>> this is "dw news" live from berlin. the west premises ukraine more heavy weapons. german chancellor scholz says berlin will send advanced antiaircraft missiles. and the united states promises powerful rocket systems, prompting a warning from moscow. also coming up looks set to close ranks with other european union militaries in a referendum. danish voters signal the arbiter

to join the european union's policy. an illegal victory for johnny depp. a u.s. jury sides with him, concluding his ex-wife amber heard different him in an opinion article -- defamed him in an opinion article. ♪ hello, i am clare richardson. welcome to the show. western governments are increasing their pledges of military aid to help ukraine fend off a russian assault in the country's east. president joe biden says the u.s. will provide precision rocket systems like this one here, where germany has promised modern antiaircraft missiles. russian foreign minister sam querrey lavrov responded by saying that the delivery of advanced weapons risks bringing what he called "a third country into the conflict."

>> these are the address rocket systems the u.s. will be sending it to ukraine. long hopes this type of weaponry will give it the upper hand. these medium-range missiles could strike into russian territory. but ukraine has agreed not to use them to do so. writing in the new york times, president biden announced the latest military aid to help ukraine in its fight against the invading forces. but russia's foreign minister warned the deliveries could draw a third country into the war. >> such risks, of course, exist, that the kyiv regime is demanding from its western suppliers in such a category manner, first, it crosses all boundaries of decency and diplomatic communication. and second, it is a direct

revocation aimed at getting the west -- revocation aimed at getting the west into combat. reporter: in a speech to the german parliament on wednesday, chancellor scholz followed in bed and's footsteps, announcing that germany would be sending modern air defense systems to ukraine, as well as rocket launchers, in coordination with the united states. >> in the coming weeks we will also deliver further weapons. for example, the german government has just decided that we will supply the iris-t system, the modern. defense system germany has. this will enable ukraine to protect an entire city from russian airstrikes. that, too, is a dishes and by the federal government. reporter: ukraine's army chief has said these record systems will be crucial in countering russian attacks in the long battle over ukraine's

eastern territory. >> earlier i spoke with our correspondent nick connolly in kyiv. he told us how german and american promises to send heavy weapons are going down in ukraine. >> the general response here is one of what took so long, especially coming from germany. delays in germany sending weapons, german reluctance to send heavier weapons systems. so that announcement in berlin today is very welcome, but the question now is about the numbers being sent, very little details so far about whether this will be the end of it or will there be a potential for more to be sent into the future. and there is the question of timing. the fighting in east ukraine is very tense now and ukraine has been saying they wanted that equipment yesterday, rather than tomorrow. anchor: do we have a sense of how long it will take to

deploy those weapons into combat ? >> these are weapons new to the ukrainian army, not ones that they have used before. we have been told they expect the training of the ukrainian literary personnel to take a week or 10 days and some of those systems are already as we are left to believe, in europe, so the transfer will not take too long. the question is about supply and resupply. as for the german supplies, we have heard they are expecting to send the rocket launchers to ukraine by the end of june, but it wouldn't be surprising if it ended up taking longer. than expected. and the defense systems coming directly from the manufacturer it rather than the military. it could be as late summer or late autumn. not reassuring news coming here to kyiv, where really the feeling is that the outcome of the world will be decided in the next few weeks, and there isn't a day to spare. clare: as you say, time is of

the essence. give us a sense of the latest from the front line. >> so, we expect sievierodonetsk to falter the russian troops entirely within a matter of days, if not in a week or two, that is what the military experts here are saying. obviously the authorities are it will be slick keeping up a brave face and saying they are in control of parts of the city, but russia is focusing all its efforts on that part of the frontline, bringing its best troops and best weapon systems there learning their lesson from late winter where russia spread itself too thinly and was not able to apply pressure. hundreds of thousands of ukrainians are offering to train and to join the military in various capacities, but they just don't have the heavy weapons systems to put those people on the frontlines even if they could train them.

they are having to take very hard decisions about where to use the firepower, their ammunition. they have been supplied nato-caliber artillery, which would allow firing from the u.s. they are basically used up and very difficult weeks ahead now, as ukrainians work out how to stall the russian offense in other places, it may be in local counterattacks in the south, or in kharkiv are trying to prevent the total collapse of the frontlines in the eastern donbass region. clare: so do people there really think that these weapons systems are going to help turn the tide on the battleground in ukraine's favor? >> obviously, there remains a n imbalance in terms of the economic capacity. ukraine is getting extensive support from the u.s. and from

european countries so that really helps balance that out. and there is a different motivation, a motivation to protect their country's independence and borders. but without ammunition and without guns, they will not be able to achieve that. these deliveries are of the essence. people in ukraine asked every day, where are the deliveries and when will they be on the frontlines? clare: great to see you again, nick. thank you for joining us. for a closer look at this issue, i spoke with liam collins, executive director of the madison policy forum, it think tank on security policy in new york. to start, i asked him what specifically about the u.s. rocket systems will be helpful in slowing russian progress. >> what of the easier things to understand is the range. russia is able to hit cities right now like sievierodonetsk and other cities which ukraine cannot range with their

artillery. so this will allow them to take off some of the russians are is attacking them, without much risk. clare: as recently as monday, president biden said the u.s. was not going to send ukraine rocket systems that could strike deep into russia. what is behind the apparent change of heart? >> i think there is this fear that somehow ukraine will somehow use these to go on the offensive into russia and conduct an attack, which will not be right. these weapons areurely for a democratic society to defend their sovereignty or territory within international law, there is no risk of them invading russia even if they worry that conducting attacks against russian military forces firing from the russian side of the border. it has more to do with the risk of escalation. russia is not capable of escalating this conflict. they can barely achieve success in the east when they concentrate everythinghere,

losing ground in kharkiv and in the south. so it has to do with the view of escalation, which is realistic. clare: if policymakers don't believe there is a risk for escalation, is there a risk of these weaps coming t late? ukraineas been asking for this kind of weaponry for months now. guest: it would have been obviously better if it came from the onset of the conflict. but if you look at the opening days of the war, western nations pulled their embassies out. they did not expect ukraine to have this success. they provid them arms to inflict some pain to russia. it wasn't until it became obvious that ukraine could actually defend its territory that they started to increase that support. so it fits that timeline. it will take time to get there. i would definitely not say it will be too late. russia is having some success, but will they be able to maintain the gains they make? they have not shown a great capability of doing that. clare: so do you think these deliveries could turn the tide

or are we looking at a long, grinding war? guest: this will be a long war. wars are typically longer than most bligerents think, otherwise they would not go into war in the first place. that does not mean it is not a bad investment. i guess it is a bad investment if you think those dollars spent to save the population of ukraine from an authoritarian regime in violating international borders, then you might not think it is always investment. but it is a long war. that is why it is critical for the ukrainians to maintain their defense. clare: the interpol chief today warned of the possibility that many of the weapons sent to ukraine could end up in criminal hands. he said there needs to be a program in place to effectively track them. do you have a sense of what that could look like? guest: no, there is always some risk with weapons ending up in the hands of criminals, but the realtois criminals can get their hands on pretty much

weapons from around the road in the current state. we weren't doing a good job of preventing those. it's not like they're criminals are going to take rocket systems or tanks, we're talking small arms, automatic weapons. there is already adequate methods for criminals to get their hands on those weapons systems. i don't think you want to slow down the distribution of those weapons for a fear that is probably not significant. clare: liam collins, i want to thank you again so much for taking your time to speak with us this evening. a quick round up of some of the developments in this war -- russia's foreign minister sergey lavrov has met with various foreign nisters at the gulf bancorporation council in saudi arabia. the focus of the talks was not clear, but it is a day after european leaders agreed to ban most russian oil imports by the end of the year. hope francis has said wheat exports from ukraine should be allowed to leave the country freely and that food shouldn't be used as a weapon of war --

pope francis. the russian blockade of ukraine imports is causing global shortages and pushing up prices as demand increases. and it appears voters in denmark have said yes to the country joining the european union's, and defense policy. according to a public broadcaster exit poll, more than 69% supported the plan in the referendum. denmark is an e.u. member, but in the past, negotiated an exemption on the bloc's defense policy. in the backdrop of russian aggression, danes were asked if they wanted to opt in. earlier i spoke with a correspondent in copenhagen. i asked her what this will mean for denmark if the exit polls are correct, that the country wants to join the e.u.'s, defense policy. guest: it means for denmark that they have really let go of this deeply ingrained skepticism

against the european union. it means they will now come to the table with other european countries to coordinate their weapons, coordinate missions, participate in the omissions, for instance, the one in mali and other places around the world. . that they want to come inside the tent. that is the most important point. they have been looking at the war in ukraine, and they found it increasingly disquieting. they found that the time for being isolated and from being apart from others, loftily saying "we can do our own thing," that time is over and they have really changed their mind on coming back into the fold. clare: the fact that this was put to a referendum is quite interesting. why is this significant for denmark? guest: it is significant for them because they will now be part of the wider defense family of europe. but it also means that the

political atmosphere it denmark has changed. that people are looking at politics in a different way. they felt sort of aloof apart from other countries, they felt they could do things according to their own ideas,, but now they find that everyone is threatened. it is the baltic countries that are not that far from here. it is finland, with a very long coastline and borderline towards russia. so the danes feel that this war changes everything for them, it changes their feeling that they need togetherness with others. that is a totally new step in israel see change in -- and a real seachange in danish politics. clare: so they split into the overall nordic shift in policy with its neighbors, sweden and finland, deciding that they want to join nato? guest: absolutely. danes think, ok, finland and

sweden in nato, that means we can form one big defense family here in the north. take in the baltic countries, norway, sweden, finland, denmark, the countries are not that big by themselves, but together they conform some political weight and they can reinforce each other, have, projects. they can stand up for each other. that really means something to the self-confidence of danes. they are really ready now to give up a lot of the resilience that they had in the past against this togetherness, and it means they have become a slight touch more european. clare: thank you for your reporting. and to the u.s. now, where johnny depp has won his defamation case against his

ex-wife, the actor number hard. jury awarded the actor $50 million in damages. depp had sued her for $50 million over newspaper article she wrote that implied he was abusive during their marriage. hurd countersued depp for 100 within dollars. the six-week trial made headlines around the world, with the pair swapping often lurid claims and counterclaims of domestic abuse. for more, let's go to washington, d.c. and bring in attainment journalist -- and bring in our entertainment journalist. thanks for taking the time. a lot to unpack here. to start, what does the verdict mean for both of them? guest: f johnny depp, it means a bit of redemption. he gets to say that in the court of law he was found to have been defamed, and make state a cause for him to go back to his career. for amber heard this is something that will hang over

her for a while, even though she was successful on one of her three statements in her countersued. but i think this will hang over her for a while. but it is not all clear. there has also been sympathy growing for amber heard. people feel like a lot of this was slander against her. so i don't think it's all about her either. clare: even before the verct, in the court of public opinion, it was clear that there has been a winner for weeks now. what do you think you ge johnny depp the upper hand in this case? guest: i tnk he was by far the gger star he had that advantage. but there is also a very coordinated twitter campaign against amber heard which other parties who weren't necessarily fans were seizing on the moment to see the misogyny and use that against her to demonize her. all that work in his favor in the court -- worked in his favor in the court of public opinion. clare: absolutely, a huge amount of social media.

instead of being a sobering case study on how domestic abuse can affect men and women, instead, we end up seeing a media circus. how do you think that came to pass? guest: there are many theories. "vi" just reported that some right-wing websites spent tens of thousands of dollars on ads on anti-number hard -- anti-amber heard ads. but other people might have seen this as a moment to take out their frustrations against the metoo movement. clare:. clare: and took a little deeper into that, some abuse survivors argued that the coverage of this trial has been particularly painful for survivors of abuse. can you explain that more? guest: in some ways, it has been atrocious. i think people have just, like i said, seized on the moments, basically tried toiscard everythi amber hurd has said, even though there is evidence, that are

corroborating witnesses who say there is some truth to her accusations. hopefully in the future, we are a bit more careful with how we report such a serious news event. clare: and what effect do you think this trial will have on both of their careers going forward? guest: like i said, it is definitely aig win for johnny depp. the producer of the "pirates" franchise, jerry bruckheimer, has always been ambiguous about what the future would be. now that they have the verdict, think it is a good night for themo bring him back on board clare: thank you very much, w appreciate your time joining u on dw ns. guest: thanks. clare: that's bringing up to speed with some of the other stories that are making news around -- you as secretary of state antony blinken has warned turkey against any military offensive in northern syria. the statement came after the

turkish president told his parliament he wants to launch an operation against kurdish groups there. one of the groups has been a u.s. ally in the fight against the so-called islamic state. chinese officials say a 6.1 magnitude earthquake has killed four bullet injured 14 others in the southwestern szeuan province. authorities in the city which was at the epicenter of the quick, have deployed nearly 4500 rescue workers. reports suggest the earthquake triggered a landslide that damaged several homes. croatia is set to become the 20th e.u. country to adopt the euro. the european commission says the baltic nation has fulfilled the necessary criteria. that grab plans to replace its currency from the start of 2023. hundreds of demonstrators, including supporters of islamist

groups, rallied outside the u.s. admission in sedans capital, khartoum, calling for its chief to step down. protesters accused the organization of interfering in the country's affairs. the mission has been trying to resolve so dan's political crisis since a military coup last year -- results ssudan's political crisis since a military cool last year. in mexico, many are dead and hundreds missing after hurricane agatha slammed the coast. forecasters say the weather system could gather strength again in the gulf of mexico, and 13 the u.s. this weekend. reporter: the start of hurricane season in the pacific has hit mexico hard. hurricane agatha made landfall on monday, triggering heavy rains and deadly flooding. it was the strongest storm to hit this area in the month of may, since record-keeping began in 1949. in oaxaca, dozens of people are

still missing. locals are trying to assess the damage as they clear debris and fallen trees. >> it is going to be difficult to recover from these losses. we lost everything. we are going to have to start all over again. reporter: everything has been read by the water. >> yet we don't have enough to drink -- everything has been ruined by the water. but we don't have enough to drink. we have lost everything here. reporter: the state government has set up over 200 shelters for the displaced. it has also arranged hotels for tourists. agatha has now moved out over the caribbean, where authorities warn it could pick up strength again. as a precaution, ports and schools and non-essential businesses have been closed for as long as the storm lasts. clare: residents of shanghai are

getting their first taste of freedom, after chinese authorities lifted a covid-19 knock-down. the city's 25 million residents entered a strict shutdown that fueled public anger and rare protests. reporter: midnight in shanghai. champagne corks pope and shouts of "ban lifted" rang out. it marked the end of a bidder to-month lockdown. >> i came to the river with my family to mark the lockdown lifting at midnight. maybe there will not be a situation like this again. i hope we will cherish our lives in the future and don't let the pandemic affect our lives again. reporter: just over half a million people remain locked down, but most of shanghai's 25 million residents can now freely, if cautiously, leave home, return to work, use restaurants and public transport. it is a moment many inch china's biggest and most carless more piloting city can hardly believe

has come -- many of china's biggest and most cosmopolitan city can hardly believe has come. [shouting] >> freedom! [laughter] >> i am excited but also a bit confed because am worried. i can't get used to this. reporter: shanghai is a city scarred by lockdown. everybody remembers how bad things work during the endless weeks of compulsory measures that abandoned daily life and devastated businesses. deserted shopping precincts, sealed off streets. a handful of cars on the flyover roads. for migrant workers, it meant difficult living conditions at a quarantine center. >> it is a closed management system. once you are in, you can't get out. reporter: even as the reopening continues and an odd sse of normality creeps back, residents are anxious that the virus could return, and the harsh lockdowns with it.

>> i felt at peace when i left home this morning. but i also feel a sense of shame since it seems as if many things have never happened. in the past two months, things like losing jobs and family because of the pandemic have been forgotten in an instant. i feel sad. the happiness i had yesterday is gone. reporter: shanghai's ordeal has come to symbolize what critics say is that unsustainability of china's adherence leader xi jinping's zero covid policy. authorities plan a network of testing booths in major cities. lockdowns and mass testing and long quarantines could remain in place for years. the shadow of the pandemic will linger in shanghai. clare: and fans of the british royal family have started gathering in london ahead of the clean's's platinum jubilee this weekend -- ahead of the queen's platinum jubilee this weekend. some are already parking in front of buckingham palace to ensure a good view.

35 hundred st parties are planned for the four days of the jubilee beginning thursday. could elizabeth is marking a record-breaking 70 years on the throne, the first british monarch in history to do so. before we go, a quick reminder of the top story we are following -- the u.s. and germany have each announced plans to send a modern weaponry to ukraine. washington since it ll deliv precision rocket systems, while berlin has promised antiaircraft missiles. moscow is accusing the u.s. u.s. of deliberately fueling tensions -- moscow is accusing the u.s. of deliberately fueling tensions. after a short break, i will be back to guide you through "the day." don't go away. ♪

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♪ mark: welcome to live in paris, world news and analysis from france 24. i am mark owen. russian troops are closing in on their main objective in the donbas, and a chemical plant is hit. the mayor warns residents who are still in the all but flattened city to stay indoors, reassuring them that reinforcements are on the way from the u.s. and germany to boost ukrainian resistance. hollywood actor johnny depp, defamed by his