in the, the, we must start by recognizing that returning to ukraine's pre 2014 borders is an unrealistic object. us defense secretary of mr. crane will not be able to restore its pre 2014 borders outside his 1st meeting with nato member nations. moscow confirms release plans for our russians to this been held in the us as part of the trump administration's 1st prisoner swapped with with from lead the american president of 10 thing. that's a good well gesture. chris set the stage for a bigger deal on ukraine. i think this could be very important element. it could be a big part of it because it could be a big, important part of getting with you, grant the and the russian defense ministry

confirmed striking, ukrainian military drone production plans and a temporary deployment side for foreign mercenaries. as moscow troops advanced the this is r t international. i'm rachel ruble live in moscow. we start with breaking news depending on chief has announced, washington recognizes that it is unrealistic for ukraine to return to its pre 2014 borders. the fortunately appointed pete hag, stuff also added that diplomatic efforts are unlikely to lead to ukraine's acceptance into nato. let's take a lesson. we must start by recognizing that returning to ukraine's pre 2014 borders is an unrealistic objective chasing this, illusionary goal will only prolong the war and caused more suffering us. meanwhile,

russian forces continued to push forward on the front lines. the defense ministry confirmed the successful missiles drank on several of cubes. miller trade drawn production plants and a temporary deployment site for foreign mercenaries. our teaser mon customer springs us more details. the russian armed forces launched a group. this all attack against the ukrainian military industrial complex. according to the defense ministry, russia successfully struck factories producing unmanned aerial vehicles as well as, as the v. drones. apart from that group, missile attack, rushes aircraft, drones, missiles and artillery, also damaged the infrastructure of the crate in the mid 3 air fields, fuel storage facilities, and temporary deployment points for foreign mercenaries. now, russia's defense finished free states and that's large concentrations of crating on forces of was stuck in at least $139.00 various districts. meanwhile, with russia,

former president and the car executive head of the security council, the treatment date, if issued a statement says, saying that the concepts of peace for frank sometimes works peace through strength . you say sometimes that concept does work like when it expires is the real balance of power? not some fantasy. take today and kia, for example, after our missiles and drones arrived, even so such actions onto enough to knock sense into those can legitimate bassoons, who shaking from fear and drunk withdrawal, babbled nonsense on camera about trading territories. the only cure for them is to feel russian again, just as the us president advised. meanwhile, here in gore left their retreating ukrainian army continues to fire indiscriminately targeting civilian population. at least 42 people have been wounded here since the beginning of february. apart from the drones that targets civilian vehicles, public transport, and ambulances, ukrainian,

the militants are also using cluster munitions in residential areas. it's hoped that said they advance of the russian army at this particular front will soon put an end to the 11. the struggle of the locals against the freight in aggression from on call for archie, from the outskirts of goal of car in the people's republic, party sources and 11 on report. the states fire monitoring committee has been informed that the idea of is looking to remain in some parts of the country south until february 28th. the troops were supposed to pull out by january 26th, and the 11 east side is now categorically refusing any extensions. all right, let's cross it now to our, to correspondence, dave sweeney, who joins us from they root. see, what more can you tell us about the status flow of the ceasefire deal at the moment as well. of course as sci fi deal has always been very

volatile, very fragile. in fact, isabel has never really abided by the fact it broke. the terms of that c 5 agreement on the very 1st day it came into effects. now of course we know that the sci fi was extended recently. it's been extended to february, the 18, but now we're hearing noises through the committee. that's all you were saying. the implementation of the same spot, the as well is planning to stay an extended stay until february the 28th. so this has been tested go really rejected by the way, by the lebanese government, the newly formed liberties. government led by president joseph. i went to, they said, well actually we, uh, i think these varieties have to be 5 the extended deadline. the big question comes, if they don't leave by the extended deadline now, so far we spent a lot of time in the south. so of the country we've witnessed where the just trying to return to that line. they've been opened 5 run by the is waiting for see if

they've been confronted by mark about times by snipers. and we've even seen is writing drawings, dropping bombs. and these are on, on, on civilians, mainly women and children. the liberties on before it's probably, well, haven't responded to those publications. it does have a presence in the south of the come to a close under the terms of the sci fi that the liberties army was supposed to be taking control of. many of those settlements as he is ready, always withdrew. but from what we've seen these right, the army has used the extension of that. so you saw not to withdrawal, not to use that time for somebody to come see, but it's in fact reinforced its present to support more more troops. and we were in the financial rom here, which lies very, very close to the is ready border and it surrounded by military bases. and we in fact, found our cell was from the, from avante point inside the school. we found the expansion of a minute to by is like we saw them taking you new ground and making new

installations. these are on huge vantage points. this is in a place called my block. this is a strategic point for the use radio. only they can see as far as they route. so there's no kind of sense that the is ladies were in fact preparing to leave. so that safe already has only been very one sided, his father's launched attack. so i'm very just trying to return it's launched as strikes in the south and in the east of the country while it has been offered. it's paul, well, it's uh, remains a relatively calm throughout that period. it's only $5.01, so that's how the h. e, strike in december, but up and up until then it's a budget by the sci fi, although in the state, when it has rejected the extension of this east bar to the 18th of february, and now this new proposed deadline of february, the 28th. well,

it remains to be seen what happens with the state as far as cost on the situation remains very intense and very volatile. so steve, have there been any recent violations of the agreement? it would have been violations, of course, on a pretty much daily basis. now, as well, has uh, regularly, uh, blowing up how was it pulled those houses is booby trap launch pump sold. uh, the settlements in southern lebanon, as it pulls out, you might need these kind of old ones, the scores to kind of policy words withdrawing, but destroying, building off the building. now again, we spent a lot of time in the south and we see the destruction of churches, of most, some hospitals, whole villages, in fact, the beams raised to the ground. the law of this has taken place since the original ceased by a deadline came into place in november. now again, just a few weeks ago, the lady on forties destroyed

a children's amusement park in novelty. had that happened during the visit of the night. fortunately. so there were no casualties that but then again over the, over the weekend, they were fresh strikes in the east and back hall which lies very close to the syrian border. cause that that situation remains very tense. sort of being cautious with height. told her, i'll chime along with that folder which have just recently been full under control and then entire in the south a child was among the people killed in an as start icon, a civilian home that so many people are talking not just about these breaches of the see father repeat more than 250 of place to 300 asked. right? since the original will see 5 in november, around 73 people, or at least 73 people are known to have been killed many, many more wounded. so people are not talking just simply in terms of a breach of a sci fi that's all king of is ready war crime. so we've mentioned the committee to the overseas,

the monitoring and the implementation of that city far agree with they would you to meet on thursday. they've now postponed not but you think it will meet on friday instead of the course. i get regular updates about the is ready breaches. i occasionally issue statements, the united nation set to the general antonia do tatters while he was in lebanon. he came to nicola in the south just a few weeks ago, and he called them the is right, used to stop those violations. but all the words, it doesn't really seem to be much in the way of action now. again, as well, who's issued another threats to the residents on the southern day, but then boarding the gates trying to return to the home. say, we'll see any approach, any demonstration people to be marching that on mass as, as hostile in indicating that that will be prepared to take action. so the situation is incredibly volatile and particularly in southern deborah, and it seems like it's a tinderbox waiting to explode. all right, r t correspondence, steve sweeney reporting for us from a route. steve,

thank you. well, the us president and says america could take over gaza after locals are relocated. this place, palestinians continued to return home amid the fragile moss is rout ceasefire. video footage shows a devastated area in the enclave that has been virtually wiped out in the i was rarely offensive. and the tell how i neighborhood in gaza city were dozens of multi story buildings once that has been reduced to rubble like in water or electricity. does returning say, despite the overwhelming odds they will never again leave their land to guide most up soon. everyone has pitched a tent on the ruins of their houses. this proves that we clean to our land and do not want to leave it. we will stay on our land and to feed our enemy, god willing totally how i cannot tell how i used to be full of life and an attractive destination for people. but now it is destroyed and lifeless. it is not the same as before. we thought that when we returned home,

we would rebuild our lives and our homes. unfortunately, we found no life and no home. we feel that life is getting harder every day. it even as palestinians return home to ruins, officials until the v of are insisting that a buffer zone be created in northern guys. up the move would encompass nearly a kilometer into the enclave. along the entire border with israel, where a 3 meter high fence currently stands, farmer is really national security minister bank and there is a leader of the party behind the proposal and claims it is simply a security measure. in recent days, these items had been recorded roaming just 300 meters from the border fence. near in the hall was right before the astonished eyes of the hall was residence. this is an income prehensile reality, especially after october 7th. we cannot return to the situation that existed before . however, in order to restore security, to the state of israel and to the gaza envelope in particular, we must return to fighting and destroy from us. let's cross now to

palestinian rights activist us i follow you of good to have you on the program with us in a more been give years party is pushing for creation of a buffer zone with guys a climbing it's to ensure peace and security in the area what's your reaction to this proposal where it says file, right? there's most, they're both regarding the company because um, now out of the government and the early days a camera is new knows. but what do you smoke on so name? is it the same kind of same think is now where and translated into the right house . we said, prob, calling for expansion of what was the palace being as forms where does up and the because folder and active sites take out unless you folks reg as well. so he actually mall explains and been view when he calls for expression or for everybody

note on this one of our bathrooms on the scotsman. these i spoke to speak about that. so as long it's not that bad for those on the know the social security is a key. legs on the rouse, i just want and kid for this thing. yeah. so like i have that and, and this is a kidding. so i mean it's all the in the area cuttings. it does the same thing to to boss. and now there continue to show the spanish thing as even to days it shows that understand. yeah. seems right off ohio. yeah, it didn't get killings on on the road, and on the go betweens, a guy displayed in the engine. so follow a line. it is a come on back these to declare a secure with the area and toyota security areas in order to create an offer list in yes, a spouse of genocide compare. mm hm. and this plan, it coincides with the return home of thousands of gaza is do you think that it's

related to that? the timing the syn janski's and as of both the streaming and sticks to the line and sticks, those are hides as it is. i sent to the said the listing and to 415 and a half for myself. full. by the way is a government in these lines or at least a single phase one as they are seeking about renewing 0 and then use of genocide in gaza. so as a look into that, as the assets come back to in cities and the store and houses and we're seeing how to reduce the expensive again. israel has used the october 7th from us attacks to support the creation of this buffer zone. do you think that if this buffer zone had been created at that time, that it unlikely would have prevented the incursion?

the bathrooms on the or is it time like a guys all the time was the phone say like your 1st impression comp was bobbin liason around it and the army at certain points and all of the ends that i'll me was shooting a spanish thing as on the other side of the, of the ball, the larger diamonds, racial, psalms, and they shouldn't the slightest. so he is this bob that falls out? is it 0 snipping guns or night affairs? no, provo, 7 and a given range or is it to the on the things i'm to assessing is going is coming. they didn't want to him because i saw as a soldier to are so strong that nobody with dell got out of there. so, but it's not a question of the red box, a heavy noun box as long because they have on them and it's the time before

the dock. and then sometimes that that's the way i don't say. and most of these kinds of allows but it's a pathetic mode. okay, so i'm sorry, some conspiracy theories say for this space, or do you know that i have an excuse to dispose garza, but i really think that is more because of the believe. and i'm believing that that should be better for our guys out there to adults of slow so long written down to our taxes and all the pounds and the proposed buffer zone. as we've all know many guys and live in this area, their homes are there that many gardens have been displaced, have said that they will never leave again despite donald trump saying that the palestinians are going to have to leave the area. but where are they supposed to live if this, if this buffer zone is impose, where are they supposed to go? at this point?

actually valley only destroyed almost every building is a. yeah, on the modem. so and been being actually suggest labs i'm you was already doing and the holidays. so the agreement, those have been you tense and your kind of problems and the homestead to reach common. the neighbors have better steps to live in my own recommendations, but they do now is like the friends and time subject guidelines. and on the i know the limited number. all right, so they've been experience, and this is actually the reason for the con kaiser seems i agreement. is it for the activity now we're on our highest i down the ceilings. it is a low is going to have is low means the next 2 days back to yeah. so it means that the whole things that the, this,

the 1st stage of this inspiring on as in no problem, the noise like they don't to suggest an easy solution. so that policy, nance ends, they don't want to enable the police the as to their bins or lives in guys, i'd say so we all are training there. there's no clear game and the right is a looks like the last, the most of the situation is a continuous assessment of the guys on bill days loudly say is and occupation. all right, we're going to live with our palestinian rights activist. your if i follow you up. thank you. thank you. in a lot of years the landscapes, hometown, hundreds of people took to the streets to demand authorities, get the central heating system back online. around 600 households in the city of crew by rhonda are freezing it in the middle of winter. however,

energy bills keep climbing despite the radiators, stain, cold, and cranes energy giant natural gas has started to impart european fuel to get through the season. and that's a slovak time minister robert pizza is warranted that profit swab a may stop for and gas imports to neighboring ukraine. so nickels will need it for several days. now. gas has been flowing to ukraine through the reverse pipeline. invo, johnny gas without which ukraine would freeze. slovakia is not involved in this. the suppliers are foreign companies as well. but we have the moral rights to consider methods to stop foreign supplies of about 7500000 cubic meters of gas to ukraine. these foreign supplies from europe to ukraine are putting even more pressure on the rising gas prices, which today have already fluctuated at a record level, about a 60 euro per megawatt. a russian gas like sports to europe have been boosted via the 3rd stream pipeline after q have shut down transit through ukrainian territory

at the start of the year. the moves us, the voc is fuel imports permit and the countries politicians have been threatening it to sanction t of the got reaction to the latest developments from me say institute contributor, fin, andrea, and it's a commercial arrived immunization between your countries because ukraine actually has prevented slovak from getting gas from russia. so now this does cost, so that quite a lot. that's why i'm talking about the base a commercial, right? you could say it is damage in your doesn't see it because the gas prices are bingo enough. no, normally the total amount of gas available in europe, but also ukraine is decreasing, which also means that the ukraine must now import image energy prices and gas prices also live, right? because a lot of gas is used to produce electricity. so this means that overall,

the gas prices or the electricity prices uh, is feeling an awkward pressure in europe. or we can see it is only the last days the, the german, the energy press section has to be in the region above $100.00 is your per kilowatt hour. and is actually some of the highest prices the last few years. the germany has a experienced bar, partially it, this has to do with the fact that there is this gas issue in the ukraine. all right, let's get back to the breaking news. we're following here on our, to the pentagon chief has announced washington recognizes the fact that it is unrealistic for ukraine to return to its pre 2014 borders. let's listen. we must start by recognizing that returning to ukraine's pre 2014 borders is an unrealistic objective chasing this. illusionary goal will only prolong the war and

caused more suffering. driving me now in the studio as our tools donald quarter don, what are the key takeaways from this needle meeting? well, finally we hear from a top us official, the us secretary of defense, that this is just a pipe dream. this idea that ukraine is going to get its hands on cry me a, and this is after 11 years since 2014 of us officials saying over and over that they're not going to recognize you. crimea as a russian territory that it's occupied by russia. and that the peninsula just belongs to ukraine. i said, very early on, that should russia do so? there would be consequences for not recognizing what has happened and crime is together. we have rejected any notion that there is any legality in russia's efforts to annex crimea. we do not recognize russia's attempt to annex crimea. we agree to disagree with russia on that front. and our crimea sanctions against

russia will remain in place until russia returns the peninsula to the correct and moscow eventually has to end its occupation of ukraine's sovereign territory. crime may is still sovereign territory of ukraine. even on the state department website, you can still find this wild claim that just doesn't correspond to reality, that the us is a does not and will not recognize crimea. crime is democratic decision to become part of russia, which the website calls an annexation. right? but there's also another big take away from what the us secretary of defense said. because this also ties into another thing that the us said that the or, or rather that russia said was one of its goals in the military operation to prevent ukraine from being becoming part of nato. and the secretary defense just said that this idea that ukraine might get nato membership is not going to be on the table for any sort of peace negotiation. the united states does not

believe that nato membership for ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement. instead, any security guarantee must be backed by capable european and non european troops. if these troops are deployed as peacekeepers to ukraine at any point, they should be deployed as part of a non need omission. and they should not be covered under article 5. they're also must be robust international oversight of the line of contact to be clear as part of any security guarantee. there will not be us troops deployed to ukraine is done. this all comes and made a prisoner swap between washington and moscow. what more can you tell us about that? that's right. well, although trump hasn't yet been able to broker any sort of peace deal, i keep promised on the campaign trail. he has been able to negotiate with the

russian authorities that negotiate this. a prisoner swap that has seen the former school teacher, mark fogel returned to the united states. and this deal really looks like it's a chief more progress towards any sort of piece deal being cut between the united states and russia than anything we've seen over the past. 4 years because you've been, trump said, i mean this is a moments that is going to perhaps present the 1st step into building that sort of report between the united states and russia. it's going to be needed to cut any sort of peace deal. very fair, very, very fair, very reasonable, not like deals you've seen over the years. they were very fair going to lead and order somebody else is being released tomorrow that you will know. but we wanted to get this done very important and see, wanted to actually fly over and get mark and get them on properly because that

could be a pretty tough trip to start. i think there's goodwill in terms of new i think this could be the very important element. you could be a big part of it actually because it could be a big, important part of getting the water over with you. great. and we appreciate present input and was what he, what he did, he was able to pull it off for you, right? he was able to pull it up. we think and you're here. so is, i will tell you a little bit more about it tomorrow, but i think we made great progress progress on the war. also getting the work i want to get the war ended just as even is a very important evening for ending that was and i think they all want to see a dentist to now the kremlin spokesman dimitry pest golf, also commented on this exchange and what he said a lot of what he said actually echoed what we just heard from trump piece that

essentially that this deal could perhaps begin to sort of improvements in the currently low level of trust between russia and the united states to a good starting point. and you also said that a russian will be exchanged, the russian citizen currently being housing united states will be exchanged for mark fogel. and that this deal was the result of very intensive negotiations. as we stated earlier, work through the relevant departments has intensified. there were contacts and the result of these contacts was the release of fogel, as well as one of the russian citizens who is currently being held in prison in the united states. so, but this russian citizen will be returned back to russian in the upcoming days. naturally, any agreements on the release of citizens are proceeded by very, very meticulous negotiations configured arts in like near those done these moves are certainly a positive sign of potential sign and relations. what's the likelihood we can see

more positive developments? well, according to russian foreign minister, circ, a live rob that we heard from today, also commenting on this, this deal that was caught and the potential for future peace negotiations. i mean, he said that there are some 3rd parties that might feel sort of left out of a piece deal that's cut between the us and russia, specifically the european union. so let's take a listen to what he said. the other issue, but it was more than it was due to the world awaits a possible meeting between presidents pollutant and trump uh, categories. you could this meeting helped improve relations between the 2 countries and lead to an agreement on resolving the ukranian christ. i thought you just knew that, do you think the whole world is waiting here? cuz i don't think it is as i used to have. so there are those who believe that any contacts between moscow and washington seems to infringe upon that interest that europe has begun to use the mouth of kaya, tell us that we should declare that without europe, nothing can be discussed. the tool,

it seems they have felt the place in the world hierarchy to which they have relegated themselves, but it will not be so easy to get out of it. as for the direct issue of contact with president, trump has repeatedly said that he is ready and willing to make phone calls and is ready to meet him. pass a mr. president, putin has said that he's ready for that as well. the decision you understand will be made directly by the president, sort of and i have no doubt to present relevant information will be provided, also comes back to what he's doing to them now and all of this. obviously, it's also important to understand who crane's position and all this because according to ukrainian media, reports keeps becoming increasingly concerned that the west is just going to leave its proxy state out of negotiations altogether, especially because russia has made it clear it doesn't really see vladimir zalinski as having the authority to sign off on any sort of legitimate piece deal of especially because she is empower way past as presidential term pretty much just through the barrel of a gun. and ukraine has a lot of other problems. of course,

i mean.