ah, matters to us. ah, that's why we listen to their stories. reporter every weekend on d w. ah, this is dw news lie from berlin. ukraine says its forces are still holding on in the eastern city of several done. that's the region is the focus of heavy russian shelling and intensive street fighting and could chancellor, all of shall soon be on his way to ukraine. a german newspapers reporting that

a joint visit is planned with the leaders of france and italy before the end of the month. marching to stop the killing. thousands joined protests of cross the united states demanding title, gun control and an end to mass shootings. president joe biden urges the protesters to keep marching ah the warm welcome. 12 years around the world. i'm michael. ok. ukraine shazad remains in control of a crucial chemical plant. in the eastern city of several, the nets where hundreds of civilians are sheltering. the lou hands regional governor rejected claims by pro russian separatists that ukrainian troops had been blockaded there. he says ukrainian forces continue to hold an industrial zone in the city. the area has seen consistent bitter st battles in heavy russian. shelly

severed the nets has become the epicenter of the battle in eastern new credit. dw correspondent rebec readers isn't keith. she told us more about the situation and chevron genetic and that chemical plan, which is reportedly the last place in the city, still under ukrainian control. that's right, michael, as you rightly mentioned the severed and as has been at the center of the battle. and so far the battle at the moment in the dawn bass for some weeks now and in russia has been gradually pushing forward. but it's been a very slow and gradual push forward ukraine managing to hold back her at least a fast advance. but as you say now, only this as a chemical industrial side is under ukrainian control. and russia now does control the rest of the city where, you know, it's, it's a little bit of reminiscent of what we saw in matter you, paul, and the as of style plant, we, the civilians, both workers from the,

from the industrial plant and civilians trapped their hiding underground with about 3 or 400 ukrainian soldiers as well, trying to maintain their obviously trying to not the resist russian control. i don't want to give out that area and have rush a push through to the says the city on the other side of the river, which is less a chance as both sides. we understand exchange fire. many civilians are still trying to get out with their lives. what can you tell us about their situation? now, the situation, of course, as you can imagine remains dire in that city. it's being continuously bombarded. people are living on the ground. as we said, there are $800.00 is expected $800.00 civilians living on the ground vis a vis plant. but there are other people in the city. there's believe to be between 10 and 15000 people. fill in separately in it's getting out of that city is almost impossible. any kind of official evacuations out of long over. so anybody who is my

managers to get out will be doing so i really at their own risk. it is a dire situation and it will continue to be so as long as assigning continues that rebecca, as you know, european union chief herself on the line was in key yesterday promising some movement. this upcoming week on ukraine's bid to become an e u member. now ukraine's the president does zalinski talked about that in his latest video address. we hear some of what he had to say, and then get your reaction. as we're all doing, i am sure that we will soon receive an answer on the candidate status for ukraine. so i am convinced that this decision can strengthen, not only our country yours, but the entire european union. she'll milestones what else needs to happen in europe to make it clear to skeptics that the very fact of keeping ukraine outside the european union works against europe. or to quote evil rebecca,

the ukrainian president, sounding a very determined there. but some e. u. leaders like french president emmanuel mccall, say it will take years, decades even for ukraine to join the european union. so why is this membership bid so important to zalinski right now? was a lindsey his argument is that ukraine is perkins 1st stop really. and that the whole european project could be at risk of collapse even potent is allowed to continue. the lensky looking for security assurance is from the a you are being for being and being a part of the a you, as it were, i mean, the ukraine has, or large factions of ukraine have long wanted to become a part of the, a you. but obviously the situation here at the security situation has obviously hastened there. the desire to then have these security assurances from me a year. but you know, as you just rightly stated, the president macro on france saying that this can take decades. and that is true. i mean, we've most a bead so the

a you take around about 10 years. so there is no legal framework for fast tracking as it was even if the candidacy is allowed next week. and as is expected, it's still a very long road ahead for president zalinski. he said the not necessarily looking for a fast track, but this is definitely in his mind a step in the right direction. d. w 's rebecca readers in key many thanks. rebecca german chancellor, all of shorts, will travel to ukraine's capital keith before the end of june, according to german media sources. the build newspaper reports that the chancellor will visit with french president emmanuel mccall, and italian prime minister mario druggie. this will mark the 1st time shalt, has visited the ukrainian capital since the war began. the german government has so far declined to comment on the report. i'm now joined by d. w. political risk correspondent benjamin alvarez gruber,

benjamin. what more can you tell us? yan paris has been planning the trip for a long time. that's what this media reports also say that as you rightly just mentioned, has not been confirmed by the german government. yet they say that friendship president a wanted to invite is italian counterpart from minutes a druggie to this trip. the idea of that service to also show european solidarity with ukraine difficult situation. benjamin as you well know, the german chancellor has been criticized for being timid and indecisive in reaction to this war. how significant would a visit by sholtes 2 kids be yes. hi, the significant the has been pressure not only from the position but also from government. paul, to say that the german chancellor should go to ukraine should go to keith, to meet with ukrainian president lensky as well. we had the mass,

the head of the position, the leader of the conservative city. you pod you was in key already. so the pressure is mounting, but as many a right the say he needs to have something in his back in his luggage. it could be either a supporter of the possible membership of ukraine to join the european union, or did the livery of have you weapons. but when it comes to weapons, they want to see actions. they don't want to just have a photo opportunities or just have promises, and that's something that the german chancellor also stress. when he was asked on this, it's a new that they want the german chancellor to go to ukraine. once he was off he said, i will not be one of those who just go to ukraine quickly, go for your community and then go back. so this is definitely a possibility also for the german government to show that this promise is will be followed by actions. and that's after the trip by the gym. and foreign minister and alina fabricate could now be left shows who, together with the french president and with the italian prime minister,

could go to keith and could mess it and meet president lensky there. and you create that said t w's. benjamin alvarez group are many thanks, benjamin here to look at some other developments in the war. delicious, full stop. that's the name given to the new fast food chain. replacing foreman, mcdonald's restaurants, in russia. the new name was revealed ahead of their reopening on sunday. the change comes after mcdonald's close, it's $850.00 russian outlets in response to moscow's invasion of ukraine. russian forces occupying southern ukraine have begun handing out passports. there are $23.00 locals, including the new moscow installed governor of a song, have accepted russian citizenship. russia has also opened an office in mila topple in a region still partly held by ukraine. tens of thousands of people have rallied across

the united states in a renewed push for tougher gun control measures. in the aftermath of last month's school massacre in texas, protest your shea, it's time for action and not more prayers. while lawmakers have drafted new legislation, the reforms are unlikely to overcome congressional hurdles and become law. oh, the brooklyn bridge in new york, just one of more than 400 rallies held across the us on saturday. the matches were organized after a spate of deadly shootings across the country. buffalo, new york, and you, val to texas, were 2 of them, carried out by attackers with high powered firearms. weapons that demonstrate is here would like to see under strict regulation. if you look at it, all of the recent murders have been done by 18 year olds. and yet they can't smoke cuz they can't buy cigarettes. they can't buy liquor because they're not mature

enough to handle those 2 things. and yet they mature enough to handle an 8 or 15 separate dickens and the biggest rally was in washington d. c. way senators, a said to vote on gun reform later this week. the us house of representatives has passed bills, which would, in principle, raised the age limit on buying semi automatic weapons and established federal red flag laws. but the bills are not likely to become law because of united republican opposition and the senate. something activists here cannot understand if our government can't do anything to stop 19 kids from being killed and fluttered in their own school and the capitated, it's time to change. oh, then governments from the very top of the us government, president joe biden urged demonstrators not to give up

a way people with my vote. people are dying but protesters are not giving up yet, and they're demanding action from the lawmakers. let's briefly take a look at some other news around the world. now. police in the western us state of idaho have arrested 31 men, suspected of plotting to stage a riot near an l g b t q. pride event. police say the suspects are members of a white nationalist group. authorities were tipped off by a call from the local resident reported seeing what looked like quote, a little army. parts of the eastern philippines have been covered in ash rafter volcano. we rubbed it for the 2nd time in 2 weeks. emergency workers have warned

drivers to slow down. due to poor visibility after bullets son erupted for 18 minutes, no casualties have been ordered. china's defense minister waving her has warned that any attempt to bring about taiwan independence will trigger a fight to the end. a spoke at a regional security form in singapore general way accused. the united states are pursuing an indo pacific strategy bound to lead to confrontation. he said, china's relationship with the u. s. was at a critical juncture and it was up to washington to improve ties at asia, most important security summit in singapore, a chat on board. we would want to know if anyone dares to spit taiwan from china. the chinese military will fight at all costs a smash, any secessionist attempt to see and will, resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity was out from

troy, coding to under back. wanting forward a meeting between supa defense ministers, china's waving co and light austin off the u. s. dennison's between beijing and washington over the self governing island of ty von had soared in decent months. frequent incursions by the chinese air force into thy wants and offense. owen, have angered the badge and administration. we were witness. they studied, increase in provocative and d, stabilizing military activity near taiwan. and we remain focused on maintaining peace stability and the status quo. a quote across the taiwan strait. but the p. r c's moves threatened to undermine security of stability. and prosperity in the endo pacific are you will last month all president joe biden

announced that washington would defend ty von should china attack provoking and angry rebuke from beijing by the white house. has since walked back. those statements bought off a deliberate policy of weakness on by one no one esther deja ambiguity for the small island living in the shadow of its increasingly a sort of neighbor. that ambiguity provides little comfort. this is dw news life from berlin coming up next, our technology show shift looked at why artificial intelligence may not be neutral . i'm interested more news in 45 minutes. sometimes that bc's just write out at you. t v highlights for shipping books every week. nakeema it is a secret war and a sing, endless one.