and the corporation's editor in chief speaks for the first time since the crisis began. i think one thing i would say, these are clearly damaging to the bbc. it is not a good situation. hello, i'm sumi somaskanda. thank you forjoining us. we begin tonight with a rift at the nato summit that is now slowly being repaired. the issue is not if ukraine will enter the alliance, but when. and that question of timing has created tensions at the ongoing leaders summit in lithuania. nato leaders committed to inviting ukraine tojoin the military alliance when "conditions are met". but that's a blow to ukrainian president volodymr zelenskyy, who wants a firm timeline for entry. early in the day, a frustrated zelenskyy slammed nato allies, tweeting:

jens stoltenberg then presented a smoother path to membership. it would remove some of the bureaucracy, including scrapping a key part of the two step process, called the member action plan, that the bloc agreed to back in 2008. we reaffirmed that ukraine will become a member of nato. and agreed to remove the requirement for a membership action plan. this would change ukraine's membership path from a two—step process to a one—step process. we also made clear that we will issue an invitation for ukraine to join nato when allies agree and conditions are met. ukraine still hasn't received a concrete timeline for membership. but after stoltenberg's comments, zelensky softened his tone while addressing

crowds in vilnius. translation: i came here today believin: translation: i came here today believing in _ translation: i came here today believing in the _ translation: i came here today believing in the partners, - translation: i came here today believing in the partners, in - translation: i came here today believing in the partners, in a - believing in the partners, in a strong data, in a nato that does not doubt, does not waste time and does not turn head toward any aggressor. ukraine will make nato stronger and nato will make ukraine safer. bbc�*s security correspondent, gordon corera, has more on ukraine's nato bid from kyiv. no—one thought membership was on the cut immediately. after all, ukraine is involved in a war with russia and the point of nato is its collective defence. an attack on one is an attack on all. with it would effectively drag nato into that war and that was never likely. but it is the extent of the commitment that matters to ukraine. they have had more promises of weapons and that is certainly important, they need those weapons to continue the fight against russia, but they also feel they need that

long—term commitment of security that comes from nato membership. without that, they fear that the appetite of the west, of nato to continue support might deem overtime and that russia will simply wait them out. that membership is vital and is seen as such here in ukraine. the view here is it is one step forward. perhaps some disappointment although they are being careful not to express it, after all the summit is still going on and there will be more meetings in there will be more meetings in the second day but sadly a feeling that while there is one step forward, they still need more, they want more clarity about what nato will offer and they hope they will get that at next year's summit, one mp told me. a lot to discuss with my guests. joining me is ian brzezinski, former deputy assistant secretary of defense for europe and nato policy, and evelyn farkas, former deputy assistant secretary of defense for russia, ukraine, eurasia.

good evening to you both. what did you make of the rift we saw in lithuania? i did you make of the rift we saw in lithuania?— in lithuania? i do not think it is a big rift — in lithuania? i do not think it is a big rift in _ in lithuania? i do not think it is a big rift in nato. - in lithuania? i do not think it is a big rift in nato. i - in lithuania? i do not think it is a big rift in nato. i think. is a big rift in nato. i think it is an exaggeration. so far the summit has been a success for the alliance. it has got sweden over the hurdle to become the next nato member, the 32nd member. it strengthens nato. the alliance has taken steps to enforce its eastern frontier and have demonstrated unanimously in his support to help ukraine defeat russia's invasion and even for ukraine this was a step forward. they did not get the invitation that they decide and i believe they should have gotten but if you look beyond the communicate, this summit has seen and precedent to support for ukraine's membership aspirations. ukraine needs to average that as i go to

washington.— average that as i go to washington. there was frustration _ washington. there was frustration earlier - washington. there was frustration earlier in . washington. there was | frustration earlier in the washington. there was - frustration earlier in the day by zelensky. it frustration earlier in the day by zelensky-— by zelensky. it is taking a costly and _ by zelensky. it is taking a costly and challenging - costly and challenging counteroffensive and they are doing and in the interest of the alliance territory, security and value so they are fighting for our so they have a right to desire to be in nato but the fact of the matter is, if you compare where ukraine was just a year if you compare where ukraine wasjust a year ago if you compare where ukraine was just a year ago it is if you compare where ukraine wasjust a year ago it is night and day. that is progress. [30 and day. that is progress. do ou and day. that is progress. do you agree this is not really a rift? , . rift? yes, i agree with everythingian - rift? yes, i agree with everythingian said. i rift? yes, i agree with l everythingian said. the rift? yes, i agree with - everythingian said. the fact of the matter is that for ukraine if this— the matter is that for ukraine if this is— the matter is that for ukraine if this is actually a victory. it if this is actually a victory. it is — if this is actually a victory. it is not _ if this is actually a victory. it is not what president zelensky wanted and i agree wiibian— zelensky wanted and i agree withian it is not what ukraine deserves _ withian it is not what ukraine deserves. i advocate for letting _ deserves. i advocate for letting ukraine into nato now,

doing — letting ukraine into nato now, doing work around areas that the ukrainian government does not control, the territory does not control, the territory does not control, the territory does not control but nevertheless, short — not control but nevertheless, short of— not control but nevertheless, short of that, what we have given — short of that, what we have given it _ short of that, what we have given it ukraine is much more of a _ given it ukraine is much more of a guarantee that they had before _ of a guarantee that they had before. the removal of most of the impediments, although some of the _ the impediments, although some of the language of course makes it sound — of the language of course makes it sound like they are expecting more from ukraine, probably— expecting more from ukraine, probably on democratic reform, which _ probably on democratic reform, which is — probably on democratic reform, which is fine. but i have what it shows _ which is fine. but i have what it shows is _ which is fine. but i have what it shows is that there is not an analyte that does not want ukrainian. maybe some of them were _ ukrainian. maybe some of them were more — ukrainian. maybe some of them were more quiet. —— and ally. sweden — were more quiet. —— and ally. swedenjoining nato. the sweden joining nato. the turkish _ swedenjoining nato. the turkish president said ukraine should — turkish president said ukraine should become a member of nato. the move — should become a member of nato. the move is— should become a member of nato. the move is very different from a year— the move is very different from a year ago _ the move is very different from a year ago and it is family soppori_ a year ago and it is family support of ukraine.- a year ago and it is family support of ukraine. you have both written _ support of ukraine. you have both written about _ support of ukraine. you have both written about the - support of ukraine. you have both written about the fact i support of ukraine. you have i both written about the fact you would support ukraine's

membership in nato. a military historian wrote an op—ed in the washington post with the headline:. it makes a few arguments as to why ukraine should notjoin nato. russia could continue to prolong the war. i could continue to prolong the war. ~' war. i think quite the opposite _ war. i think quite the opposite. max - war. i think quite the opposite. max is - war. i think quite the opposite. max is a i war. i think quite the - opposite. max is a brilliant quy opposite. max is a brilliant guy but i think in this case is fundamentally wrong. what we have learned over the last three decades, countries who are not in nato tend to be attacked by russia. the case with georgia and ukraine twice now. if you look at the baltics, they are far more vulnerable than ukraine but they have not been in touch because they have security of a nato membership. we have left ukraine to lock in a grey zone of european security and grey zones attract violence and

aggression. they have gotten into violence. twice now. we should be moving decisively to eliminate these grey zones. but how do you _ eliminate these grey zones. but how do you do that? if there is a time said, wouldn't that give russia the ability to prolong this while as long as possible? you do not have to get tied into timelines. you have to demonstrate clearly to both ukrainians and russians that ukraine will unambiguously get into the alliance and you look for a process. a process that negotiations with ukraine, working with ukraine to figure out what other conditions necessary, are the requirements to ensure article five extension is credible. when you do that, you communicate to ukraine are going to be in, they deserve that today, equally important you communicate to the russians that ukraine is off the table.

it is critical to show that vladimir putin hegemonic aspirations are untenable. you have talked — aspirations are untenable. you have talked about _ aspirations are untenable. you have talked about nato membership offer now. members have agreed it is not possible because what is going on. president biden has said that would mean the us is at war with russia. what do you think of that? i with russia. what do you think of that? ., ., ~' of that? i do not think it would be _ of that? i do not think it would be the _ of that? i do not think it would be the us - of that? i do not think it would be the us is - of that? i do not think it would be the us is at i of that? l do not think it| would be the us is at war of that? l do not think it- would be the us is at war with russie — would be the us is at war with russia. during the cold war, granted _ russia. during the cold war, granted there was not ongoing fighting, but we had east berlin _ fighting, but we had east berlin in the middle of nato territory. the spelling doctor or rather— territory. the spelling doctor or rather west was in the middle _ or rather west was in the middle of territory controlled by the — middle of territory controlled by the soviets and we were able to essentially say, ok, we're not going _ to essentially say, ok, we're not going to extend a territorial defence guaranteed to that — territorial defence guaranteed to that portion of germany or at least — to that portion of germany or at least not to the other part

of germany, east germany. and i think— of germany, east germany. and i think in_ of germany, east germany. and i think in this — of germany, east germany. and i think in this day and age we should _ think in this day and age we should be able to say, the part of ukraine _ should be able to say, the part of ukraine that ukrainian government controls today, those — government controls today, those parts of ukraine should enter— those parts of ukraine should enter nato as ukrainian sovereign state and the nest can be — sovereign state and the nest can be negotiated later... i can be negotiated later... have to can be negotiated later... i have tojump in there and have to jump in there and asked, what would that look like if certain parts of ukrainian territory are able to join nato and russia does enter those parts of ukraine because as we know of war is unpredictable. ii as we know of war is unpredictable.- as we know of war is unpredictable. if it enters those errors _ unpredictable. if it enters those errors than - unpredictable. if it enters those errors than russia | unpredictable. if it enters i those errors than russia has chosen — those errors than russia has chosen to _ those errors than russia has chosen to enter into war with the united states and it is my point — the united states and it is my point. the president thinks we would — point. the president thinks we would somehow enter into war with— would somehow enter into war with russia if ukraine gets into— with russia if ukraine gets into nato. that is not the case _ into nato. that is not the case if _ into nato. that is not the case. if you make it clear that the places— case. if you make it clear that the places where the russians are attacking today and fighting with ukrainians, they will not — fighting with ukrainians, they will not enter nato and i will concede _ will not enter nato and i will concede that this is a tricky

issue _ concede that this is a tricky issue i_ concede that this is a tricky issue. i mean, to slice it. but my point— issue. i mean, to slice it. but my point is— issue. i mean, to slice it. but my point is that ukraine deserves this and we should be giving — deserves this and we should be giving it— deserves this and we should be giving it a — deserves this and we should be giving it a serious look. i know _ giving it a serious look. i know that it is controversial so realistically i would be happy _ so realistically i would be happy if we just said ukraine can be — happy if we just said ukraine can be a _ happy if we just said ukraine can be a member at the next nato — can be a member at the next nato summit. that also would help _ nato summit. that also would help because it would not only signal— help because it would not only signal to— help because it would not only signal to the russians but i actually— signal to the russians but i actually think it would be important to motivate us to support— important to motivate us to support ukraine and get this wasn't — support ukraine and get this wasn't done faster because we have _ wasn't done faster because we have been slow and we have not given _ have been slow and we have not given it — have been slow and we have not given it ukraine everything it needs— given it ukraine everything it needs at— given it ukraine everything it needs at the right time so if we are — needs at the right time so if we are motivated to meet that deadline _ we are motivated to meet that deadline, that will also be helpful. if deadline, that will also be hel ful. deadline, that will also be helful. .., deadline, that will also be helful. ., ., ., helpful. if i could add to that oint, if helpful. if i could add to that point, if ukraine _ helpful. if i could add to that point, if ukraine enters - helpful. if i could add to that| point, if ukraine enters nato, at a certain point, at that time, magicalfive and extends to the territory ukraine controls, then the bolt would be in russia's on. based on the performance militarily by russia, it would not want to do

that. . , . russia, it would not want to do that. ., , ., ., , that. certainly a risky gamble but likely something - that. certainly a risky gamble but likely something we - that. certainly a risky gamble | but likely something we would see president biden discussed with president zelensky... there are no next steps without risk. there is risk with extending nato membership but clearly risks that come with a continuing costly war. another as - ect continuing costly war. another aspect discussed _ continuing costly war. another aspect discussed at _ continuing costly war. another aspect discussed at the - continuing costly war. another l aspect discussed at the summit, president biden met with turkey's president recep tayyip erdogan. agreement for sweden tojoin nato. and mr biden congratulated his counterpart. recep tayyip erdogan saying a new process had been negotiated. they discussed efforts to discuss bilateral cooperation, building on previous dogs with the countries to work together strategically. they covered regional issues and the commitment to support ukraine both militarily and in the war against russia and preserving stability in the aegean region

including changing views on defence and economic priorities. separately the us state department said washington would go ahead with the sales of f—i6 fighterjets to take it one more item, nato members issued a stark warning on saying... so in coming back to turkey. why do you think washington approved this now? these f—i6 jets, washington approved this now? these f—i6jets, wasn't in washington approved this now? these f—i6 jets, wasn't in for turkey to approve sweden into nato? ., , ., ., ., , nato? the administration has been very _ nato? the administration has been very quiet _ nato? the administration has been very quiet on _ nato? the administration has been very quiet on that. - nato? the administration has been very quiet on that. i - nato? the administration has been very quiet on that. i do | been very quiet on that. i do not know what has been said behind closed doors. i will make two points. first and foremost, we want turkey to have f—i6s, we want them to have f—i6s, we want them to have a credible fighting force and a credible air force. it is in our interest and nato's interest for the turks to have

those planes. point number two, if that helps push recep tayyip erdogan over the edge, why not? it is a double win. [30 erdogan over the edge, why not? it is a double win.— it is a double win. do you agree? — it is a double win. do you agree? yes _ it is a double win. do you agree? yes i _ it is a double win. do you agree? yes i do - it is a double win. do you agree? yes i do and - it is a double win. do you agree? yes i do and i'll. it is a double win. do you l agree? yes i do and i'll add it is a double win. do you - agree? yes i do and i'll add a couple — agree? yes i do and i'll add a couple of— agree? yes i do and i'll add a couple of other points. turkey needs— couple of other points. turkey needs nato to look credible and strong — needs nato to look credible and strong because turkey is not allied — strong because turkey is not allied with russia, just like the balance between nato and russia — the balance between nato and russia sometimes. secondly, i think— russia sometimes. secondly, i think turkey is in dire economic straits and so recep tayyip — economic straits and so recep tayyip erdogan may be calculating that he needs to be closer— calculating that he needs to be closer to — calculating that he needs to be closer to the nato allies and the european union which also came — the european union which also came up— the european union which also came up in the context of sweden's sessions to nato. one more question _ sweden's sessions to nato. one more question on _ sweden's sessions to nato. iaz more question on china, we mentioned the communique rejecting the china —related content. is it the unity among nato members about the threat china poses? i would say there is much more growing unity and almost unity,

there are some members like hungary that enjoy the benefits of chinese investment and getting close to fellow, frankly, non—democrat, but by and large, i think most of the nato nations have woken up to the potential threat posed by china and are interested in working with the united states to mitigate the threat. they still want to do trade with china as do most american companies and the american government but i do think our nato allies understand the danger in not standing up to china. i danger in not standing up to china. ~ , danger in not standing up to china. ~' , ., , ., china. i think evelyn has got it flat rate. _ china. i think evelyn has got it flat rate, my _ china. i think evelyn has got it flat rate, my hope - china. i think evelyn has got it flat rate, my hope is - china. i think evelyn has got it flat rate, my hope is thatl it flat rate, my hope is that it flat rate, my hope is that it serves _ it flat rate, my hope is that it serves as a catalyst for the transatlantic strategy for the indo—pacific, for dealing with the challenges and opportunities posed by china having — opportunities posed by china having an increasing global reach — having an increasing global reach nato would be the perfect institution catalyse the military dimension that will also — military dimension that will also have political and economic dimensions. really interesting — economic dimensions. really interesting discussion - economic dimensions. really interesting discussion with i interesting discussion with both of you, discussing all of

the happenings at today's nato summit and of course it is continuing on tomorrow so we will see what developments we witness there are. thank you both and good evening to you both. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. bringing you different stories from across the uk. serving a vital community function, badges has been here since the 19th century but it could be gone by the end of the summer. it could be gone by the end of the summer. , ., , , summer. it is not 'ust tennis, it is a summer. it is notjust tennis, it is a community. _ summer. it is notjust tennis, it is a community. with - summer. it is notjust tennis, | it is a community. with players young and old they train people of all abilities. the club is on land owned by the same people that run the camps and pharmacy chain which has 80 branches in the southeast, one of them less than half a mile down the road. we have tried to get in touch with the company had so far they have refused to comment but it's understood plans to convert the site to housing have been in the pipeline for a decade. initially they took up closing just the four courts but the club has now been served an eviction notice and the plans

which require permission to change the use of the land designated for sports facilities are not supported by the local council of. with just a couple of months to challenge the eviction they will take their fight to wimbledon this week, leafleting the tennis faithful for support. for more stories from across the uk, head to the bbc news website. you're live with bbc news. a second set of serious allegations involving a person in their 20s has emerged — related to the behaviour of the bbc presenter who's accused of sending money for sexually explicit photographs. bbc news spoke to the individual who revealed that they first came into contact with the male presenter on a dating app. while they are not alleging criminal behaviour, they are accusing him of being menacing and abusive. in a moment we will have the latest from our media editor katie razzall on the sun's latest article with the new allegations but first here's our special correspondent lucy manning with the second set of serious claims.

this is a person, to be clear, who bbc news approached. we understood they may have information about the presenter�*s behaviour. this is a different young person, to be clear, from the one that the sun has been writing about. this individual in their 20s was first contacted anonymously by the male presenter on a dating app, and after the two had first connected on the app, the conversation moved to private messaging. and at that stage, the presenter revealed his identity and told the young person not to tell anyone. that individual has told bbc news they were surprised to find out who it was and they felt under some pressure to meet up with the presenter but actually they never did and later, that individual online alluded to having conduct with a bbc presenter and implied that they would name him publicly online at some point. the presenter reacted

by sending a number of messages which the individual has described as threatening. they say they felt threatened. we have seen those messages, they were abusive, expletive—filled messages. speaking to bbc news, the young person said they had been scared by the power the presenter held, they said the threats made in the messages had frightened them and they remain scared. while the individual has spoken to us at bbc news, they have not made a complaint to the bbc corporate investigations unit which is looking into the original allegations from the sun. these new claims of menacing, bullying type behaviour by the high—profile presenter suggest fresh questions about his conduct, which is why we feel it is right to report them. bbc news has contacted the presenter and his lawyer but have not had any formal response. the director general of the bbc, tim davie, defended the corporation's handling of the initial complaint against the presenter.

the bbc was first contacted almost eight weeks ago by the family, claiming their child had received money for sexually explicit photos. but the presenter was not spoken to by the corporation until last thursday. 0ur media editor katie razzall reports. the bbc at the centre of a storm. not a good situation, the director—general said today. claim and counterclaim goes on about a bbc presenter, still unnamed, explicit photographs, and quite what the bbc did when a family complained. in his first interview since the crisis erupted, tim davie said he had launched an internal review of bbc complaints procedure. i think there is a valid question that i am asking which is, how are complaints like this red flagged through the organisation? i want that immediately looked at and also review the overall process and protocols to make sure we are satisfied by them. today, as it published its annual report, the bbc offered up a new timeline.

the key information is around how they handled that early complaint. 0n the 18th of may, a family member went into a bbc building to try to complain. the next day, their complaint reached the corporate investigations team who, we are told, felt it didn't involve criminality, but was serious. 0n the same day, they e—mailed the family member, who didn't respond. more than two weeks later, they called the mobile given, but the call didn't connect. the case was kept open. a month later, the sun contacted the bbc corporate press office with what the bbc said contained new allegations. after that, with the top executives informed, the complainant interviewed, and the presenter spoken to for the first time, action was swift. it was a difficult situation in which we were not getting a response to attempts to get more information. when the information came to me on the 6th ofjuly, i think we acted very speedily. that action included

suspending the presenter. the director—general told me today he has not personally spoken to the still unnamed presenter throughout this, but mr davie is still under pressure, particularly over how much effort was made to investigate that serious complaint made in may. that timeline today they have released, i have to tell you, is very damning. the idea that after you get a complaint of any kind from concerned parents saying a major presenter is giving vast amounts of money and turning my child into a drug addict, whether or not it is true, because you can't know at that stage, you have to ring alarm bells like mad. the bbc has now spoken publicly. the sun has not. though it has pushed back on the claims by the lawyer for the young person at the heart of this that its story is rubbish and that nothing inappropriate or unlawful went on between the client and the presenter. today, the sun had the family standing by their story, asking how their loved one

could even afford a lawyer. the paper told us it felt the family is being attacked for not understanding the bbc complaints system. with the police now involved, the met has asked the bbc to pause its own investigation, but the corporation does feel damaged by this story. i think the bbc is often in the midst of quite painful and difficult affairs and storms. i think one thing i would say is these are damaging, these are clearly damaging to the bbc. it's not a good situation. there have now been days of headlines and media attention. but no real sign of the story reaching an end. and katie has more on the allegations made in the sun newspaper tonight, which says the unnamed bbc presenter broke covid lockdown rules to meet a young person he had met on a dating site. the newspaper says it has seen messages that as well as

visiting the young present�*s home, he also sent money and received a half naked photograph. of course, to reiterate, we do not know the truth of this ourselves but there is other pressure now on there is other pressure now on the presenter from a there is other pressure now on the presenterfrom a bbc colleague because tonight jeremy vine has tweeted that he thinks the man involved in the scandal should now come forward publicly. vine rememberfelt the need to come out at the weekend along with others including nicky campbell to say they aren't, they were not the unnamed presenter. vine says these new allegations today will result in more vitriol being thrown at innocent the unnamed presenter, loves, is on his knees with this. on his knees is in the phrase that tim davie today although he did accept it was difficult. let's get a quick look at some other headlines.

a michigan jury found that a 2014 document discovered in artetha franklin's couch after her death is a valid will. the two—day trial pitted the queen of soul's children against each other aruging over two handwritten wills. this ends a nearly five—year legal fight over the star's multi—million dollar foturne. a former charles manson follower, who played a role in the double murder of a los angeles couple in 1969, is out of prison. leslie van houten, who was 19 when the murders were committed, served more than half a century in prison. i'm sumi somaskanda in washington, thank you for watching bbc news, stay with us. clinic hello. clinic well, southern parts of europe in the grip of a heat wave at the moment. we continue to be in the grip of some big shower clouds, more of them around through the rest of this week, even some longer spells of rain and stronger winds by the time we hit friday. why? well, low pressure is dominant, we've just got various areas

revolving around the same part of north west europe, which continues to bring showers to the north and west into the start of wednesday morning. a slightly fresher start for many of you compared with tuesday morning, but a sunnier one for the south and eastern england as well as the midlands. won't take long, though, for the clouds are build up, showers are in the west, will start to work their way eastwards. a stronger wind across the uk on wednesday, and that means those showers will rattle through quite quickly for some of you. for one or two it be one after another, after another, with a bit of sunshine in between. it does mean that some of you avoid them altogether. nice enough in the sunshine, but overall, temperatures a little bit down on where you want this stage in the year. so there could be the odd passing shower in that breeze at wimbledon. the breeze will probably be pretty noticeable and a bit troublesome, i think, on the outside courts. but a lot of the time, it will be dry. showers continue into the evening, most will fade away then through wednesday night into thursday morning. and with the winds falling a little bit lighter, it's going to be a little bit cooler still. away from the towns and city centres, there will be

temperatures widely into single figures. but the chart for thursday shows we're almost in between this area of low pressure clearing away, this one pushing in, brief ridge of high pressure, that does mean whilst we will still have some showers around, perhaps not as many as we started the week, and the ones we do see will be a little bit lighter. still prone to them, though, scotland and parts of north northeast england, but elsewhere, some longer spells of sunshine. and with winds lighter than wednesday, it mayjust start to feel a touch warmer. first signs of something, thougn, a bit more potent coming in to ireland as we see the day out. and through thursday night into friday, an area of low pressure looks set to wind its way up. details may change a little bit, but as well as heavy rain pushing its way northwards and eastwards, we're going to see strong—to—gale force winds, particularly to the south in the west. bear that in mind if you're travelling around on friday or if you've got plans to spend a few nights under canvas. some in the southeast may stay reasonably dry, driest of all, brightest in the far north of scotland, but it'll feel cool in the strong winds that are around. it stays windy into saturday, sunshine and showers, some of those heavy and thundery, maybe fewer showers across

the south on sunday.

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