on scandinavia, to regions east and ukraine. a day after recognizing them as independent states. it plans to build membership basis and established a joint defense mechanism. but a law makers of voted to allow their troops to be stationed in the break labor public. one said, the military presence would maintain stability and independence. criminal also says it's a recognition of 2 regions extends to territory currently held by ukrainian forces versus like the move is justified. that's the old fellow. i'll be back with more news in the next hour. you're watching a special program from the w use us meet wait to hear from a russian to from from usaa president joe biden as a response to russians move to recognize those 2 easton ukraine states. michael, okay, is that you to very shortly? i had of other, let's go to the w corresponds all of a solid in washington who is just give us

a preview of what we're expecting to hear from american president said joe biden. let's go to nick connelly and keith welcome. nick explained to us the significance of this latest announcement from the russian president. well, exactly the announcement as we had it last night seem to just include recognition of those separatist enclaves on the territory where they are now. they currently control the bigger cities in done yet can the hans most the population but only about a 3rd of the area of the regions respectively of done yet kalonski, the 2 thirds that remain are under control of ukrainian government here in care of and basically that frontline hasn't moved since 2015 since the high point of that conflict. so by saying explicitly that russia a recognizes supports the aspiration or the claim to those for the territories. that opens the doors to potentially russian troops that are now moving into their separate cell areas, supporting their separatists in an attack on ukrainian troops to extend their

control to entire, to those regions. right, so on that, let's talk about what you've been hearing from those 2 regions to that can no hands well on the govern. control side is increasing anxiety. we've seen in the last few days, even before this announcement, more fighting than we have basically, since the high point of this conflict in 2014, 2015000 people left without electricity without water, after destruction, to critical infrastructure. people basically stuck for days on end in their bomb shelters, not willing to leave their houses, lots of different kinds of munitions being used. people are scared not only of a direct hit, but also splinters and other basically risks their life just by going about their daily lives. and lots people who had stayed on living pretty close the front line and who had kind of made their peace with the instability. now thinking twice, whether it's probably worth their while leaving and trying to get further away from these front lines. if these attacks intensify, we've heard across the, the day of sanctions being imposed against russia and sanctions being considered

a how is god kia they're reacting to these announcements? i think the biggest news, the days that announced from berlin from chancellor left shots that germany is putting not stream tune on ice. it isn't being permanently killed off isn't permanently off the calls, but certainly does seem very difficult on to see a scenario to which it would actually be commissioned this pipeline between russia and germany that has been completed. but as yet to be commissioned. that is a key demand here of the government of ukraine to western european countries. they say this pipeline allows russia basically to bypassed ukraine's pipelines to not rely on ukraine for selling its gas to western europe. and would thus allow moscow to stoke a big a conflict here in ukraine with and without any risk to its exports of gas in those critical billions of euros in income that russia gets for that gas. it's not something that ukraine has been against for years in terms of other sanctions. not quite clear how extremely going to be there have been or to worry here that

especially western european countries will be worried about hitting the energy sector. anything that could see western european households going without electricity or without heating. so a worry that given that so far, those russian troops aren't on ukrainian government control territory. they've only gone into those separate cell. there is that that could be used by capitals in western europe as an excuse or a, a basis for not really applying the most severe of sanctions. thank you. very mcnair. connelly in here. i am michael oak, you taking over some fill at this point with me is a d. w correspondent, oliver salad. again in washington. oliver is this the strongest response biden could have given at this point. well, we're about to hear from president biden, so we don't know what the response will be, obviously, but that is certainly the big question. what response we're going to hear from the white house, because president biden has said time and time again, that if any russian troops are about to cross the ukrainian border than he

considers that as an invasion. and if there is an invasion, there will be sanctions and we heard today the national security council, and therefore the white house calling it an invasion, also pointing out that they believe that there is more military action to come right now. of course, those russian troops have only entered separatist held areas. the big concern is that there will be more to come. and that no matter what already has paved the way for severe sanctions of the question, how severe and that is what we're waiting for right now. president biden in his press conference, wants to give a details on those sanctions. it's important to say however, that at this point in time, the u. s. does not consider it this full blown invasion. certainly the concern is that this is prudence plan in the long run and therefore a breaking with the post world war 2 order with the post cold water. and of course, with international law of it, would you hearing in the corridors there how likely or further measures against

russia by the us government. presumably we will hear that from none mister biden. but how likely is that health course? i mean, we have seen sanctions put together and in place by the european union is which is targeting individuals. germany has taken it's um, it's a gas pipeline that was at the center of a long debate. the do not stream to put it on eyes for now. that is certainly being applauded right now in the united states. and we have heard all those threats and a really clear messages in the direction of vladimir putin in russia. that if he invades ukraine, there will be sanctions. so this is what we're waiting for right now. it is certainly very likely the question, of course, how severe are they going to be given that russia and putin has sent his troops only to the separatist hell areas? i would assume that the sanctions are not the full scale that they could be in the

end. and present biden wants to keep some powder a for further escalation. also because what he also made clear is that there will be no military intervention. so and so those sanctions is basically all they have right now. and we are certainly waiting with lots of interest to hear what exactly those sanctions will look like you waiting with interest. and lots of viewers around the world have been waiting with interest in. one of the things that you hear viewers talk about is the fact that it appears to be that the west has absolutely no stomach, no political will. to actually go to war. ah, you know, any kind of the exchange might bring on a world war. what are you hearing there in washington where the u. s. is guiding much of this ease, this going to be a sanctions driven response. at this point at is this point. yes, it is. because don't forget, ukraine is not a natal member, and as much as the western countries and united states and its allies,

nato partners would welcome any country to place their own decisions and decide with whom they want to align. that has been the take in the position of the u. s. and its partners. and at the same time, ukraine is not a natal member, probably will not be in the near future. and therefore the u. s. has also made clear time and time again that there will be no military intervention. so the large majority also, if you ask people who are on the street in the united states is absolutely against any kind of military intervention. as you know, people were other happy to have those u. s. troops being pulled out of afghanistan. so any intervention here with russia, of course, which is a completely different, a quality than it would have been with, with that, that it was in afghanistan. in fact, that is not welcome here in the united states. that is a d w 's. oliver's salad in washington dc. many thanks, oliver. i'm sure we will see more of you tonight. vladimir putin now,

it says he recognizes the entire territory of to break away republics in eastern ukraine as independent. the russian president made the announcement a day after recognizing the done nets and who hunts people's republics as independent states. your latest announcement could be used as a reason for russia to push further into eastern ukraine across the current front line into territory currently held by ukrainian forces he is with vladimir putin had to say. nor was it, but his nellin, we've recognized with a dawn yet enhancing people's republics. don't you see which means we have recognised of all their founding documents grand, including the constitution, ah romco, who burnett's crew and the constitution defines the borders of the donates and onscreen in the song that the time when they were part of ukraine, i shoot to him shoot a picture of honestly hope pull me and i emphasize this that all the contentious

issues will be resolved in negotiations between the authorities in key of it and the leaders of these republics. unfortunately, at this stage, we understand that this is not possible because facilities are continuing there and could intensify the brochure. oh, d. w has been speaking with people on the streets of kia to get their reactions to this latest russian move to where really am afraid about our democracy, about our country, about our freedom really whole was atocha, russia. we were stopped ah, by to guardian call city sion ah, within that loss of his actions should be done before it's all completed english try to to show our onward that we are really good county and we deserve to be free. so we're living in a hard time for your grain and a lot of people arm experiencing fear every day. like going to bed and waking up.

we don't know where actually where, where exactly we're going to be like in danger. like when he, you will be like in real danger for us. i think you great generally protesting every day just by appreciating our culture and history like every day is like a fight for us to survive another day to be in like united country together a risha lieut savage is head of the ukraine form after foreign policy. think tank chatham house in london and joins a snell. welcome to the w. what was your reaction to russian president putin speech last night in which he questioned ukraine's right to statehood? well last nights for tins addressed to russian nation was very much in line with his cross i historical essay. he is issued last summer where he exactly says ukraine is an artificial state that has been created by these pop it. good. you

know, it's a puppet regime. so basically it's in the line of denying ukraine estate. it's not a real country. it's quite a humiliating for the 1000 year old history of ukraine. and i think that it was in a way, i was, i declaration of war on the ukrainian states. he's essentially saying that ukraine is not legitimate. and yet at the same time he is acknowledging accepting, embracing the existence of these brick away republics. as in fact, independent states, what do you make of the logic there? on the logic is that of course, ukraine exists only as an extension of the russian civilization. and it can only exist as either in the full coherence with the russian governance. the russian autocratic lived till christine orthodoxy, or otherwise it rebels against these kinds of values. it's

a known ukraine that is being manipulated by the united states poll and austro hungarian. you name it so which basically says it's ukrainians who love russia. they are true ukrainians. all are the ukrainians on ukrainians. do you expect russia to stop at sending troops into low hunts and don't yet? honestly, i think russia keeps fool deployments around ukraine's border. it has made new crossing into ukrainian territory from the east, of course, unobstructed because the border is being controlled by russia. at that point, i imagine that the deployment will continue, and we may see that russian troops will move into close proximity to existing line of conflict between right now currently guarded by the proxy groups and ukrainian armed forces. i want to make sure you understand what you're saying. are you seeing

that regardless of how this unravels over the next coming days or weeks that you see a sort of a permanent deployment of russian troops in ukraine and will absolutely, they already preparing to build military basis. and this is a signed in this agreement of $32.00 with the squad republics that will permit russia to permanently station its troops. similar to what we see already happening in bella lewis. and today we, we hear russians are not retreating from bill arose and they continue to threaten the capital of ukraine from the norse new sanctions, or now on the way, including germany holding its nord stream to gas pipeline project with russia. are they likely to hurt enough to reverse mr. pollutants thinking? well, here 2 things michael heard and reversed that 2 different things. and i think sanctions will definitely hurt because they are here to inflict cost on the perpetrator. and

then he had to limit access to finance for russia to finance. honestly it's military adventures in europe, whether they will reverse russian decision. i honestly doubt it because seems like judging from that speech yesterday, fortune is on a full blown new imperialist agenda to subjugate ukrainian state, to partition it, to certain degree, to create contest of statehood for you. grey. you know, the list as we're talking about sanctions, the, the list of sanctions against on russia are long and long standard. do you see any difference in terms of the likely outcome here? any difference between the kinds of sanctions you're seeing proposed today and sections that we've seen for the past ticket. all at this point, european sanctions are they are still remaining quite weak, but they enlarged

a number of individuals. i think the kind of heavy sanctions we were talking about may be in place, and let's see what president biden says when russians crossed the existing line of con, contact between the occupied don't boss and the 3 there are 200 that is currently controlled by ukraine. but there will be a difference. the possibility is access to russian state banks. there could be sanctions on russian central bank. there will be sanction on technology and especially those and needed for oil and gas exploration. there is a much wider circle of russian oligarchs who will be targeted. and this is different from 2014 ukraine's president. volume is a lens react to russian, so profit russian publications. do you imagine everyone in the ukranian government is on the same page? all absolutely, everybody and ukrainian government, 3 members,

georgia of 2008. how russian armed forces provoked george and leadership forum confrontation and used it as a pretext to bomb peaceful and civilians all the way up to glory, approaching the capital b. c. so there's a very clear understanding of what russia is capable off, and ukraine will exercise calm will exercise. no, restrain in as much as it is possible in order to exactly not to allow russia to implement is dangerous plan. mislead savage. one thing that appears to be clear is the west is not willing to go to war. is it inevitable that ukraine will have to lose something to achieve some sort of in game here? well, of course, the future of ukraine to a certain degree, as we see, is already decided on the battlefield,

all the way from 201415. these main agreements were signed onto the barrel of the gun when ukrainian armed forces wind circle in the bytes of all, you know, a vice. so the future of ukraine depends this point of view crane's own result to push russian troops back. and the question for the west is whether it wants to stand by ukraine. ukraine has enough soldiers and its own human resources to resist what ukraine needs, economic assistance. ukraine needs, military assistance. ukraine means diplomatic assistance. and this, this was the west nato. you should provide a risha luge savage from chatham house in london. really appreciate your time and your perspective dw correspondent nick connelly is in kia van nick explained to us the significance of this latest announcement from the

russian president. well the, the situation is we after hearing putin speak yesterday, we assumed that this recognition would just be for the territory. and, and yet scholar hunts that is currently controlled by those separatists and has been since 2014, they controlled the biggest cities, billions kalonski with most population, but only about a 3rd of the actual territory of the wider done yet not regions. the rest is still in the hands of the ukrainian government cave and has been thought those front lines haven't shifted in years. and that they built speculation yesterday that to avoid a more frontal confrontation with the west. russia would only recognize them in their current borders, even though those separatists regimes themselves or claim the entire, to the regions now by the reproaches come out today and said that russia supports that claim to the entirety of dental hunts regions, and then sets up the post perspective, the possibility of russian troops in those regions, helping though separate his troops to attack ukrainian government troops to make

good on that claim. nick, it seems an every day. in fact, i think by the hour we're seeing use drip out of moscow. and this is news that is probably not good for the ukrainian people. i'm really curious. um, i've been reading some reports that the mood in ukraine is one of people being more somber and also more resolved. what have you been seeing? well, destiny in the past few weeks, there was a very strange disconnect where you had the world's media talking about this extraordinary level of attention diplomatic visits almost every day. and yet, it felt like the people here on the ground didn't really wanna engage with these headlines, didn't want engage with the possibility of those russian tanks. long ukraine's board is actually being used in actually crossing ukraine's borders. i think a few things really changed that in the last few days, that the optic in fighting in don't bass where we are really seeing shelling and soldiers being killed or wounded at a rate that we hadn't seen since the high point of the war in 20142015. i think

it's also news of foreign diplomats leaving key f m of ukraine's, which is people. so getting out to think that that's all changed the mood of people now seriously. actually thinking that this may affect them in their daily lives. it isn't just something that's restricted to the dumbass, a few 100 clumps away from where i am here and give. speaking of the dumbass, what have you been hearing from these to break away regions and ask in the eyes or from the government controlled side. you hear stories of people spend the basic most their time in bomb shelters. are the shelling is now so intense the most people are just worried about leaving their homes going out on the street. so definitely extraordinary levels, attention, people who may be thought they had made their piece with the situation and found a way of surviving in under those conditions. many of those people now telling colleagues of mine that they are really reconsidering and wondering if it's time to leave them on the separate control side. you saw those pictures of as civilians, old people, particularly, and families being evacuated to russia. that doesn't seem to have been quite as big

a development as the pictures we were shown would have suggested. but the definitely seems to be an effort to try and force men in between 18 and 55 to sign up for the militias for the, for the military forces. there's a sense of growing impending, a risk of, of a confrontation between those separatist forces and ukrainian army forces on the ground. nick, which kids are saying about the international sanctions against russia announced today. i think the biggest deal i seen from k of is that german decision to put no stream to the gas pipeline on ice. that was really a main bone of contention between ukraine and germany. a lot of kristen over years, really from kia, but not only from lots of yes, eastern and central european countries who said this pipeline would give russia the opportunity to really d, stabilize ukraine. but it wouldn't need ukraine's pipelines to supply its customers in western europe to earn those critical billions of dollars in euro's every year. for those gas supplies. by being able to send the guests directly from russia to

germany through the baltic sea. so that really decision has been welcome to hear in give a but i think beyond that the sanctions looks pretty strong for now, but it's it's, it's a lot more expected in the coming to as got it. that's a nic connelly in care. many thanks. and we understand now that the u. s. president joe biden ease at the podium will go to him now last night put an authorized russian forces to deploy into the region of these races. today he asserted that these ridges are actually extend deeper than the 2 areas. he recognized claiming large areas currently under the jurisdiction of ukraine government. he said in upper rationale would take more territory by force in my view. and if we listen to a speech last night, and many of you did, i know he's, he's setting up a rationale to go much further. this is the beginning of a russian invasion of ukraine,

as he indicated and asked permission to be able to do from his duma. so let's begin to so i'm going to begin to impose sanctions and response. far beyond the steps we in our allies in partners implemented in 2014. and if russia goes further with this invasion, we stand prepared to go further. as with sanctions, who in the lord's name, this prudent thing gives him the right to declare new, so call countries on territory the belong to his neighbors. this a flagrant violation of international law and demands and firm response from international community. over the last few months, we've coordinated closely with our nato allies and partners in europe and around the world to prepare that response. we set all along and i told, put him into his face some money a month and more than a month ago that we would act together. and the moment russia moved against ukraine,

russia is now on denial. lee moved against ukraine by declaring these independent states. so today i'm announcing the 1st trance of sanctions to impose costs on russia in response to their actions yesterday. these have been closely coordinated with our allies and partners, and will continue to escalate sanctions of russia escalates. were implementing full blocking sanctions on 2 large russian financial institutions, v b and our military back recommending comprehensive sanctions on russia sovereign debt. that means we've cut off russian government from western finances. it can no longer raise money from the west and cannot trade in its new debt on our markets or european markets either starting tomorrow and continued in the days ahead. will also impose sanctions on russia's, leech and their family members. they share in the crop gains of the criminal policy

and to sharon, the pain as well. and because of russia's actions, we work with germany to ensure nor stream to will not as i promise, will not move forward. as russia contemplates this next move, we have our next move prepared as well. rush, we'll pay an even steeper price if we continue this aggression, including additional sanctions. the united states will continue to provide defensive assistance ukraine in the meantime, and will continue to reinforce and reassure our nato allies today in response to russians admission that it will not withdraw its forces from bella. ruth, i have authorized additional moments of us forces in equipment already stations in europe to strengthen our baltic allies, estonia, lottery, lithuanian. let me be clear. these are totally defensive moves on our part. we have no intention of fighting russia. we want to send an unmistakable message though, that united states together with our allies,

will defend every inch of nato territory and abide by the commitments we made it to nato. we still believe that russia is poised to go much further and launching a mass of military attack against ukraine. hope i'm wrong about that. hope we're wrong about that. russia is only escalated this threat against the rest of ukrainian territory, including major cities, including the capital city, keith, thirst. there are still well over a 150000 russian troops surrounding ukraine. and as i said, russian forces remain position to bill or is to attack ukraine from the north, including war, plains, and offensive missile systems. rushes move troops closer to ukraine, border with russia. russia's naval vessels are maneuvering in the black sea to ukraine, south, including any previous assault ships, missile, cruisers, and submarines, russia, mo, supplies and blood and medical equipment and a position on the border. you don't need blood unless you plan starting

a war. over the last few days, you seen much of the play book that secretary lincoln laid out last week in the united nations security council. come to pass a major increase in military provocations and false flag events along the lines of contact in the dom, us dramatically stage, conveniently on camera. meetings of food security council, the grand stand for the russian public. and now political provocation of recognizing sovereign ukrainian territory. so called independent re republics in clear violation again of international law. president putin is sought authorization from the russian parliament to use military force outside of rushing towards the territory. and this set the stage for further pretext, further provocations by russian to try to justify further military action. none of us, none of us should be fool. none of us will be fool. there is no justification. further

rushing to solve the grade remains of severe threat in the days ahead of russia proceeds. it is russia and russia alone, the bears the responsibility. as we respond, my administration is using every tool our disposal protect american businesses and consumers from rising prices at the pump. as i said last week, defending freedom will have cost for us as well. and here at home, we need to be honest about that. but as we will do, but as we do this, i'm going to take robust actually to make sure the pain of our sanctions is targeted russian economy not ours. were closely monitoring energy supplies for any disruption rec, security plan coordination with major oil producing consumers and producers toward a collective investment to secure stability and global energy supply. this will be, this will want gas prices. i want to limit the pain. the american people are fill

in the gas form. this is critical to me. in the last few days, i've been in constant contact with europe leaders, including with ukrainian pressures. lensky weiss, president harris, met in person, the leaders in germany over the weekend. at the munich conference, including presidents lensky, at every step, we have shown the united states and our allies and partners are working in unison, which he hasn't been counting on mr. poot. where you 9 is in our support of ukraine . we are united in our opposite the russian aggression and were united and resolved to defend our natal alliance, and were united in our understanding of the urgency is seriousness of the threat. russia is making a global pieces stability. yesterday the world heard clearly. the full extent.