[000:00:00;00] 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 ukraine. as for the 2nd most important week, the we are in it right now. the future of ukraine, the future of the european union, the future of nato, a future with war or peace. tonight, we ask, what's it going to be? i'm broke off in berlin. this is the day. ah, i brush up the way to this war also against europe,

against our european values. this is a decisive moment for the european union. yes, it's very important for whole ukrainian society for the army with brain yesterday. be a shill for their opinion. the a protecting europe from the russian aggression. so it's a matter of dignity it's, it's a matter of fighting for the country which has european future. ah, also coming up at tonight's january 6th hearings in washington new evidence showing a president who was willing to corrupt the justice department in order to stay in power. to day. we'll tell the story of how the press a campaign also targeted. the federal agency charged with enforcement of our laws, the department of justice went to our viewers watching on p b,

as in the united states into all of you around the world. welcome. we begin the day with what ukraine needs most right now, according to its president weapons and a sense of belong, president zalinski 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 will also have a seat at the european table. membership in the e. u remains far off for you. great. i want you to think in terms of years, perhaps decades. it is in the east, not the west, where the country thinks is its acute existential threat. right now. a rushing, military shelling it's way ever deeper into the don't best. zalinski is calling on the west to speed up deliveries of weapons. russian forces are closing in on the city of lucy shots in eastern dawn. vast, just 3 kilometers from the city limits. 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 or heath missile strikes. there have been the worst in weeks. wanted to take a listen to how president zalinski is describing what's going on on the front lines . madam bison. muscling the i've, you're seeing massively air in our calories track said don don, but like if that's only occupiers goal isn't, has any channels that group and want to destroy the entire done bas. let them step by step way. there's a chance all of it. leslie chanced slowly and thought crematorium asking me if they want to make every city look like um, are you call him yet? am i completely destroy, mitchell, or possibly that's why we're repeating was almost like celebration of arms delivery last a ukraine post, a genuine brewing? no grain. my 1st guess tonight is sounding the alarm warning that the war in

ukraine could quickly escalate into a new, clear conflict. he's the author of the book, the doomsday machine, confessions of a nuclear war plant. or it's an expos ave us nuclear policy. daniel ellsberg is also a legendary whistleblower who in 1971 released classified documents known as the pentagon papers, which helped to hasten among other 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 look at russia and ukraine. do you see an immediate danger that the ukraine war could develop into a direct conflict between russia and the west? it's easy to see how it could develop, and i hope that it won't put the possibilities very much there. nuclear weapons are

being used right now in ukraine. they're being used by poking to warn us that there's a possibility that he would initiate nuclear war. if the u. s. directly confronting in the war, not just as a proxy provider, weapons and aid as it's now doing. and it's, it's going somewhat beyond that. it seems, in terms of intelligence, cooperation in other matters. but if you wished, forces in the air or on the ground where you confront him directly, he has chosen to remind us of his status as a nuclear power in a way that indicates he's using his weapons. exactly the way 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 threats if you didn't have the gun. unfortunately, we can't simply condemn him unconditionally for doing this because we've been doing

it for 70 years. we've been threatening nuclear weapons often in the same way. fortunately, both sides, since they got nuclear weapons, had stayed clear of an ultimate challenge of defeating the other unconventional weapons with the threat of using, using for weapons, for at least on their hip, if not, or if not pointed directly. and if that continues, that we avoid the direct confrontation, which some people were asking for. zelinski was calling for no fly zone. they would have involved english plains, indirectly attacking russian forces in the air and probably on a ground as well. it's. i'm very happy that biting with the support of his nato allies has rejected those request i solicit. even those are very understandable. it's once you would want to, but you're dangerous for the world,

including ukraine of an actual direct shooting at each other by u. s. or nato and russian forces, which has never happened in the 70 years, was it? i don't honestly try, let me just ask you, how are you, how are you so convinced that vladimir putin would move beyond, threatening to use nuclear weapons and actually using nuclear weapons because it's, it's different. i mean, you used to 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, 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 effectively to keep us from what would otherwise almost surely be doing in response to his aggression conventional gun regression. we would be in

there with plans and drawings 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's been many threats like that. and some of them are definitely profs, both by russian and by the us in retrospect. but some of them were not ross ross, and the problem with buffing is it to make it credible. if you might carry that out, it doesn't have to be certain just the chance that should carry it out is very determined or ready 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 originals in color and in grad with a when he says he does have them already. other say, doesn't, he could make that claim. now, suppose he does, it, it could still be 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 no pre war, aren't conflict at all. despite the fact that both of them, kennedy and khrushchev were threatening and preparing and deployed 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 de primacy were making by actions that were taken by subordinates. if they didn't control castro on the russian side was shooting down, shooting at american planes. our destroyers,

reporting what they thought were practiced ships. mom sauntered on to russian summers 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 is that in supposing it happened, even inadvertently or not under control of zalinski was a problem we were misinterpreted by the other side. what would you miss as well? what would you recommend in that the european union, the united states, do? i mean, considering we do, we do have the russian military and that is in ukraine, in 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 to 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 may have kind of in 20 years yet. now i'm 10 years. the soviets, it has the canon for 10 years with very destructive ukraine. that's the best case for continuing the war. but if each side gets to, the longer it goes on the war, each side is tempted to break that stale 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 congressional 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. and 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, that means we should be considered pressuring. i would say, towards negotiations, which means concessions, which neither side wants to make concessions or not. you say ultimately, just but in the interest of avoiding the destruction of most of humanity, let's hope mr. ellsbury, let's hope that

a peaceful solution can be reached at sooner rather than later. the the doomsday scenario, we hope never does come to pass. we appreciate your time and your insights tonight . thank you. thank you. 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 july, and she expressed her delight at today's decision. but she stressed keep still has a lot of work to do. this is a 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 nell and christine wood, where she's been covering to these 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 its territory. this is

a process getting candidate status that's taken other countries. yes. so to get it in, in, in months is really, 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've 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, unions, leadership at a time like this, where the unity and the cracks was starting to peer in that unity, especially as they, as they have difficulty agreements 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 doug, being a candidate is not the same as being a member of the you. it could be a decade or more before ukraine 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's 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 it'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 ensure it's not very much and that those need is walked away. i left brussels today very, very 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. in macedonia is also had to change its name so that it could 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 to meet as of the western 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're 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 areas. because remember, with the least you know, the brussels is always preaching. thank you. ah, 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 results? philos. 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 bartlett, bringing our washington bureau. g. venus bowen, she's been following these hearings. horace, good evening to you. this will quite a day there. what did we learn the from these hearings? me?

what do we know now about trump's attempted, as they say qu, that we did not know before these hearings began. stipend, 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 that trump and his legal team made and direct effort to overturn the 2020 lankson essentially really trying as you just said, to attempt a cool president from for example, i tried to force high ranking v o g officers to say, and i quote this here, just say the election was corrupt, so we learned 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 and the next week or weeks to come has really been more and more compelling. so some are republicans, are really growing all 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 case. are we going to, to see that happen? what happens after that? i mean, are we going to see donald trump actually face criminal charges? yeah, i think pro and an international audience, brenda,

it's very important to understand that the committee can't charge anyone what they are doing is really just laying out a case for the justice department to take action against those involved in the middle of all that is definitely donald trump, so it will, by the end of the 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 you know, we, we been on the supreme court watch all this week, were we were expecting a ruling on abortion rights to day. 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 see about this estate in his and 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 at a supreme court, that is quite an indictment. they are coming from the governor, new york. it is a talk to me about the significance of this route here. first of all, it really came as a surprise. everybody was waiting for roby raid, as he just said, friend and then this. so the decision has far reaching implications, particularly in cities that has saw to address gun crimes by putting restrictions on who can carry them. and with this decision actually lose ins, even gun control and, and makes it easier to access guns. so the new york law we're talking here about

was basically intended to protect people in more densely populated areas of the a country like new york or massachusetts. but now with this ruling, a people will be allowed to, to basically a having a concealed weapon everywhere in public, even on times square in new york. yeah. so it's hard to imagine, but you might be legally, you know, the framework has been established for there. 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 its 1st major gun restriction lawson's early, early $990.00 says were celebrated also as a big win for the biden administration. that he was able to kind of conduct this high 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 have a strong i support our 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 cords now can loosen or a strike even down other gun control laws. they have been in the book. so this is really a very, very significant ruling today. on washington bureau chief, it is hold on a very busy thursday for worse is as always, thank you for the day's almost done. the conversation continues online. you will find us on twitter either dw 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, with to the point. strong opinions, clear positions, international perspectives. rationally, retaliation against western sanctions is driving millions of families worldwide to

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do you like it with do you want it? i love it. okay, then, but go up, put the pedal to the metal and let's ride. mm. read on d, w o d, up to date, i don't miss our highlights. the d w program online. d, w dot com, highlights rushes retaliation against western sanctions is sparking a world wide crisis as food and fuel prices sore, putting the vulnerable at risk, rushes slash and gas deliveries to european countries, including germany in what one german liter calls an economic attack. citizens are