here's our political correspondent charlotte rose.s to moscow this week by the uk defence secretary ben wallace along with phone calls by the prime minister and us presidentjoe biden seem to have done little to change the minds of russian leaders. and scenes of tanks rolling up to a european border have made some western politicians fearful of history repeating itself. in an interview with the times this morning, mr wallace said the current situation had, "a whiff of munich in the air from some in the west." which many had thought was a reference to attempts by european leaders to appease hitler before the second world war. but it's been stressed that he still believes attempts at diplomacy to de—escalate the situation are important. his cabinet colleague was asked to clarify his remarks. he's not talking about appeasement. i think the comparison ben was drawing, i know the comparison he was drawing, it was around the attempts for a diplomatic outcome that it turned out adversaries at the time were not really interested in. is he dire

charlotte rose, bbc news.dent volodymyr zelensky is due to speak the us presidentjoe biden later today. 0ur correspondent in kyiv james waterhouse says despite the threat, life is continuing as normal for many ukrainians. the government here has described this information about what could happen as unhelpful, whether it will be a full—scale invasion, an air strike on the capital kyiv, or otherwise. they have called it less than helpful, but they are striking a defiant tone. the foreign minister says the country's diplomacy, military and economy are all stronger than they were eight years ago when russia first annexed crimea. he also gave an assurance that ukraine would be ready for any scenario. that said, it is a crisp day here. ukrainians are getting on with their sunday as normal, going for a coffee and a walk, completely at odds with the growing urgency in political language by western leaders as well as the growing movement of russian troops along the border as well as to the north, a movement of troops t

charlotte rose, bbc news. speak to our corresponent james waterhouse, who's in the ukrainian capital kyiv for us this lunchtime. what is the mood there, james? what is the mood there, james? well, the government _ what is the mood there, james? well, the government here _ what is the mood there, james? well, the government here has _ what is the mood there, james? at the government here has described this information about what could happen as unhelpful, whether it will be a full—scale invasion, an air strike on the capital kyiv, or otherwise. they have called it less than helpful, but they are striking a defiant tone. the foreign minister says the country's diplomacy, military and economy are all stronger than they were eight years ago when russia first annexed crimea. he also gave an assurance that ukraine would be ready for any scenario. that said, it is a crisp day here. ukrainians are getting on with their sunday as normal, going for a coffee and a walk, completely at odds with the growing urgency in poli

charlotte rose, bbc news. criticised remarks by a british government minister comparing diplomatic efforts to prevent a russian invasion to those attempting to avert the second world war. speaking to my colleage lewis vaughanjones, ukraine's ambassador in london, vadym prystaiko, said it wasn't the best time to offend partners. i would like to believe that we will learn this lesson from 1938, and we won't be getting in the same trap. at the same time, we would like to tell that all the cards are really on the table right now. everything which could be done, collectively or individually by western leaders, was already done. what we can have no is how to find a delicate balance between panic and readiness to fight. the ukraine is synced that we are resisting, we will fight. at the same time, there's panic, the people being drawn, the money lived in, this is something that is hotting ukraine, might be a policy of putin to achieve the goal without one soldier crossing the border. fire to achieve the goal without on

pandemic, it's time for what he calls a "more enabling approach". 0ur political correspondent charlotte roseent will no longer be telling people how to live their lives, but also that the treasury will be less willing to open up its wallet. steve barclay who is of course a cabinet member but now also the prime minister's new chief of staff says in this article that the nation has spent £400 billion during the pandemic and supported more than 11.5 million people through the furlough scheme. of course, we heard borisjohnson speaking in parliament last week. he said he wanted to end the remaining covid restrictions as soon as possible. and i think that this intervention also signals a shift that the government is going to be taking more of a back seat and that businesses, communities and individuals themselves will have to take more personal responsibility which will be music to the ears of many backbenchers, certainly on the conservative side. of course, this coming week, borisjohnson will be doing a tour of the uk, talking about the government's levelling up agenda, so expect to see plenty of

people's lives and it's now a "priority to restore a smaller state". 0ur political correspondent charlotte roseits wallet so easily — longer be opening its wallet so easily. steve barclay, who of course as a cabinet — easily. steve barclay, who of course as a cabinet minister, but also the prime _ as a cabinet minister, but also the prime minister's new chief of staff has said _ prime minister's new chief of staff has said in— prime minister's new chief of staff has said in his article that the nation — has said in his article that the nation has _ has said in his article that the nation has spent £400 billion fighting — nation has spent £400 billion fighting the pandemic and at the peak— fighting the pandemic and at the peak of— fighting the pandemic and at the peak of 811.5 million jobs were being — peak of 811.5 million jobs were being supported by furlough. last week— being supported by furlough. last week we — being supported by furlough. last week we heard borisjohnson say in parliament— week we heard borisjohnson say in parliament that he was hoping to see an end _ parliament that he was