this is bbc news 7 welcome if you re watching here in the uk or around the globe. our top stories? a military intelligence chief in kyiv says moscow may be attempting to split ukraine in two afterfailing to conquer the whole country. as russia's offensive in ukraine stalls, and civilian deaths continue to rise —— the two sides agree to face—to—face talks in turkey on monday and walking it back, america's top diplomat says the country has no plans for regime change in russia after president biden said vladimir putin should not be allowed to remain in power. as you know, as you have heard us say repeatedly, we do not have a strategy of regime change in russia

or anywhere else, for that matter. and we have a special report from our europe editor looking at how sex traffickers are seeking to exploit ukraine's refugees fleeing the war. they approached me and my children through ukraine, the approach tests leaves lee and they said they would take us to switzerland. and — the wait is nearly over for this year's oscar nominees — the academy awards ceremony will be getting underway in hollywood in just a few hours time. as the fighting continues in ukraine after over a month's

conflict there have been a number of developments. ukraine's military intelligence chief has claimed that russia may be trying to split ukraine in two, in the same way that north and south korea have been divided for more than half a century, after vladimir putin's forces failed to take over the whole country. it's been announced that officials from ukraine and russia will resume peace talks on monday. three days of discussions have been scheduled. they're to take place in turkey, previous talks had taken place in belarus. america's most senior diplomat, along with other top officials, have been forced to clarify comments by president biden, that vladimir putin could not stay in power in russia. today, the us secretary of state denied that the administration has a policy of regime change in moscow. and the french president has warned against an escalating war of words with moscow. here's our diplomatic correspondent caroline hawley. i think he is a war criminal.

i think he is a war criminal. a i think he is a war criminal. a butcher. is i think he is a war criminal. a butcher. , ., , , butcher. is not the first time his off-the-cuff _ butcher. is not the first time his off-the-cuff remarks _ butcher. is not the first time his off-the-cuff remarks on - butcher. is not the first time his | off-the-cuff remarks on vladimir off—the—cuff remarks on vladimir putin have left is partner scrambling. he went off on this message again. pow of a brighter future in democracy, and possibilities stability for gods sake, this man cannot remain in power. visiting the middle east, some damage control. i power. visiting the middle east, some damage control.— power. visiting the middle east, some damage control. i think the resident some damage control. i think the president of _ some damage control. i think the president of the _ some damage control. i think the president of the white _ some damage control. i think the president of the white house - some damage control. i think the l president of the white house made the point _ president of the white house made the point that quite simply, president putin cannot be to wage war or— president putin cannot be to wage war or engage in aggression against ukraine _ war or engage in aggression against ukraine or— war or engage in aggression against ukraine or anyone else. as you know, as von've _ ukraine or anyone else. as you know, as you've heard us say repeatedly, we do _ as you've heard us say repeatedly, we do not — as you've heard us say repeatedly, we do not have a strategy regime change _ we do not have a strategy regime change in — we do not have a strategy regime change in russia or anywhere else, for that— change in russia or anywhere else, for that matter. the change in russia or anywhere else, for that matter.— for that matter. the sin message came from _ for that matter. the sin message came from the — for that matter. the sin message came from the government - for that matter. the sin message| came from the government here. for that matter. the sin message i came from the government here. it for that matter. the sin message - came from the government here. it is onl the came from the government here. it is only the russian people can make that decision _

only the russian people can make that decision stems _ only the russian people can make that decision stems take - only the russian people can make that decision stems take to - only the russian people can make . that decision stems take to suppose there _ that decision stems take to suppose there pretty— that decision stems take to suppose there pretty fed _ that decision stems take to suppose there pretty fed up— that decision stems take to suppose there pretty fed up with _ that decision stems take to suppose there pretty fed up with putin - that decision stems take to suppose there pretty fed up with putin and l there pretty fed up with putin and his cronies — there pretty fed up with putin and his cronies. fis— there pretty fed up with putin and his cronies— there pretty fed up with putin and his cronies-— his cronies. as they cause more destruction, president - his cronies. as they cause more destruction, president biden i his cronies. as they cause more i destruction, president biden may his cronies. as they cause more - destruction, president biden may be burning bridges with the kremlin which could be needed to stop the war. the federal and diplomat said his comments admit were dangerous he suggested the president plus �*s aids to their russian counterparts, that they're prepared to deal with russian government. there is a rebuke from president macron of france was to with vladimir putin this week. i france was to with vladimir putin this week. ., ., , ., ,, this week. i would not use that kind of language — this week. i would not use that kind of language because _ this week. i would not use that kind of language because i'm _ this week. i would not use that kind of language because i'm still- of language because i'm still talking — of language because i'm still talking to _ of language because i'm still talking to president - of language because i'm still talking to president putin. . of language because i'm still- talking to president putin. because what do _ talking to president putin. because what do you — talking to president putin. because what do you want _ talking to president putin. because what do you want to _ talking to president putin. because what do you want to do _ talking to president putin. because. what do you want to do collectively? we want _ what do you want to do collectively? we want to — what do you want to do collectively? we want to stop _ what do you want to do collectively? we want to stop the _ what do you want to do collectively? we want to stop the war— what do you want to do collectively? we want to stop the war that - what do you want to do collectively? we want to stop the war that russia| we want to stop the war that russia has started — we want to stop the war that russia has started in— we want to stop the war that russia has started in ukraine _ we want to stop the war that russia has started in ukraine without - we want to stop the war that russiai has started in ukraine without going to work— has started in ukraine without going to work without _ has started in ukraine without going to work without escalating. - to work without escalating. president _ to work without escalating. president biden— to work without escalating. president biden arrived - to work without escalating. . president biden arrived home to work without escalating. - president biden arrived home to questions as to whether or not his blunt language could play into the hands of the kremlin.

i've been speaking to dr gabrielle bardall, from the parliamentary centre in canada, a non—governmental organisation supporting democratic institutions. i asked her whether she thinks what president biden said was an off—the—cuff comment, or if he actually means it. i think it was absolutely an off—the—cuff comment and he may have minted but it's not policy and that is what to remember here. biden is famous through a descriptive essay would one might think but should not be said. i do not think this remarks of the importance of the mid—been given in the media but i think there are other things that should be looked at. but in speech what's happened. he reassured neighbouring countries the baltics and poland that we will stand behind and ensure that we will stand behind and ensure that there is no compromise of nato territory and i think that speech was much more directed at them then ukraine and putin. we are to remember what happened this week in

brussels. the g7 issued a communication about holding putin accountable for war crimes and bringing them to the icc and this is what really matters because now vladimir putin is officially in a corner. there is no going back even if a peaceful settlement is achieved, he will not find himself in a position as he was in the past to enjoy the status and trade status and diplomatic status that he had. that's really our focus for the media should be. as long as vladimir putin has no outs, his fortunes will really be in the hands of the elite class, how long will he be a pariah, how long will he be out of the elite schools that he attends in the west. but not for the focus should be but with the president of the united states saying something along those line. ., . states saying something along those line, ,,., , ., ., line. saying that vladimir putin should not _ line. saying that vladimir putin should not be _ line. saying that vladimir putin should not be in _ line. saying that vladimir putin

should not be in power, - line. saying that vladimir putin should not be in power, it - line. saying that vladimir putin should not be in power, it is i line. saying that vladimir putin l should not be in power, it is such line. saying that vladimir putin - should not be in power, it is such a powerful comment. i wonder how much damage she think something like that, the kremlinjumping on his comments immediately. and having to explain, retract, clarify, that is a lot of damage as to what the international community is trying to do. is international community is trying to do. , international community is trying to do. ., .,, international community is trying to do. ., ., ,, , do. is cost enormous buzz but there is no policy — do. is cost enormous buzz but there is no policy behind _ do. is cost enormous buzz but there is no policy behind it _ do. is cost enormous buzz but there is no policy behind it and _ do. is cost enormous buzz but there is no policy behind it and it's - do. is cost enormous buzz but there is no policy behind it and it's the - is no policy behind it and it's the simple truth, the lines of negotiation are still around future of crimea and security in the region and the eventualjoining of nato. and those are the diplomatic conversation will remain. but what is an issue is putin's outs, where will he go after this? will bleed to? who he still of the support of the elite class that he requires for this and underlying this, his real importance of recognising the lines of the battle have changed. we are no longer in the politics of the

past but this is the first modern conflict of democracy versus autocracy it's notjust military power, were not like about latin america in the 1970s and covert operations, we are talking about popular support, were tight but democracy, the elite class allowed vladimir putin to stay, how's our population, whether it is private business or individual citizens. with the russian people allow him to stay? the elections, when we see them there. they do not suggest a transparent process and so, what power do they have? i’zre transparent process and so, what power do they have?— transparent process and so, what power do they have? i've worked in administration _ power do they have? i've worked in administration for _ power do they have? i've worked in administration for over _ power do they have? i've worked in administration for over 20 - power do they have? i've worked in administration for over 20 years . power do they have? i've worked in | administration for over 20 years and this is not an uncommon situation. there is years of work that goes before a free and fair elections can before a free and fair elections can be held. in terms of adapting

popular information perceptions and vladimir putin according to the least credible polls, when in seven of the population. this is only they changes over time to accurate information into the country and i think when the day comes for popular referendums, there is no such thing as a perfect election and that evolves progressively over time. i think longer willing to make the sacrifices made by the international community sanctions.— sacrifices made by the international community sanctions. speaking about and reflecting — community sanctions. speaking about and reflecting on _ community sanctions. speaking about and reflecting on those _ community sanctions. speaking about and reflecting on those comments - community sanctions. speaking about and reflecting on those comments by| and reflecting on those comments by president biden. to give more news that the intelligences that russia is trying to split ukraine in two after failing to take a look of the country, vladimir putin would try to

impose a demarcation line between the east and southern regions and the east and southern regions and the rest of ukraine since he has not been able to, as he put it, swallow the whole country. earlier i spoke to ukraine's former national security adviser, oleksandr danylyuk and asked him whether the parallels with north and south korea were relevant to the situation in ukraine. obviously, russia change their strategy after they realised the could not take the major cities quickly. moving from several directions in there now to concentrate on one area and at least achieve something because for the last three weeks, they did not achieve anything sizeable. so, does it mean that actually cutting off the luhansk and donetsk regions and creating north korea is the right

parallel, the scenario. i don't think so for several reasons. first, north korea is self—sufficient because a country, to say. and the others will not be. there will be totally dependent on what's going to happen with russia. it is a big question was going to happen with russia. given the international pressure and the continuous fighting for the armed forces. second, russia will not stop if they take the town. they are still the same and they want to take over ukraine and they will not drop their attempts to take care of and he cannot afford this. and it's not sustainable, not a

sustainable scenario. and luhansk and donetsk, they know they're going to do a referendum aboutjoining russia. it looks like russia has several plans on the table but eventually, even for these territories to enjoy russian federation, wejust territories to enjoy russian federation, we just want to remind you the fact that after the annexation of crimea and annexation taking control of this, these republics were already created. but i would never call it a strong player. there will be a proxy of russia and it will be viewed as this. ~ ., �* , russia and it will be viewed as this. ~ ., a ., , . , this. ukraine's former security adviser speaking _ this. ukraine's former security adviser speaking to _

this. ukraine's former security adviser speaking to me - this. ukraine's former security adviser speaking to me a - this. ukraine's former security adviser speaking to me a bit i adviser speaking to me a bit earlier. president zelensky�*s top aide says the ukrainian army has been engaged in small tactical counter—offensives around kharkiv and sumy in the east. oleksiy arestovych said they were also pressing on with counter—offensives outside kyiv, and around kherson in the south. he predicted ukrainian losses in the east and south, because of a change in moscow's strategy, but gains in other parts. our correspondentjonah fisher, who's also in lviv been to meet three brits who along with hundreds from the uk, havejoined the international foreign legion and travelled 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 them 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.

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, and 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 ukrainian leader, volodymyr zelensky, has again nearly 2 million ukrainian children have now fled russian bombardment to neighbouring countries, according to the united nations. unicef and other humanitarian organizations have warned these children along with their mothers and otherfemale ukrainian refugees are at a heightened risk of trafficking and exploitation. our europe editor katya adler sent this report from the polish ukrainian border. they grabbed what mattered most and fled for their lives. ukrainian children and women now far from home are forced to put their trust in strangers. the chaos of war now behind them, the truth is they're not always a safe here either.

the refugees come in. they have no idea what's going on. they can believe everybody. volunteer margarita hopes to stop fellow refugees falling into the wrong hands. we caught a person who search for beautiful women to sell them for sex work. it's horrible. so horrible, many polish people are driven to take action. we have 605 amazing women who drive as much as they can to the border. this woman has started the women behind the wheel initiative. we decided to keep this bubble of safety for these women to rest. �*s family is one of the lucky ones. ella has their best interest at heart, but five weeks

into europe's biggest refugee crisis since world war ii, there is still no efficient process to screen all those claiming to help ukrainians. over the next days and weeks, people need somewhere to sleep, to eat. many tell us they are looking for a job, and these make refugees vulnerable. here in poland, people have opened their homes to ukrainians, but sadly, not everyone with the best of intentions. we hear many stories of abuse, but most victims are too scared to speak on camera. but this woman, now safely in denmark, said she wants to sound the alarm. translation: fake ngo workers approached me. | they looked at us sleepily. they told us to get in a van and said they would take i

us to switzerland. they got angry when i asked for their ids, so i grabbed . my children and ran. human rights groups warn sex and organ traffickers are already active here. this is a region where there are well—established trafficking networks in place at a time of growing numbers of women and children arriving, the risks are on the rise. organised crime isn't the only menace. some refugees are forced to work for free. others to have sex in exchange for lodgings. the displaced and the vulnerable need our protection. katya adler, bbc news, on the polish—ukrainian border. some other news now.

china has announced its biggest city—wide lockdown since the covid outbreak began more than two years ago. the entire population of shanghai will be restricted to their homes over the next nine days. our china correspondent, robin brant, says the order has triggered panic—buying by residents: (sot next) triggered panic—buying by residents: the city has been on its needs for two weeks but tonight, all the sudden areas that were reduced to being like a ghost town are now full of panic shoppers. i have been out in seeing queue stretching out of shops as people are trying to stock up shops as people are trying to stock up on supplies before the lockdown kicks in and the early hours of monday morning. 25 million people are going to be affected and public transport is going to be shot, every will be subject to a mass city white covid—i9 testing. they're breaking it down into two halves. the next

four will be the eastern side of the city of the lockdown and then after that, the western side will follow. shanghai is china possible commercial capital but at the moment, it's one of the worst hit areas as china is in the resurgence in the covid—i9 cases. the numbers are relatively small compared international numbers are only a few thousand in total and by china possible standards, that is what and perhaps, the harshest of measures to try to contain the virus and contain covid—i9 with china's zero cote strategy. how will this lockdown last? others have made estimates but it is been way longer than the 90s plant here.

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 body after he died in the capital city of bogota. will bachelor 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 bachelor, bbc news. the 2022 oscars ceremony gets underway in los angeles, in a few hours time. the top contenders for best picture include coda, the power of the dog and belfast. katie razzell reports from 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 colour 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. exciting stuff and lots more on our website. hello there. after the warm and often sunny days we've become used to lately, the forecast for this week may well come as a shock to the system. it is going to turn quite a lot colder. there's snow in the forecast for some and the nights will become increasingly cold and frosty. as we go through tonight, temperatures will drop where we keep the clear skies, but we're going to see quite a lot of low cloud, mist and fog developing once again, especially across eastern areas. but also, one or two showers developing across parts of northern england, maybe northern ireland later in the night. 7 or 8 degrees if you see cloudy skies overhead, but temperatures in the clearer spots will get down to freezing or a touch below. but into tomorrow, this area of high pressure that's been with us

for so many days now — well, it begins to loosen its grip and, slowly but surely, things will start to turn a bit more unsettled. so, some of those showers through the day across parts of northern england, maybe northern ireland, some areas of low cloud down this east coast could keep it quite chilly for some north sea coastal areas. and cloud rolling up from the south as well, introducing some rain for the channel islands and possibly the odd shower for southwest england and wales during the afternoon. amidst all of that, there will still be some sunshine and some warmth, temperatures at best up to 17 or 18 degrees. as we get into tuesday, quite a lot of cloud around. some showers down towards the south — some could be heavy and thundery. we start to see a weather front setting up across scotland. that will start to bring some showers, these beginning to turn wintry, as colder air talks in from the north, and that is a sign of things to come. as we move out of tuesday into wednesday, this weather front with a wriggle along it starts to push southwards. because of this wriggle, this wave, there's uncertainty aboutjust how much progress southwards this front will make,

how quickly it will be moving. but what we do know is behind it, we'll see much colder air tucking in, so there is likely to be some snow, especially over higher ground. but if this weather front sits around for long enough, the snow could come down to quite low levels across northern england. lots of wintry showers packing into scotland with afternoon highs ofjust 4 or 5 degrees, and even further south, much, much chillier than it has been lately. as we look towards the end of the week, it will be chilly by day, cold and frosty by night and there will be some sunshine but some showers of rain, sleet and snow.

hello, i'm olly foster. —— doncaster madeira. i military intelligence chief says they may be... as russia's offensive stalls and civilian deaths continue, the sides to face talks in turkey. the government clarifies president biden's comments, saying they have no plans to force him out. —— force predident putin out. the academy awards ceremony begins in hollywood

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