discovers the world around you subscribe to d w documentary on youtube. to day russia warned people in the ukrainian capital keep to get out while they camp, the russian military announcing plans to launch airstrikes on the city almost exactly one week since the invasion of ukraine began in that week, ukrainian resistance has slowed the advance of moscow's forces but the reality in the year and on the ground, it cannot be denied tonight, the existential threat to keep to ukraine's government to countless innocent lives . that threat has never been greater. i'm burnt off in berlin. this is the day.

ah, brushing strikes are getting schools. hospitals, residential buildings, up his and yet we are now in a very dramatic situation to get caught. ukraine is literally fighting for his survival even what were also fighting to be equal members of europe today that european union and ukraine are ready, closer than ever before. the earliest you is avoiding honest face to face dialogue . but how can you negotiate with somebody who's types are rolling towards kevin, who is coming innocent, so that it's i, i think it's the, i think it's also coming up at the human cost of

rushes attack on ukraine. the un now says it is preparing for up to 4000000 refugees. it is heartily very hard, especially for little children. but somehow we did it and we're here now. it was, we are so grateful to the polish people who are helping ukraine putting is a sick man. something is wrong with him. ah, well, it's you, our viewers watching on p b. s in the united states into all of you, round the world. welcome. we begin the day with a 40 mile long convoy of russian military might at the door, the ukrainian capital satellite images show russian forces advancing towards keith . and it comes as the russian defense ministry to day warned residence to leave their homes while they still can moscow saying that it is planning to launch air strikes on the city. now, it has been almost one week since the russian invasion began in that time. the un

says more than 660000 refugees have fled ukraine. at least a 136 civilians have been killed. and that includes 13 children. a day after signing an official request for ukraine to join the european union, ukraine's president modem is zalinski today called on european leaders to prove that they are with the people of ukraine, the impact of his message so strong that they can even be heard in the voice of the translator take alice, are fighting processes and just for our land and for our freedom. in addition, diesel and might, the fact is that all like cities of our country are now blocked and we are facing them all soon to be equal members of europe. ers, i believe that to day me waive some weekly showing

everybody that's exactly what we are used to do, prove that you are with us. so when do prove that you will not let us go ahead. we surely do prove that you indeed thought you repay me and then, but it was life will win over death and light will win either darkness. when napoleon or correspondent now nick connelly, he joins us from western ukraine. good evening to you, nick we, we've got reports that up to 8. leaders of e u. member states have come out in support of zalinski is called for immediate e u membership. what are you hearing and tell me, what would that mean? in the immediate term for the people of ukraine. well, brand,

it would mean hope. given that one of the reasons we're here is at least this is what russia says is to stop ukraine joining nato. that's one of the state goals of russia's campaign, although most ukraine's would say it's more about great ukraine being brought back to russia. serv includes that, see that? but you can says he wants to move west. it wants to join nature and it wants to move the there's the potential that membership with being part of big western family would mean support would mean feeling seen and heard without the same spirit implications in the same resistance for moscow to that membership we heard today from the positions spokesman, who said that the membership was not a threat to russia and was not something that russia objected to. i'm not sure why true. i think what i would want to continue to influence this country more than it would be able to in the case the membership is certainly less of a kind of hop data. and that simply could be

a way out of this crisis that ukraine like been in, could be in the you but all that, and is there any discussion, nick of the fact that ukraine has had the past 8 years to prepare itself for possible membership and many analysts would say when you look at the ramp at corruption, for example, that the country has wasted that time. is anyone saying anything like that at the moment? obviously there are lots of missed opportunities here below who grahams would ask, how much further romania and bulgaria have got. and had they not had a real perspective of joining the you, where would they be now had they like ukraine being kept outside? would they be any other than ukraine? ukraine has made huge strides, will be it may be from a place that was further behind the rest of europe than most of the countries in this part of the world. partly also had a very chaotic nineties and also partly because of that lack of perspective. most you can, you didn't want to be part of the russian through influence,

that they were never given any thing to work with by the west. and they were kind of hanging in the air, and that's one of the things you can will say. we tried being neutral. we tried being outside of a block in the ninety's when we were not russia. but we are also not trying to join western clubs, and in the end we gave you can give up your weapons to return to huge guarantees which didn't stop russia taken crimea, which didn't stop russia from entering that separatist movement in east. and they say we are just too big to be hanging. the air is some kind of neutral country. we are not, we're not through switzerland. we need some kind of harbor in this region. yeah, it's a huge country. 40000000 people. russian forces. they have been showing civilian areas in the city of car key that is ukraine's 2nd biggest city. it is also a city that has a russian speaking majority close. busy cultural ties to russia, so what does it tell us, nick about the kremlin?

that it is willing to bomb a city like car keith? when tell, just doesn't care about public opinion and he doesn't care about soft power. at any part of this crisis is all about russia's lack of power. russia does not have a model that is attractive to middle class citizens. he has a model with attractive laptop received in central asia, but it doesn't have any story of where development goes apart from russian strength . it doesn't have any values, unlike that union that it can use to bind allied to itself if the country laws without allies or they are to have. it tend to be ruling and needs in places like just on. but for countries, ukraine has europe on its doorstep that russell isn't attractive. and so russia is now trying to make up that little black, soft power, which force and the fact that they're willing to bomb the g. when there was talking about this brother, brother, nation premium, the russia puts paid to those about that to go. so if you've gotten bombs coming

down air strikes in eastern ukraine with their brush and brothers, what, what are people? but most people then in western ukraine, the thinking and be worried about me, what were the russians do to them? well, there is even the theory that actually government which would even be happiest if the western part of ukraine kind of was taken in by the polls or became independent and didn't basically kind of as the russians would see it in fact, the minds of ukrainians and key at any given we pro, with the idea of the european feature future. lots of the kind of ideological outright in the criminal. keep talking about the fact that was actually better russia, if places like to be just, you know, when went their way and became part of big europe and then they could just get on with basically assimilating, placing central anything ukraine, w, quarterly reporting tonight from western ukraine is always nic excellent, reporting. stay safe. thank

ukraine's president vote amuse. zalinski has signed an official request for ukraine to become a member of the european union. immediately. he says, the war end, ukraine justifies fast track membership. but joining the e u is a time consuming process. it requires agreement from all 20 sub and current members . in the past, some of those members have express opposition to letting ukraine in order to take a listen to what they did. mcallister, chair of the european parliament committee on foreign affairs told dw news to day. but to day our message was, ukraine is a european nation. ukraine is interested in having a close as possible relationship 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 that also fighting

for european values which are under attack now in keith. 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 focus 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 ground to work on this or for more now i'm joined by theresa fallon. she is in brussels as she's the founder and director of the think tank center for russia. europe, asia studies is good to have you on the program to night, ukraine's president, but he is pushing hard for e u membership. and we know that this process is one that takes time. is the situation going to accelerate the process for ukraine, or is it likely did ever happen at all

very impassioned speech today at the european parliament was short, but very, even the translator got all choked up. and i think that although many, many members of the european parliament were moved by his words, actually i don't think it will make much of a difference. it's the, the traditional eastern european countries are largely supporting this. but the larger member states are very concerned. and even if a gave it something a little more realistic, like a fast track to candidate status and takes a long time to negotiate. and i think there are deep fears about the size of ukraine. and plus, you have to remember there would be freedom of movement and post code economic landscape. this idea of labor's jobs, free movement of labor and job issues. a lot of member states in the west are concerned about that. yeah, i mean, you know, you illustrate very well the dividing lines there. i'm wondering what do you think

is motivating zelinski? did the push for something that is practically practically impossible? i mean, obviously the man fears for his life. there's an existential threat to his government into his country. is this just the voice of, of sheer desperation? that is articulating this request? i mean, i think he has, he's looking ahead to the future, right? so he's trying to maybe use this opportunity to fast track. you can because there is a deep outpouring of sympathy and empathy for ukraine, and i think that he's trying to tap into that. so i think it's good for him. try your best. and i think that as we saw today in the parliament, there were many, many people wearing ukraine shirts on t shirts over their suits. oh the you, you can't like it, you written on it. so i think that there's a great deal of sympathy for him. but it takes a lot for even, i mean there are 5 countries already on the list and they've been added for years.

it takes a long time to get the last match, the governance concerns about i'm corruption. so it's not something that can be fast tracked at all. yeah, i mean, a good governance is still a problematic and thorny issue for ukraine. let's just imagine though, that there were to be some type of a fast track lane that were to be open to ukraine. how would you expect russia to react with? obviously this would be a, another act of provocation in the eyes of the kremlin wouldn't. clearly we saw back in 2014, with the exception that agreement between b, u and ukraine. it was a type of trade agreement that was signed september 14th, 2014, and of course, this made moscow furious. clearly, membership of the you and nato are 2 of the things on russia is known this. so this would actually inferior, if you're a moscow, their fear is that there would be more westward drift of ukraine and not in their

tennis fear influence. so i think that this is kind of announcer for russia, but that's what this war is all about, isn't it? about ukraine's western looking more westward rather than towards russia. intrigues have got about 30 seconds left. the russian invasion of ukraine is actually producing the opposite of what vladimir putin wanted, isn't it? it's incredible because, i mean, no one would have said this before. and i think that we've seen incredible european unity, unheard of changes. watershed moment. we've seen germany change its position in regard to sending legal aid to ukraine. so and more talk of european cooperation. and this is a huge turning point. so i think president putin thought he could drive, which is c divisions in europe and in nato. but that has not happened. all we've seen is you're put together as well as natal members. theresa fallon with the center for russia. europe,

asia studies in brussels. theresa is always good talking with you. we appreciate your valuable insights tonight. thank you. thank you. will still come on the day, the view from odessa not odessa in ukraine, but little odessa in new york city. the place many emigrants from the former soviet union now called home, you know, so it is set to miss. and so very soon from you can certainly go somewhere else. we're not supposed to deliver if it's vertebra. no bye dear goodie. no just mom. no bye. dear good year's it. which and yet, or i think, ah, the united nations, it says more than 660000 people have fled. you great, since the invasion began just a week ago, the majority of the people have headed for polio. the un fears that number could rise as high as 4000000 in just the next few weeks. now shelters have been set up

along the border with ukraine. our next report comes from shame. ensure where polish people are giving some of the refugees a warm wilk. ah, another train arrives at premier shall station in poland on board. refugees who are fleeing from the neighboring war sown in ukraine most arriving here a women children and the elderly. at the moment ukrainian men aged between 18 and 60 who a fit for military service and not allowed to leave you crane. why 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 for them. it was we are so grateful to the polish people who are helping ukraine put in

as a sick man. something is wrong with him. his name will be if he were smart, he wouldn't have the gun, the war in the 1st place. we're living the 21st century. in austin, i teach him, volunteers give the refugees food and every day items they might find useful. in the main hall cots have been laid out so the ukrainians can rest. outside the station, volunteers offer the newcomers a free ride to the next city. they take them to cat of each, a crackle or even berlin. young people to smooth. i can give 3 people a ride, for example, a woman and 2 children. i am willing and able to help. poland is well prepared for this stream of people. for weeks they'd been following government orders to set up aid centers like this one called ukranian house to offer help including temporary

accommodation. ah, but these are chaotic times over to him and not every one fleeing ukraine has found poland, quite so welcoming, including foreign students. the ukrainians. wow. why let in with i'm did put on there for another city to get into unsafe. some have also complained of poor treatment at the hands of the border gods hold the black people out of people especially day while i so they meet them late so they are gone to them at night. it was snowing like just people wanted to stop off legacy. our. they didn't lead our floor plans and people get like a grassy. poland says it's admitted around 3 150000 people from more than a 120 countries with wall raging. just a few kilometers away. sympathy for the refugees is mixed with

a fear of what might come next. my next guest is chris meltzer. he's a senior spokesperson with the un refugee agent. see you and hcr. he joins me to night near the polish border with you crate, chris, it's good to have you on the program has europe just let's just talk about this in the, in its largest terms, has europe seen anything like this since 1945 and know they were big a refugee crisis, you remember in the ninety's when the balkan war, so drove so many people out of the former yugoslavia. there were 1956 when the russian invasion to hungary. i went to a refugee crisis at so many people fled, for example, to austria and other european countries. but the 660000 people,

as you have mentioned within less than 5 days. this is really unprecedented. just yesterday, 100000 people came to pole to poland alone with the 24 hours. this is really without example. and are these refugees? are they getting the support that they need? a more or less? yes. i mean, you need always more support, but the polish government as well prepared. the facilities for the refugees makes shift to facilities and schools in gymnasiums and so on. the people can rest and can probably thing what the next step could be. and the sort of guarantee of the people here, of ordinary people who are doing extraordinary things. it's just amazing that you saw that in, in, in, in the video of your colleagues. it's really fantastic how the people here in poland, supporting the refugees. and we have reports that non ukrainian

citizens trying to please the country have not been allowed to leave, particularly people from africa, asia, are you hearing those report and not in that way. we have heard that there that they had problems too. and poland that the polar societies it took them out for, for, for clear clearing when there were problems with the papers and so on. and we are very concerned about these cases. but we have not heard that really people who are sent back to ukraine, that would be a breach of the 9051 ref convention and very serious problem. the countries border ukraine. they're very welcoming to these refugees. this is a very different story when you compared to the refugee crisis back in 2015 isn't well,

at least what the pose would say now it's, it's our direct neighbor. and so there's, you know, there's the war, but the position of the, of the government a war. so it's indeed also very different. what changed my mind? well, you should ask them. yeah, i mean, it is an interesting aspect of the story, chris, we appreciate you taking the time to put this in context for chris meltzer with the you and hcr. chris, thank you. thank you very much. ah, the effects of the russian invasion of ukraine are being felt the world over, including in the united states, perhaps no more so than in the new york city neighborhood known as little odessa. here's the w. c. news poll. over 3000000 americans identify as russian around 600000 live in new york city,

the largest russian population in the us. this is lucas are named after the ukrainian city home to people from across the former soviet union. officially, it's bright and beach, but you see and hear a lot of russian the war and ukraine is very present in the hearts and minds of every one here. yet it's difficult to find russians. we're happy to talk to us. but over bertha, whatever happened to you knows what is the nurse and she very simple move to serve meandra calls them ourselves or not support reports and believe are fearful vertebra. many russians worry that speaking on camera might make things difficult for their families. back home, people from other exited countries, though are more forthcoming. i can't sleep. i can stand didn't i

can comfortable. you know, my family, me. my friends, everybody. the lab will crane. dan party. no bye dear goodie. no just mom. no bye. dear good. use it to which and yet are, i think they have russian friends who no one is defending what russia's doing. i don't see how is possible. i'm just, nobody believes allies. you know, in america we have, we have free media. we know the reality. well, all that put in the saying, as a nonsense, the overwhelming feelings in little odessa, a grief and anger about what is happening, 4500 miles away. d w 's in his po reporting there the day is almost done the conversation. he continues on line. you can follow me on twitter at brent golf tv. and remember whatever happens between now and then,

tomorrow is another day we'll see then everybody

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. ah, this is the w news live and from berlin almost one week into the invasion of ukraine. russia is upping into assault on the countries main cities in the capital key airstrikes today. hit the main tv top or knocking out broadcast. and in the 2nd largest city car, keith and the attack has left death and destruction in its way. also coming up. let us in ukrainian president zalinski is emotional address receives a standing ovation at the european parliament, but his request for immediate e u membership that faces.