start with your reactions, 1st of all, to president zalinski a speech today. the plenary debate here, brussels has just finished and it was a very emotional plenary debate remarkable speeches by presidents lensky, also by the speak of the gulf nevada. missus stefan shook and across party lines. and me piece made clear that we stand in full solidarity with ukraine in these very dark hours of our european history. ok, and i, so you're, you're wearing the ukraine and national colors are on your, the pell that does not mean that you support president landscape application for his country to join the a you immediately it is the goal of ukraine to join the european union. this goal has been implemented into the ukranian constitution in 2018 article 49. the treaty of the european union is very clear. any country in europe which adheres to our values can apply to join our

european union. of course, this is a medium and long term process because in the end, a country has to go through the accession negotiations and in the end has to fulfill all the very ambitious judicial financial, economic, and political criteria. but today our message was, ukraine is a european nation. ukraine is interested in having a close as possible relationship. philip in union, ukraine wants to join the european union. and we are standing in solidarity with you came because ukrainians are not any fighting for democracy. the rule of law and their own liberty. they're also fighting for european values which are under attack now in kiff. but until we discuss concrete issues about starting an e u membership, accession process, which will take a longer time. that's in the meantime, also focused on how we can better integrate this country into our e u. single market. and with the cooperation and association agreement of 2014,

i think we have a solid legal round to work on this. okay, so just to be clear, ukrainian president vladimir zalinski says please let us join the e u because we are being bombed by russia. your responses. we welcome your application. that's a process. please wait, your turn. the european parliament will adopt the resolution tonight, or we will call on the institutions to work on preparing the conditions for a e. u. application of ukraine. we have to go through a certain procedure. this applies to any country in europe, but i think speakers across the different party lines were very clear that we support ukraine in the european perspective. was the e u l is the a you right to overturn it's bar on normal budget funds being used for military operations and agreeing, 500000000 euros in arms and other aid for ukraine?

well, this is the 1st time that the european union is doing this 500000000 euros from the european piece facility. i think it is remarkable that the member states decided to do business such a short period of time. but we are at a watershed moment. this is a very, very challenging time. this is the out of truth and that's why i welcome that the european union has taken this decision to support ukraine in its heroic fight against russian aggression. to what else should be a you do to prove that you are with us as the ukranian president asked, the european union has shown so majority and we will continue to show solidarity just 2 weeks ago we adopted a new michael financial assistance package of $1200000000.00 euros in total,

we have now supported ukraine with $17000000000.00 euros. the in union will support you can with the equipment that isn't self defensive equipment. you just mentioned, we are ready to support ukraine, large scale economically, financially. and also as regards to very dire humanitarian situation, which is now building up, not only in our neighboring in, are you members states or navy, moldova, but also ukraine on the ground. we will show solidarity with you can because this is not only attack on ukraine. this is an attack the way we live, how we want to organize ourselves in europe, in a, in an atmosphere, in an environment of democracy, liberty, and the rule of law. thank you so much for joining us. david mcallister, chair of the european parliament committee on foreign affairs. thank you. or president savanski has accused moscow of committing war crimes. after more,

miss file struck the countries, the 2nd biggest city hockey rocket set, the city center and other civilian sites in the 2nd day are sustained bombing. meanwhile, the capital key is bracing itself for an onslaught as russian troops advance the moment a missiles struck at the very heart of ca, keith. this is freedom square in the center of ukraine, 2nd largest city. now reduced to rubble. ukraine says russia has been targeting residential buildings in the city with rockets since monday. officials are accusing moscow of committing more crimes. which of old still are today? our enemy has started bombing,

the city center of khaki and the residential areas that goes through all the clicking firing with grad systems and crews missed on sort of. they hit an administrative building in the central square. you know, we are counting the victims among the civilian population issue mark, so these are war crimes with our army is strong and we will hold compositions will nasa ottoman see, lemme see him up was easy. ah, sirens ring out to cross key iv as russian troops continue their advance on the ukrainian capital satellite images appear to show a 60 kilometer convoy of military vehicles close to the city. check points into key if have already been set up by ukrainian police and armed soldiers are a figured it was like

a ukraine's allies continue to condemn russia as they look on the sidelines. and i'm very pleased with her shocked at peace in europe. a laws condemn the unjustified on brutal invasion of ukraine. the rush assault is totally unacceptable. unacceptable. it is enabled by us. but most ukrainian, i don't believe the kremlin is listening as women and children continue to flee to countries like poland, perhaps dreaming of a better life. and if they can get back home. and maria of beaver lives in him and spoke to d. w a little earlier that today started from the shower in heart by a grad file system. and they go like solid target residential area. again

because we have reports that the multi story building where he rushed me styles and rockets. and then at about a to our, the rush, the rock at the main administrative building, which is situated on the central square. and there are universe to build houses and the now we see what the consequences of that strikes are just devastated because of the building is completely ruined inside. so there are no windows left, and that's why the soviet style building with the walls and also are there other building that's me that residential building folks without any windows and there are the damages the the, the street is destroyed. so we don't haven't. and yet numbers of the last us to be

learned, but we have already yesterday. well, that's just concerned and the 2 children and one of the rockets the car where there was a family in their moments. so and today also, but they are all sold their administrative building. they're brought me up by new cars and people on the street. so they are not one about that kind of attack my with russian forces making less progress than expected in the 1st days of this war . many analysts, or what the situation may compelled, president putin to opt for even deadlier measures asserted d, w. so william clue croft from yet, let's remember that potent deployed nearly 200000 troops to ukraine's borders in the last few months, which means many of them have not actually been committed to combat yet. but we might be seeing signs of that starting to change after light, fast attacks around the country appear not to be going quite in rushes favor. now

you might have heard, and we've talked about already, this massive russian convoy put together from forces based in bella roof, that's ukraine's northern border. now, satellite imagery shows it is heading towards the capital cave and it's grown in the last couple of days, apparently stretching 65 kilometers made up of hundreds of vehicles. that's tanks, artillery troop transports these kinds of heavy armored, heavy, mechanized vehicles. now, we don't know exactly how this kind of equipment is going to be used when it's going to reach, keep moving. this amount of armor at once takes a long time. there's fuel in supplies that need to keep up. and russia we've been hearing appears to be struggling with those kinds of supply lines. but if we look at the battle lines of where things stand and key right now, they haven't budged much since russian forces 1st started assaulting the capital.

we see russian forces having pretty much control of the northern parts of the city . there have of course, been attacks from the air, but ukrainian troops have so far beaten back are held the line just north of the city. the city government says it's still in control there, but the russians, as you can see there at the gates of the city, it's unclear for how long ukrainian defenses can hold out. they are heavily out match. and this used to be the case all around the country were russian ground troops, they've, they've really not broken out much from where they are initial invasion point, started in the north, in the east and in the south. and this has taken russian military planners a bit by surprise that might sound like good news for ukraine, but do not be fooled, but ukrainian resistance has been impressive, but it is come at a very steep cost. and for all the violence we've seen, russia still has a lot more firepower on the ground and from the air it can deploy. and it looks

like it's gearing up to do just that. your glucose. thank you so much for that. let's have a look at some of the development of the last couple of days with coldwell was head of research and analytics of the ukrainian institute is an expert on the foreign policy and joins us from ukraine's western city of the if a welcome today w. let's start with those reports of this russian convoy bearing down on the ukrainian capital. how concerned are you by those reports? oh, well, as you and well, expert already knows the capital. if you train key is one of the key goals of russian federation. this works. so since the 1st day of the invasion, we see the convoys coming and coming with heavy delivery with multiple rocket

launchers. we are with everything that you can imagine from both from the north for and from the russia. so we have been before and we know that he is one of the primary targets of this world. this was why, of the reasons why we actually evacuated from key as i normally leave. and when there is a way, i know you has promised 500000000 euros worth of arms and aid. how much difference is that likely to make? every child makes huge difference bait military health to be human parents help being political health. every help comes in such a let's say, an even battle, but the battle will be fought anyway. so we are very grateful for any help that has

been provided and we will be even more eternally grateful for any help that will be provided in the days to follow. have you been at all disappointed by, by the help that you have received so far? have you expected mo, or perhaps the assistance that ukraine has received has exceeded your expectations? well, if to talk about disappointment, probably of the politics of certain european countries in that month and year that preceded the actual innovations in the 1st 8, let's say years of conflict is russia would have been a little bit disappointing. but their level of unity that and the level of support that we see now, i think you can't wish for more. so i think the best and countries have shown them themselves from the best side. right. we've heard the president zelinski appealing for ukraine to be admitted to you immediately. is that something that you would

support and, and how would that help and ukraine's fight against russia? actually if you are familiar with president wooten flooring policy goals of this is pretty much about for you. great. not joining an investor in lyons and remaining and utero concrete as it is now, which is of course, contrary to the current policy policy goals of ukraine and since 2019, the 8 you to p n. and your atlantic integration, namely entering you and nato is actually constitutional, florida, ballistic, also few crane and is considered such as that only wait for for, for the future of the country. so if the european union shows as that we are not alone, they accept us as a fellow country. this is

a huge moral boost in this fight. thank you so much for if you just have some symbolic gesture that we just to begin some preparation for this. of course, there would be a huge and long road that had, but if we do not give up to rush and blackmail and if we stand one by one, this will be also a very good, a morale boost for this fight under. so thank you so much for joining us. a quote from the ukranian institute. united nation, that's more than $600.00. 60000 people have fled to ukraine, spent 3 invasion began with majority having to poland. the round fears that number could rise as high as 4000000 in the coming weeks. shelters have been set up along the border. where if you cried, this report comes from a shame to show where polish people are giving some of the refugees

a warm welcome. ah, another train arrives at pre gemma shall station in poland on board. refugees who are fleeing from the neighboring woods zone in ukraine. most arriving here are women, children and the elderly. at the moment ukrainian men aged between 18 and 60 who are fit for military service are not allowed to leave ukraine for. it is heartily very hard, especially for little children. but somehow we did it, and we're here now. i am glad for the children, but i am very worried about the family members who decided to stay in ukraine prevents with us. we are so grateful to the polish people who are helping ukraine put in as a sick man. something is wrong with him. if he were smart, he wouldn't have begun the war in the 1st place. were living the 21st century. now spoken, a teaching volunteers give the refugees food and every day items they might

find useful. in the main whole cocks have been laid down so ukrainians can rest outside the station. volunteers often than you come as a free ride to the next city. they take them to catch a v, cia krakow, or even berlin young people. i can give 3 people a ride, for example, a woman and 2 children. i am willing and able to help my mother the most. poland is well prepared for the stream of people. for weeks they've been following government orders to set up 8 centers. like this one called ukrainian house to offer help, including temporary accommodation. but these are chaotic times and not every one fling ukraine has found poland, quite so welcoming, including foreign students. you could, unions. wow,

we're looking for the foreigners, noah. so going to get their dorms like some have also complained of poor treatment at the hands of ukrainian border gods. hold the black people out of people, especially day while i sold made them a little work. they are gone to, to them have minds. there was no way like just people want to do. they stop us like got see our they didn't lead our school lunch and people, dad, like aggressive poll, says it's submitted around 3 150000 people for more than a 120 countries with more raging. just a few kilometers away. sympathy for the refugees is mixed with a fear of what might come next. well, here in berlin, german chancellor, olaf shoulds has been meeting luxembourg prime minister. he gave a statement a short while ago, and here's some of what he had to say. together with my colleague,

i would like to call on the russian president switched and to see all combat immediately to withdraw our troops from ukraine and will 2 and enter into a dialogue in forget, blood shed must stop. vladimir putin is committing crimes on ukraine. when get more on this from dw politics, a correspondent need a hasa, who joins us or from the german chancery. in. burton welcomed nina. a quote there from the chancellor vladimir protein is committing crimes or on on you create a strong word for a chancellor who were just a few weeks ago was being accused of being invisible on this crisis. i would say even a few days ago, phil, this is a remarkable and unprecedented a dizzying turn around for the german government in it stands towards russia just

a few days ago. a statement like that would have been inconceivable. germany was criticized for a very long time. to stay silent on the topic and they refused to deliver weapons. they stayed out of all the potential sanctions measures when tensions were already rising. and now, since russia's invasion, the german government really has done it, has performed a $180.00 degree turn on its policy. mo, all have showed the german chancellor calls this putin's war. he says the bloodshed must stop and he says there can be no to booze any more. this must be sanctioned. this must be punished. now of course, this is something our where germany was late and many people still criticized that . but to this is also not a, just a ukraine crisis is the message here from the german government. this is potentially about defending something much bigger about european values. and another big turn around is there chancellor sholtes talking about becoming less dependent on russian energy or how did he proposed to do that?

well this is something where especially the greens that are now part of this government coalition have long warned that germany's high dependency on russian energy export. so on the imports of rush and gas, for example, germany gets more than 50 percent of its gas from russia, that this is a question where it's not just about whether or not we want to use fossil fuels in the future. it is a about a question of em geopolitical independence. so this was something that the greens in particular warned already a year ago. and they won the election with his pledge of making germany fossil free . now of course, current events are speeding up this development, and again, there are no to booze anymore. the economy minister has said that all options are on the table now that germany is really looking into everything that he can to help reduce its dependency on russian energy. so they're building now to an l. n. g

terminal. something that just a week ago was unheard of and inconceivable really. they're also looking ads and potentially keeping the nuclear power plants running longer, even though they say that those are very old. and it's not very realistic. but probably what i can say now is that the goal of exiting coal here in germany, that is probably something that is not going to be sustained. thank you for batter . good of your political correspondent, nina hasa, the full members of former german chancellor gerhard shirt. as office staff have resigned. apparently angered by his continuing and extensive business links with moscow, is to show the left office in 2005 and the close that ties to be your controversial and has close ties to the controversial node stream project. bring russian gas to germany, a long time friend of vladimir putin. he also serves on the board of russian oil

firm roles. nef was last month nominated to join the board of the kremlin controlled gas. pro is so far rejected calls to cut ties with the russian state get more armies from d w. i political correspond to my few more. welcome, mathew. pressure on the former german chancellor is building. are we likely to see him walk away from these russian post? you're right, so pressure is growing. it's been growing just because of how important i figure gerhard schroeder is in public life and which of these members of his own party, the s p d party have called for him to cut ties with russia. and clearly these resignations will only add to that. it's understood that his chief of staff, some one that had what side by side were shoot off a 20 years, fail to persuade them to cut ties with russian businesses, raw's nathan, other businesses. it was linked with. and that's why leave the the, the resign today and for staff in total,

who look for new jobs in the right and the german civil service. but none of this reflects well on gearhart shrewder, or the, or, or the office of chancellor for that matter. and a time when we're seeing governments, football clubs, businesses, fee for all we evaluate the read their relationship with russia gearhart should are, seems to be the last man standing. and what, what has the former german chancellor said about the russian invasion? williamson responded yet our request for comment to day, but he did release a statement on the link 10 professional networking site last thursday when russia invaded ukraine. any he said he called for russia to end the war. but he also blamed the situation for quote, mistakes made on both sides. he even use the statement though, to lobby western government, not to cut ties with russia. that will seem is a plea for sanctions, not to be too tough. so how close are mr. show that then and the russian

president it will, that none of us statement will come as a surprise. people who, who watched shooter for a long time, that anyone who saw putin and gertrude, together when they were in office, in the early 2 thousands, couldn't fail to notice the camaraderie between the 2 men. and, and after leaving office in 2005 care hot, shrewder that relationship with russia and put into con, another dimension of business dimension. with through the lobbying on behalf of rashid energy firms. we heard that he was involved in the north for him to pipeline project to funnel gas from russia to germany. and last month he was nominated to stand on the board of gas prom. and even then putin said that, that he said that that, that was a moment to rejoice to showing how close that relationship is up until now. but incidentally, back in 2014, when russia annex crimea, gal intruder invited like me put into his birthday party in st. petersburg just to

show you how tight that relationship is. and so the unease with which get huttfield has time to put in and russia have gone back so long with he just is now kind of turning into something more than uneven to disgust. really though. all right, thank you, matthew matthew more. her political correspondent it is. joining us is a recap of the latest developments in russia's war against ukraine. ukrainian president vladimir zalinski has repeated his appeal to the european union to allow his country immediate membership in an emotional speech to the european parliament, he urged the a you to prove it was siding with ukraine in this war with russia. on the grounds, russian troops are continuing their advance on ukraine's capital satellite images to show a convoy of military vehicles stretching more than 60 kilometers. just north with keith convoy include hundreds of armored vehicles, tanks and artillery.