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

as both sides work to gain the upper hand. call to arms very little seems to be stopping ukrainians from defending their home >> ukrainian refugees by the hundreds of thousands fleeing to safety how are they managing and are they getting any assistance? plus, a look inside this weekend's big conservative gathering of key republicans a busy start to your week. "early today" starts now good morning thanks for being with us >> appreciate you starting your week with us we begin with the latest on russia's invasion of ukraine, which is now in its fifth day. this morning the commander of ukraine's armed forces says russia's efforts to occupy the capital kyiv has failed. the mayor of kyiv says there is no way to evacuate the city now because they're encircled by russians >> ukrainian's president volodymyr zelensky says he will send a delegation to talk with

russians today on the border between ukraine and belarus but he has doubts there will be any breakthroughs this morning the ukrainian government has reported more explosions in kyiv and in the eastern city of kharkiv. matt, the ukrainians have managed a very strong resistance so far tell us more about what you're seeing >> reporter: so we just left the east of the country and we're hurdling west towards lviv in the extreme west of the country. we're seeing typical countryside. we have nothing to report. we passed a checkpoint where soldiers were heavily armed and with armored personnel carriers. they waved us through. people were scattering trying to find shelter every time sirens went on we still heard no bombardments

unlike when we were in kharkiv three days ago now there's fighting street to street in that city, but the russians have yet to take any apre appreciably sized territory in kharkiv, nor in kyiv so this is a situation where the russians now in the fifth day of their assault on ukraine haven't really taken any of the ground they might have thought they were going to be taking. the ukrainian military is still posting a strenuous resistance you can get a sense from the minister of defense that they are just incredibly pleased with how well they've done, especially since now, monday morning, they're seeing this sort of european econ economic calvaryppearing o the horizon. they're so ped with the sanctions and military support

the germans now finally seem like they're on side with the ukrainians and helping out the ukrainians in every possible way. so we heard this from the minister of defense. he was noting 96 hours into this how pleased they are now it's about 102 hours into the fight. how pleased they are with how well they're doing it's almost as if the ukrainian military has surprised themselves. >> that's great to hear. hopefully it will continue to stay that way. thank you for that as we mentioned, ukraine has agreed to meet with russia today. ukrainian's president says he will send a delegation to the border with belarus to speak with the russians. president zelensky says he must make every effort to try and end the war.

what more do we know about this meeting today? >> reporter: president zelensky has made clear he does not have high hopes out of these negotiations, but he feels he has an obligation to try if you look at the composition of the delegation that vladimir putin has sent to belarus, these are not top ranking security or military officials so it is not at all clear that these people are authorized to negotiate in good faith in his name and there are not high expectations that these talks will lead to a breakthrough. yesterday, president putin sent shock waves around the world by announcing he was putting russia's vast nuclear forces on high alert now, the view of u.s. defense officials is that this is most likely saber rattling rather than any real indication that putin has intentions to use nuclear weapons. but the reality is we don't know what his orders mean on the ground we don't know how many

additional warheads from russia's enormous nuclear arsenal may now be high alert. the united states does not discuss its nuclear posture, so we also don't know how american forces are responding to that. meanwhile, here in russia over the last couple of days, we have seen ordinary russians taking to the streets to protest against vladimir putin's war more than 3,000 people have been arrested here for taking part in these unauthorized protests since the conflict began. >> very moving images there. thank you. ordinary people in ukraine are going to extraordinary lengths to defend their country from the russian invasion as the clashes move to the streets. they are taking up arms to defend their families and homes. he >> reporter: in kharkiv sunday, a street battle against the invading russians. a handful of ukrainian troops

firing off guns and heavy weaponry going into this war, some thought they'd be easily overpowered by russia's military but behind these soldiers, millions of ukraines ians joinig the fight anyway they can. in her now war torn neighborhood, painter th er er tash sha says she's put down her brush and mastering the art of making molotov cocktail. >> we have this molotov cocktail preparation department >> reporter: similar scenes across the country with how-to instructions broadcast on state tv even the former prime minister now going viral with his demonstration.

potentially potent tool against an enemy that has the advantage in the air my colleague matt bradley running for cover. >> this is the secondary raid siren today. we were able to go right below our total to this underground parking garage, but not everyone is to lucky. >> reporter: in the western city of lviv, thousands seeking safety an immigrant from lebanon now working to save his adopted country. >> i have been living here ten years. it's been home for me even if i was not born here. i'm ready to die here. >> reporter: he's collecting donated items, providing food, even converting the downstairs club into a place for people to sleep. >> you want to do something. >> reporter: it's a conviction echoed in the streets of lviv in a country vowing to win this war. soccer's governing body

announced new sanctions against russia's national team fifa said it is not allowing the russian flag or national anthem to be associated with the team the squad will still be allowed to compete for a spot in the world cup, but fifa will not allow matches to be played in russia despite the sanctions the czech republic national team joined poland and sweden in refusing to play the russian squad in world cup qualifying matches next month. green day is cancelling a concert in moscow following the russian invasion and snl paid tribute to the people of ukraine at the start of this weekend's show ♪ >> the ukraine chorus of new yorking performed prayer for ukraine. celebrities have taken to

social media to show support for ukrainian refugees ryan reynolds and blake lively announced they are pledging to match up to $1 million in aid for the hundreds of thousands of displaced ukrainians heart felt tributes to ukraine were also on display at sunday's sag awards. >> while tonight is a celebration, we are all holding a place in our hearts for the people of ukraine and sending thoughts, prayers and hopes for impending peace. >> we have a fellow actor in zelensky, who deserves some credit tonight for fighting the fight. >> several actors from michael keaton to brian cox referenced the invasion in their speeches let's turn to our weather and check in with nbc meteorologist bill karins. what are you watching? >> hey, good morning great to see you guys. this last day of february it's cold in the northeast this morning. the wind really picked up overnight with some snow squalls. we have a couple of windchill

advisories for this time of year, you'd just kind of like it to be over with windchill is negative 7 in northern portions of vermont bundle up this morning in the northeast. sunny and mind in the middle of the country. all of the troublesome weather is in the pacific northwest with heavy rain, mountain snow, avalanche threat snow showers in the great lakes. feels like spring in the middle of the country by the end of the week, the storm in the west will start moving to the rockies. 23 if you're east of th jacksonvil carolina pretty mild from colorado to kansas too no complaints here with a mild

start to march i'm ready for it. >> thank you the 28th annual sag awards was one for the record books the family drama "coda" took honors helen mirren was honored with a lifetime achievement award snubs include "house of gucci" and "the power of the dog" leaving without any awards. still to come, the president's first ever state of the union. sign that your digestive system isn't working at it's best taking metamucil everyday can help. metamucil psyllium fiber, gels to trap and remove the waste that weighs you down. it also helps lower cholesterol and slows sugar absorption to promote healthy blood sugar levels. so you can feel lighter and more energetic metamucil. support your daily digestive health.

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could collide with the speech. good morning this is a far cry from the president's joint address to congress a year ago. >> reporter: it's not just a far cry from a year ago, it's a stark contrast from just a month ago after russia's violent siege on ukraine the president is expected to address the threat of vladimir putin head on and what it means for the future of our country. the white house says mr. biden will outline the high stakes of the conflict in ukraine. >> what presidents do is they lead during crises they lead the world during crises that's exactly what president biden is doing the american people can expect to hear him talk about that as well, standing up against president putin and autocracies. >> reporter: domestically the top issue on every american's mind is inflation, especially as the crease in ukraine threatens to push gas prices even higher the president will highlight efforts to get soaring costs under control. it will also be a chance to talk about his historic pick for the

supreme court. if confirmed, it will be the first woman of color on the high court. the pandemic will also be in focus as mr. biden touts his achievement in the fight against covid. just yesterday, congress announced masks will be optional for lawmakers attending the speech the president is also expected to look ahead at what's next for his build back better agenda and the fight to protect voting rights iowa governor kim reynolds will deliver the republican party's official response. still to come, the moment new yorkers have been waiting for as the city gears up to roll back masks and vaccine regulations. uninonus, a $3 million meth bust fod ccealed crops is now a good time for a flare-up? enough, crohn's! for adults with moderate to severe crohn's or ulcerative colitis, stelara® can provide relief, and is the first approved medication

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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 entertainment venn venues if numbers keep going down, the vaccine mandate will be lifted the city also monitors numbers in the public schools. if the numbers remain low, the indoor mask mandate will be lifted next monday a final decision will be made friday. a new pair of scientific studies have found that the covid pandemic likely started in a wet market in wuhan, china the theory that it originated in a lab in wuhan gained mainstream traction last year, but the new analyses found that the virus was likely present in live animals for sale in wuhan and was passed onto humans at the market the studies have not been peer reviewed yet. nearly $3 million worth of methamphetamine was seized by u.s. customs and border protection officers. they were hidden in small

packages disguise d as onions. a 46-year-old man was driving a tractor trailer carrying roughly 1300 pounds of meth. officers arrested the driver. we're getting our first good look at what to expect when it comes to the republican. presidential field in 2024 the cpac took place this weekend and former president trump took center stage >> reporter: this weekend, conservative activists and politicians gathered for their annual conference in orlando, headlined by former president trump. >> great to be back where it all started. >> reporter: some talking tough on russia. >> make no mistake, putin is a killer he wants to rebuild the russian empire. >> reporter: days earlier -- >> i said this is genius. >> i have enormous respect for him. >> reporter: but now with the full scale invasion underway in ukraine, a change in tone. trump now offering praise for

ukraine's president zelensky. >> that is a brave man he's hanging in. >> reporter: but still criticizing the biden administration and nato allies. >> they're not so smart. they're looking the opposite of smart. >> reporter: the incursion as trump teases a 2024 white house run. >> we did it twice and we'll do it again >> reporter: other potential 2024 contenders also attending, like ted cruz, josh hawley and ron desantis, who opened the co state. >> reporter: and a straw poll of attendees giving trump the sizable hypothetical edge over desantis but potential other candidates not fully ruling out their own runs as everyone here waits for trump's official announcement. do you think he's going to announce >> i never give him advice >> my perspective would be the

incumbent. >> reporter: open questions for a party still very much shaped by trump will march come in like a lion or a lamb meteorologist bill karins has your forecast, next. coming up, a historic first. rae.roanni iarng ukin want to see america, see it on the 4th of july. 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, just one spray, fights bacteria all day. it forms a defensive shield that keeps killing 99.9% of bacteria touch after touch.

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my joints for the long term. osteo bi-flex. available at your local retailer and club. welcome back flash flood watches in effect for many areas of washington state and northern idaho we have a batch of very heavy rain moving in early this morning. it will be windy for the morning. portland northward and seattle high elevations will get snow and an avalanche threat too. be careful if you're out there traveling. the rest of the country with a quiet start to your monday mild in the middle of the country, but cold in the northeast, windchills in the single digits and negative numbers in new england tomorrow temperatures begin to recover in areas like new york and boston praying for the people of ukraine. a global outpouring.

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febreze. in today's top story, the european union says it will ban the russian state backed news organizations rt and sputnik from broadcasting. european commission president says that the outlets will, quote, no longer be able to spread their lies to justify putin's war and sew division in our union. rt and sputnik are controlled by the russian government and widely regarded as propaganda outlets. the eu also will deliver $500 million worth of weapons to

ukraine. it is the first time the eu will arm a country at war germany, sweden, denmark and belgium have also pledged to send anti-tank weapons, body armor, missiles, rations and military funding to the embattled country. even in these early stages of the war, ukraine has already won over the world in its battle to protect its democracy we've seen so much support for those suffering now. here's kate snow. >> reporter: at the chapel in the center of lviv, one lone man saying a prayer, lighting a candle with his son. millions of strangers were also praying for them from chicago's st. nicholas ukrainian catholic church to silver spring, maryland, st. andrews ukrainian orthodox cathedral new york's archbishop attending

mass with the ukrainian congregation the governor of ohio declaring a state wadeide day of prayer for ukraine. in new york city a crowd gathering to show their support for ukrainian civilians caught in a nightmare. >> we all need to stand together. >> reporter: in the nations capital, more solidarity a scene repeated in chicago and boston at the vatican, pope francis saw the sea of ukraine flags below his window and greeted them in ukrainian. even "saturday night live" paused to pay tribute, opening the show with the ukrainian chorus of new york ♪ >> reporter: the world is watching and praying as this crisis plays out and there are more demonstrations and rallies planned from chicago to new york and beyond >> kate, thank you very much certainly a tough one when you see those images daily of

families separated and the violence and the aftermath. >> it's interesting to see the boycotts and the response. people are very active right . thanks for starting your week with us

putin has been blind to reality and has badly miscalculated what we would do in response. i hope it's a miscalculation as opposed to a miss appropriation of this chain of i developments because i would hate he would use this pretext with ukraine with an existential conflict with nay noe. >> is there any hope that talks will help? >> ukrainian refugees by the hundreds of thousands fleeing to safety how are they