>> ian pannell back with us again tonight. ian, thank you. >>> we move on this tuesday night and back here at home, several states bracing for brutal cold and what could be a nor'easter now by late week. up to five inches of snow in detroit. icy roads causing accidents. wind chills 30 below tomorrow. and what the two models now say about this possible nor'easter. chief meteorologist ginger zee back with us again tonight. hey, ginger. >> reporter: hey, david. tonight, you can fee the nibble of that arctic air. that's why you see the wind chill advisories from muncy, indiana, all the way back up to st. cloud. we're talking about the longest stretch of cold this entire winter season for much of the great lakes and even parts of the northeast. so, here are the numbers. chicago with that fresh snow. even though they're in a snow deficit still, will feel like 19 below tomorrow. it will feel like 10 here in new york. philadelphia, not much warmer. 5 for boston. speaking of boston and that nor'easter, it's looking more and more likely

>> ian pannell from ukraine again tonight. ian, thank you. >>> back here at home tonight and to your money. today, the federal reserve signaling it will likely raise interest rates as early as march. the dow closing slightly lower today following this news. down 129 points. i want to bring in abc's chief business and economics correspondent rebecca jarvis back with us tonight. and rebecca, i know this is meant to cool down inflation in the long run, but in the short-term, these rate hikes could effect families, their credit cards, their mortgages? >> reporter: absolutely, david, that's right. and they are meant to stabilize prices. everything from your grocery to your gas to your rent bill, but there are also consequences to rate hikes. they can slow down the economy, cause that turbulence we've seen in the stock market, and they increase the cost of borrowing, making it more expensive to take out a new mortgage, car loan, even the credit card debt. and as you say, the fed has signaled they will take this slowly, do it graduall

ian pannell with us again tonight. thank you. >>> back here at home now, and to the voting rights debate on capitol hill tonight. the democratic leader vowing to hold a vote so that every senator will be on record on this. rachel scott on the hill. >> reporter: tonight, the senate, for the first time, moving ahead with a debate on voting rights, even though the bill appeared doomed to fail. >> senate democrats are -- we are going to fight the fight. >> reporter: it comes after 19 states imposed new restrictions, making it harder to vote. the vast majority pushed by republican state legislatures. the effects already plain to see. in texas today, the county clerk in the state capital of austin announcing she had to reject 27% of mail-in ballot applications on technicalities. >> your next door neighbor who just turned 65 and who is voting for the first time because they're afraid of covid, is not a fraudulent voter. >> reporter: on capitol hill, democrats accuse republicans of stifling democracy. > we cannot sit back and

ian pannell with american senators in ukraine's capitol today delivering a tough message to vladimir putin. >>> and celebrating betty white on what would have been her 100th birthday. fans taking up one of her biggest causes, her love of animals. >>> good evening on this monday, martin luther king jr. day. it's great to have you with us, i'm whit johnson, in for david tonight. and we begin with that massive winter storm. days of snow, ice, even tornadoes, turning deadly. snow and wind alerts from north carolina to maine at this hour. and as temperatures plummet overnight, the growing danger on the roads all the way to the south. more than two feet of snow in ohio. drivers stranded in whiteout conditions. strong waves and icy wind in hampton beach, new hampshire. in raleigh, north carolina, drivers sliding on the ice, struggling to remain control. other caring scrambling out of the way. a weekend of stretch courthouse dri treacherous driving. a tractor trailer dangling off an overpass. the storm spawning tornadoes in florida. a couple there driving right into the dangerous winds. toni

>> ian pannell tonight. thank you, ian. >>> and this evening, the developing headline back here at home and president biden's fight to protect voting rights in this country. the president will travel to capitol hill tomorrow and tonight, news the senate majority leader chuck schumer now says he's laid out the path to begin debate on a new bill that could combine both of these voting rights bills. rachel scott live on the hill tonight. senator schumer says the senate could begin debate without changing any senate rules here. until now, we know threats of the filibuster have blocked debate, so, how will this work? >> reporter: well, david, senate republicans have repeatedly blocked democrats for debating this legislation, but tonight, senate majority leader chuck schumer says he's figured out a pathway forward, by attaching the legislation to a separate bill over in the house. now, this will allow the senate to debate voting rights for the first time without changing any of the rules, david. >> all right, so, h

moment, as we speak, this number is insufficient for the full-scale offensive against ukraine. >> ian pannell back with us from ukraine tonight. and ian, nato is trying to precin precinct sent a eye nighted front, but germany, not near ly willing to go as far as other members. >> reporter: david, germany, like much of europe, is heavily defendant on russia for natural gas and it is saying it won't send weapons to ukraine, but as you say, what it did commit toe is supplying the country 5,000 helmets. they're in kyiv. the majyor of the city saying te offer left him speechless. david? >> ian, thank you. >>> back here at home tonight and to your money. today, the federal reserve signaling it will likely raise interest rates as early as march. the dow closing slightly lower today following this news. i want to bring in abc's chief business and economics correspondent rebecca jarvis here tonight. i know this is meant to cool down invasion in the long run, but in the short-term, these rate hikes could affect families? >> reporter: absolutely, david, that's right. and they are meant to stabilize pric

>> ian pannell following this for us again tonight. ian, thank you. >>> back here at home, we celebrate the trailblazing actor, sidney poitier. the first black man to win the oscar for best actor. the tributes pouring in tonight from all over the world. that moment you might remember with president obama. and tonight here, sidney poitier in his own words. what his mother always told him. ♪ amen, amen ♪ >> reporter: sidney poitier, the gifted hollywood actor, the civil rights trailblazer. >> why, you black -- >> go ahead and say it. >> reporter: his roles did not ignore the times. >> i drive a man around in his limousine and i say, yes, sir, and no, sir, and shall i take the drive, sir? mama, that ain't no kind of a job. that ain't nothing at all. >> reporter: he was born in miami and raised in the bahamas on his father's tomato farm. he'd move to harlem as a teenager and worked as a dishwasher, trying out for roles, remembering being turned away by a director. >> i did decide then at that moment, on that street that i'm going to be an a

>> ian pannell and our team in ukraine again tonight. ian, thank you. >>> this evening, the u.s.firmed it's conducting air strikes in syria to help kurd i ish forces put down an assault on a prison there. the prison houses some 5,000 isis fighters, some attempting a jailbreak as a car bomb went off and isis fighters attacked. syrian kurd traps are working. causing those to flee. >>> news coming in late today, what the nib revealed in the gabby petito case. what they now say they discovered from brian laundrie's notebook. here's victor oquendo. >>> tonight, the stunning new details into the investigation of the killing of gabby petito. saying her former boyfriend, brian laundrie, admitted to killing her in a notebook. saying in a statement, a review of the notebook revealed written statements by laundrie claiming responsibility for ms. petito's death. that notebook found near his body along with a gun and backpack. authorities adding the investigation did not identify any other individuals other than laundrie directly involved in the tragic death of petito. her body was found in w

receive much more difficult and dangerous situation for the europe and for the united states. >> our ian pannell continues to report on the ground from ukraine and ian, the kremlin responding, we know, in writing late today to the u.s. we know the u.s. had made no such promise that ukraine would never join nato and now russia's response? >> reporter: yeah, that's right. state department confirming they've got this written response from russia in their hands. it's their response to america's security proposals over ukraine. we don't know the contents of the letter but what we do know is that secretary of state blinken is speaking with russian foreign minister lavrov tomorrow and you have to imagine this is going to be the main topic of conversation. david? >> ian, thank you, again. >>> back here at home tonight and to this political battle now brewing over the next supreme court justice. president biden, of course, promising to nominate the first black woman to the court. some republicans now calling that offensive, the promise. and tonight, what republican presidents have promised in the past. r

>> all right, ian pannell in london tonight. ian, thank you. >>> and in australia tonight, a judge now siding with tennis star novak djokovic in his battle to play in the australian open, despite his vaccination status. he had asked for an exemption. but tonight, why the judge might not get the last word. here's james longman. >> reporter: tonight, a victory for novak djokovic, even as officials weigh a judge's decision to overturn the australian government's cancellation of his visa over vaccine requirements. telling his fans on social media, "thank you all for standing with me through all of this and encouraging me to stay strong." supporters swarming this car believed to be carrying djokovic shortly after he was released from an immigration detention hotel where he'd been held for days after arriving in melbourne. it's still unclear whether the top-ranked tennis star will be able to defend his australian open title for a record 21 grand slams, because tonight, an immigration minister is considering whether to block him again.

>> ian pannell again tonight. thank you, ian. >>> back here at home and to the pandemic now. and scientists here in the u.s. now studying this new omicron subvariant called ba.2, found in at least 17 states here in the u.s. ba.2 may be highly contagious, they say, but so far the world health organization does not consider it a variant of concern. so, tonight, what we do know so far, and what they're seeing here in this country. here's steve osunsami. >> reporter: scientists say right now there's no reason to be alarmed, but say they are tracking a subvariant of the omicron variant of the coronavirus. it's called ba.2. identified in 55 countries and in 17 states here in america. health officials say there's no evidence so far that ba.2 causes more severe disease, but some researchers say it spreads quickly, and that could mean i's easier to catch. dr. walensky at the cdc tells wral-tv that they're still trying to figure out if it's more transmissible. >> some have speculated that it might be, because it has taken off in denmark, although, the flip side is that we've had it her

>> ian pannell we're grateful for your reporting all week long. thank you. >>> now to the newly released images of the crash of a u.s. navy stealth fighter in the china sea. navy confirming video online shows this f 35 seconds before it crashed on to the deck of the u.s.s. carl vincent. the plane falling into the ocean, sinking to the bottom. the u.s. still trying to rover the $100 million jet. tonight china claiming it has no interest in that f-35 jet. >>> we turn to news in the pandemic. here in the u.s., where omicron peaked where, it still raging and, tonight dr. auch onthony f on this new subvariant and what a we know so far. here's kaylee hartung. >> reporter: tonight, health experts are urging americans to stay the course with vaccinations and masking amid promising signs the country is rounding the omicron peak. >> my message would be just hang in there, because things look like, at least for what's going on now with omicron, that things are turning around. >> reporter: nationally, new covid cases have dropped 25% in the last two weeks, an

>> ian pannell, we're grateful for your reporting all week long from ukraine. thank you. >>> now to the newly released images of the crash of a u.s. navy stealth fighter in the south china sea. the navy tonight confirming that video seen online shows this f-35 just seconds before it crashed on to the deck of the uss carl vincent. the pilot and six crew members injured. the plane falling into the ocean, sinking to the bottom. the u.s. still trying to recover the $100 million jet with its secret technology. tonight, by the way, china claiming it has no interest in that f-35 jet. >>> we turn now to news on the pandemic. here in the u.s., where omicron has now peaked, where it's still raging, and tonight, dr. anthony fauci on this new omicron subvariant and what we know so far. here's kaylee hartung. >> reporter: tonight, health experts are urging americans to stay the course with vaccinations and masking amid promising signs the country is rounding the omicron peak. > my message would be, just hang in there, because things look like, at least for what's going on n

abc's senior foreign correspondent ian pannell went to the front lines. >> here along the front lineselephone ukraine/russia crisis, the air can seem eerily quiet. the crunch of snow underfoot, occasionally interrupted by gunfire in the distance. >> is that a shot? >> yeah. yes. >> but the ukrainian troops here say they're under constant threat. this shell-shocked factory riddled with bullets and shrapnel, bearing witness to an eight-year struggle between the ukrainian military and russian-backed separatists. >> ian pannell, good morning, sir. how are you? >> fine. and you? >> the general has been fighting and said now there is concerns that russia will invade is at an all-time high. do you feel there is a greater threat today than at any time recently? >> translator: we are waiting, and we're waiting calmly. if they come, we'll fight. behind us are our families, our homes. and so i think it will not be at all easy for them to take ukraine. >> over the past month, russian military presence along the border to the east has grown to around 100,000 troops. the russian defense ministry re

here's ian pannell tonight. >> reporter: tonight, the orde from kazakhstan's president to shoot protesters without warning. anti-government protests sparked by high gas prices are now focused on political change. today, more russian troops arriving. a few thousand believed to be mobilized after a plea from the beleaguered president. the authoritarian regime using live fire, as have some protesters. at least 25 demonstrators and 18 security personnel killed. although the real number is likely higher. protesters setting the mayor's office ablaze. the presidential office also attacked. with vehicles burned, windows shatters. the scale of the damage speak to the per osty of the clashes and so many who have lived under dictatorship for decades. >> tonight, secretary blinken warning the cad act stan government about asking for russian help? >> reporter: yeah, that's right. perhaps positioning himself ahead of talks with russia and ukraine next week, secretary blinken saying to kazakhstan, if you're asking the kremlin for help, asking the russians into your house is hard, but getting them to leav

let's get to our senior foreign correspondent ian pannell in ukraine tonight. ian, you were watching right along with us. and the president making news at first, saying he believes vladimir putin will act, will make a move there in ukraine, but then dialing back when he was continued to be pressed on this issue, saying he doesn't believe putin has made up his mind and global headlines tonight about whether or not the president left any kind of window there depending on the kind of incursion we might see. >> reporter: yeah, i think there were many gasps of breath here in kiev and across european capitals when the president said that he thought that perhaps russia would cross that border. in other words, that russia would invade. he left it open as to whether or not it would be a major incursion or minor incursion, but he nodded to significant differences between nato european allies as to how to respond. there are clear diplomatic difficulties. a president doubling down, saying, yes, vladimir putin hasn't made up his mind, also saying that there would be strong

mary bruce at the white house, rachel scott on the hill, ian pannell in ukraine. >>> tonight, the coronavirus. how to get those free at-home test kits. tens of millions of americans already ordering theirs. also, what dr. fauci said about children under 5 and vaccines. an

our ian pannell is on the ground as more american anti-tank and bunker busting missiles arrive in kyiv. >> this is the latest delivery of u.s. supplied weapons and ammunition to the ukrainian government.'s mease aigof support peoplofkraine but also a message of deterrence to the kremlin. >> reporter: the acting u.s. ambassador confirming that support. >> the ukrainians are ready and capable of defending their country and we will be there to help them. we don't think ukraine should have to live with a loaded gun to its head. >> reporter: but the kremlin insisting they won't attack even as more than 100,000 troops are gathered near the border. these new images show the russian military conducting drills across the region. the u.s. is finalizing plans to help europe with natural gas should russia cut off supply amid current tensions. president biden will hold talks with qatar on monday in an effort to send some of that nation's vast supply of gas to europe. andrew. >> em, thank you. >>> turning to the pandemic, covid hospitalizations in the u.s. are down 8% in the last week. the biden adm

abc's ian pannell reports blinken is hoping to de-escalate the crisis even as russia builds up more troops near ukraine. >> reporter: there's still room for diplomacy to work, but three meetings last week producing no obvious signs of compromise and now more troops are gathering at a different point along the ukraine border, so, yes, there may still be time for diplomacy to work. but it may also be running out. >> vladimir putin demanded ukraine be blocked from joining nato but the u.s. calls that request a nonstarter. >>> we turn now to the battle over voting rights in washington cinead today just as president biden begins his second year in office with his poll numbers at a new low. this morning, president biden marks one year in office with republicans and democrats in a standoff over voting rights. >> this is about one party wanting the power to unilaterally rewrite the rule book of american elections. >> senate democrats are -- we are going to fight the fight. >> reporter: a bill on the senate floor would make election day a federal holiday and guarantee all voters can request a mail-

mary bruce at the white house, rachel scott on the hill, ian pannell in ukraine. >>> tonight, the coronavirus get those free at-home test kits. tens of millions of americans already ordering theirs. also, what dr. fauci said about children under 5 and vaccines. and there is news tonight from

we begin with ian pannell just back from the front lines. morning, ian. >> reporter: good morning, george. there are reports russia is planning significant military action against ukraine. those are the words from this latest advisory from the state department. now nato putting extra forces on stand by and sending additional ships and fighter jets to eastern europe. as the u.s. embassy in ukraine tell us some staff and relatives to leave. u.s. officials ordering the evacuation of family members of u.s. embassy staff in ukraine. some nonessential personnel also allowed to leave. the state department writing, u.s. citizens in ukraine should consider departing now, using commercial or other privately available transportation options. now the uk following suit, also ordering some embassy staff to leave. this morning, the ukrainian government criticizing the u.s. decision as premature and excessively cautious. the order comes as tensions mount in the region with some fearing a russian invasion could come at any time. despite consistent denials by

senior foreign correspondent ian pannell has the latest. ning, ian. >> reporter: good morning, george. that's right. a critical week for diplomacy, and that goes to the cold war. the kremlin sees ukraine and other parts of eastern europe as part of its own sphere of influence and a buffer against nato. moscow believes to be amassing around 100,000 troops on the border, and president putin making it clear he's ready to use him if his concerns aren't met. president biden making it clear there will be massive consequences if he does. it could involve more sanctions. what moscow says it wants, it wants a guarantee that ukraine won't become part of nato, the u.s. troops pull back from its borders. >> i spoke to secretary yesterday on "this week." he made it clear those guarantees aren't coming. >> reporter: yeah, that's right. and the u.s. insisting that each country should be able to make its own decisions about which alliances it joins, and blinken saying the u.s. is open to discussing limits on missile deployments and troop exercises. i think

ian pannell is tracking the story. good morning, ian. >> reporter: yeah, good morning, george.t's right, dramatic developments overnight. as you say, pro-government troops killing dozens of anti-government protesters, now russian paratroopers are being deployed to help amid fears this could get far more bloody. these massive demonstrations escalate and started over fuel prices and have become about many more things we've seen scenes of government buildings being burned and ransacked. police stations overrun and the airport seized although a state of emergency is in place and there's an internet outage so getting real facts on the ground is very, very difficult. but we also know that this presents a problem not just for vladimir putin but for the white house, how do you respond to this situation? george? >> scary times, ian pannell, thanks very much. amy? >>> now to new details and questions in that tragedy in philadelphia. 12 people including 8 children killed when fire tore through their duplex home. trevor ault is on the scene for us this morning. good morning, trevor. >> rep

our senior foreign correspondent ian pannell is in london for us with more. o, ian. >> reporter: good morning. that's right. europe expecting a tidal wave of omicron covid infections according to the world health organization. like in america, the variant is sweeping across towns and cities almost unhindered. in the first week of this year, get this, 7 million cases reported in europe. that's more than double in a two-week period. one estimate from the health institute forecasting more than 50% of the population throughout this region is going to be infected with omicron in the next six to eight weeks. however, mortality rates are now stable. as we've seen elsewhere it's those regions and countries with low vaccination rates seeing the biggest numbers of infections and there's no doubting that omicron is almost everywhere now. every single country in europe and central asia is reporting cases. the good news is that as we're seeing here in the uk, the vaccines are providing generally good protection against severe disease and death but because of the shear scal

we head to our senior foreign correspondent ian pannell in ukraine for us. ian. >> reporter: good morning, t.j. a crunch week for the crisis between america and russia over ukraine. remember, moscow has placed around 100,000 troops along ukraine's borders despite kremlin denial that they could invade if putin's demand that eastern troops move back from ukraine and that the ukraine does not join nato are not met. there is pullback, and they're nt saying what that means, but his chief negotiator and now his spokesman saying they will deploy military assets to cuba or even venezuela. that puts them within minutes of being able to strike america. now veterans saying russian operatives are on the ground planning this so-called operation that would work as a pretext for russian forces to potentially invade. the government in kiev also blaming moscow for this massive cyberattack that took place over the weekend. they're saying moscow is waging a hybrid war. with the kremlin dismissing these claims and accusing america of breaking past agreements, the goal between t

let's go back to ian pannell in ukraine. s of a russian invasion as america sends more weapons and ammunition into the country. with 8,500 american troops on high alert, president biden now saying that they could be deployed to europe sooner rather than later. biden even suggesting sanctioning vladimir putin himself. the kremlin's accusing america and nato of hysteria and this morning, warning that russia will respond to any actions by the west. the white house is repeatedly insisting russia could attack at any time but despite more than 100,000 troops massed at the border the ukrainian foreign minister telling abc news that for now it is insufficient for a full-scale invasion. new images released showing ongoing operations, these infantry troops conducting drills as well as mobile tactical missile launches but the u.s. acting ambassador to ukraine, kristina kvien insisting the ukrainian military is ready. >> thanks very much. >> michael. >>> we turn to big news from the college board about the future of the s.a.t. the test i

senior foreign correspondent ian pannell is on the scene in ukraine. ng, ian. >> reporter: good morning, george. that's right, both russia and america and nato increasing their military options around ukraine adding to the sense of an escalating crisis. at the same time there is still reason to hope that perhaps diplomacy could win the day. this morning, the united states and nato allies pledging more reinforcements to the region with additional weapons expected today as the russian troop buildup gathers pace. overnight, more russian military trains arriving to the north in belarus as russian ships setting sail in the baltic sea. meanwhile, president zelensky of ukraine giving another nationwide address urging people to stay calm. but u.s. secretary of state antony blinken accusing moscow of menacing ukraine saying it's an issue of global consequence. >> even as we're looking to advance the diplomacy, advance the dialogue, we have to be and we are prepared when it comes to defense and deterrence. >> reporter: the kremlin accusing the administration of h

our senior foreign correspondent ian pannell is there on the ground. morning, ian. >> reporter: yeah, good morning, michael. that's right. an adviser to ukrainian president zelensky telling abc news the shock and dismay about biden's comments that seemed to suggest a green light to a minor russian invasion. i think that reflects a wider mood of concern. one senior ukrainian military source saying it is so frustrating and, of course, all of this making secretary of state blinken's job in berlin today all the harder where he is meeting other european foreign ministers trying to forge unity and a strong message to moscow. this, as russian brings more forces and equipment amassing around ukraine's borders. this coming from the baltic states with american approval. not only anti-tank missiles but the lithuanian defense ministry telling abc news that american made surface-to-air missiles will be delivered to kiev. this is going to be a major red flag to moscow and really risks souring relations further. secretary of state blinken meeting the russian foreign

senior foreign correspondent ian pannell has the latest. ning, ian. >> reporter: good morning, george. that's right. the situation in kazakhstan developing almost minute by minute this morning. mass protests are now gripping cities across this former soviet country about the size of western europe. kazakhstan, a major energy producer and for three decades dominated by the rule of a single man, a former communist party boss, but crucially a key ally of russia's vladimir putin. now, a sudden hike in fuel prices prompted these protests on tuesday, suddenly spreading across the country. in just 24 hours that 30-year rule rocked by protesters. this morning they're storming the main government building in kazakhstan's largest city, a former capital. we're seeing smoke billowing and scenes of protesters confronting police. police appear to be struggling to try and retain control of the situation. the president's declared a state of emergency but you know who is watching this so closely is vladimir putin. the idea of an authoritarian leader having h

senior foreign correspondent ian pannell is on the scene. eporter: yeah, good morning, george. this is, in fact, the front line between ukrainian troops and russian-backed rebels in the east of the country. since we were here last december the tension between russia and america over ukraine has only escalated dramatically. with both sides saying they didn't expect to break through today's talks, the pressure is as great as ever. there are now even more heavily armed russian troops massing east of here at the border and if vladimir putin orders his army to invade as president biden said he thinks he might, well, this is where his tanks are most likely to roll into first. the kremlin repeatedly, of course, saying it doesn't intend to invade or attack but now there's draft legislation being discussed in the russian parliament to recognize these rebel-held areas as independent of ukraine. that's something that could lead to annexation, that's something that happened, of course, with crimea eight years ago. the general in command has been talking

abc's ian pannell going into the trenches, gunshots ringing out in the distance. >> we just heard a gunshot. >> reporter: at the ukrainian front line they say all they can do is be ready. only the kremlin knows what comes next in this crisis. do you think there is a bigger chance that russia will try to invade? >> basically, yeah, we think that there is a big chance of this. >> reporter: ukrainian officials here generally have said they are less convinced than the u.s. that the threat of a major russian attack is real though they certainly believe the kremlin is trying to destabilize and pressure the country. the question now, though, is what will russia do next week when it receives these written responses from the u.s.? whit. >> so much at stake. patrick reevell on the ground there in ukraine for us, thank you. >>> we do turn now here at home and a deadly over shooting in an apartment in harlem that killed one police officer and left another in critical condition. the officers were responding to a domestic violence call, and abc's phil lipof joins us this morning from harlem with the late

russia's foreign minister, sergey lavrov, telling abc's ian pannell they will not wait for promises from the west. >> translator: we know how to ensure our own security in any case. let me also assure you that we're not going to wait endlessly for any change, for any new promises. >> reporter: now on friday many of ukraine's government websites were hacked and taken offline with a threatening message appearing warning them to be afraid and expect the worst. ukraine is blaming russia. the u.s. says it's too early to say who was responsible but that this latest cyberattack is concerning. eva? >> lama, the whole world is watching. thank you for that. >>> now to the founder of the far right militia group, the oath keepers, who is waking up behind bars after appearing in court to face rare and serious sedition charges in connection with the january 6th attack on the capitol. abc's white house correspondent maryalice parks is on capitol hill with this story. good morning, maryalice. >> reporter: eva, good morning. over 700 people have been charged with crimes related to the violence on january

correspondent cecilia vega, congressional correspondent rachel scott, our senior foreign correspondent ian pannelleep, host of "up first." i want to start with you. overseas, you came from your perch in london there. you saw what jake sullivan said. 100,000 russian troops a massed on ukraine's border. you talk about a false flag going in and blaming ukraine. where does this stand right now? what does putin want, and why is this so important to americans and others? >> yeah, martha. i mean, that's the multimillion dollar question. is that what putin really wants? the risk couldn't be higher. this is the biggest crisis in post-cold war relations. any further incursion into ukraine would undoubtedly move nato forces and u.s. troops close to conflict. there is a sense amongst diplomats this is one of two things, either they have no intention of negotiating, and military response is unavoidable, or this is hard diplomacy to try to get americans to pay attention, and they are ready for a compromise centered around things like short range missile agreements and what they say they want is categoric guaran

our senior foreign correspondent ian pannell is in ukraine. orning, ian. >> reporter: yeah, good morning, michael. russian president vladimir putin has now studied america's response on the security issues. the kremlin saying this morning that moscow's full response will be swift. the outcome, of course, could make the difference between war and peace in ukraine. this morning, the kremlin responding to america's refusal to give russia security guarantees over ukraine. the russian foreign minister sergey lavrov saying there is no positive reaction on the main issue in this document but there are grounds on other issues to keep on talking. the u.s. ambassador to russia hand delivering a formal written response to moscow's security demands, but the biden administration refusing to agree to putin's central request, a guarantee ukraine will never join nato. >> we make clear that there are core principles that we are committed to uphold and defend including ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and the right of states to choose their own se

our senior foreign correspondent ian pannell is on the ground in ukraine. , ian. >> reporter: yeah, good morning, cecilia. another day in this crisis, and really despite the diplomacy no sign it's easing and in some sense the opposite, the ukrainian defense minister warning about the military buildup and president biden saying there is a distinct possibility that russia might invade ukraine next month. this morning, russia's military buildup continuing as the threat of war in ukraine grows. french president macron speaking directly to vladimir putin today to try to find a diplomatic solution. but while the talking continues, moscow's escalation at the borders grows. in a show of force russia releasing this footage of military drills taking place in the baltic sea. and near ukraine's eastern border more russian army exercises under way. the white house reiterating once again it believes an invasion of ukraine could be imminent. >> i would say that we have said since last week that we have seen preparations and buildup at the border and that an invasion could

arriving on a high stakes mission to avert a russian invasion and our senior foreign correspondent ian pannell is on the ground in ukraine. good morning, ian. >> reporter: yeah, good morning, michael. that's right, the russians saying they won't wait endlessly for a response to their demands calling these talks critical. the next few days certainly could be decisive in trying to alleviate this growing crisis. this morning, america's top diplomats landing here in ukraine for talks to try to prevent russian military action. meeting with ukrainian president zelensky and reaffirming u.s. support for ukraine. >> we've made very clear to moscow that if it chooses to renew aggression against ukraine it will be met and it will face very severe consequences. >> reporter: the white house ramping up its rhetoric claiming a russian invasion could happen at any moment. >> let's be clear, our view is this is an extremely dangerous situation where russia could at any point launch an attack. >> reporter: overnight the russian embassy in washington responding on twitter again denying they've any such plans say

ian pannell is on the scene in ukraine. good morning, ian. >> reporter: yeah, good morning, george.s right. increasing u.s. diplomatic activity we're seeing here on the ground. we've just been meeting with a group of senior u.s. lawmakers here to show solidarity with the ukrainian government and it's just been announced secretary of state blinken is also heading this way. but there are grave concerns that the space for talking may be limited as russia moves yet more troops up into the border areas. this morning, tensions in ukraine amid concerns that russia could soon launch military action. a bipartisan delegation of u.s. senators sounding the alarm arriving in ukraine to meet with president zelensky and offering strong congressional support. >> we will give the people of ukraine the arms, lethal arms they need to defend their lives and livelihoods. >> it's up to putin now to decide what he's going to do. >> reporter: in addition to the 100,000 troops moscow currently has along ukraine's border more troops and equipment arriving in belarus as part of planned war games. the white ho

our senior foreign correspondent ian pannell is on the scene in ukraine where he's been covering thisello, ian. >> reporter: good morning, t.j. that's right, as this crisis enters another week with yet more troops and armaments massing around ukraine's borders, another chance for diplomacy. the u.n. security council holding this meeting this morning. it was called by america as an open session to discuss what it sees as russia's threatening behavior toward ukraine. the u.s. ambassador to the u.n. telling george on "this week," quote, you don't amass 100,000 troops if you don't have intentions to use them, adding that there's still a diplomatic off-ramp. russia repeatedly denying it has any plans to invade. its ambassador to the u.n. objecting to this meeting. calling it, quote, a clear pr stunt by america. meanwhile, mixed signals around ukraine's borders. some russian troops have pulled back, others moved in. we're also seeing increasing signs of ukrainians preparing in case there is an attack. some joining the reserves, others getting their papers in order, just in case the worst ca

mass protests sweep the country and russian troops have now moved in to support the regime, and ian pannell this rapidly developing story. good morning, ian. >> reporter: yeah, good morning, george. that's right, kazakhstan, the ninth largest country in the world, a major oil producing nation, but right now it's in turmoil. america and other countries urging the peaceful settlement, but on the ground the opposite is happening with the country's president now warning his troops will shoot to kill protesters without warning. overnight, more violence and deadly clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces in kazakhstan. the authoritarian regime using live fire as have some protesters. at least 25 demonstrators and 18 service personnel killed. tis morning, the country's president saying he gave orders to use lethal force on what he claims are terrorists. this bbc reporter capturing the intensity of the gun battles overnight. most of the violence taking place in the central asian country's largest city. what began as peaceful protests over doubling the gas prices rapidly escala

ian pannell has the latest. >> reporter: this morning, britain's prime minister fighting for his politicalnson forced to apologize for attending what looks like a party during strict lockdown in may 2020 when people couldn't attend funerals let ale parties. fnt pages of many papers this morning, "the daily star" saying rules are only for you little people. >> i regret very much that we did not do things diffentl as i've said, i take responsibility and i apologize. >> reporter: now an email leak showing 100 people were invited to socially distanced drinks on downing street and to bring their own booze. it isn't the first time, leaked photos showing johnson at another gathering that same month. later that same year, a reported christmas party also at downing street. this leaked video showing his adviser laughing it off as a work event. >> this fictional party was a business meeting. and it was not socially distanced. >> reporter: but johnson claiming this and others were within the rules which allowed work meetings but not parties and the opposition labor party is having none of it. >> he wa