lo from washington, this is bbc news. welcome to our viewers on pbs in america — microlight from washington. along the long—awaited counteroffensive may be under way in parts of ukraine. translation: in may be under way in parts of ukraine. translation: in the direction of — ukraine. translation: in the direction of bakhmut, - ukraine. translation: in the direction of bakhmut, well- direction of bakhmut, well done, soldiers. we can see how hysterically russia greets every step we make there, every position we take. the enemy knows that ukraine will win. and former us vice president mike pence officially enters the republican field, vying to become president. great to have you with us. we start tonight with intensifying

military activity in southern and eastern ukraine. the ukrainian armed forces say they have launched several attacks but the russians insist there is a tax have been repelled and there is still no official confirmation that this is the start of ukraine's long—awaited counteroffensive against russian forces. russian officials are claiming that their troops have succeeded in blocking attacks around the nets, luhansk and zaporizhzhia. ukrainian attack on donetsk was said to be on a significant scalp of the eastern city of bakhmut has been described as the epicentre of hostilities were ukraine's ground forces are said to be moving forward against russian positions. in his night—time address, president zelenskyy macro thanked the ukraine troops. but gave little details on advances. translation: in the direction of _ advances. translation: in the direction of bakhmut, _ advances. translation: in the direction of bakhmut, well- direction of bakhmut, well done, soldiers. we can see how historically russia greets every step we make there, every position we take. the enemy knows that ukraine will win. they can see it. they feel it,

thanks to your straight, soldiers, and in particular in the donetsk region. i would like to make today a special mention of several of our combat units. they are skilfully, decisively and effectively defending our positions, destroying the occupiers, and most importantly moving forward. fire moving forward. are correspondence - moving forward. are l correspondence james moving forward. are correspondence james waterhouse has the latest from key. shhh. in a war of words, a call for quiet from kyiv. when it comes to its anticipated counteroffensive, ukraine has certainly revelled in trying to confuse russia. this video came with the caption — "plans love silence". but today words seem to have been followed by actions. dance music. in another produced video, with its own techno music, kyiv claims its troops are advancing close to the eastern city of bakhmut, and says that's not all. troops are moving to offensive actions in the eastern front, too, according to the country's deputy defence minister, hanna maliar.

even russia's defence ministry reported three major counterattacks, which it says it repelled. it released this footage from near the city of donetsk. bbc verify has confirmed it was most likely filmed there, but we don't know when. "the enemy launched an unsuccessful attempt at a large—scale offensive in the south donetsk direction," said its military spokesman. so, has ukraine's counteroffensive started? well, if you look at the heightened language from both sides, as well as the military movement, it certainly looks to be in the early stages, but what will take longer to answer is the question of whether it will be successful. mr president, welcome. any potential liberation will rely on continued political support, today coming in the form of the uk's foreign secretary, james cleverly, with an exchange of pleasantries with president zelensky. when we made the commitment publicly that we would continue

backing you and your country until you are victorious in your self—defence, we meant it. when we said that we would do more and go further, we meant it. it's about opening the possibility for training missions for our pilots on fighterjets. kyiv has always managed to straddle defending with diplomacy. you can be sure the talking won't stop. james waterhouse, bbc news, kyiv. the question on whether that offensive has started is not entirely clear, even for ukrainians, as i found out when i spoke to ukraine �*s former minister of economical and trade. thank you very much for joining us here on bbc news. the defence ministry of ukraine released a video on twitter yesterday, saying, words are very unnecessary, they can only

do harm. what do you think that meant? i do harm. what do you think that meant? ~ , do harm. what do you think that meant? ~' , ., meant? i think they hint at the counter offensive. _ meant? i think they hint at the counter offensive. there - meant? i think they hint at the counter offensive. there is - counter offensive. there is this the in ukraine that we should talk less and do more, and there have been variations of this theme or topic in different ways, and i think this is a little bit as direct as it can get.— this is a little bit as direct as it can get. does that hint mean the — as it can get. does that hint mean the counteroffensivel as it can get. does that hint i mean the counteroffensive has begun? mean the counteroffensive has beuun? ~ , ., , begun? well, it is really difficult. _ begun? well, it is really difficult, even _ begun? well, it is really difficult, even for - begun? well, it is really difficult, even for me, i begun? well, it is really| difficult, even for me, to begun? well, it is really - difficult, even for me, to make out exactly what is happening, and i have been talking to people who are directly in the midst, but something is going on. that much is clear. directly from people who are involved, who are usually at the front lines, they report there is an increased intensity of combat. they are not

typically saying where exactly, but then if you look at the news space, but the reports, there are so much going on around belgorod, which is really difficult to make sense of it but something is happening there. of it but something is ha enin: there. ., , happening there. there does seem to be _ happening there. there does seem to be an _ happening there. there does seem to be an activity, - happening there. there does| seem to be an activity, which us officials have confirmed as well. russia is saying it has repelled assaults and inflicted casualties on ukrainian forces. how difficult do you think it will be for ukrainian forces to dislodge russian forces in the south and the east? in dislodge russian forces in the south and the east?— south and the east? in some areas, south and the east? in some areas. and — south and the east? in some areas, and again _ south and the east? in some areas, and again this - south and the east? in some areas, and again this is - south and the east? in some areas, and again this is my l south and the east? in some l areas, and again this is my not directly from the area observations, that is based on the information i have, and then in the war everything is uncertain, so my understanding of many, many areas in the east and the south, russia has fortified quite a bit. not the same time i think ukraine has

strained and prepared substantive resources and they are well equipped and they have sufficient ammunition, are well equipped and they have sufficientammunition, but are well equipped and they have sufficient ammunition, but i also think that logistically some areas occupied by russia are vulnerable. for example, if you look at crimea, crimea has very challenging logistics. for example, there is this carriage bridge which clearly is vulnerable. and there is the landline but that is now also vulnerable with the longer range weapons available. so there could be different strategies and tactics involved, but it does seem that russia is exposed. mr involved, but it does seem that russia is exposed.— involved, but it does seem that russia is exposed. mr men liner anel, russia is exposed. mr men liner panel. you _ russia is exposed. mr men liner panel. you have _ russia is exposed. mr men liner panel, you have been _ russia is exposed. mr men liner panel, you have been travelling| panel, you have been travelling around ukraine and assessing the impact on cities like dnipro. what have you witnessed? i dnipro. what have you witnessed?— dnipro. what have you witnessed? . , , dnipro. what have you witnessed? ., ,, .,

witnessed? i have witnessed a lot of resilience _ witnessed? i have witnessed a lot of resilience and _ witnessed? i have witnessed a lot of resilience and normalcy. people actually strive for living an almost mundane boring life and when you talk to people, they seem normal, they seem happy, they seem unbroken and sound and resilient, until they are not, because what happens in the dnipro is that at any moment in time, a missile can come in without warning. there is simply not enough time to give a warning, and people can die. and that happened the day i arrived there. a two story building were simply destroyed and a child died and some people are wounded. and people who live in the dnipro, they seem to have resigned or kind of committed to their fate, resigned or kind of committed to theirfate, and resigned or kind of committed to their fate, and then they continue to open stores and businesses, they continue to

produce equipment, they continue to run the economy, even though daily some of them die, and i think that's amazing, and it's the powerful story of human resilience, and i think that's another reason why ukraine should be supported. why ukraine should be sunported-_ why ukraine should be su--orted. ., . , supported. you have seen some of these images _ supported. you have seen some of these images of _ supported. you have seen some of these images of destruction l of these images of destruction first—hand. can you give us an idea of what it would take to rebuild ukraine when this war is over? ., ~ , rebuild ukraine when this war is over? . ~ , ., , is over? frankly, the images don't do _ is over? frankly, the images don't do justice _ is over? frankly, the images don't do justice to _ is over? frankly, the images don't do justice to the - is over? frankly, the images| don't do justice to the feeling you get when you are actually next to the building, or in the building after the missile hit. they've been now to multiple buildings, and i really get overwhelmed there. i understand that people die there and it is just the entire scale come you cannot get the true feeling of this through the videos or pictures. but i think it is important that ukraine rebuilds now. why? well, some people argue that we should wait until

the war is over because it is just too risky to do things. but think of a clinic which has been destroyed, and now people, on top of having a war threat, they also have denied health care, basic health care, or may be cancer or heart attack treatment, so more people will die simply because they don't get treatment, not because of the war, and that's awful, you know? and i think we need to help ukraine maintain its economy and services during the war, and then after the war rebuild it as a prosperous economy. rebuild it as a prosperous economy-— rebuild it as a prosperous economy. rebuild it as a prosperous econom . . , , ., , ., economy. last question, if you are looking _ economy. last question, if you are looking to _ economy. last question, if you are looking to the _ economy. last question, if you are looking to the west - economy. last question, if you are looking to the west here, l are looking to the west here, what money do you think is needed right now and for the future for ukraine, for rebuilding?— future for ukraine, for rebuildinu? ~ ., , rebuilding? we have seen the war commitments, _ rebuilding? we have seen the war commitments, the - rebuilding? we have seen the i war commitments, the weapons commitments are around 100 plus, $130 billion, since the beginning of the war. then ukraine itself has spent about

32, 30 $5 billion but ukraine itself has spent about 32,30 $5 billion but ukraine is spending around 80% of all its tax and nontax revenues, so ukraine needs the amount of dollars to maintain its economy and i think a similar amount, may bea and i think a similar amount, may be a little bit less, to rebuild the economy during the war. mr rebuild the economy during the war. ~ ~ ., ., rebuild the economy during the war. �* �* ., ., ., " rebuild the economy during the war. ~ ~ ., ., ., war. mr milonov, thank you so much for _ war. mr milonov, thank you so much forjoining _ war. mr milonov, thank you so much forjoining us. _ here in the us, mike pence has officiallyjoined the growing field of candidates vying to be the republican 2024 presidential nominee. the former us vice president who served underformer former us vice president who served under former president donald trump is expected to position himself as a continuation of the trump administration's conservative agenda but without the controversy. pants filed his paperwork on monday with the federal election commission and he is expected to publicly launch his campaign with a june seven rally in iowa. meanwhile, attorneys for donald trump met with justice department

officials on monday as an investigation into the former president was much handling of classified documents appears to be nearing an end. the washington post sending —— saying from's lawyers had come to make their case that the former president should not face any charges will stop the meeting stems from a case of a trove of classified documents stored at the mar—a—lago residents after leaving the white house. we can talk about this now with our campaign correspondent at cbs news. bob you've been following all of these div elements today. what do we know about what actually happened in this meeting with doj officials?— happened in this meeting with doj officials? vormer president trum's doj officials? vormer president trump's lawyers _ doj officials? vormer president trump's lawyers about - doj officials? vormer president trump's lawyers about this - trump's lawyers about this morning at the justice morning at thejustice department in washington. they did not make remarks to our cbs news crew but inside they made an argument tojustice an argument to justice department an argument tojustice department officials that this final phase of the document's investigation that the former president should not be charged, and they raised their concerns with how the investigation has unfolded,

especially on the front of attorney—client privilege. they believe the former president has not been treated in a fair way. the special counsel himself, jack smith, was present. listen to the arguments. but there is no sign yet that the special counsel in any way it's wavering from the investigation or the possibility of a charge, and historic charge of the former president. historic charge of the former president-— historic charge of the former president. historic charge of the former resident. ~ , . ~ ., , president. why had we know this investigation, _ president. why had we know this investigation, is _ president. why had we know this investigation, is it _ president. why had we know this investigation, is it likely - president. why had we know this investigation, is it likely we - investigation, is it likely we see a charge and can come down? we know based on our sources with knowledge of the investigation that this investigation that this investigation is near its final phase. they are probably close to finished when it comes to hearing from further witnesses, though they may hear from some additional witnesses in the weeks. the decision we believe based on knowledge of people with the investigation will likely come this month injune. remind us of the other legal troubles the president is facing right now because sometimes it is hard to tell them apart. it sometimes it is hard to tell them apart-— sometimes it is hard to tell them a art. , . ., ., them apart. it is hard and i am not surprised _ them apart. it is hard and i am not surprised if— them apart. it is hard and i am not surprised if some - them apart. it is hard and i am not surprised if some people i not surprised if some people

are confused, i'm confused sometimes as a reporter. i do my best know to keep careful track. we have the ongoing trial and investigation pending in new york, based on the stormy daniels incident from 2016 and that payment, so there is a city investigation and likely trial of trump on the horizon. you have the ongoing federal grand jury investigations, two of them, one on documents, classified records, trump is much handling of them, another onjanuary of them, another on january six, of them, another onjanuary six, and trump has role in that episode, that american tragedy from january of 2021. you also have ongoing investigations in georgia of trump and his allies of how they pressured election officials during the post—2020 period. mi officials during the post-2020 eriod. �* ., , period. all of this coming as we know _ period. all of this coming as we know that _ period. all of this coming as we know that his _ period. all of this coming as we know that his former - period. all of this coming as| we know that his former vice president mike pence, as we mentioned, is officially thrown his hat in the ring. he is vying for that republican presidential nomination. what message is he trying to sell voters on? he message is he trying to sell voters on?— message is he trying to sell voters on? he is reviving an older message _ voters on? he is reviving an older message from - voters on? he is reviving an older message from inside l voters on? he is reviving an i older message from inside the republican party. his run will

be a comeback on a personal level, after doing his duty in january of 2021 to certify the election, but it is also a comeback for a certain strand of american conservatism, that ronald reagan —type republican politics, small government are going to cut taxes, hawkish on foreign policy. he is not going to echo trump as my grievances, trump was my populism, instead offering the republican party a path back to that reagan model. that has made a very busy field of candidates even more crowded. we have some pictures of the list of people at the moment you have actually thrown their hat in the ring. it is going to be a really busy field here, how competitive do you think this race will be, here are all the people who have thrown their hat in the ring so far. if have thrown their hat in the ring so far-— ring so far. if you look at this compositor - ring so far. if you look at this compositor of - ring so far. if you look at - this compositor of contenders and candidate you see a lot of people who are looking for an opening should former president trump ever stumbled

politically, someone like a media and tech entrepreneur, or the media personality, larry elder and of course senator tim scott, former south carolina governor nikki haley and ron desantis what is intriguing about the race right now when you talk to people close to these campaigns that target is not necessarily trump at this early stage, the target is dissenters. many republicans are seeing him as the obstacle, him as the person to get through if they ever want to reach that final match medically speaking in the primary. medically speaking in the rima . ~ medically speaking in the primary-— medically speaking in the rima .~ ~' ., . primary. we know that the former president - primary. we know that the former president is - primary. we know that the former president is still. former president is still leading by a good margin. former president is still leading bya good margin. he leading by a good margin. he: continues to retain his political base from his run in 2016, his run in 2020 but i have been there in iowa, going back there tomorrow to cover p's announcement, i've been there in other early voting states and eigenvalue based on my reporting, while there is a

lot of love or trump by republicans they are also exploring options they believe trump is always going to be a favourite of theirs but that doesn't in that they are going to be committed to him in 2024. and last question to you, you are going to be headed to iowa to see mike pence's official announcement, what chances do you think he has for this nomination?— you think he has for this nomination? former vice president _ nomination? former vice president mike _ nomination? former vice president mike pence - nomination? former vice - president mike pence believes he can be a uniting figure from all these different groups that have fractured during the trump era but still retain some appeal to the trump voter due to his association as vice president with the former president. it is going to be difficult, his whole experience on january difficult, his whole experience onjanuary six, difficult, his whole experience on january six, 2021 difficult, his whole experience onjanuary six, 2021 has been searing for him personally and politically, he will have to deal with that throughout the entire race. irate deal with that throughout the entire race.— entire race. we will certainly be watching. _ entire race. we will certainly be watching, great _ entire race. we will certainly be watching, great to have l entire race. we will certainly i be watching, great to have you with us again.— with us again. thank you. around the _ with us again. thank you. around the world - with us again. thank you. around the world and - with us again. thank you. i around the world and across with us again. thank you. - around the world and across the uk this is bbc news.

bbc news, bringing you different stories from across the uk. when you're flying around on the racecourse, going so fast, with a hundred other people, right on the knife edge of crashing or winning a race, it's really intense. if you make a small mistake, you really get overtaken by a lot of people. in the iqfoil event they can get close to 40 miles an hour and it is a winner takes all format used in the final. with only one place up for grabs in the great britain team, that adds up to a lot of pressure. this year was the first time in my life where i had, it wasn't particularly a dream anymore to go to the olympics or to try to win a medal for great britain, it was like becoming something that could be real. this winter was so difficult, i skipped christmas with my family, i skipped my 30th birthday, my uncle passed away and i couldn't make the funeral, couldn't be with him in his last moments and i certainly visualised a lot the sacrifice and i try to channel that an use that in the performance. for more stories from across the uk head to the bbc news website.

you are watching bbc news. police in brazil have charged two more men over the murder of this journalist two more men over the murder of thisjournalist don two more men over the murder of this journalist don phillips and brazilian indigenous expert bruno pereira. they were shot dead a year ago as they were returning by boat from a porting trip in the amazon. police have accused one of the suspects of being the mastermind behind the killing stopping in afghanistan doctors have told the bbc that there is a catastrophic mental health crisis particularly among women and girls and they reported a

sharp increase of cases of suicide. the united nations has also raised can earn is about the latest trend, a study done has shown that two—thirds of afghan adolescents reported symptoms of depression. that news from afghanistan comes just as the 2023 women peace and security summit is set to take place in washington. earlier i spoke with lois frankel who co—chairs the women peace and security caucus in the us house. thank you so much forjoining us here on bbc news. this isjust the forjoining us here on bbc news. this is just the latest report as we heard, the increasingly dire situation facing women and girls there, what is your women peace and security caucus doing to address this issue? let's start b sa in: address this issue? let's start by saying this _ address this issue? let's start by saying this is _ address this issue? let's start by saying this is a _ address this issue? let's start by saying this is a tragedy, . by saying this is a tragedy, and it's not only a tragedy for the girls and women in afghanistan, but for everyone who believes in freedom, who

understand the importance of girls getting educated and there is not an easy solution to this, somehow we have two find resources through organisations that can get to these young girls to get them educated. the problem obviously as the taliban so how do we help people who are in need, who are under—resourced in afghanistan without interference from the taliban? but just to let you know, interference from the taliban? butjust to let you know, this is a subject matter that we talk about, i'm on the subcommittee that funds our foreign relations portfolio, and although there are some political differences, one thing that we do agree on is the need to get girls educated. you said a number of goals to be reached by the year 2023 and

those goals are, women are prepared and able to participate in efforts that promote stable and lasting peace. women and girls are safer, better protected and have equal access to government and private assistance programmes, and improved capacity in governments to ensure these efforts are sustainable and long lasting these goals are set up to be achieved by 2023 so how have they been achieved? aha, achieved by 2023 so how have they been achieved?— achieved by 2023 so how have they been achieved? a work in rocess, they been achieved? a work in process. in _ they been achieved? a work in process, in fact _ they been achieved? a work in process, in fact today - they been achieved? a work in process, in fact today i've - they been achieved? a work in process, in fact today i've met| process, in fact today i've met with women parliamentarians who around the world, we were at a reception to kickoff a week—long conference sponsored by romania, the united states, to discuss these very issues and some really outstanding women that have been meeting and talking about this. it is not a magic wand. let's start with the concept. the concept is that when girls and women have access to education, economic opportunities, are free from violence and

obviously educated, there are communities are safer and more peaceful. it also means empowering women, making sure that there is equality, that women are in leadership positions in government and at the table during peace negotiations because the research shows that when women are at the table, peace is much longer lasting. this are at the table, peace is much longer lasting-— longer lasting. as we are talkin: longer lasting. as we are talking about _ longer lasting. as we are talking about peace - longer lasting. as we are talking about peace and. talking about peace and security would like to ask you about the war in ukraine and us support. there is a pentagon supplemented package that looks like it could tee—up a potential fight like it could tee—up a potentialfight in like it could tee—up a potential fight in the fall with ukraine funding, some republicans want to scale back that funding, use it on the subcommittee that deals with ukraine funding in the house, what you picked to see in this fight? i what you picked to see in this fiuht? , , fight? i still believe the overwhelming - fight? i still believe the overwhelming majority| fight? i still believe the i overwhelming majority of members of congress understand what is at stake, it is not just the freedom in the lives of people in ukraine but it matters for the world. today i heard a report from one of the

ukrainian parliamentarians, a woman, and all she could really talk about was getting the weapons, so it is interesting because she came from a background where she calls herself a piece protester. a peace proponent and now she says all she can think about is ukraine having the weapons to defend themselves, and so i expect that the united states will be in this for the long run. : : , will be in this for the long run. : ., , ., ~' run. and finally you talked about needing _ run. and finally you talked about needing to - run. and finally you talked about needing to have - run. and finally you talked - about needing to have women at the table for security and peace, we've heard various proposals now for a path to peace for ukraine, what role do you think women have two play in finding a piece or ukraine. ukraine is no different than any other country in terms of wanting long lasting peace. obviously they are not at that stage yet. what we talked about

today, at this peace and security session, what we heard from ukraine as they need to defend themselves, they need to win this war. it is not a conflict, it is a war, they said and we need the weapons to defend ourselves and at some point, we hope there will be a negotiated peace and if it is going to be a lasting peace, they have to have women at the table and women have really stepped up in a big way in ukraine. they are not only on the front fighting but they have taken a huge positions in support of the armies and unfortunately, are of the victims of the tools of war with children being kidnapped and of course women having to flee to other countries, but with that said, the women in ukraine are ready and able to be at that piece able. irate ukraine are ready and able to be at that piece able.- be at that piece able. we will have to leave _ be at that piece able. we will have to leave it _ be at that piece able. we will have to leave it there, - be at that piece able. we will have to leave it there, thank| have to leave it there, thank

you so much forjoining us copy ——at that peace table. and thank you for watching bbc news. hello, there. ourfine, dry run of weather continued on monday. plenty of sunshine out west, bit more cloud in the east, and that created some cooler air that then flowed across the uk, hence the lower temperatures that we had — for example, london going from 23 on sunday to 18 for a high on monday. the highest temperatures out west, 24 celsius, warm in the sunshine. we'll see some changes in the weather picture, though, over the next few days, and it's all down to storm oscar that's bringing torrential rain to madeira. some strong gusts of wind there, as well. oscar itself doesn't actually make it to the uk — it stays to the southwest — but it will be transporting some much warmer air our way. humidity levels rising, as will the temperatures through the weekend, mid—to—high 20s. but it won't be dry everywhere, there will be some fairly hefty thundery showers around, as well, to watch out for — something that gardeners might want, actually, given how dry the weather's been over the last few weeks. now, at the moment, we're seeing cloud come back in off

the north sea, affecting central and eastern scotland, central and eastern england, eastern parts of wales, too. and so, for these areas, we start the day tuesday with a lot of cloud that cool breeze with us, notable again first thing in the morning. out west, sunshine from the word go once again. now, where you start cloudy, that cloud will probably get burned back towards those north sea coasts by the time we get to the afternoon, so most areas will brighten up, but there could be some areas in the east. there the cloud loiters, the onshore winds continue to blow, it'll feel quite cool, 14—15 celsius — and that is a feature of the weather we've seen so far this month. for example, in holbeach in lincolnshire, the average forjune's 19 celsius — we'll be nowhere near that so far this month, on account of often cloudy weather we've seen, and often those chilly northeasterly winds. and another feature of the weather we've got at the moment is some of you will see quite high levels of pollen — and it's grass pollen we have at the moment — so if you're allergic to that, you might find it being a bit sneezy on tuesday. wednesday, probably less in the way of cloud around. what little cloud there is could loiter across some

english eastern coasts, but otherwise more sunshine, and so probably temperatures a little bit higher, 24, maybe 25 out west. and over the next few days, more of the same — it's really into the weekend that we see those temperatures rise, along with the humidity, and we'll probably start to see showers and thunderstorms break out, as well.