year, not in three war this year, not in three years, it's very, very russia does not 7 ' " —d_ hold difficult. russia does not hold all the - in _ difficult. russia does not hold all the - in this _ difficult. russia does not hold all the - in this war - all the cards in this war because _ all the cards in this war because the ukrainians have the to defend their courage to defend their country, russia's $72— the man who will be likely germany's next chancellor says rise: �* the j rise: �* the md j rise: �*the md is j risezfor he md is z j " ”t riserfor other) is z 7 " ”t risezfor other parties. 5 " ”t warning for other parties. i'm live in - where _ warning for other parties. l“n live in where friedrich live in berlin where friedrich merz says europe must come �*to combat merz says eurone must come �*to combat the merz says eurone must come �* to combat the far merz says eurone must come and to combat the far merz says eurone must come and a combat the far megsays eurone must come and a difficult the far right and a difficult relationship with washington. night" in hospital in rome, but remains in a "critical condition".

singer songwriter roberta flack has died at the age 88. hello, welcome to the programme on third anniversary of on the third anniversary of russia's full inclusion of ukraine, allies have met in kyiv to reaffirm their solidarity many of those attending the summit have been pushing back against president trump's unilateral decision to pursue european leaders have called for the continent to step up their defence, to protect wider values of democracy and freedom from russian aggression.

off the train they piled, high officials from brussels, but this year, their show of support was more existential with ukraine on the back foot on the battlefield get from his visitors but for now he was putting on a brave face. translation: dear friends, this year should be the year putin will not give us peace or give it to us in exchange for something. we have to win peace through strength and wisdom and unity, the leaders around the table promised more money by its absence.

to provide a security backstop for any peace deal. the last few weeks and it has created an opportunity. now, we must get the fundamentals right. have a seat at the table. later, president macron of france will echo a similar in kyiv, even some of donald trump's most ardent backers doubted some of his recent claims. for the war, you might as well say the swimmers were japan at pearl harbor.

it is complete inversion of the truth, it's orwellian. in brussels, eu foreign minister stood in silence amid the now—familiar sound of everyday kyiv, imposing more "he changes his stance more often than his green t—shirts," russia's foreign minister said, "it's hard to understand the stance of european countries." attrition on the eastern front. james landale, bbc news. we been listening to the news conference president he was asked many zelensky. he was asked many questions about the last ggzesgtions about the last three

and on the years and reflected on the impact the war, about impact of the war, talked about security guarantees that were and call for peace. —— required and call for peace. —— called for peace. we need just and lasting peace and when we speak about := -= in this war, it is just; in. this war; it is to find just because difficult to find just because of such steppes of russia. how they killed and thousands imprisoned and stolen children. that's why we will never it, and we can't never forget it, and we can't forget it. and i that our forget it. and i hope that our partners are on the same page with us. not only hope, but i with us. not only hope. but i it, and we will never it and do everything forget it and do everything people who began this war

that people who began this war all these people unprovoked... attthese peop�*te will and, of really will answer and, of course, we will work on a tribunal even after the hard part of this war, when we part of’this war; even when we to diplomacy, we will never, : 7 n— % �*forget these people. european commission president ursula von der leyen explained peace deal is reached. these sanctions are part of our approach that we want peace through strength. and it's very j -=2 �* that unless j that unless russia 5 clear that unless russia demonstrates by facts the true willingness to achieve a lasting and just peace 77 fwe will 77 we will put agreement, we will put sanctions against russia. first, we have to see that

there is action on the of there is action on the side of ,, a just and russia towards a just and lasting peace agreement. presently, there is no lasting agreement so it is much peace agreement so it is much too early to speak about anything of potentially too early to speak about anything of or entially our sanctions. this 7 lifting sanctions. this discussion can only be led lifting sanctions. this discl we in can only be led lifting sanctions. this discl we havei only be led lifting sanctions. this discl we have seen be led lifting sanctions. this discl we have seen concrete after we have seen concrete steps on the russian side. after have ave seen concrete after have been ien concrete after have been more ncrete after have been more russian announced today, sanctiens announced toaster. . the sanctiens anneunced teday. ~ ,,,., ~~ ,,.,, f the united including from the united kingdom, three after the kingdom, three years after the invasion of ukraine. what will they actually mean in practice. our correspondence from bbc our correspondencefrorn bbc has more. foreign secretary david lammy is more sanctions on is announcing more sanctions on and they include russia and they include sanctions on firms importing tools that can also used by its military and new sanctions on north some new sanctions on north korean generals have been korean generals who have been , in sending troops into involved in sending troops into

ukraine. there is also a clampdown on a shadow fleet which is illicitly used to sell products russia. which is illicitly used to sell prodl were russia. to j... which is illicitly used to sell prodl were more a. t, we: which is illicitly used to sell prodl were more than t, j... which is illicitly used to sell prodl were more than 2,000 there were more than 2,000 individuals and companies are individuals and mmoameege . ., ,, . to uk individuals and companieeae . ., ,, . to uk sanctions in subject to uk sanctions in relation to the russian invasion, around 2300 were subject to eu sanctions and the us also sanctioned more than 5800. that makes russia at the most sanctioned world's most sanctioned state. but how effective have these sanctions been and will the new much difference? it's ones make muchdifference? lt's to that our important to recegnisethat our purposes for sanctions. two purposes for the sanctions. 0ne two purposes for the sanctions. one is on putin one is to put pressure on putin and individuals in the regime close to him, second is to russia's ability to wage impede russia's ability to wage war in ukraine and also damage

war'in'tikraine' and atsodarnage wider russian economy. 0n the wider russian economy. 0n the wider russian economy. 0n the first front, there has clearly been an on the clearly been an impact on the ability of russian oligarchs identified by the uk government the j the eu, the eu as being close to and the eu as being close to putin to travel to western capitals, like roman capitalsfcapitals like enmafl and their assets abramovic, and their assets have been frozen. it whether have been frozen. it is whether the unprecedented marriage of in 2022 tv in 2022 —— tv sanctions in 2022 —— unprecedented have been unprecedented barra'g'e'ha�*ve'tre'en this graph shows happenedé happenedfto the russian what happened to the russian economy after the initial the forecast was sanctions. the forecast was that the country would slump into a deep but this into a deep recession but this dark blue line shows what would happen, it avoided the slump and was forecast to keep that's because to , , to source consumer and some vital industrial goods and some vital industrial from china. it is components from china. it is

worth that the western worth noting that the western sanctions were never intended to be when it came to to be complete when it came to russian energy. they wanted to reduce the revenues flowing to reduce the revenues flowing’to’ ’ " " kremlin �* its oil jeducs the revenues flowing’to’ ’ " " kremlin �* its oil through the kremlin for its oil through a price cap but not cut off flows completely because we re western leaders were worried about the impact of that on in their own countries. prices in their own countries. however, some analysts say m mm are si . ns that the economy now coming russian economy is now coming under severe strain, and that it is best encapsulated by this, which the interest this, which shows tbeinterest set by the russian rates set by the russian central russia has had to central bank. russia has had to devote a considerable share of its national economic resources to producing weapons and paying soldiers, that's created some serious domestic inflationary pressures. that's why the central bank has had put central bank has had to put interest up to 2i%. some interest rates up to 2i%. some economists that this economistsdoubtthatcthis is for russia. it's to certain how much of economic economic pressure this economic pressure on russia is specifically due to economic sanctions and much

economic sanctions and how much is due to the strain �* putting is due to the strain of putting a war footing. the un general is voting a resolution putting voting on a resolution putting two and three years of this conflict. it urges all parties work together to achiezre a to work togetherto a’chieee'a””"' ' end to work together to a’chieee'a””"' " " ' end to it is swift end'to the'war. it is the ambassador to the un. the us ambassador to the un. the draft resolution _ us ambassador to the un. tie draft resolution makes us ambassador to the un. tte draft resolution makes this dtaft resolution makes this ,, point. employers very point. our draft employers a swift end to the conflict and h “eace 7 777777"??? t encourages a lasting peace between and russia. between ukraine and russia. this is what is needed now and this is what'is nee'de'd'now and urge all states we urge all member states ukraine and russia to including ukraine and russia to join us in this effort. a simple, historic statement from general assembly that looks hot backwards. as, forward, not backwards. a resolution focus on simple resolution focus on one simple idea, ending the war. a path to

is possible mr peace is possible mr president, that why the united states that is why the united states opposed forward to opposed putting forward to another and that's we cannot su- -ort ukraine's why we cannot support ukraine's resolution, and we urge its withdrawal in favour of a withdrawal in. favour of a statement committing strong statement committing us to end the war and work towards a peace. there are a of resolutions being put forward, rival resolutions from the —— from ukraine and the ukraine —— from ukraine and the this statement says, the us eeto zreto any amendments yeto any amendments to its yeto a on amendments to its yeto a on likraine ents to its yeto a on likraine at ts to its yeto a on likraine at the i its resolution on ukraine at the un, so attempts to close down other avenues after what we heard from the us "winger w w 'w' wttt nag.” w w wttt keepawnwewyew w will do; awnwewyew on w wwwwilwl as; awnwewyew 55 as? w wwwwilwl as; wawnwewyew 5t} thatwawnd we will keep an eye on that and bring you more as it comes into us. meanwhile, the french in washington

president is in washington ahead of a g7 virtual meeting to discuss the third anniversary of the in hwe will hold talks trump days with president trump days before the of uk before the visit of uk prime minister keir starmer as minister keir starfher'as both look to maintain us leaders look to maintain us support for kyiv. we had leaders look to maintain us support from iiv. we had leaders look to maintain us support from inside had leaders look to maintain us support from inside that pictures from inside that with donald —— —— when we have pictures will —— when we have pictures from inside that meeting with donald trump, we will bring you that. pneumonia. these are the live pictures night in intensive care. the vatican did issue an update this morning in line with the pope's wishes. night and is resting, but he is still being treated for a complex condition those are live pictures from rome.

he also questioned whether nato could survive in its current form, and he condemned us comments the election, though he now faces weeks of coalition talks. the far—right afd surged to second place, its best—ever result. let's cross over to berlin and my colleague sumi somaskanda. tell us more these direct comments about the as a comments about the us as a reliable partner.— reliable partner. really interesting _

reliable partner. really interesting time - reliable partner. really interesting time here, | reliable partner. really. interesting time here, we reliable partner. really- interesting time here, we have seen frederick mertz, set to —: the next chancellor w w wtwhwe hgngchéthewtarw of become the next chancellor of speaking openly about germany, speaking openly about and judah's germany, speaking openly about an with ah's germany, speaking openly about an with the united relationship with the united he said he never states. he said today he never thought he would have to say such words but europe is not sure whether it can rely on the us with the new trump administration, it doesn't seem they're willing to engaged they're willing to be engaged with europe. he also talked about the need for european immediately. he be unity immediately. he will be ~ ,. .. ~ those coalition unity immediately. he will be ~ —— ~ ~ those coalition talks entering those coalition talks simmering with the social democrats. olaf scholz�*s social ww wwwwlooleiwkwewwwww ww ww wwwwlooleiwkwewthwey ww ww wwwwlooleiwkwewthwey tali ww democrats look like they will be entering coalition bs'sn�*terinu coalition talks won't be easy but begsn�*tering coalition talks won't be easy but both that won't be easy but both seem to have a real sense of urgency to get a coalition built as quickly as possible. say that germany needs a they say that germany needs a stable government here to be able to contribute european able to contribute to european unity. my jess parker unity. my colleaguejess parker has more than where things

stand. what priorities does the next german government have to deliver on? this blunt assessment about america's new administration. it is absolutely clear that this us government doesn't care about europe. friedrich merz is a man in a hurry — to get a coalition government in place, but also, he says, to strengthen germany and europe on the global stage. but he will have to balance that with domestic demands cost—of—living and immigration.

that's the signature issue of the far—right regarded as too extreme by other parties, they're is on the rise. while in communities across germany, people tell me of splits in society. translation: in my circle of friends, i notice a shift. | it really grew apart — there is the left side and coalition government. we heard jess refer the economy and friedrich merz w that can only saying that germany can only act from a of strength act from a position of strength of the economy is once again

strong. businesses and politics. we heard friedrich merz talk about the need to strengthen economy. why is the the german economy. why is the mood surrounding the economy in wswo bad —-— now? there is really a sense of uruen now? there is really a sense of urgency at _ now? there is really a sense of urgency at the _ now? there is really a sense of urgency at the moment - now? there is really a sense of| urgency at the moment because we are _ urgency at the moment because we are the third year of a we are on the third year of a recession— we are on the third year of a recession with no end in sight germany really needs a new and germany really needs a new like and germany really needs a new - like a _ and germany really needs a new like a fresh signal tm'ifftw-h growth and unleashing growth and _ and _ growth and unleashing growth and and we and innovation, and we haven't had that— and innovation, and we haven't had that atmosphere in the past years, w w years, the so—called w three years, the so—called led coalition, so we traffic led coalition, so we really _ traffic led coalition, so we really need a of course fgéllf “555i é ehéflqweefeeuf§e wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww really need a chang’enftnuri= ”*"""”"'”"*'* policy and really need a ehene’enftnurie ”*"""”"'”"*'* policy and that really need a ehend'enfmurie ”*"""”"'”"*'* policy and that has in economic policy and that has also _ in economic policy and that has also been — in economic policy and that has also been at the very forefront of the — also been at the very forefront of the agenda of cdu party. also been at the very forefront o' won't genda of cdu party. also been at the very forefront o' won't be da of cdu party. also been at the very forefront o' won't be easy cdu party. also been at the very forefront o' won't be easy but cdu party. also been at the very forefront o' won't be easy but cdl will ty. it won't be easy but this will be their— it won't be easy but this will be their main task because be their main'task ..s are be their maintaskbecaose —h high. amon- ww ily particularly amongiamily particularly among family owners, and we btisihessowr .|-.-|--- real bgsigess owners. and we need real movement to the economy --oin a-ain. econom auoin aaain. �* wwww w _www _w . of questions iw- w of questions in europe over

w �* germany will perhaps whether germany will perhaps loosen some of its strict rules loosen some of its.strict rules fiscal policy, surrounding fiscal policy, namely spending. do you think will see thatwwfrom will sewew {£35552 iii; ww ww we will see that from the german government? generally the german government? generally _ the business - speaking. the business in germany has speaking. the business _ _ in germany has very- community in germany has very much _ community in germany has very much been _ community in germany has very much been in favour of the debt much been in favour ofcthe debt -m_ much been in favour ofcthe. debt because we haven't had a break besause sue haven'eisae�* a ._.,...,.,,.,...,.- of break besause sue haven'eisaei a assesses- of tax revenue break besause sue haven'tsisaei a s—wsssssssssssssss of tax revenue on the shortage of tax revenue on the country — shortage of tax revenue on the country. tax has been country tau revenue has been - — so . e . . |n country tau revenue has been - — so . e . . in recent country tau revenue has been — — —~ . — — — in recent years so had to have more and government had to have more and more _ government had to have more and more money available so w-w debt break is an instrument for to spend as much money as you actually— spend as much money as you actually have, but given the security— actually have, but given the security situation in europe, we might— security situation in europe, we might consider some more flexibility when it comes to spending and will defence spending and that will be a matter of considerable debate _ be a matter of considerable debate now in the weeks to come _ debate now in the weeks to come. ., ., , ., come. how much of the european economy affected _ come. how much of the european economy affected by _ come. how much of the european economy affected by what - come. how much of the european economy affected by what is - economy affected by what is germany? three happening in germany? three years of a recession for your�*s

largest economy. germany is very much — largest economy. germany is very much affected _ largest economy. germany is very much affected by - largest economy. germany is i very much affected by - as very much affected by europe as a whole — very much affected by europe as a whole because germany has to be a _ a whole because germany has to be a economic power be a strong economic power within— be a strong economic power within europe and it also has to lead — within europe and it also has to lead and also has to to lead more and also has to become _ to lead more and also has to become stronger and more vocal within_ become stronger and more vocal within europe and the european commission. i think in recent years. — commission. i think in recent years. we _ commission. i think in recent years, we have very often seen german vote. . german vote. germany- - german vote. germany has been very ww— w_w wwww w m w w not been very strong in the - sphere _ not been very strong in the - sphere in _ not been very strong in the sphere in brussels, clinical sphere in brussels, thal— clinical sphere in brussels, that also— clinical sphere in brussels, that also has to change. it that also has to changeat—has i_ that also has to changeat—has im— that also has to change. it. has make the economy to make the german economy competitive again.— competitive again. thank you forjoining — competitive again. thank you forjoining us. _ competitive again. thank you forjoining us. matthew, - competitive again. thank you forjoining us. matthew, this| forjoining us. matthew, this is all coming as we have seen sense of i tbatsense of urgencycl. .. . . . . here in germany for mentioned here ingermany for to come that :—:: the uk. wwe've includes the uk. we've talked to many analysts who say friwedrichw merz w w ";.t;.;..';rhg.;wh w that friedrich merz will be looking to stretch a hand—out looking to strstsh a hand-set ”s”””s ”s””””” the looking to strstsh a hand-set , ” ” ” ” , the uk, to together, to the uk, to work together, especially looking at that relationship with the united states. we will continue to w the latest developments monitor the latest developments on the expected coalition talks

on the expected scoalitiontalks the coming days and you. si is” 57? ee” you" whiticwth ww ww you" wmuch.wplewntyww thank you very much. plenty more analysis available on the nsoreanalysisayailable on the website. the singer, roberta flack, best known she was 88. artists of the late 20th century, praised for her ability to cross the boundaries between soul and pop. mark savage looks back at her life. roberta flack. gentle, emotional, less fiery than aretha franklin, less james brown. some said james brown. sone said it thanjames brown. some said it wasn't really soul music. for others, it redefined the genre.

she grew up in a w suburb w w qjbtfe ofw middle—class suburb ofee so” e .. aged 15, she won middle—class suburb ofee so�