ah ah ah, this is dw news coming to live from berlin. putting claims victory in the besieged city of murray, you pull and again calls on ukrainian fighters there to surrender. the russian president holds on to plans to spell holds all floor plans to storm cities as of small steel plan, instructing his forces to blockaded instead with ukrainian troops and civilians in saw. also coming up as the war and ukraine hits global food supplies, we meet a farmer, they're trying to pick up the pieces. after russian troops destroyed his livelihood

. and in france, the 2 candidates in sundays presidential run all pulled their only face to face debate. manuel mccomb and his all right challenge, maureen le pen clash over her links to russian money and his record as president ah. hello, i'm terry martin. good to have you with us. russian president vladimir putin has claimed victory in mario poll, saying his forces have successfully liberated the port city and southeastern ukraine. the as of stall steal plant is the last place in mario pole. still in ukrainian hands. russia's says more than 2000 ukranian troops are holding out in the heavily fortified plant. ukrainian officials say around a 1000 civilians are also seeking refuge. their keith is demanding that moscow

opened a humanitarian corridor to let them flee. in a televised meeting, protein told his defense minister sergey chicago to blockade the as of small steel plant with ukrainian troops and civilians inside. but it will again, i consider the proposed storming of the industrial area, pointless. i ought to a bolt it. this is a case where we must think, we must always think that it's even more so in this case about preserving the life and health of our soldiers and officers. there is no need to climb into these catacombs and crawled under ground to these industrial facilities block off this industrial area so that not even a fly can get through the molecular to promotion isn't there? earlier i spoke with our correspondent rebecca ritters, and kevin asked her about the situation in mario poll. when he heard it there from the horses mouth president ploot potent and claiming victory of mary paul for the

russians. we haven't had confirmation all from the ukrainian side, but it's not unexpected. terry have been expecting mary full to full to russian control for some days now. but in reality, territorially, nothing really has shifted since prior to the statement by president potent that they have for some days actually held control of the city and of the port. but not all of that as of steel plant, as you just reported. and that remains the same, still thought to be 2000 or so defend is an around about a 1000 civilians hiding in tunnels, in the vast tunnel network under that as of steel plant. but there has been a shift taxi clear as you heard there, president putin calling for a c sing of the bombardment of that steel plant and instead to be blockaded. it's not exactly clear why that directive was given. whether or not a, perhaps they want to keep that steel plant intact, so that even when they do gay control of it,

they can still use it. or perhaps they do indeed need to save some face there and change that tactically because they haven't been able to route out those remaining defenders. so what's going to become of those people in that steel plan to rebecca, both the soldiers and the civilians. and i understand they're also around a $100000.00 civilians lift elsewhere in mario poll. that's right. well the fate of the soldiers and those civilians are at the steel plant. it really remains to be seen. a president pohden has said that he guarantees their safety should they surrender. but those troops have ignored previous a cease and desist orders by the russians to come out with their hands up, bab, assuming that they don't trust president pohden and the russians that they will in fact be taken to safety. one of the battalion late is actually come out calling for an extraction by international forces and that they be taken to neutral territory.

and that looking very unlikely at this stage, so not entirely clear what's going to happen to them. but you heard of there from president potent no fly shall pass. so what's the situation elsewhere in eastern and southern ukraine? rebecca, what's the latest in the battle for don, boss? yes. well that to expected battle for don bass is entered. it's 3rd day terry. we've st. really an increasing a really large, increasing in bombardments in that area, particularly in the city of hot keith to day the marriage come out and said it's been under almost constant bombardment. very worried for the some 1000000 people still living in that city or other areas. lou hands being in the don bass region being very badly shelled as well the mer. they're saying that the civilians have no power, no water in utilities. why be able to be restored until after the war? and of course, mich ally of to the south has also been

a bombarded that's another city down south near the other key port city of odessa. so definitely seeing a huge optic in fighting in that region. but thank you very much, shar correspond to rebecca rivers in chief take a closer look now at how things have changed on the ground in ukraine over the past week. did that be reporter joel delroy is here to fill us in joan this week, ukraine's president declared that the battle for the don bass had begun. russia also acknowledged that a new phase in its operations was now focusing on the important industrial region to the east. now since 2014 rushing back separatists have controlled parts of the dawn bass, namely the regions of done it and lou hands, while russia has also occupied crimea. now, russian forces control an arc of territory connecting the breakaway regions to crimea, and cutting ukraine off from this sea of resolve. in the latest of elements this

week, russia intensified its efforts to take more territory across the don boss. a launched a battery of thousands of air and artillery attacks on many points along the front line. now us analysts say they believe that russia appears to be trying to encircle ukrainian forces in this pocket here between its territories, by one estimate up to 40000 ukrainians may be position there and that's about 20 percent of the known forces. now these ukranian units are, it's, we expected to put up quite a fight because they have been well practiced in fighting separatists here for years. russia on the other side is estimated to have up to $70000.00 troops across the se, including units which retreated after failing to take the capital keith. but some western analysts believe that russian forces are not ready for this new offensive. they say they appear to be rushing to attack without proper training, preparation, or supply lines. and this week's bombings are being seen as

a test by russia to find weaknesses in the front line before attempting to move any tanks or troops food. ukraine continues to call for more weapons from western countries to try and hold the russians back. thanks. joel dw reporter joel delroy there. now let's catch up on a couple of other developments related to the war in ukraine. british prime minister boris johnson has arrived in india on a 2 day trip focusing on defense and trade. the united kingdom has been trying to persuade india to reduce its reliance on russia following the invasion of ukraine. india is a major recipient of russian fossil fuels and weapons. the war in ukraine overshadowed the g. 20 meeting of finance ministers in indonesia. the host countries finance minister noted that some members are concerned about the humanitarian crisis unfolding in ukraine and the economic and financial impact of the war. the delegates from the u. s. canada and europe walked out and protest when russian

officials addressed the meeting. join foreign minister molina bow boxes. the nato alliance is committed to the principle of collective defense. that means an attack on one member is an attack on all of its members. that block made the comments on a tour of the 3 baltic states. estonia and lithuania were once part of the soviet union, but are now members of the european union. and nato. and russia's invasion of ukraine has thrust them into the front line of the west's stand off with the kremlin, well, like ukraine, the baltic states also share borders with russia and its allied melrose and are fearful of russian aggression. bare box laid a stop on her tour of the region has brought her to the estonian capital telling there in a press conference with her estonian counterpart by box said germany and its allies have no taboos when it comes to delivering weapons to ukraine. no to boost. so for us with regards to om, 2,

vehicles and other weapon every they are needing. that's why we're supporting other partners in soccer off exchange, big toe shoe chairman, to see that those partners who are delivering right now out of best stocks, that we will fill the gaps because they can deliver sampson materials where training is not needed. currently, german foreign minister, they're saying there are close. no taboos for berlin regarding weapons deliveries to ukraine. earlier i asked political correspond, hunts blunt why germany isn't delivering what ukrainians are asking for. the current answer is that germany simply does not have this equipment at the moment available to give away as it were. the fact is that the german army itself is in need of a large amount of equipment. it has been very little money spent on the german army and the last few decades because one did not see the need for this. and now that

the need is a urgent, the german army itself is saying that the equipment that it has available, it needs itself for spares and for its nato competence and so on. so what the germans are doing, and they're saying that they have agreed on this in 2 weeks of discussions with the nato partners, is that some of the nato partners from the east of europe, who have old russian or soviet equipment in their arsenals. and we're talking here mainly about slovenia, it appears they will be delivering tanks and other heavy equipment to ukraine, which the ukrainians will be able to use immediately. because it's the same kinds of equipment that they have themselves in any case. and germany will assist by providing maintenance for the material by providing ammunition and probe by providing some training that might be necessary. and at the same time, germany, we will recompense those countries that are giving away their equipment with new german equipment. but that will be

a much longer term process. so indirect military sport. it sounds like the german foreign minister also said that germany noted that germany weapons stockpiles are low. as you pointed out, that means if germany had weapons that it could deliver, would still take months. what can germany or what can ukraine rather realistically expect from berlin? in the short term, hans? well, the short answer to that as money germany is saying that it is going to spend another 1000000000 euros on military assistance to ukraine. and it has obviously emphasized in recent weeks that it has already spent a lot of money on financial and on humanitarian assistance to ukraine. so an extra 1000000000 not for ukraine is to be able to purchase equipment, not only in germany, but elsewhere. and germany will pay for that then. but germany will also provide

things such as ammunition, for instance, back to the heavy equipment that the ukraine is looking for, the tanks, the artillery, the anti aircraft systems and so on. that is something germany cannot supply at the moment because it needs it itself. at the same time, there will be a longer term perspective to this. and this is something that the foreign minister has also been emphasizing. while the battle is going on, she says one needs to think about the next few months and even years. and in that perspective, journey will be providing more modern equipment that might require quite a longer term delivery and would require more training on the side of the germans. more modern equipment. so that is a long term perspective that germany will enter into long term commitments to ukraine. as thank you very much, our political correspondent, 100 front russia's war in ukraine is having a major impact on food supply. both in and outside of the country. united nations, food and agriculture organization is sounding the alarm. it says,

one 3rd of ukraine's crops may be lost this year. that's about the amount of last year's wheat crop that could go on harvested a similar mount of corn and sunflowers likely to go and planted this spring. that's because much of the ukraine's farm land lies in the war zone. many farm workers have fled, and there are shortages of fuel, fertilizer and seeds. ukraine exports about 10 percent of the world's wheat and 12 percent corn. much of it goes to african countries. ukraine is also the world's biggest producer of sunflower oil accounting for 52 percent of all global exports in recent years. our next report in our next report, we meet a farmer in ukraine who explains the challenges that workers like him face in the midst of war on a reporting trip organized by ukrainian forces. d. w mathias, bellingham method de mining group. that is turning its attention to the countries

fields. the war has left its traces. knowledge. sandra fisherman's property on sandra is a farm on the outskirts of cave. he owns a 1000 act as a farmland and agriculture machinery. it has been, this has been in room since the russian troops entered the village at the beginning of march. burnt out on the vehicle 6 ways harvest did you go do what it would you did? they came to the gate and began rattling. you put, my workers were inside the found when they realized the troops with bulging through the gate, they ran over there across the fence, into the village. thank god, they're all alive for both. the russian forces in store themselves inside the facility. and alexander fled to keel. the russian troops had occupied this place for around 3 weeks, and when they left, they blew up this place. now, alexander is picking up, the pieces is not just his farm house that was destroyed. the fighting is also

effected, his farmland is littered with unexploded ordnance supper minus we haven't been here yet, so we don't go out. we can't work at the moment or de mining brigades are out and about, but for nowadays stablished the damage. they haven't even started the mining agricultural land for this years harvested might be too late. the sewing season is nearing its end and the military administration has little hope they will be able to help in time. perfect. you mind the roads and houses 1st. social facilities like schools, the things that are needed, so people come more or less walk around. normally. we do the field only after we've done that 1st with us, we're starting to he guess is it might take years for agriculture to get back to norma. meanwhile, the winter wheat is growing. alexander so did before the war was always true with

the field locals land where we see traces of vehicles. you know, my work has been searching for mines with metal detectors over so, but we need clearance for the whole field. we don't know what's lying in there, and we'll have to wait for the mine sweeping team to confirm that the field is safe . the consequences of this war will continue to be fed far and wide. as ukraine has been feeding the world for decades. for more of the spring in use of schmidt hoover of the un food and agriculture organization, the theo, he is the deputy director of the a fios food and markets division. thanks for joining us. dr. schmidt, who about forcing food shortages and rising prices around the globe. now due to the war in ukraine, tell us more about how this crisis is impacting different world regions. yes it's, it's easier to look at the consumers and producers as far as consumers are concerned,

ubiquitously negatively affected. so they face a lot more to spend on food, not only on food, but also now the basic necessities, notably, more fuel and fuel for heating for cooking in for transportation. so that leaves a lot less money for the dishes, notably for health and education of the children and the poorest consumers are the hardest because they spend a lot more on the incomes than the rich. so most of the, the hardest hit countries on such an african, but they're also countries in the needs of african bridge in the original heavenly foot imported countries. and they all as a country very strongly affected. so africa being very strongly affected. what can be done to ease these food shortages and stabilize the supply? yeah, i think it's very important to keep food markets open. so the good thing that can

happen is that countries start to put their feet on the brake and essentially stop export. so export restrictions, export taxes, all measures that reduce exports are really detrimental to international price. the stability and countries should still be of these at the same time, i think it's important that i'm targets. consumer subsidies are being reduced. take agent, for instance, in egypt, a particular type of bread cost, just the fraction of what the wheat cost to produce that brit and that leads to a lot of waste and a lot of uses bread as animal feet. so these things are not useful. we're feel we have come up with i think a very interesting proposal for an international food import financing facility. so this would essentially afford the poorest countries with high import needs access to credit market. so they, they can actually buy the food international market without driving up prices when they do that. now,

some analysts say that the war in ukraine could drag on for months or if not years . what should we prepare for in the short, medium term regarding food supplies and the price of staples? yes, it's difficult to say nobody can predict prices, and i'm certainly not going to do that. but there are signs that markets will not find back into you shall equilibrium as quickly as they normally do. we have the old adage in agricultural and commodity market, seeing essentially the deed, the best queue against high prices are high prices and the best queue against low prices are low prices, but that he's not going to happen at the moment. why? because agricultural prices of food prices are largely determined by energy and particularly fertilizer prices. and there is no reason no sign to assume that fertilizer prices will come down. that essentially means as long as for to rise, the prices are high. pharmacy will be hesitant to use the normal amounts of

fertilizer, that means lower production going into 2020 to 2023, and that is particularly pronounced for commodities. prices are still will behave like full for rise. so what we call affordability brutalize affordability for rise is at an all time low, meaning that forms have no incentive to use the normal amounts of fertilizer. and as we've seen intra longer for instance, that can lead to crop failures to very low returns. and if that is a harbinger for the rest of asia, we could actually see a full blown food crisis in 2022, 23. dr. smith, who are thank you very much for talking with us. that was the also schmidt over from the you and food and agriculture organization. for 7. now to smother stories making news around the world, at least 10 people are dead and dozens more wounded from an explosion at a mosque in afghanistan, the blast targeted she ate worshippers in the northern afghan city of mazar,

e sharif. the so called islamic state group has claimed responsibility for the attack. israeli war plain struck the gaza strip overnight after hamas extremists fired for rockets at southern israel. is the biggest escalation between hamas and islamic group that governs the palestinian territory and israeli forces since last year's 11 day war authorities in shanghai say the city will remain under tight co 19 locked down. that despite some districts reporting no new infections, millions of people are barred from leaving their homes in an attempt to contain the outbreak. strict measures are part of you of china's 0 coven policy. to france now where the 2 candidates and next sundays presidential election squared off in their only televised debate the duel on 2 on wednesday was one of the last chances for encumbered to manuel macklin and his power. i challenge a marine append to sway voters, and there were some fiery exchanges. it was the most anticipated moment in the

french election campaign. the only tv debate between french president emanuel micron and the woman who wants his job. all right, challenger marine le pen. whoo saw jonah thomas wilson go home. they bought you sivilton under the glare of the studio lights the gloves were off the cron attack le pen over her past dealings with russia. a map of this. i gotcha. as good from dick on did you depend on russian power? you depend on mister putin as a few months after saying that, madame le pen, that you took out a loan from a russian bank in 2015 for the 1st check russian bank. let self tick push and bunk when you don't talk to other leaders, you talk to your banker when talking to russia. this is the problem that madam, that they ruined evil or pleasant on la pen, insisted she was independent of moscow, up lima, and return to a key theme of her campaigns would default the rising cost of fuel and essential

legend left horse in the 4th se. oh, jetty, that. com. why shall i read on all the sanctions that was taken against the oligarchs against the banks less? so the only sanction that i disagree with is the one blocking russian camp is a coil in port zuka. why? because i think that's not the right method. this is not what we'll actually hurt russia, missed and above all, it will hurt the french people a lot which eco shall to so i feel, i know him on multiple people said, well, shit hood with the candidates clashed of the climate change and microns economic track record in his 1st 5 year term, something peculiar, yasser, not again, on immigration, and the treatment of muslims in france. the candidates policies are far apart as ship. all i want to ban the hedge out in public spaces. i'll say it on the clearest possible way. the fail is a uniform imposed by islamists, was a policy said miss rosalie you will create

a civil war in the housing projects. madame la fern, i'm being honest. what you're saying is very serious. this could you think of it? they don't accept. that's because what you said is very serious. i got to thank you . an opinion poll from a french broadcaster found over half the viewers surveyed thought mc crone was more convincing in the debate. but french voters will had the last word in sundays run off election. he w correspondent lisa lewis has been following the elections for us from paris. here's her take on last night's debate. while i was watching it all the way through. and i think that makes observers would agree that when it comes to the style, actually really pen improved as compared to what she did. 5 years ago when she was already facing a minor, my call and run a phase. and in the tv debate ahead of that mode, at the time she was performing unity badly seemed hysterical at times. and this

time round she looked a lot karma. she came across to someone who is more, more like a president when it came to the fax. so in my, my call was calling her out over and over again saying, you know, your figures are not right. your program doesn't make sense. and 80 percent of the measures that you're putting on the table would actually lead to front leaving the european union. marina pen denied again that she wanted to leave the european union saying that she wanted to reshape the union because that, that is not going to pos to be possible with your program and it's current state. well, we will see what kind of judgment voters will make of this debate. historically speaking in front of debate has never really turned around things, but it can change very to intentions a little bit by a few points currently in my my cause leading in the polls. what about what about 10 percent ahead of marina pen steed? obviously, st. louis there in paris you are watching dw news. just reminder of our top story,

russian president vladimir putin has ordered his military to hold off storming the as of stall steel plant and the deceased ukrainian city of maria, pull the plants is where ukrainian troops and civilians have been holding out. conflict zone is next. i'm terry martin, thanks for watching with with

you into the conflict zone with sebastian, russian forces have begun to the 2nd phase of the war and ukraine that you gave me and the officials said they were confident they could hold off the offensive. as the war goes on, he believes the danger arising. he's mean of course java, great granddaughter of the former soviet lead indicator grew sure conflict ah, on

d w with my name is jonathan dunn. and i have paid almost every price of being a journalist in a country like switching i was threatened, i was jailed, i was a tad more people like me and guardians of truth. john dunn and mexican investigative journalist on ovalia's. not this is i, you know, every day the government is saying mom, she's been digging the country soil to find out the truth. they want to kill me and they try ling time. they can some of my sources just because they don't permit

me facing, they've gone. you can change your life people and need to know what is happening in gardens of truth, socially 3rd, on t. w or russian forces have begun the 2nd phase of their war in ukraine with unexpected push in the eastern dumbass region. but ukrainian officials said they were confident they could hold off to be offensive till now neither side is offered any hint of compromise. in fact, positions in both moscow and clear, seem to apartment my guest this week of the unique perspective. he's nina cruz, java, great granddaughter of the former soviet leader, nikita khrushchev. and she joins me this week from new york where she's a professor of international affairs at the new school as the war goes on.