really a fears, inflation, the gas prices are up. ok, energy costs are open. this is for many, the biggest concern that this whole crazed crises and all the sanctions are implemented kind of will backfire and make their lives even harder. r d w. washington bureau chief ynez poll. thanks so much for that update. you're watching d. w news. if you're just joining us now. we are recapping the latest development on the 2nd day of russia's invasion of ukraine. kremlin officials, a president vladimir putin, is ready to send a delegation to bela ruth, 4 talks with ukraine. that announcement was made as the e you revealed it will freeze personal assets linked to putin. the news comes as ukrainian forces continue to battle with russian troops on the edge of care of the streets of the capital remain largely deserted after another night of attacks. it prompted many people to take shelter in underground metro stations. and apartment building was also partially destroyed over night. the ukraine said it shot down to

russian missiles and a fighter jet over the capital. the ukrainian government also saying 137 people have been killed since the invasion began. and hundreds more have been injured. a t s hi. thank you for taking the time. tell us about the situation where you are now . i understand that you are actually on your way out of king of yeah, we have left you a few hours ago and we are driving now westwards to west ukraine, which we have a place. keith was very, very dia, place this morning for almost empty. there were a few people running about their business, trying to get cash off of cost machines and things like that. all the shops were closed. most people were id by the shelters or hope or in the metro systems get deep underground metro system. where would that show that was built

with the idea that it could serve as a shelter as well? some people are being there overnight for 2 nights in a row. now these all makes began 2 days ago. we were in our show, well, offices basically the whole night there in the morning we got out. you were out to about half an hour. then the sirens rang again and we went back down. so it's a very, very tight peak. i'll tell you the news that the tax was on the city. so people are trying be on with tank. advancing the threat of the city, you know, being surrounded by russian forces. many ukrainian are leaving the country as you are. what are the main pathways are taking to leave ukraine?

hello, this is not around, otherwise we wouldn't be on the road. as far as we understand 2 directions around, i've also heard that might be the, the way to lead your brain is with because in the north, in the east and in the south, russian troops with romania is probably also a way where you could go out of an old and i've opened bad orders for refugees from the ukraine, saying that they would not check passports when people enter from ukraine loc. yeah . as well. so basically the, the member ordering countries are the destination for people to go. but not everybody can go, there is an exit done between 18 and 60000 voted recruitment, and they and people have to register to say this. and the

ukranian president himself is still in the country. how dangerous is the situation for him right now when he called himself the number one target of the russian that he might be captured or executed? and i think it is probably very dangerous. what we heard before from services is the russians, or at least stop the ukrainian leads of the of the yeah, the political lead and authors who, who have said this country in this country, the way it is not the russian even work that the russia hopes for we don't know, of course, what was on this list. i'll be whether this is all true or not. it's classified. it's the classified information, but we don't want the source come. but it's, it's to expect in the russia seems to be, to create

a country that will be entirely depend on russia, the country so far as done exactly the opposite. so the president is heading this country. now we're leaving this country now, but it would be a target of course. and what are the next steps? i mean, are we expecting to see russian forces stay in ukraine as an occupying power? are we expecting to see them install a friendly government to moscow as any indication of what is going to happen in the days and weeks to come? that's a question you need to address them is 10, but from what we're seeing, it's not yet to have been a lot of information. lots of, again classified, declassified intelligence information that russia was wanting to try to install a friendly regime. but how they're going to do it, we don't really know,

are they going to take over the administration and you add to it? if this is possible at all, all would they have to establish that really true an occupational occupation would of course, be much more costly for russia. so prefer be they would not try to do that, but what options they have, what they think they can do in the country. they might have a very bad assessment of what your grade is like. it's after all, because what we, what we can see, i think now is that they might, it's completely up to grades, ukrainian armies and also many people's willingness to coach. and i think i'm not sure whether whether they really thought that they are face. okay. use correspondent, my tears, a bullying or on the road out of care. thanks so much for your reporting and please stay safe. thank you. and you finance ministers have been meeting today in paris to

discuss sanctions against russia. germany has been coming under pressure for opposing the idea of cutting off rushes access to the swift money transfer system. german finance minister christian let not had this to say me today. we're assess the economic consequences. we will have a discussion on how we can protect our people and our economies. there are of course, consequences out of the country sector, for example. but we are prepared when the crane joins me in the studio. so question lynette lynn. there they're talking about consequences for the energy sector. there's a criticism that germany has, in some ways, emboldened russia by being reliant on a german on russian gas exports. but 1st, i want to talk to you about these, this swift international banking system that they've been talking about. can you explain for us why this is so controversial and what the hold out is from countries

like germany and italy. absolutely. swift is an international payments transfer system and for example, russia relies absolutely on it because many of its energy exports are priced in foreign currency. so there have to be such transfers. would russia be excluded from swift? um they call it the nuclear option amongst economic sanctions. because it would definitely vastly impact russia in terms of its energy exports. but precisely because a number of e u member states are quite dependent on russia for their gas supplies. and that's not only germany, italy actually is more dependent than germany. if you look at the share of its energy mix coming from russia, therefore, there is real reluctance either to essentially embargo imports of russian fuels or to block russia from the swift system and were told that it was,

it was germany, cypress, italy and hungary, who really resisted yesterday suggestions to include a blocking on swift, but germany is now or particularly the german government is even facing criticism from within its own ranks. for this, with some members of the junior coalition partner, the green party said saying that the chancellor should have gone further yesterday evening and we're hearing actually out of brussels to things that would represent further steps. one of them is a freezing of the assets of the foreign minister. mister lap rav a russian foreign minister, and the other one is the freezing of the assets of vladimir putin himself. we don't know exactly how much money mister putin or property mister putting has in europe. that of course, it is kept closely guarded as a secret,

but we think that it could be substantial. his government is considered to be very corrupt, and he is thought to have a lot of assets abroad. so that is one area that apparently they're looking at that there is no firm confirmation yet from the you. but a lot of sources say it's going to happen. secondly, showed me show who is the current head francis the current head of the you council . he has said that they are already looking at a 3rd package, a package of sanctions that will be harsher than the one that was agreed yesterday . so perhaps they are swift is on the table. it's worth bearing in mind though, that most sanctions and certainly the ones we've seen so far, they're not going to work overnight. they are not going to create such havoc in the russian economy. that it essentially that, that, that put in then decides to, to, to cause forces back out of ukraine. we've seen,

over the years that he has really endeavor to sanctions prove the russian economy. there's a lot of foreign currency on hand. he's made the economy more a tar kick, more independent over the years. and we also know that as an autocrat, he can in many ways a endure economic pain better than a democracy perhaps because the citizens don't have a lot of say in what happens and sanctions can, in fact, also hurt citizens when not targeted appropriately. i do want to talk about the humanitarian situation in ukraine itself. right now it's something really important that i think we need to touch on the fact that so many people are going to be leaving ukraine, presumably leaving the country to escape this invasion. the e u. has said it will assist ukrainian refugees. how prepared is europe really to take in? what could be many, many more people who are fleeing this invasion? the president of the european union commission ursula fund alliance says that they

do have a contingency plan in place that it's been negotiated in recent weeks as they prepared for this, essentially, a worst case scenario that is unfolding. and we also know that e u in interior ministers will be meeting tomorrow to discuss how to implement this plan. the e. u has also put aside cash to help refugees and neighboring countries, as you know, are already reporting very significant flows across their borders. that slovakia, moldova, poland, and germany too is expecting that, that it will see a number of refugees come here which of course for many germans, awakens memories of the 2015 serge of refugees, primarily from syria, the middle east and afghanistan. that was $1000000.00 that germany took, and then at the moment, the united nations is talking about numbers, up to $4000000.00 in total. that could wind up leaving ukraine. ukraine is

a populous country, and people are on the move all across the country. so it's a very dairy, dire as a situation that we may be looking at and indeed obs, obviously very, very important to start preparing now. and by the way, we're hearing that even here berlin brandenburg, the neighboring region, that they are already putting into place shelters. and looking at how to get refugees into jobs quickly, which means they clearly think they're going to be here for a while. all right, things are already taken off. reminder also that this is only just beginning melinda crane. thanks for joining us in the studio. appreciate your reporting has always can update. now, moscow has vowed to topple ukraine government in queue as a military laid siege to the capital. just a short while ago, the mayor of q of announced that the defense of the city had begun. thousands of

civilians have fled and those who remain are braced for a violent battle. i another terrifying star to the day in keith. overnight, there was more destruction bombs, rain down, forcing residence to flee to safety in bunkers, metro stations and sellers packed with residents grappling to come to terms with their new reality. earlier it's hard, but i'm holding on a nearby house caught fire and there were many victims and we were waiting until 7 o'clock in the morning in our apartment in the car door in the bathroom until the end of curfew. so that we could come here. i work here so i feel mostly tired and anxious. i found

strange. none of it feels real. i don't even know how to relate to it because i'm what you see above them. soldiers on the streets of central, keith and reports of gunfire near the government district and on the edge of the capital, an enemy aircraft, the ukrainian army claims they shot down. meanwhile, ukraine's president sent a message to russia. oh, she is still more though a bit around to abuse in russia. we'll have to talk to a sooner or later young talk about height to end the fighting and stop this invasion, or the sooner the conversation begins was more well with the fewer losses there will be for russia itself. that oddly some way i see. but in moscow repeated unfounded claims from the kremlin suggests there's no end to russia's invasion in

sight. so the aim of the operation was openly declared demilitarization and d, nuts of vacation, but the most good news we want, the ukrainian people, or as president putin said, you can all the people living in modern ukraine to have the opportunity to freely determined their future destiny with swell boardman, but for most ukrainians, the only future they are contemplating now is whether to remain in their homeland or to flee. or here in germany, former chancellor, anglo merkel has spoken out about russia's invasion of ukraine. merkel was in office during russia's annexation of crimea when she insisted on keeping communication open with moscow watches as the situation this time is different. and a statement to the news agency dpa, marco said this war of aggression by russia marks a profound turning point in the history of europe after the end of the cold war. there is no justification whatsoever for this blatant breach of international law

and i condemn it in the strongest possible terms. so let's get more on this from our political correspondent, benjamin otherwise gruber, who joins me from berlin. benjamin merkel has been out of office for a few months already. so why is it important for her to address this? it's important and it's really interesting and it shows, of course, how critical the situation is, the medical also it feels the need to publish this statement since she left off as she's trying to hold to allow profile. she turned down a job and she has been working on may more so basically disappearing from public and from political life as well to not give the impression that she's also trying to influence what her success all of scholes is now trying to do. and of course, during her long and time in the chancellor e, she has tried also to find a dialogue. so of course, what's happening now is also putting

a spotlight on the mistakes that would un, under her government. as she tried to talk to cute and try to talk to russia, so that's what this statement is. it's so important angle america appeared only less than 2 weeks ago when she took part in the convention to reelect the german president. she was met by applause. so that shows that she really has been trying to avoid this spotlight, but now feels the need to say on one side, the dish supports the government's efforts along with the united states, with nato, with g 7 to trying to find as solution to this conflict. as many, of course here in germany are now trying to look at their mistakes that were made, not only by the government, but also by, by the position over this past 8 years. and that also may have led to this situation. so that's what uncle american a published this by criticizing. heavily criticizing it, putting who she knows very well and also as a back, as a support for the current government is trying to deal with this situation. so

assessing past mistakes. do you think that means then that there is a rethink going on more generally in german politics about their course toward russia over the last few years? there is definitely every thinking also when it comes, for example, to north trim to when all of sholtes met. the u. s. president joe biden in the white house. he did not mention it at all, and it shows that many politicians really believe that no room to that this gas pipe and was just a gas pipeline. and nothing more than that, ignoring completely how dependent germany still is and now is when it comes to russian imports of gas. so of course, many politicians are now looking at the mistakes that were made when it comes to this pipeline. and of course, they know saying what should we have done differently? what should we do now? and that's why many people so trying to push the government to do more for the situation in ukraine for the people that are trying to somehow flee as we're

hearing from our colleagues on the ground. benjamin, there's a large demonstration that's been announced in berlin for this weekend. what can you tell us about what to expect the several demonstrations taking place. there were one yesterday evening in front of the brandenburg gate in central berlin. also one on tuesday were the brandenburg gate was illuminated with the national flag of ukraine and this protests have been ongoing. we are quite close to the chancellor murray and when we opened the windows, we hear people chanting that are standing there. there is a really huge crowd standing there right now, some in front of the brandenburg gate. others are meeting there on sunday. they will be a victim of trace here. many people calling for the end of war. many also calling for germany to support ukraine and also to say that government should actually sent defensive weapons where this protest yesterday. and we were able to talk to many of

those who went there and in dispatch. we asked them about the families who trying to flee in the cities were trying to flee the country, and they say that germany should definitely do more. so there's a big protest happening right now. it's also expected to happen on saturday, on sunday and not only here in berlin, but in several cities in germany. what people are trying to assess and trying also to help. 1 the people on the ground and also to somehow prepare for as many people that are trying to flee and that are trying to flee to other european countries and to come back. well, we talked in the beginning about uncle a macro. she lived not only through the refugee crisis of 2015 and knows how difficult it is to try to plan, to try to organize. and the german government is saying that the already trying and will also give support to neighboring countries to poland. if there is indeed a huge influx of refugees, but people on the ground are asking the government to do more is their shouting no

to war and want more of them. so want to see a more active position by the german government. thank you very much for that update. benjamin of earth grover in berlin was get more now from dw corresponded emily sherwin who joins me now in the studio. welcome, emily. we just heard the ukrainian president there saying that russia will have to talk some time. i am reading reports now that the kremlin may, in fact, the ready. what are they saying? while the kremlin spokesperson meets iep, his coff has said that the idea of talks about neutrality essentially fits in with russian interests. because putin's goal is what we just heard, that demilitarization and putting that very much in, quote marks and d, nuts, vacation, even more in quote marks and that. so that means they're interested in talking. that's what they're saying, which is new. because before there was very much a sense that they don't think that the, the government and keith is legitimate at all. earlier today we heard said gay

lover off the foreign minister saying that they're only willing to talk to ukraine after democratic order is restored. so essentially saying this government that, that is currently in power in, in, in ukraine isn't we don't recognize that we're not talking to them. so that's kind of a change in to that we're seeing. so does that mean that this sudden readiness to talk suggest that putin has actually achieved his aims? well, it's, it's really hard to know what the end goal is. um, you know, of the kremlin at the moment for months. so just to remind you, the russian government has been talking about the importance of getting these security guarantees from the west of, of ukraine not being able to join nato of a halt to nato eastern expansion. now they're talking about this demilitarization, this d knots, if occasion that i already mentioned, those words are so vague that they can essentially mean anything that the russian government wants. and, you know, it's been very unexpected that this war has been happening at all. any russian

watcher will tell you that they didn't expect this to happen. and now the kremlin, you know, is basically can do what they want and see what see what they can get. i think, you know, there's this image in the west, especially of putin as this chest player who has a clear plan going forward. but i think actually he might just be sort of making it up as he goes along to see what he can get. and one thing is clear, they definitely want ukraine in their sphere of influence, no matter how. and yet those, those issues you've mentioned, they've been on the table for a long time. so i think a question, a lot of people have is why now. but again, you know, this is kind of guesswork because no one can open up a do put his head head and see what's going on in there. but we did see last year in july of vladimir putin wrote an article that was published about ukraine. where he already talked about what, what we've heard this this week a lot from him, which is, you know, his argument that ukraine doesn't essentially exist as

a country that ukrainians are actually just russians, that there is no ukrainian nation at all. there is the strong sense that we're getting so she does this week in the speech that we've heard from vladimir putin of him wanting to restore some kind of historical justice. so this, you know, whatever that may mean, again, the issue of ukraine has been on his mind for quite a while now. and i think when it comes to the timing, this may have to do with put in himself. he know is initiated these constitutional reforms and 2020 you re remember which mean that, that he can actually stay in power. but that has opened up a whole discussion about whether he actually will stay in power and kind of this sense of, you know, is this the end of his rain or not? and it may be that he's trying to a go down in the history books and, and really also kind of a secure his place, you know, going forward after his current term as the president who's done something so crazy that he essentially has to reject the whole kremlin and reject the whole administration now. and we have been seeing people in russia itself,

taking part in public demonstrations despite great dangers to themselves. a could result in immediate attention. ah, we have a piece from a reporter about these people who have taken to the streets in multiple russian cities. and i want to see if we can take a lesson before coming back to you, risking arrest even prison time to show the world that russia is not united behind president putin. thousands came out across the country, chanting no to war. they were flaunting a ban on demonstrations. police arrested over 1700 people, half of them in the capital. moscow authorities warned they could be charged with the crime with i don't want russia to attack ukraine like this. yeah, i have grandparents this gradient so, so anybody before i had that question, what happened is a shame,

like many of us have relatives and friends for ukraine, and this is a betrayal of them. e, with a free like you still with russian stage, perhaps the most daring display of opposition. but not the only one. demonstrations of solidarity sprung up in cities around the world times square and new york saw a massive cranium flag, unfurled a, the brandenburg gate, and berlin was also visited by a crowd of ukraine's yellow and blue. national colors is this because he had was many of us thought it was impossible, but it happened. i woke up this morning and it brought me to tears. oh no, that's more in touch, actually, since rakish. i think it's appalling because it's an illegal war of aggression in a hassle. stop. it's important that there is peace in europe, and this is a worst case scenario, who's the solutions of us. it's obasi and conduct a condemnation of prudence. war and a message of solidarity with those and basements and bomb shelters across ukraine.

so let's get more from dea correspondingly. sherwin back in the studio with me again. how important are these demonstrations within russia? well, on the one hand, i think it's become clear over the last few years that protesting doesn't really change much when it comes to how the kremlin acts. i would say that these protests, though, do show that there is a significant opposition to what's happening now to this war because the risk of protesting in russia is so great at the moment. you know, there's really this atmosphere in moscow where i just returned from and also just in the whole country that essentially, you can't really criticize the kremlin at all anymore. or, you know, the politics, the political situation, even on social media that has become dangerous to the fact that people actually took to the streets. you know, as you were saying at great risk to themselves, you know, knowing that essentially they were probably going to be arrested shows how strongly

people feel about this and how shocked. i think many people are less, right. you've just returned from moscow before the dw bureau, there was shut down by the russian government, which germany has called a clear attack on the freedom of press. now these demonstrations we're seeing is it easy for russian citizens to actually get involved and take to the streets when you've said that there are great personal risk, but are they facing other obstacles? well, if say, a said should, i mean, you know, yesterday the protests were big enough that people actually were able to take to the streets. but even this past week we've seen smaller protest people essentially just immediately take it away, you know, they, they have a banner, they and start unfurling it and they're immediately arrested. so that's, i think, a significant enough obstacle that those actually to know. yeah. and the other question, of course, we've been talking about sanctions, whether they're hard enough or their effects being felt already in russia. well, i think, you know, the narrative from the russian leadership that we've been seeing over that this

week. but also before that essentially was we've, we've had sanctions before, we've been being hit by western sanctions for the last few years. who cares? it's not gonna change anything. and also this week we've heard from vladimir putin who was saying the west would have hit us with sanctions, no matter what we did because they want to kind of hinder russia's greatness. but the economic situation in the country is pretty bad already. and yesterday, a lot of people that i know we're kind of panicking about this, the freefall of the rubel, the rubel having gone, the currency haven't gone into freefall. people were driving around moscow trying to take out dollars. and there weren't any left in many places. so i think i'm dire consequences there. yeah. given the consequences, do you have the sense that russia is through these actions actually isolating itself from the international community? well, there's definitely a sense with this step, but also in the, even before in the last 2 years. but especially with this step with this war that the russian government, you know, before was trying to save face.