line, from at the front line, from everyone who is evading victory. standing here today, i recall the wars of the president franklin. which i think is so good for this moment. the american people will win to absolute victory. the ukrainian people will win, too. absolutely.— applause. i know that everything depends on us, on ukrainian armed

forces, yet so much depends on the world, so much in the world depends on you. when i was in bakhmut yesterday, our heroes gave me the flag, the battle flag, the flag of those who defend ukraine, europe and the world at the cost of their lives stop they asked me to bring this flag to you, to the us congress, to members of the house of representatives and senators whose decisions can save millions of people so, led these decisions be taken, let this flag state with you, ladies and gentlemen, this flag is a symbol of our victory in this war stop we stand, we fight and we will win because

we are united. ukraine, america and the entire free world. applause. studio: president zelensky giving that flag from the battlefield of bakhmut to nancy pelosi... battlefield of bakhmut to nancy pelosi. .. , , battlefield of bakhmut to nancy pelosi..., , ., pelosi. .. just one thing, if i can, pelosi. .. just one thing, if i can. the — pelosi. .. just one thing, if i can, the last _ pelosi. .. just one thing, if i can, the last thing, - pelosi. .. just one thing, if i can, the last thing, may - pelosi. .. just one thing, if i l can, the last thing, may god protect our brave troops and citizens and may god forever bless the united states of america. merry christmas and happy victorious new year. an

happy victorious new year. an electrifying speech by president zelensky of ukraine. a really extraordinary performance. ten standing ovations and now another one. ukraine is alive and kicking, he declared at the beginning, ukraine holds its lines and will never surrender, he said. he talked about so many parallels with the united states and its own struggles for freedom. states and its own struggles forfreedom. he compared for freedom. he compared ukraine's forfreedom. he compared ukraine's award to america's battlefield independence. he said that ukraine has artillery but not enough. with me is james jeffrey. we but not enough. with me is jamesjeffrey. we see nancy pelosi giving him in return a flag, a flag that would have flown above the united states congress. he gave her the ukrainian lake from the battlefield. what do you make

of the symbolism and the speech? it of the symbolism and the seech? . , of the symbolism and the speech?— of the symbolism and the seech? ., , ., speech? it was a brilliant, it was obviously _ speech? it was a brilliant, it was obviously going - speech? it was a brilliant, it was obviously going to - speech? it was a brilliant, it was obviously going to be i was obviously going to be dramatic but he added elements that we rarely see. americans gain this victory, europeans gain this victory, europeans gain this victory, europeans gain this victory. he included us in everything he and his countrymen and women are doing and that is really striking. i do not know when the us congress at last heard a speech like this. there he is clenching his fist in victory. he talked as well about how he and president biden discussed a piece of von miller, a ten point, a summit where it could be discussed. there is a lot of more to go before any peace? the fact that he mentioned that is important because this was a blood and guts speech to the max. he used churchill's famous

was after dunkirk, we will never surrender, and he called forth all of these analogies and made clear that what he and his people are doing will define, and what doing for him, will define what world our children and grandchildren will live in, think of the future, think of the whole global system at risk here and the point is he's absolutely right. he talked about christmas and said ukraine will celebrate christmas by candlelight, not because it is romantic — getting some smiles that — but because ukrainians do not have electricity. it was a vivid, his speech.— electricity. it was a vivid, his seech. . . . his speech. that and the flag civen to his speech. that and the flag given to him _ his speech. that and the flag given to him by _ his speech. that and the flag given to him by fighters - his speech. that and the flag given to him by fighters to i given to him by fighters to given to him by fighters to give to congress, they were to both emotional and most effective part of a very effective part of a very effective speech. he was comparing _

effective speech. he was comparing ukraine's - effective speech. he was| comparing ukraine's fight effective speech. he was i comparing ukraine's fight to the battle of the bulge buy american soldiers in world war ii, us soldiers battling hitler and ukrainian forces battling putin. an appeal that this is your battle too, to the american people. also the revolutionary saratoga. .. l american people. also the revolutionary saratoga. .. i revolutionary saratoga... i believe are the americans defeated the british... that is where france _ defeated the british... that is where france and _ defeated the british... that is where france and spain - defeated the british... that is where france and spain and l where france and spain and other countries came into, thus the importance of diplomacy. we could not have won the revolutionary war if we did not have the support of many countries and europe. that is the point is making with that analogy and i hope the nation catches that point because it is very important. i catches that point because it is very important.— is very important. i counted ten different _ is very important. i counted ten different standing - is very important. i counted i ten different standing ovations but what do you think the

impact of this speech will be on congressional opinion and american public opinion? there is already tremendous support for ukraine because these are smart people. forget how they perform sometimes in front of the cameras, they are overwhelmingly smart, educated, experienced people and they know that he is right defining of your children and grandchildren will be living in. all aggressors — and he was indicating china — all aggressors will take heed of how russia does in this thing, it goes beyond me and russia but to our world order.- but to our world order. let's hear a little _ but to our world order. let's hear a little bit _ but to our world order. let's hear a little bit of _ but to our world order. let's hear a little bit of president | hear a little bit of president zelensky�*s extraordinary, electric speech. this is a little of what he had to say.

dear americans, little of what he had to say. dearamericans, in little of what he had to say. dear americans, in our states, cities and communities, all those who value freedom and justice, who cherish strongly is as we ukrainians, our cities, each and every family, i hold my worlds of respect and gratitude resonate in each american heart. —— words. madame vice president, i thank you for your efforts in helping ukraine, madam speaker, you bravely as it had ukraine during the full—fledged war. thank you very much. a great honour. thank you.— honour. thank you. president zelensky- _ honour. thank you. president zelensky. james _ honour. thank you. president zelensky. james jeffrey, - zelensky. james jeffrey, president zelensky talked about

financial assistance being critically important from the americans and he said it is not charity, but an investment in global democracy?— charity, but an investment in global democracy? he's right there as well. _ global democracy? he's right there as well. most - global democracy? he's right there as well. most of - global democracy? he's right there as well. most of the i there as well. most of the people understand that and if thatis people understand that and if that is why they have been so generous up to now but as we go forward, there may be some doubters on either side of the spectrum. he was speaking directly to them, you are not doing this for me, you are doing this for me, you are doing this for yourselves. again, that is a lesson we learned from world war ii. we did not pay attention to it early enough and we had to spend 50,000 american lives and 20% of our economy for many years to and the threat to the global order. this time we have a chance to nip this in the bud and that is what is happening before our eyes. in congress, in bakhmut and all other battlefield in ukraine. let's no to battlefield in ukraine. let's go to capitol _ battlefield in ukraine. let's go to capitol hill— battlefield in ukraine. let's go to capitol hill and - battlefield in ukraine. let's go to capitol hill and speak battlefield in ukraine. let's i go to capitol hill and speak to barbara plett usher who is

there listening to that speech. barbara, what did you make of it? incredibly dramatic?- it? incredibly dramatic? yes, he certainly _ it? incredibly dramatic? yes, he certainly got _ it? incredibly dramatic? yes, he certainly got a _ it? incredibly dramatic? yes, he certainly got a good - he certainly got a good response. he had several standing ovations and he touched all the right buttons, as mr— touched all the right buttons, as mr geoffrey was saying. it was — as mr geoffrey was saying. it was not _ as mr geoffrey was saying. it was notjust about ukraine but about — was notjust about ukraine but about the _ was notjust about ukraine but about the wider world and america _ about the wider world and america and he kept bringing in back— america and he kept bringing in back to — america and he kept bringing in back to america. at one point is that— back to america. at one point is that you _ back to america. at one point is that you can expect what is happening across the ocean not to affect — happening across the ocean not to affect you because this is about— to affect you because this is about bigger issues. —— you cannot— about bigger issues. —— you cannot expect. this is about sovereignty and bigger issues. he thanked the americans for everything they had given but you will— everything they had given but you will notice that he, of course, _ you will notice that he, of course, asked for more and it's at point — course, asked for more and it's at point he _ course, asked for more and it's at point he turned it into a joke, _ at point he turned it into a joke, as _ at point he turned it into a joke, as it— at point he turned it into a joke, as it did with president biden, — joke, as it did with president biden, is— joke, as it did with president biden, is that thank you for the hatreds and said we need more — the hatreds and said we need more weapons and everybody laughed — more weapons and everybody laughed at everybody knows that

is what _ laughed at everybody knows that is what they want. he said thank— is what they want. he said thank you for the financial assistance but again, we hope you make _ assistance but again, we hope you make another decision for more — you make another decision for more financial assistance. this is a bigger— more financial assistance. this is a bigger issue thanjust ukraine _ is a bigger issue thanjust ukraine and in the midst of being— ukraine and in the midst of being thankful for the great support congress has shown, he continued to put forward his requests _ continued to put forward his requests that that support would _ requests that that support would continue into the next year~ — would continue into the next ear. �* �* year. and the biden administration - year. and the biden - administration conscious of year. and the biden _ administration conscious of the fact that the republicans will have control of the house in january, rushing through a massive spending bill that will give another m5 billion to ukraine. is there a real possibility that congressional leaders put a break on all these spending for ukraine next year? i these spending for ukraine next ear? ., �* ~ ., these spending for ukraine next ear? ~ ., ., year? i don't know that we exect year? i don't know that we exnect the _ year? i don't know that we expect the spending - year? i don't know that we expect the spending to - year? i don't know that we i expect the spending to stop. there — expect the spending to stop. there are republicans who do support— there are republicans who do support continued aid at this

level— support continued aid at this level to _ support continued aid at this level to ukraine, for exactly the reasons president zelensky is talking — the reasons president zelensky is talking about, the bigger issues _ is talking about, the bigger issues at stake, but it will be more — issues at stake, but it will be more difficult to put it through and maybe not as much as before — through and maybe not as much as before. there are republicans who oppose this amount— republicans who oppose this amount of aids. a number sitting _ amount of aids. a number sitting in— amount of aids. a number sitting in the audience that did not— sitting in the audience that did not stand up and give standing ovations but they did not stay — standing ovations but they did not stay away from the session either. — not stay away from the session either, they were there. le sommer— either, they were there. le sommer congress voted on the spending — sommer congress voted on the spending package back in may, nearly— spending package back in may, nearly 70 — spending package back in may, nearly 70 republicans in the senate — nearly 70 republicans in the senate and the house voted against _ senate and the house voted against so that is that. as i have — against so that is that. as i have control of the house, they have the — have control of the house, they have the ability to set the agenda _ have the ability to set the agenda and it will probably be more — agenda and it will probably be more difficult to get support for such— more difficult to get support for such passive packages, more difficult — for such passive packages, more difficult than it is now and one — difficult than it is now and one of— difficult than it is now and one of the reasons why the biden— one of the reasons why the biden administration is having these — biden administration is having these package voted on right now — these package voted on right now it — these package voted on right now it is _ these package voted on right now. it is part of a larger spending bill that has to go through for the government to

operate — through for the government to operate but it is a very big part— operate but it is a very big part of— operate but it is a very big part of it. _ operate but it is a very big part of it, $45 billion and they want that vote to happen before — they want that vote to happen before the democrats lose control— before the democrats lose control of one of the houses of congress _ control of one of the houses of congress— congress. barbara plett usher on capitol— congress. barbara plett usher on capitol hill. _ congress. barbara plett usher on capitol hill. before - congress. barbara plett usher on capitol hill. before his- on capitol hill. before his address, president zelensky held talks with president biden, the first time they have seen each other since war began. they discuss financial support. we will have more details in a moment but first let's hear the opening remarks from president biden who welcomed president zelensky to the white house a few moments ago. the white house a few moments auo. , w the white house a few moments auo. , , ., ago. president zelensky, i am honoured _ ago. president zelensky, i am honoured to — ago. president zelensky, i am honoured to welcome you - ago. president zelensky, i am | honoured to welcome you back ago. president zelensky, i am . honoured to welcome you back to the white house. we have spent an awful lot of time on the telephone as well is on a video but it is good to see you in person again and we have been in close and frequent communication throughout this conflict from the very

beginning but it is particularly medical to top in person and look each other in the eye. you have inspired the ukrainian people, the american people and the entire world. it offers cheap outside ukraine since february comes as president putin is escalating his brutal attacks, targeting critical infrastructure to make life as hard as possible for not only innocent ukrainians, children, young children, anything from orphanages to schools, it isjust anything from orphanages to schools, it is just outrageous what he's doing and as we head into the new year, it is important for the american people and for the world to hear directly from you, mr president, about ukraine's fight and the need to continue to stand together through 2023. just as it falls on the 300 day

mark of russia's brutal invasion of ukraine, 300 days since putin lunch and unprovoked, unjustified all—out assault on the free people of ukraine, 300 days ukrainian people showing russia and the world that steel backbone, their love of country and there are breakable determination and i have to emphasise, unbreakable determination to choose their own path. two ukrainian people, i say to them all, you have demonstrated, you have shown your strong stands against aggression in the face of the imperial appetite of autocrats who wrongfully believe they might be able to make there might right and they are not able to do it. president zelensky said how grateful he was for the support. translation: came to

the united states _ support. translation: came to the united states to _ support. translation: came to the united states to forward - support. translation: came to the united states to forward a i the united states to forward a word of thanks to the people of america, people who do so much for ukraine. i am thankfulfor all. this visit to the united states became a historic one for our relations with the united states and the american leadership. let's talk about president zelensky�*s speech. his electrifying speech to the joint meeting of the us congress. jimjefferies joint meeting of the us congress. jim jefferies is here, former deputy advisor to the united states and ambassador worldwide. you know ambassador worldwide. you know a thing or two about war. what did you make of the language of the imagery of president zelensky�*s speech. ukraine is alive and kicking, he said. it will never surrender. these are words that were deliberately chosen to resonate among people in congress who have lived through some of our own walls and struggles over the past 30 and struggles over the past 30 and 40 years. of course going

back to world war ii. the theme he kept on heading from the battle of the bulge to churchill's never surrender, he knows and he is right that this conflict involves all of us because it is a direct threat to the world order that has kept most of the world most of the time, not everywhere but most places prosperous, free safe and secure for almost 80 years. and 1914 to 1945, we know what that looked like and putin is trying to drag is back there. zelensky says he has run into a roadblock at my country. you must help us and we will continue to help him. irate you must help us and we will continue to help him. we keep talkin: continue to help him. we keep talking about _ continue to help him. we keep talking about the _ continue to help him. we keep| talking about the choreography and the symbolism but that was president zelensky in his battle fatigues and at the very end he hands over a signed ukrainian flag that has come from the battlefield which is literally the front line at the moment, from the city of bakhmut. moment, from the city of itakhmut-_ moment, from the city of bakhmut. �* . ., .,

bakhmut. and he received a flag from the us _ bakhmut. and he received a flag from the us congress _ bakhmut. and he received a flag from the us congress in - bakhmut. and he received a flag from the us congress in return. | from the us congress in return. these things are notjust symbolic. people live, including members of the us congress, and the american public and european public, they live for symbols and great gestures. this will not go unrewarded here in america or elsewhere. he unrewarded here in america or elsewhere-— unrewarded here in america or elsewhere. . , ., ,, ., elsewhere. he was talking about how grizzly _ elsewhere. he was talking about how grizzly and _ elsewhere. he was talking about how grizzly and how _ elsewhere. he was talking about how grizzly and how horrible i how grizzly and how horrible this war is. he spoke about the trenches, he spoke about bakhmut about every inch being soaked in blood. he bakhmut about every inch being soaked in blood.— bakhmut about every inch being soaked in blood. he spoke about hand-to-hand _ soaked in blood. he spoke about hand-to-hand fighting _ hand—to—hand fighting and those trenches between russians and his own soldiers and how this has been going on for over six months. they are not yielding. again he drew an analogy to saratoga, the turning point of the american resolution —— revolution. he knows his own history and our history and he also knows and that is why i am not worried about congress in a few months questioning funding, he knows three months are critical in the front lines, if russia can push back, among the

people of ukraine, if these strikes on electricity and water can force a new wave of refugees into europe and in western europe, unlike the united states, they are suffering tremendously from the cut in russian gas and other economic issues that costs them hundreds of billions of dollars, i think on all three fronts we will, together with zelensky and our european partners, prevail. that it is going to be a difficult three months. if we do, that is the time for the peace initiative to be rolled out. he was very, very general in talking about it but the fact is not unimportant.- it but the fact is not unimportant. it but the fact is not unim ortant. ,, ., , unimportant. stay with us, thank you- _ unimportant. stay with us, thank you. this _ unimportant. stay with us, thank you. this trip i unimportant. stay with us, thank you. this trip made l thank you. this trip made headline news in russia as well. news programmes mocked his reliance on western military aid while president putin made a speech with top defence chiefs telling them that the invasion was going to plan. here is steve rosenberg.

"comrade officers," the greeting. the occasion — president putin had come to tell chiefs, "i'll give you everything you need to secure victory in ukraine "and against the west." translation: almost all the main nato countries l are employing their military capabilities against russia. but our soldiers, sergeants and officers are fighting courageously. confidently, step—by—step, they are tackling the goals they've been set, and these goals will be achieved. meanwhile... ..russia's state media jeered and sneered at president zelensky for flying to washington, claiming he was prostrating himself before america and begging for money. there's a good reason for the bad press. having invaded ukraine, the last thing the kremlin

wants is for russians to start viewing president zelensky as much of the world views him — in other words, as a charismatic, courageous, hugely impressive leader. because if they start doing that, who knows how they'll view their own president. this was vladimir putin on tuesday, at an awards ceremony for his special military operation, in the safety of the kremlin. the same day, president zelensky was visiting the front line. russians are starting to spot the differences. zelensky�*s a modern person, very eloquent, very smart. putin is old, he is old—fashioned. zelensky is an example of the politician for the future. putin will stay in history as a person from the dark past.

bells ring but vladimir putin has no intention of being consigned to history. on his stage, there's no room for rivals, competitors. no—one's allowed to outshine the leader here. steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. going live now to capitol hill and let's speak to someone who was in the chamber as president zelensky was speaking and that is congressmen from massachusetts. i counted at least ten standing ovations, what was it like?— least ten standing ovations, what was it like? the energy in the chamber _ what was it like? the energy in the chamber was _ what was it like? the energy in the chamber was like _ what was it like? the energy in the chamber was like being i what was it like? the energy in the chamber was like being at| the chamber was like being at fenway park during a red sox game. it was incredible. there is so much support in the us congress for president zelensky and ukraine and i think that really came together tonight.

you say there is so much support but there are some republicans who say that support for ukraine should not be a blank do you think president zelensky won them over tonight with his case and cause? i over tonight with his case and cause? ., , over tonight with his case and cause? ~ , .. , over tonight with his case and cause? ~ , , .,, over tonight with his case and cause? ~' , , ., ., cause? i think his case was not 'ust to cause? i think his case was not just to the _ cause? i think his case was not just to the us _ cause? i think his case was not just to the us congress - cause? i think his case was not just to the us congress but i cause? i think his case was not just to the us congress but to | just to the us congress but to the american people. for everyone in america to understand why this is an investment in the future, not just charity for ukraine. why it matters what we do today for the future of freedom in the world. he was speaking to america, notjust the congress. if you look at the us congress there are some loud voices on either side on the extremes of both the democratic and republican parties who question the war in ukraine but the vast majority are members of congress are democrats and republicans house and senate are behind president zelensky. congressmen, you are a veteran, what was it like for you to see president zelensky there in his battlefield fatigues unfurling

this flag and presenting it to nancy pelosi from the frontline in bakhmut?— in bakhmut? many political leaders have _ in bakhmut? many political leaders have no _ in bakhmut? many political. leaders have no understanding of what it means to be on the front of zelensky understands. he understands what the troops are going through because he goes there and he sees it for himself. and that is incredibly important to see in a leader, especially during wartime. you will note that putin never visits the front. he is not a veteran, he does not understand what it means to lose your life in conflict. putin is an intelligence operative. he kills people with umbrellas he does not know what it means to fight a war. the lenski is showing that he does. he may not be a veteran himself but he gets to the front and he is with the troops and that is why he is so much with us in this fight. he is so much with us in this fiuht. ., , , he is so much with us in this fiuht. ., ,, ., ~ i. fight. congressmen, thank you forjoining _ fight. congressmen, thank you forjoining us- _ fight. congressmen, thank you forjoining us. we _ fight. congressmen, thank you forjoining us. we don't i fight. congressmen, thank you forjoining us. we don't have i forjoining us. we don't have much time to left but let's go back tojimjefferies. jim,

much time to left but let's go back tojim jefferies. jim, how back to jim jefferies. jim, how important back tojim jefferies. jim, how important are the next few months of this war?- important are the next few months of this war? putin will be pushing — months of this war? putin will be pushing on _ months of this war? putin will be pushing on three _ months of this war? putin will be pushing on three fronts. i be pushing on three fronts. firstly militarily to see if he can stop any ukrainian advances and start pushing back and perhaps threaten care of again. two, the ukrainian people with this devastating attack on infrastructure, to undercut their morale and push millions more back into europe, thirdly the europeans who are suffering tremendously from the cut offered gas and spending hundreds of billions of dollars and we will see what happens. what the president zelensky achieved tonight do you think? what he said was that the sacrifices that not only am i making beat the americans and the europeans are making are worthwhile. it is all about our future as the congressmen just said and again what he said, these victories are your victories, america, these are your victories, victories, america, these are yourvictories, europe. victories, america, these are your victories, europe. that is so important as well because people need to know they are in a larger class.

people need to know they are in a larger class— a larger class. ambassador, thank you — a larger class. ambassador, thank you for _ a larger class. ambassador, thank you for guiding i a larger class. ambassador, thank you for guiding us i thank you for guiding us through tonight. we will leave you tonight our special coverage of president zelensky speaking to congress. hello there. the next few days are looking fairly unsettled through the run—up to christmas. we'll keep low pressure nearby. so, i think large parts of the country will see rain at times, a bit of sunshine here and there, and it will be mild in the south, but it'll start to turn colder across northern areas. you can see this conveyor system of low pressure pushing up from the southwest, bringing in bands of rain followed by sunshine and showers. and our air mass coming in from the southwest off certainly across the south of the country. colder air, though, will start to tuck in across the north as we move through the next few days. for thursday, looks like it will be colder across northern scotland — breezy with a few showers, but quite a bit of sunshine for scotland, northern ireland, far north of england. england and wales, though, rather cloudy, misty, murky with some patchy rain and drizzle, some heavier rain into the southwest later in the day. here, it will be

mild, quite breezy. further north, though, a chillier feel to things, but at least we'll have the sunshine to compensate. as we move through thursday night, it stays blustery, further showers across the north, these wintry over the hills. further south, it'll be quieter — mixture of clear spells, some cloud, but then some heavier rain and stronger winds will start to push into the southwest later on, along with some milder air. but a chillier night to come across the northern half of the country. so, for friday, a chilly start, some sunshine across northern areas, a few wintry showers over the hills of scotland, then this band of rain starts to push northwards across england and wales. some of this rain could be quite heavy and persistent for a while as it pushes its way northwards. doesn't reach scotland until we move through friday night. however, there'll be a big temperature contrast — some brighter weather in the south with a few showers, very mild, staying quite chilly despite the sunshine across the north. then, as we move into christmas eve, that weather front pushes northwards, some snow on the hill as it does so. then, for christmas eve, christmas day, we're in a run of milder southwesterly winds, sunshine and showers. but then, later

on christmas day into boxing day, we start to see some colder air work its way southwards across the country from the northwest, and with the winds coming in from the northwest, this is likely to see most of the snow showers on christmas day across the north and the west of scotland. one or two wintry showers getting into irish sea coasts as well. you can see the trend — it turns colder for all areas as we move through the christmas period, but i think it'll be short—lived, as it will start to turn milder once again in the run—up to new year's eve. don't forget, you can check out the bbc weather app for where you are or where you're going. take care.

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