[000:00:00;00] ah, ah ah, this is dw news live from berlin tonight, a dangerous escalation in the crisis over ukraine. you as president bind, says he expects russia to invade with in date he's accusing mosque out of a false flag operation, sending more troops to the border. instead of pulling its forces back, russia is accusing the us of fanning the flames. also coming up tonight, france withdrawing its counterterrorism forces from the african country molly to pull out,

opens the door to islamist extremis and russian mercenary was parts of northern europe, slammed by a fear store. waves smashed through the window of a commuter ferry in the city of hamburg and the russian scheme sensation camilla valley eva finishes for the winter olympics, the teenager at the center of a derby scandal was tip to take gold. ah, can i bring goff is good to have you with us on this thursday, the crisis over ukraine moved in a dangerous direction to day. you, as president biden said, he thinks a russian invasion will take place any day. now. moscow immediately fired back accusing the u. s of fueling tensions at

a un security council meeting today you are secretary of state entity. he can warned that russia is already manufacturing a provocation to justify an attack. he said claims that ukrainians are carrying out genocide against russian speaking. people in the don baths region represent a false flag operation that could lead to war. russia continues to deny any evasion plans. it says it is withdrawing some troops from the border with you. great. with the u. s. and others have been warning that russia would use a false flag event as a pretext for an invasion. earlier we spoke to our ukraine correspondent at connelly. he is in car, keep near at the border with russia. we asked him how we would recognize is a false flag event if russia used one as a pretext for an invasion. i guess with great difficulty depending on the competency. so going it out. but definitely that is something that the u. s.

intelligence agencies have been briefing on something they think might happen, they talk to effect videos of atrocities against civilian population by the ukraine or authorities. and there has been the speculation here and ukraine that maybe there would be shelling of civilians in that separate controlled area, which would then be attributed to the ukrainian government is important. remember that russia has handed out hundreds of thousands of passports to people to ukraine . citizens living in that separates control territory. so russia would have the pretext of protect, of protecting it's possible old as there are all these options seemingly on the table now, or to worry that that is what russia is now looking to do to create a cause for war. a reason for war, we heard vladimir putin restates his claims that rush that ukraine rather was guilty of court genocide against that population living there. so very strong turns coming from moscow and a sense that russia is looking for some kind of justification for an intervention here in ukraine. that was nic connelly reporting there. here's a link now, some of the other stories that are making headlines around the world. military leaders, sondra, ogo, de amoeba,

has been sworn in as burkina faso as president. 3 weeks ago he led a coup against the elected leader. the amoeba seized power, promising to secure the war torn nation against jihadist and violent authorities in australia or honey, a shark that killed a man in sydney's 1st fatal attack. in nearly 60 years, beaches have been closed and helicopters, drones and baited lines are being used to catch the shark. it's believed to be a great white shark. at least 3 meters law firefighters in argentina are struggling to control a massive wildfire that's raged across more than half a 1000000 hector's of land in the southern province of court against us. the blaze is being viewed by an unprecedented drought and has called serious environmental and economic damage. so far, no human casualties have been reported. a u. s. pilot to became known as the candy

bomber during the berlin airlift has died at the age of $101.00. gil halverson made a point of dropping candy from his plane to the children of berlin. after soviet forces block hated western controlled parts of the city from 1948 to 1949 flooding. a landslides have killed over a 100 people. in brazil, dozens more are missing the historic city of patropolis in the hills above rio de janeiro. as declared 3 days of morning, a months worth of rain fell there in a single day. digging through the debris for yet another day. this man believes his sister might still be trapped beneath the might on the law for me to them in my, my sister, my sister's family is still missing and her home was here. it's been to day since

the lance lights, the chances of finding her life. i slim and addison bickmail, there's nobody here. i've been here since 5 dianda. i don't see any firefighters to help me, but we're not going to give up with help with or without help. we'll keep going. many residents of the resort town of patropolis are still searching for loved ones as they prepare to bury them more than $100.00 dead. many fleeing the devastation left by the landslides taking as many of their belongings with them as they can. on tuesday, more than 20 centimeters of rain fell on patropolis in just 3 hours. the city is nestled in the mountains above. we are diginero to day the trail of destruction that the avalanche of might cost is still clearly visible. houses and cars were swept away rather glad it was right by my house. unfortunately,

now it's impossible to live here. it's very tragic. what does this man just like hundreds of other people has to leave his home? and those who are able to stay face an uncertain future in a region that has seen similar catastrophes in the past. economic collapse and venezuela has forced more than 5000000 people. this about of 6 of the country's population to flee their homeland man, many and up in chile to get bare. they have to travel thousands of kilometers, often on foot through columbia, peru and bolivia. many cross intentionally through coach on it as a small border town and from there to he kick it on the coast. but the sheer number of venezuelan migrants is generating hostilities club carlo has travelled almost 6000 kilometers to get here. he's left everything behind and venezuela, his house,

his work. he and his 3 children had headed south to chile. she led by a guilty debt. i. now chile, as the stable country, is better than elsewhere. that's why i wanted to come here. i hope off on work if we can get ahead here even though and that our children will have a better life reachable. and he'll do deborah literacy. you know, so the way that traveled for more than a week by foot by truck and by bus. now i've reached co chaney at chalet and village with just over 1500 residence. it's time for a brief stop or earth internet infomatica macbook. my husband is a programmer, e one board and i'm a lawyer. but none of that matters learned. we'd work anywhere in the restaurant hotel now, anywhere as long as its honest work lead us. it'll not aim for all these families here. they've carried the young daughter for the past 2 weeks.

for the children, this journey is an adventure. the adults however, know how serious it is and not only at the border once they've entered chile, the migrants have to register and undergo hygiene measures including having a p c. r test. a large number of migrants have ended up in the hobbit town of kiki without being met with increasing hostility. many here lost their jobs during the pandemic o plus. a recent rise and crime and violence has been blamed on the venezuelans leading to protests by local residents, undergo in the who in the last few months, up to 500 people have arrived here every day. but it's one of the areas i'll that's

up to $15000.00 new people. me per month warner news, weilacher, thunder gumbo, lsu. i, me, stickle. thank you. know, my children have grown up around chinese people. hindus, they know about co existence community. this is a free trade area and there are many foreigners, but this is different now. criminals are coming over and nothing is being done about it. the muddy presumed another. no, so most certainly not jennifer. they call racist. we've always coasted peacefully with peruvians, with colombians here, but open borders on without a need for papers. no up. if i go to another country, i have to show valid papers, migrants to welcome him. we just want him to valid possible and papers of it again to hope in a via the mood and he kicky in northern chile remains tense. if a more now we want to go too much, he is april. he is in a cape. good evening to you, my t is. so what are you seeing there?

me, what is the mood between chileans and the migrants? yeah, the situation is really tense some times and most of the migrants we talked to were peacefully, but they admitted that there are some groups, mostly a venezuelan group, some few of them who are criminals and, and they are committing some crimes. he has such as robbery, so many or some, some local chill in the population. he and chilling i. kiki is angry about that. they demonstrate, as they protested against the crimes committed by some of the refugees, but many of them, most of them, we see here i individuals of families who try to get a job. he and sheila may be in the agricultural sector, so they are looking for a job for better life conditions. one family, for example, we met close to the border offer and called china the believe in child, gillian, and border and dad. this was a family with a young baby, a small baby that wanted to cross the desert,

180 kilometers to get here to this refugee camp. and i kiki behind me, but it's almost impossible. so it was really a tough situation. people were di, had rated and hungry, and the united nations who are working in this area seemed to be a not to be able to cope with the situation. well, what can the julian government do now mean, or is there talk of simply closing the borders to sunday in yearly legislation is in force and the government is already at carrying some of the migrants, illegal migrants without documentation, back to the bar to bolivia, but bolivia doesn't want to receive them, so they're stuck at the borderline. and they mostly come back in the nights at the desert borderline. so it's a vicious circle and the catching in government. and neither is or seems to be able to cope with the situation. it's really difficult and to get there regret. but he is a bird in

a kiki. we appreciate your reporting much use. thank you. we want to go back to our top story now and more tensions in the crisis over ukraine to day. our washington bureau chief indisposed, she joins me now. it is strong allegations were made to day, from the americans repeating claims of a false flag pretext, and an imminent invasion of ukraine by russia. b, when we hear that, can we say that the white house is giving up on diplomacy? i wouldn't go so far brain, but it is imminent that term president biden, and his administration is not believing putin who is saying that he is withdrawn his troops. but in all their still doing, like everything you can do to prevent a war, for example, secretary of state lincoln. before he went on before i flew over to munich, or to the miniature security conference,

his step by at the united nations security council and said, i quote that here i am here not to start a war. i am here to prevent one. so that means that all diplomatic efforts are still going on, but again, they don't trust into diplomacy anymore. the american se already for a war in is on a stand by will. we'll touch on the un security council, which meant to day the topic, the minsk agreement. that is the deal that was supposed to bring a ceasefire that eastern ukraine, where pro russian separatists are fighting the ukranian army. february 2015, 10 months into a bloody conflict in eastern ukraine, pro russian separatists, backed by russia itself, fighting ukrainian government troops. thousands were debt already. that was the backdrop for a whirlwind of diplomacy that saw russian ukrainian,

french and german leaders meet in the belarus in capital. over the course of 16 hours, they banged out a peace deal known as the minsk agreements. among them a ceasefire to be implemented immediately, heavy weaponry was to be pulled back from the front. the organization for security and cooperation in europe was to monitor the truce. also, the ukrainian government would regain control over all its territory and steps would be taken toward local elections in rebel held areas with constitutional reforms to give them autonomy from the central government in kiev. but none of the minsk agreements have been fully implemented as both sides have pointed out. although fighting decreased after the cease fire, there have been casualties almost daily ever since it was agreed. the government is not in control of rebel held areas. and key of sees giving more autonomy to separatists, as

a prelude to splitting up the country. deep mistrust divides both sides. it's the division that europe is desperate to resolve. in as we know that both russia and the united states to de, claimed that the other side is violating the minsk agreement. and what was said about this in the security council today. you know, brand would really put in ukraine and also the united states. actually natal, at whole in high alert was flooding me a pooty in talking about a genocide happening. he actually said that doing his meeting with our german chancellor. all of shots that are kind of imp implements or implicitly would allow him a to recognize that on that screech and, and with that the minsk agreement would be dead. so this is the over arching politic political discussion. and that was also discussed today in the un security council,

and also what was seen as another step in the direction of escalation. and american diplomat has been expelled from russia. what more do we know about that to 9? now this is important because ambassador gordon is the 2nd ranking you asked implement in russia. so this is our, this was really big news this morning. so the u. s. believes that this is an unprovoked escalator reaction from put in again, despite him saying the diplomatic doors are still wide open. so these kind of mixed messages are coming from the kremlin, are seen here in the united states as another prove that protein and the kremlin can't be trusted and that the nader lines has to be ready for all eventualities. he toby's in his poll with the latest to night from washington is as always, thank you. friend is withdrawing it's counterterrorism troops from molly in the

a 9 year fight against jihad of since urgent. the french government has fallen out with molly's military hunter. the pullout opens the door to islamist extremis and russian mercenaries, and it raises concerns about security in the wider so hell reach. after nearly 10 years of corporation, french patrols like this will soon be a thing of the past. and molly, france, 1st deploy troops here to fight islamist insurgents in 2013. now present mackerel says it's time to go with us when we have come to terms with what's evident, we cannot remain militarily engaged alongside the de facto authority. this strategy and hidden names we do not share. that is the situation we are facing today in molly. but one member of the john to controlled parliament, the real reason for the end of frances operation, volcano was simple. on the failure, the marlo,

it obviously bow canes. actions have not been able to contain the advances of the jihad, his groups. douglas, when the french intervention was set up, that the security situation was deteriorating in the north, not in the center. today, it is practically in the south bomber which means things have not worked in marley's capital. the mecca reaction to withdrawal was mixed in. so my lid it, we've been allies for years. we are allies, we cannot do without france just as france cannot do without us. so he was not throw them away like garbage and france should not play with us either. he did you woke, noted young or below before they arrived. we lived well. it was frowned to impose this war on us so, but this is a good decision for molly had a boat. while french soldiers like these will soon be leaving paris and its allies have promised to keep up the fight against isthmus insurgents in the region. st.

troops will be re deployed elsewhere. but the departure from molly will only put further pressure on un peacekeepers. amid rising millison to tax and could push the marlene government even closer towards the controversial mercenaries of the russian wagner group, which is already helping train its soldiers. for the french announcement came just to her the summit of european and african leaders in brussels and from were on their journey by our corresponded christine woodwards. good to see you, christie, in her, in addition to france, canada, and other european countries withdrawing troops for molly. you know, where does this leave? molly's fight against g. hardass. brent? there is a vacuum that's now been created out by the withdrawal of these troops. and the concern is that that gap is going to be filled by russia on the ground in marley right now, are russian mercenaries. and as we understand it,

their job is not necessarily to solve the insecurity in the country, but rather to proper the military asian to. and there lies the problem from a european perspective that overall in this region, in maryan, in and other countries across the us. a how that it is democracy and democratic and western values that are under attack. and that players like russia are coming in and that is seeing that situation further deteriorate now as that same gender that is occurring in power in molly right now. promise in election. they've talked that back and have said there will be staying in power for another 4 years. instead that's likely to see them being isolated not only by western allies, but also by allies on the continent. that means the economic situation in the country further deteriorates. and this is also part of the reason about why this insurgency is growing in, in these remote parts of the country, where young people are being radicalized. there are no basic services, let alone opportunities. yeah,

immediate. the worst news for their part of the world of what else was on the agenda to day the summit? well, i can tell you that out for the african prisoners coming to europe right now. there are a few things are on the table. i have to point out that relations have soured. in the pandemic brent. the summit was supposed to take place in 2020 was pushed back because of the pandemic. but we've seen accusations of vaccine hoarding and africans have really felt that the european allies have left them down in the pandemic. so you are going to be hearing about fair access to, to vaccines. you'll be hearing more demands are for the lifting or the wavering of those peasants. you're also going to be hearing about energy and this is really a sticking point. african countries. i don't like some of the decisions that were taken at the club 26 summit, for example. do i stop financing, fossil fuel investments in energy? they say that that directly impacts africa's ambitions to develop so that and other things,

but this is likely going to be one of the most difficult ones for these are for the summit. brent christine, one we're voyager night from brussels is always christine, thank you. at least 4 people have been killed of severe storms. welsh central europe, wind gusts of up to a 181 kilometers per hour are being reported. gill's battery, northern germany, a created chaos for transportation and they've knocked out powers applause. ah, a commuter, sorry. on the air, the river close to hamburg, people here i used to stormy weather, but not to this lucky me. no one here was seriously hurt. shipping for larger vessels has been suspended in many coastal areas, the northern germany, west on melania,

which particularly heart rate traffic is also affected. many long distance trains in particular has been cancelled causing major problems for those traveling from hamburg, oberlin to munich, for example. as under for the space, cancellations are precautionary measures because the safety of our passengers, an employee is our top priority. we don't want trans being stuck on the open track in these weather conditions. i ask because making sure 30400 or 500 passengers on a train are safe is difficult, especially when the train is also cut off from the power supply over long. collapsing trees posed the highest risk for motorists. several people were killed when their cars were hit in germany and neighboring countries like poland and the czech republic. emergency services advising people to stay at home if they can. because the next storm is hot on the heels of millennia and say nap as it's been called, could be even more destructive at the beijing winter olympics,

rushing figure skater. camille, on the uber made a heartbreaking performance during the women's free ski competition on thursday. on the eve of stumbled and fell several times during her routine and could not recover her composure. the performance meant that she finished in 4th place and in tears the 15 year old had been in the lead in women's figure skating and was favored to win gold. but it was unsure if she would have received a medal after she tested positive for a band substance. jonathan gray from b w 's boards is at the beijing winter olympics. here is what he had to say about believers disappointing day on the ice. come in the valley eva was in floods of tears after her performance sat inconsolable in the result, very desperately trying to process what it just happened to her. we can only imagine the pressure huge. the challenge. 15 year old states from russia was taken to the ice, of course, under a cloud only allowed to compete,

oscar sports court ruled it would be wrong to stop her from doing so because of how young age. but after a week of drama, the following revelations of fail drugs testing december, that pressure finally took its toll. dogs inter about that right valley eva look, say one steady. one. sure of herself. she found twice she tumbled more. this is not the by the able, we've been used to seeing, to be honest. it was painful to watch. just tell the facing with a gold medal in the team events, her name whether she even receives that metal remains to be seen. the medal ceremony for that event is on hold until heads open cases. hey, don't info, guilty or not. this has been a sorry saga around with a 15 year old girl, but it's center you're watching. the w news is a reminder, the top story that we're following for you. you as president joe biden has warned, the threat of a russian invasion of ukraine remains very high. he's accusing moscow of running

a false flag operation by claiming to be withdrawing forces from the border region while actually sending in more troops. next to the point, putin's power work gain, high stakes low returns, i'll be back to the top of the hour with more rolled news followed by the day. we'll have more coverage of a day that so more escalation in the crisis over you break

with who to the point. strong opinions, clear positions. international perspectives is the threat of war in the middle of europe receiving. russia says it's drawing down the troops, master ukraine's border. the west is skeptical. putting poker, everybody loses find out on to the point. to that point

with dw and o m they've had it for decades. the people of iraq. your country is devastated and there's no way to define how did it comes with key witnesses? reveal president story they were presenting the you as they knew what the consequences these sanctions are and they've liked the world about does he make it that someone could kill his friends and as a fee and so easily was

a really you behaved exactly like said darma and the poison spread from there, ah, less my 0 in the great documentary series destruction of a nation starts march 4th on d. w. is the threat of war in the middle of europe receding or simply at a law. russia says it's drawing down the troops master ukraine's border. the west is skeptical, forces, and weapons. it still has in place. russia retains the ability to launch a full fledged invasion according to nato. yet, president putin says he's ready to give diplomacy a chance. it fell to germany's chancellor to decipher the mixed messages as he