thing about is on the w travel. i hope you enjoy the trip here as much as i did. what about you? what's your opinion? feel free to write your thoughts and the comments. the . this is dw news lie from berlin. a top you were official makes her way to keith, to reassure the block support for ukraine in it's for, with russia, new foreign policy chief kind of colors hold talks with ukrainian president for a lot of his zalinski. and he praises her decision to come to keith on her 1st day in the job. also coming up as long as fighters celebrate their advance into a level and the biggest challenge in years to redeem a bushel, alyssa, the

unlike look who, thanks for joining us. the new european foreign policy chief has made an unannounced visit to ukraine, ukraine's president for a lot of his the landscape hosted a meeting with kaya calis, who reassured him of the european union support in the war with russia. callus took office as foreign policy chief a few hours earlier. the training president also spoke about ukraine one day joining the military alliance nato. let's hear what he had to say. without somebody i put them on the agenda also includes welcome. they took an invitation for your train to join nato is a necessary thing for all survival. visually, we're looking at all levels to strengthen the position of the train and the entire us and to community one think i'm grateful to incidentally, one who helps us coordinate the auth number the bottom line. let's get more on this from our report in mac, xander in keys max, the use top foreign policy official in keep on her very 1st day and all says that

she's specify what support she could provide to ukraine or was it is more a symbolic visit. right? i mean, every time a leader comes to ukraine, especially during the war, there is absolutely on the symbolic value to it. even so in this case, um, today was actually not just the hi representative of the you kind of colors. but also the counsel president's the new counsel present gonna cost us to come today. and the enlargement commissioner, of course, and they actually all came on the 1st day of picking office, which only happened yesterday at midnight. so that's an added symbolic value here. but in terms of the actual promises or assurances of that they are giving apart from standing by ukraine side, there was nothing really groundbreaking that was announced today. and they spoke about the assistance and about the negotiation process, your assessment process, and about 15 section package that is supposed to be presented quite soon. um,

but one particular interesting aspect that i talked about this was that on the new counselor present cost us mentioned during the press conference today is that the you starting next year, every month will shut out 1500000000 euros from frozen russian assets several directly benefit in the assistance of your crane, but in addition to that, to negotiation clusters for the you, accession process of ukraine will be started, will be opened in the 1st semester of next year. so that's a really long road ahead. try to bring your train up to speed in terms of a, bringing it to aligning it with the you legislation which could take, take many, many years. but the process is this is ongoing and that's what they were also here to assure people. and of course, we just heard zalinski speaking about ukraine joining the nato military lines one day, is this aspiration about strengthening ukraine's position ahead of possible peace

talks with russia? of the, i mean certainly yes, um, so there has been, there is a lot of fatigue in ukraine, but also especially with the, with allies of ukraine over in supporting the congress so far. and a lot of talk about the or some positions trying to push ukraine to the negotiating table. and one thing the presence of things can try and make claim today again, was that in order to be able to negotiate your prey needs a strong negotiating position. they need weapons, they need assistance, and most importantly, they need security guarantees, such as either a new to umbrella protection for certain parts of the country or in the long term nato membership. and that's the only way it has to be ukrainian say to prevent another attack in a couple of years after 1st, after a peace deal assign it makes it quickly give us an update on the military situation rusher has been launching devastating attacks against ukraine. this past week

yeah. um the situation on the front line is very, very difficult at the moment. um the past couple of months ukraine has been losing significant territory. they are trying to hold onto important cities and the, such as guns kind up across as for now quite successfully. but there is also there also being where he's at the moment. um, what's gonna happen in 2 or 3 months time was the trump administration comes into office in the united states in january. what does that going to mean for assistance for you, for, for ukraine in the long run, in addition to that and other parts of the country, you can also feel the effects of the war pretty much every day, especially here in the caplin cube, but also on the other major cities with ongoing air raid sirens during the night with uh, with uh, ongoing joint attacks and attacks listing this house that also cause fatalities

last night to the people across regions across, excuse me. and also here in causing blackouts and issues with the power supply and the entire country. so does the military situations at the foot line very difficult, but also in the cities? civilians also suffer from, from, from the ongoing concert that's on mac sander in keeps thanks, max the visit from the u. delegation to keep comes as the brussels. it increases its exports of electricity to ukraine. russia has again, hammer the ukrainian power grid with air attacks is cold weather sets in the e. u has already spent 2000000000 euros to keep ukrainians warm and has committed another 160000000 for this winter dw. corresponded on child laura has this report.

russia stock, which is a tax have left you create in power plant, installed and plunged parts of the country into darkness. experts have predicted that as temperatures plummet and demand for electricity increases, blackouts could get as long as 18 hours a day in some areas, in a bit to keep your premiums warm. this went to the european union, were now increase electricity, exports that can cover up to 15 percent of the country's total needs this winter. it will also provide money for power equipment. 80 percent of ukraine's son or plans have been destroyed. and a 3rd of the hydro power capacity. so this is where we will concentrate our repair efforts with the aim to restoring $2.00 gigawatts of capacity this winter. last week that you offered financial supports to one of your brains. biggest electricity companies, d, g, e k for new equipment g gets set it face the latest version attack on one of its

power plants just this week. because a lot of damage to our interest system, our power stations, fluids. i can many times and only in $22411.00 waves of my see for the tax targeting us. but the visa wife to reenters and to be, i'm sure we'll so i won't be into any ukraine and all of these because of support, we are getting from new york in union and from european commission. the u. s. already spent 2000000 euros and has roughly compensated for the loss of the massive supervision nuclear plant. now it's a short $160000000.00 mall up awesome. this additional money will come from interest and on russian assets lying in the european union to make rochelle pay for some of the damages it has cost. but how to put an end to russia bombing off the bed and rebuilt infrastructure out of the say, the only way out is to provide more ad defense systems. the more rush to destroy is

the more there is a need to, to fill this gap. and i mean, how can you live without electricity without gas, without water? overall, the e u. intense took about 25 percent of ukraine student electricity to mom this winter. but that might still leave many in ukraine defend for themselves. as russia continues to rein bonds to, to syria, now we're thousands of rebel fighters have taken over much from the city of a level and the surrounding areas interest days, syria and it sound like russia have retaliated with air strikes, including on the rebel held city of it live overnight, killing and injuring a number of people. it's the biggest challenge in years to the san regime. the fighting is force thousands of local, so leave their home is including many children. according to the u. n. and other groups. these families here fled a left 0 and the area around it live and thoughts sanctuary at a can for displaced people. the violence has created the largest wave of

displacement in years. ok, my bedroom is from the norwegian, refugee councils, the middle east, regional office in alma i asked him what his organization makes of what's happening right now. in northern syria. of course, it is warring worrying times for everybody involved for the families in these areas . the are seeing the facilities of the rise environments, of course, for age, workers who work across across areas and cities and towns to now have to suspend, you know, i depressions, i don't know. we do refugee castle. we've had to suspend the operations except for some lanes set alive, saving on critical operations. i think what's, what's happening, you know, it takes us back to some very dream days in modern history. it's scary and probably the grimace stage. serious recent history. it was with all the different

destruction that we have seen over the past decades. we hope this new cycle ends soon through the escalation of course, because civilians will be caught up in this institutions of desperate for some known as a normal life in, in sylvia and getting conditions for residents in alaska were difficulties before the most recent fighting. does your organization have a plan for what may come next? it's it's all clear now because the situation on the ground is shifting, but we have been operating in other pro and other places. we have been in the north of seo, we have for 4 years now. we have be providing shelter supports education support and uh, you know, lots of services for, for people displaced. what we're worried about now is that, you know, this will only increase that we will see increase, and in the end of number of people displaced, that'd be, have seen that, you know,

i know the teams, 20000 people see the initial estimate saw that people have been displaced and we are worried that you know, with is probably was winter as well. that things will only get was you know, there will be towards the bread shortages. there were read pacific water shortages already and, and i've posted to you many, many in, you know, several, many in millions. of course people are, you know, large settings only for will. of course the see more of that pressure so well with each for that. yeah. you know, humanitarian situation from so a sense of what's happening. that's ok. mike, bear on from the norwegian, refugee councils, the middle east, regional office in mind. let's take a look now at some of the other stories. i'm making news as we speak and rather un agency supporting palestinian refugees is pausing the delivery of a through the main cargo crossing into garza due to security concerns. its chief

says the road out of karema shalom crossing has not been safe for months and large convoys of a trucks are being stolen by armed gangs, georgia, as a prime minister, iraq lee come back, he'd say, has said that presidents allow me to do a bunch of really must leave office when her term and this month, that's after 0 emission really declared. she wouldn't step down saying parliament has no authority to appoint her successor. the prime minister also ruled out a rerun of last month's disputed elections. despite ongoing protests, voters in romania or electing a new parliament a week after shock, results in the 1st round of the presidential election. the controversial far right populace who had been pulling in single digits one the most votes in the polk and anti establishment parties are expecting a strong showing this time around. iceland is opposite through social democrats have won a snap election with almost 21 percent of those that gives them 15 of 63 seats in

parliament ahead of the governing independence party. but short of the majority, social democratic lead, a christian 1st adult to could now become prime minister of a new coalition government. at least 3 people have died after cycling thing gone, smashed into india's south eastern coast law. officials say the damage is otherwise minimal. while the storm is expected to gradually leaking into a depression later, sunday, india's weather bureau warrant of heavy rain. so cost parts of india is. so he's remind of the top stories at this hour. the use of new foreign policy chief has made an unannounced visit to ukraine. k, a callous met with ukraine's president below him. is the landscape and reassured him of the european union support in the war with russia. colors took office as foreign policy chief a few hours earlier, and you're up to date. will ended there up next. how the world's top exporting

nation china is seeking to dominate maritime shipping networks. stay tuned for mapped out unlike look, and thanks for watching bye for now the, this is, he is hungry for the future. so seeing in southwest china, 32000000 people live here. many of them are young and understand the readings coming through, making money, having fun with nice schools and shows things stuff. december 13th on the double you most of the stuff you buy crosses the world by sea shipping containers don't just total goods. they hold something else to power and china is all in. that's why they've been investing massively in ports all over the

world to china, probably have stakes and afford near you. they're creating a network and it goes beyond trade. this is a story about the promises sprawling ambition and a plan to dominate the seas the but let start small. let's go to creepy and cameron. it's a coastal town known for its sandy beaches and fresh fish. now it's also home to a deep water seaport built by china just down the coast. this is what the coast by creepy looked like on satellite images about 20 years ago. not too much going on in 2011. a chinese state owned construction company started building the port with the

help of the camera and in government, you can see how quickly it pops up here along with the highway that connects creepy to the rest of the country. china invested over $1000000000.00 to open the port in 2018. the idea, as outlined in this promotional video, to turn creevy into a t trade hub for all of central in west africa. china promised fireworks and local se the port has certainly change things here. no product could be, uh, it'd been a month. yeah. okay. give it to me. my name is on the phone share that says the share of when money see the quote do p d. so that many people who did the for the web disagree, i book without pause, i posted them and it isn't just crazy. and cameron, china's port promise is attractive for governments. they lend you money. you hire

a chinese state owned construction firm. they quickly build you a port and that connects you to a global trade kind of a recent lead. so if you go to china, has that strong stay on the enterprises? china? very efficient to kind of look at that. so that's, that's basically the soft spring heat from time. that's one you way. he's director of the institute of international affairs at redman university of china in beijing . and is a former chinese diplomat. also a ton of each. those might be, i think this mutual benefit and didn't return china promises not to get involved in your politics. no matter what. by the way, china's involvement isn't the same in every port. for example, it can vary from 100 percent ownership to a minority steak. but the pitch has been successful in the global south, especially in african countries, out of around 160 ports with china,

head steaks and 53 are on the african continent. now she's in a plastic, they do a bit good. and this is all that good demo, cross the lot bunkerville niles on golf. i left this yonder job or the out the 6. yeah. last shooting the alaska add to where it says that there are some guys you some so some point they say point issue. now the big key itself is and i'm afraid to follow that be talk, she's out there or another reason why african countries might be wary of western investment as well. the last few 100 years of western colonialism should change. and now, should you go go book a board or the chinese she finally said that parts in turn, a sound good quantum about father and really good job by law son jones for not

china still calls itself a developing country and says it's an equal partner, as opposed to the west, but china is deals with global south countries, still serve china's interests like increasing. because as we'll see, each of these ports is just one small part of a bigger strategy. the enter the belts and road initiatives by building roads, railways and seaports. china wants to connect the world and one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects ever conceived. jones young man holds your bank. when the belt and road initiative launched in 2013, it was initially suppose to connect china and europe, just like china's ancient silk road state facing. now china is tapping into markets

in the global south. so we need to find a new money for our time. and to those countries also be equal to share the experience is kind of an as ation like a chinese smoking coast. if you want to kind of reached go that route. here's a network. china has delta, the orange lines, or overland roads. the blue lines are maritime roots. in the last few years, china has increasingly expanded the maritime part of the network. and that strategy makes sense because remember, most traded goods across the world by sea. more than 80 percent these are the main routes they take. and these are some of the world's most vital choke points, ships with goods important to world trip. i need to pass through here to get from one region to another. now take another look at those ports. they give china pretty

crucial access, which is important for the country as the world's biggest ex, border. the real question uh to my mind has to do with whether or not these infrastructure projects that leave china and as the as the lender, as the builder, as an owner, as an operator, according to mine do influence in foreign countries. this is isaac, pardon? he's a china expert at the us based carnegie think tank. his research focus is on china's maritime power. this use of economic coersion against trading partners the that's right, or actuality of withholding certain trade and the, the sort of control over their trading network itself helps give china a bunch of different mechanisms by which it can accomplish that. meaning china has

gaines leverage over many countries. in 2022, china was accused of having used it in the u. n. human rights council. there was a proposal to talk just talk about chinese human rights violations against the countries weak or muslim minority internment camps. here are the 47 countries in the council at the time these countries said yes to talking these countries said no. these upstate note that a lot of the african countries in the council voted know, china has invested in infrastructure projects in some of the countries that voted yes and all of the countries that voted no. the proposal was rejected. of course, it could have been a coincidence kind of interested increase because most of the rest of the complex, the, even the learn from time to learn chinese. there's maybe to ask her for a more like more time this model. and that's, that's like one thing is for sure. china is involvement in ports. it's cementing

a global network with political allies and trade ties. now that china has built that trade network, it's anxious to protect it. let's look at one of those key choke points. we mentioned before, this narrow straight between africa and the radian peninsula is called by the monday at the suez canal is on the other end of the red sea here, around 12 percent of world trade usually passes through here and you get it. china has a port here in the small country of 2 booty. china also has its only official for a naval base here, right next to the commercial port. it has stakes in china, said the reason for opening a bass and your body is to secure a trade from piracy. and it's not the only country with the military base since you booty. take a look the by the way,

the us space is around 13 kilometers from china space. but we'll get to that 5 over e later. so many countries are set up on the straight budget booty in part because of a tax like the most recently who's the rebels from yemen, have been targeting commercial ships in the red sea. those attacks have been so intense that they changed global trade routes. many ships are now avoiding the red sea altogether and taking this much longer route to get to europe. along with russia, china reportedly even struck a deal with the who would fees to avoid their ships being hit. the u. n says, disruptions to trade in general are increasing all over the world. a worry, especially for the chinese of the country is not only a big ex border,

but also needs to import resources like oil and minerals to keep its economy running. there is a, there is a risk to china out of the disruption of that network, and that, that would really cause significant problems for their economic models. and political rivalries could also lead to disruption. there is this perception in china that they're vulnerable to uh, to us sanctions, to you as navel introduction to other us efforts along side allies to essentially cut china out of the global trading system. so it's no surprise. the giant container vessels aren't the only ships from china is showing up at these ports now . meet the people's liberation army navy. the p l a n th. the navy's official

mission is to safeguard china's overseas interests. that include securing trade between not just means like war dr. on are committed to use. uh, also news provided public news uh, security publish these in the last few years. china has been massively building up its navy. china can now rival the us in some important military capabilities and already has a larger fleet if you only look at ship numbers and it's building even more. plus, there has been rumors about potential new naval bases beyond your body for a while. the most likely spots for them are, you guessed it, some of the overseas ports china is involved in the us research lab. a data found weak ports that they think could become chinese military bases within the next 5 years. remember creevy in cameroon? well, it's on the list,

china is the port operator there. the port is deep enough to harbor a big warships and china and cameroon, on good terms, politically. and even without ports like creepy, officially becoming naval bases. the people's liberation army has made quite extensive use of this network of port facilities, all of the ports, and virtually any commercial for it is intrinsically a dual use. uh facility. because naval ships need some of the same things that any commercial ship does in particular fuel and water, food and the ability to, to rest their crews. and there's more the us as concern chinese involvement in ports could block or limit us commercial and military access to them. and the china is using ports to spy. like here at the port of holly fund in the united arab emirates, us intelligence set a new plan terminal. there was actually a secret military facility. just to put the us accusations in context. china has

14 and military base. and the us as well see for yourself or the big or the bubble in each country. the more us military bases there are there the, we don't know how the use of this port network will ultimately play out. the us as watching warily as china expands into what they perceive as they are back yard and latin america. one of the new ports chung kite input route. it will supposedly slash shipping times between south america and asia. a chinese shipping company will be the sole operator of the port, which is why us officials have repeatedly boys concerned about the projects. but china's port promise remains attractive around the world as they expand their port network. their gaming new allies,

willing to harper and their ambition. the visa roads component traveled 700 years ago from italy to my home country of china and cells and quito meters. all the way to the parts of the legendary ruler of the one going on the working the same route, but marco polo took, i wonder how much his journey stories have shaped the world and how much his name means to both europe.