i'm evelyn sharma, and i really think we need to talk about all the topics that north divide and united this i have invited many deer and well known guests. and i would like to invite you to an in ah ah, this is dw news live from berlin. ukraine says his forces are still holding on the eastern city of savannah, the nance. the region is the focus of heavy russian shelling and intense street fighting posts is coming up. could chance are all of shows soon be on his way to ukraine. german newspaper of boards that are joined visit is planned with the

leaders of france and italy before the end of the month. but china's defense minister of warrant that any move to bring about taiwan independence will trigger a fight to the end. and he says it's up to washington to improve us china relations . ah, a marion evans dean, welcome. you, crean says it remains in control of a chemical plant in the eastern city of savannah or the nat square, hundreds of civilians or sheltering severe the net has become the epicenter of the battle in eastern ukraine, both this city and the nearby town of lucy, chanst have been a target of heavy russian shelling ukrainian soldiers in list a chance under fire from russian artillery. though they managed to evacuate

a wounded civilian another barrage forces them to take cover again. this chance is the twin city to see ever done, yet sk which remains the focus of russia's offensive in the dawn. bus russian and separatist forces have so far struggled to fully claim the city sever dynette is not completely all 100 percent liberated. while kiva reports that ukrainian forces us still holding out less 0, the enemy conducts a sold operations in the city of civil de nancy a little. but without success, there might with street fighting, still raging across the city. most of ukraine's forces are hold up in the adult chemical plant, along with an unknown number of civilians. the fist fighting has made evacuating the city impossible. but in this war of attrition,

the don bus is not russia's only target. the russian ministry of defense has released this footage of strikes against what it claims a ukrainian strongholds. a russian news agency is also reporting claims that a large stock pile of us and european supplied weapons in west and ukraine was destroyed. the loss of these supplies would be a major blow for ukrainian forces, with some troops warning they are running low on ammunition. the west has promised to send additional weapons and for ukrainian troops in the don bus. these can't come soon enough. digitally is rebecca raters, is monitoring the war from ki, if i asked her for an update on the situation in savannah the next well, as you said, marianna, quite rightly server. the nets has been at the center of the battle for don basses . it's been called for some weeks now and it continues to be so russia is managing

very slowly, however, to push forward. then i'll control around about 90 percent of that city, but fighting continues and is now centered in this localized area underneath this chemical plant. that is where the russian troops are now fight a fighting ukrainian forces there. and we're seeing scenes, reminiscent of matter you, paul, and the as of style plant. we're also hearing about 800 civilians, 200 workers, 600 or family members and various civilians also taking cover there underneath that steel. we're sorry that a chemical plant. but what, what is concerning is that ukraine has said that that city may well fall in the next day or 2, and then russia will advance and to on to the next is to city lucy chance. and then they will have captured all of the loo hunter region, which is part of what they're trying to do to capture that on bass. will rebecca, we should also remember that as this intense fighting goes on,

there are still many civilians there who are trying to get out. do these people have any way of leaving the area where all this fighting is going on? well, at the moment, it's just too dangerous to really attempt any evacuations from several. the net people in the la hath region have been warned since early april to leave that region. and many people have been in several de next. there is still around about $10.00 to $15000.00 people believe to be taking shelter there. we're seeing people evacuate from some surrounding towns and villages still mainly in the donnette region, but it, but definitely people and several donetta really struggling there at the grout. italian situation is very dire, as you can imagine. there's no electricity running water and humanitarian aid is impossible to get in. so running out of food as well, being completely bombarded and living on the ground with no way of getting out at this stage. when rebecca just yesterday and the european union chief or sla funder

line was in t f. and she promised that by the end of the week, there would be an official response to ukraine's request for membership status on their bid to join the you. we know that president zalinski talked about that in his latest video address. i'd like to listen to part of it now and then get your reaction to a squirrel. i'll do, ma'am, i am sure that we will soon receive an answer on the candidate status for ukraine. i am convinced that this decision can strengthen, not only our country yours, but the entire european union. she'll my establish what else needs to happen in europe to make it clear to skeptics that the very fact of keeping ukraine outside of the european union works against european management or 2 table was the last key sounding very determined. but we have heard from some e leaders like the french president in battle, not crohn and others saying it's gonna take years or maybe even decades for ukraine to join the european union. so rebecca, why is this membership bid so important to zalinski right now?

if it's not going to happen in the foreseeable future. well, my am a zalinski has been pushing for this for some time, but it was the formal application to join me a you came to 4 days after rush or invaded ukraine. i'm in the urgency is perhaps obvious they're, they really looking for security assurances from the a you. but as for president, micron of france has stated and as we've seen from other a u. s. session processes, it is a very long process and this is something that is not going to happen overnight. that's something that wasn't on the line. the european commission tape will have been pains to get across to president salenti and i'm sure president zalinski also understands that. but this is a very important 1st step, and it is looking like the commission will rec men that baby grants is candidacy status and then it needs to go and be voted on by 27 members. therefore, amid therefore triggering a very, very lengthy process that could take indeed years or decades dw rebecca readers for

us in key of rebecca, thank you so much. now look at some other developments in the war. russian forces occupying southern ukraine have begun handing out passports. 23 locals, including the new moscow, installed governor of san have accepted russian citizenship. russia has also opened a passport office and many topple in a region still partly held by ukraine. former mcdonald's restaurants and russia have reopened under a new name and logo delicious, a full stop. but not all russians are happy about the change in ceremony and moscow was disrupted by a protest are holding up a sign demanding the return of the big mack burger. mcdonald's closed of 850 russian outlets in response to the kremlin invasion of crane.

while a german media outlet is reporting that chance are all shoulds plans to travel to ukraine's capital t of before the end of june. the bid newspaper says that the chancellor will visit together with the french president, a mental micron and italian prime minister mario dragging is would mark the 1st time shoals has visited the ukranian capital since the war began. the german government has the far declined to comment on the report. i spoke earlier to the w political correspondent, benjamin alvarez gruber, for more details on this story. coding to this media reports. berlin in paris has been in toast for a long time now to plan this visit. it was the idea of french president emanuel trying to invite italian counterpart, italian prime minister maria dragon that they would wait for the trip for the parliamentary elections that are taking place now in france. they want to send the sign of unity in support of ukraine, and that would go to kia ford before the 70 to some of that will take place at the

end of june in bavaria in germany. well, we do have to remember that the german chancellor has been widely criticized for being indecisive in his reaction to this for and also in particular for not sending ukraine enough military support. so how significant would a visit the key of b, especially now more than 3 months into the war? it is highly significant and as you just pointed out, that has the criticism not only from the a position but also by a government parties by the probations, f t p party by the greens and also within the social democratic party to tell shows that it's important for him to go there to give a sign in to actually also say not just was not just promises that many have been demanding by the german chancellor. but it's short himself pointed out, he does not want to be one of those who go into ukraine pretty quickly for in photo

for trinity and that elite again. so he needs to have something in his suitcase with him. within this delegation, i could be 2 things on one side, having showing german support for a possible membership for the european union for ukraine. you just mentioned it with rebecca that a european commission president was on a phone line was that that, that they want to show the support and want to have this final assessment that will present next week. so once it could be that, and on the other side, it could be these heavy weapons that ukraine is heavily relying on, especially now that, that mission is going out of the ukraine, ukraine's defense ministry has stated so it's not just going there, but also having something in the suit because that's what many are wondering and asking the german chancellor tentatively is benjamin as grover. thanks so much benjamin and now let's turn our attention to some other world. news voting is underway in france is parliamentary elections. the outcome of the vote

could be critical to the success of president amana microns 2nd term agenda. the center is president's. absolute majority is of state, with opinion polls predicting a strong challenge from a left wing alliance. that opposes many of microns policies. police in the western us state of idaho have arrest of 31 men, suspected of plotting to stage a riot, mir and l g b t q. pride event. police say the suspects are members of a white nationalist group. authorities were a tipped off by a call from a local resident who reported seeing what looked like quote, a little army. 9 men have been arrested in china after a video showing the beating of 2 women provoked outrage. security cameras at a restaurant in the northern city of time. shun show the men dragging the women by the hair and punching and kicking them china's defense minister away thing. hey,

has warned that any attempt to bring about tie one's independence will trigger a fight to the end. he was speaking at a regional security form in singapore. a general way accused the united states of pursuing an endo pacific strategy bound to lead to confrontation. he said at china's relationship with the west was at a critical juncture and that it was up to washington to improve ties to murphy at asia's most important security summit in singapore, a threat of war or this as a very good star. we would want to know if anyone dares to spit taiwan from china, flew the chinese military will fight at all costs a smash, any secessionist attempt to see and will resolutely safe god national sovereignty. and territorial integrity was our from troy. couldn't go under that warning, followed a meeting between the chinese and us top defense officials, way thing he and lloyd austin. tensions between beijing and washington over the

self governing island of taiwan. have sword in recent months, frequent incursions by the chinese air force and to tie one's air defense own have angered the pipe and administration. we were witnessed a study increase in provocative and d, stabilizing military activity near taiwan. and we remain focused on maintaining peace stability and the status quo aquash across the tri, one street. but the p. r. c's moves threatened to undermine security of stability and prosperity and the endo pacific are you will. last month president joe biden announced at washington would defend ty, one should china attack provoking and angry rebuke from beijing. but the white house has since walk back those statements. part of a deliberate policy of vagueness on taiwan, known as strategic ambiguity. for the small island living in the shadow of it's

increasingly assertive neighbor, that ambiguity provides little comfort. and before we go a quick look at our top story. ukraine says it forces are still holding out in part of the eastern city of savannah, and that's for hundreds of civilians who found shelter. the city and surrounding area are witness thing, consistent intense street fighting and heavy russian shelling. you're up to date on dw news stating for shit, living in the digital age. i'm hearing that and think thanks for watching every day campus for us and for our planet. global ideas is on its way to bring you more conservation.