this is bbc news —— 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 shouldn't 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. fake ngo works approached me and my children as we fled ukraine, they approached us sleazily and told us to get in a van and they said that 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.

just over a month since russia launched its attack on ukraine, more detail has been emerging of possible peace negotiations. reports within the past hour, on the reuters news agency suggest president zelinsky could be ready to compromise with russia over the future status of russia—backed breakaway eastern provinces in the donbas region. we'll bring you more on that as we have it. in other developments today. 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. we begin our coverage with

the fall—out from president biden�*s speech in warsaw on saturday, and our diplomatic correspondent caroline hawley. i think he is a war criminal. he's a butcher. it's not the first time joe biden�*s off—the—cuff remarks on vladimir putin have left his partners scrambling. he went off on this message again. for a brighterfuture in democracy, and possibilities stability for gods sake, this man cannot remain in power. visiting the middle east, some damage control. i think the president of the white house made the point last night quite simply, president putin cannot be in power to wage war or engage in aggression against ukraine or anyone else. as you know, as you've heard us say repeatedly,

we do not have a strategy of regime change in russia or anywhere else, for that matter. the same message came from the government here. it is only the russian people that can make that decision. - i suspect most are pretty fed up with putin and 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 made the situation more dangerous he suggested the president plus �*s aids to their russian counterparts, that they're prepared to deal with russian government. there was a rebuke from president macron of france who is due to speak with vladimir putin this week. i would not use that kind of language because i'm| still talking to president putin.

because what do you want to do collectively? - |we want to stop the war that russia has started in ukraine without going in ukraine without going. to war, 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'm nowjoined by drjulie norman. she is a lecturer in politics and international relations at university college london and co—director of its us politics centre. how serious a long—term effective thinkjoe biden�*s words may have? it thinkjoe biden's words may have? it is a major gaffe at a very important moment. the war seems to be entering a point where putin is trying to decide his next move. we are hearing that may be some opportunities for negotiations but in very high likelihood that we will continue to escalate the conflict. biden�*s comments have a potential effect. when they'll simply complicate the

negotiations. right now, the administration has been trying to de—escalate the situation. comments like this suggested putin that he has nothing to lose and makes it less likely for him to negotiate. also complicates things on the and increases the likelihood that putin would perhaps turn some of those chemical weapons and trying to avoid and escalate things. and contribute to the feeling that putin and feeling threatened and he will push back but it's a very pivotal moment right now and is a very dangerous words and moments like this. the white house _ words and moments like this. the white house said in the comments immediately afterwards, you think we have been effective in damage limitations? i have been effective in damage limitations?— have been effective in damage limitations? ~ j ., limitations? i think they've gotten the message _ limitations? i think they've gotten the message out _ limitations? i think they've gotten the message out diplomatically i limitations? i think they've gotten i the message out diplomatically into many russian officials, including those involved in negotiations, pets

are not the beginning of this conflict, it is vladimir putin was the very key important in this and the very key important in this and the beginning, is that a sense of being targeted by the west, the west has done a good job trying not to push on that. and for was a vista vladimir putin, will be hard to overlook, even if if those around him have deceived this is not a policy of the united states but in misspeak byjoe biden. es, policy of the united states but in misspeak by joe biden.— misspeak by joe biden. a few minutes. _ misspeak by joe biden. a few minutes, reports _ misspeak by joe biden. a few minutes, reports about - misspeak by joe biden. a few l minutes, reports about ukraine president zelensky and sankey wants compromise with russia over dawn bass, how feasible do you think that is and what long—term effect may that have? it is and what long-term effect may that have? , ., ., , is and what long-term effect may that have?— that have? it is notable that it's cominu that have? it is notable that it's coming in _ that have? it is notable that it's coming in now— that have? it is notable that it's coming in now in _ that have? it is notable that it's coming in now in the _ that have? it is notable that it's coming in now in the areas - that have? it is notable that it's coming in now in the areas of. that have? it is notable that it's. coming in now in the areas of the neutrality and territory, negotiations are focused on the

territory pieces been the trickiest. if president zelensky is willing to make some compromises there, it could open the doors on negotiations. we already know that there will be part of this compromise and there's different models to look at, including the referendum and something along those lines to determine how the territory would end up being divided and would be seen as somewhat acceptable as a compromise for both sides. the ukrainian leader, volodymyr zelensky, has again appealed for more weapons from nato members. 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, 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 turkish president has told his counterpart and a telephone call that a cease—fire and better humanitarian conditions were needed following moscow's invasion of ukraine. it is a statement from the office that is come from the turkish president and that is what reuters is reporting. in the past few minutes, as we mentioned earlier. there's going to be peace talks that are due to happen with officials from ukraine taking place in turkey and that conference that is the case and that conference that is the case and the next round of face—to—face talks and specifically in istanbul on monday. more on that if we get it but will turn now to a hold of the russian military which is taking many people by surprise. not least the russians themselves or been denied his swift success in the war. now, the russians is that the first

state of the work is complete and claim to be entering a phase that will focus more on the eastern region. but the ukrainian military may wear the russian forces down. i am i'm joined now by phillips o'brien, professor of strategic studies at the university of st andrewswhy have ukrainians prevented russians from gaining air control and land control? one, the russians were overestimated, and more profoundly the ukrainians were underestimated. no one was talking about ukrainians as a military force. are anyone was talking about them. they're talking about other russian military had been modernised another so advanced it is almost as if the ukrainians were not even a factor in the equation. from the moment this was started was that they were very

well—prepared they've been preparing for this war for eight years. they had a much better strategic plan than anyone had any idea that they could put in place and they had a very good for structure to do what is needed to do to slow the russians down. and wear them out. it is really been a ukrainian strategic success and the russian failure. hose success and the russian failure. how has ukraine — success and the russian failure. how has ukraine been _ success and the russian failure. how has ukraine been able to prevent russia from gaining control. because thatis russia from gaining control. because that is been the key thing?— that is been the key thing? people of god and a _ that is been the key thing? people of god and a lot _ that is been the key thing? people of god and a lot of _ that is been the key thing? people of god and a lot of it _ that is been the key thing? people of god and a lot of it wrong - that is been the key thing? people of god and a lot of it wrong was i that is been the key thing? people| of god and a lot of it wrong was the fact that the russians were unable to gain control of the air which they thought with a far larger air force and far better aircraft that the russians would be able to gain control of the air from beginning to what the ukrainians showed us was that even a technological disadvantage, they were able to compensate and take advantage of

russian weaknesses, russian inability to mount complex operations and use things, they're not blowing the russians out of the sky or depriving the russians of the ability to fly. they can still fly, but they cannot sustain operations over battle areas. they have contested air supremacy, they're contested air supremacy, they�* re wearing contested air supremacy, they're wearing the russian air force down through losses and spend extraordinary success than would be without going into it. by people civil wars in its second stage they're concentrating on the east. why did they hit lviv? because they're focusing on the east and what it means is the first strategy failed. going for the east, there saying they lost the first part of the war and are going to try to do redefined it into something that they can do, take over the parts very close to russia. it would still want to hit strategic targets in the west, and because what ukrainians

are doing is there shipping a lot of goods and supplies and military equipment and even some soldiers from western ukraine to eastern ukraine and earlier story about british soldiers showing up and they went to lviv, it is a transport hub and sending things to the east. even though they're going to be fighting more in the east follow the strategy, is still going to want to hit strategic areas. and what you make of the _ hit strategic areas. and what you make of the fear _ hit strategic areas. and what you make of the fear that _ hit strategic areas. and what you make of the fear that vladimir i hit strategic areas. and what you i make of the fear that vladimir putin may be planning to split the country and two lake north and south korea? yes, he might be. but he is not all—powerful and the russian army is not all—powerful. you may want to do that, but that does not mean he can. it might be military more achievable in the short term and a few months, evenif in the short term and a few months, even if it might not, russian may not be able to do this. but they

have to be able to fight and holding is not clear that the russian economy is the kind of strength to withstand the sanctions for years and years and so, let's get over the notion that putin decides, when he invaded ukraine on february 2a, he lost control. now the controls contested in ukraine and showed it's more effective than putin in determining its own fate. 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 sleazily. 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 i 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.

let's bring you some breaking news from israel. two suspected arab gunmenwounded two police officers in the israeli city of hadera on sunday and were then shot dead. that's according to the local police. israel's kan television, showedfootage of two men, armed with rifles, opening fire on a mainstreet in hadera, about 50 km north of tel aviv. 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: the city has been on its knees for two weeks but tonight, all of a 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 on supplies before the lockdown kicks in in the early hours of monday morning. 25 million people are going to be affected and public transport is going to be shut, everyone will be subject to a mass city wide 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's commercial capital, but at the moment, it's one of the worst hit areas as china is seeing a resurgence in the covid—i9 cases. the numbers are relatively small compared to international numbers

numbering in 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 how long will this lockdown last? others have made estimates but it is been way longer than the 90s plant here. 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. i'm joined now by our

culture editor katie razzall who is on the red carpet outside the dolby theatre. the first death man to ever win an oscar for the first death man to ever win an oscarfor his the first death man to ever win an oscar for his role the first death man to ever win an oscarfor his role in coda, a story about a family of death people. and it's almost probably certain i would say that arianna was wonderful turn west side story that she will pick a best supporting actress and best actress put less sure, people say it is likely to be jessica actress put less sure, people say it is likely to bejessica but actress put less sure, people say it is likely to be jessica but we is likely to bejessica but we will see on that. but highly coveted best picture we do know that is most likely coming in there and picking up likely coming in there and picking up the post that is most likely to be a streaming service and when i first arrived in la a few days ago, it felt like the power of the dog, bbc film, netflix film that had all the momentum and stress benedict cumberbatch up in the last few days,

truly felt like things have shifted and a film that only have three oscar nominations in total, looks like that has all the drive behind it now to best picture. the oscars have had low _ it now to best picture. the oscars have had low viewing _ it now to best picture. the oscars have had low viewing figures i it now to best picture. the oscars have had low viewing figures in i have had low viewing figures in recent times but how is that potentially to change given that now, as much as any other time, people probably want a bit of escapism, don't they?- people probably want a bit of escapism, don't they? let's see. last time — escapism, don't they? let's see. last time they — escapism, don't they? let's see. last time they had _ escapism, don't they? let's see. last time they had oscars i escapism, don't they? let's see. last time they had oscars was i escapism, don't they? let's see. i last time they had oscars was during pandemic the lowest tv and they're very hopeful, they've made some changes, they really want a ceremony to be back up there to engage people and this is been happening in the shadow of war in the shadow of the pandemic and people need a bit of glitz, they need a bit of glamour and they need to ceremony and we will see. ., ., ~' , and they need to ceremony and we will see. ., ., ~ , ., ., ., will see. looking very good on the red carpet- _ will see. looking very good on the red carpet. thank _ will see. looking very good on the

red carpet. thank you. _ you can reach me on twitter — i'm @luxmy—g. 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 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.

this is bbc world news. your headlines. i military intelligence chief says moscow may be attempting to split ukraine in two. as russia's offensive stalls and civilian deaths continue to rise, the two sides agreed to face—to—face talks in turkey on monday. the us government clarifies president biden�*s comments about vladimir putin remaining in power, saying they have no plans to force him out. do power, saying they have no plans to force him out-— force him out. do we have to leave belfast? and _ force him out. do we have to leave belfast? and the _ force him out. do we have to leave belfast? and the wait _ force him out. do we have to leave belfast? and the wait is _ force him out. do we have to leave belfast? and the wait is nearly i force him out. do we have to leave| 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. i