britain and china, friends again? sir keir starmer says he wants a respectful relationship with xi xinping. there are obvious pitfalls to rebuilding diplomacy with beijing, but what are the upsides for the uk? and how does the prime minister keep washington on—side? also tonight, joe biden finally relents. ukraine get the go—ahead to use longer range missiles inside russia. the un security council will meet this hour to discuss ukraine — we will take you live to new york, the foreign secretary david lammy, presiding. and we have a special edition of the security brief brief to discuss this. good evening. world leaders have gathered at the 620 summit in brazil with the war in ukraine top of the agenda.

president putin is not in rio, subject as he is to an international arrest warrant. but the kremlin has reacted furiously today to a change in us policy that means ukraine will in future be allowed to use long—range us missiles to hit targets inside russia. president putin has yet to comment directly on that decision but his spokesman said it was a further escalation and would pour "oil on the fire". our diplomatic correspondent james landale is in rio and sent this report. another night, another round of air strikes on ukraine. a relentless bombardment in a war almost 1,000 days old. one that could be better resisted now kyiv can use american missiles against russian air bases across the border. but will that mean britain and france will now allow ukraine to use their own storm shadow missiles, also long—range, also able

to hit deep into russia? the prime minister, who's attending the 620 summit in brazil, says ukraine is his top priority and is urging fellow leaders to step up their support. but he refused to say if he would allow british—made missiles to be launched against targets in russia. i'm not going to get into operational details because putin is the only winner in that situation. but i've been really clearfor a long time now we need to double down, we need to make sure ukraine has what is necessary for as long as necessary, because we cannot allow putin to win this war. president biden had long resisted allowing ukraine to use us missiles in russia, fearing escalation — but he's changed his mind, perhaps aware his successor wants a fast end to the war. one that may not favour kyiv. and it's notjust ukraine — world leaders here are also worried about global economy.

they fear that donald trump could trigger a devastating trade war if he imposes big tariffs on chinese imports. with many other countries getting caught in the crossfire. that is one reason why sir keir starmer met president xi of china — the first british prime minister to do so for more than six years. seeking what he called a sensible and pragmatic relationship to boost trade and the economy at home. we want our relations to be consistent, durable, respectful, as we have agreed. avoid surprises where possible and strengthen dialogue which should provide greater understanding. these leaders have their own agenda, they want to discuss ending global hunger, boosting globalfinance and reforming international institutions so their interests are better represented. but once again, they're talking about ukraine and, yes, donald trump.

james landale, bbc news, rio dejaneiro. so, big developments regarding ukraine in the past 48 hours, all of which we will come to you very shortly. but we are going to turn to first to that meeting in rio today between sir keir starmer and the chinese president xi xinping. as james said, the first such meeting since 2018. but today's meeting comes hard on the heels of david lammy�*s recent visit to beijing and it would seem to mark the beginning of what the prime minister defines as a more "pragmatic approach". his critics might say it's premature given that the government's own review into this relationship has yet to be completed. but starmer, like sunak before him, believes there are upsides that cannot be ignored. the green transition will be expensive. china a source of cheaper production, and who knows, in the not too distant future it might be an important hedge against a more unpredictable american administration. so let's get some reaction to that. kerry brown served as first secretary at the british embassy in beijing. he's now director of

the lau china institute at king's college here in london. it's really good to have you with us on the programme. it felt to me today like quite a moment. is that how you feel it? it moment. is that how you feel it? , , ., , it? it is the first meeting as ou set it? it is the first meeting as you set for— it? it is the first meeting as you set for six _ it? it is the first meeting as you set for six years, - it? it is the first meeting as you set for six years, and l it? it is the first meeting as you set for six years, and it| you set for six years, and it has been a turbulent time. the pandemic obviously ceased all direct contact. there has been lots of different issues, one which was referred to today, the continuing problems in hong kong. the detention trial also refer to any meeting between the prime minister and xi xinping. but we have to remember that the g20 is about the common issues with the uk and china. the weird thing is that we actually agree on those big issues, on the climate change, ai, the issues around sustainable development, and the uk and china at the moment are facing tough but different economic challenges and they both might be able to help each other in those areas despite their differences of opinion in other areas.—

their differences of opinion in other areas. ., ., , ., , other areas. how does china see the relationship? _ other areas. how does china see the relationship? i _ other areas. how does china see the relationship? i think- other areas. how does china see the relationship? i think china i the relationship? i think china sees britain _ the relationship? i think china sees britain as _ the relationship? i think china sees britain as an _ the relationship? i think china sees britain as an important l sees britain as an important mid—ranking power. ita sees britain as an important mid—ranking power. it a ally of the united states. a key player in nato. a member of the un security council. but our economy is a fifth the size of china. it was until 2005 bigger than china's. the last 20 years, britain has been overtaken. and that is important to remember because we cannot ignore the world's second biggest economy. china is our fifth, sixth largest trading partner and is also a small investor in the uk. so there is plenty more that we can do in this economy if we find a pathway to do that. well, perhaps sir keir starmer would go even further than that. he seems to believe it is essential to the growth he has promised. and as i mentioned, when you talk about the green transition, that is going to be expensive. a lot of the cheaper

batteries and technologies comes from china. the question is, how does he exploit that relationship at a time when he is going to have to walk a very tight line with washington? indeed. it is going to need a lot of dexterous diplomacy and pragmatism. the odd thing is that trump is also a transactionalfigure, like the transactional figure, like the chinese transactionalfigure, like the chinese may be accused of being, and he wants a deal. the threat of tariffs, it may not happen because trump may be able to hammer out a deal and britain itself might be able to hammer out a deal. it is hard to get free trade deals with china but that was the aspiration from britain. as part of the trade deal that the united states wants. the british do not have big access to the 500 million current middle class chinese in china who might use our services and other things from britain that would be good to try to do with china. we need more engagement and this today is a positive

step, and is going to be one of presumably many other steps in the future. presumably many other steps in the future-— the future. you talked about the future. you talked about the upsides _ the future. you talked about the upsides but _ the future. you talked about the upsides but plainly - the future. you talked aboutj the upsides but plainly there are risks. you can always be accused politically of putting principle... putting profit before principle, i should say. are you surprised that the government has not waited at least until the review has come back? because quite clearly there are risks, not least the risks around spying. which has i think complicated the relationship in recent years. the 620 relationship in recent years. the g20 is the perfect opportunity to meet president xi xinping without having a big bilateral meeting with each other. i think it is just opportunistic. the government review is an audit, not a wholesale review. the parameters of the relationship are pretty clear, to be pragmatic but accept differences. and that is what the prime minister said today. the differences are well known, we have known for a long time, about values, the legal system, but the prime minister tried his best to try to convey those today, to see it as part of a

more complicated picture. and that has not been the case in the last five years. it is an extremely turbulent. consistency is what he wants, whether we will have that i don't know, but it would be a good thing after the chopping and changing there has been since 2020.— and changing there has been since 2020. ., , ., ., ~ since 2020. really good to talk to ou. since 2020. really good to talk to yom thank— since 2020. really good to talk to you. thank you _ since 2020. really good to talk to you. thank you for _ since 2020. really good to talk to you. thank you for coming i since 2020. really good to talk| to you. thank you for coming on the programme. certainly a relationship to the coming months. we will take a short break. around the world and across the uk, you are watching bbc news.

welcome back. we are going to take you later this hour to the un in new york, where the security council is about to discuss ukraine. it is the uk currently presiding over the security council. we are expecting the foreign secretary, david lammy, to arrive presently other podium there. if he comes for some premeeting remarks, we

will obviously take you live. tomorrow, we will be marking 1,000 days since the expanded war began. but discussions in new york tonight framed no doubt by the decisionjoe biden has taken to allow ukraine to use those longer range missiles inside russia. so, before we take you to new york, in around ten minutes' time, we thought it would be an idea to bring you a special edition of the security brief. it comes late, some say too late, butjoe biden�*s decision to greenlight the use of the us army's tactical missile system, otherwise known as atacm, for targeting inside russia will be welcomed by ukraine and its european partners. it's a much needed morale boost, after several days of heavy bombardment, much of it aimed at the ukrainian power grid. the question is, what difference will it make? given the short period of time there is left, before the incoming us administration presumably withdraws that support?

with us in the studio, our expert in chief, mikey kay. he flew attack helicopters for 20 years. he served as a military planner, and he presents this segment as he would to his commanding officers. how are you? welcome back. why now? why — how are you? welcome back. why now? why has _ how are you? welcome back. why now? why has he _ how are you? welcome back. why now? why has he taken this decision? some would say belatedly, but it would seem timely. i belatedly, but it would seem timel . ~' ., belatedly, but it would seem timel . ~' . ., , timely. i think there are many --eole timely. i think there are many peeple and — timely. i think there are many peeple and policy _ timely. i think there are many people and policy decisions i people and policy decisions around the world that would say this come late in the day. i think resident zelensky would argue that he has been trying to defend ukraine with one arm tied behind his back. as we spoke about a couple of weeks ago, one of the main trigger mechanisms that has instigated all of this is the introduction of north korean troops inside russia. 0ne of north korean troops inside russia. one of the most important areas of military capability at the moment is in the kursk region. a couple of

weeks ago, when we were reporting about this, information was telling us that there are probably going to be anything up to eight or 10,000 deep uk troops. not only that, there are around 50,000 combined russian troops who are involved in that area, and that has certainly been one trigger mechanism.— has certainly been one trigger mechanism. ,., ., ., , mechanism. ok, so what does the attack give — mechanism. ok, so what does the attack give them _ mechanism. ok, so what does the attack give them that _ mechanism. ok, so what does the attack give them that they - mechanism. ok, so what does the attack give them that they did - attack give them that they did not previously have?- attack give them that they did not previously have? they have had atacm _ not previously have? they have had atacm for _ not previously have? they have had atacm for a _ not previously have? they have had atacm for a long _ not previously have? they have had atacm for a long time. - had atacm for a long time. medium—range atacm were delivered at the end of 2023. more importantly, they have now been given long atacm in april of this year. which gives them a significant capability when it comes to launching a long range missile inside russian territory. what is important at this point is that the information we have at this point is that the approval to use atacm by mr zelensky is specific to the kursk area. it

is not a wide—ranging blanket to be able to use them wherever he wants, for example the crimea region. it is specific at the moment to the kursk region. we have got some video footage here of atacm's amissao being used. what is important here is you see this missile on media all day. the other important bit is the height miles launcher. the height miles launcher. the height miles lodger can have a number of different rockets and missiles inside there, and it is highly manoeuvrable which means it is harderfor the russians to take out. it means it is harder for the russians to take out. it is combined _ russians to take out. it is combined capabilities. . russians to take out. it is combined capabilities. how fast is that going? it combined capabilities. how fast is that going?— is that going? it has a range of 196. is that going? it has a range of 196- it — is that going? it has a range of 196. it is _ is that going? it has a range of 196. it is not _ is that going? it has a range of 196. it is not hypersonic? j of 196. it is not hypersonic? this is a _ of 196. it is not hypersonic? this is a speed _ of 196. it is not hypersonic? this is a speed of _ of 196. it is not hypersonic? this is a speed of around i of 196. it is not hypersonic? | this is a speed of around mac three, which makes it really hard to target. 50 three, which makes it really hard to target.— three, which makes it really hard to target. so it is harder to stop? _ hard to target. so it is harder to stop? definitely. - hard to target. so it is harder to stop? definitely. it- hard to target. so it is harder to stop? definitely. it is- hard to target. so it is harder to stop? definitely. it is very| to stop? definitely. it is very manoeuvrable, _ to stop? definitely. it is very manoeuvrable, it _ to stop? definitely. it is very manoeuvrable, it is - to stop? definitely. it is veryj manoeuvrable, it is launched from a system that is incredibly manoeuvrable. if we

go back to the ranges slide or we can see that the missile basically has an effect area around 190 miles, which is greater than any missile system that ukraine have at the moment. that ukraine have at the moment-— that ukraine have at the moment. ., , , moment. you can see kursk up there in the — moment. you can see kursk up there in the north-east - moment. you can see kursk up there in the north-east cornerl there in the north—east corner of ukraine. there are other... you can see further south there are other more desirable targets. are other more desirable taraets. ':: :: ' are other more desirable targets. 10096. president zelensky _ targets. 10096. president zelensky has _ targets. 10096. president zelensky has basically i targets. 10096. president. zelensky has basically been predicated the whole use of atacm on the victory plan, which i would argue now has become more of a get yourself into a good negotiating position plan than a victory plan. air defence systems, airfields, anything that would allow president zelensky to deter whatever russia has. hold that thought _ deter whatever russia has. hold that thought because _ deter whatever russia has. hold that thought because i'm going to take you straight to new york. david lammy hasjust stood behind the podium in the last few seconds. let's have a listen in.

last few seconds. let's have a listen im— last few seconds. let's have a listen in-_ last few seconds. let's have a listen in. ., ., ., ., ':: :: :: listen in. tomorrow marks 1000 da s of listen in. tomorrow marks 1000 days of putin's _ listen in. tomorrow marks 1000 days of putin's barbaric- days of putin's barbaric full—scale invasion of ukraine. 0ver full—scale invasion of ukraine. over the weekend, we saw the latest brutality with the biggest aerial attack on ukraine since august, killing and injuring dozens of civilians. it was designed not only to kill ukrainians but to take o