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. we begin tonight with a dispute 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:

and he added: nato head 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. our europe editor katya adler reports now from vilnius. disappointed, volodymyr zelensky put on a brave face today for supporters in the lithuanian capital. translation: i came here today believing in partners, _ in a nato that does not waste time. ukraine will make nato stronger. nato will make ukraine safer. a very different tone from his tweet earlier in the day, when he blasted the military alliance as absurd and weak for not agreeing a timetable for kyiv to join the club. as confirmed by nato�*s secretary—general...

the invitation will be issued when conditions are met. this is not the picture of absolute unity nato was hoping for at its summit, which leaders here know vladimir putin is watching closely from moscow. this is ukraine today. ravaged by war, a year—and—a—half into russia's full scale invasion. fighting to keep its independence, and defend wider european security, it says. arriving in vilnius for the nato summit the prime minister said all allies should up defence spending. priorities for this summit are to strengthen that alliance, so that we face the threats of the future and protect ourselves adequately against them, but also to continue supporting ukraine. the government has announced a big increase in production of nato standard artillery shells in the uk. ukraine needs the tools to push russia back. kyiv is grateful, but wants more.

what ukraine wants is a seat at nato�*s table, membership of the club, and why? because of nato�*s mutual defence clause, which means an attack against one member is seen as an attack against all of them. after a ceasefire, says kyiv, that is the way to stop moscow ever thinking of invading again, but here, nato allies are divided. baltic states like lithuania, hosting today's summit, border russia and fear it. ukraine should join nato sooner rather than later, they all say. we also owe it to the ukrainians, because they are fighting there so that the british, estonians, americans don't have to fight with russia. but the us and germany are more hesitant. they fear direct conflict with russia, if ukraine joins nato any time soon. this is not a competition, who is at what moment at what point. the most important thing is that we are all increasing

our military support for ukraine. tonight, ukraine's president was given a seat at nato�*s table... ..for dinner at least. the spat over membership aside, this relationship is close. katya adler, bbc news, vilnius. president biden met one—on—one with turkey's president tayyip erdogan on the sidelines of the summit. there was little mentioned about turkey's agreement allowing sweden tojoin nato, but mr biden did congratulate his counterpart on the critical deal. the two leaders focused on strengthening ties between the countries, with mr erdogan saying a "new process" had been initiated. in the meeting, the presidents discussed efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation — building on previous talks for the countries to work together strategically. they covered regional issues of shared diplomatic interest, which includes their commitment to support ukraine both militarily in theirwaragainst russia, preserving stability in the aegean region which included exchanging views

on defence and economic priorities. separately, the us state department said washington would go ahead with the sale of f—16 fighter jets to turkey. earlier, i discussed all this with evelyn farkas, former deputy assistant secretary of defence for russia, ukraine, and eurasia — and ian brzezinski, former deputy secretary of defence for europe and nato policy. what did you make of the rift we saw in vilnius on tuesday? i do not think it is a big rift nato, there is an exaggeration of that, so far and we still have another eight to go the summit has been successful for the alliance, it has got swing over the hurdle to become the next nato member the 32nd member, that locks in the baltic sea it strengthens nato stop — mcsween. they are taking steps to reinforce the eastern frontier and demonstrating unanimity and support to help ukraine defeat the russian

invasion. even for ukraine this was a step forward. they did not get the invitation they desired and i believe they should have gotten, but if you look beyond the communique this summit is unique because we have had unprecedented support in the alliance for ukraine's membership aspiration. ukraine needs to leverage that as they go to washington. we needs to leverage that as they go to washington.— go to washington. we saw zelensky _ go to washington. we saw zelensky use _ go to washington. we saw zelensky use the - go to washington. we saw zelensky use the word - go to washington. we saw i zelensky use the word absurd and issue frustration earlier in the day. and issue frustration earlier in the day-— in the day. this is a country turned -- _ in the day. this is a country turned -- undertaking - in the day. this is a country turned -- undertaking a - in the day. this is a country i turned -- undertaking a costly turned —— undertaking a costly and expensive counteroffensive, they are doing it in the defence of the alliance's security, they have the right to have a desire to be in nato stop when you compare to where ukraine was in its membership aspiration is a year ago, it is night and day. united states and germany are now isolated in the hesitancy to launch this process, that is progress. [30 process, that is progress. do ou process, that is progress. do you agree — process, that is progress. do you agree this is not really a

rift? i you agree this is not really a rift? . , rift? i agree with everything ian said- — rift? i agree with everything ian said. the _ rift? i agree with everything ian said. the fact _ rift? i agree with everything ian said. the fact of - rift? i agree with everything ian said. the fact of the - ian said. the fact of the matter— ian said. the fact of the matter is, ukraine for ukraine this is— matter is, ukraine for ukraine this is a — matter is, ukraine for ukraine this is a victory, this is not what — this is a victory, this is not what president zelensky wanted and i_ what president zelensky wanted and i agree with ian it is not what — and i agree with ian it is not what ukraine deserves, i'm one of those — what ukraine deserves, i'm one of those people who advocate for letting ukraine into nato now — for letting ukraine into nato now. doing workarounds for the areas _ now. doing workarounds for the areas that— now. doing workarounds for the areas that ukrainian government does _ areas that ukrainian government does not — areas that ukrainian government does not control, the territory does — does not control, the territory does not _ does not control, the territory does not control. nevertheless, short— does not control. nevertheless, short of— does not control. nevertheless, short of that, what we have given — short of that, what we have given ukraine, what nato has given— given ukraine, what nato has given ukraine, what nato has given ukraine is much more they guarantee — given ukraine is much more they guarantee than they had before, a removal— guarantee than they had before, a removal of most of the impediments to a political vote although some of the language makes — although some of the language makes it— although some of the language makes it sound like they are expecting more from ukraine, probably— expecting more from ukraine, probably undemocratic reforms, which _ probably undemocratic reforms, which is — probably undemocratic reforms, which is fine. i think overall what — which is fine. i think overall what it— which is fine. i think overall what it shows is that there is not an— what it shows is that there is not an ally that does not want ukraine — not an ally that does not want ukraine in. maybe some of them were _ ukraine in. maybe some of them were more — ukraine in. maybe some of them were more quiet but you had a country— were more quiet but you had a country like turkey which dug

its heels _ country like turkey which dug its heels and against sweden joining — its heels and against sweden joining nato until the last minute, saying, of its own volition _ minute, saying, of its own volition president erdogan said. _ volition president erdogan said, ukraine should become a member— said, ukraine should become a member of nato. ian is correct, the mood — member of nato. ian is correct, the mood is— member of nato. ian is correct, the mood is very different from a year— the mood is very different from a year ago _ the mood is very different from a year ago and firmly in sopport_ a year ago and firmly in support of ukraine. | a year ago and firmly in support of ukraine. i want to ask ou support of ukraine. i want to ask you both _ support of ukraine. i want to ask you both because - support of ukraine. i want to ask you both because you . support of ukraine. i want to l ask you both because you have both written about the fact you would support ukraine's membership in nato. i want to ask you about something we have seen from max boot, he wrote an op—edin seen from max boot, he wrote an op—ed in the washington post with the headline, ukraine and they take my heart says yes. but my head says no. that was the headline on the screen, he makes a few arguments as to why ukraine should notjoin nato including the argument of ukraine is granted a date to join nato, russia would continue to prolong the war, what do you think of that? i think quite the opposite, max is a brilliant guy but in this case fundamentally wrong. the lesson we have learned over the last three decades countries

that are not in nato tends to get attacked by russia, the case with georgia and ukraine twice now, if you look at the baltics, far more vulnerable than ukraine they have not been touched because they have the security from nato membership. we have left ukraine in a grey zone too long of european security, grey zones attract violence and aggression, they have catalysed food's hegemonic aspirations into violence, twice now, so we should learn that we should be moving decisively to eliminate these grey zones with european security. grey zones with european security-— grey zones with european security. how to do that if there was _ security. how to do that if there was a _ security. how to do that if there was a time - security. how to do that if there was a time like - security. how to do that if there was a time like this | security. how to do that if. there was a time like this it wouldn't that give russia the ability to prolong the war as long as possible to prevent ukraine from joining nato? you ukraine from “oining nato? you do not have — ukraine fromjoining nato? you do not have to _ ukraine fromjoining nato? you do not have to get _ ukraine from joining nato? wi, do not have to get tied into timelines you have two demonstrate ukrainians and russians that ukraine will unambiguously get into the alliance, you look for a process, a process involving

negotiations with the ukraine and working with ukraine to figure out what are the conditions necessary, what are the requirements nato needs to undertake to make sure the article five extension is credible. when you do that you can indicate ukrainians they will be in, they deserve that today. equally important you communicate to the russians, ukraine is off the table, critical to convincing the russians that the hegemonic aspirations of vladimir putin are unattainable and wasteful. evelyn and your peace you have written about nato membership of ukraine, you talk about nato membership being offered to ukraine now, and we know nato members have agreed that at the moment that is not possible because the war is going on and president biden said in an interview earlier this this week this would mean the us is at war with russia? what do you think of that? i at war with russia? what do you think of that?— think of that? i don't think it would mean _ think of that? i don't think it would mean the _ think of that? i don't think it would mean the us - think of that? i don't think it would mean the us is - think of that? i don't think it would mean the us is at - think of that? i don't think it would mean the us is at war with russia, we had a president during the cold war granted there was not ongoing fighting, we had east bill in the middle

of nato territory because east wieland was sorry westville in the middle of the territory that was controlled by the soviets. we were able to essentially say, we're not going to extend territorial defence guarantee to that portion of germany or at least not to the other part of germany that was east germany, so there will workarounds. i think in the age we should be able to say the parts of ukraine of ukraine that ukrainian government controls on this day of the summit, those parts of ukraine should enter nato as ukraine sovereign state, the rest of it can be negotiated later.— state, the rest of it can be negotiated later. what would that look like _ that look like if certain parts of ukraine's current territory are able to join nato and russia then inaudible because we know a war is unpredictable? if it enters into those areas

russia has chosen to enter into war with the united states. that is my point, the president thinks we would enter into war with russia if ukraine gets into nato, that is not the case, if you make it clear where the russians are attacking today and fighting with ukrainians, they will not enter nato, and i will concede that this is a tricky issue, to slice at. my point is that ukraine deserves this and we should be giving it a serious look. i know it is controversial so realistically, i would be happy if we just said ukraine can be a member at the next nato summit. that also is ian said would help because it would not only signal to the russians but i think would be important to motivate us to support ukraine and get this well done faster. because we have been slow and we have not given ukraine everything it needs at the right time. if we are motivated to meet that deadline, that will also be helpful. ii 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, helpful. if i could add to that point. what _ helpful. if i could add to that point, what you _ helpful. if i could add to that point, what you could - helpful. if i could add to that point, what you could do - helpful. if i could add to that point, what you could do is l helpful. if i could add to that l point, what you could do is say ukraine — point, what you could do is say ukraine will cede to nato at a certain— ukraine will cede to nato at a certain point at that time, nato's _ certain point at that time, nato's article five would only extend — nato's article five would only extend to the territory ukraine controls — extend to the territory ukraine controls. it would then be the ball would be in russia's court _ ball would be in russia's court. right now based on the performance of the russian military— performance of the russian military it would not want to strike — military it would not want to strike allied forces. other news. a us grand jury assembled in georgia is set to consider evidence against ex—president donald trump over efforts to overturn the 2020 election. the grand jury, based in atlanta, may decide whether mr trump should face criminal charges for trying to overturn his narrow loss in the state. trump has denied wrongdoing, calling the case a �*witch hunf. a michigan jury found that a 2014 document discovered in aretha franklin's couch after her death is a valid will. the today trial pitted the queen of soul's children against each other, arguing over two handwritten wills. this ends a nearly five—year legal fight over the star's multi—million dollar future. the us marine corps is leaderless for the first

time since the 18505 as a republican senator prolongs an ongoing hold on military nominations. senator tommy tuberville of alabama has stalled the nominations process for air force general cq brown as a protest to new pentagon policies on reproductive healthcare, which include a travel allowance for service members who must travel to receive an abortion. brown's nomination isjust one of more than 200 others which have been stalled due to mr tuberville's hold. a volcanic eruption in iceland close to the capital reykjavik is slowing, and gas pollution is easing according to experts. the eruption follows intense seismic activity over the past few days. the situation has drawn a lot of attention, but iceland's department of civil protection and emergency management has encouraged people to steer clear of the area — even when restrictions are eventually lifted. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. bbc news: bringing you different stories from across the uk.

this person is opening needing a cafe in sandown.— a cafe in sandown. have had a dream since _ a cafe in sandown. have had a dream since i _ a cafe in sandown. have had a dream since i was _ a cafe in sandown. have had a dream since i was a _ a cafe in sandown. have had a dream since i was a young - a cafe in sandown. have had a dream since i was a young of. a cafe in sandown. have had a| dream since i was a young of a beachside cafe and i walked past this particular place for 20 years— past this particular place for 20 ears. ,, , ., ., ., 20 years. she is not alone in believing _ 20 years. she is not alone in believing in _ 20 years. she is not alone in believing in this _ 20 years. she is not alone in believing in this town. - 20 years. she is not alone in | believing in this town. sophie runs beach kiosks and beach huts. ,, , .,. runs beach kiosks and beach huts. ,, , ., huts. stunning beach and the community — huts. stunning beach and the community is— huts. stunning beach and the community is wonderful - huts. stunning beach and the community is wonderful and l community is wonderful and there is a lot of passion and care for this play stop by they both know the need for regeneration is urgent. along the prom eyed two former eyesores, the former esplanade and ocean hotels. two years ago, the ocean building was made unsafe and the council has struggled to encourage owners to redevelop the sites. this week, residents have been asked to put forward their ideas, which may include housing. in its improving and instead of moaning, focus on the positive things in a positive people that do believe in the bay. for more stories from across the uk, head to the bbc news website.

you're watching 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. 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 suggest as well as visiting the young man's present home, he also sent money, and received a half—na ked photograph. the son says individual told the paper that the presenter travel to another county to meet them at their flat in 2021, february, during the third national lockdown. to either iterate, we do not know the truth of this ourselves but there is other pressure now in

there is other pressure now in the presenter from a there is other pressure now in the presenterfrom a bbc colleague because tonight jeremy vine has tweeted that he thinks the man involved should now come forward publicly. jeremy vine, remember, felt the need to come out on the weekend along with others including gary lineker and nikki campbell, to say that they were not the unnamed presenter and jeremy vine said the new allegations today will result in more vitriol being thrown out anything colleagues. the bbc, he says, jeremy vine, says it is on its knees from these. that is not the phrase that was used today but he admitted it was difficult. in israel, protesters once again took to the streets in large numbers against new legislation aimed at restricting the power ofjudges. this was the scene in tel aviv earlier. the demonstrations came after a new bill narrowly passed its first reading in the knesset — the israeli parliament. the contentious bill from prime minister benjamin netanyahu's right—wing government has sparked 27 weeks of protests. critics of the legislation are concerned that it erodes democratic safeguards.

0ur middle east correspondent tom bateman has more from tel aviv. in tel aviv, we saw more violence. there were mounted police that in one instance trampled a protester. so more pretty heavy handed stuff there as well. it feels like the atmosphere around these protests has become much more charged, and that is because these proposed judicial reforms are suddenly back on the table. they're going through the israeli parliament again after mr netanyahu, amid the last crisis over this a few months ago, had put them on hold. but the far right and ultra religious elements of his coalition are pushing for all of this to happen. they see this as the time to act, their best chance to get all this through. mr netanyahu is politically weaker than he's ever been in his premiership. he's on trial for corruption. there is the concurrent security crisis in the occupied palestinian territories. and so we see this deepening aggravation in israel that deeply dividesjewish

israeli society. and the protests now are back on. and i think they're going to last for days, weeks, even months more. and in a sign of the international pressure on mr netanyahu to try and sort this thing out, we've had the white house tonight saying that they expect the israeli government to respect peaceful protest. stay with us here on bbc news. that's all from us here in washington, we leave you with these live pictures of london as we hand off to our colleageus there. hello. 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, though, 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.

voiceover: this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour, straight after this programme.