ah, top stories this our joe biden promises us when deploy offensive strike weapons in ukraine during an hour long conversation with vladimir putin. from the energy crisis to coby to nato. we talked to the hungarian foreign minister about redefining my niece of 2021, and determined to see in 2020 see with the bank germans band from buying fi works for a 2nd year because of k with flop to poland. to keep the part you get ah, well, can you watching out international, this new year's eve? it's just gone 3 o'clock in the afternoon here in moscow. now, with some of the holiday spirit in mind, the russian and us leaders have indicated that relations could be turning

a corner after what spain, an intense few weeks joe biden and vladimir putin spoke for an hour by phone with the american president. even promising not to deploy offensive strike weapons in ukraine. franka takes history now, what they discussed. so now we do know the details of the latest phone conversation between the presidents of the us and russia. they have come in from both administrations and they're not strikingly different, but it could be felt that moscow and washington were emphasizing different things. what we heard from the adviser to president potent was that his counterpart made it clear that the west has no intention of deploying offensive strike weapons in ukraine. now, this is something that is very important for moscow. this is something that the kremlin has many times called a red line for russia. besides,

this says the kremlin of watermark potent told mr biden, that russia will defend its own interest just like the u. s. would if it was facing similar threats on its doorstep, when mr. newton heard about the threat of new sanctions against russia, he warned joe biden, that this could actually leads to ties being cut completely between the 2 countries . so next to the version from washington, joe biden called to deescalate the ukraine situation altogether. but also warned that the u. s. and allies will continue to monitor all actions by russia and also maintained that they are ready for all steps that vladimir putin could make when it comes to ukraine plots. mr. barton talked about reinforced nato strength and said that ukraine will get extra military assistance from the lines. should

the situation escalate? now it's really worth mentioning that this phone call falls proposals made by moscow for european security and stability. and one of the major points that goes making one of the things that russia really wants is at legal guarantees by the nato countries that the aligns wouldn't expand further east. that new weapons wouldn't be deployed at russia's doorstep at now. also, we do have to understand that in about 2 weeks, crunch talks on the european security will be held in geneva and we heard from both sides to leaders won't take part. however, they will be supervising the talks personally. now a little earlier we heard from the russian foreign ministry spokeswoman about what

rushes looking forward to when it comes to these particular rounds of negotiations . politically, i want to do, i said to you in the talk truly asked us to ensure a firm, legal guarantees of security for russia. nato will not be able to move on the east and that weapon systems that threaten russia will not be deployed near our border. there is no agreed position, but when all the western partners within the e. u. a nato european security is not a new topic. since 990, we have been proposing not to allow the security of some countries at the expense of the security of others. what was so interesting about proposals which are currently being discussed is the, was pretending that this is the 1st time they have heard about it. we already have written fundamental principles in our joint document. and they were supposed to have been already implemented. so it is a fact that the heads of states are in touch more and more often. and we heard confirmation from both the administration in washington and in moscow that these

frequent contacts will continue in the new year, as well as the bank there will investigative journalist rick sterling says it is understandable why russia wants nato to stop its expansion eastwards. i think it's reasonable to say that moscow has very legitimate, legitimate concerns. it looks like the u. s. in the military, industrial complex is looking to to increase the conflict in ukraine. nato is already expanded into many countries. there are numerous countries on, on a, on the border that, that were part of the soviet union and that are no part of nato. so, given the proximity of ukraine to, to russia, given the proximity to moscow, only 460 miles of the russian demands. the red lines are

completely understandable. not from nato tends relationship with russia to finding solutions to the coven pandemic. we have been speaking with the on gary in foreign minister to get the perspective on the main events that shaped the past year for our central europeans. it's extremely important that east and west that the united states and the russian federation have a direct and continuous dialogue. we are very happy with the fact that the 2 presidents spoke again and they do, and there i shall talk to each other. then there's a much bigger and better hope for any kind of common understanding and agreement about this part of the world. look, we really do consider the the security situation of central europe as a crucial issue for us and anything that helps to resolve challenges here. and ease

tensions around the region service our interest. so that's why we are really interested in successful negotiations between nato and russia at the beginning of next year. it is very easy for politicians to finger point on one specific country on one specific person on one specific decision in order to push responsibility away. the russian federation on the gas from have always been very reliable partners from hungary when it comes to the supply of, of natural gas. all the contracts have been respected and the schedule was respected. the volumes arrived always on time. and as far as i understand, no one in europe complains about about why elating contract buy

gas from. so what we can say is that gas from the russian federation, respect the contracts which were assigned between european countries, european companies, and russia and gas from maybe this is not the most sophisticated sentence you ever hear from a politician on energy or gas supply. but our understanding is that the, the more pipelines the better it hasn't been an our agenda as well to, to see how we can further increase the number of those who get the vaccination. because we do consider that as the only solution for the crisis we in hungary have a very clear experience. more than 6000000 hungarians have been vaccinated. we have been using 6 different types of vaccines,

including including sino farm and for western types of vaccines. pfizer, us hasn't come with that young's and so we have a very colorful experience. i do believe that the fact that has not been recognized by the international organizations is a purely political issue. you know, when i, when i talk to western european colleagues of mine, they always tell me that, well, they all know that the, the russian scientific community is out standing. they all know that the russian medical solutions are successful. they all know that the russian vaccines are safe and effective, and none of the vaccines are worse than any other than caring for minister speaking with r t. now, the centuries old rivalry between britain and france made

a big come back in 2021. the word speaks over refugees and fishing rights and also bickering over a controversial defense. steel france correspondent, charlotte davinsky, looks back now with a turbulent last 12 months. france and the u. k. have been like 2 squabbling neighbors for a millennia. at times, those disputes have descended into full blown wars, but for over a century there has been this relative, calm, not is until now. in the past, the u. k is had plenty of success against france on the high seas, but now the french are looking to recapture access to waters between the 2 countries. for fishing rights only going to print it. we still, since the beginning of this year, don't have the licenses i did. we're not fighting with the english and we're engaging in dialogue to try to make our position understood so that we can get access to these waters. so i think we may have to go further find other approaches

that may not have been previously addressed. the agreement signed today provides for italia, 3 measured europe must apply those measures for boil, fishy tails, so rotten, that france even threatened to turn off the u. k. 's electricity supplies, but was this about more than simply making waves over fishing licenses? i suspect also about that. there are many reasons why right now are having a spot between the british and the french is very convenient for both for a minute. for the prime minister of great britain and for the french president, of course, it is about more than fishing licenses. but 98 percent of fishing licenses that were applied for were already granted. the french thing is about 40 votes. it's is just something to sort of keep it alive for other quarrels between france and britain are all serious, but that one is, is completing the manufactured. even though the u. k. has now granted more licenses

. french fishermen are still unhappy and continue to threaten british imports. now that brings us to another bone of contention migrants the u. s. wholly still struggling to find a way to deal with mass, illegal migration. but the brakes think francis found a solution. turning a blind eye to those who try and cross the english channel, france is failing to police its coastline. we could fund double the number of french police, but they are not serious about intercepting migrant groups in broad daylight. it would further anger taxpayers here by throwing more good money after bad. i believe this reluctance to intervene. this refusal to get involved is a political decision. president emanuel micron is seeking re election next year and thinks dumping on the british will win in bots and go, was really stoked following the deaths of almost 30 people in the english channel in november. now they had been trying to reach the u. k. sure was that france hit

back telling the u. k to stop it's latches. britain is in no position to be giving lessons to us. britain should stop using us is a punch bag in the domestic politics. correlations came to a standoff as british p. n. johnson. and his views on twitter now that 3 french president makin into a hissy fit, just shortly the method. i'm surprised when things are not done seriously. we don't communicate between leaders via tweets or publish letters. no, we're not whistleblowers. come on some but you know, all of this came on the back of a bumpy summer for france. a to just found out that its deal of the century with australia to build a fleet of submarines had been torpedoed in favor of a new one with the u. s. canada. and oh yes. the u. k. hotly a recipe for success. but what the issues between the u. k. in france really boil

down to might have more to do with the opinion the to leaders half of each other. i think it was really a political thing and the of the, the side effect sort of to, to stuff to abs fuel to the fight between france and great britain that was just an added plus each of them, it may ruin mccoy and boys, johnson sees and the other, what they hate most bars, johnson is shambolic disorganized. he, he goes on the fly. he has a sense of humor amendment. my call is a control freak. he, he's a bureaucratic technocrat. he is, has attention to detail on both of them. they work in different ways and they despise the where the other functions they don't like where no, i mean it's, it's is rarely politics, rally, cost and all. but in this instance, each of them has got a sort of vision of how they want international relations to go, and it's not the others. and then it becomes personal francais,

even try to get the, you invested in on the ongoing school goals. taking a very one for all and all for one approach, the e. u, though has remained relatively aloof. but that is a whole other capital of fish, charlie davinsky, ot paris france did add for you this new year's eve reforming rushes prisons. we visits a new facility, replacing europe's largest and most notorious, pre trial tension center. that special report to come just after the break. ah. join me every thursday on the alex salmon. sure. i'll be speaking to guess in the world of politics, sport, business. i'm show business. i'll see you then. mm

. ah ah, ah ah, with 2021 rapidly coming to an end of this time for some reflection. what will we remember about this year? how did our lives change? also we look forward to the new year. what does 2022 have in store for us? will we be live in interesting cars? ah,

hello. yeah. now 2022 has already started to make its way around the world crossing the date line in the pacific just a couple of hours ago. but for the people of germany, seeing in the new year to night has become something of a challenge with the government banning the private sale of fireworks for 2nd. you in a row to stop large gatherings and prevent the spread of cove it. however, it has seen many germans hop across the border to poland to buy their festive supplies with more on the story, his peter olive. the run the birth date, the location for the traditional job and new year's celebration. it's also home to an annual fireworks extravaganza. the it's about the only place you'll see them lighting up the night. sky is the country rings in 2022 as the german government to fund their private sale. as part of the

last round of covert measures brought in at the start of december. it's hard to knock the reasoning behind the decision less and hawk firewood displays between midnight and the early hours. less calls to the emergency services. also less people mixing and gathering bond on the sale of fireworks. doesn't mean no fireworks. people have been popping over the phone and the stock of fireworks are part of me and it's a tradition to set them all. and it would be a shame if it didn't happen while german paths may be rejoicing at the prospect of less frightening fireworks shops, selling them in poland and making hay. while this particular shines at the moment because of the band in germany, we have about 300 customers a day. when we are pretty overloaded, they buy a lot, it varies, but on average it's about 200 years per person. the band on selling small fireworks

is purely a symbolic policy. the available figures show that a band will not noticeably relieve emergency admissions, nor will infection rates be effectively reduced. it's the 2nd year in a row that covert has put paid to firework sales. here in germany, and i should imagine it's left firework retailers. fizzing. one of the plus side to less fireworks is less clean up needed. in the aftermath, the german capital is usually smothered in a blanket of discarded munitions following the festivities. this year, revellers that don't get there on some polish pyrotechnics we'll have to make do with the professional, displace peter all for all t. berlin. now, yesterday we got a rare look inside when of russia's most notorious jails and some of the horrors face by the mates. they're at the now closed facility in st. petersburg. well, today we visit the modern jail that's been built to replace it, which is so big. prison guards can walk up to 20 kilometers in this single day.

with his 2nd special report, his konstantin brush coff in the previous episode, being rejected by fellow prisoners and become an a pariah with something they fear most. this is a terrible place that ruined the loss of people's lives. is it true that some inmates haven't slept on the floor under the bed, otherwise it was impossible to fit everyone in to sell this new prison has been done across this hill and is also inherited the title of the largest incarceration facility in the whole of europe ah the new jail so big it has moving walkways just like in bigger port to guard and cover up to 20 kilometers a day by simply walking down the prisons long corridor. i knew i knew

about her what are the sale for inmates arby? every time guards and re sell old prisoners must line up with her hands behind their backs. a huge lawyer shows in a typical cell in this prison has 2 to 4 beds, a zinc, tv, and small fridge. although it's not what inmates appreciate the most summer long or not for the for the most important convenience is that we have a restaurant there. you can learn from the inside of other preacher potential centers. don't have this, but here we do. frankly, the place doesn't look often good, a pass for hostile or student door, and if it weren't for the bar, windows and bats bolted to the floor, the new prison looks much better than the old one. some quarters even have cosy christmas decorations, but he can still see cctv cameras through layers of 10. so everything that's going

on in the present quarters and sales is monitored by the guards 247. the only place we're inmates can have a little private see, is a restaurant, but not for too long. if it's more than 10 minutes, it's a cause for concern. i may call in regards so they can go and check on the email for the be po to the administration says the prison foods also get better as we walk into the vast kitchen where meals for over 4000 inmates are cooked every day. they steaks with mashed potatoes are in the menu tonight. this is if i, you know what have dinner is over, but you are still hungry or not. you can have sandwiches with tea and his blog only though. sentence for minor crimes, and we have an excellent reputation among the guards are allowed to work in the kitchen even so all knives and other sharp tools are stored in a metal safe. the kitchen supervisor documents every item that's handed out and a special book really has any prisoner try to steal a knife from you. i have been working at this institution for 5 years. so far there

has been no such tamp. another place that has cut and and stabbing objects is the presence dentist office the administration sounds, the office, both the ladies medical equipment and qualified specialists. the only thing that sets it apart from a city clinic is a prison guard who must stay close to the patient. at all times, the only time with inmates can hide from the constant surveillances during the prison visit. each convict can have his wife or another close relative stay with him for up to 3 nights in a special visiting room. hi, good afternoon. my name is ego facility. i am the head of this department. if you have any complaints, please let me. no, no, no complain burned. li with interrupted this couple right in the middle of their date, throw sort of 3 days enough for a date in the mall. not enough time,

quite fast. the head of the regions penitentiary system who shows the surround, says everything here is done to make prison visits as much like home as possible. but it's a separated like that, but it's powerful rising moves, but together with discretion. the reason, separate kitchen were inmates and their visitors can cook food, brought from the outside. this woman brought her husband is favorite snack chocolate bar. i want to wish you a happy new year and you see your husband back home soon. yeah, i want him home. be nice. there is no place like home prison staff are always out numbered by invention. when we walk through the jails corridors we saw a guard is 43 men who in theory could have easily out powered him. but instead of giving firearms to the guard which may be risky, in case of an escape attempt, the prison has alarmed buttons on walls every 10 meters. but it's not a gun,

any guards, hand, or bars. and window is per se that prevent inmates from running away. the most important thing is each prisoner is mindset that there is no escape from what you did the prisons church that by the way, among the few places without cctv cameras. is there any show inmates they can be truly free, only after the redeem themselves by doing time behind bars? them say that being locked up in prison is how on earth do you agree? no, it all depends on the prisoner's hell and heaven are inside. every one of us, god fight sakes and every time and the battle plays out, and people cause, ah, this prisoner looked nice and friendly. and when we sat down for a cup of tea, he kindly offered. i couldn't even imagine why he'd been sent here. but the whole countryside knew i got into a fight with a man and it led to tragic consequences. what happened, young?

i couldn't cope with my anger and i killed the man strangled him. ah visa, idealism to my life is now divided into the fool, and often it's not just because i'm here. no one beats me. if what i did, i'm just left alone with myself alone with my hatred. ah! the next hour we met a man who was reading a letter from his 10 year old daughter. he hadn't seen for 9 months. there were, oh dear daddy. i miss you very much. i came from the doctor because i have art classes with dad come home. i really wanted a little sister to throw it. overwhelmed by motions. he couldn't keep still, his hands were shaking fainter. so do you remember your last chat with your daughter? what did you tell her? i asked her for forgiveness. austin, to wait for me. i said,

i love him. how did she react? last time you saw me. i was in handcuffs. it was painful. both man seemed to fully regret what they did yet. there were still waiting for their dain cord, which will most likely be followed by a prison sentence. but it's not the bars, barbed wire, worse, shriek, prison regimen that they fear the most. it's the time they're going to spend away from those they love. and that's still true punishment. we promised these guys would hear everything they want to say to their families waiting for them outside that are thus into the foyer version scenario, sorta illustrative this hello, sorry, learned ologist, which i told was your budget and sandwich. so project disabled are free of our house through just a quick you, are you good,

good. tonight we're switching to blue. the ocean which were the rules of symbols. konstantin roscoe with that special report. now that brings you up to date so far, said i, on this new year's eve, we're back with no stories fee and the headlines about 30 minutes. ah, a lot of became kind of a test bed for medical and then later recreational marijuana and it started with some things. so in a say, and i was wanting to socialize, everybody does it? so i cannot. and then it just keeps going and going and going, i'm just going to do it was yeah. and that it's oh i'm just going to try this was never do it again because they want my son in law right on inside. ok. and you surround yourself with people who are encouraging you to do it not to stop or it's

all my life is over, jumped officers all balcony and died. me. she knew the just better by the survival guide, which they said years like, well, it's going to store exactly at the federal reserve. so there you go. get a back. oh no. with case we get the rest the 7 years. so with this every year, what kind of report? oh, this isn't an open it. oh, even susie children have been kid for at the fountains. house. only. yeah. papa blue, i have a knack or chicken mom much mom with much

and he's got a nice mini goal once you're in the middle of the issue. ah, shannon is violet. my mom is violet, but the mom of yes, my city with me. okay. allow me the bucket a program i'm you know most people are like me, i'm not, i use the challenge. i can only, you know, some young in the description. i shall, i can redeem the feel feel i .