♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ narrator: funding for presentation of this program is provided by... brett: you know as somebody coming out of college,

it can be very nerve wracking, not knowing what to expect, whether you'll like your job or not, whether you'll make friends, whether you'll fit in, and here i feel like it's so welcoming and such an inclusive place to work, you just feel like you're valued. narrator: funding was also provided by, the freeman foundation, the judy and peter blum kovler foundation, upholding freedom by strengthening democracies at home and abroad. announcer: and now, bbc news. >> live from london this is bbc news. the u.k. says it remains absolutely committed to peace in ukraine after president trump force -- pause u.s. military aid to the country. china and canada to tally with their own taxes on u.s. imports as donald trump follows through on his threat to punish them with tariffs. >> mckenna come in and steal our money and jobs and take our

factories and businesses and expect not to be punished and they are being punished by tariffs. >> leaders meet in egypt to discuss their plans to rebuild gaza. an update on the pope's condition. the vatican says he continues to rest as he battles double ammonia. ♪ -- double pneumonia. >> welcome to the program. the u.k. government says it remains committed to peace in the u.k. -- ukraine and engaging with key allies after president trump paused military aid to the country. the eu commission president outlined her plan to strengthen europe's military capability saying -- the top is bringing new military equipment to ukraine. the president said he is focused

on peace, we need our partners to be committed on that goal as well been since returning to the white house, president trump has claimed on a number of occasions the biden administration gave ukraine $350 billion in military assistance. bbc news has not been able to verify that figure. the u.s. department of defense says the amount spent on military assistance to ukraine in three years since the invasion amounts to $180 billion. president trump's move comes after that heated exchange between him and president zelenskyy and five present vance in the oval office. speaking to fox news before the military aid was pause, vice president vance said the door is open if mr. zelenskyy is willing to talk peace. suggested giving washington economic interest in the future of ukraine would serve as a security guarantee. >> if you want real security

guarantees, if you want to ensure that vladimir putin does not invade ukraine again, the very best security guarantee is to give americans economic upside in the future of ukraine. that is a way better security guarantee and 20,000 troops destine 20,000 troops in some random country that hasn't fought a war in 30 or 40 years. the security guarantee and the economic guarantee for ukraine is to rebuild the country and ensure america has a long-term interest. >> while ukraine developed some of its own interest -- they rely on billions of dollars of aid from overseas allies such as america and europe. with more on that here is bbc verify sncc hardly. -- verify's nick hurriedly -- verify's nick. >> this shows all military aid

going to ukraine. in red, the united states and in blue every other country combined. that's a huge amount of cash for europe and other countries to fund. very roughly to keep the same spending without the u.s., every other country would have to double its military support. there's a big ask in public spending. then there is equipment. the u.s. has provided 39 of these rocket launchers. european countries combined have provided 43 systems. there are european alternatives like the british storm shadows, but these have been important for ukraine's army. and then there is ammunition. a huge volume of artillery has been used in this conflict. the u.s. has sent more than 4.5 million rounds.

the eu previously missed its timetable, production and europe has increased, the eu has bought desperate to million rounds in 2025. some of whether that pledge can be met. this is some of the quanta filed support. some of it in the debate around this raises other questions about u.s. or for nato. this is what elon musk said over the weekend. he think's it's time for the u.s. aid to leave the alliance and that would have a huge financial impact. here we can see nato member defense spending in red. in blue, every other country combined. if u.s. -- if they reduce their funding the impact would be colossal even as european countries pledged to increase the defense spending. rajini: in ukraine itself,

reports suggest the country's current stockpile of weapons will last another six months, mps have been discussing the consequences of america pausing its military aid there, our ukraine correspondent is james waterhouse. james: ministers calling for calm and mps arguing if ukraine is fighting for peace and for its survival, then president zelenskyy should just go and sign this mineral deal and should apologize and give america repeated thank you's it seems to be calling for. if it is all in the name of ukraine's continued survival. this is a political lever that's been most feared. the last time this happened in american aid was slowed by disagreements in the u.s. congress, president zelenskyy said ukraine lost lives and land. in eastern town which was once a fortress fell because ukrainian soldiers partly ran out of kit, they needed to sustain their attack. if you go to the western border in the country there are

constant convoys of military aid coming in, they are an artery, they are a much needed armor and ammunition needed by exhausted troops to keep fighting this full-scale invasion of russia exerts. so this is long been feared, seemingly it could be resolved in a political sense, but at the moment in the words of one ukrainian advocacy group, you have pressure that's been given the green light to keep advancing, which it is in the eastern region, you have reports of america exploring a relaxation of sanctions trying to continue to warm relations with moscow as it deals directly with moscow, more pressure being exerted on ukraine. rajini: james waterhouse and kyiv there. in the last hour the european commission president ursula vonda line has been talking

about a new plan to boost military and help ukraine in the process. >> we are in an era of rearmament. and europe is ready to massively boost its defense spending. both to respond to the short-term urgency to act and to support ukraine, but also to address the long-term need to take on more responsibility for our own european security. rajini: lots of reaction coming into the news of america suspending military aid to ukraine. we've also heard from the british government now. the deputy prime minister appearing on the bbc's today program speaking to -- this was her reaction, let's have a listen. >> we are focused on support for ukraine, bringing the u.s. around the table alongside our european partners. we've put more money where our

mouth is and stepped up our support for ukraine through air defense, through military capabilities and through military aid and the prime minister will not conduct that on open airwaves. he will continue to do that. which is to bring about that. the u.s. have said consistently that they want to see peace in ukraine and the prime ministers focused on getting that piece but is also made it really clear that the piece has to be sustainable with security guarantees and that's what the prime ministers focused on. >> the deputy prime minister angela rayner there. a lot to get through, let's speak to our international editor who joins us now. jeremy, loads to talk about of course. let's start with your assessment of how you think we heard from the white house the change in already complicated picture when it comes to global relations

over the war in ukraine. >> the important thing to recognize is this is really the most serious crisis in the history of the transatlantic alliance, transatlantic relationships formed during and after the second world war, it is that big whereas it's essentially because the americans are now on opposite side to the position of the europeans and that's expressed in that summit in london over the weekend and subsequently of course people want peace, countries want peace, but the issue is what is the price of peace. the price of peace as the russians have said is essential ukrainian capitulation and the americans appear to be sharing a lot of talking points. sharing a lot with the americans, or is it the kind of peace that was being talked about by keir starmer and others on the weekend is they very

openly supported president zelenskyy and that means the europeans and the british have been taking a very high profile role in all of this. our essentially trying to execute an extraordinarily difficult heart -- live wire act. on the one side there's the support they have for ukraine and the offer to put boots on the ground and planes in the air and on the other side there's the americans, jd vance's comments overnight where he was saying some countries that are not fought a war for 30 years he dismissed them far better to have american financial interests there, so to try to sustain that high wire act, to somehow keep trump happy at the same time not sell ukraine down the river. that might actually be possible. >> as we look at what is potentially a situation to work back from, is the only way the

u.s. might walk back on some of this if president zelenskyy says sorry because that's what some people have been speculating over or indeed if he leaves the office. >> it is extraordinary to say but there was a time recently when american foreign policy was based on a system of alliances where people, of course america put its own interest first but where they had shared interests. now the idea is it's trump's view where america first which is essentially the rest of the world is raw material for america to do deals, to get richer and be more powerful and it's a throwback to big powers in the 19th century when they would -- the british was one of those and just decide things for themselves. send gunboats if necessary if not send traders and merchants and so this is a really difficult serious crisis and it

may well be the unraveling of that alliance which has lasted for so long. rajini: we see european leaders, we saw them bleeding in london for example trying to come up with some sort of plan. we've seen that offer as well and the u.k. working with them on that. is that going to have any leverage with the u.s., will they sign up to that now? >> it is hard to know, perhaps. i think the action of suspending arms shipments is undoubtedly the americans to trying get zelenskyy to the table. let's assume he does come to the table. that's assuming he goes to the white house or to mar-a-lago cap in hand and says like a naughty schoolboy jd vance were donald trump i'm terribly sorry for sticking up for myself like that. it won't happen again and where's that contract i want to sign it and sign with the

medical -- mineral rights to the americans. what happens after that is when they get to the table than the situation may well be if vladimir putin or his people are there that they will say we have made it clear what happens, ukraine needs to be demilitarized. we the russians need to keep territory. would the ukrainian zelenskyy or some successor accept that? would europe except that after everything it said about protecting ukraine? there are so many variables. what makes it a lot more difficult to try to solve is there is a great lack of clarity. you can argue in fact what was going on before hunter biden wasn't going to work. he gave ukraine enough weapons not to lose but not to win either because he was worried about what the russians might

do, he took their nuclear threat seriously. so trump supporters would say he's just being realistic and of course both sides are going to have to give something. but at the moment the way the americans are presenting it, of the givers are the ukrainians and the takers are the russians and also the americans because of course it's quite clear that another big priority of donald trump is mending america's relationship with russia. >> we are seeing lines coming into us from the kremlin from the news agency. one agency sing if the u.s. stops these supplies will be the best contribution to the cause of peace. so vladimir putin presumably watching on. with quite a lot of glee looking at what we have unfolding. >> for russia and peace, this is christmas every day for them at the moment. this is reflected in the things like on social media, the way

the pro-prudent media have been crowing with delight about what's happening. and i've spent a couple weeks in ukraine and got back a few days ago. of course there is consternation about what's happening. and less i have to say from soldiers i spoke to in areas near the russian border. who have been fighting for example in kursk which is the area that the ukrainians took from russia back in last august. they say they will fight on, the drones are now such a big part of the battlefield and they are that they can get by, they don't necessarily need what the americans have but they do said using lewis -- losing u.s. intelligence, air support, ammo from these very sophisticated and satellite information they need to acquire targets, all of that will be very difficult for them but they are building a lot

of their own weapons and i don't think -- the thing you have to remember for the ukrainians this is about existence, it's not about would they do a deal and give food and some land and he will be satisfied. they believe food will never be satisfied until he's broken ukrainian independence and sovereignty. his own writings suggest that is very much what he wants to do. rajini: we are hearing from ukrainian politicians who believe they have enough for the next six months or so you were drawing on your experience having just returned from ukraine and what we've seen in recent days is a huge number of drone attacks. continuing on ukraine. a reminder of course that while these talks continue, of the war continues on. i wonder if i could get your assessment of how you see things going militarily given this news now as well. >> without american weapons it

will be easier for the russians no doubt about it. while i was in kyiv for example they had their worst -- the biggest drone attack they had had since the start of all of this from the russians. the russians also been boasting about that. and for hours in the capital city, you could see searchlights through the sky, old-style antiaircraft cannon fire and tracing up at the drones. i could hear the drones very clearly when i was standing on the roof of my hotel doing lives for the bbc. so the situation is both sides are actually very good at this drone where -- drone warfare now. and the majority of casualties on both sides are being forced out by drones. the shape of the war has changed when you remember these lines of tanks their old-fashioned heavy artillery.

it's different now because these drones are transforming things, they are absolute deadly and they make even movement on the battlefield incredibly dangerous and difficult. >> our international editor thank you for sharing your thoughts on what is a very critical time when it comes to international relations. thank you very much. how will ukraine's european allies including the british prime minister react to the president trump's decision to pause military aid. we had a statement from downing street let's get more on that from our chief political correspondent henry zeffman. just tell us what we are hearing from the government and other politicians on this so far? henry: downing street woke up to this news, the positioning is they will carry on as they have done. it makes what he's been doing more pressing and urgent.

that government statement you referenced said the u.k. is absolutely committed to securing a lasting peace in ukraine and engaging with key allies in support of this effort. that means keir starmer will continue with the twin track approach trying to bolster ukraine militarily. while also trying to act as that bridge bringing president trump and zelenskyy back together. i think privately in downing street in the u.k.. you will have more people asking the question of whether that truly is possible or whether actually donald trump's framed this entire conflict and the trans olanta clients more generally is just radically at odds with the uk's position and europe's position. the implications of that might be dizzying but i think they are going to dip to be considered in westminster today. rajini: are laid -- are

corresponded with the latest from westminster. around the world and across the u.k. this is bbc news. ♪

rajini: let's stay with our main story and that is of course the u.s. pausing military aid to ukraine. i'm joined now in the studio by the leader of one of ukraine's opposition parties. welcome to the studio we've spoken to you from kyiv before of course, the first question is quite straightforward. what's your reaction to what we've heard from the white house overnight. >> thank you so much for having me. of course it's very worrying and right now i think they need to be taking steps to fix the situation. but also we deftly need their

support. the situation when the president trump decided that europe needs to take responsibility for its own security it happened weeks ago. right now we see it is being executed in a painful way for ukraine. >> you talk about steps that need to be taken, what are those steps. >> things change quickly so we hope we will have some insight from our allies about what could be done to fix the relations and even without help. because again there may be steps from president zelenskyy from allies or ukrainian parliament but the question is what is the endgame because there's one question that we have not heard an answer to with all that we have been talking about is what are the security guarantees that can be there. how do we make sure they will not attack us again.

what is this and everybody's asking what ukraine is waiting to see, but the answer about the security abilities is not there. rajini: now that we've seen what's come from the u.s. that suspension of military aid it seems unlikely we will get to that conversation about security guarantees because right now we are not even at that stage in the relationship between ukraine and the u.s. seems to be worsening. i will ask you about that in a second but how critical is the suspension in terms of what's happening on the battlefield? >> the intelligence reports in the air defense systems were key items that they had. however the question is still europe needs the security guarantees for itself when you crate -- and ukraine is ready to

be a part of it. so the u.s. support may be declining but the feeling is european spendings on the security and defense will need to increase. no matter whether the relations between president trump and present zelenskyy are. rajini: the u.s. does give so many billions to ukraine and has since the war began. how can that relationship be repaired? as we said earlier it seems to be getting more and more dire? does mr. zelenskyy need to stay sorry and draw the line after this. >> the relationship started to get questions two weeks ago when president trump first said ukraine started the war and present zelenskyy was a dictator. then he declined saying something and some of that. i think we will first need to give it some time for the motions to come down. and then i would rely on the advice of european leaders who

have spoken to president trump after that. and i think that would be the most right thing to do to ask them what do you think is the best step here. and so and then to take the steps because we do need all the allies on our side and the table where we need to sit and talk we want to have european leaders and the united states with us. rajini: thank you very much for joining me in the studio. narrator: funding for presentation of this program is provided by... bdo, accountants and advisors, funding was also provided by, the freeman foundation, the judy and peter blum kovler foundation, upholding freedom by strengthening democracies at home and abroad. ♪ ♪ usa today calls it "arguably the best bargain in streaming" that's because the free pbs app let's you watch the best of pbs anytime, anywhere.

>> this program was made possible by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. ♪