public, the court struck down a new york law that required people to demonstrate a specific need to carry a concealed weapon outside their homes. the ruling will prevent other states appointed. this is dw news from berlin. you can get more news on our website at dw dot com. ah, there have been to historic weeks for ukraine this year already the 1st, the week of the february 24th when russian forces began their invasion of the future of ukraine, the future of the european union, the future of nato, a future with war or peace to night we ask, what's it going to be ah, against our european values. this is a decisive moment for the european union. yes, it's very important for whole ukrainian. bring in the day be a sheila,

leroy hinges, the protecting europe from the russian aggression to it's a matter of dignity it's, it's a mentor of fight also coming up at tonight's january 6th hearings in washington. new evidence showing a president to day will tell the story of how the press a campaign also targeted. the federal agency charge with enforcement of our law and to our viewers watching on p b. s. in the united states into all of you around the world. welcome that we begin the day with what ukraine needs most right now. or cor. lensky began this week, proclaiming it to be historic historic because the european union could officially open its arms to you. great feeling hopes that one day ukraine remains far off for you crate. i want you to think in terms of years, perhaps decades. it is in the east, not the west, where the country thinks is. it's a clear, deeper into the dawn. best zelinski has calling on the west to speed up deliveries

of weapons. russian forces are closing in on the city of they've already captured almost all of the neighboring city of several do nest and are now focusing more attacks on ukraine's 2nd largest city. it's want you to take a listen to how president zalinski is describing what's going on on the front lines . madam bison muscle that's only occupiers, goal is immune, has any channels that group they want to destroy the entire done bas. let them step by step way lizzy in. they want to make every city look like them. are you call him yet? my completely destroy mitchell, are asleep. that's why we're repeating was always the nooks my 1st guess. tonight is sounding the alarm warning that the war in ukraine could quickly escalate into a new clear conflict or plant or it's an expos,

a of us nuclear policy. daniel ellsberg is also a legendary whistleblower who in 1971 released the things the end of the vietnam war. mr. ellsberg, it's good to have you back on the program of what has happened since you and i spoke last, particularly when we looked danger that the ukraine war could develop into a direct conflict between russia and the west is very looks their nuclear weapons are being used right now, in ukraine, they're being used by poking if the u. s. directly conference in the war, not just as a proxy provider, weapons and age as it's now doing its course. but if you wish, forces in the air or on the ground where to confront him directly, he has chosen to remind us of his status as a nuclear. you use

a gun. when you pointed somebody in a confrontation, whether or not you pull the trigger, you're using the gun. you couldn't be making those fritz damn him unconditionally for doing this because we've been doing it for 70 years. we've been threatening a nuclear weapons, often in the same way, stayed clear of an ultimate challenge of defeating the other unconventional weapons with the threat of using, using for weapons, for at least orders. that we avoid the direct confrontation which some people were asking for. she lensky was calling for a no fly zone that would have involved, probably underground as well. it's. i'm very happy that biting with the support of is nato allies, has rejected those requests, but the dangers for the world including ukraine, of an actual direct shooting at each other by u. s. or nato in russian forces. which pollutant would move beyond threatening to

use nuclear weapons and actually using nuclear weapons because it's, it's different. i mean, you use the comparison with a gun, but there's a big difference with nuclear weapons. i mean, you can say i have them, but if you don't use them, you know that the difference there is like night in day what makes you think that he would be willing to use a nuclear weapon. i just want to repeat a point that he is using them right now, and he's using them effective to keep us from what would otherwise almost surely be doing in response to his aggression conventional regression. we would be in there with plans and wrongs and probably troops if he weren't using his weapons. but the question is, is he totally bluffing with that threat? well, in the past 70 years, there have been many threats like that. and some of them are definitely bluffs both by russia and by the u. s. in retrospect,

but some of them were not rush close. and the problem with clothing is that to make it credible, if you might carry that out, it doesn't have to be certain just the chance that you carry it out is very determined or has to be taken into consideration. to make that credible, he could move to deployments, for example, make it clear that he does have no clear or has on his 9 am 7 to 9 is kind of missiles and colin and grad. but when he says he does have them already, other se, doesn't, he could make that claim. now, suppose he does, it, it could still be plus, in his own mind. but i was a participant in the cuban missile crisis at a high staff level. and i studied it for 50 years ever since. and i've come to a very strong conclusion that almost nobody shared at that time, including me. and that was neither side. both sides were so worried,

so anguished about the thought of nuclear war. it neither intended to go to non nuclear war, aren't conflict at all. despite the fact that both of them, kennedy and crucial, were threatening and preparing and deploying to do exactly that. i'm sure now that they were determined not to go to armed conflict. that could be true now, yet they came within a hair's breadth of throwing up the world by or the deployment they were making by actions that were taken by subordinates. if they didn't control castro on the russian side, we shooting down, i'm sure he had american planes. are destroyers reporting what they thought were proactive steps moms wanted on to russian chevron which you wish to not know had nuclear torpedoes. one of those submarines? well, it came very close firing a nuclear weapon. korean right now with the weapons we're getting it we. we've made

them promise not to use it on russian territory. yes, sure. missouri, and supposing it happened, even inadvertently or not under control, zelinski was a problem. we were misinterpreted by the other side. what would you miss? what would you recommend then that the european union, the united states, do? i mean, consider we do, we do have the russian military. and that is in ukraine. and the u. s. in particular is sending lots of weapons sophisticated weapons now to ukraine. would you suggest that the u. s. not do that mean? what would be, in your opinion, the best case scenario to avoid a nuclear accident or escalation? yes, it would be to make every effort endurance as quickly as possible. what's likely, what's most likely it's not a nuclear war, in my opinion. it said all sides will be prudent enough not to provoke the other into a nuclear war. but that means keeping the war going forever at great destruction.

ukraine as you and you have kind of in 20 years yet. now i'm 10 years. the soviets in afghanistan for 10 years with very destructive ukraine. that's the best case for continuing the war. but if each side gets to this or the longer it goes on the war, each side is tempted to break that steel mean by doing something that will age closer to provoking the other to escalating it still further. for example, the russians can hit support our supply sites in poland or will many of or even do it accidentally somehow, we might think they do it. we respond to that, they respond to it and saying that although this is clear, russian progression is murderous, stupid, and criminal as our aggression against which germany was wise in this, i think to stay out of as i recall. but it's as aggressive in this case.

it's, it's terrible people dismiss the idea of ending this by negotiation. how can you negotiate with an aggressor? the answer is this war has the potential of growing up most of humanity if it leads to an all oak nuclear exchange. and that means we should be considered threatening, i would say toward negotiations, which means concessions, which neither side wants to make concessions or not. you say, ultimately, just by doing the interest of avoiding the destruction of most of humanity. let's hope mr. ellsbury that's hope that a peaceful solution can be reached sooner rather than later. the doomsday scenario, we hope never does come to pass. we appreciate your time and your insights tonight . thank you. thank you. oh, on the diplomatic front and crane has been seeking the status as

a candidate for european union membership. that status has now been granted by e. leaders and speaking in brussels, the european commission president ursula from de la m. she expressed her delight at today's decision, but she stressed keith still has a lot of work to do. this is her very defining moment and a very good day for europe to day. there can be no better sign of hope for the citizens of ukraine mould of an georgia in these troubled times. of course, the countries all have to do homework before moving to the next stage of the accession process. but i am convinced that they will all move as swiftly as possible and work as hard as possible to implement the necessary reforms. artless pulling our correspondent now and christine wood, where she's been covering to days to days. historic events, wars from brussels. going to see you, christine, i mean, we are looking at

a decision that could change the map of europe and in the future, but in the near term, talk to me about what the significance is for you. great. well, this historic decision is so important for ukraine. if you consider the fact that ukraine's aspiration to join the european union officially began in 2004, it been followed up again, 20121314 at absolutely no avail. and it's taken this invasion by moscow to, to get that process done in, in, in a matter of weeks. basically, ukraine officially applied again. and just a few days off to have russia invaded it's territory. this is a process getting candidate status that's taken other countries. yes. so to get it in, in, in months is rated really significant and it is important, especially right now think about those ukranian troops fighting on the front lines . how they are desperately pleading for, for more weapons to be able to a, to,

to come through. that's not been coming. this will be a huge morrow boost and we've heard that similar rhetoric from the ukranian president that the country needs this right now that these ukrainians who had to flee the country are now refugees and other countries right now looking at what's going on at home that this will be a boost, it's some kind of a hope for the ukrainian people. it is also important for the year. can unions leadership at a time like this, where the unity and the cracks. what was starting superior in that unity, especially as a, as they have difficulty agreement sanctions. this was important to get everybody on board this particular decision. and it sends a strong message to moscow add that the block will come together rally around a ukraine. of course, moscow's expressed its displeasure at ukraine ever joining the european union. but this is the e u. standing up to the bully that it's russia and saying, we'll pull ukraine closer to the west and further away from russia's sphere of influence in christine, we know that being a candidate is not the same as being a member of the you. it could be a decade or more before you craig ever does join the you. what will change though

for ukraine? a immediately after this decision, while brain, it now means that that journey has officially begun. right? that they are now. if it is an official process, i has now begun and of course, now it's not about the wish and the desire. a formal process has opened. what would follow? this would be the formal exception talks, but loads of reform is needed before that can happen. and of course, in the midst of a war, very much, very little sorry can, can happen along those lines. so what it just means really now is that this formal process has begun it as you say, it will take years before ukraine can officially be given the status of, of an e u member state. but it now means that everything that's happening is working towards a goal and, and, and if you will, that, that journey has begun. and let's not underestimate that, that boost, that it is, but not too much changes, but the hopes have been raised and there's something to work towards. now. there

are other countries here in europe that have been waiting longer than ukraine to becoming handed it. and they're still way i'm talking about the particular of the balkan countries of what were you leaders able to say to them today while in short, not very much and that those need has walked away. i left brussels today. there's a disappointed, i mean you have to think about a country like north macedonia, that has been given candidate status and, and health status for about 17 years now. and look, macedonia is also had to change its name, so that a kid i meet some of those requirements and make it easier for that effect session . these country say we've been waiting in the wings for a long time. they see how quickly things can happen as has happened in the case of ukraine, and wondering what has been the delay all about a day, how to press conference and eat as of the way some balkan countries where they expressed their absolute frustration with how slow the process is taking for them. this was acknowledged me you needed. i went on to have another 3 hour discussion

about that. the situation in the waste mulkins while they were not able to deliver anything today. and it is clear that this is something that they are going to have to put their hits together about and perhaps towards the end of the year, there might be some movement on that of your young who's remember with the least tonight in brussels, is always preaching thank you. in the united states, the congressional committee investigating the january 6th attack on the capital is going into overtime scheduling more public hearings for next month. the reason new batches of evidence, including documentary film of donald trump's final months in the white house, on the hearing agenda to day, how the former president pressured the justice department to overturn the 2020 presidential election result ticklish. what things ah, did the president raise with you? so, so the common element of all of this was the president of expressing his dissatisfaction

that the justice department in his view had not done enough to investigate election fraud, but at different junctures. other topics came up at different of intervals. so at one point he had raised the question of having a special counsel for election fraud at a number of points he raised, ah, requests that i meet with his campaign counsel, mister juliani, our list bringing a washington beer, a ged dispos, he's been following these hearings for us that he be to you in his will quite a day there. what have we learned the from these here? he's me. what do we know now about trumps attempted as they say qu, that we did not know before these hearings began. i bring we have learn more and more about what happened at this fateful day that left several debt. we have to remember that people died that very day on january 6. so the committee really

delivered, compelling evidence that showed the trump and his legal team made and direct effort to overturn the 2020 election essentially really trying, as you just said, to attempt a cool president from for example, i try to force high ranking v o g officers to say in a quote this year, just say the election was corrupt, so we learn a lot about the pressure. donald trump put out there in this new knowledge, eaters hasn't changed public opinion in any way. the committee her however, is hoping that the american people outside is liberal circles would watch and realized the extent of trumps actions on this very generally 6 republicans kind of have been trying to ignore the hearings by saying they're eligible, illegitimate. and also by keeping their attention their messaging on inflation and

the or u. s. economy, but the evidence we are hearing from the committee over the last days in the next week or weeks to come has really been more and more compelling. so some are republicans, are really growing of our growing concerns, i shall say at this hearing might even impact the outcome of the midterm elections in all of this looks in is like a legal team that is building a kate's. are we going to, to see that happen? what happens after that? i mean, i'm going to see donald trump actually face criminal charges. yeah, i think pro and an international audience brand. it's very important to understand that the committee can't charge anyone what they are doing is we're j laying out a case for the justice department to take action against those involved in, in the middle of all. that is definitely donald trump, so it will,

by the end of the day, day be up to attorney general mary garland, to bring any charges against donald trump. and again, the, the evidence is looking grim for trump and his inner circle. and we, we've been on the supreme court watch all this week, were we were expecting a ruling on abortion rights today. we didn't get that opinion. instead, we got a decision to lift restrictions on carrying guns in the state of new york. i want you to take a listen to what the governor of new york had to say about this estate in isn't just reckless. it's reprehensible. it's not what new yorkers want. and we should have the right of determination of what we want to do in terms of our gun laws in our state. the federal government will not have sleeping laws to protect us than our states. and our governors have a moral responsibility to do what we can and have laws to protect our citizens.

because of what is going on, the insanity of the gun culture that is now possessed. every one all the way up to even to the supreme court. that is quite an indictment. they're coming from the governor, new york in his talk to me about the significance of this route. how 1st of all it really came as a surprise, everybody was waiting for roe v wade as he just said, friend and then this. so the decision has fall reaching implication, and particularly in cities that has saw to address gun crimes by putting restrictions on who can carry them. and with this decision actually lose and even gun control and, and makes it easier to access guns. so the new york law we are talking here about was basically intended to protect people in more densely populated areas of the a country like new york or massive says, but now this ruling people will be allowed to, to basically a heaven, a concealed weapon everywhere in public even on time square in new york. yeah. so

it's hard to imagine, but you're right. i mean, legally, you know, the framework has been established for that. we know that congress is currently in the process of passing gun control measures after several recent horrific mass shootings. i mean, how big of a blow to gun control advocates is. today's supreme court decision that isn't, it comes as congress is looking to pass it 1st. major gun was fixing lawson's early in the early 1990. this was celebrated also as a big win for the biden administration that he was able to kind of conduct this by partisan a thing going on. and now this, so this all is so significant brand. why? because this is a clear signal that 2nd amendment advocates hefa strong, a support or strong supporters sitting on the highest cold in the land in the supreme court. and even as we just saying,

lawmakers attempt to make changes. the court now can loosen or strike even down other gun control laws. they have been in the book. so this is really a very, very significant ruling to day. our washington bureau chief, he is hold on a very busy thursday for worse in as always. thank you for the day's almost done the conversation, it continues on wine. you will find us on twitter either w news. you can follow me on twitter at brent gov tv and remember whatever happens between now and then tomorrow is another day. we'll see you then. ah ah ah,

with what is the end of the pandemic in site we show what it can look like. return to normal. and we visit those who are finding it difficult with success in our weekly coping 19 special next on d. w. conflict zone with

a rash. banner g. russia and ukraine are taking heavy casualties in the don bus. but has ukraine already lost the east? my guest this week believes that is likely the case in burma is a political scientist and founder of the you racial group. i'm going to happen in the little the russians that said it will at all this and more on this week's conflict zone with 60 minutes on a w ukraine with leonardo da vinci's, mysterious masterpiece. this perhaps the greatest leonardo masterpiece in the collection of the lou and no, it is not the mona lisa. it is the virgin of the rocks,

2 versions, multiple copies, and a hidden drawing. was there another symbolic meaning to this beautiful baby that perhaps we just don't understand? the search for answers starts july 7th on d w a .