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's 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? and the wait is nearly over for this year's oscar nominees — the academy awards ceremony will be getting underway in hollywood later. 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. hello, and welcome to bbc news.

the us secretary of state, antony blinken, has denied the white house has a policy of regime change in russia. it follows president biden�*s speech yesterday in which he said of president putin — "for god's sake, this man cannot remain in power." mr blinken said today that it's for the russian people to decide. meanwhile, ukraine's president — volodymyr zelensky — has repeated his call for more weapons and military support from the west. our correspondentjonah fisher is in lviv, and he's been to meet three brits who, along with hundreds from the uk, havejoined the international foreign legion and traveled to ukraine to fight against the russian forces. c] is a dog handlerfrom norwich. elliott works on building sites in colchester. kieran is a brighton plumber. i can't sit at home and watch what's going on and just carry on as usual. between them, the men have 19 years of experience with the british army

and have all served in afghanistan. we catch up with him just after they've crossed the border from poland into ukraine. we met at the airport, and it's all been like we've known each other for a lot longer than 2a hours. having taken a £20 flight to poland, they'd slept overnight outside a railway station. cj and elliott had told their families where they were going. kieran, a father of four, had not. i didn't tell the mums, no. i didn't even tell my mum. what brought them together was a desire to do something, anything, to help ukraine. if you're not fighting on someone else's street, does it end up in yours? does it end up, you know, do my kids become a target? do my mates' kids? i will do anything. i'm a trained infantry soldier. i'll help out wherever i can in the field, anywhere from back to front. from the border, it's 50 miles and a bus ride to lviv,

the biggest city in the west. these guys are now going to meet up with the ukrainian authorities to see if they want to sign up with the foreign legion here. if they don't, there may be a more direct route to the front line. they've been speaking with other british ex—soldiers who are already there. they may be able to link up directly with them to get where the fighting is. joining this war if you are a serving british soldier is illegal, but for others it's more of a grey area. cj, kieran and elliott say they were pulled aside by the police for a chat as they left the uk but then allowed to travel on. my name isjulia, andl what are your names? julia is returning from the border, having helped her daughter to cross. we've come to join the legion to help fight, if need be,

to fight the russians. you are soldiers? you are fighters? yeah, we are ex—army. 0k. thank you very much that . you have come here to help our ukrainian soldiers. also, they are very brave, very brave. | lviv and the railway station is the volunteers�* next stop. there are now serious decisions to be made about where and what comes next. what would you say to people in the uk who say you guys are just looking for the excitement of war? there is no excitement to war. it's not nice, it's not pleasant. you know, we've seen it. there's nothing nice about dead kids at the side of the road. and are you prepared to die here? absolutely. and with that, c], kieran and elliott marched off — british boys in putin's war. 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. we can speak tojonah fisher in the city now. i wonder if you could give us a sense of the situation where you are right now? sense of the situation where you are riaht now? ~ ., , sense of the situation where you are riaht now? ~ .,, , right now? well, it has been relatively — right now? well, it has been relatively calm _ right now? well, it has been relatively calm since - right now? well, it has been l relatively calm since yesterday evening. we had air raid sirens from the middle of the afternoon yesterday for several hours as cruise missiles hit several targets just on the outskirts of lviv, a fuel depot and a military factory where both targeted. five people were injured. as you said, lviv has up were injured. as you said, lviv has up until this point in the war been seen as something of a safe haven where people can come to, either to stay and see what happens elsewhere or to travel on into the european union, mostly into poland from here. obviously the strikes at these

strikes are coming closer to the city do have an impact on how people feel, and i think there is a sense that some people are now re—evaluating whether lviv is really safe for them to base themselves or whether they need to travel on again. whether they need to travel on aaain. ~ . whether they need to travel on a.ain_ ~ ., ., , whether they need to travel on auain.~ . ., again. what was the message that president putin _ again. what was the message that president putin was _ again. what was the message that president putin was likely - again. what was the message that president putin was likely trying i again. what was the message that j president putin was likely trying to send with last night's bombing? well, who knows what president putin was trying to say, but certainly the mayor here thought it was him trying to say hello to president biden, because president biden pretty much at the same time as the missiles hit lviv was just across the border in poland giving a pretty robust speech about the whole conflict here, about president putin himself. it is pretty easy to draw the line between those two things, lviv has generally not been targeted and are just so happened that when joe not been targeted and are just so happened that whenjoe biden was in poland that the russians decided to strike here. certainly the mayor thinks there was a connection to that. there is also the broader context that russia does seem to be

trying to hit some of the military installations, thinks that the military might use for their work. a fuel depot, some sort of military facility, that is obviously part of their efforts to try to degrade ukraine's overall capabilities. i have also seen reports that russian forces are actually repeating back to belarus to restock and resupply, and we are also getting this latest line from ukraine's military intelligence chief that russia is likely trying to develop a korean scenario, ie to separate those eastern and southern regions from the rest of the country. can you just put that into context for us? and also try and tie it in with what russia said yesterday about retreating to don bass? yes, this slit retreating to don bass? yes, this split country _ retreating to don bass? yes, this split country scenario, _ retreating to don bass? yes, this split country scenario, you - retreating to don bass? yes, this split country scenario, you could | split country scenario, you could see it developing here. basically because russia has said that its priorities are in eastern ukraine.

if it did redirect its efforts on the ground towards securing a bigger chunk of territory in eastern ukraine, you could see a scenario where as the head of military intelligence said, there are effectively two parts of ukraine, the part that was effectively governed by russia or some russian proxy leadership, and the rest of ukraine, effectively the western part of ukraine. that scenario does not seem far fetched. it remains to be seen whether russia is going to focus on eastern ukraine as they announced on friday or saturday. we still haven't seen anything on the ground that backs up that announcement from them. but it is possible to envisage a situation where, for example, russia and russian dominated eastern part, while leaving the western part of the country to continue outside russian influence. ok. the country to continue outside russian influence.— the country to continue outside russian influence. 0k, jonah fisher. thank ou russian influence. 0k, jonah fisher. thank you very _ russian influence. 0k, jonah fisher. thank you very much. _

ukraine's president volodymyr zelensky has urged western governments to supply planes, tanks and missile defence systems to ukraine to help them fight russian forces. in an impassioned, late—night video address, he said heavy weapons which could defend freedom in europe were instead gathering dust in stockpiles. i'm joined now by dr patrick bury, a senior lecturer on security at bath university and a former british army captain and nato analyst. i wonder if you take that last point. does europe have stockpiles of weaponry gathering dust that could be supply to ukraine? and is as it as easy as that?— as it as easy as that? good afternoon- _ as it as easy as that? good afternoon. in _ as it as easy as that? good afternoon. in a _ as it as easy as that? good afternoon. in a nutshell, i as it as easy as that? good afternoon. in a nutshell, it| as it as easy as that? good l afternoon. in a nutshell, it is as it as easy as that? good - afternoon. in a nutshell, it is very evocative imagery. it does, yes. for example, the uk would keep some of

its tanks back, it would also have aircraft that it is not using operationally, for example. and missile defence systems, in the us it is particularly important there. and that is really what the ukrainians are used to using, and so thatis ukrainians are used to using, and so that is what they need. some of the british tanks, for example, if they had them in stockpiles, would need to completely new training for the ukrainians. really it is about russian kit, who has got russian kit, and if we think about that in terms of nato, it is often the countries on the eastern flank that have some of the kit. what are the ukrainians looking for? thanks, they are used to operating the t 64 tank, quite an older one that has been updated a little bit. and the t 72, and lesser the dat. potentially countries like poland, hungary,

bulgaria may have. but they would be using some of those, especially the more newer variants. and also they have looked for air defence systems and anti—ship missile systems, too. and again, this is where the us would probably come in. we know they have been getting a lot of stingers which are effective at low altitudes. but what the ukrainians are looking for are the next level up, the essay eight and s 300, which have longer range and are capable of faster targets as well. that have longer range and are capable of faster targets as well.— faster targets as well. that is their wish _ faster targets as well. that is their wish list, _ faster targets as well. that is their wish list, we _ faster targets as well. that is their wish list, we have - faster targets as well. that is i their wish list, we have already learned with poland, they have been more than willing to supply planes that ukraine say they could use, but they haven't been able to because of they haven't been able to because of the implications of nato entering the implications of nato entering the conflict. what can they supply ukraine with? you are saying that there is kit there, so why haven't they handed it over?— there is kit there, so why haven't they handed it over? well, i think

they handed it over? well, i think the key thing _ they handed it over? well, i think the key thing is — they handed it over? well, i think the key thing is defensive. - they handed it over? well, i think the key thing is defensive. this i they handed it over? well, i think. the key thing is defensive. this has been a war of annexation by russia, an invasion of ukraine as we all know. and so nato has been very careful to calibrate their response in being defensive only, and that comes down to what the weapon capability is. if you are giving a country anti—tank missiles, hand—held anti—aircraft missiles, it is quite hard to launch an offensive with theirs. they are generally seen as defensive weapons. the big escalator at risk with giving a country ground attack aircraft and fighters like that is that potentially, and we did see the ukrainian air force in the early days of the campaign actually intact inside russia, as far as i'm aware, so the danger is that that could actually be seen as more offensive by russia. —— attack inside russia. it is not unprecedented, it has happened before, and there hasn't

been a massive escalation, but it does run the risk of certainly seems the us— nato transatlantic countries are much more reticent to do that in some of the eastern countries that are closer to the fight.— are closer to the fight. speaking in brussels last _ are closer to the fight. speaking in brussels last week, _ are closer to the fight. speaking in brussels last week, president - are closer to the fight. speaking in i brussels last week, president biden, who of course has been in the region, said he wanted to remove russia from the g20, he was questioned about sanctions, and he was very keen. he said, "sanctions will not deter him, it is the maintenance of the sanctions, and this could well last well into the yearin this could well last well into the year in terms of stopping russia." the question is, when we have ukrainian intel saying that president putin is probably going for a korean scenario to try to d—mark these eastern and southern regions from the rest of the region, really can ukraine survive a conflict for the rest of the year, until the end of the year? that de-ends

until the end of the year? that depends on — until the end of the year? that depends on the _ until the end of the year? trisgt depends on the morale really. if the average soldier is willing to fight, they get enough ammunition, yes, they get enough ammunition, yes, they can. i wouldn't doubt that really when they are fighting for their homeland. the bigger question is how long the workers on. my academic head tells me that most wars last 14 months on average, and we have seen the russians switch from a minniver approach which viewers would be used to in the iraq war, forces move fast and try to encircle and cut off and take out the command of the enemy, to be much more attritional approach where they are just bombarding cities effectively. that would also suggest that it effectively. that would also suggest thatitis effectively. that would also suggest that it is going to be a longer conflict. the big hope is a negotiated settlement could be reached. that seems to have dimmed a little bit in the last week, although there were some substantive elements of those negotiations. i think people generally in a war of annexation, and we have seen russia downgrade their war efforts, in a

war of annexations both sides usually have do bite themselves to a stalemate. and then they will agree on negotiations, and they are tough on negotiations, and they are tough on both sides. i would wonder if we were there at that stage, especially given the ukrainians being able to log some counterattacks. are they going to really be open to a discussion of an annexation of the donbas? i don't think so. ultimately thatis donbas? i don't think so. ultimately that is up to them to decide. i do think the mood music, barring a collapse of either the russians or the ukrainians who get encircled, i think the higher probability at the moment is a long war, heavy sanctions, etc. i moment is a long war, heavy sanctions, etc.— moment is a long war, heavy sanctions, etc. i apologise for interrunting. _ sanctions, etc. i apologise for interrupting, we _ sanctions, etc. i apologise for interrupting, we have - sanctions, etc. i apologise for interrupting, we have run - sanctions, etc. i apologise for interrupting, we have run out| sanctions, etc. i apologise for. interrupting, we have run out of time. thank you very much for that. speaking to us live from bath in central england.

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. antony blinken was also speaking to clarify comments. the us has no plans for regime change in russia. mr blinken's 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. us secretary of state, antony blinken there. our middle east correspondent yolande knell has more on the historic summit. it is now gone up to four arab foreign — it is now gone up to four arab foreign ministers. the foreign ministers _ foreign ministers. the foreign ministers from the united arab emirates, _ ministers from the united arab emirates, bahrain, and morocco, all countries _ emirates, bahrain, and morocco, all countries that israel has had one of these _ countries that israel has had one of these us— countries that israel has had one of these us brokered normalisation details. — these us brokered normalisation details, the so—called abraham accords, — details, the so—called abraham accords, in— details, the so—called abraham accords, in the last year and a halt _ accords, in the last year and a halt also, _ accords, in the last year and a half. also, egypt will be here. the

egyptian _ half. 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— and egypt is actuallyjust marked 43 years since — and egypt is actuallyjust marked 43 years since it marked its peace treaty — years since it marked its peace treaty with israel. but that peace treaty _ treaty with israel. but that peace treaty was always described as having — treaty was always described as having created a cold peace. it is very much — having created a cold peace. it is very much a _ having created a cold peace. it is very much a different situation with his arah— very much a different situation with his arab arab countries. israel is finding _ his arab arab countries. israel is finding tots — his arab arab countries. israel is finding lots of common interest with them, _ finding lots of common interest with them, and _ finding lots of common interest with them, and it will be very much about iran, _ them, and it will be very much about iran, the _ them, and it will be very much about iran, the priority for them talking to the _ iran, the priority for them talking to the americans is because of the us and _ to the americans is because of the us and world powers are moving so close _ us and world powers are moving so close to _ us and world powers are moving so close to a _ us and world powers are moving so close to a new nuclear deal with iran, _ close to a new nuclear deal with iran, and — close to a new nuclear deal with iran, and really airtheir iran, and really air their misgivings iran, and really airtheir misgivings about that. and we heard from antony blinken, talking to yair lauid. _ from antony blinken, talking to yair lauid. he _ from antony blinken, talking to yair lapid, he said that really the 2015 nuctear— lapid, he said that really the 2015 nuclear deal he felt was the best way to— nuclear deal he felt was the best way to put iran's nuclear programme back in— way to put iran's nuclear programme back in the _ way to put iran's nuclear programme back in the box it was in. he is saying — back in the box it was in. he is saying washington will continue to encounter— saying washington will continue to encounter any saying washington will continue to encounterany ukrainian saying washington will continue to encounter any ukrainian threat, it very much— encounter any ukrainian threat, it very much remains engaged in this region _ very much remains engaged in this region. that is something that its

allies— region. that is something that its allies have — region. that is something that its allies have been worried about. the uk government says it plans to invest up to £2 billion in a new nuclear power station in suffolk. the french energy firm, edf, will match that twenty per cent stake in sizewell c. our business correspondent katie prescott is here. katie, how we get our energy very much at the forefront of people's minds at the moment. but it's those fuel prices we are all watching?— but it's those fuel prices we are all watchin? �* , ., , all watching? because of the rising cost of living. _ all watching? because of the rising cost of living, because _ all watching? because of the rising cost of living, because of - all watching? because of the rising cost of living, because of concerns| cost of living, because of concerns about _ cost of living, because of concerns about climate change, but also because — about climate change, but also because of the conflict in ukraine. and because of what is happening there. _ and because of what is happening there, with russia being such a key player— there, with russia being such a key player in_ there, with russia being such a key player in the energy market, we have seen energy— player in the energy market, we have seen energy prices spike. and there is a big _ seen energy prices spike. and there is a big push— seen energy prices spike. and there is a big push across countries around — is a big push across countries around the world, not just is a big push across countries around the world, notjust in the uk, to— around the world, notjust in the uk, to become more energy self—sufficient as a result. particularly in the west, a desire

to stop — particularly in the west, a desire to stop funding russia's war with ukraine — to stop funding russia's war with ukraine hy— to stop funding russia's war with ukraine by buying energy. and in britain, _ ukraine by buying energy. and in britain, a — ukraine by buying energy. and in britain, a pillar of this really is nuclear— britain, a pillar of this really is nuclear power. the problem is though. — nuclear power. the problem is though. it _ nuclear power. the problem is though, it is very expensive. the uk government— though, it is very expensive. the uk government is hoping that by putting this money end, other investors will come _ this money end, other investors will come forward to match it. it is also not without — come forward to match it. it is also not without controversy, and we are expecting _ not without controversy, and we are expecting people in the local area could _ expecting people in the local area could challenge it. but it is certainly _ could challenge it. but it is certainly a key pillar of their energy— certainly a key pillar of their energy plans going forward. it�*s certainly a key pillar of their energy plans going forward. it's not 'ust the energy plans going forward. it's not just the uk. — energy plans going forward. it's not just the uk. is— energy plans going forward. it's not just the uk, is it? _ energy plans going forward. it's not just the uk, is it? i— energy plans going forward. it's not just the uk, is it? i was _ energy plans going forward. it's not just the uk, is it? i was listening i just the uk, is it? i was listening to germany's chancellor, and he was laying out their strategy, saying "we can't really move away from russian energy sources until 2024." the government is set to make an announcement later this week? that's ri . ht, the announcement later this week? that's right. the uk — announcement later this week? that's right, the uk government _ announcement later this week? that's right, the uk government is _ announcement later this week? that's right, the uk government is going to set out _ right, the uk government is going to set out its _ right, the uk government is going to set out its energy strategy and it is going — set out its energy strategy and it is going to — set out its energy strategy and it is going to be about being more self—sufficient and pushing into low carbon, _ self—sufficient and pushing into low carbon, moving into a new killer like this— carbon, moving into a new killer like this plan, increasing renewables, but the idea of having nuclear— renewables, but the idea of having nuclear is — renewables, but the idea of having

nuclear is that it is a low carbon hack-up — nuclear is that it is a low carbon hack-up if— nuclear is that it is a low carbon back—up if the wind doesn't blow and the sun— back—up if the wind doesn't blow and the sun doesn't shine. it is fascinating you mentioned germany. i rememher— fascinating you mentioned germany. i remember at fascinating you mentioned germany. i rememberat the fascinating you mentioned germany. i remember at the start of the ukraine conflict, _ remember at the start of the ukraine conflict, we _ remember at the start of the ukraine conflict, we were saying it would be completely impossible for germany to wean itself off russian oil and gas, and yet _ wean itself off russian oil and gas, and yet alongside the uk and america that is— and yet alongside the uk and america that is exactly what it is trying to do. that is exactly what it is trying to do and — that is exactly what it is trying to do. and this does require a huge wholesale — do. and this does require a huge wholesale change in how countries around _ wholesale change in how countries around the — wholesale change in how countries around the world get their energy. it is around the world get their energy. it is a _ around the world get their energy. lt is a very— around the world get their energy. it is a very long term strategy, not something — it is a very long term strategy, not something that will change overnight, but that seems to be the direction _ overnight, but that seems to be the direction of — overnight, but that seems to be the direction of travel. and overnight, but that seems to be the direction of travel.— direction of travel. and it is the ulobal direction of travel. and it is the global aspect. _ direction of travel. and it is the global aspect, because - direction of travel. and it is the global aspect, because the - direction of travel. and it is the global aspect, because the us| direction of travel. and it is the - global aspect, because the us also say it is going to help. president biden says $10 billion worth of aid to help europe move away. katie, thank you very much indeed. thank you. in a few short hours, hollywood s finest will be walking down the red carpet to attend the 94th academy awards. but this year nervousness has not

just been around if they ll win an oscar ? but if they can attend because of covid. our culture editor, katie razzall, is at the dolby theatre in los angeles. it's the top prize the movie business has to offer, and for days they've been preparing, rolling out a show—stopping experience for the biggest night of the year. when it comes to the actual top prize, best picture, it's almost certain for the first time to be a film made by one of the streaming services. apple's coda, the story of a deaf family with one hearing child, appears to have the momentum behind it. whistling netflix has pinned its hopes on its 1920s western the power of the dog. it may miss out for best picture, butjane campion looks likely to be only the third woman in history to win best director. there may be a buzz in this town about these awards, but last year's tv show attracted the lowest audience ever. can they turn it around? it's fun to watch celebrities gather.

we're in, you know, we still have this pandemic, there's a war happening in europe and i think that having, i don't know, some distraction is not a terrible thing. and finding something that all of us can come together and have some emotions about is a really powerful and important thing. the ceremony will mark what's happening in ukraine. one of the hosts said she hoped president zelensky might even address the guests. as for the ceremony, the acting categories are the ones that punch out. west side story�*s arianna debose is tipped to win best supporting actress, the first openly queer woman of color to take that prize. as momentous, will smith could clinch best actor, only the fifth black man to do so, for his portrayal of the father of tennis stars venus and serena williams in king richard. and troy kotsur should win

best supporting actor and become the first deaf man with an acting oscar. sci—fi epic dune could win a sweep of craft categories, though for the first time, controversially, those awards aren't being handed out live. as for uk and irish hopes, they're pinned on sir kenneth branagh's belfast — up for seven oscars, including best picture. katie razzall, bbc news, los angeles. all schools in england will have to open for at least 32.5 hours a week, under government plans due to be published this week. most already meet this target, but ministers say they're concerned about discrepancies across the country. the government said the change would ensure children had a fair chance to engage with a range of subjects — as well as any catch—up support — wherever they lived. the flight data recorders have been recovered from the wreckage of a china eastern airlines plane which crashed on monday in the south of the country.

132 people were killed when the boeing 737 from kunming struck a mountainside en route to guangzhou. more on this later. you are watching bbc news. a ukrainian rockband went viral this week after appealing to ed sheeran to take part in a benefit concert for ukraine which is happening in the uk later this week. this is how antytila would usually be spending their time. but they've had to swap their live concerts for military combat gear after the war broke out in their country. we can speak to antytila lead singer taras topolya now.

taras, thank you very much for speaking with us. you were actually serving? speaking with us. you were actually servin: ? ., , , speaking with us. you were actually servina? ., _., , g , ., serving? hello, everybody. just now i am in serving? hello, everybody. just now i am in kyiv. — serving? hello, everybody. just now i am in kyiv. the _ serving? hello, everybody. just now i am in kyiv, the capital— serving? hello, everybody. just now i am in kyiv, the capital of— i am in kyiv, the capital of ukraine, nearthe i am in kyiv, the capital of ukraine, near the front line. we resist russian occupation. just in the moment, while speaking with you, some of my colleagues are holding guns in their arms. with; some of my colleagues are holding guns in their arms.— guns in their arms. why are you doin: guns in their arms. why are you doing this. _ guns in their arms. why are you doing this, taras? _ guns in their arms. why are you doing this, taras? why - guns in their arms. why are you doing this, taras? why go - guns in their arms. why are you doing this, taras? why go to i guns in their arms. why are you | doing this, taras? why go to the front line?— doing this, taras? why go to the frontline? , ,~ , front line? because my city and my count , front line? because my city and my country, because _ front line? because my city and my country, because i— front line? because my city and my country, because i like _ front line? because my city and my country, because i like my - front line? because my city and myj country, because i like my country, i love my country. to defend the future of our country. no matter who i was before the war started. a lot of people did like i did. so i was before the war started. a lot of people did like i did.— of people did like i did. so you made an appeal _ of people did like i did. so you made an appeal to _

of people did like i did. so you made an appeal to ed - of people did like i did. so you| made an appeal to ed sheeran, of people did like i did. so you - made an appeal to ed sheeran, taras will stop what happened? you made an appeal to ed sheeran? ed will stop what happened? you made an appeal to ed sheeran?— appeal to ed sheeran? ed sheeran got back to us and — appeal to ed sheeran? ed sheeran got back to us and he _ appeal to ed sheeran? ed sheeran got back to us and he said _ appeal to ed sheeran? ed sheeran got back to us and he said that _ appeal to ed sheeran? ed sheeran got back to us and he said that he - back to us and he said that he appreciates to help ukrainian people, that he is standing with ukrainian people and he wants to check out our music. the music of the band of antytila. but we also had response from organisers of the consort, and they said no. did had response from organisers of the consort, and they said no.— consort, and they said no. did they exlain consort, and they said no. did they explain why? _ consort, and they said no. did they explain why? and _ consort, and they said no. did they explain why? and do _ consort, and they said no. did they explain why? and do you _ consort, and they said no. did they i explain why? and do you understand their explanation? yes. explain why? and do you understand their explanation?— their explanation? yes, they say that this consort _ their explanation? yes, they say that this consort has _ their explanation? yes, they say that this consort has purely - that this consort has purely humanitarian mission and because we are wearing helmets and handling

weapons in our arms, we are not in this show. so we accept it, of course. we are a little bit upset because of this, but the main thing is that ed sheeran will play this consort and disaster emergency team will fund raise the money and we will fund raise the money and we will help ukrainian refugees. it is the main thing. but i hope that the main message from ukraine will be sent to all of the people who will watch this show, that ukraine is strong, but we are brave and we are fighting against the russians. and we will win. we will get the victory. there is not another way for us, because we are defending not just our country, but the future of all of europe. i think it is understandable for all who are

watching me now.— understandable for all who are watching me now. taras, obviously those are the _ watching me now. taras, obviously those are the explanations - watching me now. taras, obviously those are the explanations that - watching me now. taras, obviously. those are the explanations that were given by the organisers. we have seen music feature so strongly in different aspects of this conflict, whether it is a violinist in bomb shelters or pianists playing before leaving their home. why do you think music is so important?— leaving their home. why do you think music is so important? because music can express- — music is so important? because music can express. because _ music is so important? because music can express. because music— music is so important? because music can express. because music can - can express. because music can impress. music is a very powerful tool to extend the message and to make emotion. through the music, you can say very important words, through the melody, through the harmonies, through the words, through the lyrics of the song. so you need to play the