a cold war, begun with russia claim some 2000 ukrainian soldiers, including neo nazi formations on foreign mercenaries, have been insert, hold just 20 kilometers from the heavily embattled city of sierra ro done yet also ahead on the program as the voice joke. yeah, thanks for the ukrainian forces for providing extra weapons and ammunition with their little unit for made weapons as well, like these rocket launches. this is the infamous british mate, and more fierce fighting comes to add in separate units and listed. shouts are t visits a nearby saw and taken by russian forces. just days ago. all to coming off on the

program, russia will guarantee ukrainian brain exports no matter what the west savings is, the message from vladimir putin during the much anticipated brick summit of emerging economies, which is now into it's 2nd and final thing with life for moscow. this is our team. my name's you know, neil on 30 minutes of news and views start. now. we begin with friday, latest on the ukraine conflict. heavy fighting continues in near the city of c ever done. yet. russia's ministry of defense say's to the south of that area for ukrainian battalions. i've been in circled just like the subordinate ukrainian troops have been completely surrounded. now the sentiments of course, koya and so latoya, in total full battalions have been encircled, which have up to 2000 people, namely about $1800.00 ukrainian military personnel,

$120.00, neo nazis of the right sector. lincoln up to 84 and mercenaries. in the last 24 hours alone, 41 service been in this area, have given up resistance and voluntarily surrendered. live now to our correspondent maria for national russia. clearly a law occurring there. right? no tickets through what is happening. it's significance if you would. yes, sure. people's republic of logan's case where key battles are happening right now. rushes defense minister reports about steady success and effective and quite speedy advance of the joint russian republican forces there in the region. as a result, full battalions of the ukrainian armed forces have found themselves encircled and almost completely isolated around the towns of gorski and latoya. that is around 1800 ukrainian soldiers and offices harangued a 100 nationalists,

but fighters and up to 80 foreign mercenaries as well as 40 armored vehicles and twice as many heavy artillery pieces versus defense. ministry also says that in the last 24 hours 41, ukrainian military men laid down their arms and surrendered. and according to these prisoners of war, they encircled you credit troops. i now exhausted morally down and disappointed because they say there was a huge lack of fighters plus the supply of weapons fuel and ammunition has been almost completely stop less. now take a listen, but you have to remember that their statements may have been given under duress. so we will left without means of communication. we weren't able to speak either with a battalion, the brigades to get any task or understanding what positions to take. we were completely cut off with no food and the water with the only possibility for us to save our lives was to surrender. we couldn't see the enemy to know where to shoot.

if we didn't lay down our arms, we would have been killed without fighting. we were treated well, we were given food and water blue. we were sent to nowhere and were given nothing. no explanations were provided we were sent with no assistance like cannon fodder and other important development in the region. the city of las, a chance, a huge industrial hub of the region which has been on to fears, fighting for months now. probably the last stronghold of the equation army in the republic is now almost completely surrounded. once it's taking, i have to remind you, the republics whole territory will be hung to russian control, back to u. r. t correspond maria phenomena bring this right up to date on the thank you allows russian soldiers are advancing. the army say's ukrainian forces may soon be encircled in the strategic city as see ever done yet scandalous a chance as well. or correspondent eager shut off reports from the,

from this little village, just outside of the city of several. the next is strategically crucial for the russian forces. basically, this is one of the main directions from where they are closing in the encirclement, the so called cattle around the ukranian forces in the town of lucy chanced on top of that. now that this place is under the control of the russians, what they did, they basically kicked out the enemy artillery from here because this place is a great vantage point overlooking the town of several minutes blue with roger. but we got the duma, we started to move from house to house and were meeting fierce resistance. we drove the ukrainians out the nearest houses after

a 2 day battle right after that they moved to the other side of the street and held that position. but our forces started to get around them from the left and right flanks. we moved along and started to direct our artillery as they had trenches over there while we started to defeat them and move further along. and a little further, a group of around 15 or 20 ukrainian soldiers engaged us with polish mortars. we saw them in time as the lou ganske forces were operating there and had warned us about the enemy. we decided to face the enemy from that position in that house. we saw them, but they didn't see us. we got around them from the right and a fierce shoot out started, which lasted for 2 hours. then they directed artillery on us to help their troops to get out. and so our soldiers had to move a bit and we left within 2 days, we stormed the position again and drove the enemy out from there. ah

so did you not think were the ukrainian soldiers executed our neighbors? he had been in the basement with us, but when the battle started, we went home for water and they went across the road to get things from their house and them we heard shots, they didn't come back for days and it was too dangerous to go. and check on them while the battle was going on. later when we went over to find them and we saw their dead bodies, ukrainian soldiers had shot them at point blank range. they clearly saw that they were civilians and they shot the man in the head and his wife in the back tooth . as the boys joke here, thanks for the ukrainian forces for providing extra weapons and ammunition for their little units. foreign made weapons as well, like these rocket launchers. this is the infamous british mate and law. small one,

this is polish, made another one. this is so get made and yet a another piece with all the instructions on it written in english. all these items are being successfully used against, well, now, against the ukrainian forces on this direction. ah, there are no obstacles from russia to ukrainian grain exports, despite western hysteria. that's the claim of the russian president who is speaking at the brick summit of emerging economy, which has entered its 2nd and final day. according to vladimir putin. russia is ready to supply $50000000.00 tons of grain to global markets this year. is austin. of today, where seen a deliberately inflated hysteria over the termination of ukrainian grain expos. so the plexi polls i would once again like to stress that russia doesn't create any obstacles to transport and the grain from ukraine, and he's ready to provide the free passage of ships carrying grain to international waters. we have a mutual understanding here with the un when you,

but we still lackey constructive approach from the key of authorities. global trade is talking this views which are being resolved with less and less reference to w tail principles. the international monetary and financial system is being destabilize, production, investments, and logistical chains are being torn apart. press. the important message comes of the g. 7 group of nations issued a joint statement claiming the ukranian conflict, this threatening global food security, including by blocking grains supplies. g 7 members have also urged moscow to quote, stop the attacks on threats on key have and unblock black c ports to ensure a free food. transportation will, let's say get into that some hopping say, dr. michael adequately. charles, the international red cross and red crescent southern africa cluster had joined us live on the program. you are most welcome, sir. how do you evaluate

a she monetary and situation in the world, particularly at where you represent hubbard? is it or otherwise? i'm the humanitarian situation. in the world is quite dire at the moment we should look left, right and center. we see the humanitarian consequences of climate change. currently that floods in china, those on the f quick a day or 2 enough to stand on the continent that's i represent. there has been a lot of rain in some areas and very little rain. so there has been flood in there in droughts, but the consequences or the same. the consequences are that many, many communities are food insecure. currently on the continent, we have about 318000000 people that are within secure. and we have many, many, many more that are going to bed hungry and that are not able to go to school because of some of the humanitarian consequences. so the situation is dire, and because of the climate crisis, we're getting to see more of that on a daily basis. we do see a lot of headlines about she,

military and aid being distributed here and there. but is it fairly distributed among those who need it the most? and are there any shift towards particular regions that you have witnessed? i mean humanitarian age. i've been doing well. yes, we want it to be fairly distributed. what we do know is that that's not the case. if i look at my continents and we've been shouting the hunger crisis boy, few months now, and this situation is going to get was where seen that the a we need is not get in. we're seeing that are the regions i get in the focus. i'm not to say that one. humanity or in situation is more. that's all why it's a one person that's all work off in terms of getting the aide. but what we are saying is that, that is not get in always to the people that need it the most. and on the continent that i represent, we see lots a lots of hunger and lots of mount nutrition as well in the communities can year

where i am at the moment, the money tricia and has doubled in the last 2 months. and we're seeing children that are starving within people that are also dying because of them all of no lack of food. and so the situation is really dire. we're saying that more focus needs to be given to the continent so that at least humanitarian workers like our new military organization abroad can really step up in terms of getting up our actions . and i'm very interested sir, to know someone like you who's on the call face, who, who sees those things you've just described. and on a daily basis, i'm sure. do you feel that the humanitarian issue is it being politicized with countries blaming each other and does not get in the way of what you're trying to do? i mean what, what, what we are trying to do at the end of the day is really bring. so caught in a dignified way to the people that needed the most. you know,

we leave politics to the politicians and we need humanity area worked in the military and actors. and you know, the consequences of some of the decisions. some of the options is what we see on the grounds. i mean, i'll give you an example. you know, somebody that has to work, walk and 12 hours to gun fish water and to come back and cook for the front of me on the way she gets molested, she gets raped, but still has to continue. that's what we see on the ground. i know we are humanity when actors really have to stand and say we need to respond. and in order for us to respond, we national support. so whether, you know, it's probably decided or not what we are saying is that that support needs to come and that support needs to come fast. yeah, that's a horowitz thing. an example you've just given, i suppose people looking at this will ask the question, will wonder why it's possible that perhaps one country can be so responsible for so

many problems in the military and situation should not, should that spear of influence not be spread out? so that you can be help more there the scale of influence, i agree needs to be spread out, spread out amongst countries. but even within the countries spread out among the various sectors. you know, what we typically look at is not looking at government. the government has many priorities including supporting the humanitarian option, but what we also called upon is goodwill in individuals within the countries. but most importantly, also the private sector, you know, we believe in public private partnerships and really coming together as one you need to be able to support the humanitarian option. that is very much needed. so yet, you know, we look at the countries, we look at multiple current ways, but even within those countries, we look at the various factors. we've been to make sure that, you know,

the humanitarian agenda is really kept at the forefront. well, thank you very much for your time and your thoughts today. we appreciate you coming in the program. dr. michael can lay charles international, red cross and red crescent southern africa cluster head. well, let's return to the bricks. summit switch kicked off on thursday with the 5 leaders of the grouping, emphasizing the relevance of the forum in today's world, as well as the need for a full true multi lateralism. the opening day, wrapped up with the signing of the declaration calling, undeveloped countries around the world to stick to responsible politics. free economic progress, as well as stressing the need for arms control. friday's day to fix on the bricks, plus formats with countries such as argentina, around the egypt, joining in with the online discussions. and just to give you some perspective on the bricks. as regards hard figures,

the total population of the group exceeds 3000000000 people. lots more than 40 percent of the world's population. the gross domestic product of the bricks grouping is $23.00 trillion dollars. doing the maps enough that equates to 20 percent of the global market in trade. and experts expect that number 2 almost doubled in the next 8 years, which would exceed the total sure of the u. s. and e. u and international trade. i spoke to the former director of the south african bricks. thing tech who believes that clubs development is a challenge to western hegemony. leeks now gains much more prominent head, good evening than to the actions of the was terminated and do these economy. a lot of bricks, countries are looking towards russia and are looking towards themselves. so you should see a continuous dependence on with jim on his, for skinny the american john lee and operation of critics. we the

indeed to be in fossil because greece missions can see that they cannot to rely on . i'm just with the passionate, i'm go west. now that we are formulated to police in part as protest against the nation. oh wow. wow. countries and that way. now, all of a sudden were given even more options. and chances to make you don't know now in what europe's healing as a historic move you leaders have voted to grant ukraine camp. the c status to join the block, the spike, the country, severe economic issues though with the you itself, facing its own money worries. since you know, belgium wardens there will be a long road ahead for keith is from this fall, then he granted e u. candidate status to ukraine is a symbolic decision. accession to the blog will require huge reforms and time

through ukraine say it's so far received around $30000000000.00 in foreign aid since the beginning of the conflict with a run one 3rd of the funds not needing to be repaid. additionally, the u. s. has pledge more than $54000000000.00 reportedly in total with the u. finalizing and other financial package. we're just under 10000000000, most of that will have to be paid back. and if you train eventually does make it into the european union, it won't be the 1st member of the block way done by some hefty financial package. is the crux, while many will be jumping for joy over this news, they are soon likely to come back to earth with a big bump. ukraine has issues, big economic issues. the war has provoked. many of them it can't be ignored. the parts of the country will have to be rebuilt from scratch, and that is going to cost a lot of money. early estimates from the u. n. suggest some $600000000000.00 with

a price tag going up every day. the e u has already a marked recovery funds. we stand ready to take a leading role in the international reconstruction efforts to help rebuild a democratic and prosperous ukraine. this means investments will go hand in hand with reforms that will support ukraine and pursuing its european path. sounds like they've got it all in hand and maybe they would have, if you were paying countries, we're also not struggling with the own economies. think greece, for example, it's long had problems all sort that merged the cook, the books to join the euro in the 1st place, injection auster, injection of cash hasn't appeared to have worked. now is economies. of course the you struggle with the impact of inflation. greece is once more falling into the basket case status to see me again. what has changed is that we have seen the price of fuel has gone up and the invoices from the electricity companies are a great shock for everyone. i would say that people are afraid of the crisis in my

restaurant business is definitely down compared to last year. is that what they said was that we have is huge. we'll anxious anticipating what will come, that we are struggling every day. so we can fill in the gaps, generally, things that difficult and i don't see things changing because prices keep going up . i asked the in the courses of everything, just keep going. we now while our wages have dropped so we don't have one now the choice, but to work 2 jobs. i preach a process, keep going up. a very difficult. we don't use all cause we all saw motor bikes because they burned less fuel. we avoid going out, or just a coffee at most. greece has seen protests over the rising costs of living, and it's not alone in the you. ah,

given the situation in ukraine, the e was likely to have to spend a lot of money over the next decade or so in a bid to try and revive its economy. can it do that at the same time as looking after its current member? whoa is, and now the you could also have to contend with the disillusionment of countries in the western balkans. you've already spent many years waiting to join the block. if countries that aspire to join the you face delays, they will reorient their policies. and then we will have an increase of russian and chinese influence in the western vulcans. candidate status seemed like an giant leap for ukraine. the next one, maybe insurmountable, or i'd always a good day when we welcome on to the program german lawyer, unmerited professor of law. the university of south africa, dr. andrea thomas, housing you are most welcome. so we have europe's hailing of ukraine's candice c stayed as, as a historic moment. big language. but how far off is the country from realistically

joining an is not even a guarantee in your eyes? well, the you have actually a set list of criteria that have to be fulfilled. and this is why it took so long for many other countries to maybe get her even an association status. membership requires that a candidate country has achieved the ability of institutions guaranteeing democracy and the rule of law, human rights. and most importantly, the respect for and the protection of minorities. plus the existence of a functioning markets economy without big monopolies, as well as the capacity to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the european union. and membership presupposes the candidates ability to take on the obligations of membership, including the adherence to the aims of political,

economic and monetary union. so this is quite a tall order. and countries such as turkey have not been able to take all those boxes in the list. and even russia tried at the end of the ninety's and, and was turned away. and currently the few western balkan countries that have also been put on on a different waiting list. so it's not likely that ukraine could meet these criteria, not even within the next 10 years. interesting. the e u rapidly accelerated though it's usual lengthy process to grant the clean candidacy status. could more corners be cut to get it to full membership in record time perhaps? well, of course, when, when there's a political passion, which is now burning amongst european leaders, not necessarily your p in population. then then many roles can be benson we,

we have seen this already happening huge amounts of money and even military and bay bay advanced military hardware being being supplied into a conflict own which also offends a fundamental principle of international. so yes, rules could be bent, but what counts in, in the history of people, this is fact not, not the promises of politicians. and i don't see these facts actually happening. yeah. politicians versus people you bring up a very interesting point because the e. u has already included countries with unstable economies, like greece, injection after injection of cash was needed there to save it from collapse. is the block in essence, the continent citizens we should say, ready to keep the check book open indefinitely. do you think? while at the moment, europe is facing the probably most severe europe crisis in its history. the european central bank is in panic. the national central banks, i extremely worried interest rates will have to be well and the rise shopping and

the limits of off simply creating wealth without necessarily having having done anything for it. these limits have soon been exhausted. i don't see any economic capacity to, to keep funding a country which is socially politically and economically bankrupt and whose infrastructure is, is completely broken. johnson shaw speaks of a martial plan for ukraine. but europe will not have the capacity to raise that kind of capital, at least not in the very near future. on this program, we look at many countries in need around the world, but the assistance to ukraine dwarfs to help given to them in africa and asia. why is that? you think? well, its politics before, before the reality of cost africa was paying

a huge price for the fact that all resources are being channelled to to ukraine despite a totally unacceptable ukranian nationalism. europe has its own strong history of minority protection, off, off federal, decentralization, spain, as of a good example, was catalonia, who wanted to be in dependent states and was prevented from doing it. so causal is of a recent example. so it is, it is absolutely mind boggling how the focus on an alleged acts of aggression by russia has allowed europe to forget all its most noble principles, especially minority protection. how could a country, where the politicians proclaim that, that the country needs to be cleansed of a whole people off of russian defense? how can such a country become a member of the european union?

is this, this, this, this will soon cause big conflicts and disputes in europe and other aspect based on the mental to europe, to save the world from global warming. all global warming targets have been sacrificed, and each of all just to be able to, to do without energy supplies from russia. germany, france, many other countries, austria, kindling, very old coal fired power stations that are usually polluted. ok, thank you so much for coming into program and sharing all those use with his doctor under thomas house and emeritus professor of law at the university of south africa . and 2 u. s. censorship of russian media has have the opposite effect of what it said. our to do that's according to a recent microsoft reports which shows a huge spike of interest and content from russian media list like

r t on the sputnik news agency. do you as tech giant claims, the rise was provoked by so called russian cyber influence operations. according to microsoft estimates russian media, let's get around 60 to 80000000, average monthly views in the u. s. dot mix alleged russian influence quotes on par with a major publication like the wall street journal. you true, blocked access to russian state media channels across the globe at the start of the conflict in ukraine, despite the constitutional bond on overt censorship in the us. let's get the thoughts on this from human and labor rights lawyer done conflict on thanks for coming on to the program. sticking with is a busy news. our in lights of this microsoft report isn't for to say big tech suppression has failed. yeah. well, i think it has, and i think usually when you see attempts to sensor information, it does tend to backfire. people are curious when they learn,

something's being censored, it just makes them want to tune in more. but it's not just because of that. it's also because people, i think, honestly, have seen the western propaganda around the war and ukraine as transparently false. i think they are looking for alternative voices and our teens boot know, you know, provide those voices. the numbers are really interesting, aren't they themselves, according to the report russian media like our tin sputnik don, get as many monthly views in the u. s. a. some major media outlets. why is there such interested in why russian media or, or the the, i'd put that at media like r t is a zag giving to the public. well, the truth is r t and spook nick represent really the biggest alternative press in the united states, which is on a sad,

it shows how pathetic the press it is in the us. i mean, largely you have a few conglomerates that run most of the price in the united states. they essentially speak with the same voice. and again, i think people want to hear the other side. you know, when i was a kid a growing up in the seventies and eighties, i remember very vividly critiques of the soviet union jamming western outlets like voice of america, radio, liberty, radio, free europe. and this is exactly what europe in the u. s. are doing to again my voice is like r t and i think people on harris lee, they bristled this. they see this is a problem and they're curious to hear what other people are saying, particularly again around this major event ukraine.