morning everybody, 7:00, two big questions this morning, will the british a man your mother nazinin zaghari-ratcliffe be home soon? and what is a putin's next move in ukraine, there's a military intelligence suggesting that russia is struggling to conduct its offensive in the face of ukrainian resistance, live trust on the program soon. we'll also talk to nazinin's mp, who says she's been given a

british passport back. it's wednesday, the 16th of march. well nazinin, who's been held in iran, after the prime minister said that conversations are still going on. the foreign secretary with us very shortly indeed. explosions in kyiv this morning, and reports 400 people inside of a hospital in mariupol, are being held there. nato defense ministers meet in brussels this morning, as the ukrainian president offers a potential olive branch russia, about his country not joining nato. trying to win the west off russian oil, the prime minister arrives in the gulf for a visit that has been widely criticized, after side arabia executed 81 people in a single day. here is on the front line, we'll speak to the doctors who are carrying children in the besieged city of kharkiv. a traumatic search, police apologize after a report finds that racism is likely to have been a factor in a young girl

being stripped searched on her own. also, on the program for you this morning, we will be speaking to the british academic who was imprisoned and in the uae, but released in 2018, to hear his thoroughly. . and the dance for ukraine, we'll speak to a ukrainian ballet dancer, about the gala taking place in london this weekend, to raise funds for those impacted by the war. morning everyone, the thing you all want to know this morning is, is nazanin coming home. the woman who will know more than anyone else, is the foreign secretary, thank you very much. is she coming home? >> we are working very hard, and i've made it a priority, as foreign secretary, to secure the release nazanin, i knew

shea, and maraude, who are all detained in iran. we've also made it a priority to pay the debt that we owe to iran, but i can't say anything more than that, i'm afraid. >> tell us about the debt, 400 million quid, thereabouts, as a result of tanks that were paid for but never delivered. where are we with that? >> we have been clear, this is a legitimate debt, that we do owe around. we have been seeking ways to pay it. >> how can we pay it, if they can't get the money. >> well, i can't go into details, i'm afraid. but, we are looking for ways to pay it, and we have been very clear, it is a legitimate debt that the united kingdom owes around. >> could it be, as has been suggested by a previous foreign secretary, through medical equipment and medicines in the like. as i've said, we are looking at ways of paying that debt. that is a separate issue from

the issue of the detainees. one of the first things dated as foreign secretary is meet the creighton foreign minister, to urge him to release the unfairly detained british people, namely nazanin, norad, and a new shea, we continue to work around the clock. can i seek further clarification, about the debt, has not been paid in any way this morning. >> i can't say anything more about that at the moment. >> okay, what can you tell us about where the three nationals are right now. >> i'm afraid, k, i can't say anything about that. when i can tell you, is that we are working extremely hard to secure the release of the detainees, we have been working very hard to do that over the

past few months. we are in discussions, as the prime minister has made clear, but i can't say anything else at the stage. i'm very, very. sorry >> i know how desperately the families want to see their loved ones back, but i really can't see anything else at this stage. >> we're just asking questions, that everybody must be asking at home, everybody excited about these three nationals been able to come home. >> has the dow moved it all over the past few days? >> as i say, we have been having discussions, i met my counterpart at the iranian foreign minister back in september. we've been in regular touch since. we do have a team in iran, -- >> do you know when you might be able to say? more >> no, i don't. >> let's move on, then, obviously we are incredibly hopeful, that it looks as though the tone has changed somewhat, as far as dealing with iran is concerned.

that happened lots of times when her husband has been desperate. and a young daughter has now come to live in the uk. they're hoping, against hope, that she, and the other two -- >> it's a desperate situation. my hearts are with the families who have suffered so greatly. and of course with nazanin, anoosheh ashoori, and morado's well. >> at this stage, we know that she got her passport back yesterday, that's what her mp tweeted. but that is moving in the right direction, isn't it? >> i can't say anything more, i'm afraid. >> the team interaction is an interesting move, as well, you've been on my program as well and said that it is an a legitimate death needs to be paid. so let's take what we can from that. as far as ukraine is concerned, we also heard the three? british nationals were killed in the explosion near the polish border, over the weekend. do we know anything more about

that? >> we don't have any more information about that. what we know, is that vladimir putin's plans are not going according to plan. he is not making the progress expected, and we know the sanctions that we put on him are working, they're having a debilitating effect on the russian economy. yesterday we announced 370 more designations of individuals and oligarchs, we have now donated over 1000 individuals and entities, more than either the u.s. or the eu. we are really putting the pressure on everything from thanks, to the oil and gas industry, the luxury goods industry, and to individuals in russia. those sanctions are really beginning to bite, and we are working very very closely with our allies to do this. because, putin only understand strength, and he will only understand when we successfully stopped the funding into the war machine, by debilitating the russian economy, but also we're helping the ukrainian

swifter struggle, by providing the defensive weapons. the defense secretary has supplied ammo into ukraine, we're working with other allies to deliver. that we need to step up these efforts, because what we can see is his offensive isn't working. it's of course, having it horrendous and devastating effect on the ukrainian people, we're doing all we can to support them with humanitarian aid. but we need to do is to step up that pressure on putin, to secure the withdrawal from ukraine, and to end this appalling war. >> will there be more sanctions to come. >> there will be more sanctions to come. as i've said, we've already sanction over 1000 individuals and entities. we sanctioned ten major banks, along with the united states. the eu unsanctioned three banks, we'd like to see them sanction even more banks. we want to see a full swift freeze, currently we've frozen swift for a number of banks, but not all of them we want to see a complete elimination of

dependency on russian oil and gas. and the uk have said that by the end of this year, we will stop all oil imports from russia. many european countries are dependent on oil and gas, we want to help them produce oil and gas dependency, so that oil -- russia has no place to find discipline warmer sheen. >> what would more sanctions look? like >> more sanctions on individuals. we've got more individuals on our list. more companies, collectively with our allies on the oil and gas industry. as well as encouraging more countries, 141 countries voting to invade russia at the un general assembly. we want to see them follow suit, we want to see countries like south korea and japan but sanctions on. we want to see all of them put sanctions on russia. so they are completely isolated in the international community. >> how do you stop these

oligarchs running away, like abramovich seems to have done okay. we've got some of his ill gotten gains seen in the uk, but he managed to flee the country pretty quickly. >> this is why it's so important to work with our allies across the g7 and beyond, so there simply is nowhere before them to hide. there is nowhere, it's legitimate for them to lives are lifestyles, have their yachts, or have their planes, and that's why we've had a total ban on russian planes into the united kingdom, we've also done the same for vessels, and we are encouraging all of our allies to do that. we are working with our g7 partners on the task force, on targeting these assets. >> under which circumstances would abramovich we welcomed back to the uk? >> well, we have put these sanctions on because of the appalling war that putin has earliest, and the first thing we do see putin do is withdraw his troops from ukraine, and

then we need to see an end to the threat to ukraine. we need a positive settlement for ukraine, guarantees ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity. who knows what might happen after that. clearly, ukraine has already been just devastated -- we've seen the appalling scenes in the cities across ukraine, and there will need to be discussions about how those -- how the rebuilding is paid for. i'm not going to speculate on exactly what will happen in the future, but we need to see those who contributed to this appalling war suffer the consequences, as i'm afraid to say, the people of ukraine have suffer the consequences. >> just go, back abramovich will be welcome back into the uk wants the war in ukraine is ended. >> i haven't send. >> i'm asking. you >> know even at the war was to end, and i fear we are not near the end, at this age. huge devastation has been

caused, lives have been lost, as a result of this war. there will need to be a reckoning. with all the people who supported putin. >> including abramovich. >> including in brought of. itch >> and the oligarchs has been seized, do you think that could penitentiary be used to pay for the rebuilding of ukraine? >> we are not ruling anything out of the stage. as far as ukraine and the president is concerned, he spoke of course to parliament, at the end of last week, he was very well received when he did that. what's more support can we offer the people of ukraine, at the moment. of course, the great british public are opening their doors on their homes so those that can arrive. 100 these thousand people offer their properties so far. what else can the british government do to support the ukrainian people? >> there are the two things that ukrainian government one more was, so put sanctions on

russia, into sport with more defensive weapons in ukraine. where stephanie upon those, we're now leading in terms of sanctions we've put on russian oligarchs and individuals. but, we are also way ahead in terms of our sanctions on banks. we want to encourage people to do more, and we also want to reduce european dependence on oil and gas. the second thing they want to defensive guns, we provided and laws, we are now looking at the start of street defensive missiles. the third thing we're doing is providing humanitarian aid, where the second biggest humanitarian donor to the ukraine, after the united states. we are supplying electricity generators, were flying children out for hospital treatment in the united kingdom. we are supplying food, we are supplying medicines and we continue to do with that working with the neighboring countries, particularly poland, where facing, of course, a

major flee of refugees into poland. we are working really hard at the front line, it's obviously difficult to get into some of those besieged cities. we're working with international agencies, who are doing that, but we're doing all we can to supply the humanitarian aid. british people have been generous, the deck appeals already raised 380 million, which is way ahead of many other appeals. >> we're almost out of time, i just wanted to ask you about saudi arabia, which is where the prime minister is at the moment. as a woman, and i find it very difficult to understand our women are treated in saudi. you have to do business with them, how do you go about that, do you have to hold your nose? >> i do not agree with all the policies of the saudi government, of course i do not. but the reality is, that we are facing an aggressor in vladimir putin. he is wantonly just destroying a sovereign nation we do need to work with countries across

the world, to find alternative sources of oil and gas, and russia is a threat not just to regional security, but to global security. so, we have to work with all of our allies around the world. including saudi arabia, to find alternative sources. saudi arabia is not a global security threat in the way that russia is. and we have to work with -- >> -- terrible. >> i am not condoning the policies of saudi arabia. what i'm saying is that we are in a next essential threat about european their security and global security. and we need to find alternative sources of oil and gas so that we are no longer dependent of vladimir putin and his appalling regime. >> i have to let you go. it's been great to talk to you for longer but we must leave it there. hopefully, next time you come will be celebrating the fact that three of the nations are

back home. thanks a lot. the telegraph, let's see what they're doing. we have ukraine following president zelenskyy statement yesterday. and the garcia also looked at the story as president zelenskyy acknowledges that it will not become a member of nato. the times also leads with those comments and the front page of the daily mirror this morning, examining boris johnson's trip to saudi arabia to talk about oral and energy supplies. ukraine's president has said that there's definitely room for compromise in peace talks with russia suggesting that ukraine could drop its issue to join nato. but he also had an uncompromising message telling moscow that the war would and in disgrace, poverty and a year-long isolation. let's take you through the key of the elements. the talks between ukraine and russia will resume this morning with the president zelenskyy describing the negotiations as more realistic.

it comes after the ukrainian leader admitted that there is no chance his country will join nato. according to the latest intelligence update from the uk's ministry of defence, russia is struggling to conduct offensive operations in the face of sustained ukrainian resistance. a 36-hour curfew has begun in the capital of kyiv, after residential buildings were hit by heavy shelling which killed five people yesterday. explosions were heard this morning, local authorities said that around 2000 cars were able to leave the besieged city of mariupol while russian forces have reported to take 400 patients and medical staff set a hospital as hostages. here is greg milam, >> so this used to be a quiet neighborhood in the city center. and now it is just completely in the woods. >> with every homes destroyed, lives are being shouted in ukraine. not military targets but

civilian ones. dozens have strikes in the past 24 hours. this is the second largest city, kharkiv. this country is being taken apart piece by piece by russian forces. standing in their way, ukraine's military continues to defy the odds. these are some of the soldiers injured in pushing the russians back from the city of mykolaiv. >> so [interpreter] we started to attack the enemy and came under fire. our time -- , stopped working. the others left without warning. then the russian tanks came and we barely managed to get away. [end of translation] ♪ ♪ ♪ so >> there was defines to in ukraine's parliament. three quarters of its members attending in person and an emergency session. and how about this for a show of solidarity from europe? the polish, check, and slowly

-- traveling to kyiv, a city under curfew for talks with president zelenskyy. in his latest address to the ukrainian people, he offered the slightest bit of hope. >> [interpreter] everyone should work. including our representatives. the delegation for negotiations with the russian delegation. it is difficult but important. as any war ends with an agreement, meeting should continue and i am informed that the positions during the negotiations already saw unrealistic. [end of translation] >> he'll bring his virtual tour of the world's capital to washington today to ask the u.s. congress for more help. the humanitarian aid is arriving in ukraine, the shipment, and the city of -- , vital supply for those who have remained behind. but you've seen the places they've called home reduced to this. this footage filmed by the ukrainian military in the city of -- , another left in ruins. the country wondering where all

of this and greg milam, sky news, washington. well, the russian journalist interrupted a state broadcast by holding up the sign protesting against the country's invasion of ukraine has been fined. an equivalent to 200 and -- it is not illegal in russia to contradict the governments narrative with the war. the kremlin claimed that marina's actions was the act of hooliganism. not sure if she will face more serious charges. marina ovsyannikova spoke esther de when she came out of court. >> i made this decision by myself because i do not like how russia started this invasion. it was really terrible. >> we are watching events in ukraine. even the rest of us following russians invasion of ukraine.

taiwan is holding various military exercises in the coming weeks in case china were to take the region by force. let's find out more, we have tom standing by for us. tom, tell us more. >> morning, kay. -- but it has rates it's levels as a result of the ukraine war. and there are similarities between the uk, ukraine, russia, taiwan and russia. these are young democracies next to authoritarian military. so, the question is come up. based on it, they need to try to hide in the differences to. taiwan would say its economy is a lot bigger, it's a lot further away, it's a lot harder to take. and the question of whether the u.s. is being [inaudible] still hasn't been settled. it has been talking about taiwan throughout the crisis and it doesn't like the comparison.

because it insist that taiwan is part of its territory. this is not invading a sovereign country because it does nazi taiwan as a sovereign country. it sees it as an internal affair. but the ukraine, the ukraine war, has put them into a fresh perspective. and both sides will be looking at the lessons learned. i think china will see that the u.s. is not intervened in ukraine and they wonder if that will be the case for taiwan. taiwan, for its part, we will see an army who will managed to hold them up and fight back in many instances. and we need to see whether those lessons can be applied to its own defense. now, this isn't an imminent danger. there is not an invasion. we would see that building up as we did with ukraine. a war is not enough edible. this is a priority for the chinese congress party. and it's a priority for she jinping. it's not the thing that get summoned the legacy with chairman in terms of the path being of communists. we are not there yet. but i think both sides are looking at ukraine and they're

very nervous. they are drawing lessons from what's happening. and that is why we are seeing these drills on the taiwanese line today. >> okay, thanks tom, thank you. still to come on the program for you this morning -- look at the very latest on the situation. we'll be speaking to tulips a date just after 8:00. also speaking, the former international street dr. leon fox about the prime minister's visit as he tries to reduce the alliance on moscow for oil and gas. and we'll be speaking to two doctors out of ukraine's second biggest city, kharkiv, as we continue providing polluted care for children in the ward tour reason. n in the war tour reasothe foreign secretaryw moments ago, and show you caught that. the prime minister is presently in the middle east trying to secure an oil deal. he is here from abu dhabi. >> if you look at what putin is doing in ukraine, it is causing global uncertainty.

and a spike in the price of oil that feeds through before cords in the uk. everybody can see the effect of the increasing grass prices. that is coming through. and we have to make sure we are prepared. we are taking steps to mitigate that, to help people with the cost of living. so, next week we are going to see the energy strategy for the uk. a massive jump forward on renewables, more new color, using our own hydrocarbons more effectively. also would be looking at hydrocarbons from other places than russia. because we have to get off of russian hydrocarbons. but the reason for coming here is not just that they have oil, there is also some of the biggest investors here in the gulf. in your cable news doubles, in our one. farms that's what we're gonna be talking about. >> do you think you could persuade our users today -- >> it is not just a question of looking at the other countries

to see what they can do to increase supply. there is also, as i say, that is important. there is also the issue that emerati investments in uk when farms are already huge, what more can they do? we need to double the pace of our construction of one farms. we are already one of the biggest producers of offshore wind power in the world. when we look at the dependency that the west, in particular, has built up on putin's hydrocarbons, on putin throwing gas, we can see what a mistake that was. i guess he's been able to blackmail the west, to hold the west and the economy to ransom. we need that dependence. >> part of that is to work with the regime like saudi arabia. i mean are you comfortable working with the regime like that? that's a questionable human rights record. you've been criticize by many people. >> and i've raced all those issues, many many times over the past since i was foreign secretary.

and i'll raise them all again today. but we have long, long-standing relationships with this part of the world. and we need to recognize the very important relationship that we have and the strength of that relationship. not just in hydrocarbons, this is about investment in the uk and long terms. genuinely, you should look at some of the things, i mean, you talk about saudi arabia. they are announcing today a one billion pound investment into the side, in aviation fuel, in decree maybe-ish and fuel. and that is the kind of thing that we want to encourage. it doesn't in anyway mean that we can't stick to our principles and erase those issues that we all care about. >> briefly on president zelenskyy, he appears to a signaled that he doesn't expect them to join nato. and he sends more global peace talks. what's your take on what's happening? >> i've talked to vladimir

again yesterday, and, of course, i understand what he is saying about nato and the reality of the position. everybody has always said that we've made it clear to putin there is no way that ukrainians are going to join nato anytime soon. but the decision about the future of ukraine has got to be the ukrainian people. i'm for volodymyr zelenskyy as their elected leader we will back him. and the most important thing is that putin's aggression, his absolutely barbaric attacks on ukraine, should stop. and they should not be seen to have been succeeded. and they will not succeed. >> and lastly, there's been some renewed optimism -- i know you asked about this yesterday, but now in the region. can you update people on any progress? is it true that the negotiations have -- >> it is true. and it has been for a long time, laura, that we're negotiating

for the release of our dual nationals in tehran. some very sad cases, including nasa need. i really don't think i should say much more. i am sorry. although, things are moving forward. i shouldn't really see much more right now just because there are negotiations continuing to be underway. and we're going right up to the wire. >> tomorrow's foreign secretary is heckling that as well. and they're agreeing that there was a team in tehran trying to get them home. things are moving forward. but we have to be very careful. because of course, there's been four stones before for -- weeks >> and of course, the family of the other two dual nationals who were there as well. boris johnson was careful to say that they've been negotiating for sometime. it looks like things may be reaching a crunch point, of course, we can never be sure until probably anybody is actually on a plane that anything is going to start moving there. but tentative hope after it was

revealed yesterday that she had got her passport back yesterday. so, of course fingers crossed for all of them. the foreign secretary distress that this is related in the british government size to the payment of 400 million pounds that the government accepted that it needs to be paid for a tank deal back in 1979. the ukrainians paid, the british government handed over the tanks because, of, course the shell of iran was deposed. so, that may be paid and may unlock the cases on the door nationals. >> okay let's just see what she had to say. >> we are working very hard. i've made it a priority, as foreign secretary, to secure the release for those who are detained in iran. we have also made it a priority to pay the debt that we owe it to iran. but i can't say anything more than that, i'm afraid. >> tell us about that that. 400 million quid as a result of

the tanks that were paid for but then never delivered. where are we with that? >> well, we have been clear, this is the legitimate death that we do owe iran. and we have been seeking ways to pay. >> how can we pay it if we are sanctioned and we can't get the money? >> well, i can't go into details i'm afraid. but we are looking for ways to pay. and we have been very clear. it is a legitimate death that the united kingdom also wrong. >> everybody is very excited by the prospect of sony being able to come home, has it moved its all over the last few days? >> as i, say we have been having discussions, -- back in to september, we've been in regular touch sense. we do have a team in tehran, that i absolutely cannot say anything else at the stage. >> do you know when you might be able to say more? >> no, i don't. >> what do you make of that?

>> well, it sounds like she's very careful, which she must be at this stage. but some of this issues, the payment of the debt, which the uk government says it's unrelated. but now the government says it is legitimate, and wants to pay, it how it can pay it considering that iran is subject to uk sanctions, and has been since the collapse of the nuclear deal back in 2018, that has been one of these stumbling blocks to paying that debt. is there a way, possibly, forward with that. with the negotiations in vienna over a new nuclear deal, which cannot be paid in somewhere that is not cash. all these issues have been bubbling away for many months now, if we are close to a resolution of all those things, and nazanin zaghari-ratcliffe, suggested that may be the case, then perhaps that may unlock the key to her release. certainly, her husband richard has linked the two, in the eyes of the iranian regime they are all linked. >> exactly so. we don't know when we might

hear more, we did hear from sadiq yesterday, what did she say? >> she said yesterday that nazanin zaghari-ratcliffe had had her passport returned to her. she is in tehran, under house arrest, and they had been returned to her, so she was hopeful that something may be moving. she said there was a british negotiating team, there but of course we need to be very careful, because these negotiations may well be in a delicate state. which is why the prime minister said, we are working very hard and negotiating for some time. but of course, he knows, now seen has had false hope before, and her family won't be feeling reassured until she is on her way back to the uk, if indeed that is what is going to happen. >> thank some so much, tomorrow's take out a 9:00, looking for to it. let's bring in doctor liam fox, who certainly knows very well by negotiating in that region of the world. hello dr., fox thank you for

joining us on the program this morning. obviously, you can appreciate why the foreign secretary and the prime minister about being very cautious. is there anything that we can pick from what they're saying, do you think? >> well, in terms of the negotiations with iran, i've never been in favor of the -- to ask on that. but clearly it's very complex situation, and there been understandably very cautious about what they say. >> yeah, the prime minister is presently in the region, as i said, to try and to negotiate a deal with the saudis in regards to oil. how tricky is that to do? >> well, it's essentially that the prime minister makes this visit because energy security and economic security, and national security have to become increasingly interlinked in recent years. and it's essential that we understand our energy bounce -- although we've become much

better at producing green electricity, it still only makes up 19% of our electricity consumption, and 44% is accounted for by oil, mainly oil transport, and the transport industry in the uk, and about 30% are for gas for heating. so we're quite a long way from been non fossil fuel dependent. i think we need to recognize that for as long as we are dependent on fossil fuels, we need to have a wider range of where they come from and preferably producing more ourselves of course. when we get to that international dependence we have to make sure that more of it is going to come from a predictable source and not, as we've seen in recent, years becoming more dependent on russian oil and gas. the uk of course is not particularly dependent on that directly. but we are indirectly, because our major trading partners, including the european union are very dependent for, example, on russian gas.

>> our saudis are really the right sort of people to do business with? we were wound by president putin 20 years ago, and of late he has been murdering babies and pregnant women, the saudis killed 81 people in a single day. are those the sort of people we want to do business with? >> i think you have to draw a big difference between a invasion of ukraine, and something to do with that country's judicial system, whatever i think the death penalty. there is a real issue here, saudi arabia has been a regular ally of the united kingdom, in security and intelligence areas. the prime minister -- uae, has been a great ally also of the united kingdom. we have got a real issue, not with uk dependency on russian oil and gas, but more on oil and gas, but the huge dependence of our european partners, that's got to therefore be an international effort to try to deal with this. there is no point in britain

alone dealing with its energy dependence issues, when our trading partners and industrial path partners through supply chains have this russian dependence. it's very clear that putin's kremlin, we have an aggressive entity that doesn't care for the death or destruction it is raining down on ukraine at the present time, and we can't possibly -- chancellor shultz has stopped the certification of nord stream 2, which has actually made germany more dependent on russian gas itself. so there are positive moves within that, but we've got to act as a international community, to make sure we can continue with our industrial activity on our route to decarbonization. >> i'm going to have to push back on that i'm afraid, doctor fox, and pointing to the fact that back in 2018, a saudi led coalition air strike killed 26 kids on a school bus on is they

were going to school in yemen, as you know. it's not just what their policy is on the death penalty, it's them doing airstrikes and foreign country. >> i want to push back on that, and say that saudi arabia was responding to attacks on saudi arabia including missile strikes -- >> so it's okay to bomb a school bus? >> it's absolutely not, and the international community condemned that. but, this is a war in yemen that was launched against saudi arabia by the iranian-backed -- we seem to forget that. it's also very strange, when talking about human rights, no one seems to be criticizing iran's very high numbers of executions, or the fact that they have been backing terrorist organizations -- >> i think where the first to do that. >> both saudi arabia and elsewhere, so you've got to get these things in proportion, and see the wider perspective. >> i think for the first to criticize around as well, as much as it is necessary. let's talk about ukraine, as

we're on the subject. it looks as though putin seems to be moving to ply and see, given that a and b don't seem to have worked so far. what more can a british do to help the ukrainian government? >> i think what we're seeing is real pressure now on the russian government. it was always very clear that the financial sanctions, particularly the sanctioning of the russian central bank, would do a great deal of damage to putin's authority, and ability to run's economy. some of the other measures, for example, including banning dual use items would banish as warm machine to. i think it's becoming increasingly clear that his logistics, his military capabilities, are now and we thought they were. the russians have suffered far more damage than they thought they would, they're using conscripts and looking for troops of swear. i think it tends to raise questions about whether the russian military are actually genuinely can mid to this, and whether there are splits in policy there.

whatever the reason, you're quite right, putin has not achieved his objectives, the ukrainians have been much better. we should continue to supply them with the military equipment that they're asking for and i think that more than anything else, it's a moral duty to help people defend themselves, and of course, it's the right under the un charter, as a sovereign nation, to do so. we have to recognize that this is not just an attack on ukraine, it's an attack on all the values we have of international law, of sovereignty, and of free people making the decision to defend themselves in a democracy. >> good to talk to doctor fox, as always, thank you for taking the time. >> nato defense ministers meeting in brussels this morning, with military commanders instructed to drop plans for a new ways to deter russia, let's find out more should be, and laura has been covering the story for us all week. is with us again. i laura, good morning good morning. what are we expecting? >> morning, k, ben wallace,

defense ecuador has just arrived here. he stressed the importance of the alliance, he talked about the privilege of being a member of nato, and then said it was important the nato now looks at further ways to show support to ukraine, and support for ukrainian freedoms as well. discussions will be centering around that, ben wallace tweeted already saying that the uk is planning to provide ukraine with anti-air weapons, as well. we talk around what they can do, and yesterday we heard very stern words from secretary instill thunberg, talking about this new reality, the need to reset our military posture. what will be looking at is looking at ways we can engage military commanders to come up with strategies, and things to bolster that eastern flank. they are already 40,000 nato led troops, pretty much centered around those countries bordering ukraine at the moment. looking for ways to reinforce that potentially.

also looking at ways to strengthen air defense systems, as well, in recent days there have been it's thought three russian drone incursions into nato countries. poland, croatia, and romania as well. the worry is that nato isn't really commenting much about that at the moment. the worry is, these sort of incidents can lead to accidents, and that could inadvertently see things really spiral out of control. very much in need to tread carefully when it comes to this. as i say, a strengthening of positions along the nato eastern alliance countries, particularly. talks to, ben wallace confirmed, about a polish proposal to put an international peacekeeping mission in ukraine, as well. that will be on the agenda as well. appearing via video link for the first of the meetings, but with the ukrainian defense minister as well, he will move to ask for more military support in ukraine. >> okay, thank you, thanks a lot. let's tell you about a

secondary school girl who was strip searched, alone, in 2020. by the math. after two female officers falsely suspected her of having cannabis, it happened in hackneyed, and we said it with unjustified, and racism was likely to have been a fact. molina has more for us in the newsroom for us, hello to melina. what happened to this young girl? >> good morning, k, teachers actually suspected that she had cannabis on her, because they thought she smelled of it they called police to female officers strip searched her, no other medals for president. they knew she was on her period, she was forced to remove her sanitary owl. no cannabis was found, and the girls were sent home in a taxi, the impact on her has been profound. her family said that she went from a happy go lucky girl, to someone who is a recluse, hardly speaks, and self harms.

they strongly believe that racism played a part in what happened to her. this safeguarding review agrees, saying that it would have been unlikely that she would've had the same experience had she not been black. the report also says that something called adult -ification, also likely played a part, that means that adults perceive black children as older than they are, because they seem to them more street wise. this incident is being investigated by the independent office for police conduct, it was condemned by sadiq khan, this is shocking and deeply concerning, no child should ever have to face a situation like this. it's entirely right that the incident is being investigated by the i owe pc. scotland yard has now apologized for the incident and said it should never have happened. >> kate, thank you for that. the leader of hong kong, carrie

lam says there are no plans to further tighten covid-19 rules, as the city battles to contain an escalating outbreak. hong kong health authorities reported 27,765 new covid-19 cases on tuesday. 228 deaths, making it the worst outbreak to date. the upcoming election currently set for may could also be delayed, as a result. looking at the latest covid data here, and in the most recent 24 hour period. uk has registered 109,800 new cases, 200 new deaths, taking the total death toll to 163,095. thousands of race goers descended on gosh her race course, for the first days of the shot him race. drivers returns of the track after organizers were forced to hold the event behind closed doors, franky dettori issued

here in the mail, having a blast with peggy lancaster, good for him. now, some users are reporting issues -- the government website, the free availability of these tests is expected to end on the 4th of april in, comes as 110,000 people tested positive across the uk in the latest 24 hour period. i've been trying, for the last four days, nothing. let's look at some of today's other headlines for you now. fire engines have reportedly attended private studios after five broke out on a film set. a buckingham ship fire have said that superman, harry potter and the james bond movie are among the blockbusters films that have been filmed there. and the days have criticize the department of health, for their words, overseeing decline in the nhs in england and report by the republican's committee says that any chest cancer and

waiting times target are underperforming. a 6.1 million people are awaiting treatment. looking at some of the pictures making morning papers for you, and the guardian has this picture of a mom on the far left as she is looking at her newborn baby in a desk, in ukraine. the times has the shot of the street in the same city. here we go. looking like the beaches of normandy, a to block a russian tank. and the telegraph shows a woman in india celebrating the first day of holy. which is the hindu spring festival of colors. look as though they're having a great time, don't they? maybe not. i don't know why she's got that thing on her head at the back. somebody will tell me. now, the government has abandoned its animals which have brought some of the toughest laws in the world on the import of gruesome animal

severe nears just as line head, joining us now is the environment journalist, fire operator, and the director of the campaign blood alliance. hi ian, thank you for joining us on the program. your reaction to the news? >> well, first of all, good morning. yes, it's very disappointing but given the background to how it's turned about there's a lot of mitch mac logic and reasoning here. i guess it's not a surprising but hopefully we can turn this around and it can be resubmitted in months to come. >> i can't begin to comprehend why they could not just sign this through. animals are such majestic creatures, and their endangered are today? >> yes, i think the first point to make, for me and for many other scientists conservationists people who

live and work in africa in the spaces, we don't believe that trophy hunting is an effective nor efficient conservation tool. i think it's a very important point to put forward. secondly, if you look at the background that will lead to why we are in this position. the hunting bans were considered against the background that -- so there's a contradiction there's in some ways. and then we had, you, know the laws in the legislation proposed. so having them turn around would bring those laws and those attempts into contradiction. another mitch match logic is that we have acceptances. are what life is in the steep decline. many of them are regardless, and danger. but then if the current government saying that they're going back on the logic? that it's okay to kill them for

sport? and, of course, the interesting part is that there seems to be a reversal against the overwhelming majority in the uk. and, especially the conservative party who are against trophy hunting and importing these trophies. so, i think in the end, it looks like a very powerful minority lobby -- we'll be the house again influenced the political system. and this is the powerful hunting bodies from other leagues. >> okay. are you hopeful that this may be revisited? >> i think there must be revisited because increasingly, we are seeing that the scientists showing that it is not an effective way to conserve our threatened and endangered species. we continue to have tens of thousands of these animals killed every decade.

and the statistics show that these animals continue to be in decline. so, i think what we have here is that we have hunters using what i would say, missed match reasoning. they tried to justify a sport on a pastime using a conservation argument. and it's missed matched. and this is taking place when we have this ethical great. and really asking this question is what many scientists are calling the beginning of a mass extinction. are we still going to justify the fact that we could go out and kill many of these endangered animals for fun? and i think, increasingly, the hunting fraternity will be on the back from. because it just doesn't add up. it is simply not acceptable. it's not working. and actually, at the end of the day, it's unethical. >> it certainly is. thank you very much david, for joining us on the program. hopefully the government will change their minds soon. thank you.

>> it makes my blood boil. i mean, why -- i just don't get it. let's find out what's happening in ukraine. we saw missile strike in the early hours of this morning, let's have a quick look. [noise] goodness me. we can't say what's building was hit there but i'm guessing it was a russian missile. and they continue to bombard kyiv which is almost completely surrounded now by russian troops and artillery. we are approaching the three week mark of the war in ukraine. each morning, ukrainians in the eastern city of kharkiv are waking up to sites like this. >> this used to be a quiet neighborhood in the city center. and now, it is completely in

ruins. destroyed because of the russian bombardments. i cannot even -- >> shelling has been indiscriminate. but the effect has been drastic for those offering palliate care for children in the city. the russian strikes have destroyed vital health care facilities and hospices. a warning of difficulties of getting aid to the children that needed. including dr. andrea pick off who is joining us now. hello dr.. thank you for joining us. the challenges and the normal every day people are facing are tragic. when those people are than ill, i can't even begin to comprehend. tell me some of the challenges that people are facing. >> thank you so much for your invitation. thank is so much for all the british people for helping. the prime minister is doing a

lot for us now to help with this war. me and my colleague can tell you that the situation is absolutely horrible. the russian army destroyed more than 600 buildings, including schools, hospitals, hospices -- the big challenge is the lack of medications, the lack of medical services -- many people left our city but 100,000 ukrainians in their city, all day, and the cold,

are constantly looking for help. we see children. we help children. we cannot reach the medical service. they cannot go to doctors because there are a lot of areas with the medical service. concerning the politics here, it is a disaster. in 2015, alina and i visited the plaza. our train went to first hospice in the world. [inaudible] it was lead it by a famous doctor.

they invited us. and we try to build the same system in ukraine. we try to help vulnerable children. we tried to help those in serious conditions. but now it's absolutely impossible. it's about medication, it's about services it's about equipment. i would say that it's a disaster for these people many of them are divided by women and children who have left our city. a lot of old people, their grandmothers and grandfathers have stayed here. >> i completely understand. and i'm so sorry. we are out of time. but do keep in touch with us, we'd like to check in with you

again and see how the situation is developing. thank you so much for taking the time to join us on the program. breaking news from ukraine in a moment. n moment even when her bladder leaks. our softest, smoothest fabric keeping her comfortable, protected and undeniably sleek. depend. the only thing stronger than us, is you.

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♪♪ good morning, everybody. it's 8:00. you're watching the sky news breakfast program. you're invited to join us wherever you're watching us around the world. the government working very hard to secure the release of three nationals. she's apparently given her british passport back. and tweeted that within a few minutes. it's