like joe biden said, itjointly, just likejoe biden said, article five is a sacred obligation and we will defend every inch of the territory of nato allies. cani can ijust can i just ask you finally, we seem to have a change in russian war aims in ukraine. we had the announcement

from the russian general yesterday, the first phase of the operation is over. he said they are going to focus on the east, on the donbas, it looks like a scaling back of what they are trying to do in ukraine, is that how you read it? irate they are trying to do in ukraine, is that how you read it?— that how you read it? we will see what the reality _ that how you read it? we will see what the reality will _ that how you read it? we will see what the reality will show - that how you read it? we will see what the reality will show to - that how you read it? we will see what the reality will show to us. i j what the reality will show to us. i hope this is the change of the goal of russia. maybe a kind of face—saving exit strategy. definitely, russia has not achieved its goals, has not seized kyiv, has not change the government of ukraine. that is because of the fact the ukrainian army is doing so well. now it is a problem for the kremlin, how to conduct this exit strategy. for us, for poland than for the european nations, the ultimate goal

is to get russian troops out of the sovereign territory of ukraine and then basically it should be russia paying reparations to ukraine. this country was completely demolished in parts, like mariupol, kyiv was bombed many times and it should be russia to pay for the reconstruction of this country in the future. deputy foreign minister of poland, grateful for giving so much of your time, i know you are very busy obviously at the time, but thank you for being on bbc news. grant shapps has decided to detain two jets belonging to a russian oligarch. they are thought to be worth something like $60 million.

the planes belonging to eugene shvidler, which are thought to be worth up to 60 million dollars, had been held under investigation at farnborough and biggin hill airports for three weeksmr shapps said the measures showed that the government would "leave no stone unturned in depriving putin's cronies of their luxury toys. "he said ministers wanted to "see an end to the merciless, bloody war which putin is pursuing". that is just in and that is the latest from ma in western ukraine in lviv, handing it back to the studio. let's get more now on the battle for the ukrainian capital. according to the latest british military intelligence, the ukrainians have reoccupied towns and defensive positions 32 kilometres east of kyiv, while russian supply lines in that area are said to be overstretched. our international correspondent orla guerin reports from the frontline on the city's northern outskirts. on the northern outskirts of kyiv,

burnt out evidence of a russian defeat on this front line. ukrainian troops so russian forces try to get through here four times this month and were stopped in their tracks. they are still firing from a few miles away. it is a rocket, says the commander, showing us what landed overnight. he takes pride in what is men from the 77 mechanised brigade have done against the odds. and are continuing to do. there is 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 arbour grade r. —— arbour grade. we have taken out about eight tanks and killed about 60 of their people. this was a road of destruction for russian forces. there is one burnt out vehicle here and one just there is one burnt out vehicle here and onejust up there is one burnt out vehicle here and one just up ahead. there are two more short distance away. ukrainian troops have been able to achieve this against a much larger army, and more powerful army. in places now they are notjust resisting, they are mounting a counter attack. the troops here, the priority is guarding the approaches to the

capital. more than a month on, russian forces are stuck on the outskirts, clearly not what president putin had in mind. at 62, this man cannot recognise the world around him. putin came, he says, as you can see. our children and grandchildren are dying. i will stay here. if needs be, i will die here. but i will not give them ukraine. thenin but i will not give them ukraine. then in anger and in anguish, he kicks at the charred remains of a russian soldier. in a village

nearby, more evidence of ukraine's suffering and russia's miscalculations. it fired two ballistic missiles at this tiny hamlet of no strategic value. you can see the devastation and this massive crater was caused by a russian missile strike, remnants of the missile are still here. no one was killed in this attack, but russian forces are not far away and they have been flying a drone in the area in the last hour. russia has bombed and destroyed more than it has captured. a poor return on a costly invasion that may now have to change course. let's discuss this further. i am

joined by a freelance journalist. hannah, take us through what the situation is in terms of the humanitarian situation within poland itself? this could be on the agenda when it comes to talks today? thank ou for when it comes to talks today? thank you forjoining _ when it comes to talks today? thank you forjoining me. _ when it comes to talks today? thank you forjoining me. the _ when it comes to talks today? thank you forjoining me. the massive - you forjoining me. the massive relief effort in poland is incredible, everyone is involved somehow. but there are a lot of concerns about burn—out to a certain extent. some people have stopped their businesses to help. i met one person like that on the border. people are contributing their own money and taking time off work. i don't know how long that can last and a lot of people are having concerns about that as well. irate and a lot of people are having concerns about that as well. we have not these concerns about that as well. we have got these talks _ concerns about that as well. we have got these talks today _ concerns about that as well. we have got these talks today and _ concerns about that as well. we have got these talks today and i _ got these talks today and i understand there will be other ukrainian officials also joining those talks with president biden.

what does poland want? i those talks with president biden. what does poland want? i hesitate to seak what does poland want? i hesitate to s - eak for what does poland want? i hesitate to speak for poland _ what does poland want? i hesitate to speak for poland because _ what does poland want? i hesitate to speak for poland because you - what does poland want? i hesitate to speak for poland because you know, l what does poland want? i hesitate toj speak for poland because you know, i am just a journalist, but i think the situation for poland is very real. i think the west has realised both the danger people are feeling and the massive influx of people and the strain it is causing on the country. people are happy to greet ukrainian refugees and the response has been remarkable, but this could turn into a very tricky situation. i agree with the minister that spoke before me, any financial help will help with coordination and it will be very necessary.— help with coordination and it will be very necessary. when you said tric , be very necessary. when you said tricky. are — be very necessary. when you said tricky. are you — be very necessary. when you said tricky, are you talking _ be very necessary. when you said tricky, are you talking more - be very necessary. when you said | tricky, are you talking more about the humanitarian side of things or

the humanitarian side of things or the political, the wider political implications? i the political, the wider political implications?— the political, the wider political implications? ithink both. right now, it is hard _ implications? ithink both. right now, it is hard to _ implications? ithink both. right now, it is hard to assess - implications? ithink both. right now, it is hard to assess how- implications? i think both. right i now, it is hard to assess how many people are here right now. it is probably at least 1.5 million and it is children going to school who need to be integrated. also, we don't know for how long, if the war stops people want to go back. will they be able to go back? we don't know that. poland need social workers to be helping these people. the hospital system, which has already been strained, there is all sorts of issues across the board that poland will have to be dealing with. and in terms of the war, the military situation, i think poland feels the ukrainians are fighting for them as well and there is more of an urgency here. polish people want something

more to happen when it comes to military assistance. i more to happen when it comes to military assistance.— military assistance. i was 'ust about to ask i military assistance. i was 'ust about to ask that, i military assistance. i was 'ust about to ask that, how i military assistance. i wasjust about to ask that, how much | military assistance. i wasjust - about to ask that, how much support to the polls give the president for more military action to be taken by nato, more military support, are they fully behind that idea? because there is some concern at what they are witnessing when it comes to russia? �* . are witnessing when it comes to russia? . ., . ., ., are witnessing when it comes to russia? . ., ., , , .,~ are witnessing when it comes to russia? . ., ., ,, .,~ ., russia? again, i cannot speak for the entirety _ russia? again, i cannot speak for the entirety of— russia? again, i cannot speak for the entirety of the _ russia? again, i cannot speak for the entirety of the country, - russia? again, i cannot speak for the entirety of the country, but i l the entirety of the country, but i do think people here would like to see a more robust reaction, even though there is a reaction, people would probably like to see more. just to give you an example, there is a jar with a money collection jar at a local restaurant for walkie—talkies for the ukrainian army. so people are trying to help on the grassroots level. any robust military assistance would be really

appreciated because the situation feels very real here. qm. appreciated because the situation feels very real here. 0k, hannah, thank you — feels very real here. 0k, hannah, thank you very — feels very real here. 0k, hannah, thank you very much _ feels very real here. 0k, hannah, thank you very much indeed. - feels very real here. 0k, hannah, l thank you very much indeed. thank ou. it s one of the biggest and most expensive yachts ever built — longer than a football pitch — with a disco that turns into a swimming pool. reports suggest it belongs to president putin — but its true ownership is wrapped up in secrecy. it s now in dock in italy — but hasn t been seized by the authorities unlike some other yachts belonging to oligarchs. the bbc�*s angus crawford has been trying to unravel the mystery. the scheherazade, the ultimate in yacht chic, a billionaire's plaything. the question is, which billionaire? it's still not clear if that's president putin himself or one of his close friends. 140 metres in length, difficult to hide as it's refitted in this italian dock. it's thought to have cost more than $700 million to build. there are two helipads on there, nine decks of luxury,

enough room for you to entertain 19 of your closest, personal friends and the taps in the bathrooms? well, they're gold, of course. paolo is furious. he's a local union boss. the boat, he says, is cloaked in secrecy. translation: it's totally cut off. silent. they wish to say nothing, to hide. but should workers have to hide, or should we work in the open and be proud? the russian crew and british captain disappeared overnight, replaced by a brand new team. we're told its protected by armed guards, and workers have to strip and go through a metal detector before they can even get on board. locals who know the shipyard well are split about what should happen. she thinks it should be

confiscated and the money used for something good. he says, it will never be seized, the authorities hands are tied. if it is his, you know, he has paid for it and they have produced it. so maybe make sure that it doesn't go into anything that can be used for war, military or that. but if it is a leisure yacht, i don't think it should be taken from him. but if it isn't seized when the refit is done, it'll leave. the scheherazade secrets sailing with her. angus crawford, bbc news, marina di carrara, italy. a ferry operated by p&o has been held in northern ireland because of fears about staff training. the uk transport secretary, grant shapps, said the maritime and coastguard agency deemed the european causeway "unfit to sail".

trade unions have raised concerns that agency workers — brought in after the company sacked 800 staff last week, won't be adequately trained to operate the ships. our reporter, simonjones has more. detained — the european causeway, seen here last week, must remain at the port of larne. the coastguard said it had found failures relating to crew familiarisation, vessel documentation and training. transport secretary grant shapps wrote on twitter: p&o's boss was already under pressure, the prime minister backing calls for him to quit. that's after the company fired 800 workers last week to replace them with cheaper agency staff,

who will earn an average of £5.50 an hour — less than the uk minimum wage. some employees finding out their fate by a video message. i'm sorry to inform you that this means your employment is terminated with immediate effect on the grounds of redundancy. p&o's boss admitted to mps this week that the company had broken the law by not consulting workers. there's absolutely no doubt that we were required to consult with the unions. we chose not to do that because... you chose to break the law? we chose not to consult, and we — and we are, and will, compensate everybody in full for that. protests have taken place in larne, calling for sacked workers to be reinstated. the rmt union says the firm isn't fit and proper to run a safe service after what it calls a "jobs massacre." but the company insists without changes the business simply would not survive. it says it will now review the inspection of the the european causeway and make any

changes that are required. the coastguard says the ship will not be allowed to set sail again until all the issues are resolved. simon jones, bbc news. the united states has called for tougher international sanctions on north korea, following its latest missile test. washington's ambassador to the un accused pyongyang of �*increasingly dangerous provocations', after the north korean leader, kim jong—un, oversaw the launch of its largest ever inter—continental ballistic missile. taylor hawkins, the drummer of the us rock band foo fighters, has died aged 50. music. it's understood he was found in a hotel room in colombia in south america — where the group were due to perform at a festival. in a statement the band paid tribute to him, saying they were "devastated by his tragic and untimely loss" —

adding, his musicalspirit and infectious laughter will live on with all of us forever." tributes have also been paid from across the world of music. beatles drummer ringo starr said: british rocker, ozzy osbourne wrote: rage against the machine guitarist, tom morello wrote: let's go live now to mark beaumont who is a musicjournalist. you are kind of shaking your head, a lot of the music world is in shock, does that go for you, too? yes. lot of the music world is in shock, does that go for you, too? yes, this is someone — does that go for you, too? yes, this is someone who _ does that go for you, too? yes, this

is someone who always _ does that go for you, too? yes, this is someone who always seemed - does that go for you, too? yes, this is someone who always seemed sol does that go for you, too? yes, this i is someone who always seemed so full of life, so to lose that at 50 is truly shocking. this is someone who had the kind of spirit of the decker—macro, he was the beaming, life and soul of the band. he also encapsulated the spirit in terms of this was a band that was started leaping from the drum seat of nirvana to become the front man and thatis nirvana to become the front man and that is something what taylor hawkins would have done as well. he would front some of their songs, green covers and songs of his own. he was there, notjust as a fantastic drama, one of the best in rock, and you would have to be to be the drummer in dave's band. and all

this talent to make that leap. he soke this talent to make that leap. he spoke about his spirit for rock and roll, you have experienced that first hand, you have interviewed him, what was he enthusiastic about in terms of rock and roll? was it the singing, the drumming? what really drove him? he the singing, the drumming? what really drove him?— the singing, the drumming? what really drove him? he was immersed in it. he really drove him? he was immersed in it- he really — really drove him? he was immersed in it. he really loved _ really drove him? he was immersed in it. he really loved the _ really drove him? he was immersed in it. he really loved the whole _ really drove him? he was immersed in it. he really loved the whole spirit - it. he really loved the whole spirit of rock and roll. the cribs went to the foo fighters studios to record and they said they didn't get much done because taylor hawkins turned up done because taylor hawkins turned up and they talked about clean. his solo band was called the coat tail rider which eliminated the humour

and the wit of the guy. he released and the wit of the guy. he released an album with a band called the birds of satan where he did a lot of rock and roll covers. he was deeply immersed in the music and deeply in love with it. immersed in the music and deeply in love with it— love with it. obviously, they are in the middle — love with it. obviously, they are in the middle of _ love with it. obviously, they are in the middle of a _ love with it. obviously, they are in the middle of a tour, _ love with it. obviously, they are in the middle of a tour, what - love with it. obviously, they are in the middle of a tour, what do - love with it. obviously, they are in the middle of a tour, what do you| the middle of a tour, what do you think is likely to happen next? it think is likely to happen next? it is a very tricky one because foo fighters are a powerhouse of a band. they are so tight and such a family that it they are so tight and such a family thatitis they are so tight and such a family that it is difficult to see them replacing taylor very soon. i would imagine a fairfew replacing taylor very soon. i would imagine a fair few shows will be cancelled as a result. in terms of the long—term future, they are a band that overcome adversity. if you look at when dave broke his leg and did an entire tour sitting on a throne. they are not a band that lets tragedy stop them. they are a family, i think this will bring them closer together and they will come back as strong as they ever were. mark, very quickly, he is referred

to as the drummer's drama. from his peers and those within the industry, what does that mean? just incredible skill. a lot what does that mean? just incredible skill- a lot of— what does that mean? just incredible skill. a lot of the _ what does that mean? just incredible skill. a lot of the power _ what does that mean? just incredible skill. a lot of the power of _ what does that mean? just incredible skill. a lot of the power of the - what does that mean? just incredible skill. a lot of the power of the foo i skill. a lot of the power of the foo fighters came from the energy he put in. it is rare to find someone like that. i think so many drummers admire thatand that. i think so many drummers admire that and aspire to that. mark beaumont, thank _ admire that and aspire to that. mark beaumont, thank you _ admire that and aspire to that. mark beaumont, thank you very much indeed. the oscars ceremony will be getting under way in los angeles this weekend and this year the war in ukraine has been having a sobering impact on the proceedings. the war is affecting everything from oscars fashions to nominated films which have gained a special resonance. tom brook reports. and hollywood's biggest night of the year is taking place more than 6,000 miles from key

in ukraine, but the war is on the minds of many attending the ceremony. some stars are uneasy. it's very difficult to think about getting dressed up in fancy dresses and going to parties. you know, the party aspect of it. the excess is really hard to hold in your mind at the same time as what's happening in ukraine. you're the nominees for best picture. the war has also changed the way in which some of the movies in the best picture race are being perceived. sir kenneth branagh believes his possible best picture winner, belfast. we're looking to cleanse the community away, but you wouldn't want to be the odd man out. semi—autobiographical story of his own family's life upended by the troubles in northern ireland in the 1960s. we're going to have to leave belfast. is pertinent to the suffering in ukraine, in the world we live in the kinds of appalling events that are happening in ukraine. art can play its part in that. the story of belfast, i think, lets people say how, how vital,

even while communities are being torn apart to try and hold on to that which which bonds them and unites them. in front of him. and flee, an oscar nominated animated documentary is one film in the academy awards race that has found real relevance because of the war and possibly gained some oscar votes as a result. it's a story of amin, a refugee fleeing from the taliban in afghanistan more than 20 years ago. refugee? where's your passport? danish directorjonas pohang rasmussen believes amin's story helps us understand the mindset of refugees everywhere, including those fleeing from ukraine. it really gives spotlight to a very important subject to me personally, but also to the world. i think, you know, right now we see millions of refugees in europe and in the world from ukraine. through his story and through his film are able to give some nuance and perspective

to the refugee experience. i think it's really meaningful to us. the bravery of the people of ukraine. at awards events in recent weeks, many winners have expressed their support for ukraine. the babies in the ukraine. the academy didn't respond to a request for information on what they're planning to do at the ceremony in relation to ukraine, if anything, but it needs to get its messaging right. the oscars is on a slippery slope, losing its cultural relevance in a way that hasn't quite hit home. last year, it got its lowest ratings ever. it can't afford to be out of touch with the cultural zeitgeist at a time of war. tom brook, bbc news los angeles. this is the presidential palace in warsaw as us presidentjoe biden is welcomed by his polish counterpart, andrzej duda.

a number of officials will be included at the table. what will be discussed? nato assistance and also humanitarian aid. the significant speech, it has been described as. hello. there's plenty more fine weather to come for the uk this weekend and for saturday, once again, we have a day set to bring us widespread sunshine. temperatures even a little above average, again looking at the mid to high teens. not a lot going on, as you can see across the landmass into saturday afternoon. a little bit of fairweather cloud perhaps bubbling up across northern england. always a little more cloud across the northernmost reaches of scotland, particularly for the northern isles, but in the sunshine temperatures widely getting up to 15 to 18 degrees. british summer time officially starts on sunday. the clocks go forward an hour between 1:00am and 2:00am and this is what happens outside. underneath the area of high

pressure, during the small hours, we pull in some more cloud from the north sea. quite low cloud, potentially quite dense cloud. so actually a little milder across particularly central and eastern parts of england as we go into early sunday, still looking at pockets of frost for scotland and northern ireland for the west across wales as well. but then that cloud looks like it's going to stick around across central and eastern england through the day on sunday, slowly breaking up. i think many areas will end up eventually with sunny spells, but adjacent to the north sea, the cloud likely to stay quite solid, quite stubborn and peg the temperatures back, notablyjust 11 there in hull and norwich. we're looking at 16 for cardiff, 18 for glasgow on into next week, though our story does start to change. and it will change quite significantly, particularly later in the week. from monday, the high pressure starting to lose its grip. and so itjustjust means that bank of cloud sitting across central reaches of the uk could produce the odd heavier showers and wetter

weather, potentially, for northern england, parts of the north midlands and lincolnshire through monday to the south, still 16 or 17 degrees. colder airflows starting to sneak into the north, just five degrees there in shetland and that cold front not bearing much in the way of rain along its actual length. so we'll start to ebb colder air in from the north further into scotland through tuesday. so just seven degrees in aberdeen. showers across higher ground starting to turn wintry. already cooler further south, too. but get to the middle of next week and it looks like all of us will be plunged into a pretty icy arctic blast. so by the time we get to next thursday, we can probably take about ten degrees off our temperatures we'll see this weekend.

the headlines today. president biden visits poland to show support for ukraine and meet refugees who've fled the fighting. ukraine's president says there must be urgent, meaningful talks with russia and claims his troops have dealt the invaders a series of "powerful blows". ukrainian troops have been able to achieve this against a much larger army, a more powerful army. in places, now they're notjust resisting, they are mounting ukraine says 136 children are known to have been killed since the russian invasion began.

with the spotlight on russian oligarchs and their assets,