this is bbc news — welcome if you're watching here in the uk or around the globe. i'm lukwesa burak. our top stories... the us government tries to clarify president biden�*s comments about vladimir putin remaining in power — saying it is not america's job to force him out. as you know, and as you've heard say repeatedly, we do not have a strategy of regime change in russia, or anywhere else for that matter. as the destruction continues, in a late—night video address, president zelensky urges western countries to supply more planes, tanks and missile defence systems. translation: what is i the price of this security? this is a very specific. it's planes for ukraine, tanks for our state, missile defence, anti—ship weapons.

that is what our partners have, gathering dust. as lviv recovers from yesterday's rocket strikes on the city, we'll be getting the latest from there live. are we going to have to leave belfast? �* ., , are we going to have to leave belfast? �* . , ., , ., belfast? and the wait is nearly over for this year's _ belfast? and the wait is nearly over for this year's oscar _ belfast? and the wait is nearly over for this year's oscar nominees. - belfast? and the wait is nearly over for this year's oscar nominees. the | for this year's oscar nominees. the academy awards ceremony will be getting under way in hollywood later. acceptance speech are likely to strike a more sombre tone, but the show will go on in celebration of an art form that offers an avenue of escape when arguably the world has never needed one more. hello, and welcome to bbc news.

the white house has clarified unscripted comments from president biden in poland on saturday, in which he called vladimir putin a butcher and said the russian leader could not remain in power. us government officials made it clear that the president was not calling for regime change in moscow. the russian government responded to president biden�*s comments by saying that its people — not america — should choose its leaders. meanwhile, ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky has urged western governments to supply planes, tanks and missile defence systems to his country. in a speech criticising nato's lack of action, he said heavy weapons which could defend freedom in europe were instead gathering dust in stockpiles. mark lobel has more. with more civilian houses hit, an urgent appeal to arm ukraine from a president complaining russian

aircraft cannot be shot down with machine guns. translation: what is i the price of this security? this is very specific. it's planes for ukraine, tanks for our state, missile defence, anti—ship weapons. that is what our partners have gathering dust. after all, this is all not only for the freedom of ukraine but for the freedom of europe. an appeal intended for this man amongst others, president biden, whom the white house has hurriedly denied is calling for regime change in russia after these unscripted remarks to an audience in the polish capital, warsaw. for god's sake, this man cannot remain in power. protests of a different kind near a decommissioned nuclear plant at chernobyl in northern ukraine, where the local mayor says russian troops have seized the town that houses workers who look after the site, and occupied the hospital. and in western ukraine,

a day after the russian military said it would focus on the east, russian missiles have struck various targets in the west of country, including the city of lviv. local officials said civilians were hurt when a fuel depot and military factory was struck on saturday. the mayor appealed for more help from the west. in russia, the defence minister resurfaced after a room at heart attack. he popped up briefly on tv after a two—week absence and sustained intrigue over president putin's inner circle. as russian fire power continues to batter ukraine a month into this conflict, its seemingly shifting intentions remain mysterious. mark lobel, bbc news. the city of lviv has so far escaped much of the shelling that has come

to be a part of daily life in other parts of ukraine. it has also become a hub for hundreds of thousands of people fleeing other parts of the country. our correspondent anna foster is in lviv, in western ukraine. asi as i was just saying to viewers, up until now pretty much untouched. but that all changed overnight. it until now pretty much untouched. but that all changed overnight.— that all changed overnight. it did. it is extraordinary _ that all changed overnight. it did. it is extraordinary really - that all changed overnight. it did. it is extraordinary really when - |that all changed overnight. it did. j it is extraordinary really when you look at the scene behind me and you can see people who are out here and enjoying the sunshine, who are working very calmly in the streets. at around this time yesterday afternoon, the siren sounded and we had a missile strike, an air strike withinjust a few had a missile strike, an air strike within just a few kilometres of the city centre here in lviv, out in the suburbs. we had thick, black smoke that was billowing over the skyline three hours yesterday, and it was a real change for people who live here because as you quite rightly say lviv is in the far west of ukraine, much of the biting so far has been concentrated in the east, and in fact the day before this happened

russia said next phase of its operation would focus specifically on the eastern donbas region, is a as a surprise yesterday. the timing, you were talking aboutjoe biden and the fact he was making a speech in poland yesterday. the timing perhaps was no concern to the micro—coincidence. i was on bbc world news yesterday doing a report when we had some of the missiles are striking, and it was at the same time thatjoe biden�*s convoy was arriving to make that speech. so that was perhaps time to make a statement. we are only 70 kilometres from the polish border here. as you can see, while i think people are wary, yesterday took them by surprise, they are refusing to be cowed by what happened here yesterday. figs cowed by what happened here yesterday-— cowed by what happened here esterda . a , yesterday. as you said, the people around you. _ yesterday. as you said, the people around you. it _ yesterday. as you said, the people around you, it seems _ yesterday. as you said, the people around you, it seems as _ yesterday. as you said, the people around you, it seems as though i yesterday. as you said, the people | around you, it seems as though life is just going around you, it seems as though life isjust going on. i wonder if around you, it seems as though life is just going on. i wonder if you could just give us a sense of how far there is missiles struck, how far there is missiles struck, how far that fuel depot was to where people have been gathering at the

railway station to then make the journey to the polish border. film. railway station to then make the journey to the polish border. oh, it was really close. _ journey to the polish border. oh, it was really close. it _ journey to the polish border. oh, it was really close. it was _ journey to the polish border. oh, it was really close. it wasjust - journey to the polish border. oh, it was really close. it wasjust as - journey to the polish border. oh, it was really close. it wasjust as i - was really close. it was just as i say within a couple of kilometres. we heard the sound of the explosions here in the city centre, we could see because of that plume of smoke out close it was. when picture started to emerge on social media, you could see what was around that fuel storage depot as well. while you can see the flames rising from there is containers that hold the fuel, you could also see nearby a big supermarket where people were out doing their shopping on a saturday afternoon. we heard that five people were hurt in that first strike. it was very, very close to the city centre. i think that makes it all the more remarkable when you look at how people are behaving here today, that calmness, when this conflict came so very close to them just 2a hours ago. ok. conflict came so very close to them just 24 hours ago-— conflict came so very close to them just 24 hours ago. ok, anna foster, we will leave — just 24 hours ago. ok, anna foster, we will leave it _ just 24 hours ago. ok, anna foster, we will leave it there _ just 24 hours ago. ok, anna foster, we will leave it there for _ just 24 hours ago. ok, anna foster, we will leave it there for now. - we will leave it there for now. thank you very much indeed.

the us secretary of state, antony blinken, is in israel for a historic summit with four arab countries. the meeting at a venue in the negev desert is the first that israel has hosted with senior officials from so many arab governments. it follows the signing in recent years of us—brokered deals to normalise ties. well, antony blinken has said that the united states has no plans to bring about regime change in russia. his comments come a day after president biden said his russian counterpart, vladimir putin, should not to be allowed to remain in power. speaking injerusalem, mr blinken said any decision about whether president putin should remain in office was in the hands of the russian people. with regards to the president's incredibly powerful speech yesterday, i think the president, the white house, made the point last night that, quite simply, president putin cannot be empowered — to wage war or engage

in aggression against ukraine or anyone else. as you know, and as you've heard us say repeatedly, we do not have a strategy of regime change in russia, or anywhere else for that matter. in this case, as in any case, it's up to the people of the country in question. it's up to the russian people. let's discuss this further. joining me now is our correspondent yolande knell. if we could just address the regime change or denial of the regime change or denial of the regime change before we talk about this summit. did that do any damage to president biden�*s diplomacy on this visit, do you think? i president biden's diplomacy on this visit, do you think?— visit, do you think? i think it was something _ visit, do you think? i think it was something that _ visit, do you think? i think it was something that really _ visit, do you think? i think it was something that really needed - visit, do you think? i think it was - something that really needed urgent clarification, because they were commentators that came out very quickly— commentators that came out very quickly saying that those words could _ quickly saying that those words could he — quickly saying that those words could be misinterpreted and that could _ could be misinterpreted and that could he — could be misinterpreted and that could be very dangerous when you are talking _ could be very dangerous when you are talking about russia, which is of course _ talking about russia, which is of course a — talking about russia, which is of course a nuclear power as well. so

quite _ course a nuclear power as well. so quite quickly after the us secretary of state _ quite quickly after the us secretary of state antony blinken had met his counterpart in israel, he was talking — counterpart in israel, he was talking to _ counterpart in israel, he was talking tojournalists. he began in his remarks emphasising how positively things had gone in europe, _ positively things had gone in europe, trying to bring home how those _ europe, trying to bring home how those meetings in ukraine, in poland rather. _ those meetings in ukraine, in poland rather. with— those meetings in ukraine, in poland rather, with refugees and others, had really— rather, with refugees and others, had really brought home the meaning of this— had really brought home the meaning of this conflict. and then, in questions _ of this conflict. and then, in questions from journalists, he made very clear— questions from journalists, he made very clear that actually there was no plan _ very clear that actually there was no plan for — very clear that actually there was no plan for regime change in russia or anywhere — no plan for regime change in russia or anywhere else to be brought about by the _ or anywhere else to be brought about by the united states. and that was something that mr blinky and probably really did need to say, as he is _ probably really did need to say, as he is here — probably really did need to say, as he is here putting the ukraine crisis. — he is here putting the ukraine crisis, support for ukraine from us allies— crisis, support for ukraine from us allies in_ crisis, support for ukraine from us allies in this — crisis, support for ukraine from us allies in this region, front and centre — allies in this region, front and centre. �* , ., ., centre. let's turn out to the summit- — centre. let's turn out to the summit. this _ centre. let's turn out to the summit. this us- _ centre. let's turn out to the summit. this us- israel- centre. let's turn out to the | summit. this us- israel and centre. let's turn out to the - summit. this us- israel and three summit. this us— israel and three

other arab nations summit discussing a number of issues, including iran and its nuclear ambitions. first off, this has been described as historic. could you please put that into context?— into context? yes, this is the first time that israel _ into context? yes, this is the first time that israel has _ into context? yes, this is the first time that israel has been - into context? yes, this is the first time that israel has been able - into context? yes, this is the first time that israel has been able to l time that israel has been able to host in_ time that israel has been able to host in israeli territory so many top officials from arab countries. it is top officials from arab countries. it is now— top officials from arab countries. it is now gone up to four arab foreign — it is now gone up to four arab foreign ministers who are going to 'oin. foreign ministers who are going to join the _ foreign ministers who are going to join. the foreign ministers from the united _ join. the foreign ministers from the united arab — join. the foreign ministers from the united arab emirates, bahrain, morocco, — united arab emirates, bahrain, morocco, the so—called abraham accords— morocco, the so—called abraham accords in— morocco, the so—called abraham accords in the last year and they have _ accords in the last year and they have also, _ accords in the last year and they have. also, egypt will be here. the egyptian _ have. also, egypt will be here. the egyptian foreign minister is coming. and egypt— egyptian foreign minister is coming. and egypt is actuallyjust marked 43 years since — and egypt is actuallyjust marked 43 years since it signed its peace treaty — years since it signed its peace treaty with israel, but of course that peace treaty was always described as having created a cold peace _ described as having created a cold peace it — described as having created a cold peace it is — described as having created a cold peace. it is a very different situation _

peace. it is a very different situation with his other arab countries. israel is finding lots of common— countries. israel is finding lots of common interest with them, and it will he _ common interest with them, and it will he very— common interest with them, and it will be very much about iran, the priority— will be very much about iran, the priority for— will be very much about iran, the priority for them talking to the americans is because the us and world _ americans is because the us and world powers are moving so close to a new _ world powers are moving so close to a new nuclear deal with iran, to rcatty— a new nuclear deal with iran, to really air— a new nuclear deal with iran, to really air their misgivings about that _ really air their misgivings about that and — really air their misgivings about that. and we heard from antony blinken. — that. and we heard from antony blinken, he said that really the 2015— blinken, he said that really the 2015 new — blinken, he said that really the 2015 new cketer deal he felt was the best way— 2015 new cketer deal he felt was the best way to put iran's new killer programme back into the box it was in. programme back into the box it was in so— programme back into the box it was in so he _ programme back into the box it was in so he is— programme back into the box it was in. so he is saying that washington is going _ in. so he is saying that washington is going to — in. so he is saying that washington is going to continue to counter any ukrainian — is going to continue to counter any ukrainian threat, that it very much remains _ ukrainian threat, that it very much remains engaged in this region, something its allies had been worried — something its allies had been worried about.— something its allies had been worried about. ., ,, , ., , . worried about. thank you very much for that.

joining me now is kataryna wolczuk, professor of politics at the university of birmingham, and associate fellow at the russia and eurasian programme at chatham house. very quickly, regime change and those comments president biden said in the closing hours of his visit to poland. was he right or wrong to say that? because we have had british politicians here, one british politician, who said well, you know what, he isjust voicing politician, who said well, you know what, he is just voicing what many people are thinking. what, he isjust voicing what many people are thinking.— people are thinking. yes, he was both riaht people are thinking. yes, he was both right and — people are thinking. yes, he was both right and wrong. _ people are thinking. yes, he was both right and wrong. and - people are thinking. yes, he was both right and wrong. and in - people are thinking. yes, he was - both right and wrong. and in poland, you can feel the warjust both right and wrong. and in poland, you can feel the war just across the border. you can feel it everywhere. and he went right almost to the ukrainian — polish border, and from that point of view he can see what a word like this means in europe. many people are thinking how much longer putin can go on bombing ukraine, and yet, in terms of regime change, this is what russian propaganda has been saying for a long time, that the us

is basically a hegemonic power which tries to control the world and change domestic regimes across the world. in a way, it was a godsend for russian propaganda, but in fact it reflects our sort of dilemma, what to do about what is going on in ukraine. ., . , what to do about what is going on in ukraine. ., ., , , what to do about what is going on in ukraine. ., .,, , , , , ukraine. how has this been spun? i wonder if you _ ukraine. how has this been spun? i wonder if you could _ ukraine. how has this been spun? i wonder if you could just _ ukraine. how has this been spun? i wonder if you could just expand - ukraine. how has this been spun? i wonder if you could just expand on | wonder if you could just expand on that comment about russian propaganda? how has it been spun in russia itself? in propaganda? how has it been spun in russia itself?— russia itself? in russia, they do not regard _ russia itself? in russia, they do not regard ukraine _ russia itself? in russia, they do not regard ukraine as _ russia itself? in russia, they do not regard ukraine as a - russia itself? in russia, they do | not regard ukraine as a sovereign state. they regard ukraine as having no right to exist, so either it is controlled by russia or by someone else. in that case, the us and its european allies or puppets. and from that point of view, the democratic governments, the revolution, are solely attributed to western interference. and regime change, which made ukraine pro—western, is

attributed and blamed on the us. and now russian propaganda says, look, biden, the us wants to do it to us as well. br; biden, the us wants to do it to us as well. �* , , ., biden, the us wants to do it to us as well. j , ., ., ~' as well. by extension, do you think that this could _ as well. by extension, do you think that this could possibly _ as well. by extension, do you think that this could possibly give - that this could possibly give grounds to president putin to extend the war in ukraine? i grounds to president putin to extend the war in ukraine?— the war in ukraine? i don't think so, the war in ukraine? i don't think so. because _ the war in ukraine? i don't think so, because they _ the war in ukraine? i don't think so, because they have _ the war in ukraine? i don't think so, because they have been - the war in ukraine? i don't think. so, because they have been saying this regardless of what the us does. the revolutions, the change of regime, the democrat station in ukraine, it was people's power. people wanted to live in a well governed, democratic and free country. so the us cannot be credited or blame for what has been going on in ukraine for 20 years. it can't do more harm because russia already blames the west, even though it is ukraine who is trying to make, people are trying to make their own choices. so i don't think it will actually change putin's behaviour on the ground, and we also saw the

bombing in eastern ukraine, in lviv, and that was no doubt a welcoming gift to president biden as well. but ultimately russia will pursue its goals in ukraine as long as it can, as long as it is not challenged sufficiently.— as long as it is not challenged sufficientl . ., ,, , . sufficiently. thank you very much for that analysis. _ sufficiently. thank you very much for that analysis. thank _ sufficiently. thank you very much for that analysis. thank you. - sufficiently. thank you very much for that analysis. thank you. a i sufficiently. thank you very much | for that analysis. thank you. a bit of glitz and glamour for you now. the 2022 oscars ceremony gets under way in los angeles, in a few hours' time. the top contenders for best picture include coda, the power of the dog and belfast. our correspondent, sophie long, has been speaking to some of the people who are hoping to claim one of the covetted golden statu ettes. what you doing getting mixed up with her? you are marvellous, rose. the intensely atmospheric western, the power of the dog, starring benedict cumberbatch, who is up

for best actor, enters the evening as frontrunner with 12 nominations. it's already made oscar history, with jane campion the first woman ever to be nominated twice for best director. # i've got a feeling, i feel so strange. i the feel—good family—friendly coda, "child of deaf adults," could cause the upset when it comes to best picture. it has a predominantly deaf lead cast, along with young british star, emilia jones. there's so much love in this cast. we very much are the family you see on screen, so we're all so supportive of each other. we were a tiny, little film, you know? we had no money, no time, we were independent, and so the fact they called our film's name out with all of those films that— had money and had time, with amazing people involved, it was just such an amazing feeling. are we going to have to leave belfast? also in the battle for best picture is kenneth branagh's semiautobiographical love letter to belfast. i've got these two great tennis player... but there are ten in that coveted

best picture category, including king richard, the biopic of tennis stars venus and serena williams' father. aunjanue ellis is up for best supporting actress for her role as their mother, miss oracene. when people are cheering for me and applauding for me, - they're applauding for her. you know? people are saying miss oracene's name more and more and more i and more, and that has a lot to do with this film. so i'm so excited and i feel so affirmed by that. - you taught them all this? will smith's hotly tipped to take best actor for the lead role. roll sound! let's do our show! he's up againstjavier bardem for his role, alongside nicole kidman, in being the ricardos. both his on—screen and off—screen wife, penelope cruz, have been nominated for best actress. awkward ? who will you be rooting for? er... my wife, the real one.

i mean, both of them have done amazing work in different movies, different challenges, because all the characters are different. but i would say that i'm especially proud of both of them, but i'm particularly proud of penelope, with the fact of being nominated for a job done in spanish. another hot contender in the best actress category is jessica chastain for the eyes of tammy faye, an intimate look at the rise, fall and redemption of the televangelist. what's incredible about it is, as an actress, you spend so many years waiting for someone to give you a job, waiting for someone to tell you, like, "0k, you're worthy of this work." and then to have the performance be recognised, and in recognising my performance you're recognising her, it's really emotional and meaningful to me. when people take to the stage this year to collect their golden statuettes, acceptance speeches are likely to strike a more sombre tone. but the show will go on,

in celebration of an art form that offers an avenue of escape, when arguably the world has never needed one more. sophie long, bbc news, los angeles. i'm joined now by larushka ivan—zadeh, chief film critic at the metro newspaper here in the uk. before we get into the excitement, i wonder if you could just go into that open letter regarding the dropping of eight of the categories on the night? 0h, has she frozen? they want to try to make the ceremony a bit more snappy, so they drop these eight contenders things like documentary short film, sound, in order to make it a bit more glitzy, attractive, shorter. but within the industry, the idea is that these are industry awards and

it is the craft categories that carry the most weight for people who really care about film. it is not just a fashion parade, it is meant to celebrate the best of film. that has been one of the more controversial decisions this year. 0k, controversial decisions this year. ok, let's look at those top gongs. who do think it's going to walk away them this year? i who do think it's going to walk away them this year?— them this year? i think best icture, them this year? i think best picture, yes... _ them this year? i think best picture, yes... oh, - them this year? i think best picture, yes... oh, that's. them this year? i think best picture, yes... oh, that's a| them this year? i think best - picture, yes... oh, that's a shame. we keep losing _ picture, yes... oh, that's a shame. we keep losing her. _ picture, yes... oh, that's a shame. we keep losing her. i— picture, yes... oh, that's a shame. we keep losing her. ithink- picture, yes... oh, that's a shame. we keep losing her. i think we - picture, yes... oh, that's a shame. we keep losing her. i think we will| we keep losing her. i think we will tinker away, we keep losing her. i think we will tinkeraway, hopefully we keep losing her. i think we will tinker away, hopefully get her back, but in the meantime, let's just pay attention to some of the other top stories. officials in colombia have released more details about the death of the foo fighters drummer taylor hawkins. they say ten substances — including opioids and anti—depressants — were found in his system after he died in the capital city. will batchelor reports. raucous, riotous and seemingly unstoppable.

taylor hawkins should have been performing with the foo fighters this weekend. in place of that gig in bogota, colombia, a candlelit tribute. devastated fans could only gather outside the hotel where the drummer, who was 50, was found dead. his bandmates of 25 years broke the news yesterday in a statement, calling it a tragic and untimely loss. now colombia's attorney general has released a statement, revealing the results of initial toxicology tests. it says hawkins had ten different substances in his body, including marijuana, antidepressants and opioids. the statement goes on to say that a forensic investigation is ongoing to determine the exact cause of death. the foo fighters were supposed to play in brazil today, part of a world tour

which is due to come to the uk at the end ofjune. how or when they'll continue without their talismanic drummer is a question which is yet to be answered. will batchelor, bbc news. hospitals can be a stressful place — the noise, the lights and all that running around that medical staff have to do. one hospital in the us has found a novel way of reducing that stress — regular visits from a rather cute set of animals. myra anubi reports. we heard there was going to be goats. i wanted to see if it was true and it is, and i got one and it's pretty cool.

it is astounding how people respond. there's moments ofjust joy and laughter, sometimes even a moment of tears. 0h! it can be very stressful working here at a hospital, so this is the perfect stress release. just a distraction from work. they're very cuddly. yeah, yeah. feels soothing, makes me feel happy and relaxed.

therapeutic gardens are designed to be a stress—coping resource for our patients and our employees 24—7. abraham, take this one and smell it. the most important characteristic is that they are plant—rich places for all 12 months and in all four seasons. 0h, running with the goats isjust like having my dog with me. he'sjust really calm. for me in the garden i do feel less stress as well. what's more fun than playing with the baby goats? you've been watching bbc news. if you would like to get in touch, you can get hold of me on twitter. for

myself and the team, goodbye for now. hello. in recent days, we've become acclimatised to temperatures in the mid to high teens in afternoon sunshine. looking into the week ahead — well, you can say goodbye to those, particularly by wednesday. we're going to be struggling to get temperatures in the higher end of single figures. cooler, though, certainly for central and eastern england this sunday afternoon, thanks to a bank of low cloud that's pulled in from the north sea through the night. it'll tend to perhaps burn off a little, perhaps across parts of east anglia and the southeast through the afternoon, but looks set to stay quite solid, particularly adjacent to the north sea, obscuring the sun. temperatures here in some spots no higher than nine or ten degrees. elsewhere, we can still aim, i think, for highs in the mid to high teens in the best of the sunshine.

overnight, the skies clear for the south east of england, and i think we'll see some fog developing in time for the morning rush hour, particularly around the m25 area. further north, we'll see some patchy cloud pushing across the northeast of england — again, quite low cloud, misty and murky here. where we have clearer spells, a risk of some pockets of frost developing for first thing monday. monday should bring a lot of sunshine, though, to the uk once again, certainly brighter across central and eastern england and consequently warmer. some showers developing across northern england through the afternoon. some cloud pushing into southern coastal counties later in the day, but up to 17 degrees again across the southeast of england. but here comes that transition into the colder air through tuesday into wednesday. arctic air slides all the way south across the uk and the feeling will be very noticeable. through tuesday, the colder air pushing in to scotland and northern england, a few showers here turning increasingly wintry across the hills. further south, we're

kind of in a transition, losing that milder air through the course of the day. by the afternoon, temperatures 12, 13 degrees — certainly much cooler than we will have seen through the weekend, with a chance of some showers across england and wales. wednesday, the colder air into all parts, just about scraping 10 or ii for cardiff and london. and here's the area of low pressure that i alluded to at the start, running into the colder air. perhaps slightly overly dramatic on our model at the moment, but you can see the theme — certainly looking like there could be something wintry to end this week.

now on bbc news, unspun world provides an unvarnished version of the week's major global news stories — reliable, honest and essential viewing with the bbc�*s world affairs editor john simpson. hello, and welcome to unspun world, where we ask the bbc�*s experts globally to explain what's going on in our world. this is the bbc�*s headquarters, new broadcasting house in london. russia's war with ukraine becomes more vicious and destructive

by the week.