ah ah ah ah, this is the w news live from berlin, russia claims that will broadly cleave reduce military activity around keven chinese in ukraine. it's a sign of potential progress in peace talks held into key. ukraine says it could adopt neutral status in exchange for security guarantees. a meeting between russia and ukraine leader is also on the table. also coming up, ukraine says it's forces have retake and

a key town near the capital key. be ukraine's. president warns russian troops are re regrouping to seize it back and elsewhere. the country continues to suffer heavy damage. and after years of neglect, the german military is suddenly flush with cash. we'll take a look at japanese military shopping list. the country races to upgrade its armed forces to guard against threats from russia. ah, i am on your cubes, mccann, and welcome to the program. russia says it has decided to dramatically reduce military activity in northern ukraine, including around the capital, keep rushes deputy defense minister alexander for mean made their remarks following a new round of peace talks with ukraine. in istanbul, he said russia had made the decision to incur neutral trust. i had

a future negotiation. tuesdays gathering was the 1st face to face me. thing in more than 2 weeks. guarantees the ukraine security on the table, along with the possibility of keep agreeing to long term military neutrality. that's cross straight to a correspondent, dorian jones, in istanbul. dorian turkeys, foreign minister said that the 2 sides made the most meaningful progress since the start of the negotiations. at these talks in istanbul today, would you say that that's a fair assessment well, to be on, it doesn't take much her to achieve that goal, given the fact that so little has been achieved in the previous negotiations. but having said that, it does appear that the 2 delegations really did engaging key issues that need to be resolved for any hope of peace. the question of russia demand on that ukraine become neutral, i was told, was discussed, along with ukraine's calls for security guarantees. talk of 8 countries providing

that security guarantee, including poland. israel and turkey is unclear over those countries would be prepared to sign up to such an agreement. but it's a sign that the sides are talking. also the question about the break away republics of law hands went on boss and the annex crimea was also a key issue that was discuss a possible, talked possible compromise. was any crane suggestion that you cro crimea could possibly be the subject of a 15 year long consultation period, although that is linked to the end of it all hostilities. so it's that is a sign that 2 sites are engaging in key issues which are needed to be resolved. but at the end of the day, it all depends what happens in the conflict on the ground. at the moment it appears that ukraine has fought the russians to a standstill. there it is. ah, uneasy or our balance of power at the moment with that that continues will be key to whether there's continued progress on these de go stations or continues. there are a good amount covered today, obviously better the next step. how likely is it that the ukranian and russian

presidents might nice air in person any time saying well that really is key to resolving this conflicts on both sides. i think do recognize that while the ukranian, president of all of them is zalinski, has been calling for direct talks. we've raised russian counterpart vladimir putin, even before russia invaded, are russia for now at least as ruling out any talk saying that they can only happen when there are tangible issues to be discuss where there is a potential agreement can be reached. now that's where these negotiations at the moment are so important and whether they continue, whether they can bring some kind of framework in which the president can come together at the moment is unclear whether there will be further talks. but the turkish foreign ministry are saying that their next goal is to bring the russian and earned the ukrainian foreign ministers together. they met early this month. nothing happened that, that talked. but the hope is that these 6, these talks, which are seen as being positive, the, whether these form, if they can get together, can continue this progress. and at the end of the layout of framework,

which can bring the 2 presidents together. now we've heard that the ministry of defense, or of the russian federation says that it will fundamentally cut back military activity in northern ukraine. can we see this as a sign that russia is ready to step back to a certain extent? well, i think it all depends whether this happens on what does what you mean by significant drawbacks. very ambiguous words here. it's expect that people will be looking specially ukraine, weathered russia, matches ease, was with positive action. if it does that, then this will certainly be seen probably the most positive concrete outcome of these talks in his sample. and that will lay the basis for possible future talks and ultimately the meeting of the, to present, and a hope of bringing some kind of piece to the end of this conflict. but it's still a long way to go. and people are still very nervous whether this progress that we could possibly cheating tuesday, as tuesdays talks, can be sustained during janes and if danville,

thank you. and we can talk now to stefan my stay. he is with the german council on foreign relations and an expert in russian security and foreign policy at mr. my. so welcome to d. w. now russia says it's scaling back operations in order to create an atmosphere of trust. can we really be sure that these piece talks are happening in good faith? i think it is. first of all, as strategic move from the russian side term to, to create options under the whole war is not, not going how are putting in a rush. leadership has lantus war and it needs a kind of an option to, to have to declare a week to re and it could be about eastern or crane or, but i think there is no trust. yeah, i think there is no trusted all russian leadership wasn't taking, or russia wasn't taking or, or grain. it was lying several times on on what are the goals?

it was changing also rhetorically, it's goals. so i think we have to wait until we can read this or can really assess what this this move now really means could we see it as some kind of positive step or should we remain complaining his suspicious what the russians will say? no, i think it's, it's the most positive step we have seen in all this war and i think it, we clearly understand that that russia has high loss also of material enough people and it can on wind this war. yeah. and it might stack or for long in ukraine. so i think there might be a step out or who grain in terms of just keeping a part of it and then maybe move later to key if again. but i think t t f is for the time being, not the main target of the russian attack, and that's, that's already positive. and we're hearing talk of the idea of

a neutral ukraine. do you see person except thing and neutral ukraine and wouldn't neutral you crate? in fact, ever be enough for to 10 and his ambitions. the question is what neutral grain means? ya. so i think we don't, don't talk about austria. oh yeah. in terms of start to spot is it is about a lack of 70 a whole crazy. no, no, not joining any military alliance. and not really having security guarantees, but always being threatened also by russia and need need also to take into consideration russian interests ya. so i think that's in your trailer to you russia thinking about and if these kind of an attorney, mortality is acceptable for crane, then i think there might be an agreement. yeah, but i think for me this is an ortho misson herb was what god rush leadership is using with this nor to ality true. so it's really about the conditions. and let's talk about the, the, the talks that have been taking place. and in istanbul today,

can you describe turkeys, role, and all of this? i think the advantage of the other one is that he's, he's, he's country, is natal member. and at the same time, he has a good relationship with mr. 14 and he lost these kind of diplomatic formats and he's really, it's really upgrading him also. yeah. his role in european security at the same time, turkey has really direct interests. it has interest on, on stability and security, and black c reaching has like a moment, interest russians. a major part of tourist also traveling to jerky. yeah. yeah. so i think there are, there are several issues. turkey has read direct interests and i think this sense it makes sense. yeah. that, that everyone is providing just platform, stefan mike, that was the chairman council on foreign relations. thanks so much. you're welcome . now on the ground in ukraine, the situation is

a mixed picture. tens of thousands of civilians remain trapped in di humanitarian conditions in the besieged port city of mario full and in the southern city of nikolai, of several people were reported killed on a russian missile. hit a regional government building dozens more wounded. the ukrainian forces for that part are recapturing tarrot trade from the russian aggressors. ah gunfire in the ukrainian town of air pin. here ukraine says it is made new gains in repelling russia's invasion. the town on the outskirts of keith was taken after fierce battles and heavy shallow president zalinski announced the recapture, but warned the situation is still tense. oh, by give it, the occupiers are being pushed away from your pin movie. he pushed away from keith, although the corporate is too early to talk about

a secure situation. the fighting continues over. ukrainian soldiers are expecting further attacks and have been preparing to hold a ground. one soldier explained, they were able to push back russian forces 3 to 4 kilometers from their position. the cypress worker. when we were clear this marbles were shooting at us. more than 60000 people used to live in our pin, many of them were forced to flee. some manage to escape fighting on the front line . to get to keith. i will do one who shall i just pray to god for salvation. quarterly. then i pray every day for the soldiers who defend us shortly. let them have courage. god, let them have strength failed. ho. ukrainian troops said they were also able to retake control of the town of trust dentist in the northeast, close to the border with russia. russian army tanks and artillery were left behind

after a counter attacks by ukrainian forces and a nearby car keys. the wall has left homes and streets in ruin. the proceed city of mario pole is still contending with a major humanitarian crisis. 160000 people are trapped without food, water, and power. at least 5000 have been killed. officials have renewed their appeal for people to be evacuated. even with peace talks underway, russian troops continued to bombard defense facilities in ukraine, and ukrainian soldiers are determined to stand firm against russia's aggression. we can cross to a key of correspondent, now nick connelly. nick, you're in the ukrainian capital. can you tell us how ukrainians are reacting to the peace talks that have been happening in istanbul today?

i think the route is that most people here in care of and elsewhere ukraine and not following these talks in any great detail. there's been a lot of diplomatic noise in recent weeks. i think people here are waiting for actions and for a noticeable change to what the russians are doing in the immediate vicinity. and i think the most important thing, though, do you hear time time again for people that they might be willing to compromise on ukraine's aspirations, join nato, but accepting russian control of antics, crimea, or recognizing those self proclaimed public zillow hunts. convenience. can the east that is very definitely a red line for most ukrainians you speak to even more so after the losses and the suffering from the last few weeks. our colleagues in the west, the city of lou beef spoke to people about their impressions. over these talks, let's have a listen to what they have to say. now it's not sonya serrato and join nato, but it's necessary, ah, western countries supply and some weapons for us. so to

will help us to, to win this war more quicker. it's not about anita by itself. it's a more about freedom of choice, which of course so the finance one to have because every county has the right to choose for. so i think nobody should tell us a independent country what we should do or not to do as it's an assent or no sceptre. well, in any case i sin and nick russia is saying it will scale back facing around keith. can you tell us more about that? well seen from kiki, from the ukranian side, this is definitely looks like a russian attempt to put a brave face on some pretty crushing defeats of russian forces here surrounding a key of who seemingly had planned to take the training capitol within a matter of days and that just didn't happen. time time again, we were told the kid would fall within a matter of days and ukrainian forces were able to hold up that advance. now most

recently we've had news from it appears that town west of ki, about 25 kilometers as the crow flies from where i am now. lots people have seen those images of the destroyed bridge and civilians trying to get out clambering over those ruins. lots cylinder lost their lives trying to get out in the shelling . and it now seems like the ukranian forces have been able to regain control of that town. on the other side of kia to the east of the river, the pro, again, it seems like the cranes be able to push back russian forces by quite some way. so this seems like an attempt by the russians to regroup, to bring their troops back together again in on the territory. beller was about a 100 clubs north of here, and to send them east towards the don bass, where the russian forces seemingly have a better chance of making ground. and to sell this now as a kind of diplomatic gesture, or some kind of concession, maybe to the west and to ukraine, but little belief here. and you can at least that this is somehow motivated by a desire to deescalate and what about progress in evacuating sir civilians from areas that have seen particularly heavy russian bombardments such as the mario pl.

well exactly, that is still the biggest, her most painful spot for most ukrainians who are probably watching what's going on maribelle and other parts of the front much more closely than they are. talks like resort st. stumble. it doesn't seem like the big issue that we heard a mental mac hall trying to propose some kind of humanitarian mission to get people out doesn't seem like that is going to work any time soon. incredibly intense fighting still going on. we believe about a $100000.00 civilians are still stocks about a quarter of the pre war population. the city, it's very hard to actually find out what's going on the ground because for most of the day they don't have electricity. there. ukrainian mobile phone networks not working. so any satellite phones are working, but definitely a sense that this is increasingly desperate to people. still. there were getting reports from the ukrainian side of russian soldiers forcing ukrainian civilians to evacuate in the direction of russia, trying to take their ukraine documents off them at the ukrainian reading of that would be that russia is trying to create images of civilians being looked after. by

russia to try and detoxify the can international image that russia has been picked up in recent weeks. but it is very difficult to find out what is going on except from people who've got out and have told of their experiences stuck in sellers for days at a time. a bodies left on buried in the streets and people going hungry. italian. net. conley and cave. thanks so much. now, misty international has accused russia of committing war crimes in ukraine. the human rights group says the russian army is deliberately targeting civilians and striking hospitals, schools, and apartment buildings. the invasion has uprooted more than 6000000 people within ukraine. and sent almost 4000000 refugees into neighboring countries. and here i spoke to the secretary general of amnesty international. agnes cut them off and asked her about the kinds of human rights violations that amnesty is currently monitoring and ukraine. i think the best way of describing the situation

is to say that the contrary, the fire is on fire. we are being documented on the condition of the human rights and human italian low valuation including being discriminated, all deliberate targeting civilians, c williams infrastructure such as the hospital and schools. we know that in $1500.00, each human italian, cory, those are not functioning, trapping people in the, in those cities. we also documented the use of weapons which shove disproportionate impact weapons, many of which i've actually been the object of conventional international law. so the situation right now is one of the major c via suffering are imposed on the people of ukraine. agnes calling from

amnesty international there. now, many western companies have joined the governments in sanctioning russia and german call maker folks. vog is one of them. it's close both of its production sites in the country, including its plants in canada, which employs $4000.00 people. we're going to take a look at the effect sanctions having on the lives of people there. many of whom know very little about that country's military operation in ukraine. operations are at a standstill at volkswagens plant. in calgary, a 3 hour drive from moscow, like many western companies, v. w has temporarily halter production in russia. but there's no trace of panic among employees. kalu good to is the name of the suburb. it's hung to demetrius to resolve, and his wife, he sought to that v. w. as a wilder, now he's in quality control. the production stop has left him unfazed. what was, what was, was like, it's like a vacation. we're still getting paid was even though production has stars from old

pueblo, so everything is fine with. it's a chance to relax and soon we'll get back to work film of the afternoon. so by doing what i will do better than the pregnant if it prices have gone up a bit, but it hasn't affected us much, but probably feel it more later. we've been 3 little much in russia, a financial crisis, other crises, nothing can scare us any more. crimea vulgar grad st. petersburg. the couple likes to travel, though they've never been abroad. dmitri renovate apartments as a side job to an extra cash. he and his wife enjoy fishing videos on youtube. they never watch the news negotiable, as was if you need to know what's happening in your own life, not what's going on in the world. you can find out about world events from neighbors or people at the supermarket. magazine mobile that was good. in kalika, a lot of jobs are generated by the car industry. aside from volkswagen,

the volvo truck plant has also suspended production. mcdonald's is closed and miss cds has stopped exports to will the country revert to cause mate in russia? probably, i would. all the problems are enormously, but our rulers insist that we can manage, examining. unfortunately, the public so far believes them you, it's easier to convince ordinary people, and they hide from the problems and there's nothing at the moment that can be done about it or deal it use yet. like many russians, dmitri and his wife only have a vague idea about their armies, so called special military operation in ukraine. heather blocker, and it's not, it's only when the going gets rough for use in politics matters, as long as everything's all right. why should you be bothered? because assume this result is a popular place to escape reality. a steam bath,

and then a dip in ice cold water. for some russians, a welcome distraction from the problems they sense a looming on the horizon. now here in germany, authorities have begun banning the use of symbols that expressed support for russia's invasion of ukraine. the less, as that has become the most prominent symbol of russia's war efforts, and is a common size on russian military vehicles and pro russian social media accounts. german intelligence agencies say they have evidence, the letters that has already been used in germany, a pro war rallies, but also graffiti and on vehicles. now shortly after russia invaded ukraine, german chancellor will have shouts announced. a historic increase in military spending included a one time son of $100000000000.00 euros to swiftly upgrade the armed forces and the pledge to spend at least 2 percent of germany's economic output on defense every year. so what exactly is germany planning to buy with these billions?

here's a closer look. these us build aircraft up top of the book, desert shopping list, the f 35 can carry all types of weapons. it's design and coating. make it difficult for radar to detect with germany's current free to fight our jets aging fast. an upgrade is long overdue. the f m rises is us from the f. 35 is the most modern combat aircraft in the world hoc maga and many of our partners, especially here in europe, have also chosen. it says i'm reynolds on parkman. together with our partners in the lines will strengthen our ability to secure nato as space through the crew ably to turn all good and also if need be, defend ourselves was our goodness finance. i. most of the for tyler the deal marks a shift in policy. instead of pursuing its own development projects the bond as

they are spying what's on the market. even though critic say it increases germany's dependency on the u. s. the war and ukraine has made military modernization even more urgent. when it comes to add a fence, the german armed forces are now also considering purchasing and israeli anti missile shield. this system is called aero 3 and compliments. the so called iran dome to protect israel against rockets. it can shoot down long range ballistic missiles and would be powerful enough to protect countries in eastern europe as well. that's something germany so far has not been able to do, but might need to in the future seamless. also annadolastot, prepare ourselves for the fact that we have a neighbor who is currently prepared to use force to assert his incredulous cuz it's and that's why we have to make ourselves strong together. so that that does happen. but also needed new heavy lift transport helicopters to replace the old

c cause e c h 50 three's, a system developed. and the 1960 s, the list of what the bond is where needs to bring it into the 21st century is a long one from navy ships and tanks to radio equipment. and i'm in this losing the backlog caused by decades of chronic under funding. will likely take years ah and for a quick look at some of the other stories that were following for you at this hour, china's largest city shanghai as grappling with a strict to parts locked down aimed at curtailing the city's worst outbreak of cove at 19 to date, the measures have seen the cities financial district who done effectively cutoff from shanghai historic center with bridges, tunnels and roads closed. i, jerry and officials say several people were killed and many injured and an attack on a major railway line on monday. security sources said some 970 passengers were on board

a train linking a buddha with the north west city of kaduna, when assailants designated a bomb on the tracks before opening fire. and u. k. police say they will find 20 people over the various policies held by british prime minister boris johnson. you're in corona virus locked downs. although johnson himself has not been fined the scandal dubbed past, he gate has rocked the governing conservative party and threatened johnson's leadership investigation is ongoing. the hollywood act, so will smith has apologize to the comedian chris rock for slapping him on stage during sunday nights academy awards ceremony in an instagram post. smith said violence in all of it. forms is poisonous and destructive. my behavior at last night's academy awards was unacceptable. and inexcusable. earlier the us film academy condemned smith behavior and announced an investigation into the incident.

will smith hit chris rock after the comedian made a joke about smith's wife, jaida pink at smith that sinews round up dw news asia with bearish. vanity is coming up next. and don't forget, you can always keep up to date on our website. that's d, w dot called on monday clips mckinnon on behalf of the whole team here at dw. thanks for watching with

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chain. that would be the frontline in any future.