to get out while they can, 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 had 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 the countless innocent lives that threat has never been greater. i'm burnt off in berlin. this is the day. ah, brushing strikes are hitting schools. hospitals, residential buildings of his and yet we are now in a very dramatic situation to get caught. ukraine is literally fighting for the survival

even what we're also fighting to be equal members of europe today that european union and ukraine are already closer than ever before. thoroughly, as you is avoiding honest face, to face dialogue. but how can you negotiate a, with somebody who's types are willing towards key of and who is coming innocence in it? i think you'd see, 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 put in as a sick man. something is wrong with him. ah, or to our viewers watching on p b. s in the united states into all of your,

on 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 and 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 bonum is zalinski to day called on european leaders to prove that they are with the people of ukraine, the impact of his message so strong that it can even be heard in the voice of the translator:

take alice messiah fighting processes of sleeves and just for our land. and for our freedom. in addition, diesel, it might to thank you. that's all a lot cities of our country are now blood. and we are fighting all soon to be equal members of europe. so i believe that to day we book a showing everybody. that's exactly what we are used to do, prove that you are with us. so we do prove that you will not let us go easily. do prove that you indeed thought you repaired and then but it was life will win over death and light will win either darkness we want to pull in our correspond it 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 zelinski is called for immediate you 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 given that, you know, one of the reasons why here is at least this is what russia says is to stop you crane joining nato. that's one of the stake 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 the 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 had today from the pigeons who said that the membership was going to fret to russia and was not something that russia objected to. i'm not sure why true. 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 seem, it could be a way out of this crisis that ukraine like. and it could be in the but i mean, 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, a missed opportunity tables. graham's would ask,

how much further romania and bulgaria have got, and had they not had a real perspective of joining the you? why would they be now? had they like ukraine being kept outside? would they be in prison? ukraine? ukraine has made 2 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 that lack of a perspective, most your friends didn't want to be part of the rushing through influence. 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 thing. your friends will say, we tried being neutral. we tried being outside of a block in the ninety's when we were not russia, but we were also not trying to join western clubs. and in the end we gave you gave up and you can weapons returned to see which guarantees which didn't stop russia taken crimea, which didn't stop russia from entering that separatist movement in the east. and they say we are just too big to be hanging. the air is some kind of neutral country . we are not finished,

we're not switzerland. we need some kind of harbor in this region. yeah, it's a huge country. 40000000 people. russian forces. they have been shilling 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 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, what tell just doesn't care about public opinion and he doesn't care about soft power. at a 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 clip tucker seats, infants, 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 allies, it tend to be ruling and needs in places like just on. but for a country like ukraine has europe on its doorstep that russell isn't attractive. and 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, russia puts paid. so will those that to go. so if you've gotten bombs coming down, airstrikes in eastern ukraine with their russian brothers what, what are people? but most people then in western ukraine, v thinking and be worried about me, what will the russians do to them? well, there is even the theory that actually go out and bridge and 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 of any given we pro, with the idea of the european feature future look for the kind of ideological outright in the criminal. keep talking about how that would actually batch of 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 sexual anything ukraine, w, quarterly reporting tonight from western ukraine is always nic excellent, reporting. stay say thank you. so, ukraine's president vladimir zalinski has signed an official request for ukraine to become a member of the european union. immediately he says the war in ukraine justifies fast track membership. but joining the e. u is a time consuming process, it requires agreement from all 27 current members. now in the past, some of those members have expressed opposition to letting ukraine in order to take

a listen to what they did. mcallister, chair of the european parliament's committee on foreign affairs told d w news to day. but to day our message was, ukraine is a european nation. ukraine is interested in having a close as possible relationship with europe 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, but 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, is 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 to 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 men, 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 they 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 impose covey 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 did. what do you think is motivating zalinski? 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 uses 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, with you, you can play 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 fast track lane that were to be open to ukraine . how would you expect russia to react with? obviously this would be a, another active provocation in the eyes of the criminal wouldn't. clearly we saw

back in 2014, with the accessing agreement between the you 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 the nato are 2 of the things on russia is known this. so this would, actually, if you're, if you're a mosque out there, fear it said there would be more westward drift of ukraine and not in their fear of influence. so i think that this is kind of an uncertain 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 division in europe and in nato. but that has not happened. all we've seen is you're put together as well as needle 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 said to miss it. so very soon for me to certain intercourse emerson's

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 grain since the invasion began just a week ago, the majority of the people have headed for poet. the un fears that number could rise as high as 4000000 in just the next few weeks. and shelters have been set up along the border with you cream. our next report comes from shaming sure where polish people are giving some of the refugees. a warm welcome. ah, another train arrives at premier shall station in poland on board. refugees who are fleeing from the neighboring wall zone 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, are not allowed to leave you crane. point them. it is heartily very hard, especially for little children. but somehow we did it and we are 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, if he were smart, he wouldn't have the gun, the war in the 1st place. we're living the 21st century. when i spoke to her teacher, volunteers give the refugees food and every day items they might find useful. the in the main hall cuts have been laid out so the ukrainians can rest. outside the station, volunteers offer the new come as

a free ride to the next city. they take them to cat of each krakow, or even berlin. i can give 3 people a ride, for example, a woman and 2 children. if i'm willing and able to help poland as well prepared for this stream of people. for weeks they've been following government orders to set up a 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 se, welcoming, including foreign students, the ukrainians. wow. why let in with i'm did put under 40 latino city to get into i'm say some have also complained of poor treatment at the hands of the border guards hold the black people or the people especially day while i so

they meet them. they tell what they are, gone to, to them at night it was snowing like just people wanted to all they stop off legacy our. they didn't lead optimal land and people get like 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 is a senior spokesperson with the you and 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 that has europe. just let's just talk about this in the, in its largest terms, has europe seen anything like this?

since 1945. clear short answer? no, 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 and 96 when the russian invasion to hungary. i went to a refugee crisis at so many people fled, for example, 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 pope 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,

a make 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 plead 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 to enter 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 as well. at least what the pose would say now it's, it's our direct neighbor. and so there's, there's the war, but the position of the, of the government a war. so it's indeed also very different. what changed their 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 neighbourhood 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 u. s. this is lucas are named after the ukrainian city home to people from across the former soviet union. officially, it's brighton 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

burger open to you know, sweaters, nurse, and she very simple move to serve meandra calls them ourselves or not support reports and believe ourselves it's 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. in no, my family, me. my friends, everybody. reliable brain? damn 40. no bye. dear good. you know, just one. no budget good is it which and yet or i thinks i have russian friends who no one is defending one rushes 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, our 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 that everybody

with with an economy a tool. russian aggression has been met with swift and crippling sanction in the western powers are counting on economic pressure to force russia to end its war. the question is willing to work with the fate of europe depends on the on the business special next on d, w

o. and they've had it for decades. the people of iraq, their country is devastated and there's no end to the final. how did it come to this with key witnesses reveal and president story to they were freeze of the you as they knew what the consequence of these sanctions are. and they've lied to the world about the negative was to say that someone could kill his friends and as a fee and so easily was a whole night. really. he behaved exactly like to have done this year.

and the poisons spread their own. ah, less missouri with the great documentary series destruction of a nation starts march 4th on d. w. a . a total economic and financial war. that's how the french finance minister puts western allies have had russia where they swath of economic sanctions over its invasion on ukraine. we'll take a look at what effect they've been having and what their limits. also coming up, oil and gas prices happen, galloping industry heavy weights like b, p, and shell are divesting of multi $1000000000.00 projects in russia. what will this conflict mean for europe's energy security.