[000:00:00;00] ah ah, this is, did you news live from berlin? the united states is sending weapons worth $800000000.00 to ukraine. washington hopes additional assistance will help the ukrainian army repel a russian offensive in the east. the latest equipment includes heavy artillery and have a car. ukraine says it's missiles have knocked the flagship of russia's black sea fleet out of commission. russia has only acknowledged that

a fire on board seriously damaged the missile. finland says it will decide soon on applying for nato membership, public support for joining nato has surged since russia invaded ukraine and devastating floods. sweep away homes and infrastructure in south africa, the killing. hundreds of people. president c o rama. post pledges help for the victims and says, the disaster is part time ah, annex baser welcome to the program. american president joe biden has approved $800000000.00 in additional military assistance to ukraine. the package includes heavy artillery as keep repairs to defend against a massive russian assault expected in the east of the country. satellite images have shown large convoys of russian military vehicles converging in and near the

don bass region. mar, you, poll, is in ruins. after weeks of russian bombardment, the u. s. says it is once again sending arms to ukraine to stop russia's destruction of the country. ah, today the president announced an author us another presidential drawdown of security assistance, valued at up to an additional $800000000.00 tailored to meet urgent ukrainian needs for today's fight. as russian forces shift the focus of their ruthless aggression now to eastern ukraine, ukraine's president expressed his gratitude. we've agreed on $800000000.00 in military aid for weapons ammunition, artillery helicopters and more than i am sincerely thankful for the support that you get all the need for more arms as urgent as russian convoys converge on eastern ukraine. analysts say the weapons in the american package,

such as long range howitzers, are especially suited to ukraine's defense of the eastern don bass region. so you what system like that? i can fire your 3040 kilometers away from where you are trying to break up the military long before he gets close to you and that's what ukrainians need at this moment. they need to destroy the russian convoys before they even get to the cities or near to locations. they want to take. the pentagon said it was rushing to send the equipment, but did not provide a time table for the people in the eastern ukrainian city of seattle, rodonna ask something as simple as walking to get groceries is a calculated risk that could end in tragedy. war has brought life to a standstill. it though it's a disaster. god. every 10 or 15 minutes in bam. bam, boss, yahoo, i live on the 7th floor of

a 9 floor building. it just imagine boom from one side band from the other. and then you think the roof will cave in until you, well, it's a policy, but for some, the fighting is too much to bear. a bus takes them away from the bombs. but others are staying behind, hoping to survive the russian advance. if weapons from the u. s. don't stop at 1st . the u. s. has just announced another big weapons delivery. we asked t w, correspond alexander phenomenon, keep if ukraine effects other governments to follow suit. well, no doubt about that in a video addressed yesterday. president zelinski urge other western nations to provide ukraine with heavy weapons because of course, every one here understands that this is a crucial moment and asked a battlefield shifts and the weapons that the ukrainian forces need are also changing and to president it in ski said that what they need is long range show

artillery tanks armored vehicles, era defense systems, and of course, he has been repeating it for many weeks now a combats jats to protect civilians and ukraine enforces from russian missiles and as friday. and ukraine is saying it expects a russian offensive in the east imminently. what more do we know about that? well, we know that the ukranian government has been bracing for a major russian offensive in the eastern and the south eastern part of the country . and they have been warning that russia was messing their troops there, that russia was moving more troops towards the strategically important city of easier. and now the assessment is apparently that russia is ready. and we know that the goal would be there to take over it to take to full control of the, the net cretin and of course, to capture at the city of mar,

you pull. because then the russian forces would be able to secure and lend bridge between their forces in or their units in crimea and their units in the eastern part of ukraine. and just a question about mary, or pull that port if i may, russia is claiming that large numbers of ukrainian troops have surrendered there. and what does the cranium, government say? they say they cannot confirm this information. instead, they are saying that some of the marines and trip there are encircled by the russian forces were able to link up with other ukrainian forces. still, there are fighting in the city of mutual. however, they have acknowledged that to russia is controlling some areas in the south eastern part of my you will. and the situation there in general, is really dire, would turn than of tens of thousands of civilians still trapped. the, according to the mayor, more than $20000.00 civilians were killed there. so the situation is real, really dire,

and the russian army is apparently intensifying at their assault on the city dw, correspond alexandra for non reporting there from q. the worship worship moskva, the flag ship, the russian block. c fleet has been badly damaged after an explosion. russian defense ministry set a fire caused a ammunition to designate it didn't say what caused the blaze, but did say the entire crew of 500 sailors had been evacuated. however, ukrainian officials claim 2 of their missiles hit the ship. ukraine is expecting russia to launch a new offensive in the countries east after russian troops fail to take the capital . keep moscow said it was shifting focus to the don bass region since 2014 rushing back. separatists have controlled large parts of the don boss. russian president vladimir putin is claiming genocide against ethnic russians there, hulu, one young man. you believe the goals are perfectly clear,

they are noble. i said from the start back in my 1st public statement on this operation. the main goal is to help the people in don bus them. vladimir putin claims keith is committing genocide against russian speakers in the dumbass. there's no evidence of that, but it's been one of russia's justifications for the invasion all along. the dumbass is ukraine's old industrial heartland, dating back to the soviet era. it's already seen, years of fighting. the region is largely russian speaking and seen by the kremlin, as more russian than ukrainian. the dumbasses, mainly comprised of the 2 large lou hunter and, and yet screens that border russia to the north and east. the shaded area here shows the territory seized by russian back separatists in 2014. russia wants to extend that control to the whole of the hunts can done yet. carving out

a sizable chunk of ukraine. moscow could then annex the area as it did with crimea in 2014. but perhaps the biggest single prize in the dawn bus is maddie. you pull the main easton port that has been under russian seas for weeks. the city itself is largely destroyed, but russia wants to capture it, to link up rushing controlled areas all along ukraine, south east coast, and create a land bridge from russia to crimea. capturing the hold of the don bus would allow putin to claim mission accomplished in ukraine. but analysts sworn, it could be a long and devastating conflict. and for more on this were joined by dr. a glass that come from london. she is electra and international politics at university college london school of savannah and east european studies. thank you for being with professor. how important is it for putting to take all of the don bass region?

thank you for having me on. it's very important. this is essentially where the operations are going to be focusing on and put in reading needs to get out of this campaign. now, militarily speaking, because you know, the 1st stage of the campaign have could be failed. this is now the focus, you know, there is a bit of a question to, you know, where with the russians go next. if the campaign against on bus sort of fails symbolically, it's crucial. it's also important because their military is now concentrated on the don't bass area and therefore if they fail there, they have essentially failed in their campaign in ukraine. and about the american announcement, $800000000.00 of additional aid to ukraine has already been a large amount. does this change things on the ground? does it make the ukrainian government stronger and a better position to hold out? so obviously the cranes have been calling for sort of increased heavy artillery and

the need for some of them are more offensive rather the defensive weaponry. i think the for this particular sort of package will be significant. it is much more sort of heavy. i mean, nation, i think the important thing to remember is also that the military campaign is actually shifting. so now it's been mostly foot in urban areas. and we are now going to see ukrainian, and russian troops fighting more sort of a conventional war for which, you know, heavy machinery is much more important. this in part is what the americans are leaving to provide. and i think the western allies have clearly shifted focus towards sort of much heavier support military on the ground. what will be important will also be ongoing military packages. so as the ukrainians are raging for the campaign against the russians, we are in for the long haul. so the important thing is not only this package,

but that the west continues to supply and re supply the ukrainian positions. and looking at the meetings that biden had, for example, yesterday, it seems that the west is well aware of that. and they're also reading for this ongoing, prolonged military assistance to the ukraine inside. and we were just talking about that flag ship vessel, the mosque for that had something happened to it either a caught fire or sit by miss isles. what is your understanding of the situation and what would be the impact if it had actually been hit by ukrainian rockets? so at the moment, as your commentator talks about, you know, there's conflicting records between the ukrainian side and the russian side. i think it's significant that the russians have admitted that there is a fire on board and they've had to evacuate. i think that's significant. whether or not it was hit by the ukrainian missiles, most likely it was,

but at this stage we cannot independently verify. i think symbolically, it is huge, and my school is a major worship, and it was, it was most notably involved in the sort of snake island incident, the stamps of which have actually only come out this week in ukrainian ukraine. symbol is massive. it will also be important strategically, militarily, because the russians are no longer able to move their large warships into the area because the straits have been shut down. and also because it shows that the russians are suff, ongoing, suffering heavy losses, which i think before the campaign dumbasses renewed, i think it's, it's symbolically important. the russians are suffering such heavy losses even before the campaign in dumbasses sort of, you know, it is stepped up again. and i think there's also a question of how long can the russians continue to suffer such sort of heavy losses because such warships are sort of very expensive,

very difficult to produce. there's not many of them around. and of course the stake island incident, just to remind our viewers was the famous incident when a handful of soldiers were told to surrender by russian worship. and they told the worship to do something which we can't repeat on television. dr. a glass net called lecture and international politics at university college london. thanks so much. thank you. more than 4500000 refugees have fled the war in ukraine, according to the united nations, the more majority of whom end up in neighboring countries like moldova, among them are tens of thousands of ukrainian jews. dw correspondent tenure came a travel to them, all dove and capital just you know where jewish the jewish community is. rally to help a former printing house in the mold oven, capital kyshay, now no, a refugee reception center. it has been set up by israeli 8 organizations to support jewish refugees from ukraine and to help them immigrate or make

a yard to israel. forgot the tire man down from tel aviv this work is very close to his heart. as a child, he left ukraine for israel with his parents of the long journey, a good night to sleep and rest before the fire. this is our goal to send the people as fast as possible. all the basic needs that they need to ease for new year has already started over once before she was up routed from her home because of the conflict and the new hands region in 2014. she hopes she has the necessary documents on hand. it did betty up and stuff at you. i just want to finally start living normally. i want a family kid to live in a place of a peaceful country under peaceful skies in yet, but i don't want to run from the war again to the 2nd 35th time. my me, if i'm sorry,

not everybody gets permission. documents are checked by israeli counselors, stuff on site by is ready know, some one with at least one jewish grandfather is eligible to receive citizenship. we hope the community and under jerusalem's ocean to hold them in time to leave some world view of the condition. for the few days that they are real and checking the document, if the of the wire to came to we worldwide the know and then find google involvement. some of the refugees also want to go to other countries like germany or stay in moldova. the local jewish community has also stepped in to help. the habit synagogue under renovation has opened its doors to refugees. in the soup kitchen, cook natalie beliefs a daily hot meal helps people in crisis a lot better where we made lots of su lentil soup boars. salads and that sort of

thing to make them feel better. invite him to give people strength and happiness. yeah. oh, well, some math some bitter sweet moments at the applewood irina, you have him over and her mother from car keith in easton, ukraine are among the 80 people are permitted to board. the flight to tel aviv are willingly were already ready to move. but of course, it's very scary to leave what you've learned for the place where you live. do studied and worked on the war, of course sped up our decision not finish night of so school as well as relief. he rena says, her thoughts are also with those left behind finland's prime ministers has her country will decide within weeks whether or not to apply to join nato. finland is traditionally non aligned, but public opinion on joining the alliance has changed dramatically since the start

of the russian invasion of ukraine. russia has worn both for them and sweden against joining the alliance. their joint appearance demonstrates neighborliness, but mal sweden and finland heads of government, both moved toward nato membership. we have to really think through what is best for sweden and our security and our peace in this new situation. and of course, what is happening and the discussion of finland is important for us to follow. therefore we need to have a very close contact. this is a completely new security situation for finland and sweden. until now, the countries have been neutral viewing themselves as negotiators between east and west. but the war in ukraine has changed all that, including their attitude to nato are. there is no other way to have security guarantees done under nato's deterrence. and common defense ask, aren't it by natives? article 5,

the mood has shifted in both countries. more and more people now support nato membership. ve mison walk out on, i've changed my mind over the last month or 2 on finland, cannot defend itself alone. able very among the skill of all it would be safer for us swedes to join. we should do so as quickly as possible. finland plans to decide in the coming weeks. sweden, probably by summer, russia says any expansion of nato will have negative consequences. and here's a round up of some of the other world news headlines. pakistan's, former prime minister and rankin has called for fresh elections at a rally in the northwestern city of the shower. turn was removed from parliament last weekend and replaced by opposition lawmaker shabazz sharif. can accuses the united states of causing his removal. clashes have broken out between his railey soldiers and palestinian youth after is really armed forces killed a lawyer and 2 teens. during raids in the occupied westbank. israeli forces have

stepped up operations across the west bank in recent days as follows. a spate of killings in israel recent weeks by palestinians. police in new york have arrested a man suspected of shooting 10 people on a subway train on tuesday. authorities say 62 year old frank james will face federal charges for a terrorist defense. new york police commissioner said he was detained after a tip off from the public. thousands of protesters have marched against rising inflation. in argentina, they're demanding higher wages and jobs. the protest come as the government announced the highest inflation rates and more than 2 decades, argentina's rate is now at almost 7 percent devastating floods triggered by heavy rains in south africa. durban area have claimed over 300 lives president 0 rabbit poster called it

a catastrophe. of enormous proportions and blamed climate change, the death toll is expected to rise. a search and rescue efforts continue. the water has gun, but the damage remains. 2 days of heavy rains and flats destroyed thousands of houses in and around the city of do it. major infrastructure like roads and bridges simply washed away. so as you drive through durban, you come across many of those lance lights like this one here was you can see and the middle of it, there was a house that was flashed away with the lance light. there was a family staying in the egg rents. mother with her 3 grandchildren, one of the children managed to get out all the others passed away. the youngest child was just 3 years old. neighbor loom deal in the, in a still trying to get to terms with what happened. she was inside when the soil started moving and the family home collapsed,

killing her 10 year old cousin as under it felt like my house was that dozen pieces. she has it badly go. joyful, always happy laugh if the one around the corner authorities set up a shelter in the school, thousands became homeless overnight during a visit. president sewell ram up was up promised help knowing that the limited resources of the states won't reach every one. and knowing that this will not be the last disaster. they have been similar flats in the area in the past. yes. this is obviously is part of climate change. it is telling us that the climate change is serious. it is here. we no longer can co what

we need to do the measure we need to take to deal with climate change yet and how what do um management capability needs to be at the high end? that will be the nina hopes for assistance from the government, but doubts, she will get. it's everything the family own. she says is god like many years she tries to stay optimistic, but more rain has been predicted for the easter weekend. she like as prime minister has offered to meet with protesters can't outside the president's office, they're calling on the government to step down our over it's handling of a foreign currency crisis which has led to food shortages spiraling prices and hours of power cuts every day. the government is due to start negotiations on an international monetary fund bailout next week. oh,

angry she lengthens are out on the streets. an unprecedented economic crisis has pushed these people to gather outside the president's office in the capital city, colombo, shouting slogans, leading placards and demanding change for on the one the raj. bucks a family whose members occupy key positions in the shrunken government, including that of the president and the prime minister to resign. we believe their family rules, then the partisan and blatant software option are responsible for this economy collapse. the people of the island nation have been facing regular power cuts, food and medicine shortages and soaring prices of essentials. long queues outside patrol and diesel station had become a common sight. as the country it runs out of cash to buy fuel. the crisis has brought people together. it's

a people's brit as this is not politically motivated. i'm not of any party. and i don't think anyone here is this the 1st time all of sri lanka has united against politics. this crisis has affected everybody stomachs. so everyone is out on the street, irrespective of cost creed, really to annoy economic backgrounds. a shilling, concede, they want accountability, transparency, and a responsible government to control the unrest on the streets. a nationwide got you and a state of emergency was imposed briefly, but that barely da da da. but after that, you lankin prime minister by in the large boxes, is now appealing to the people for peace and support being that the government is working round the clock to dissolve the economic crisis. ah, but it is obvious that the government has lost the trust of the public. economists, roland summoner, juba agrees that economic situation has been severely mismanaged by those in power

. we are in excessive debt and it's very clear that in order to, to be able to pick this debt, we have to bring in dollars. if we cannot pay any more debt, we need to seriously negotiate with our people, to whom we owe money. and we have to get the economy functioning of the i back. i'd love to cite the crowd only increases as the sun set you up with people of all ages joining in a lot of challenges. so v dot b, but need and make change. and so that's a demonstrated look determined to stay here, to keep a bare protest still the see the change, the hot even a heavy down poor as the evening progresses. doesn't dampen bester. oh, you are watching dw use and here is

a reminder of our main story. u. s. president joe barton has approved $800000000.00 and additional military assistance to ukraine. package includes heavy artillery as keep repairs to defend against a massive russian assault expected in the east of the country. and that's it for now. up next is focused on europe and we'll have more news at the top of the hour. remember, you can always get latest news on our website, d, w dot com and follow us on twitter and instagram at g w dot com expire ah, with

ah ah ah ah, with a touch of normality in the midst of war. the stalls open again and key box to war is not to react. on the outskirts of keys, volunteers continue to prepare for focus on europe. next o d,

w into the conflict zone with sebastian fresh allegations with russian forces murder, ukrainian, civilians outside care have rapidly found their way to the un general assembly. because russia really care what the world thinks about the invasion. my guess is week from moscow was perform a deputy for a minister under a few other conflicts own in 60 minutes. on d, w o in she's up to date. don't miss our highlights. the d w program online. d. w dot, i'm hi, like, oh,

it's the end of the pandemic in sight. we show what it could look like. return to normal. and we visit those who are finding it difficult to success in a weekly coven, 19 special. every thursday con d w ah, this is focus on europe. i'm labriola nice to have you with us. disjoint buildings and mass graves, cities and lives are in ruins, as rushes war rages on in ukraine. places in the east and south of the country are under heavy attack as the war enters