ah, ah ah, this is news ly, from berlin, the u. s. warrens, that russia could be just hours away from launching a full scale invasion of ukraine. a senior u. s. defense official says russian forces master long ukraine's boarders are nearly completely prepared for an invasion. the warning comes after the ukrainian president said the future of european security was at stake in ukraine. residents flee parts of eastern ukraine as separate as shelling continued. dw

visits, a village caught in the crossfire. distinguished representatives. the beginning of a large scale war in ukraine will be the end of the world order. as we know it. ukraine's foreign minister makes an urgent appeal at the un calling on the international community to take swift action against russia and a show of solidarity for country in crisis. europe's capitals light up, the yellow and blue of you, correct? ah. on michael ok, welcome. a senior u. s. defense official has warned that russian president vladimir putin is as ready as he can be to launch a full scale invasion of ukraine, that's based on assessments of true positions along ukraine's border. western

leaders are moving ahead with a slew of sanctions in a bit to deter russia. just recently, u. s. president joe biden announce sanctions on the company behind the north stream to pipeline connecting russia and germany. meanwhile, ukraine has called up reservists and has declared a state of emergency as the country braces for potential war a reef for the armed forces on defender of the fatherland day. in putin's version of history laid out in a speech this week, that fatherland includes ukraine. while the russian lead a weight, his next move russian military vehicles were on the move near the border with rebel healthdesk. but the leader of the break away region insists no troops have crossed over from russia. kiev meanwhile, was preparing for the worst. a state of emergency was declared reservists put on

notice and ukrainians in russia urge to leave. then there was the news of western sanctions against russian interests, but ukraine's precedent vala demille. zalinski indicated they didn't go far enough, which he graham unable that she broke his fluoride is estimating further steps to strengthen the pressure of sanctions. or if it's important that germany has decided to interrupt it, certification of node stream to that step should be irreversible miss. to stop this project from being used as the weapon year is. roy germany has so far halted the approval process for the controversy of gas pipeline that would bring russian gas to europe. but on wednesday berlin said germany could do without russian gas if necessary. new european union sanctions have also come into force targeting hundreds of russian lawmakers, freezing their e u assets, and banning them from travelling to the block of willis city. i'm grateful for you in new york, the un general assembly heard dire warnings about the international consequences of

a war. ukraine's foreign minister cold vladimir putin actions a threat to the world order, and urged the international community to take action to deter russia has not plan. you and the secretary general antonio garish. describe the situation as an extraordinary crisis. we meet in the face of the most serious global peace and security crisis in recent years. and certainly in my time, a secretary general. all these facing a moment of perio, i truly hoped it would not come. only one man knows whether that moment will come. with a 150000 troops ready to make a move at any time the world is now on tenterhooks. i spoke to t w's, oliver salad in washington about that report from u. s. defense officials saying that a russian forces could launch an invasion at any hour. u. s. according to this

report, believes that the russian troops on already for that full scale invasion that the u . s. has been warning about for a several days and weeks now are saying that near a 100 percent of the forces of russian forces are in place. now, a to move in a further beyond that separate is controlled area in the dumbass. and that this could happen at any hour. now other reports say that this could take until 48 hours . now the big question, of course, is we don't know what vladimir putin really wants to do. how far will he eventually go? will he really cross that line? and will he take the rest of those self declared states republics? lou hands can don't answer. only go even further either way. it's pretty certain that he might face very fierce resistance. they are of the okay, of the ukrainian troops. always stay with me. uh for a moment the you and yet the un general assembly meant to day on ukraine, and there were some more stark warnings,

including from the us. if russia continues down this path, it could, according to our estimates, create a new refugee crisis. one of the largest facing the world to day with as many as 5000000 more people displaced by russia's war of choice and putting pressure on ukraine's neighbors. words of concern their oliver. but does the un have any power to influence this conflict one way or the other? well, certainly the power of the united nations there is quite limited because don't forget that it was shaped by and after the 2nd world war and it needs a resolution really to move forward. and only this, the united nations security council can reach a binding resolution. here today was a meeting of the general assembly. and then the next problem is, of course, that russia is part of that conflict. and russia is not only cheering the security

council, but it also holds a v to ride. china also holds a v to ride, which is more, a little bit more ambivalent than that conflict. but critics have been saying that the u. n. and especially in this conflict here is more of a toothless tiger. what does the ukraine want from the un? what would ideally want a resolution? but if not, then. 1 at least bring that topic to the world stage. and that's what we've seen here today. ukrainian foreign minister collaborate, united nations, warns of an end of the international order, as we know it. and then in the united nations security secretary general, excuse me. and tanya gutierrez, one of the devastating global consequences of a full scale invasion, really and seen in many years is what he said. but then again, also we need to keep in mind that it needs a resolution here and one that we don't have and very unlikely that we're going to see one. and what is russia saying?

while russia has delivered a very contentious appearance here today with the russian ambassador vasily in a band zia, he called, or he talked about blatant genocide on the dawn breast region. something that the german chancellor will of short, a few days ago already dubbed as nonsense. and you also accuse secretary general good terrace, taking sides with ukraine. the west is standing united. we can see that right now of russia cannot be trusted as moral as the general take the u. s. ambassador to the united nations today linda thomas greenfield, talked of unprovoked violations of the international law. as oliver salad in washington dc. many thanks. oliver. jessica cooksey closer look now at the fighting in eastern ukraine, which has intensified over recent days. dw correspondent mathias bellinger filed

this report from the village close to the line between ukrainian and separate is held territory. it is quiet at the moment a good time to leave for days now the people in the village of rubica have been under fire. the villages in ukrainian government control territory and is being showed by separatists from the other side. notch cl additional deliberately and then up the whole night. some people are still in the cellar, too scared to come out. did the kids spent the whole day yesterday downstairs, but at night we went upstairs, but it was just too cold. downstairs a seller is a seller, postpone half of the village has already left. the others are terrified. shows have come down right in the center of the village. one shall have the schoolyard. woe, children were in clos. others have damaged people's homes. luckily no one has been hurt so far,

but the constant stress has taken its toll electricity and gas have been cut off. now gas workers have come to patch up some of the damage or they, when we fix the pipe twice already we came last week yesterday and today we're here again will be closed quite far away from the artillery positions of the other side . there are 15 kilometers between here and the front line, which is just the range of this artillery that they are using. people who have not experienced this kind of fighting, even during the worst times a few years ago. lena mc her ankle and her neighbors have tried to make the most out of the cold and damp cellar. but the effect of the electric heater is limited. she is in and out of the basement constantly those days i need to go up now to take

some stuff to my daughters place. she is finally leaving with her kids at least to a place nearby. she would like her to move further away until it becomes clear with the latest news from moscow and clear of me. no, i don't know what to think now. yes. i do not yet understand anything. i don't even know what to do next. it takes just a few minutes of the shelly begins again. d, w. 's, your russian affairs analyst, konstantin edgar joins us now. from lithuania, a constantine, vladimir putin has recognized all of de gnats. and hans is independent. even though

ukraine still holds 2 thirds of that territory, where does this leave the ukrainian government? while it leaves a bit when the rotten heartless? because all you, as mr. put in flight yesterday, they will have to settle all scanning issues. i think that was put in the expression with the authorities of the software claim, republics, which will recognize by a russian all they will face consequences on top of them all. did that ukraine recognized as crime, the russian ocean denounces his dream. respiration can drain nature in some form and demilitarized which sounds to me like something straight out of the end of the 1st. first world war, you know, paris, peace treaties verify conference. how you're supposed to do that. it's not clear.

but what is clear is that mr. fulton is lining up demands, which was, which are, which are completely unacceptable to any green in government. you know that to create a pretext to say, well, you see these people who refused what we asked them to do. and now we have to protect the states that we recognize and with which we signed a friendship and cooperation agreement. so i think this is create a pretext for russian troops to roll into. these remaining territories won't be done. you can have problems, but that means at base going to head to head confrontation with the ukranian armed forces that are holding the line there. i think it's safe to say that the perception outside russia is that mr. putin has total control there. are there viable dissenting opinions to mr. putin's vision of greater russia? well, that's an interesting question, michael. because today they were conflicting polls are published in russia

regarding russia, the russians that issue to what happened the last few days. and it's interesting that and government controls stuff all russia sensible public opinion, said that 78 needed 80 percent support everything that mr. put in. while the independent living father center was grant, rather than for agent by the rational thought of this, showed a completely different figure which stands more or less like 45 percent. so what the russians think about that is not, it's not clear, but my personal opinion is that probably not all of them would like to have a bloody war on their board. what is clear to me now is that probably there are no people inside mr. put on to rush to dissent, which seemed it's amazing and footage of rational security council being essentially lectured by mister, put what, what has to be done that was like a teacher pupil asking them whether they support his actions or not. i think that

if there is the sense we wouldn't know about it unless it gets out into the open. but before that, no, i suppose that mister elite is well either with him i deal logically or is too afraid towards the descent. let me ask you a question that we've been asking for days now, will surely ask in the future, what do you think vladimir putin's next move will be difficult to say? but i think that he is now prepared to launch at least a limited military operation. all the territories that were not previously controlled by the, by him or by his pockets in the house can do next. i suppose the keys move may well be after this is kind of cause it will to make that i describe your 1st question. maybe it will be an operation to create a lead between the area,

so western areas of russia and the crime in peninsula that he has to take the rest of the little hands. going to have a blessed, as well as the port of mario, which is very heavily dependent. another. another possibility i would say briefly is that mr puts in, will probably like someone from outside the you to mediate, at least to show that he was trying to make a last minute peace. or probably it will be present everyone on the target. although this is a very silly ok, we will see watch this space. that's a russian affairs analyst. konstantin agood. many thanks. earlier d w spoke with a lot via is foreign minister edgar is rank of it in the ukrainian capital kids. we ask how threatened he feels, given that lot, via shares a border with russia and with bell rich, where tens of thousands of russian troops are currently stationed. we are part of the night on the job and i think that this makes a huge difference or incense. so if we talk about laterally or become peer latiere

is great, but they also believe the decisions to add ons by president by then i'm by prime minister tradeoff canada. last night about increasing the prison debility region. how can i lead nato troops? those are decisions. i think that we need to have those reinforcements, but of course we do not expect any military attack. i think that russia understands what that means. however, i do believe also that he davies large scale military ration in your grade. not only last year, but also germany, also france, region, many night on the companies will be attacked in a kind of hybrid warfare, manners, cyber attacks. we are seeing that from time to time. this information, all the kind of, let's say, message is assigned to the baltic states, the ball and the look. matter is weak. americans are big down not going to help you

. those kinds of messages will be of course activated, but i have complete thrusting out allies. complete trusts will sort of really fit. so we are not afraid of such kind of what's i search. and we are ready. good will to those all as far as us, as we speak, latvia is foreign minister edgar's wrinkle which is conflict as a surely left relations between ukraine and russia at the lowest point in years. he has recalled the tend bastard or from moscow, and is considering cutting all diplomatic ties. it wasn't that long ago that ukraine had a pro russian president. 8 years ago. vladimir putin had a friend in t f. president victor yet coach. having pro russia president was very important for russia, man that one of the forms, what installed it meant that any union with the west would not be possible. and in 2013,

when jani coverage refused to sign an association agreement for closer ties to the you, the people rebelled. scores died, hundreds were injured in the might on revolution. yona coverage was ousted and a new pro you government formed the kremlin, answered back with tanks and annexed ukraine's crimean peninsula. moscow also through its support behind separatists in the pro russia don bass region war broke out as the 2 eastern provinces don yeske and nuanced declared independence. european leaders brought the 2 sites together for the mince peace accords. but the war ground to a stalemate, a development far from the battlefield, also spiked tensions. in june 2015, russia announced the nordstrom to gas pipeline. it's route under the baltic. c

would bypass ukraine, meaning key f would lose billions in transit fees. another turning point in 2019 with blood em year zalinski as ukraine's president. he vowed to restore the don bath region and renewed calls for nato membership. he bought the lead, the many leaders hints slightly that ukraine shouldn't take the risk of talking constantly about membership of the alliance. because this rescued connect you to russia's reaction most. but that was a red line for moscow, which it was on you 20. no one thought that if you crane create such threats for russia, we create similar threats for herself. what are the at the sure what, but also calculate? it was one of pollutants justification for the russian troop filled up around ukraine's borders. but unlike 8 years ago, ukraine is a battle hardened nation that's vowed to resist it,

an act of solidarity with the people of ukraine. the brandenburg gate here in berlin has been lit up in the colors of the ukrainian flag by the way, the city's mayor francisco give. i said the german capital is sending a clear message from the free city to a free and sovereign ukraine. other european cities, such as paris and london, are also taking part in the initiative. western countries are introduced. let's go straight to the brand bourgade where our political correspondent thomas sparrow, is standing by for us sir thomas. we can see that brandenburg gate lit up in the colors of ukraine's flag. tell us more about what's behind that move. well essentially you mentioned it already, but it's a sign of solidarity coming directly from berlin's mer, francisca giff, i in a sign of support towards ukraine at

a very difficult time now. and whereas some people have welcomed this move, especially those who consider it an important signal in one of berlin's most important symbols. they have already been signs of criticism, as well. the most prominent criticism coming actually from ukraine's ambassador to germany, who called it a delayed symbolic gesture, unstressed that what actually ukraine needed from germany is not necessarily signs like these, but defensive weapons, multi 1000000 aid, and also stronger sanctions on russia. so you can see that although this is such an unimportant gesture, it has not necessarily come down well among ukrainian officials, especially the ukrainian ambassador to germany. well, that leads to my 2nd question, which is, what is the german public generally saying about germany's actions in the face of this crisis? one thing that to probably ukraine's ambassador will not get is that those

defensive weapons sent from germany to ukraine. not only has the german government, the german chancellor love shows the german 4 minnes analynn now book time and time again rejected that idea. but one of the arguments that they have said to reject that idea is that in this particular point, they are supported by the german public. and that's something that you clearly see not only now in new polled, but also you have seen them in previous polls as well. so that one clear element and when germans are asked what exactly they want in the current situation around 43 percent stated, according to a new poll that they would like sanction, specifically, financial sanctions to be imposed on russia. what's interesting this, in this particular case is that a majority of german, when they asked about these financial sanction, said they didn't want to have to pay higher prices on goods because of those sanctions. so this clearly gives you an idea of what germans believe in the current situation. so again, a rejection of sending defensive weapons to ukraine,

which has been a clear policy in germany for a very long time. and one supported by a majority of germans at the same time, 43 percent stressing that they would like to see sanctions similar to the ones that we have already seen put in place in particular, financial or economic sanctions. d. w is thomas sparrow. many thanks, thomas western countries are introducing a raft of economic sanctions on russia over its aggression towards ukraine. here in the you, politicians are grappling with the prospect that the crisis will threaten gas supplies from russia. the block is now looking to allies like norway for help in bridging the gap. this gas yelled off the coast of norway could prove a lifeline for the energy hungry european union. norway is the 2nd biggest supplier of natural gas bind russia. but as the crisis between russia and ukraine deepen, so just the risk that russian energy supplies to the block could halt. brussels is

urgently looking elsewhere for energy. and at you headquarters, tuesday norwegian prime minister eunice gushed her answered that call on my message coming here to brussels today is that norway will played sport. but we also have something valuable to contribute that reliability on gus, an active industrial partner on hydrogen, carbon capture. no new batteries or ocean wind, all these new interesting, engaging industrial crawl space that we can do together. critics say the east dependence on russian gas left it marble even before this latest crisis. russia last year was accused of deepening and energy shortage in the block by withholding natural gas exports to force you approval of its gas pipeline. nordstrom to germany has now suspended the certification process for the pipeline. and brussels is calling for countries to speed up efforts to ditch fresh energy. and as we've seen,

russia has instrumentalist energy over the last past months. if not to say years to put pressure, not only on ukraine, but also in the european union. and we are now really determined to get out of the dependency of russian gas already. ellen, g tankers, from allies like the u. s. and japan are bringing gas to europe's largest port, rotterdam. but it will take more than these to break the use decades old to pendency on russia. and a reminder of the top story we're following for you. ukraine's parliament as voted to declare a national nationwide state of emergency. amid fears of a full scale russian invasion, the measure will last for an initial 30 days and allows authorities to restrict the movement blocked rallies in van political parties. watching d w. news stay with me for the day that's coming up after the break. there's plenty

more news and information on our website, d, w dot com. i'm michael. ok. thanks so much for watching. ah ah ah. with

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they've had peace for for decades. the people of iraq, your country is devastated. a how did it come to this key witnesses reveal and president story. they were presenting the us. they knew what the consequences of these sanctions are, and they've lied to the world about does he connected with someone could kill his friends and as a fee and so easily was a hole in the ceiling? you behaved exactly like said dermis and the poison spread. barebones

ah, my 0 in the great documentary series destruction of a nation starts march 4th on d, w. to night, a state of emergency in ukraine kia has urged its citizens living in russia to leave immediately and has called up reservists into its military bracing for a potential invasion by its neighbor. u. s. defense official save vladimir putin is as ready as he can be. his recognition of to break away regions as independent states has triggered western sanctions. chief among the targets russian banks and their ability to operate overseas. but should they hit harder? and do they go far enough to stop rushers lead.