ah ah ah ah this is the w news light from by the use top officials arriving you cray, baron cave, to show solidarity as ukraine's defense minister warn said russia could be planning a new offensive to coincide. the 1st anniversary of the patient with supplying battle tanks to ukraine comes at a cost for an already under

a crypt german army. the defense minister promised to swear faction also on the program. us vice president count carmella harris attends the funeral of tyrene nichols in memphis. tennessee, his death of the hands of police officers has revived debate about police violence . belgian drugs gangs of bringing cocaine through the port of and work wages deadline war. europe's top leasing agency struggles to control trade that many for workers a to scan to talk about. ah, i'm from gail. welcome to the program, ukraine's defense minister alexey resume coff has warned that russia is planning a major offensive. during the visit to france, he said a new attack could start on the anniversary of russia's invasion on the 24th of february. according to mister resnick,

off moscow has already mast thousands of troops in preparation. morning comes as a you president, you commission president are on the line. and other top officials arriving key in place summit on friday, corresponded max xander is in ki. i asked him what we know about this a you mission. so this is quite a remarkable event. this is going to be the 1st d you summits held in an act of war zone. so you can imagine there's a lot of, there's a very tight security protocol here and very little information being shared about this trip by the public. but what we do know is that 16 e u commissioners are in keith to day, as well as the head of the european council shall michelle, who will be heading the cranes summit to morrow. and the leader of the european commission was enough on the line. and there they have come here to, to ukraine, to key of today to whole talks with ukrainian officials with the training politicians to discuss further assistance to the country during the war now and

potential future relations, including the u membership. and why such a high level delegation right, so this, this e u summit probably could have been done remotely. it could have also been done outside of the country and relative safety gear for still on a regular basis, being attacked with miss l. so this comes at a great risk, but this is also about i'm, it's just about talking and discussing that is discussing the talking points are working on a certain on under mutual relations. but it is also about sending a strong signal during the war that the u. stands by ukraine side and that russia will not prevail. also, ukraine, i was granted candidate status to become a member at some point in the future, potentially i last summer. so this, this, this, these meetings, these talks was a focus on that and also be about showing the ukrainians that this process is still

ongoing. yes, so she should and should, should vague the ukrainians and they should we interpret this visit as an indication that brussels is favorably inclined to grant that request. well, that is, that is very difficult to say because i'm getting you membership coming. you members of very complicated, long, multi level process. ukraine will have to prove that its laws are on par at the same level as those in the rest of the u. u. u officials will, will go through various chapters 35 and toll ranging from, from agriculture to politics. they will have a look at corruption at traffic, at healthcare, all these things and see if they're on, at the same level as in the you and then this might start a reform process where needed. so this could take very long time now and you are ukranian officials have been asked have him pushing for swift access to the you,

potentially in 2 years or a bit longer. but then you have you leaders like the french present about, on my call earlier, said that this might, this process might take decades. right? and being in an act of oars on having russian boots on the ground in your, in your country, is also not going to speed things up. so you officials ahead of this of these, this, this visit ahead of the summer to morrow. also said that this meeting will be about, or this visit will be about managing expectations. thank max max sandra and ken. while most of a in use commissioners are in cave today, the european parliament in brussels will debate the blocks ukraine policy. a correspondent jack apparently is following the debate in brussels, asked him about the symbolism of this visit. yes, for the significant. i mean, they were very, very keen to do this summit here in brussels, in brussels. they were came for the summit to be held in, keep they wanted the assemblers and they wanted to show the ukrainians they were on

that side. and as you say, there's a debate in the european parliament here in brussels today. and a lot of those things that they've been talking about are occurring, what was what max was talking about there? the questions about how ready ukraine actually is to become a candidate country the government and key wants it to happen within 2 years. that would be on the hurdles as far as speed of accession into the european union after being granted his candidate status. but for the in you, this is a point of credibility as well, part of the movement of the zalinski government. but also the movement that was happening before he to power was a move away from russia and towards the european union. and the european union seemed broadly as accepted was, was trying to encourage that and that they wanted to try and sort of export the use democratic democratic values into it, into neighbor countries. so not as a difficult balance, they have to make it look like there is a feasible and possible entry into the u while not promising to compromise on the standards of what you enter means. for instance,

coming in line with fiscal rules and making sure that there is a level of democracy and civil rights, etc, in the country, which in the country that war is difficult to, to, to sort of, to sort of measure up against a piece time country. and a lot of the members of the european parliament have be raising that issue during the debate already this morning. say we need to make sure that our standards aren't, aren't on changed or on amended just in order to sort of appease the ukrainian wish to join the you for them. they were talking about linking it with the need for reconstruction of the country, which is a big thing that they're talking about in brussels. we're and the, the possibility of, of sending as supports to ukraine is not likely to be discussed up briefly if you would mind. that is the discussion that's happening off the tanks were sent in after the germans released that blog that had not been these discussions. broadly though, there's a lot more reluctance about sending aircraft in support. that was early to mom was

a no fly zone over. you came in the warfare started just, just nearly a year ago, sending i, croft and it's politically very complicated. and i think after the tanks now going in, i think that you, capitals, which really have the decision over this not really you make is here in brussels. those capitals are looking a bit reluctant on that to the moment though. i'm sure jack paris in brussels. britain's defense secretary says the u. k is not ruling outstanding 5 suggest to ukraine. i think that uncertain adding to uncertainty overcame request francis says and it also is leaving its options over while the u. s. and germany of rule this out well in struggle with the decision to supply your crime with advanced leopard 2 tanks. now, germany is defense minister has acknowledged that his army could use a few more tanks of its own foster and deadly. the leopard too, could be a game changer in ukraine. germany says it will deliver 14 of them by the end of

march, but ukrainian force is to use on the battlefield. defense minister boris pastorius, visiting the base from which the tanks will come said the decision to send leopard carries a cost with islam as already. okay. your fact is that ukraine needs every support and lathered tanks, whether they are 2, a 6 is or 2. a fours can play an important role in the ukrainians fight against the russian aggressor in august. so everyone understands that it has to happen, even though it is of course, regrettable and of the exercise and training capacities are being significantly reduced as a result. or at least that would fit van the price tag for a leopard to is anywhere between $3.70 euros, depending on how it's a quit. the german firms that make the tank. and now being asked to hurry to produce ne, once to ensure the country can defend itself. 100000000000 euros have been promised by the government to make the bonus, van fit for purpose, but some are already asking if there will be enough in china for me to use. the

decisive factor for me is that we have to order new tanks and not in a year's time, but quickly. so that production can begin. and we can plan how many new leopards we will have available. and when, where the money comes from, where to put it in casual terms, i honestly don't care. eric is a god. after a period of hesitancy, germany is now showing its military muscle. that new readiness for action brings with it new challenges for the countries armed forces. so you look at some more stories making headlines around the world. the u. s. is to expand if military presence in the philippines defense secretary lloyd austin confirmed the move after a meeting with the president of the philippines. further, on marco's june restrooms have been granted efforts to more military camps in the country. for general austin said he's, he's country wasn't looking to have permanent bases that israel launched air strikes on targets in the gaza strip early on thursday,

and palestinian militants fired rockets into israel. in response, the strikes came hours after israeli defenses intercepted a rocket launcher garza. his latest exchange of fire comes amid a surging violence in the region. protesters shouting a chanting shape confronted mourners at the funeral of australian catholic cardinal george bell. in sydney. bell was one of those c d figures in the bathroom and was found guilty of sexual assault in choir boys. spent a year in prison before his convictions. what scandal, hector indian millionaire, got home. danny has called off a major share sale and his business empire continues to plunge in value. the sprawling conglomerate, which stretches from ports to petrol stations as last 90000000000 euros market value. owing allegations of market manipulation and fraud led to the united states where

a family friends and civil rights activists have said good bye to tyree nichols. the 29 year old black man died from these injuries after being beaten by 5 black police. officers in the city of memphis. mourners were joined by us vice president, calm le harris, who echoed calls or police reform you ah, my story. after days of protests over his teeth, mourn is gathered to celebrate tyree nichols. life is friends, family and civil rights activists. attending mister nichols funeral on the 1st day of black history month. remembering a father with brother denied escape border liberty and photographer steady tyree was a beautiful person if it is to happen to here is just at imaginable

these flowers now lie in memory of tiring nichols at the skate park. he used to visit mister nichols died 3 weeks ago after being brutally beaten by memphis police officers who pulled him over while he was driving home. 5 officers have since been arrested and charged with murder. in his eulogy, civil rights leader, reverend al sharpton, condemned their actions. there's nothing more insulting and offensive to those are worse dead fight door open doors. did you walk through those doors and act like the folks we had to fight for? to get you through the door, use vice president comalla harris also paid tribute to mister nichols saying the country mourned with his family. this is a family that lost their son and their brother through an act of violence

at the hands and the feet of people who had been charged with keeping them safe. and as vice president of the united states, we demand that congress passed the george lloyd justice and the leasing act. joe biden will sign it. i re, nichols family are also calling for the x to be brought in, which would require a database for police officer misconduct and a ban on no, not warrants. those calls for change. now getting louder in the hope that more lives won't be lost. so is congress likely to pass the george floyd to justice and policing act? is i washington correspondent stephan simons. are that's a tough question. you know, if you would have asked me 3 years ago after recovered or the untimely and horrible

death of george floyd. if this is going to happen, if the george floyd, police and justice act will go through congress, i would have said yes, no doubt ill go through and guess what? it didn't a crash and burn in the senate. now the senate is in democrats hands, but the house is in republicans hands and i'm not so sure if it will really happen . i think millions of americans are hopeful. many politicians on both sides are hopeful. it will because that's what, not only kimberly harris, but also al sharpton and everybody there and everybody in the community black lives matter community and those families who lost their daughters, brothers sisters, her husband's father's mothers. and hoping for real change and al chopped and sat in his eulogy which was really strong.