♪ it's monday morning in ukraine where the local military and residents alike are still fending off the russian army, enduring a growing number of casualties but getting help from unexpected places. >> for the first time ever, the european union will finance the purchase and delivery of weapons and other equipment to a country that is under attack this is a watershed moment. >> this as ukraine citizens do all they can including the preparation of countless molotov

cocktails to stand their ground. >> today planned talks between ukraine and russia offer a glimmer of hope after putin puts nuclear forces on alert, raising the stakes of kblglobal concern. president biden is working on a state of the union that will be delivered tomorrow night. we have a preview. the screen actors guild awards "early today" starts right now good to have you with us >> pressure is mounting on russia to end its brutal invasion of ukraine. canada is accusing a russian airline of violating its air space. this comes just hours after canada joins the u.k. and european union in shutting their skies to russian plays satellite images show hundreds of military vehicles in a convoy

heading towards ukraine's capital. nbc news cannot verify them. pu putin's forces were estimated to be 30 kilometers from kyiv it's unclear when talks will happen or if they will have an impact >> reporter: as ukraine tries to fend off missile attacks and relentless shelling, a possible shift between the two sides. ukraine and russia agreeing to hold negotiations on the border of belarus their security guaranteed by belarusian strong man alexander lukashenko. ukraine's president zelensky doubting the outcome but hoping for peace. for now, ukrainian soldiers managing to stop russian advances on kyiv, but new images appear to show growing russian ground forces pushing toward the

capital. russia still targeting ukraine's infrastructure, a missile strike at an oil depo near kyiv lit up the night sky. and in kharkiv, an explosion at a gas pipeline as more heavy fighting broke out tanks burning alongside the roads, fighters surrounded by destruction, the path of war marked by bombed out vehicles, charred roads and billings blown out. this resident saying my friend lives here so i came to check. it is very bad innocent civilians caught in the cross hairs. this nine story apartment building shelled, civilians helping civilians anyway they can, their homes destroyed one woman died 20 people rescued from the rubble as dozens more hid out in safety the death toll is rising at least 350 people have been killed, more than 1500 injured still, the citizens of ukraine are resolute

the mayor of the cultural capital of this country telling me even his wife will take up arms if need be. as a ukrainian how does that make you feel? have you felt pride for your people >> this great honor for me my people today like lions and million, million people in different country support our position we fight for democracy >> reporter: so many ukrainians spent another night underground in bomb shelters and subway stations with more international help rolling in in the form of supplies and weapons ukrainians are bracing for another bloody night as you saw right there, it's a situation that more and more ukrainians are being forced to live with. this as the humanitarian crisis continues. the u.n. saying at least 400,000

ukrainians have already left we can tell you there are hundreds of thousands more still trying to get out. >> we have more on what tom was just talking about the russian invasion triggers that humanitarian disaster in ukraine. according to the u.n., more than 368,000 ukrainians have fled the country since the invasion began. for many of them it's taking days to escape as train stations and bus depos become overcrowded. families torn apart as some men say good-bye to their children through a chain link fence joining us on the ground in poland is ellison barber >> reporter: we have been watching buses, cars full of women and children make their way into poland. what we mostly see are very young children with their

mothers. you see this car seat here a reminder of how young many of the people are the frost on here, a reminder of how absolutely unbearably cold it is. i spoke to one family as they made their way across the border just a little while ago. the baby they had with them, tatiana, she was 1 month old her mother talked about how difficult it was making this journey with her children. not only was she afraid for their lives because of the bombing back home, but as they were traveling she was also worried about the cold it is dangerously cold here. for days they have been trying to make it to safety i spoke to that woman's oldest child, her son yuri. he talked to us about what his dad said before he sent him and the other children away. listen >> i'm very upset that my dad left our family is split up >> reporter: how old are you

>> 15. i don't cry, but now it just broke me i say to all presidents, all the polit politicians that help ukraine. if you don't want to send just more sanctions >> reporter: there are so many families like that one there you have more families just now coming across through the border we were watching as police helped another family a little while ago with a child so small that they were in just kind of a bundle of blankets, getting them to safety to another location. the u.n. has said if the situation in ukraine continues to escalate, there could be as many as 4 million refugees we are seeing the early impacts of it and we are hearing so many stories like yuri's, children

being told they have to step up and take care of their families, get their younger siblings to safety. >> some powerful and heartbreaking stories we're hearing. thank you, ellison stay safe. as we await potential talks between russia and ukraine this morning, the u.s. is calling on china to condemn russia's invasion in an interview with msnbc, white house press secretary jen psaki prevailed china has been abiding by some of the sanctions the u.s. and allies have imposed on russia. we know china has close ties with russia and we've seen some solidarity with ukraine. what would it mean for china's global standing in the community if it doesn't speak out more against russia's actions >> reporter: china finds itself in a very awkward position in that it's trying to balance its relationship with rush rush with the potential blowback from much

of the world so far the official statements have been quite jegeneric. they've been calling on all sides to turn to dialogue. they haven't condoned russian actions, but they haven't condemned them either. there are signs two state-owned banks appear to be complying with sanctions in that they're restricting russian commodities. china has yet to call it an invasion, let alone a war. it's why we have the white house and jen psaki urging china to say more, to do more to pressure vladimir putin >> this is a time to be vocal and condemn the actions of president putin and russia in invading a sovereign country this is really a moment for every country to decide what part of history they want to stand on >> reporter: now china is walking this fine line because of its economy and the risks to the economy, including the possibility that sanctions could extend to china if it's seen as

backing putin. now, moscow and beijing have this deepening relationship. vladimir putin and xi jinping consider each other friends. there is this alignment of common interests, namely, to confront nato expansion and the u.s. but it's a very complicated relationship we see that because the leadership all but disappeared from here out of public view for more than a week, signaling that there are deep discussions and debates going on here in beijing about how far they will be willing to go for russia soccer's governing body fifa said it's not allowing the russia flag or national anthem to be associated with the team they will still be allowed to compete for a spot in the world cup but fifa will not allow

matches to be played in russia czech republic's national team joined poland and sweden in refusing to play the russian team in world cup qualifying matches next month. ryan reynolds and blake lively announced they are pledging to match up to $1 million in aid for hundreds of thousands of displaced uk d ukrainians green day is cancelling a concert in moscow. snl paid tribute to the people of ukraine at the start of this weekend's show ♪ the ukrainian chorus of new york performed prayer for ukraine in front of a table of candles. heart felt tributes to ukraine

were also on display at sunday's sag awards. >> while tonight is a celebration, we are holding a place in our hearts for the people of ukraine and sending thoughts, prayers and hopes for peace. >> we have a fellow actor in zelensky who deserves some credit tonight for fighting the fight. >> several actors referenced the invasion in their speeches >> it's hard not to be a part of it let's turn to the weather on this last day of february. bill karins joins us this morning. >> good morning. great to see you we're starting march this week -- you hear the saying in like a loi i doion, out like a b no lion this week.

we have chilly winds in the northeast, sunny and mild through the bottom half of the country, mild through the middle of the nation. we're still watching a flood threat in the northwest. we end the week with spring feeling spreading from the middle of the country, omaha to sioux falls, temperatures above normal. up next, what can we expect from president biden's first state of the union address plus, the supreme court taking on climate change wh tathis means for biden's agenda it could be a sign that your

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president biden will deliver his first state of the union tomorrow night officials are installing fencing around the grounds at the capitol building this morning ahead of possible protests that could collide with the speech. good morning this is a far cry from the president's joint address to congress a year ago. >> reporter: that's exactly right. a week ago the president's chief of staff was on capitol hill briefing senators about the big themes president biden was going to address during his first state of the union on tuesday. i can tell you from my conversations with those senators, they said the themes would be empathy to understand the american people's struggle with inflation, with the rising cost of goods from gas to food well, now, of course with the destructive events of the last week in eastern europe with russia's invasion of ukraine, we theside speech s to change. we kw he alwayned on

addressing the democracyn talkinout protece buthis timwenow that has to change to all for some of what is happening in ukraine take a listen to what jen psaki had to say about that today. >> what presidents do is they lead during crises that's exactly what president biden is doing you can expect, the american people can expect to hear him talk about that, standing up against president putin, standing up against autocracies. >> reporter: if you remember, during his joint address last year he spoke about build back better he touted democratic priorities that he fell short on this last year there are also some victories for president biden to tout, like the bipartisan infrastructure plan that he led republicans and democrats to pull together. there is also covid restrictions that are easing after a very difficult year for many americans during the pandemic and the nomination of the first

black woman to sit on the supreme court, who is starting her meetings with lawmakers on wednesday. >> now we're going to have t focus on what's happening here at home too. still to come, we are following other big headlines, including major changes coming to new york city's mask regulations. plus, judgment day f torhe mlb as the deadline looms in the league's lockout discussions n's or ulcerative colitis, stelara® can provide relief, and is the first approved medication to reduce inflammation on and below the surface of the intestine in uc. you, getting on that flight? back off, uc! stelara® may increase your risk of infections, some serious, and cancer. before treatment, get tested for tb. tell your doctor if you have an infection, flu-like symptoms, sores, new skin growths, have had cancer, or if you need a vaccine. pres, a rare, potentially fatal brain condition,

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leading the news, a week from now new yorkers may not need to show their vaccine cards when going to stores, restaurants, gyms or indoor mayor eric adams announcedt if covid-19 numbers keep going down, the vaccine mandates will be lifted. the indoor mask mandate for

students could also be lifted monday. a new pair of scientific studies found that the covid pandemic likely started in a wet market in wuhan, china the theory that it originated in a lab in w gained tracti last year. the studies have not been peer reviewed yet. the supreme court is gearing up to hear the biggest climate change case in a decade. a coalition of republican-led states is seeking to limit federal regulation, putting in jeopardy president biden's climate change agenda. the dispute dates back to an obama era regulation that wanul trump. it could limit the epa's authority in cutting back on greenhouse gasses. the case could throw a wrench in the biden administration's plans to have the nation's emissions by the end of the decade. today is the deadline major

league baseball imposed to reach a deal on the collective bargaining agreement or risk shortening the season. the work stoppage has resulted in spring training games being cancelled through next monday. up next, bill karins has your monday forecast. still ahead, american bars pouring ouin therit of solidarity but america is just as beautiful on the 4th of january or february. stripped of its leaves but not drained of its color. no one experiences a true american winter the same way. but those with the confidence and capability of the all new 2022 grand wagoneer, will remember the adventure as long as they live. with microban 24, ju fights bacteria all day.

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that's why i take osteo bi-flex, to keep me moving the way i was made to. it nourishes and strengthens my joints for the long term. osteo bi-flex. available at your local retailer and club. the worst weather in the country is in the pacific northwest, a big storm moving in, avalanche threat this is where we'll be seeing the worst travel implications as we go throughout the day today here's the forecast. ending february on a warm note through the middle of the country, temperatures in the 60s and 70s. we are cold in the northeast, some of the coldest air we've seen in a couple days. northern new england windchills in the negative numbers. tomorrow we warm up a little bit in the northeast all that rain in the south will be gone. should be beautiful from atlanta to new orleans to areas of texas. unfortunately that rain and storm threat will continue in t. straight ahead, americans are taking anti-russian matters into their own hands

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febreze. several states across the country are banning russian alcohol. employees of a restaurant in las vegas dumped russian vodka down the drain in the street. instead they're promoting ukrainian liquor, selling $5 f-putin shots is what they're calling it and donating the proceeds to help the refugee crisis >> reporter: global powers scrambling to pressure and punish vladimir putin, a hastily called sunday session at the

united nations. >> we will not let atrocities slide. >> reporter: a rush to close air space to russian aircraft. more countries delivering military aid sweden to send ukrainian rations and 5,000 anti-tank weapons. condemnation from nato after putin declared his nuclear forces are on high alert >> this is a behavior which is irresponsible. >> reporter: the white house called it a manufactured threat. >> an escalatory attempt to justify further action on their part we have the ability, of course, to defend ourselves. >> reporter: the u.s. is sending another $54 million in humanitarian aid, emergency food, clean water and thermal blankets sanctions led by the u.s. and european union are aimed at strangling russian banks, cutting off elites dand damaging russian currency.

>> vladimir putin controls 100% of the banks in russia. >> reporter: outrage prompting a message from governors. virginia joined ohio and new hampshire banning vodka sales in state run liquor stores. texas urging a boycott. >> the russia government is a pariah and the entire world should be protesting in letting russia know how badly they're seen on the world stage. >> reporter: the united nations will held an emergency session for all 193 nations to condemn the russian invasion kelly o'donnell, nbc news, the white house. >> i remember back when there were similar companies coming forward and saying we'll vote with our dollars >> and you'll see the power of that when it comes to the dollar in any currency when it comes to this crisis. >> thank you for starting your week with "early today." >> we do appreciate you being with us. coming up on the "today" show we

have continuing coverage of the crisis in ukraine. we'll have live reports throughout the region covering every angle of the russian siege of the country we'll see you back here tomorrow hope you stay safe out there thank you for being with us.

this issing exactly the kind of manufactured threats that president putin has been using since the beginning of this crisis to justify further aggressive action. what is fact here is that russia is under no threat from nato, has never been, is under no threat from ukraine, has never been >> this morning talks between ukraine and russia are expected to take place at the european union. >> we are live with the latest