>> this is the "journal" coming to you live from dw in berlin. >> out of stories. key leaders are just about to meet about the european -- the ukrainian crisis in minsk. >> morning former president richard von weizsacker. >> the great prime minister says there is no turning back -- the greek prime minister says there is no turning back. >> a key summit on ending the conflict in ukraine is due to be

started in the belarus capital of minsk in a couple hours. >> the leaders of france, germany, and ukraine are making a fresh attempt after a previous attempt failed. >> the german chancellor's office spoke ahead of the summit, saying the talks offered only a glimmer of hope. fighting intensified in eastern ukraine, both sides limning the other for trying to grab as much territory as possible. >> once again, people are dying in the city of donetsk. a rocket exploded killing civilians. government forces have launched an offensive along the city in an attempt to fight off separatists. president petro poroshenko visited the city last night. 50 people died there in a rocket attack on tuesday. officials say the region has

seen some of the worst fighting so far of the past 24 hours. >> we have terrorists attacking the city, attacking the peaceful city. this is absolutely unacceptable. that is why we think these crimes should be punished and demand immediate and unconditional cease-fire for the talks. >> given the heavy fighting in ukraine, all hopes are pinned on minsk. german chancellor angela merkel and french president francois hold on to our joining russia's vladimir putin and petro poroshenko for the talks. the goal is an immediate cease-fire. >> it is my hope that poroshenko listens. neither angela merkel nor francois hollande want a war. they know the consequences that could have. >> there is no way we can give

back to the rebels. next they will want the whole country. that is just how it is in war. >> many ukrainians fear the summit in minsk will make no lasting difference. ahead of the meeting, president poroshenko said he is prepared to introduce martial law across the country should the peace talks fail. >> now for some background and analysis we are joined by marcus klein. welcome marcus. there has already been an minsk agreement last year. what is different this time? >> i think two major points will be added to a minsk ii agreement. first, a timetable, which was lacking in the first one. so for example, the withdrawal of heavy weapons by two weeks. the second step will be increased intervention, be it from the osc or the united nations. >> looking at the various

parties involved, starting with ukraine, what does kiev want to achieve during these talks? >> i think what can be accomplished today in minsk would be a huge success, some kind of cease-fire. simply start the kill -- stop the killing. the minsk agreement, the confidence securing measures and the whole process about elections and autonomy in eastern ukraine. probably that will be postponed. but to find a solution for a cease-fire that would be a tremendous success for the international negotiators. >> any kind of agreement whether a cease-fire or a wider political agreement, russia's role is critical. how do you think russia will go into these talks? what compromises is it repaired to make? >> russia is key. as far as we can see, we are not

confronted with any territorial ambitions like an crimea. there are no territorial statements of the russian regime that it aspires to and it eastern ukraine, but it wants to russia and spur the -- spoil the path of ukraine toward, in general, the west. by destabilizing ukraine, they have a powerful tool to do that. >> what about the separatists to have announced independence for luhansk and donetsk? >> given the advancements of the pro-russian rebels, they have so to speak political momentum. it will be a measure of the russian influence on the pro-russian rebels. >> marcus klein, thank you for sharing your insight with us. >> thank you. >> and now we go to marcus rios,

covering the summit for us. what are you hearing? what is the goal of the summit? a cease-fire or a wide ranging peace plan? >> russian foreign minister sergei lavrov told the russian news agency he is certain a political solution to the conflict can be arranged in these talks in minsk but those who have followed the conflict for a long time would argue there are too many sticking points and an immediate cease-fire is already the major breakthrough for today. >> with so many sticking points and so much at stake what are the expectations there will be a deal at the end of the day? >> well, and anonymous source in the administration of the kremlin today told reporters the chances are 70 to 30, but i would argue they are lower.

expectations should not be too high because the sticking points are about who and how the border between russia and ukraine will be controlled, so that no more troops and heavier weapons can be brought in from russia to eastern ukraine as we have heard reports over the last month and we. the major issue is about how to deal how to reach this immediate cease-fire and the key question is, of course, will there be an agreement on the front lines? the pro-russian rebels and the kremlin argue the talk should be about today's front lines and kiev wants to hold on to the front lines like they have been in september. i do not see any agreement on that so far. >> marcus rios therefore is in minsk. thank you for bringing us up to date. >> you're welcome. >> some 300 migrants are feared to have drowned in the

mediterranean sea according to the u.n. refugee agency. >> after boats confronted difficulties, authorities say nine survivors have been rescued and taken to the islands off lampedusa, but more are unaccounted for. it has reignited criticism of italy's decision to end search and rescue missions in the area. >> to belgium, a court in the city of antwerp has sentenced the leader of a radical islamist group to prison. the judge said that he was the driving force behind sharia law in belgium. >> the court argued that the group is a terrorist organization that brainwashes young men into fighting in syria. 55 young men were found guilty of terror related offenses. most are believed to still be fighting in syria and were tried in abstention of -- in absentee ia.

you heard the verdict when it was announced in antwerp. what was the reaction? was it expected, the verdict? >> i think it was expected, by many here, particularly if you see this people before the trial who have said that it is a terrorist organization and an organization that is to be blamed for so many young people from belgium to syria -- 1/10 is what the prosecutors said, of the 350 people who traveled to syria and been motivated by this group to go to syria. >> given that, what are belgian parties doing to contain this islamist threat? >> the belgian government is currently looking into a range of things they could do. one idea is to strip citizens

who returned from syria of their citizenship. they will be looking into how they can deploy the army domestically. and then they will look at how to increase surveillance generally, looking at close surveillance measures that made it possible the reason belgian were -- the raids in belgium were successful and prevented an attack on police officers read all of these measures are being discussed at a european summit on thursday. critics say that is only curing these symptoms, but not actually treating the disease. the problem of the disaffected muslim youth goes well beyond just one underground group. >> thank you. algeria's military is promising

to remain neutral in the upcoming presidential election amid concerns over its role in politics. >> the opposition says that the move was politically motivated to give the government and advantage in the election. few believe the deadly insurgency can be contained in just six weeks. our correspondent with to the north where he met refugees eager to cast their ballot. >> emmanuelle will not let his voter card out of his hands. last month, the refugee went to the authorities to pick it up himself. he says it is not a problem that the presidential election was respond by six weeks. he has learned to be patient in the refugee camp. >> i'm not disappointed. i am even praying that there shall be more time. so we can get our security intact. >> more than 2000 refugees live

in this camp. almost all have left their villages for fear of attacks by the islamist group oklahoma. this family had to watch out government soldiers were hopefully outnumbered when they -- when the islamist group attacked their village. they cannot imagine the government will restore control in just six weeks. >> these people kept coming. they would run away. you see? [indiscernible] >> journalist edgar amos is also a refugee from the embattled north. he says security problems were not the reason for the delayed election. he believes it is all down to politics. >> the ruling party needs more time to gain some political mileage and are threatened by

the apparent acceptability of the opposition. currently the elections are postponed, maybe to give them more time to re-strategize. >> it does not matter to immanuel why the elections are delayed. he only hopes that the elections really do take place six weeks from now. everywhere in nigeria, people have remained column about the postponement of the elections. many nigerians say they do not want to give the government a reason to put on them again. but they say should the elections not happen in six weeks, they will definitely start to lose patience. >> australian authorities prevented an imminent terrorist attack in sydney. two men were arrested following a raid on the city suburbs. >> they seized and a ramik state

flag and an arabic language video, but gave no details of the attack. they raised the terror threat over fears of an attack on the public. >> but before we get a break, to space -- >> they have not been able to bring these back to earth. the european space agency's a blessed up a short while ago from french guiana. >> the experimental test flight will only last 100 minutes in deep space. the agency is hoping to collect a lot of valuable data especially when the craft reenters the atmosphere and splashes down in the pacific ocean. thank you very much for being with us. we will be back with you in just a minute. do not go away.

>> welcome back. a state funeral has been held in germany for late president richard von weizsacker. he passed away at the end of last month at the age of 94. >> more than 1000 guests from across the political spectrum attended a remembrance ceremony for the president who served the dumb firms -- who served two terms. he was known as the moral conscience for the nation. >> richard von weizsacker was a political president through and through. the words of the incumbent german president joachim gauck. he was touching upon what was perhaps von weizsacker's most important address in 1985 when he described the end of the second world war.

>> richard von weizsacker was not just intellectually aware of what germany had lost. he experienced it during his entire life and with his family history. perhaps that is why he felt -- and let's not be shy to say it -- according -- a calling to urge as germans to finally confront the war and its pconsequences. >> gauck said throughout his lengthy political career, von weizsacker had always been a source of inspiration and orientation for germans. >> by liking him, germans learned to like themselves. he brought something of a healing process to political life. we bow before richard von weizsacker, a great president who could be relied upon to say the right thing and do the right

thing. >> foreign minister frank-walter steinmeier also paid tribute to von weizsacker as one of germany's greatest diplomats. >> richard von weizsacker gave not only our eastern neighbors, but the whole world a new faith in our country. that restored faith was essential on the path to reunification and our nation still thrives on that faith today. >> he said von weizsacker was a man of dialogue, of morals, and of peace. >> events should be shaped not with armies, not with war, not with force but with words. and so much is so vital in these tumultuous times. >> following the state funeral

richard von weizsacker is being laid to rest in a west berlin cemetery, a small service attended by family. >> our political correspondent simon young has been covering that state funeral and joins us from there. simon, tell us more about how the country remember the former president. >> this was a very solemn state ceremony with hundreds of dignitaries and political figures across germany. the former british prime minister john major was here. among many others. they heard classical music. they heard speeches from german politicians. i think the most important speech came from the current german president joachim gauck. you heard him there. he described his predecessor as

a great german who had done a great deal to raise the standing of germany around the world who indeed set a new standard for how the german president is to behave as a kind of moral authority with his excellent -- elegance, his dignified appearance in public. he also said von weizsacker had expounded in his own life much of the key elements of german history the last 100 years. born into an aristocratic family in a very different germany just after the first world war, and he served as a soldier in the second world war and of course he became the first president of a reunited germany. an extraordinary sweep within just one life, and i think those are the thoughts about richard von weizsacker that stay in the memory and will do so, i think in years to calm. >> briefly simon what do you assess as his main legacy? >> i think the key thing was

that speech to the bundestag in 1983 talking about the end of the second world war. it should not be regarded just as a military defeat for germany. the defeat of the natzis was a liberation and in a sense 1945 was the beginning of a new germany and it was richard von weizsacker's belief in the new germany and his determination to open up to the communist east, saying that germany should recognize the new postwar borders of poland. and his experience of the division of germany, having been mayor of berlin for many years before he became president. all of those experiences culminated in 1989, 19 90 when germany was reunified, and i think those things people will remember about him. >> right, simon young.

thank you very much. another major topic in europe today. and emergency meeting of eurozone finance ministers that to take place in brussels this evening. it has been called to discuss greece's commands to ease the terms of its bailout program and reverse austerity measures. >> tough decisions ahead with several eu countries skeptical about what happens. the new prime minister alexis tsipras said that there was no way back for his government. >> 162 voted yes. [applause] a convincing vote of confidence for alexis tsipras, the country's new prime minister with the backing of every member of his left-right coalition. but even before the vote, he maintained his resolute stance on greece's bailout plans. >> no matter how much they ask

us, we will not ask for an extension of the bailout. we will not accept the conditions of the troika. >> most greeks support the prime minister's position, but some fear the repercussions that could bring. >> i'm very pleased with his attitude, although i am somewhat concerned about where this boldness might lead us. still we have to fight. >> there is no room for negotiation. what the eu says, goes. that is how things are. there is no choice. >> brussels wants to hold athens to the conditions of its current bailout program, something greece is not prepared to do. >> we will negotiate. i think we can reach a mutually beneficial agreement because no one wants to split the eurozone or the eu. >> but with both sides seemingly

unwilling to compromise it is unlikely a solution will be found anytime soon. >> what are the markets making of it all? behind you -- stocks and shares are taking every thing in their own stride? >> if you will, yes, but the atmosphere here is a nervous one. people do not think indeed just as the report concluded that there is not going to be an agreement reached. the atmosphere yesterday was worried. there were rumors flying around that there would be an interim extension of six months. and the shares rocketed upwards. people now saying in actual fact, not many investors are doing much in the equity markets, because they do not want to stick their neck out for fear of having made the wrong decision in the end. having said that, the dax is not

moving much but in athens, the pressure has increased over the last hour. the index is down by over 4%. >> what rolled is this summit in minsk play -- what role does this summit in minsk play? >> that is hard to say. the distribution of risk assessment. some people i have talked to today saving minsk, the russian-ukraine issue is even more serious than greece. that is an issue for nervousness as well. the dax and the euro stoxx are holding on, but that could change as news from these very important meetings comes through. and the euro is also little changed. >> ulee barbee, thank you for that update. for the latest, we now cross over to sarah harmon. i believe there is going to be a very big premiere tonight. it is a film based on a british

best-selling author -- novel "50 shades of grey." >> it launched 1000 spinoffs. now it is a film. this is pretty sexy stuff. you are going to want to leave the kids at home. it's interesting because this is one of the only times we have seen a wide release theatrical feature with heavy s&m. i think a lot of people are curious. the origins of this book or a little bit -- how shall i put it? hokey? it started out as "twilight" f anfiction. it stars jamie dornan as christian grey and -- >> i should think it would not be a contender for the silver or

gold in bear. you never know. but just replay, we just have three more days until we know who the winners will be. any favorites? >> there are teed of favorites. one is a film called "45 years" starring charlotte rambling. -- rampling. the second is a film called "taxi." it was shot into iran. i think this has a good chance. we will have to see. >> ok, thank you for bringing us up to date. that is it.

>> december 26th 2004. there's a massive