oh ah ah, the daily news line from berlin, russia and ukraine hold peace talks as vladimir prudence war rages on. negotiators for the 2 signs are meeting and velo ukraine demands an immediate cease fire and withdrawal, but holds out little hope. meanwhile, russian attacks on key cities claim more victims, also coming up hundreds of thousands, li, ukraine, poland, and other nations that up shelters while families open their doors. the european union says refugees will be welcomed with open arms. plus president

volota mirrors the landscape, asking for ukraine to be allowed to join the european union without delay. he's at his country, needs of quality, and protection, and russians race to withdraw and exchange their money. the rubel plunges to record, blows as western shapes. sanctions begin to bite. ah, i'm the co foolish welcome to the show. ukraine and russia have begun their 1st talks since war broke out 5 days ago. ukraine is demanding a ceasefire, and the withdrawal of all russian troops from its territory. negotiations are underway and bella was close to the ukrainian border. ukraine has sent it's defense and deputy foreign ministers and rushes minister as leading it's stella gauge and

raising questions about how seriously moscow is taking the process. ukraine says it's major cities are still holding out. a senior official says, russian rocket strikes have killed dozens of people in the 2nd biggest city. hark. if hundreds more were wound it. and just a warning, some of our me yours may find the images in this next report. distressing with the paternity of this conflict, in plain sight, more medic say the people here were injured as russian troops. shells the port city of mary apple. one of them, a 6 year old girl doesn't make it yet another pointless loss of life. rush essays, it's not targeting civilians, but pitches such as these which ukraine says is the residential building in flames

. in the northern town of china have seemed to disprove that claim as to these satellite images showing craters caused by russian artillery fire near residential areas in the city of khaki in the east ukrainian say they will do all it takes to defend their country. a civilians learn how to become soldiers. ukraine's foreign minister makes clear the extent of his resolve that they will never give up. he also had this appeal to people in russia. courtroom, room, american 5 would like to address the citizens of the russian federation. luke wood, vladimir putin turned your country, your be country into. he declared an invasive war against ukraine. she sent here your sons, husbands, to kill ukrainians. capture our lands, destroy our cedars. ukrainians did not want this war, but they will fight for their land and their homes. small green,

cynically. vacuum mariel po residents are sheltering from the fighting in an underground. jim. many have been here for 5 days. despite what is happening outside to some are trying to be optimistic through my new so let's hope for peace negotiations because everyone wants peace and some kind of result so that civilians are being killed where the majority here. what were your beloved for now though, there is no peace in this is the new reality for the millions of ukrainians who just last week were leading normal lives. let's get the latest now from d. w. correspond and funny for shara she is in western ukraine and the city of camella litski. funny, what's the situation in ukraine today? people are experiencing the sift. they of this full scale invasion and what that means. hundreds of people have been injured. scores of people have been killed in

how to keep as of that city, and particularly in the eastern part of ukraine is on their heavy shelling and bombing, same situation or similar and keith with the 1st blast. starting just before dawn critical situation. also in the southern eastern part of ukraine, russia claims have been seizing a 2 towns, but also a nuclear plants. they are. now at the situation ukraine here remains very much critical, and people are bracing for yet actually another night. that's to calm, not knowing where those miss also going to strike that russia intense a to, to attack a towns and several various parts of ukraine with. and really they're wondering if there is any end in sight of all of this, or if that it is just going to continue and asked a to a point where it simply ukraine is no longer what it used to be. but it's being basically flattened by the russian aggression. that's what people tell me. he and

hands hamilton, ski in the western region of ukraine. now a funny, we're getting reports on social media, food shortages, as supermarkets with mt shelves. people trying to stock up and not being able to what can you tell us about that have experienced this ourselves, that they are so many a supermarket either that they are closed, but the ones that are open, they still food. laugh, but obviously you see a lot of empty shelves and people scrambling to, to, to get to very essential things by the way, notches food, but also gasoline gasoline. without that, you're not going to leave this country now. also i have experienced hover an outpouring of support among the ukrainians. it's incredible. actually i have never seen something like this in my life, especially in a situation like this, that people, whatever they have are trying to donate it. for example, here to internally displaced people, even if they themselves don't have much. so it's incredible how people are now really trying to come together support each other in every way possible,

as you're trying to fend off this aggression by russia, not just by taking up arms and actually go as a civilian to the front line or a trying to support the territorial defense, but also simply trying to help those who are now locked up in their apartments. elderly people with no support whatsoever, because maybe they have let relatives have already left the country all try to do to set half a 1000000 of people who apparently have already gone abroad and left ukraine. so yes, very spanish, but there's also, apart from the spanish call to get basic things. there's also support among people trying to help each other in this very dire situation. denovia correspondent for shar and western ukraine. thank you so much and less bring in emily, sherwin now she used to be our moscow correspondent until russia withdrew her journalistic accreditation. now she's with us here in berlin. emily,

let's talk about these these negotiations that are taken part in taking place in bella. ruth right now there is a lot of skepticism of course going into these talks, especially from the ukrainian side. what do you think we can expect? we don't really know what will be the outcome of these talks today. the ukrainians have gone, gone into these talks with kind of very public demands. they said that they want to cease fire. they said that they want all russian forces to retreat from ukrainian territory, including from the crimean peninsula, which russia annexed back in 2014, and including from don bus. i think, particularly crimea, will be a total nonstarter for russia. russia firmly considers that territory which it annexed illegally to be part of its territory. now, you know, and it has been considered that for the last 8 years, we haven't heard from the russian side so much what they are going and expecting. they have been saying that they want dialogue, you know, for several days, but there's been a bit of a back and forth about these talks almost so much so that it seemed as if the

russian side was kind of bluffing. and to day, you know, the delegation is being had by the former, headed by the former culture minister. he was the culture minister for 8 years flooded me to be imogene ski. so that was kind of a surprise to me when i saw that because it, it doesn't seem like he's much of a political heavy weight. even though of course, he's been in the presidential administration now for several years that russia has been hit by extremely harsh sanctions. by the west, over the weekend. what role do you think these punishments might play in russia taken to the table now today? well, the kremlin has taken quite a defiance downs to day on those sanctions. they've said that they have a long term plan that they've prepared even for the harshest sanctions. economists however, are saying that some of these sanctions will have taken the kremlin by surprise, and they really are tough, including, for example, the asset freezes on the central bank that that could have a real effect. that's what some experts are saying. and of course, when it comes to public sentiment for this war,

that could have somewhat of an effect. but of course, it depends on what people, what people, what media people are following. because some people might get angry. those who are following critical media outlets, those who are following state tv might kind of feel like, okay, well, it's the west trying to get us down again. that's the general sentiment. you know, people blamed the west for this whole conflict. in fact, i do think the public sentiment could change, particularly when it, when, when the body bags start arriving back. you know, yesterday the ministry of defense for the 1st time did have to admit that there are some casualties within the russian army as well. but they haven't said they haven't mentioned any numbers yet. emily? sure. when thank you so much for your renew, you has launched a huge logistical operation to deal with the people fleeing ukraine. the un says more than half a 1000000 have crossed into neighboring country. long queues have formed border crossings. european commission president or the funder line, says the refugees will be welcomed with open arms. most are heading for poland and

dw corresponded my son to send this report from a shelter on the border exhausted, but happy to have made it to poland for natalia cooks and her son even an opportunity to finally rest their group left ukraine with the 1st alarm and only got her now. i'm not scared about me and my son might. okay. i scared about my my husband, my parents, natalia tells her husband how to stay behind. he may have to fight into, of course, my son, i cry ran as a. yeah, no, because his separate a separate and i he wanted to, she's a husband always call him and i say i wanted to be with you. a former warehouse now serves as a provisionary shelter, a safe haven for those who don't have anywhere to go. there is no shortage of

donations including food diapers, and blankets. most of it is handled by volunteers, people from all over poland and even a broader pitching into help with rides out of town and even places to sleep upon assessment, we have very concerned about everything that's happening. this is great and justice and i think everyone should help cause the booking and for my god. joseph eric and frances are also need of help. the nigerian students barely mated across the board . they tell us, this is not the only report of africans having been sent to the back of the queue or ukrainian border guards. there was an august condition going on there, where you actually had to like beg people to like take us into the border. so we could find a way to escape. well, of course racism discrimination. no one listens, who has gone, of course, can call on everything back inside of gaining keep, each ankle is waiting for his wife to reunite with him and his son ilia. eat to us, mary. clark treat for me for his mother. the trip isn't over yet. she is still

stuck at the border after a night out in the court. mom with those are groom, his mother is also under huge stress, but she is holding up. she is very strong. she's no helping other people with her at the border here, william hola and trying to calm them down and offering her course so they can keep warm. so when you sort of the wireless machine you together, they plan to carry on to lot via and then perhaps to england, just far enough away from the war terminus. foreign minister and alina babcock has called on all countries to isolate russian president vladimir putin, at today's united nations general assembly. and she urged kootenai to stop the bloodshed was den putin not, we have heard the statement of president putin in lexington and having seen the events of recent days, he regarding this war is the question i, we really have to take his threats very seriously to me nor i might,

but let me once again, austin say, is crystal clear. nato is not as transact fool russia on these line was started by russia and put a night fin stuff. they swore and any time, and i will upon russia to refrain from such escalating statements, nibbling door now by our chief international editor, richard walker. richard once stood out for you from that news conference with german foreign minister on elena bambrick just now yet, were there, there were a few things that is definitely to touch on what we just heard there from. and alina burbock, that message on or on the proteins move yesterday to, to put his cell nuclear forces on, on an elevated level of alert. i think that's very much in tune with other messages that we've heard from other western leaders, you know, trying to stress that nato is no threat whatsoever to the,

to the russian federation. and that, that kind of threat has no place in a situation like that. i think it was also interesting to pick up on a one thing that there slovenia, and foreign minister said, relating back to what's been going on here in germany over the last 243648 hours, which is a dramatic change in germany's attitude to foreign and defense policy with the chancellor, all of sholtes ment, announcing yesterday and in a massive hike in defense spending with a civilian foreign minister said that he thought that that is something that could potentially have a ripple effect in it in his own country that they are targeting 1.5 percent of g d p and you know, the nato membership or target is 2 percent. he said that it's very possible that slovenia will take a look at what germany has done. and that, that will initiate a debate about following its lead. so i think it's interesting to see that this debate that's been sort of, it brought to boiling point here in germany by the invasion of ukraine by the russians. also potentially triggering debate in other countries around europe.

let's circle back to that talk about nuclear readiness at rhetoric. how nervous is the international community about this yet, what i think very nervous, i mean, it's hard not to be made nervous by a statement like that. even just by itself, but i think coming from vladimir putin, somebody who has taken giant risks in recent days that the world has seen this leader going beyond anything that they had feared that he would be willing to do before. they're worried, of course. well, if he's willing to take these kind of risks like invading the largest country in europe with $40000000.00 plus population, with the aim of toppling the government will if he is willing to take that kind of risk. is he willing to go to some kind of nuclear escalation experts is saying that it's important for the west not to follow into this path of escalator language because that could only raise the dangers more. but that i think there's

a real concern among some and some are daring to say it. some are not daring to say it, but the selenium foreign minister in the press conference just now did say, he said that something along the lines of we may have overestimated the rationality of some actors in this crisis. so fears that not just that vladimir putin may be willing to take excessive risks with fears in some circles about whether he may be acting in a way that is in some sense, even irrational. and that, of course, causing a lot of concern. richard, he herself asked, and elena back about the situation of ukrainian refugees. what did she say to that yet? well, there's been, obviously a lot of focus on people trying to flee from ukraine. what we've been looking at at d w is increasing reports are that non ukrainians who found themselves stuck in ukraine and particularly a people from various african countries who are trying to make their way out of the

country. a finding themselves at the target of discrimination, either on their journey to the border or when they reach you borders and, and that they're not getting the same treatment as refugees coming from you who are ukrainian nationals themselves alena. and alina babble said that she was very clear that the european unit has to be, has to stand, willing to help everybody. and she said, i mean everybody who's trying to escape from this violence. but this is a story we're going to be fo, certainly following in the days ahead, to see if to see whether the europeans hold to that richard walker, chief international editor. thank you so much. and another major development president of a lot of mirrors. the lensky has asked for ukraine to join the european union without delay. he says his country is seeking protection and equality. we, as well pamela leave are a preschool, so you should only did we asked the european union to admit ukraine immediately.

according to the new special procedure, but narrow that we are grateful to the partners who stand with us. but our goal is to be with all europeans, and most importantly to be equal. you're sure that's fair for us as part of it, and i'm sure we deserve it. mm hm. well, i'm sure it is possible. you've beverly, she says it was lou at. is it possible that pose this question to d. w corresponding christine? we're in brussels and christine, has there been a reaction from brussels to that request from ukraine? tell that some member states think that it's possible, for example, poland thinks it's possible. still vakio thinks it's possible, but the majority of that you members, states have not been as public in expressing their keen missile interest for ukraine to be granted e. u. member states as a status at this. at this point,

lafond a lie and made a remark that many interpreted to say that she was basically quoting for the same thing. but she did qualify her remarks which she said that the ukrainians were one of us that they belonged in the european union. she did go on to qualify that by saying that there was a process involved, and indeed we heard a similar sort of a qualification from the council president shall, michelle, who said that we already cooperate with ukraine on a number of levels and that we should seek to deepen this cooperation, for example, in framework such as the eastern partnership, it doesn't appear nicole that there is appetite among most you member states to give ukraine access to the block. at the moment you defense ministers have been meeting today. what's the likely outcome here? well, nicole, so the european union has announced, of course, that it's taking that unprecedented step ah, for financing the purchase and delivery of lethal weapons said to ukraine to assist

the ukrainian armed forces in their fight sat against russia at the moment. and so this is basically now just going to be about the logistics of that. of course, when we, when i reference is $450000000.00 euros, it's not to say that they're suddenly going on to the market and taking on a shopping spree. but what it is, is that they are going to pull from the resources that currently exist among the member states. so those with the different weaponry a system said that the anti missile systems, the defense systems, those that have at the fight jets, for example, they're going to come together discuss that as well as the logistics of getting it to the ukranian on forces. something that you can imagine is off particular urgency of a given the developments on the ground. so you know that joseph were out that the chief of foreign affairs, a vision of the european union said look what were not at a military alliance. right? so they're, they're all going to have to put a plan in place, but i will point out that most you,

member states are also nato members. so they have taken part in nature maneuvers that will provide a template. so to say, to be able to get this assistance and this military aid at to the ukrainian armed forces, d, w, correspond, and christine moon were in brussels. thanks for that update. western sanctions against russia are already hitting the economy. the rubel has plunged to a record low dropping by a 3rd against the us dollar. russians are scrambling to withdraw money from banks with long queues forming at cash machines. in an attempt to prop up the currency, the central bank has doubled. it's key interest rate to an unprecedented 20 percent . export companies are being told to sell foreign reserves. actions imposed by the u. s. and europe have largely cut russia off from the global financial system. european stock markets fell steeply as the financial sector reacted to the latest

sanctions. among those major russian banks would be kicked out of the global financial transaction network swift at a cost not only to russia, but also towards trading partners. over the weekend, german chancellor will show it's made it clear that things could get even worse. vaviante missions for let's not kid ourselves is putin, will not change his course over night. but very soon the russian leadership will feel the high price at his paying. it was already in the last week. the russian stock market sank by more than 30 percent. that shows our sanctions are working and we reserve the right to impose further sanctions and was on through and so far. sanctions against russia include the exclusion from swift, making it impossible for sanctioned russian banks to pay for and receive goods from abroad. there are also restrictions on major banks with immediate consequences. the europeans subsidiary, off russia state on spare bank is facing bankruptcy. last week's initial sanctions

also included asset freezes and travel bands for individuals. as well as the blocking of rushes access to semiconductors, computers and other high tech products. experts consider the sanctions against russia harsh and expect them to possibly cripple the russian economy for years to come. as we heard a part of their sanctions against russia, the west is blocking major russian banks from the swift global payment system. it's the toughest measure targeting the economy. and here is why, what is swift? the acronym stands for society for world wide into a bank, financial telecommunication, a global network founded to process international financial transactions. it's been around since 1973, 190 countries used the standardized system, as well as banks and commodities and securities traders. last year,

some 42000000 transactions were handled best swift every day. each swift member is identified by its bank identifier, code, or big. the big ensures that money transfers are paid into the correct account. a big is familiar to any one with a bank card. it allows bank a in germany to carry out transactions with money. shares of precious metals with bank b in the u. s. if a big coat is blocked, the member is shut out of swift. barring rushes, access to the swift network would sever the country completely from the international monetary flow. russian companies would no longer be able to pay for or receive foreign goods. rushes trade with the rest of the world would be suspended, but it means the trade in urgently needed goods from russia would also be interrupted . the result rising energy prices, world wide, and russia is not only a major exporter of oil and gas, but of iron and steel,

to still being shut out of swift would harm russia most of all in the catalog of sanctions. it's the instrument that cuts the deepest and a pipeline for transporting gas from pulling to lithuania is expected to be completed ahead of schedule operator gas system says that it will open on may 1st instead of later in the year as had been initially announced options for capacity allocation will begin in april. work has been stepped up, a med concerns about european energy security are watching dw news. here's a quick recap of what's happening in ukraine at the moment. grain and russia are holding their 1st talk since invasion began 5 days ago. the ukranian delegation is demanding a cease fire and the withdrawal of all russian troops from its territory. ukraine says it is successfully defending all its major cities, but russia claims it has made advances. in some areas,

it says more than $350.00 civilians have been killed. so far from me and the dance team for now, stay tuned for our talk show to the point on russia's war and ukraine. i'll be back with more live coverage at the top of the in ah, with

who to the point. strong opinion, clear positions, international perspective. ah, to warn you. crane seems even more frightening than before. many people have begun to think the unthinkable. off to russian president loving they voted, appeared to suggest that he could be ready to use nuclear weapons. is the conflict entering a new dimension to the point with d w?

ah, she up to date. don't miss our highlights. the d w program on line d, w dot com highlight they've had no peace for, for decades. the people of iraq our country is devastated and there's no end. how did it come to this? guy witnesses revealed unprecedented story. they were the u. s. they knew what the consequence of these sanctions are, and they've liked the world about it behaved exactly

like said government and the poisons bear with life. the great documentary series destruction of a nation starts march 4th on d, w. the crisis surrounding rushes, invasion of ukraine suddenly seems even more frightening than before. and people have begun to think the unthinkable. this is russian president vladimir putin threatened to the world of lodge, suggesting perhaps that he could be ready to use nuclear weapons. it's a move that is triggered widespread fears, unparalleled since the cold war. so the question we're asking here on to the point is put in threat. he's rush.