[000:00:00;00] a mm. this ours headline. stories, british media regulator off. com revoked star t's broadcasting license siding, the current conflict in ukraine on the channels quote, relationship with the russian federation party though slops, the watchdog move as politically motivated, unsanctioned pile off against russia. people are crossing europe also feel the pinch with the cost of living soaring experts, $1.00 the worst it to come all to ahead and do

a report card from united states. so maybe moving forward from go monday would be a good welcome. russian foreign minister, sorry gala for off talks about his country's relations with the west, the ukrainian crisis, unsanctioned an exclusive interview with r t. you can watch it unfold right after earnings ah. across the globe across the world. this is our t pleasure to have your company today. my name's unit o'neill. let's kick off at some of the latest developments, sending ukrainian conflict in a phone call with german chancellor. olaf scholes. president putin accused keith of trying to drag negotiations with moscow by putting forward more and more unrealistic proposals. he also underlined the ongoing shelling of residential areas

in done yet by the ukrainian army, slammed the leaders of western countries for ignoring quote war crimes. in the west cracked on on russian media continues with the u. k, the media regulator pulling or a broadcast license with immediate effect that comes after 6 countries, including the u. k. a. u. s. accused russia of deliberately targeting civilians in london with london and, and ukraine. excuse me, of london insisting it has very strong evidence. vladimir putin himself is behind such actions, the kremlin slum, the british allegations of unacceptable and unforgivable elsewhere. the russian ministry of defense says, reported that the lou guns republic now controls more than 90 percent of its territory, being the ukrainian military earlier attacked residential areas of mili, tofal with cluster of warheads. russia sees it helped repel the attack. we'll dig deeper into all that this hour long,

the se ukrainian city of mario pulse has been under relentless bombardment since russian fripp surrounded it. on march 2nd, the russian defense ministry seize ukrainian nationalists forces of attempted to capture the cities infrastructure and some 90 percent of the buildings had been damaged. on monday, moscow said it had sent $450.00 tons of medicine, food, and essential supplies to mario. both up to $400000.00 people are still thought to be trumped with supplies running lights. many are trying to flee the war torn city using a humanitarian corridor to is upper ayesha, which was open 3 days ago. according to local authorities. as many as 30000 people mileage to escape through the route so far using personal vehicles at those flea told us what they have been through we were in the cellar for almost

a week did not try to get out. strikes were so hard that it was impossible to go outside. now a large flow of people will go through the corridors. it will only increase. there is no city there any more. there are no means of communication or radio in the cellar. there was no water. absolutely nothing. when we saw the donuts at people's army, they kept open the corridor. the evacuation was organized centrally shook soldiers of the ukrainian army were standing on the highway in front of everyone and putting on civilian clothes in order to join the column. it is pure luck that we got out of mary. you, paul, we rushed out of the seller at our own risk. as soon as we left the city, we saw the dough nets at people's army. children and women were placed in buses. i know nothing about the men behind them. soldiers of the ukrainian army were very violent. people were taken hostage by they did as lead us out, just to hide behind our backs. people in odessa. meanwhile, another city on the countryside coast of been building sun by defenses and barricades in order to protect the region from the arrival of russian forces. the

port city is home to run 1000000 civil. i'll go and estimated 100000 other ready left and the conflicts are in terms of the overall picture of the u. n. c's, more than 3000000 refugees have 9 fled ukraine. since the start of the conflict, almost 2 thirds of escaped to neighboring poland, which has overwhelmed the country's public services. while the czech republic has said it no longer the capacity to accept it was fleeing due to a lack of resources. the refugee and flux is seen by humanitarians as one of the worst ever. in european history, the british media regulator has decided to revoke r t license to broadcast in the u. k with immediate effect of come cited the current conflict in ukraine on the channels quote, relationship with the russian federation. r t is slammed. the movers politically motivated calling the watch dog or 2 of the london government. when this some joins

here in the studio by r t corresponding paul asleep or paula, all sorts of accusations in the off comes statement, kick us through what was said today. well, it said he wasn't unexpected. what we heard in the statement issued by the see, the chief executive officer of off com is that they don't consider to quote the channel fit and proper to hold a u cable cost license. not there was an acknowledgement that they recognized that r t u k. was taken off with the some 2 weeks ago because of the sanctions. but they went on to say that freedom of expression is extremely important to them. and the bar at which they decide to take a board costa of air is very high. but that they had launched an independent regulatory process, and that process had determined that they needed to revoke ortiz u. k. license based on a number of factors which is explained. now, this investigation has taken the count of a number of factors, including ortiz,

relationship with the russian federation. it is recognized the art is funded by the russian state, which has recently invaded a neighboring sovereign country. we also note new laws in russia which effectively criminalize any independent journalism that the parts and emotions states news narrative, in particular relation to the invasion of ukraine. we consider that given these constraints that appears impossible for artie to comply with the jew impartiality rules of broadcasting code in the circumstances. now i think it's important to look at the fact that the independent media regulator acknowledged that they had launched this investigation into our t u. k. admit the decision by the european union to impose sanctions on russia and amongst those sanctions were to stay mouth. all kind of russian media from the european continent, and it came after russia attacked crane. so the timing is important. and at the same time, it's worth mentioning that there are 2 branches. for example, auto international,

the german and french languages. those have also been banned by the board costing band from broadcasting by the european union. now for some time now, the british officials have been publicly calling to ban r t u k. they say it's propaganda. it's the propaganda arm of the russian government and a weighty back in february you had the push government asking off, come to reconsider the channels board costing license. they said it was a global this information campaign. and we have spoken to officials who actually said that the final decision was not so much the decision of off come, but more a political decision, based on the reasons that i've given you. but he has more of the statement of what off come said. we recognise the art he is currently off air in the u. k. as a result of sanctions imposed by the use of the invasion of ukraine commenced. we take seriously the importance in our democratic society of a broadcast is right to freedom of expression, and the audience is right to receive information and ideas without undue

interference. we also take seriously the importance of maintaining audience trust and public confidence in the case broadcasting regulatory regime a poet can we pick up in one of those statements then by off come, it looks quite interesting. they said, and i quote, we cannot be satisfied that our t can be responsible broadcasting the current circumstances. but in their own words, their investigation into alleged bias some $29.00 separate probes, i believe, since the conflicting ukraine proved guide, it hasn't even been concluded. so how did that justify this? i think that's an important question because they are 29 open investigations. and what we heard, and the statement that we released today is that those investigations are looking at the impartiality of ortiz news coverage and current phase coverage. and part of the justification given for taking the channel off it was that they said they were such a big volume in such a short time. and in the past, ought he had been to find a lady, 200000 pounds,

but they have acknowledged indifferent statements that of those past investigations . they have been a number where he was a kid that wasn't mentioned in this statement today, just that the just of it just that the investigations are ongoing. and yet still they justify doing this in terms of how we have re i r t. what's being said, they're polar, when it was expected, we at the same time have said that it questions the independence of the media regulator. is it really independent of political voices? audios also say that it points to censorship and not allowing certain views and voices to come forward. and certainly it also robs the public of the right to know, take listen has shown the u. k. public and the regulatory community internationally . that despite a well constructed facade of independence, it is nothing more than a tool of government bending to its media suppressing will, by ignoring ortiz,

completely clean record of 4 consecutive years, and stating purely political reasons, tied directly to the situation in ukraine, and yet completely associates to ortiz, operations, structure management, or each tauriel put off. com has full c george artie to not be fit and proper. and in doing so, rock the u. k. public of access to information ortiz policy or bring this up to date with their a big development today. paula, thanks very much on some of paul, his main points there. let's talk them through with a political commentator anthony webber in the u. k. and say thanks for taking time to speak to us today. so there we have it. the british media regulator off come revoking our t at broadcast license. how expected in the country was this move? do you think? well, our, our taking has, has been service for completely political decision. and it's a huge shame on our regulatory profile. so i personally think during my mom

a door should resign because clearly i recall i'm it shows the outcome is not independent. so then partial, i actually my so right to off come on the fall from march. i'm pointed out to number of things which they need to, to the investigation at the same time regarding the out the mainstream media in the u. k. push it out such as they were going to investigate or save for reporting. they should been investigating the b, b, c i t being sky and so on, which i have to talk for that not a partial. i noticed with this recent decision i haven't specifically said where the races were for the king. the license not just come in and say, that's very interesting because off calm sites are teas, quote, relationship to the russian government, rather than as you say,

any concrete alleged breaches in the channels coverage. what does that tell us about the decision making process? well, about the whole thing, it is a very confusing all i can say is i've been all my comments to all 3 for from years i've never ever paid off to get a particular opinion. and i've been given your concrete freight and say, well, i want that doesn't supply with my industry major in the u. k. impacts we've had effect of censorship eventually major. and the case for the last 2 years because the government is infested. marijuana here is that coded line would be allowed to have a voice show. we actually had propaganda for 2 years on behalf of our government. and now, because our government has decided to take, the project could view on the ukraine,

which i would say is not in the best interests of the pressures public or the purchase nation. they are again, not allowing any opinions. there's a lot of people like myself independent when chases, never would not be all together. me up, i'm going to stream media. that's the thing, isn't it? it sets this precedent. i would, i would suggest that in view of this room for revocation, other broadcasters maybe not exactly mainstream, they're going to be looking over their shoulder as well. thinking well, if, if you are t's and broadcast license can be revoked without any direct issue without actually doing something wrong, only having a link to a particular state allegedly then what's going to happen to our licenses? well they the, the pump i talk being denied choice are, all of these are got lots of people of always like to portray on

t knees and the broad cross channels are not that has been designed. so even if she did have a particular point of view, which all with the space i would say is pretty independent. you have the, the choice of comparing what was said in the other news outlets. so, are you still there on the porch? let's sad to session for the freedom with the precious radia. the purchase made is now down to very small number of online media course or will be in that situation bar we. we just don't have 3 major or me more and it's a very side size for, for badge just to this as well are t was really off or in the u. k. anthony, following sanctions imposed by the a you had followed on from that. why do you think there was an actual need to revoke the license altogether?

well, i think it, it, sorry, side or we, we don't know the full reasons for some people say that scribe lists interests. that what i try to do a vested interest in the crying as to why this particular point of view is taken. but if you look at the saturation, ukraine, the point of view of having unknown winds ukraine, which is not related to any party, whether, whether you or the russian needs countries. that point of view is not allowed to be put. but if the point of view being fought for, we wouldn't have 3000000 refugees. we wouldn't have contracts in the crime. amongst half a visa hall governance, a local balance. she, well, those protect the united states, have been spiking out the conflicts of the crime. sunday arms in our base are

bringing about more bloodshed, more damage to the ukraine, which all could again avoid aids if we had people who wanted to bring about peace. but the peacemakers are not allowed to speak from the media just finally. and c, r t has slammed off come screwed, nothing more than a 2 of the london government bending to it's media suppressing well big language. is it a fur comment or not? i'd say come for she isn't tired comment because i can only go by my own correspondence with rebuffed tom, but they didn't have to cash to see ah, in 2 weeks, the responds to my did quite found questions to them and i had to bring them up today to actually get confirmation, but i still haven't responded. so it's very sad that

some institutions now are indirectly controlled by the government. and that, that's not a name just said a free, precious nation at all. but we have got a situation where anyone who wants to independent point of view of the retrain is somehow not allowed to say that it's, it's a crazy situation. it's as bad as when we have the iraq war. we are told a lot of lies saying that we're getting told a lot of lies again now, but i want to question a while i think we, we do appreciate you coming on the program and sharing your thoughts with us. you are always welcome. thank you. political commented, or anthony webber, or do you think you are right now over 200000 people are packed in moscow stadium to celebrate the 8th anniversary of crimea rejoining russia. the concert kicked off

with the russian anthem of the capital of the biggest sports complex. the loose nicky with thousands of people watching on from the stems. those in attendance will get the chance to join a video call with the chron in city of some estoppel on the event is called try me in spring, dedicated to the historical referendum when the peninsula officially became a part of russia. again, sanctions designed to punish russia for its action in ukraine are beginning to hurt further. a field moscow's begun to retaliate against the western measures by bonding the export of more than 200 items to unfriendly states. u. s. consumers are among those feeling. the economic consequences of the anti russia sanctions, a bomb on russian energy announced by president biden on march. 8th is making gasoline prices rise along with the cost of living in general. so checks come on top of an existing inflation problem, which the by the administration has been struggling with for months. and while

consumer price inflation in europe is seeing its fastest on the, we'll jump on record according to the euro start statistics agency, the highest spikes were recorded in the energy sector followed by food, alcohol, and other goods fuel prices of the pumps of almost doubled in march and experts weren't things are only going to get worse. it's also predicted russia could be forced to cut crude production by almost a 3rd threatening, a global or why shot. so the new k failed to get middle east producers to increase supplies in a bit to mitigate. some of the impact that you use agreed to subsidize high sort of companies had hardest bice flanking energy almost. ah, well that is our news run up for now. but don't go too far because next rushes foreign minister, sir gala for all speaks to r t in an exclusive interview, covering the ongoing conflict in ukraine. it's global consequences and future resolution.

ah, western capital space, what is deemed a foreign policy dilemma? the go to position is something must be done. even if that's something is counterproductive and dangerous. this is now happening when it comes to ukraine. something must be done, means escalation. a, it isn't with the, with a fill on your

clothes with. ah, all mr. lever off, i just want to say 1st thank you very much for taking time out of your busy schedule to discuss what's going on in the world right now. these events that you yourself are an actor of. so let's go right down to business. the 1st thing i want to ask is, sanctions these, these sanctions that are currently imposed on russia? they're of course, unprecedented. and they are really negatively affecting the lives of ordinary russians, even though washington is saying that it's not targeting russians. what can you say about what the goal of these sanctions are and who the target really is? well, thank you for the invitation and i believe the goal of the section is much more strategic than just to print. i think what we witness in ukraine is the

quintessence of the western course, strategic course to marginalize russia to contain russia to store pression rushes development and to reduce russia to 0 in the world politics and all the con, the new will trade vol. sports, art, science, education, and we observe unprecedented steps west and colleagues taking. and one of the underlying threats is the united states desire, which has been much more manifested by the, by the, by the administration to come back to unipolar world. and if you wish, if you wish they are trying to take the melting port concept from the united states

soil and to make the melting port from the entire world. and they would be the motors, the earth in union already. i think 99 percent stopped trying to be independent. president mcgroon of course, keeps repeating. that started you got on the me for the european union this his gold and he would be fighting for it. but my guess is that he would not succeed. germany is already absolutely ready to be under the united states orders and the situation was not stream to clearly indicated what exact place in the world politics germany occupies. now. when the americans, in fact persuaded, quote unquote, the germans and others that they, that americans know much better what europe needs for its energy security than

europeans themselves. and there are many examples like this. so the sanctions drive is going to continue. they are threatening the fifths wave. maybe there would be another wave about re yesterday, and i will, i will recall that long before the ukrainian crisis erupted because of the illegal and to consitutional good at the sanctions was ready to impose on us . it was, you know, when the jackson, the nick amendment was repealed among the sky was immediately introduced and the sanctions and were on the way or another state. and then there was series of sanctions, as you mentioned, for to punish us basically for supporting the legitimate core. oh, freshman's in the ukraine, basically, russian soon dream yet you know the story. i wouldn't 3 shows the events on the

sequence of events, but the latest, the latest sanctions the wave was really unprecedented than the president bush and a recall to we are now gentle and so from the number of sanctions introduced against the russian federation. more than $5000.00 individual, it's almost twice as many as when it was introduced to us there on the north korea. but the sanctions, or all of us, made us stronger after the sanctions and announced in 2014 when the west could not accept. the 3 would of gray millions to rejoin the russian federation when the west basically supported illegitimate. and the constitutional good luck when the west ignored, you know, what was,

what was very interesting for me when i talked about those events to my west and go next. they very often use the tactic of cutting off on the one that historical period. the situation in the ukraine they started discussing only was what they call annexation of train me. if you remind them that it all started with the european union and being unable to insist on the implementation of the deal, which they are guaranteed by the position. and when the position just has thrown away the deal signed and guaranteed by the union, and then the leaders over their position and over the so called might done the riddles like me, 3 yellowish was saying, we then we agreed with our roskus and got subs wishes moscow and the he publicly stated that the for the russians were,

he said the russians in crimea would never think ukrainian would never speak ukrainian would never glorify the heroes. meaning that answer have agenda. collaborators of hitler. then the russians must be, and that's why russians the russians must be swiped out of training. actually, this was said a couple of things before the gray meals eventually decided to go director and them . and this ward sway accompanied by by deeds they sent 2 groups to take control of the green, me and parliament. and that's how it all started. not dimension the initiative immediately on the 1st day of this school, did that the purchase introduced initiative to do away with the stages of the russian language and ukraine, which was in the ukrainian constitution. so all this instance will immediately

translate that into very or so for big policies. and by the way they do this, russians should get though the ukraine is still very much on the mind of politicians in this country. i lecture new book, be the leader of the outer radical budget. some aboard the freedom repeatedly says that we must have there to see if occasion as he s, he says, as he calls cold calls it. and the lucifer keisha means that ethnic russians must not have their own language. she's through the density in ukraine, and so many similar things. but what is more important for us to understand the govern state, the state of flake, these statements, bazillion sky himself. so i said that the alternator will called for rations to white though the crimea, and president zaleski is in september last you said,

if you believe you're irrational, if you believe you want to be russian, and if you want to be friendly with russia, go to russia you said this just a few months ago. so coming back to sentence sanctions, we will survive the measures reach the president and the government are developing, liberating and being announced. and this is only the beginning of our economy to adjusting that to get the just adjusted to the new situation after 2014. as i started to say that we did gain experience to rely upon ourselves. and the, the biggest lesson from this particular historic period is unlike what we saw after 2015 that now if there was any illusion that we can one day rely on less than badness. this illusion is no longer there. and we will have to rely on

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