all right is to share with us fine, beautiful, dw booked on you tube. ah ah ah ah ah, this is dw news live from berlin, a diplomatic frenzy to avoid war on europe eastern border, french president,

my daughter, my call arrives in kiev for price is talks with ukrainian president fellow to rooster lensky. mccall says he expects the crisis to de escalate after meeting brush and president putin in moscow. also coming up former pope benedict says he is sorry to abuse victims and asks for forgiveness. in a letter he acknowledges with mistakes were made in his handling of the cases, but he denies any cover up at the winter olympics, one of the big stars of the games, u. s. foreign eileen who claims gold for china. the 1st ever sky big air events and rebuilding from the ashes people affected by last year is volcanic eruption on the spanish island of la paloma planned to build back batter. ah, i'm soon so much god, i thank you for joining diplomatic efforts. are intensifying as world leaders

attempt to deescalate the crisis around rushes to build up on its border with ukraine, french president, him on one. my call is now in kiev, where he's been holding talks with ukrainian president volota, mr. lensky as fears of a possible russian invasion mount. the meeting comes after mccall sat down with russian president vladimir putin in moscow. on monday, michael said he believed there would be no further escalation in the conflict following that visit with putin. and let's go right to kiev, we have our correspond nick connelly standing by frost. following those talks for us today. hi, nick of tell us what has been happening, what you've been hearing, because we understand that mccoy has been talking about that visit with the flooding report. and yesterday, well, it quite, this is an extorting meeting. the 2 ladies spent more than 5 hours together. and there was a press conference in the grand m kremlin palace press, which is considerable different distance from the leaders because of co it

restrictions. but this considerable confusion about what actually was agreed upon. there was signals coming from the french camp that behind closed doors, some kind of grand deal to at least reduce the risk an escalation, next few months had been cut. what exactly are the terms would be how that would play out, wasn't clear, and in social media around that story. and just in the last hour, we've heard the criminal spokesperson coming out and denying that some agreement has been reached. that escalation, for now is off the table. so seemingly quite a big difference in take away between what the french thought they'd agreed with or achieve with russians. and what vladimir putin a saw them offering him. i think that there was kids to expectation at this meeting because france had been a lot more careful in terms of its rhetoric. had been a lot more clear about wishing to em offer russia security guarantees and a lot less am outspoken in its support for ukraine, ukraine sovereignty than say, the united states, the u. k. and lots of eastern european countries. so some sense that that meant on

my call could play that role of the mediate between the us and russia over this issue. but again, for all the meetings, all the aspect together, very lethargic and what i say has been agreed on there. so what do you think that messaging means for him? i can't meeting today with la zalinski. what me key of here has seen an extraordinary marathon diplomacy in the last week. we've had breast prime minister . we had the german foreign minister yesterday for the german chance. the coming next week, so extraordinary amounts of to magic energy being put into this. i think the basic line here in care of is fear that france is willing to do some kind of deal at ukraine's expense to and banished the prospect of war and escalation in this part of the world. we heard in the french am circles yesterday about finland ization of ukraine. what that means is that ukraine would somehow be guaranteed its sovereignty at the price of not being able to join western structures. nature with you as was the case during the cold war when finland wasn't part of the direct

soviet sir influence, but wasn't allowed to join any western clubs. had a lot of soviet influence over its decision making. that obviously is a red line for ukraine. something they are very scared over people in ukraine will say we tried to in the ninety's, ukraine, had nuclear weapons, gave those up in return for written guarantees of sovereignty from the americans from the brits and the russians. and then back in 2014, the russians disavowed that and a and ex crimea and began supporting separatist nieces, ukraine. so the line here and ukraine is that this country is too important. it's too central in europe, and it has too many people to just be given some co neutral status and are forbidden from making its own decisions about who it ella's. with nick connelly, speaking to us there from kias. now, after my cons, visit to ukraine, he is doing the german capital berlin later today, where he will hold talks with chance or, or la sholtes and colin's president on j judah. chance or schultz, for his part, is returning from a meeting at the white house with us presidential biden. the 2 leaders pledge to work together in the ukraine crisis with biden brushing aside any doubts about

berlin's reliability. as a natal partner, germany is one of america's closest allies. it was a welcome to german chancellor of shawls at the white house in a show of unity. the 2 leaders met to discuss the situation in and around ukraine boy, but a key sticking point. turn that talks remained north strain to the pipeline, built to transport gas from russia on to the baltic sea to germany. the u. s. a poses the project and expects germany to take a clara stance on it. i'm at the ongoing crisis. schoultz was reassuring, but state vague, we will be united, we will act together, and we will take all the necessary steps and all the necessary steps will be done, but all of us together. meanwhile, biden was very clear about the notion read. nordstrom

t will go north stream to go forward with an invasion by the russians. just not going to have the pressure is now on germany to sharpen it stands. we can get some perspective on the story now with so there david will. she is a senior transatlantic fellow and deputy director of the german marshall funds berlin office. i so that's good to see you. i will ask you about this meeting we saw between joe biden and olaf shoulds, if there was an overarching message. it was that we stand united, we stand together. how convincing do you think that message was good to see you too, sir. may i think that joe biden definitely have the back of chancellor all off schoultz because he's had a very hard couple of weeks. he's had a hard time turning around the narrative that germany is not a reliable ally or sort of the weakest link in the trans atlantic relationship. so

this trip to washington was really done to regain credibility and also to assure joe biden and the white house that he and his government is a lock step with the united states when it comes to the conflict in ukraine. and i think he has to do a number of things which he did do. he emphasized that germany is the largest donor to ukraine. the defense ministry just announced that it's going to send an additional $350.00 troops, which was already planned. but there accelerating the time table to lithuania to the eastern flank of nato and coordinate was allies on strong economic sanctions. nordstrom's to was still left a little vague, but that could be 2 choices, advantage as well. table. if you look at the details of what was said, they were asked by a few reporters about what is on the table. if russia does invade ukraine again, why do you think they were so vague about the sanctions that would be implemented? i mean, it could have been that all of sholtes was looking to sort of please a domestic audience that he still didn't want to necessarily put nord stream out

there right away and looks at it as the point of leverage, especially since he's also due to be in moscow next week, but at the end of the day, i think the message was very clear from president bite. and he said that nordstrom, too, would not go forward if there was a further incursions to ukraine territory. and because of shoulders response, i don't, i can't imagine that the pipeline would go forward. instead, it would be dead on arrival. if russia takes another aggressive move at the border, you mentioned some domestic pressure ferla fuels. would you make of the fact that he couldn't even mentioned the word the nord stream to well, there are a lot of splits within his party. still, there are many as speedy members that see russia as a country that needs to, that needs to have, you know, we have to have dialogue with this country. and they see economic cooperation as a way to open up russia. but i think this belief or this value system is

a thing of the past. this idea of vondell doors handle or change through trade because of russia's aggressive moods. ukraine is clearly the victim here. and don't forget that this vondell through handle idea happened under the backdrop of deterrence. something that germany is still very shy to move forward with in terms of sending lethal weapons to ukraine. overall, do you think chancellor sholtes did enough to convince germany's allies that his country can be counted on as a defense partner? you know, i think there will be certain people that are not convinced by his messaging in washington. but what counts is that president biden stood alongside him during the press conference and said that germany is a reliable ally. that was very clear. so he has his back, but now it's up to germany to deliver. if there is an aggressive move on the part

of russia, will germany act in coordination with the united states? will there be any hesitation? will germany be a partner to the united states when it comes to also confronting china? these are all questions that are on the table, and it will now be in germany's court to react. so the david will senior trans atlantic fellow and deputy director of the german marshall funds berlin office. good to talk to you. so let's get a quick round up of some other stories. now. the you ends world food program says an estimated 13000000 people are facing hunger in the horn of africa. it says the food crisis has been caused by the lack of rain during the last 3 seasons. across parts of ethiopia, kenya, and somalia forecast suggest the conditions are likely to worsen. and in the us, members of congress, held a moment of silence to mark the countries, 900000 deaths from coven 19 the usaa suffered more fatalities from the corona virus

pandemic than any other country. or what a few countries that has implemented a national vaccine mandate is the camaros islands and the indian ocean people there don't have a choice. the presidential decree to vaccinate is being enforced by the military d. w. southern africa correspondent adrienne increased travel to the commerce islands. capital maroney, to find out how the measure is being carried out, and what people think of it. a military police checkpoint, the cast cans pass without develop cova vaccination certificates. the jap against the corona virus is mandatory for all adults on the cameras islands. so i think we already had lot of time for sensibility zation. so no, we are not forcing people, but do we just we just freon for them to go and vaccinate? critics of president, azalia sumani,

call his rule of the critic he issued the vaccine mandate in december by presidential decree of you forgot your vaccination cards. you are allowed to ask a friend or family member to bring it's here. then it will be controlled. if you haven't been vaccinated though, or you're late for your 2nd job, you will have to pay a fine hand. you will be brought directly to the vaccination center. in this case, they were brought to the military police hospital or on the corner, 58 people where vaccinated the morning. we filmed whether they wanted the death or not mckesson and much if i could get a more confused. so voc sounds under bite for personally. i don't totally trust the vaccines. we shouldn't be forced to get vaccinated. vaccination should be debated among the general public in the commerce. we need to consent to be vaccinated and not be forced like this. like animals circle like sheep or cows, where human beings, we have rights when they deserve, when it does, you know, and the door in the country's biggest hospital doctor,

you bram job yet defended the strict measures. he is one of the coordinators of the national cove campaign. what are said, she said when he did it. it's a good idea to make vaccination. obligatory senior people aren't respecting covered regulations like social distancing gosselin, vaccination people as the only way we can save lives. lesson for us, and this is proven by the statistics that you may an issue from remoter less than 40 covert patients are currently hospitalized on the cameras islands. dr. gia says none of them are vaccinated. the country is using china sign off on vaccination and it's nationwide campaign. several studies suggest 2 doses of the vaccine are less effective against the army crime variance. doctor jab year rejects. the idea says property a that's not true left with there is proof shamay. so there was no point arguing about it because we had more than $3000.00 positive cases around the country during the last wave with less than 10 deaths. somebody back at the check point. the

majority of those passing through have had their japs, it is virtually impossible to do anything on the cameras islands. otherwise, a covert vaccination certificate is needed to enter banks, schools, and government buildings and even to take the bus. former pope benedict has asked victims of sexual abuse in the catholic church for forgiveness. the abuse took place while he was holding a senior position at the roman catholic church. according to a letter published by the vatican. the 94 year old former pontiff said he expressed quote, profound shame, deep sorrow and heartfelt request for forgiveness. however benedict rejected allegations that he was involved in any cover up a report released in january said that benedict then known as cardinal joseph rod singer had failed to act against clerics in 4 cases of alleged abuse during his time as an unix archbishop between 19771982.

let's bring in our religious affairs correspondent martin got for more on the story high. martin. we've seen the retired pope asking for a heartfelt request for forgiveness. what do you make of this? not much really? i mean, it's just so you know, a repetition of the same expression of contrition, apologies, et cetera, that we have seen over 20 year period of, you know, a think that obviously the best place to go ask the question would be to 2 big thames. but generally speaking, i mean one thing that one hears repeatedly is that, you know, there's been enough apology but not enough change. the other fact is said, um, apologies, do nothing really to bring transparency and to sort out, you know, the situation which a church finds itself not only in relation to previous crimes, but in relation to the sort of the current situation of people that might be

victims of church of use us, we're talking given that fact that as you said, we have heard many apologies from the church and the found in the past that what reactions do you expect from this apology? well i think that in some way it will be a repetition of what happens every time that a new scandal comes, you know, comes to late, the church apologizes victims groups. the men sorta for faster pace of change and reform. and then we have sort of official in conversation over, over a period of time, i think that adobe is demanded the stage. and i think that this was discussed, particularly in the wake of the revelation that put the farmer pope in the spotlight is that, you know, there has to be mandatory reporting on the part of the church and state tardies have to actually take control of investigations and it's a matter of fact have to aggressively because it's quite obvious that from its highest grade, the church has not been able to actually bring transparency theory out the

situation, or actually believe so, you know, in a sense, i mean, i think that this is the reaction that was expected and that is really quite disappointing because having been something so momentous when would have hoped for something considerably more, you know, with more impact on the side of the church. and indeed benedict has rejected any allegations of a cover up in the, in these cases martin. so what channels do you see for the church to win back trust? well i think that, you know, this is a question that, that sort of, it's almost impossible to respond in the church has been bleeding out membership and has been actually on a, on a tailspin of sorts in terms of going to see this and not to mention marlo authority, i mean, especially among people that had been following this case, very closely. the question as to whether there was a cover up or not, or the question as to where do these charges go. i think that that something that

will be best be defined by the prosecutor. and obviously we generally do not allowed people that we do not take people that are actually accused of a crime to sort of define or judge their own case. so you know, this is now in the hands of justice, and the question is whether that will go anywhere. our religious affairs analyst martin got for us there. thank you very much. you're welcome. you're watching d. w still to come on our shell rebuilding from the ashes people affected by last year's volcanic eruption on the spanish island of the kama. plan to build back better. first we have the olympics for you. when of china's most promising winter sports stars has taken her 1st gold at the winter games in beijing, a winning the inaugural big air skiing event, american born eileen goose only recently began representing china and has been winning over more and more admirers in her adopted country i lean,

who is one of the best known winter olympians in china, despite the fact that she was born and raised in the usa. she's one of the home nation's most promising medal hopes. at the 2022 games grew. is among the many foreign born athletes competing to please a new set of supporters in beijing higher for sure. it's not to be ruled out that they will may be looking for a platform that's bigger and brings them more personal benefits of young. her thought this also proves that china's sports and commercial environment is superior to the united states. sure, your, your make well 18 year old good represented the u. s. at major events before adopting her mother's home country for competition back in 2019. she's become a store of teen china, which features more foreign born recruits this time around than at any previous

olympics. i'm not either they represent china and they bring jewelry for our country. i think it's an honor to bring glory to our motherland. well, no matter which nationality you are as long as you bring glory for our country. you are our friend who has become an icon of winter sports in china already. and her games off for from over after ski began, she'll go for gold again in the slope style and half pipe disciplines. our sports correspondent jonathan crane is in beijing and watched girls when he spoke to her after her feet and told us all about a very special day for china. again. i think it's fair to say the chinese fans absolutely love eileen. she really is the golden girl of the spacing olympics, and she really didn't disappoint them today. in the big competition, she was trailing, going into the final run and needed to pull something special out the bag and see

more than to live at landing a job that she never even tried before. much to the delight of a few 100 chinese fans watching. now afterwards, do told us that she speaks to her mother before her runs and she was told by her mother phone try anything risky, don't do it. just be happy with the silver meadow. and she said, no, i'm be showing that she went and did it. and then she's got her 1st goat of this competition. she has 2 more chances to win gold medals and these and then pick games. but at the moment she says she's just going to the moment, enjoy the med around her neck and focus on wants to come a bit later. now to snowboarding, the biggest star at the beijing winter games, shawn white has reached heights like no one else in the sport. the 35 year old american returns to his 5th olympics before retiring, competing for a record 4th gold metal on wednesday. ah, he's the king of the half pipe. sean white is going for gold. again. the american

is the most successful snowboarder ever with 3 olympic gold medals. stranger to the pressure of competing, i feel epic, so i know it brings out the best to me and i'm hoping that all of this rocky bumpy road to the games is gonna kind of eat once we get there. so this is one more step along the way. he's the only snore water to need to perfect 100 scores. might started snowboarding at the age of 6, and turned pro, at age 13. he competed at his 1st winter games in terrain at 19, where he won gold in the half pipe. then again at vancouver 2010. so she 2014 was an anomaly. after white only finished forth that he bounced back at piano chang, 2018, claiming his threat olympic gold medal. i know the others there,

so i'm just enjoying every moment that's giving me this extra boost of excitement. sean white's legacy is unmatched. as the legend has good bye to the sport of snowboarding, a months long volcanic eruption on spain's atlantic island of la paloma last year, devastated homes and villages that were in the loud lava path. several 1000 people were displaced by the committee. v. how russian did abuse nicole reese reports on the challenges and opportunities as islanders begin to rebuild their lives. noises of trucks removing tons of ashes are breaking through the quiet english manchester cleanup works and full swing after the historic eruption of the committee. vehicle volcano, also on the roof of this bar. i benefited the ida. we wanted to open again in 10 days,

but that's impossible because there is no motor way any more and distances have become longer with homer for suppliers. it's challenging. he like there's no running water, there's also no garbage collection. so now we hope that we can open in 15 to 20 days, vivian early moves around, 2000 residents have come back to the areas that were most affected by the rupture unethical. but if you have okay, know, they will have to repair a lot, but they still have a home hotter, garritano lost everything. me carsa liter. um and that my house is literally a few kilometers from here under the lava april. but i couldn't tell you exactly where any more. it's as if this were just one big black desert 0. it's impressive. just impressive. now the architect lives in a flat. despite his plight, he is eager to rebuild the village of told, okay, below the lava all buildings have been dea located. they could be built in their

former location and may even be built with semen made from the ashes of the comedy via ha, kasey and acres of everything that we could build on the lava could be ecological and sustainable. i also think there could be a protected natural area for the lava, allow a big part of it could stay alongside what was once the village of today, okay, call me or what's now the new village of to decay. in this case, we'll get all we're worry with broken thick, awesome. but this new told okay, is still a dream at the moment. the lava that you can see here, right behind me is partly still hot. scientists have measured temperatures of up to 200 degrees celsius in there, and that's not all. the volcano is still producing gases. and this means sometimes there is the smell of rotten eggs in the air that sulfur dioxide. so the authorities also need to be aware of the air quality here,

because if it gets very bad, they need to evacuate people from the affected areas. in these factors can also intervene with the current works to free one of the islands main roads, from lava and rocks. it will take years for this area of the island to recover. the government is planning dense, a housing now that there is less space building on the lava is not possible for now . hasa garritano knows that, but the by meadows like him, are eager to move on and restore lap alma's identity. i. d. w. news asia is coming up next be responders. you will take you to india and me, and nora that's coming up in a few minutes with with

imagine being a complete you want to learn, but no school. you want to be, you put on, allowed to when you're sick, the doctor now when you fall in love, they won't matter. you don't have children for fear they'll be visible. your shoe with when you die, there is no. you ever every 10 person like this in 10000000 people in the world, the state. they have no nationality in total. they don't belong and everyone has the right. everyone has the right people in trucks injured when trying to see the city center more and more refugees

are being turned away. families inferior to the credit on it. and the straightest people fleeing extreme around getting $200.00 people around the world. more than 300000000 people are seeking refuge. yes. why? because no one should have to flee. make up your own mind. d. w. made for mines. you're watching d. w. news, asia coming up today. wherever they go, they seem to face discrimination. we take a closer look at render refugee.