this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. from the heart of the european project — an offer to kyiv. eu officials formally recommend ukraine be made awe a we all know that ukrainians are ready to die for the european perspective. we want them to live with us the european dream. britain's prime minister — borisjohnson — makes a surprise visit to ukraine — for face—to—face talks with president zelensky. russia strikes a defiant note — president putin accuses western powers of provoking humanitarian catastrophes around the world. and — europe feels the heat, as a record breaking heatwave causes soaring temperatures

across the continent. thanks forjoining us. in what is the fastest decision in eu history, the european commission has formally recommended "candidate status" for ukraine — but with conditions. for ukraine this has been a long—time ambition, and president zelensky was quick to react — hailing it as an "historic" moment, which will bring "victory" in the war against russia "closer". meanwhile president putin said he was against the idea — because the eu wasn't a military blo, but couldn't see how it would benefit kyiv. here is commission president ursula von der leyen speaking in brussels. and we all know that ukrainians are ready to die

for the european perspective. we want them to live with us the european dream. let's look at where ukraine is in its eu application... the application has broadly three phases. phase 1 is the application to become a candidate for eu membership. ukraine submitted their application in march. first they need the european commission to recommend them — which they did today. then the application needs to be approved by european council and parliament. phase 2 is where it gets more complicated. ukraine must meet three conditions to join the eu. they must have stable and democratic institutions. they must be a functioning market economy. and they must implement eu law. this is a lengthy process, as eu law applies to a huge variety of areas, from taxation to transport policy. that's why this phase of the application can take several yea rs. once ukraine is seen to meet all these conditions, they submit a final application — known as a treaty of accession —

which will need to pass a vote in the council, the european parliament, and be approved by all 27 member states. the british prime minister boris johnson has arrived in kyiv on his second visit in a show of support for ukraine in the war against russia. he met president zelensky to discuss the uk's support and announce a major training programme for ukrainian forces. borisjohnson earlier tweeted to say it was "good to be back" in the ukrainian capital. our correspondent nick beake was in kyiv when borisjohnson arived. well, the prime minister was on this very spotjust a few moments ago. you can see the burnt out russian tanks and vehicles that have been

well, the prime minister was on this very spotjust a few moments ago. you can see the burnt—out russian tanks and vehicles that have been brought back from the front line — they're now i really, sort of, a tourist detection, testament to the battle that's raging. the prime minister's visit was completely unannounced. we got word that he was here, came down to this place in the heart of kyiv, half of the capital, the minister walked into the complex of that magnificent building saint michael's cathedral and made his way outside and walked along the couples here alongside president zelensky and they then walked over to where a large crowd had gathered. we tried to get a few words with both president zelensky and the prime minister, really tight security and we were told that they were not here to talk to us, they were here to talk to the ukrainian people and certainly that the uk is with ukraine. we know that the prime minister may have been facing some problems at home when it comes to his leadership but here there is certainly a feeling in the sense that he is amongst friends

and president zelensky has said just as much. now yesterday we had the leaders of france, germany, the leaders of france germany and italy here. today the british prime minister, this is a show of defiance and i think they want to be sending a message to president putin. the west as it is with ukraine and clearly it is... americans and british are sending longer range missiles and the form is if you listen to ukrainian commanders and eastern donbas region they say they're not arriving soon enough and they're losing hundreds of men every day on the front line in this brutal war. but for today, this visit, the second trip to kyiv by borisjohnson, it is sending a message that united kingdom is with ukraine . russia's president vladimir putin has accused the us and the eu of provoking humanitarian catastrophes around the world. he defended his decision to invade ukraine and dismissed suggestions that it had anything to do with causing global food shortages. speaking at an economic forum in st petersburg, he also claimed that russia is ready to boost its exports of grain and fertilisers. translation: russia is satisfying its own domestic needs but it is still capable of significantly increasing the exports of food and fertilisers. next season our grain exports can rise to 50 million tonnes. we will prioritise supplies

to those countries that need food most, where there are risks that the number of starving people will increase. i've refer in particular to the african countries and the middle east.— to the african countries and the middle east. , joining me now from washington dc is dr anna borshchevskaya. she is a russia expert and a senior fellow at the washington institute for near east policy. thanks forjoining us. what did you read into president putin's am today because when first you need to looking bigger picture at the bottom of peace and understood relief from the very beginning of ukraine that food was going to be a powerful weapon that he could use in this war to pressure the west to try to break western unity and that is why we saw russia deliberately attacking cultural fields, russia deliberately attacking culturalfields, that russia deliberately attacking cultural fields, that is why they are holding a book eight in the black sea and this is another piece of this strategy. putin understands very well that if he starts the

middle east and north africa then they will very well be another refugee wave into europe so that his piece one but also if he take space place of supplier that is also a way for him to position himself as a counterweight to the west. the food shortages of veal and already causing huge problems globally. how much worse can it get and what is the political view of russia, would you say? obviously it is his complex but across the african continent? first, it will get free will works —— it will get a lot worse of i should say it could get a lot worse. it is notjust food, it is notjust wheat, it is a whole package of issues that compound upon each other, oiland issues that compound upon each other, oil and diesel prices solving and agricultural particular runs on diesel. countries and axing of reproduction measures to guard

against inflation which are going to publish the rise in the months ahead. it is really an economic crisis notjust a food crisis and you could very well see potentially another arab spring like scenario in the middle east and north africa. as far as the african countries go russia has one of the narrative in many ways in this region because russia has been interested in africa for a long time now because as far back as 2013 putin has talked about how africa should not be on the periphery of african, international relations and african countries often look at europe is a former colonisers in russia presents itself as an alternative. it is hard to generalise but by and large as far as an information narrative russia has got so much further ahead in africa than it has in europe, for example.

africa than it has in europe, for examle. ., , africa than it has in europe, for example-— africa than it has in europe, for examle. . , , .,, example. ultimately, if people in africa and the _ example. ultimately, if people in africa and the middle _ example. ultimately, if people in africa and the middle east - example. ultimately, if people in africa and the middle east find i africa and the middle east find their lives being very badly affected by what is happening in africa and ukraine it is not the case, that they will necessarily look at the western say we support your warm no matter what. the fight for political support across the globe is just going to get tougher, isn't it? globe is 'ust going to get tougher, isn't it? , ., , globe is 'ust going to get tougher, isn't it? , . , , isn't it? yes, that is exactly right and that is _ isn't it? yes, that is exactly right and that is also _ isn't it? yes, that is exactly right and that is also the _ isn't it? yes, that is exactly right and that is also the point - isn't it? yes, that is exactly right and that is also the point of- isn't it? yes, that is exactly right and that is also the point of this | and that is also the point of this strategy because many countries across the world at russia's invasion of ukraine very differently than we do. the west rightly sees that this was an unprovoked attack against a sovereign neighbour, a peaceful neighbour, but unfortunately the russian narrative sometime seeps its way and very disturbing ways in other parts of the world and that was not part of the world and that was not part of the issue. ., ., ~ . the issue. doctor, thank much indeed. thanks _ the issue. doctor, thank much indeed. thanks for _ the issue. doctor, thank much indeed. thanks for having - the issue. doctor, thank muchj indeed. thanks for having me.

fighting is continuing in the east of ukraine with russia getting closer to gaining full control of the town of severodonetsk. the donbas region is a key battleground — taking it, and the nearby city of lysychansk, would see moscow control of the entire luhansk region. our ukraine correspondent, joe inwood, reports. this is the reality of the battle for severodonetsk. close—quarters combat, said to be as brutal as anything seen in europe since the second world war. these men, including british and american soldiers, are members of ukraine's foreign legion. gunfire whoo! they've travelled from around the world to resist russia's invasion. many have paid with their lives. but others have been captured, including, reportedly, two us veterans. if we had reason to believe, incredible reason to believe that these individuals were in russian custody, we would pursue that, as appropriate. right across the east,

ukrainian forces are digging in, preparing for an expected russian push. in the woods outside slovyansk, they wait. explosions at the start of this war, their light—infantry tactics, mobile units out—thinking their opponents, won famous victories. now, they are on the back foot against their better—armed enemy. translation: the most important thing is that i the guys are not afraid. they rush into battle. they are worried, of course. everyone would be worried. but everyone has something behind them — conscience, honour. the ukrainians are using every tool at their disposal to fight this war. this is a special forces drone unit, operating right on the front lines. i'm looking for vehicles. but look at what they're up against. as they film, shells land nearby. and then, below their drone, a russian fighter strikes. ukraine desperately needs more equipment. the west says it is coming.

the question is, will it be too late? joe inwood, bbc news, kyiv. parts of europe are on heatwave alert this weekend with temperatures on the rise — it's so hot in some areas, that conditions are dangerous to health. spain, which has already seen its hottest may since the beginning of this century, is sweltering under temperatures reaching as high as 43 degrees celsius. wildfires were also reported firefighters in several regions, including woodlands in catalonia france is seeing its earliest ever hot spell according to forecasters, exacerbating a drought and raising the risk of wildfires. and here in the uk, level 3 heat warnings have been issued for parts of southern england on what is officially the hottest day of the year. it's notjust europe, in the united states, around 120 million people are under some sort of advisory as a heat wave scorches the upper midwest and the southeast. dr paulo ceppi is a climate scientist at the grantham institute

at imperial college london. first of all, every heatwave is like a weather event in the weather is naturally quite variable so it takes an unusual weather to generate a heat wave, for example for the current heatwave in western europe we have, you know, unusual winds that are bringing very hot air from north africa, from the sahara into the western european region and that is leading to the very hot temperatures but then, of course, she said, there is obviously the climate change factor and we know very well now, the science is very established, that global warming is really making every heatwave more severe and also making more frequent, some numbers on this, for example, very recently we had a heatwave in india and pakistan over the spring and that heatwave, it was

found, was made about 30 times more likely because of global warning in a previous climate so that is just to illustrate the impact of global warming and similar numbers for the 2018 so that we had in the uk so, yes, we can very clearly say that climate change is just amplifying the effect of this weather pattern in this heatwave. the the effect of this weather pattern in this heatwave.— the effect of this weather pattern in this heatwave. the people who are worried about — in this heatwave. the people who are worried about what _ in this heatwave. the people who are worried about what happens, - in this heatwave. the people who are worried about what happens, and - in this heatwave. the people who are worried about what happens, and i i worried about what happens, and i personally was caught up in a forest fire in france last summer and it was utterly terrifying and we were lucky to get out, you know, i'm looking to my summer holidays, i have to say, with some trepidation this year in europe but obviously people are living with this on a daily basis. how can people perhaps look ahead to see whether it is possible to forecast these intensely dangerous events?— dangerous events? right, so, generally. _ dangerous events? right, so, generally. as _ dangerous events? right, so, generally. as a _ dangerous events? right, so, generally, as a weather - dangerous events? right, so, | generally, as a weather event, dangerous events? right, so, - generally, as a weather event, we can make the forecasts out to seven to ten days at most are not much

further than that so generally speaking we cannot say, for example, whether this summer will be scorching hot in europe are not. it is not something we can do? what we can say, however is that, of course, again, coming back to climate change, with climate change and global warming becoming increasingly severe that will automatically make the likelihood of such heatwaves and the likelihood of such heatwaves and the associated impacts like droughts and forest fires and so on, all of these things will automatically become more frequent and more severe so one thing to remember is that we are already in a world that's just over one celsius warmer than before the industrial revolution, so we are 1.11 .2 the industrial revolution, so we are 1.11.2 celsius also global warming and if, already, in the present—day climate, who either happened every ten years would be happening every 3-4 ten years would be happening every 3—4 years running a that's 2 degrees warmer than for industrial, then before the industrial revolution, it will be happening more than every other year soap will become really a

normal event, so to speak, so that is just to say that what used to be extreme is becoming the new normal and that is increasingly going to be the case as we go towards temperatures.— the case as we go towards temperatures. the case as we go towards tem eratures. ., ., temperatures. doctor there from im erial temperatures. doctor there from imperial college _ temperatures. doctor there from imperial college in _ temperatures. doctor there from imperial college in london. - stay with us on bbc news. still to come... written's biggest airports as it will limit the number of flights across the peak period because of staff shortages.

this is bbc news, the latest headlines. the european union. president putin defends his decision to invade ukraine, and accused the us and the eu of provoking humanitarian catastrophes. some breaking news now from brazil — where police have confirmed

that the remains of one of the two bodies found in a remote part of the amazon rainforest is that of the missing britishjournalist, dom phillips. he went missing earlier this month along with an indigenous expert, bruno pereira. it's understood a forensic dental examination was used to identify mr phillips. a second body is still under analysis. two people have been arrested in connection with the deaths — and police say they think more people were involved in the killings. it has been a very warm day in some parts of the uk. here in the south, ollie frost to has all the spot for people braving this temperatures. we people braving this temperatures. - actually going to start with the gulf and the us, actually. still plenty of groups out on the book—lined course in the second round of us open. just maxed out with the golf. there are still plenty of groups out on the brookline course in the second round of the us open. there's an unfamilar name

at the top of the leaderboard. england's callum tarren only got his pga tour card last year and he's going along nicely. sweden's david lingmerth, the reigning champion, jon rahm, the six time major winner, phil mickelson, who was one of the high profile rebels to be suspended by the pga forjoining the breakaway liv series, he's on 11 over and has missed the cut. england's cricketers produced an incredible batting display in the first match of the one—day series against the netherlands. they made 498—6, that broke their own world record, the 481 they scored against australia four years ago... jos buttler was unbeaten on 162, he made his century offjust 47 balls, narrowly missing out on his own world record, he hit 1a sixes. there were also tonnes for phil salt and dawid malan netherlands were simply blown away — bowled out for 266. 232 the margin of victory for england.

they will play again on sunday. the grass court season is in full swing with wimbledon fast aproaching. nick krygios, oscar otte, hubert hurkacz and top seed daniil medvedev are in the semi—finals at the halle tournament in germany, elsewhere ryan peniston's run at queens is over, losing his quarterfinal against filip krajinovic. the 26—year—old british player made a really bright start, taking the first set but his serbian opponent, who is ranked inside the worlds top 50, dominated the next two. peniston is ranked 180th in the world and earns £50,000 for reaching the last 8, double his winnings so far this season. fellow brit katie boulter was also knocked out at the quaterfinal stage at the birmingham classic. she was beaten in straight sets by the former world number one and 2019 wimbledon champion simona halep. rafael nadal says he intends to play at wimbledon after having

nerve treatment for his chronic foot problem. the two—time champion has been practising on grass courts in majorca after winning a record—extending14th french open title earlier this month. he needed multiple injections in his foot throughout the tournament but will now head to london and make a final decision on his participation after training and an exhibition match at the hurlingham club. a notable football transfer has gone through today, as expected liverpool's striker sadio mane isjoining the bundesliga champions bayern munich. liverpool rejected a couple of offers from bayern for the 30 year old, but they've agreed a deal that could be worth up to £35 million. mane scored 120 goals during his six years at anfield and helped the club to the fa cup and league cup last season. he also won the premier league and champions league with the club. that's all the sport for now. thanks very much indeed. let's take a look at some of the other

stories making the news. china's navy has launched its third aircraft carrier — and the first entirely designed and built in the country. the 80,000 tonne fujian is almost as big as the largest us carrier. new technology will help it to quickly launch planes from its deck. although it's likely to be some years before the vessel enters service, the launch is symbolic of china's rapid military advance. the sri lankan government has asked staff in nonessential services to work from home and schools to switch to online lessons for two weeks. the country has been struggling to import fuel as it has run out of foreign currency reserves. hundreds of petrol stations have run dry and public transport has been severely disrupted. thailand is doing away with pre—registration and prior proof of covid vaccination for foreign visitors from the start ofjuly. the wearing of face masks in public will also become voluntary. thailand's important tourism sector has complained that restrictions for foreign visitors have impeded its recovery from the pandemic. gatwick — britain's second busiest airport — says it will limit the number

of flights across the peak summer period because of staff shortages. usually 900 flights run a day, but only 825 services will run injuly, and 850 in august. it follow similar moves by amsterdam's schiphol, which is limiting the number of travellers this summer because of huge queues there. and in the us, major airlines announced they were cutting their summer schedule. our international business correspondent theo leggett is at gatwick airport. you have to remember what the airline industry has been going through over the past couple of years since the start of the covid—19 pandemic. for long periods there simply were no flights operating, certainly in europe as countries went into lockdown. apple operators under an enormous amount of cost pressure. —— that put operators. in the uk there was a period where only a limited service of planes was able to have raped at the same time uk's furlough payments

paying for low to different company so he could keep their staff on could come to the end so a number of companies decided to lay off staff are army recruiting them back because the industry is recovering but they cannot recruit people back quickly enough and it is notjust a question in this country, or in other countries, just going out and getting people giving the job of starting to play them. if you work in the aviation industry you need things like security clearances and those tend to take time is the industry is trying to ramp up services. there are huge amounts of the industry is trying to ramp up services. there are huge amounts of demand problem is within the airport the ground handling services, so for example baggage handling, check—in staff, people to refuel the planes, they're not there are at least not in sufficient numbers and that means that they, we are starting to see extensive delays in airports, people having to queue for long periods of time, and flights having to be cancelled. so what we're here seeing him at gatwick today is an attempt to pre—empt that happening over the summer. july and august in europe of

the peak months and that is why we are cutting services now because the gamble that companies like network airport making is that you can take airport making is that you can take a bit of pain now and it saves potential chaos occurring later in the year so that is what they are trying to do, minimise disruption by taking a hit now but preventing lots and lots of shorts and cancellations when people are trying to get away on holiday. the when people are trying to get away on holida . ., ——theo legget there. this is a spectacular canyon in georgia where the new footbridge has become a big magnet for tourists. it has been covered with reinforced glass offering dizzying heights and fearless visitors can even take a line on a zip line that runs parallel to the bridge and as you can see that as a diamond structure at the centre of the bridge doubling

up at the centre of the bridge doubling up as a viewing platform and apparently a cafe will be there if you want to have a coffee or maybe something stronger to calm your nerves. i certainly would meet in a bit stronger. goodbye for now. this is bbc news. hello, again. it has been the hottest day of the year so far. we have seen temperatures go up to 33 celsius in suffolk and in so that you can see the extent of the blue skies here. most of the crossing in wales did have the sunshine but however we did have a saviour of low cloud and mist and fog in the coastlines of south—west england and south wales that make this enviably crowd. underneath that it really was quite a grey and gloomy afternoon is that murk folders went on the safe. of course the heatwave we have been tracking the number of days, and spain with her temperatures over the 40 spain with her temperatures over the a0 degrees mark from the last week. it has been the earliest finisher for much of the last week. it has been the earliest finish a further

a0 years and that heat has been pushing its way northwards, reaching france where yesterday we had temperatures hit a0 degrees. that was the earliest on this heatwave not only has been pretty ferocious but the heat has been arriving very early in the summer season. looking at the next few hours north of scotland plays john at the next few hours north of scotland plastohn mcstay is quite reasonable to otherwise clear skies most part, odd spot of rangers and england and for many of you too bad night the temperature is 12—1a but these low temperatures at 11 o'clock at night and still up a 2a—25 c across parts of eastern celsius over some of you it will be quite an uncomfortable night's sleep ahead. through the remainder of the night that weak punch continues its journey southwards. this one to still play as we head into saturday across parts of wales, the midlands and eastern england as welljust make this front is still a player. initially very weak, probably a bit misty, a few spots of burslem and some but through the day that one will get reactivated, rain will develop, particularly across wales,

spread to the midlands and public parts of eastern england as well. the rain heavy at times with the risk of a few mumbles of thunder. to the south is still holding on to some hot air say 27 in london. much of the uk, and that isn't the high teens might to some across parts of east anglia you're looking at a temperature drop of around 1a or 15 celsius and you will notice that change. the sunday, there is a bit of uncertainty about the number of showers and thunderstorms that we will have across the south but it is here where we are likely to see at least the wettest weather. the wise north—westerly wind spinning partly cloudy skies and if you will notice that change. the sunday, there is a bit of uncertainty about the number of showers and thunderstorms that we will have across the south but it is here where we are likely to see at least the wettest weather. the wise north—westerly wind spinning partly cloudy skies and a few bright and sunny spells.

borisjohnson has boris johnson has been borisjohnson has been to kyiv. mr johnson and president zelensky also discussed weapons supplies and further economic support for ukraine. police in brazil have confirmed that the remains of one of the two body is found in a remote part of the amazon rainforest is that of the missing british journalist dom phillips. it's understood he was identified using dental records. parts of europe are

on heatwave alert,