live from london, this is bbc news. the bbc understands that uk—supplied storm shadow missiles have been used on targets inside russia for the first time. meanwhile, president biden agrees to send days after allowing ukraine, to use long—range us missiles, president biden agrees to send anti—personnel landmines. these are the live pictures from washington where a congressional committee is considering releasing a report into sexual misconduct allegations against donald trump us might pick for attorney general, matt gaetz. i'm gary o'donoghue on capitol hill where that committee is about to meet to make that key decision about those controversial findings. ford announces plans to slash 4,000 jobs across europe — part of a major cost—cutting programme. and rafa nadal — one of

tennis's greatest champions — brings his glittering career to an end. ijust want i just want to be remembered ijust want to be remembered as a good person, and the kid that followed his dreams. hello, and welcome to bbc news. the bbc understands that the reports come a day the reports come a day the bbc understands that british made storm shadow british made cruise missiles have been used the bbc understands that britisi missiles have been used on at least one target inside cruise missiles have been used on at least one target inside russia for the first time. russia for the first time. reports indicate they had a reports indicate they had a target in the southwestern target in the southwestern region of kursk. region of kursk. after ukraine used us—made russian military bloggers have russian military bloggers have posted photos of what they say posted photos of what they say are fragments of storm shadow missiles, from the are fragments of storm shadow missiles, from the village of maryino. village of maryino. powerful explosions can be heard on unverified video powerful explosions can be heard on unverified video purportedly shot there. purportedly shot there.

the reports come a day the reports come a day after ukraine used us—made ballistic missiles, known as atacms, in the neighbouring russian region of bryansk. moscow has promised it would respond to any strike on russian territory, that uses long—range western weapons. washington is also providing ukraine with anti—personnel landmines — to try to slow the advance of russian troops. the uk's defence secretary, john healy, wouldn't directly confirm the reports when speaking in the commons, and said "ukraine's action on the battlefield speaks for itself". my my understanding is also that storm shadow has been fired for the first time in russia. it's very important to bear in mind it has been used inside ukraine against russian targets, i think in crimea, but also other parts of occupied ukraine. but this is a threshold that's been

crossed. americans were reluctant to authorise this because, as far as i understand, there went some degree of america data sharing and intelligence was important into the deployment of these weapons for maximum effectiveness. what is surprising is the sheer number of storm shadows that's reported to have been fired. i think it's 10-12, reported to have been fired. i think it's 10—12, according to the videos according to some of the videos according to some of the russian accounts — i think that'll be a very significant proportion of the sheer overall stockpile ukraine has to begin with, because they really haven't got many. fix, with, because they really haven't got many. a quick answer on _ haven't got many. a quick answer on that, _ haven't got many. a quick answer on that, what's . haven't got many. a quick i answer on that, what's your understanding about the numbers of storm shadow, the french missiles and atacms? the answer is, it's missiles and atacms? the answer is. it's small- _ missiles and atacms? the answer is, it's small. if _ missiles and atacms? the answer is, it's small. if i _ missiles and atacms? the answer is, it's small. if i had _ missiles and atacms? the answer is, it's small. if i had the - is, it's small. if i had the exact number, i might be hesitant about publishing it, but it is small. so ukraine

hesitant about publishing it, but it is small. so ukra close eastern flank is getting close to collapse — what's your assessment of the russian gains in those areas, and any sort of likelihood of a major breakthrough by them? the central front _ breakthrough by them? the central front is _ breakthrough by them? the central front is the - breakthrough by them? tue: central front is the most significant problem, the bit in the middle in donetsk province, and russia has been gaining ground. if nothing else changes, if ukraine particularly doesn't fix its problems with manpower on this part of the front, a collapse is entirely possible by the spring. i wouldn't say by christmas, but spring. that doesn't mean russia can simply rush through to the new pro or 0desa — the russian army is also tired and weakened. but what ukrainians worry about is that the north korean expeditionary force in kursk, if this becomes a pipeline, a steady supply — in other words, we see tens of thousands of north koreans rather than 10,000 flat - that

north koreans rather than 10,000 flat — that could become a serious problem for ukraine. perhaps the landmines may take the place of personnel, perhaps that's the equation of what we are seeing. but we are coming into the heavy winter now, how important is it that any gains that are made are done now in these next few weeks before the winter sets in and there's little movement?- winter sets in and there's little movement? well, that matters because _ little movement? well, that matters because it's - little movement? well, that matters because it's hard i little movement? well, that| matters because it's hard for armoured vehicles to operate on the ground in periods until the ground freezes properly. it is difficult for troops to be outside and conduct offences. having said all that, russia is fighting in very, very small assault attachments, a handful of troops in a single place. so additional constraints on armoured warfare over mushy ground in the winter months, a lot of that applies much less. the bit that does apply that's

quite interesting is that, any battlefield now saturated with drones, when you have a lack of foliage and tree cover, and leaf cover, it makes it easier for drones to spot russian forces on the move in open areas and for them to be attacked. and so that will be a serious challenge for the russians, as the landscape of ukraine changes in the coming months. fix, ukraine changes in the coming months. �* ., ., months. a final thought, because _ months. a final thought, because what _ months. a final thought, because what is - months. a final thought, because what is your - months. a final thought, - because what is your assessment of what happens in the early part of 2025? there are so many variables, what ukraine is able to do in these next few months, what moscow is able to do, and the change in dynamic of donald trump in the white house. what is your best guess where that takes us injanuary, february, march? takes us in january, february, march? , ., , ., takes us in january, february, march? , . , ., ., march? trump wants a deal. however. — march? trump wants a deal. however, the _ march? trump wants a deal. however, the question - march? trump wants a deal. however, the question is, i march? trump wants a deal. i however, the question is, does he want a deal at any price? 0r he want a deal at any price? or does he want leverage to force the kremlin to the table and do a serious deal that would then be enforced? i think we don't

know enough to say, but what i think we will find as things prove much more complicated than his initial demand does all the war and one day, and he will have to grapple with some of these problems with his european allies, notjust sloganeering. and also the use of the uk storm shadow missiles. dmytro kuleba who is ukraine's former foreign minister. he gave us his reaction to the us�*s decision to supply ukraine with landmines. ukraine is not a party to the convention that prohibits this type of landmines, therefore it is within international law. there are moral ramifications for human rights defenders, and i totally get them. but we are fighting a war

against a vicious enemy, and we must have the right to use everything we need within the realm of international law to defend ourselves. together, with those atacms i was talking about, are those ways of changing the path of this war? or is it simply a way of slowing russian advances? i would say it's the second, because no single weapon can actually become a game—changer. to win the war, you need a strong system that has that consists of all necessary elements and weapons is one of them. i was looking at a piece by bbc verify earlier in the day, and it was charting how ukraine has lost six times the amount of territory this year compared to last year. a simple question — are you losing this war now? no, we are not, because we still have the capacity to stop

the russians and eventually expel them from our territory. but, to achieve that, you need everything in place — and most importantly, weapons and an army. it is unfortunate that these decisions on atacms and landmines, and other and provision of other types of weapons came so late, only by the end of the year. if these decisions had been taken earlier, we wouldn't have lost all this territory, and you wouldn't be asking me this question. it's really interesting you say that, because i had jotted down as my next question — because you were one of the voices in those first two years who were calling for the americans to perhaps agree to the abrams tanks, the f—i6s — now, of course, most recently, the attack comes at every stage, there was delay before the final decision. how much has that hampered ukraine in this war? well, i can tell you more. every conversation on every

single type of weapon started with a "no" from partners. then it was, "we will think about it". and then, it was the belated decision. this is the pattern that was repeated again and again throughout these two—and—a—half years. and of course, it had consequences on the situation on the ground. and as a foreign minister, how frustrating was it to be in those meetings, having those conversations and hearing that first answer always being "no"? well, i had no luxury of being frustrated. ijust had to keep moving, keep pushing to get "yes" in the end. and in the end, we got it. do head to the website, it has all the most up—to—date lines on ukraine, and more about that uk position that's developing all the time. but for the next few minutes, let's turn to events in america.

the house ethics committee is due to meet — and perhaps vote — on releasing a report examining allegations of sexual misconduct against former republican representative matt gaetz. gaetz is donald trimp�*s pick to be attorney general. he's been at the centre of allegations involving sex trafficking and drugs. these are the life pictures from capitol hill because that is the door of the ethics committee — that is where these lawmakers will be meeting. and as we wait to hear any updates, let's talk to gary 0'donoghue, who is also there on capitol hill. in the big question is, will they release this report? the answer is, we don't know. frankly we don't know, this committee is pretty secretive. it's a slightly different formation of committee to most of them here on capitol hill — its five republicans and five democrats. it takes its business very much behind

closed doors and tries to be as nonpartisan as possible — but these are very partisan times. so we will see what they decide to do, if they decide to do anything. typically people have argued that because matt gaetz has now resigned from congress, theirjuristic —— their their juristic —— their jurisdiction theirjuristic —— their jurisdiction over him has ended and the report should remain secret. 0thers and the report should remain secret. others say, "he wants to have one of the top jobs in donald trump is mike administration, the top job of thejustice department — the people that have to decide whether or not he is a good pick for thatjob, ie the senate, should have access to all the information that's out there." now of course, these are controversial allegations against him, he's faced no criminal trials at all, he's been investigated and no charges brought, he's denied all the — but that didn't stop the ethics committee taking this matter up after criminal investigations and did. and there's certainly some evidence

there's certainly some evidence there is in committing evidence in that report that would at least bring into question his character. so all that is out there, matt gaetz on the hill today with jd vance, the there, matt gaetz on the hill today withjd vance, the vice president—elect, going down the corridors come up and down the corridors come up and down the corridor is trying to persuade those senators that he has the right pick for the job. this those senators that he has the right pick for thejob. this is a full two months from where we are now before the inauguration and before this formal process can begin of appointment. mas can begin of appointment. was auoin to can begin of appointment. was going to ask— can begin of appointment. was going to ask where the senate actually looks at all this and what happens in between, because it'll be fascinating to see what this committee actually concludes, because there's quite a lot of talk of one way or another, potentially there could be leaks because these are the most serious allegations, aren't they? yes, and quite _ allegations, aren't they? yes, and quite a — allegations, aren't they? yes, and quite a lot _ allegations, aren't they? yes, and quite a lot of— allegations, aren't they? yes, and quite a lot of what - allegations, aren't they? yes, j and quite a lot of what they've heard has been talked about in public — so for example, two young girls of alleged — and we know this through their lawyer, whose done interviews democrat

interviews — that matt gaetz paid them for sex in a period between 2017—19, they've given affidavits to that effect to the justice department and the ethics committee, as according to their lawyer, one of those girls says she saw the congressman as well as having sex with a 17—year—old girl on an air hockey table at a party - i an air hockey table at a party — i think possibly in florida — she was 17 and that's under asian consent in florida. these are allegations out there — all denied by matt gaetz and by the trump transition team, who say they are false allegations. so they are false allegations. so the credibility of these witnesses is something obviously that will be discussed. but some of the evidence that we know discussed. but some of the evide