ah, join me every thursday on the alex salmon. sure. and i'll be speaking to guess in the world of politics, sport, business, i'm sure business. i'll see you then. mm. ah, top headlines right now here. we're not in international rushes. foreign minister says the u. s. has failed to address moscow's concerns about nato expansion, but got the 2 sides can start a serious conversation about secondary issues and panic over the ukrainian crisis. taking a bit of a bizarre tone in the media with one outlet suggesting russian as russian is preventing you f o hunters from contacting alia. also this hour here, we're not international. we speak to

a top us immune ologist to explains why sputnik re, apparently has the edge of arrival vaccines when it comes to almost growth. and finally, a 20 year old man in the u. k avoids prison time despite being convicted of raping a child. we discussed the story with a panel of guess with it's great to have you with us today for this thursday program live from moscow. of course, it's the foreign minister of russia. so to get law for off has said that this country is ready for serious talks. with america off to washington delivered a written response to moscow security demands. although he expressed disappointment that russia's primary concern that of halting nato's expansion in eastern europe has been dismissed. lucas, it's suzanne. you. the call me on that. as for the contents of the reply,

there are grounds for the beginning of a serious conversation. only about secondary issues regarding the main issue that has been no positive reaction. and the main issue, i remind you is a clear position on the in admissibility of nato's further expansion, eastwood's and on the deployment of strike weapons that could threaten the territory of the russian federation. the 2 key proposals that russia put forward as lever off said there were just flat out rejected in america's response to them. those 2 key proposals are concerning, the stopping of deployment of offensive weapons in europe that could possibly hit russia and also ceasing the further eastward expansion of nato, specifically into the countries of ukraine and georgia. now that 2nd point there was actually promised to russia back in 1990 when the soviet union was still around it. it was promised to the soviet union and then soviet president mikhail gorbachev was told that nato would not expand any farther than the older river in europe. and

as the russian officials had over the years, tried to hold the west to that promise. they were actually acting in a childlike manner, according to live rav in that statement. now, he also cited the istanbul and asked on a declarations of the organization for security and cooperation in europe. this, these basically declarations. they basically define the framework within which sovereign nations can decide which which military organizations, which military alliances they want to be a part of. and lever off says basically one very important point was left out. let's take a listen what he said for a rebuttal. so use the right to choose alliances is clearly conditioned by the need to take into account the security interests of any other o s. c state. including of course, the russian federation. the principle by which one cannot strengthen one's security at the expense of the security of others, is deliberately hushed up. lateral did ultimately accuse professional partners in the west of a bit of a pick and choose policy when it comes to obligations it expects others to follow.

can you, can you tell us more about that? right, well he says that the west is basically trying to only pay attention to the clause . it says, sovereign nations have the right to decide what military lines are going to be a part of without paying any attention to the fact that these same doc declarations say that it can't infringe on the security of any other sovereign nation. this is something that lavish brought up with you, a secretary of state antony blank, and during negotiations in geneva, actually let's take a listen to what happened. your spiritual was renewed in geneva when blinkin and i, when negotiating. i asked how they could explain the position according to which they consider the commitments adopted within the o. s. e. only as a menu from which they pick and choose only the items they find appetizing. what they have pledged to do in terms of the interests of others, they try to ignore lincoln did not answer this question. he shrugged his shoulders . now, lover of statement actually doesn't come as that much of

a surprise. actually, nato just already rejected outright and publicly moscow's proposals on wednesday, and that was shortly after an american ambassador, john sullivan, made a visit to moscow to the foreign ministry to deliver america's official response that came by the way, 2 weeks after it was expected, russia filed these proposals back in mid december and were expecting and was expecting a response for a while now. and this is all the while that the u. s. continues to say that there, you know, for diplomacy, but only as only if russia stops at the so called aggression. now, what this aggression is, we're not exactly sure, but that happens at the same time that nato continues to strengthen its military positions across russia's border. washington said that it's military advisors in ukraine will continue to stay there for the foreseeable future, and the u. k. and us continue to give weapons to ukraine. so of course we keep hearing this word to missy from the west, but it seems like their actions are saying something completely different. let's

join, i can now and economist and political joy commented, or joining us not right here on this, those there program on off to national great to see you today. you can imagine russia is pretty disappointed the us has rejected its key demand on nato expansion . i guess, do you think that's still a basis now for meaningful talks? well, of course in german or middle stand is very disappointed to because we know we are the victim of all and that we come to the key where negotiations can. busy can start, you have to go into those power to deter mind the politics, which is the military industrial complex and black rock in the u. s. and their interests are those who are sold by the us government and the nato is nothing else but the longer arm of the u. s. government and europe or germany is neglected because they are just puppets. so we know as german middle extent, that we are supposed to be the victims. it is not supposed that russia and germany works together and makes the middle spend in germany or the middle spend in europe

to, to grow. and this is a fine, and this is where you can start negotiation. and i think there's still a base where to, to go there, but you have to talk with the right people. i mean, it seems to me that you say, mr. hammer, the germany here is kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place. how does the german population feel about where germany stands right now? well, the german population is pretty mixed because we have a pretty close propaganda that takes away every discussion about all these topics. they are ham up with one sided arguments all day, 247. so the german people know that piece is the most important. busy that has to be peace on the eurasian continent is the only thing they want. they even take the. busy huge increase in energy prices in texas. we have the

highest taxes in the world by the way, or the highest governmental grants in the, in the well, the way. the 2nd biggest problem is we all take this as long as we keep peace. and this is what the people need, and this is part the people want, and they, everybody agrees. i think, mr. how, let's just go back to the original point here. that is, that america is basically said no to russia's key request of security guarantees, no to the further expansion. that it would, that it won't accept russia's proposal, please say, no more expansion of nato. now, there are other russian demands though, as well, including, for example, the putting back of nato forces in eastern europe and that of the removal of us nuclear arms from the region. is russia asking too much said no, they are not asking too much, but it disturbs the aim of world. busy dominance and the world dominance is started by making a border between russia and germany and vessel states like the baltic states,

poland. busy nowadays, the ukraine and down they want more modo, of course, to, to join the natal puppet state club. and this would form a border that they can hinder the new soak road or belt and road as the chinese called it from the land wife. and could hint germany or the german middle then to work together with russians. and that for even but not for him to pipeline is, is disturbing because it causes that germany can be energy in independent. and this is not in the interest of us, and they too, because they want to keep germany blackmailing that german politician, even if that happens, some accident and people who are not. so in line with the american politics are getting gaining power, that they can always blackmail them and keep them unable it. and the entries are 8, and i just wanted to jump in quickly. i apologize for interrupting you. but it did

all doom and gloom at this point. i mean, i understand russia and ukraine, you negotiated, they did meet him paris on wednesday. they did agree that a permanent sci fi and eastern ukraine must be observed, quote, unconditionally. does that sound like progress to you? well, it doesn't sound like progress, but if you, if you raise the cost for black rock and the military industrial complex in the us bio, for example, seizing the interest in china or something, they would immediately step back and say, and, and call their, their regime in washington back to to make peace. but the tops by now seem to be just another. busy talking round to make facts on the one hand and keep talking by the way, to, to change the world by just silent moves they just to undertake. i mean, they increase their what weapon supply. they try to force the germans to agree with weapons supplies. and so on and so forth. and in this time they just say we,

let's talk, let's talk, let's start. but in the main topics don't make any any, don't think you can gain any, any territory in the main topics. but the main topics are so vital for. busy russia now that they can't, they come to agree of anything else but to getting nato back from their border. i can hammer economist and political comment had a, joining us life here and into national, very interesting commentary. thanks for your time. thank you so much. and while washington stresses the need for diplomacy is the only way out of the crisis, there are some journalists to a striking, a slightly more belligerent tone, just buying time till they replaced to invade ukraine, making you jump through hoops like and delivering written responses to questions that you vance at time and time again in the past. meanwhile, that is stabilizing ukraine from within the economy's crumbling. you're spending hundreds of millions of dollars showing them up. what point do you stop playing

rushes game and take preemptive action? now we can walk and chew gum at the same time and that's very much what we've been doing. while some jo list are in war mongering mode. others seem to have lost the plot altogether when it comes to ukraine with some western media outlets of pumping out some pretty absurd stories. let's check them out right now. here's ortiz saskia taylor. they say you should be coo and a crisis on last your the media in which case why when you can become hysterical and so public instead. and never mind the cremmit back to the european bickering old bonnie didn't listen. ice cream just after warning about world war 3. after all, will never understand what goes on in his head. no, the media pundits one. we'll skip the boulder the better. the more outlandish, the better, like this random women and kids, they found just hanging out in a window, holding a gun. i have number 100 in my life. i bought this carbon after listening to some

soldiers discussing the best rifle to get if it comes to it, then we'll fight for key if will fight to protect our city. i don't see any sense in the rush and starting a war and leaving key of alone. it's strange because usually the major pro gun control, i guess it doesn't count a wash of the target about how bad the crisis is. the media says that housewives have what their rugs for rifles. the thing is, marianna juggler is in fact a simple ukrainian woman from the territorial defense forces. her uniform is british, another fake story about militants whom western propaganda turns into anti russian freedom fighters. i got to saigon speaking is as great when it's directed against the russians, i guess there's only a certain number of undercover housewives in ukraine. so the media is happy to look elsewhere specifically at a map. and it's noticed that the quickest way from moscow to key f as a fire churn noble making at the lowest logical invasion route. also making

russians pretty much the only willing visitors essence, well, 1986. the risk of a war for the spreading radiation seems minimal, but one object in the zone is particularly vulnerable. a new $1700000000.00 stainless steel arch over the destroyed reactor. it was completed in 2016 to prevent the spread of highly radioactive gust. yes, on route to the landscape office, the press things that putin's troops might just topple a giant radiation containing structure that weighs more than 29000 tons. you know, some like texas eyes and toxic exposure before the real fighting starts talking about the real fighting and have you read the mirror recently? no. oh, wow. see you. i'd have seen hooton's terrifying arsenal of high tech support. well, these include, i warn you, the pools actively, far raising power tupa dogs. i agree, it really doesn't look like bad dog in the articles. photo signed up for regular

sky diving. and that's because he didn't and thought photo is all they such an rescue dog. not one of the kremlin kin canines fabricated by the mirror, but if the ukrainians don't surrender at the sight of a flailing dog and a harness while the robot tanks and flying kalashnikov are ready as back up the still firing ai ecological rifle with its own brain is still at the prototype stage and appear recently. it's an arm show it can identify targets and pull the trigger with all the need for a human shooter. so potent dragging out the very latest innovations. the special occasion. the thing is, the ai kalashnikov rifle has actually been around since 2017, the thing yet, the mera fide, it's entire back jackson department, at themes. but never mind all this, because the most disappointing thing about this entire crisis is that puts his pad block, the world will put a stop to travel, highly of old, extra terrestrials probably regard will ferris something,

the only primitive civilizations engagement? so the ukraine situation means we're unlikely to get an invitation to join the federation for the time being, quite frankly, who can blame the media driving to aliens and told us, because once they finish driving this wild population to a novice breakdown, they'll need some new readers for all of the world in panic and dispatch that they've got a cookie. and while the media frenzy of ukraine continues, the countries ultra nationalists now weighing in. now the precedent of croatia has been branded an enemy of ukraine on the notorious middle for its website. that's after he ruled out involvement in a potential nato conflict in the region. now this website lists thousands of people branded a danger to ukraine. it shows that personal information in violation of national law. back in 2016, a mirror for its blacklisted several international journalists working in

a self declared don. yes, the people's republic. after some of those were named and shame, they were also physically attacked the same year. the government order, the website shut down though it later reversed that decision. while we spoke with a journalist, you worked in the don bass back then and found himself on the hit list. got the owner. neither i nor my association ever made any political statements. we help children from dumbass and also help children from other parts of ukraine like live in cock. if i was one of those who proposed to kind of see on a tour for the nobel peace prize, she lost her husband, eldest 2 children. and when a house is bombed, we felt it was a very important story to tell, as it captures all the drama and pain of the dawn bus conflict. we simply helped children from many regions of ukraine as well as children from dom bus. i'm putting this on this list. ukraine is fighting our humanitarian activities. this peacemaker list, reminiscent of naziism in germany and fascism and actually is absurd because over 20000 people in europe in countries see what's happening these days,

but they are silent. everyone is silent. there is a lack of critical ability and moves to intervene and dramatic situations like this . europe exhibit his democratic values only when it suits it. in recent years is forgotten much about democracy in europe is interested in financial gain, economics, money. it should be known that europe's ideals, the democratic principles. it's historically how completely forgotten. i truly believe there is no hope in it, but i believe no one is afraid of being put on the police make list. it says only for domestic political purposes. on a human level is just low to make such less and constantly add people to it. the german parliament just held the debate on the russia ukraine crisis. i'm at the risk of a military escalation. let's learn more on go straight to berlin right now with peter oliver. peter, a lot of a well should we say issues being raised in the bone to stock? what can you tell us was said well, the german foreign minister on leon babel confirmed that the nod stream to gas

pipeline, the runs between russia and germany, was part and is part of what she called a strong package of sanctions. that had been agreed between germany and its allies that could be imposed against russia. should there be an invasion of ukraine? the 10000000000 year road infrastructure project has been controversial for a long time. there was a lot of pressure on berlin to make sure that it was included in sanctions. it does seem that is the way it is right now. not only in a babel confirming, not in the bone, the stock. there's also been an awful lot of pressure on germany fraud. it's e u partners, such as poland and the baltic states on from its nato allies, such as the united kingdom to provide weapons to ukraine. now the german foreign minister said the berlin continues to support ukraine, but absolutely no way would there be a weapon resend from germany to that country?

then. okay, in this is anything but a simple, it's school time slot, always strength in this land. it does. we have a clearer common position there, and at the same time we use those trunks, different roles. seminar, demising is robin lee in political situations, you have to repeatedly discuss your actions. critically. we have to strengthen the quinn, economically and financially since the 24th century. and so just threaten with cannon light to your mind. the last thing buy from the social democrats also speaking to parliament, he said that there would be no weaponry as well. going from germany to ukraine. he did say that the current situation, its own folding, was the fault of russia, but said that that can be no peace in europe without russia to brenda. think young this is, christine one is important. now, more is living right now in the middle of your home. it's about doing everything we can to prevent and military escalation of the situation. secondly,

we're naming very clearly who is causing the escalation, and that's russia, and of course, we do not deliver weapons. do you correct, and it's about keeping the piece a lasting peace order in europe would not work without russia, but only with russia. when you look at what was being said by the representatives of the federal government in the bone, the stag on thursday, the door is open for diplomacy. still very much the option that berlin wants to proceed waste and considering berlin does look like the destination for the next round of norman d format talks. that's sure to be a good thing that comes after the talks that took place in paris on wednesday, wrapped up after a moment, 8 and a half hours session with the decision seemed to be that in 2 weeks time, as long as everything goes as is planned, that the representatives of the governments of germany, france, ukraine, and russia would come here to the german capital and continued those talks further

. peter, thank you. i to other news here. one thing is, and i filled with the 1st a program, argentina has asked the world health organization to speed up the approval of the russian sputnik. the shot of what i thought is and sharing its own data on the national rollout of the vaccine with the w h o. and as we understand, a team of experts from the organization is due to visit russia next month. now, earlier this month, the russian italian study was released by the russian direct investment fund. it concluded that splitting v is more effective than 5 are against on their chrome, providing a robust immune response among all samples, 74.2 percent of sputnik the vaccinated sarah were able to neutralize on the con versus 56.9 percent suffice vaccinated. so i looked at the paper and the data promising what the paper shows is that what makes the yet you've already said and used by this vaccine cross for this all mccloud. there isn't loss activity,

but there is so essentially utility that hopefully provide protection. i found, especially ramos in, was the very last drop of the paper there you, it shows that kinetics on the end you for your response. and as the new is. ready our neighbor seems that for some, quite rapidly, so after 6 months there are significantly lower levels of antibodies. then you have shortly after the explanation, my with these responses seems to be master state. i think we should also help developing countries to improve their own menu manufacturing capacity. do i think that the m, our enabler, seen companies that are going to collaborate is food re us just a j. i'm not sure to be perfectly honest, but i would certainly have a 20 year old student from the u. k. has

avoided prison time despite being convicted of raping a 12 year old girl. after his arrest last year mister moscow confessed to 3 counts of rape and spent 7 months in custody. it was later released on bail incentives to 200 hours of unpaid work. now explaining the light sentence, the judge said that she believed the man was not aware of the victim's real age. there is no suggestion of any p defile tendencies at all, what instead, there is a young man who is relatively immature and possibly naive. the judge also confirm that despite being a preteen or the victim was on a dating app and behaved in a, quote, sexually suggestive way lose the. yeah. me with

the what we discussed as controversial case with a panel of guests. i am the amused by the story, am i and i'm actually deeply offended by it. that does a 20 by 20 year old man. cannot recognize somebody who is significantly, actually, you know, not an adult, not even an adult, not, not a 15 year old, but somebody is 12. so that's just pretty sick making to me. it should be the case if everyone can form. so the recommended approach on all of the social media platforms that will be nobody present under the age of 13. and that actually, you know, will be honest about their age and vote for certain graduations above. but i don't

think it's a particularly alarming present though. i do think it does raise questions about the, the degree of protection that very young children have in the law. ah, that, that, that there isn't as much distinction between children. the 13 and i was 13 as one might think. although there are differences that can be run, it indicates by the children platform that they were on is not one than i would personally just wanted to visit for a moment that both of them chose to be on there. there is a responsibility and especially on in more he's an adult. he should have known, or even had an inkling though he was having a relationship with a child under age it'll, it's against the law and whatever, whatever, or the fact that she was on tinder doesn't give him a reason or an excuse to have a sexual relationship with her, if you embark on

a level of abuse, you can be held george out because your identity is known. also, if your gender or your us are the platform because you know, the other people present on that level had had their age checked, it will prevent you unwittingly, being connected to somebody who was under a, which, i mean, we don't let our children dry or drink or smoke until they are over the age to be able to take those risks responsibly. and we shouldn't be doing that with social media, whether it has been shown. great deal of home can be at it's good to have with us it's r t live from moscow as we understand it. now russian, prosecutors have opened a criminal case against the us citizen, suspected of smuggling large amounts of drugs into the country. as we understand also the suspect is a former diplomat live video. you can see lauren foresman searching and english school. here in moscow with a suspect. worked a police say he was selling drugs to students in 2021. he was employed at the u. s

embassy and supposedly used his diplomatic privileges to transfer legal substances here into russia was arrested last august at the airport with his wife. a police report really found marijuana in that luggage. well, wrapping up our busy out here. we're naughty international. thank you for sharing some of your thursday with us here at moscow. ukraine is still front on center stage in the program, but a lot of angles coming in by the hour. we're back soon with more. we hope to see what the top of mm hm. so what we've got to do is identify the threats that we have. it's crazy confrontation, let it be an arms. race is often very dramatic, development only personally, i'm going to resist. i don't see how that strategy will be successfully, very difficult time. time to sit down and talk

blue while you'd have shy is fixed on mighty things, the face of empires on the fall of kings. while cracks of state must eat to produce his plan. and even children less the rights of mine amid this mighty fuss. just let me mention the right to women merit some attention on the west that welcome to the alec salmon show. i'm to a special program on scotland national barge. this is robert burns season. i'm from moscow to michigan from cape horn to camp hope from you. 5 went to new zealand to vote. cheese that burns and lovers of scotland gather to celebrate his life and

work this year like class. some of that burns suppers are virtual, but manual once again, assume that special social collection of speeches, music recitations on clatter that make the celebrations of brains unique all good bye and speeches, immortal memories, the coat, how the theme and our program today is no exception. we look at bones, i'm radical, political thought. alex is joined by top burnsy and i'm author of scott's the mother tongue billy key to explain a little of life bones. supper is a very special occasion. i know some of the great historical figures who fall in under the port sale. we then stick to a former m p for both country and air. sure. jim sellers, a far ban politician for 1st labor and then the s and p for his view on impact of points on radical politics and scotland and internationally, but priced to your tweets emails i messages in response to i show last week with

colonel wilkerson.