ah, ah ah, this is dw news wife from berlin, ukraine's president orders more reinforcement for the defense of box moped regional commander's vow to continue their fight for the embattled city, even as russian forces tightened their grip on surrounding areas. also coming up on the show, russia considering widening a censorship law against defaming the russian military, they could mean jail sentences of up to 15 years for any one deemed to be discrediting the army. but also fighters recruited by the mercenary wagner group. and mass disruption in france as tens of thousands join

a fresh wave of protests against president monk plans to raise the retirement age. ah. hello, i'm claire richardson. thank you so much for joining us. president vladimir zalinski has ordered military commanders to send reinforcements to help ukrainian troops defending the besieged eastern city of bock moot. ukrainian authorities say that only a few 1000 of the original 70000 people living in bok mote remain. and the battle for the eastern city is the longest and bloodiest of the year long war, russia says seizing bach moot would be an important step toward capturing the industrial don bass region. western defense officials say the city has little strategic value militarily. but that victory there would be symbolically important to russia. the fighting has been so intense in back moot,

one ukrainian commander described it as utter hell. now instead of retreating, these troops will reinforce their positions and attempt to reclaim lost ground. there determined to save the city, but the enemy is also unrelenting. not. yeah, but my, when i could, i'd been for flu or the perfect faith for a more forces at us to justify the aim of their so called special operations. will you please before, but i think we probably a bargain. huge is important because it cuts across roadways and its higher ground for we suffer from its height. everything here is open for the russians. so it's important for both us and them was we, we'd learn market friedlander colette, so many of them are dying, hire. i don't understand why doesn't you know, be sure that you're not russia's expected spring offensive. could hit a snag with apparent disunity in its ranks part of its quest to capture ukraine's

don bass region has been fronted by mercenaries from the wagner group who have emerged as rivals of the russian military. even though this supposed to be partners . i've been rude fans, resilience good. but wagner's own, i, you have any promotion and allow vladimir putin is now warning. his fighters might not be able to hold on, because moscow has not replenished their ammunition with him. well, they, you don't, we, if we retreat you, then we'll go down in history forever as people who've taken the main step towards losing the war rover. so me, whoever wins, control of back move will not have much of a city left. after 6 months of fighting its buildings are in ruins, and most of its residents have fled still as one of the oldest cities in the don bass region. it remained symbolic. although the only visible symbol right now is

one of devastation. and i'm very pleased to welcome pedro pero shanker, the former president of ukraine from 2014 to 2090. thank you so much for speaking to us again on d. w unfurled, and you can join us, and i just wanted to jump right in by getting your view on the situation in box notes. do you think it is the right decision for ukraine to continue defending the city at all costs? thank you very much. indeed for your invitation and the right decision is of baptism dominant based on the pool information which we have the commander in chief of ukraine price. but the quote is a symbol. and there we have a fight named bachman for 9 months already. and i was in box more during this last year, more than dozens time to speak to support to supply the

average, paying for our armed forces. and i can tell you that the symbolic steps definitely has a great importance and not everybody should understand that this is the way how we can kick captured, the russian offensive operation, which were planned and publicly declared him february and march. am there a way how we stop cross and offensive operation? this is also a very heroic why every apartment is there. excuse me for interrupting. i have to ask though, if bachman is primarily assemble, maybe you can help us understand what is going on behind the scenes in the ukrainian government. and we had reports that ukraine was ready to withdraw than we had presidents. lensky come out strong, saying they would instead reinforce bachman. and he made a real point of highlighting that all of the military agreed that that was the

right move on. do you see this as zalinski overruling his top military bras and forcing them to hold on to bach note? just wanna attract attention that the main source of this information is a russian not a t. and this is the, i consider that as a pot of the russian propaganda and a full beam, the supreme commander in chief of ukraine, an armed forces for 5 years and being the president who creed, this armed forces. i can tell you that the why we do that because we need, at one moms for training ukrainian yield reggae term for receiving off that ramstein decision, the 1000 on personal carrier and the me to main battle tank. this is absolutely necessary. include it together with the r munition reach. we have a lack of hum munition also in buck malt and we pay for that extremely enormous price

. and all these things, hell, pause the band of the march beginning of april or be our offensive operation, which would be extremely important and extremely rare. hopeful and with it in the vital is that such as the city. yeah. with that kind of support. do you think that ukrainian forces would be able to actually hold on to back loot or is it just to buy time as long as possible against russian advances? just it understand that we're having lots weapons to withstand, to his podium. and we have absolutely knocked him off weapons for our offensive operation. and definitely when i return back, i was there blood one week ago and speaking with the soldiers, they definitely has a lack of what munition and this is the top priority for us. we definitely have

a such a factor like a long range me style radio electronic warfare system. we will, we definitely count on the west and weapons. and this is the key factor because we have a lot of volunteers, but they can do that. we can do that without weapons. and with betsy to asian, i am and really appreciate all our progress, including germany, who already supply or it is a vital track for our week 3. but please do it foster. please understand that avenue single week for delay. he is a crucial factor for our friends, reparation, and based on the military framing soldiers. the fast delivery of ammunition you're saying is key, including from partners like germany. i do want to also take a step back though and talk about ways. and we can actually bring an end to this war. and i'm speaking of germany. we have a recent poll here that says 53 percent of germans that say that there hasn't been

enough diplomatic effort made to end this war to you see any room for a diplomatic approach, given the current situation. definitely it look like feel we even more we had already do have vetted diplomatic negotiations with a better professional. last decent go. she armed forces so she, great. this is executive forces. hope you plan with assistance of the potash to them or wave, some key of the attack of the car to give region and leap it a that from the russian troops and do a better successful attack on capsule. you see that this is a effective and these diplomatic language which put in understand this is not rawson or english or german. it best language is a language of strength. and this is the only language put in understand because

putting though, as far as re together allow him to go. so for their negotiation, and for the piece deal, we have at 2 main factor factor number one and i am very much happy to hear bad from the chancellor schultz and president biden in washington. this is the territorial integrity of ukraine cochin, should take all his sold from ukraine antennas and 2nd factor of the peace and victory. you this sustainable security situation on the continent and everybody understand that you are not just the system ukraine. you invest in, in your own german, british, italian, french security, and ukraine pay now for the very, in almost rise. but we would be more than happy. you can find out any other nation in the world who wants peace more than we ukrainian. but put him must be stopped,

and we need to depos denies. germany differ denies europe. deborah denies the world deeper denies in europe and the world. does that mean that you don't think it can be possible between ukraine and russia, while vladimir putin is still in the kremlin sh key from the peace is not in battle, not in brussel, not in washington, boy, and keep the key from the pieces in the hands of butcher and without territorial integrity of ukraine, peace is impossible and not a key factor. and i am very much welcome the statement over there are lee dills, the greased young democrat need or p impala. mm hm. prior to that, but that the definitely important part of the security in europe is your claim and future membership in nato. there is not exist in any other form of security that aren't gave them that now we would be very much appreciate if germany support

strong these as well. thank you so much for taking the time to speak with us today on d. w. thank performer, ukrainian president petri petition, co german defense minister boris historian is meeting nato forces. in lithuania, it's a show of support in the baltic state which borders the russian ex. clave of clinic grad during a visit to a military exercise in rockland, north of the capital. vilnius historian underlined berlin's commitment to defending nato's eastern flank. but he set a decision on permanent deployment of a german brigade. lithuania is up to nato. several countries in the region have called for a bigger and permanent nato presence in their territories to defend against a possible russian attack. when a show of support, german defense minister boris historian, stress berlin's commitment to defend native eastern flank. we do, and we will do anything and everything which is necessary and portugal to protect the eastern flank because of our obligation o duty inside the nato, with our,

with our allies, is what we are, what we have been doing during the past. and what were even improved during the last 12 months. and we will continue. o d, w chief political correspondent, nina hossa is in ru cla, covering the german defense ministers trip to lithuania. and she explained why his visit to lithuania is so important. for the jim defense minister uses every opportunity to underline that during the cold war, times west germany walls nato's eastern flank. and that germany was essentially very, very grateful to all the troops who came to west germany. the brits, the french and the u. s. to help protect german territory and does so now he says it is equally important for germany to show some of the support to the current eastern flank, which is why and germany's engagement in lithuania, where it is the framework nation of nato's efforts here, leading a all those national troops here is so important to historian. and he underlined

that when i asked him in a press statement earlier. now the russian news agency toss is reporting that to me treat even off the founder of an opposition. social media channel has been sentenced at 8 and a half years in prison. he was charged with spreading false information about russia's military in russia, anyone perceived to have discredited the russian army could already face a draconian prison sentence. and the parliament has recently given initial backing to expanding that law to cover fighters for the mercenary wagner group. anyone who criticizes russian soldiers in ukraine, whether they're fighting for the russian army or so called volunteer units, could soon face alone. prison sentence. a law of punishing public defaming of the military has been in place for a year now, but that slightly to be extended to include so called volunteers or mercenaries,

which looked at one of the bar, which is steve through all these volunteers that are mentioned in the same breath as russian soldiers super. let me some. it's not clear, but you know who's i mean, little it. and then to talk with worries me a lot lately about yourself. the new law would cover private armies. yes, kenny precaution, the founder of the wagner mercenary group, once the russian parliament to add the term volunteers to the discredit taishan law of many of progression soldiers of former prisoners, he personally recruited. oh, we need your criminal talents just guilty. i myself served 10 years in prison before i became a russian hero, held careers and i have a few more talents now that helped me a lot in life, i emerged from my graduate law is complain that since the war began,

the russian parliament has passed a series of bills aimed at stifling descent, took in his book. it's not just about the wagner group, if of june, i think the idea behind the amendment is to broaden the scope of law enforcement. in general, william ramos, if any criticism of military special operations will be punished, working punishment under the new law would be draconian. up to 15 years in a penal colony is vineyard from a legal point of view. this is simply absurd, rather statements, even if it's just one sentence or, or single piece of information that is judged to be false. even though it's very likely to be correct that we would have such statements. a given huge prison sentences. we haven't seen anything like this since the 1950 for

a job with the new amendments of already been fast tracked through parliament. lay to this month, the set to be approved by the upper house and signed into law by president putin. let's bring you up to speed now with some other world news headlines. iranian teachers have taken part in nationwide protests over a wave of suspected poisoning. he's targeting school girls. there's been hundreds of suspected cases at more than a 100 schools since november. authorities are investigating and have arrested suspects in 5 provinces, amid growing public anger. teacher what my job with china's foreign minister has warned that there will be, quote, confrontation and conflict between china and the u. s. if washington does not change its approach to his country, your or no starts. and don also hailed the relationship between beijing and moscow . who said it's that an example for how foreign relations should be conducted.

rescuers are searching for survivors after a landslide killed at least 15 people on a remote, indonesian island. dozens of people are thought to have been buried in their homes . following heavy rains or rescue efforts are being hindered by poor weather and down communication lines. and an exhibition detailing the reconstruction of the nurture don cathedral has opened in paris. it shows the progress made and the methods used to restore the iconic line landmark large parts of the nurture dom we're destroyed by a fire in 2019, but it's expected to reopen the public. at the end of next year, 10 of thousands of demonstrators have joined protests across france in a growing stand off over proposed pension reforms. they started in the early hours of the morning with blockades, set up on roads at key transport hubs and refineries. unions have vowed to bring the nation to a standstill over the proposed changes,

which would see the minimum retirement age raised from $62.00 to $64.00. the governments as the measures are needed, but holds show, most french citizens opposed the proposed changes. and i'm joined now i did other correspondent me st. louis in paris to tell us more about today's strikes, least that we've got these strikes across the country in all sorts of sectors. can you tell us a bit more about who is protesting? well, absolutely, there about 300 a demonstrations and gatherings planned to day across the country. and people are striking in numerous sectors that include a, you know, energy transport, education, garbage collectors. this is supposed to be, this is number 6 day number 6 of this national movement against the current pensioner for a government wants to put in place. and the strike is all saying we want to bring this country to its knees, and it's supposed this today is to place to be the 1st day of

a continuous strike. they really want to bring this country to i hold. can you tell us a little bit more about this bill that's currently working its way through the senate? it is microns showcase legislation. why is it so unpopular? well, the government, as you said, they're saying that we need this bill that france needs this bill to reform it's pension system. and but too many people don't believe that message and you can't really blame them. the government mandated a committee to come up with a report to analyze the current pension system here in france. but that committee published a report saying, you know, well, they will be some deficit in the coming years, but it's not a dramatic deficit and you can carry out a reform or now or not depending on your political preferences. so many people are opposed to the reform. 60 percent of the french are in favor of the protest movement and 60 percent against the government's copy. obviously the government

wants to push it through and they're saying we're going to do it anyway. so if this bill does pass and we see these reforms, what kind of public reaction can we expect? it would surely at least be a victory for president micron. well my car is saying, you know, i really need to put in place this reform a, you know, he wants to depict himself as a reformer as a strong european, as an international states man. and he fades that his credibility really depends on his ability to put in place and reforms at home, especially this, this form that many people see as the mother of all reforms he wants to be seen as a strong statement states man, also to be taken seriously on a european level, and when it comes to international affairs, for example, when it comes to dealing with the current russian invasion in ukraine. so it's very important for the government, but it was the stripe. as i said, we will continue to carry out more actions. we want to stop this bill at all. costs

3 corresponded lisa we in paris. thank you so much for that update sports now and in football. barissi a dorman face chelsea and the champions league last 16 tonight. they take a one goal, lead to london from the 1st match of the tie as they continue their hot street this year. the same range, oh, mercy adult men to europe's most informed team. the last way inova burned is league, a title rivals. leipzig made it 10 out of 10 in 2023 full marks then for dormant, and their coach in tears itch is going to runs. why? but it wasn't always like this. i think we worked her heart, bullets access and her. we spoke her in the winter breaker lot,

and you say they yes, do it better because you are not happy. halterman's have the form opponents chelsea at the checkbook. they spent nearly 70000000 euros more than europe's for the big leagues combined in the january transfer window. not the chelsea's money and big names signings have helped bring them success. they're on an awful run with just she wins from their last 11 games. believe it or not, the mood as has been has been positive throughout its not happy and joking and small in when, when you lose and of course not. but the same time the her, the spinner support for each other and her a good spirit and a good, a good atmosphere. a good atmosphere is something dorman, have lent on recently as they prepare for the next battle at stamford bridge. while european a football governing body wafer says it will refund to liverpool fans who attended

last year's chaotic champions league final with rail madrid in paris. the final was overshadowed by fam crushes outside the stadium and heavy handed tactics by the french police. initially you way for wrongly blamed late and ticket list, the fans for the k off bought last month, a report found you a fought for most of the responsibility in israel. as a vent organizer, the report added, it was remarkable that no one died. now not all the nominees at this year's oscars ceremony are going to walk away with a golden statue, but many will be receiving a luxury gift bag. ahead of sundays showbiz ceremony. it's now customary for all acting and director nominees to be sent what's called b. everyone wins goody bags. it's an unofficial selection of gifts worth around $126000.00 and included in 5 years goody. back as a swank italian get away

a plot of land in australia, a mental health awareness medallion, and japanese milk, bread and candle. this is dw news from berlin. here is a reminder of our top story. at this, our president of already were zalinski has ordered military commanders to send reinforcements to help you. cranium troops, defending the besieged city of bock, moved, doubts are emerging over the strength of russian forces, amid reports of ammunition shortages and coming up next indeed over year news, asia. why south korea wants to forgive japan for past 4 crimes and focus on the future. and the survivors of japan's force labor programs to feel betrayed by souls efforts. and while around the world, people are celebrating wholly the hindu festival of colors. marking the arrival of

spring, i'm going to leave you now with some images of the celebrations across india, pakistan and a paul. thank you so much for watching. oh hm . with

ah ah, with

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