keir simmons is live with the very latest and is joining us by phone right now. keir, you've been witnessing a lot of this fighting, what's taking place as we speak. >> reporter: that's right, peter. i am watching it take place right now. you may have heard the crack of explosions in the distance like thunder. one, two, three booms in the distance echoing across this countryside in eastern ukraine. we can see black smoke rising each time that this artillery hits whatever it is aiming at. we are standing on a road we have been on for the last 24 hours at various times not far from a checkpoint which the pro-russians are clearly trying to target. there is a lot of ukrainian armory here. big guns, tanks, many military forces, armed soldiers with various weapons. they clearly are here to try to hold back a push by the pro-russians to try to get to mariupol and the pro-russians are attempting to achieve that by raining down artillery and shells on the ukrainians. there again, another explosion -- i don't know if you can hear -- >> we do. we hear it. >> reporter: i hope

nbc's keir simmons reports tonight from eastern ukraine. >> reporter: four months of bitter fighting in this corner of europe, now dangerously close to what ukraine's president calls the point of no return. full scale war because of what amounts to a russian invasion. >> thousands of fallen troops and hundreds of foreign tanks now on the territory of ukraine. >> reporter: ukraine's forces have been winning breaking the grip of pro-russian rebels in eastern ukraine. but now with russian help the rebels are pushing back across a broad front. the clashes on land and sea with the ukrainian coast guard coming under attack. for now, the west is responding with tough talk and a threat of more sanctions. >> the presence of russian soldiers on ukrainian soil is completely unjustified and unacceptable. russia appears to be trying to force ukraine to abandon its democratic choices at the barrel of a gun. >> reporter: but so far russian president vladimir putin remains unmoved. talking of statehood for eastern ukraine. voicing support for the rebels. even denying that his forces are on ukrainian

. >> nbc's keir simmons joins me now from eastern ukraine. keir, thank you very much.heard from petro poroshenko today. what is the read from your vantage point? >> reporter: >> well, the reality on the ground here is that putin is winning. in a sense, it doesn't really matter, in that sense, whether or not russia does have forces here in eastern ukraine where they almost certainly do, whether there was an incursion or an invasion. put all of that aside because what we are seeing here on the ground is the ukrainian military with tanks having pulled back. that seven-point plan, if kiev agrees to it, it will be an admission of that because two of the key premises, as you say, are that the ukrainians should pull back their artillery so they can't hit areas, cities, being run by the pro-russian rebels and that they should stop their offensive. in other words, ukraine has been on the defensive and what this agreement would mean is that it wouldn't be able to push back again. so there are some developments today, andrea, that do suggest further tough action against russia, i

nbc's keir simmons is live and joins us now by phone. want to ask you about what you're witnessing on the ground there, which we understand includes some fighting already on the outskirts of that city. >> reporter: that's right, peter. there has been artillery shelling by pro-russians on the second to last check. we are standing at the last check point. clearly some people have sustained minor injuries. there was a sustained tank fire. we heard it, the munitions going off for quite some time. so there was a battle. we don't know whether or not it was a sign of the pro-russians -- a battle to try and storm the city, or whether they were testing the defenses of the ukrainians to see what was possible. but firmly, with all of this talk about a cease-fire, there's no sign of a cease-fire here, peter. >> that's my question to you. what is -- given all the conversation about cease-fire, how can poroshenko be talking peace where the people there are worried about an imminent invasion. what do you hear, that this could reach a conclusion any tim

i'm joined on the phone by nbc's keir simmons from mariupol, ukraine. you heard some fighting around the time the cease-fire was announced. what's the situation now? >> that's right. right up until the cease-fire was announced, there was artillery fire, relentless artillery fire, explosions echoing across the ukrainian countryside. thunderous explosions. then as the announcement came, there was a cease-fire and then they announced that cease-fire deadline came along. that fighting stopped. the guns were silent, if you like. we watched as ukrainian tanks withdrew from the checkpoint where we were. the front line just -- the pro-russian foirces just a shor distance away. they've been putting that ukrainian checkpoint under pressure. she the ukrainians backed off as the guns went silent and it does appear until now. we're jfts leaust leaving becau getting dark and it's not safe to stay out when it is dark. as far as we've been able to tell, up until now, that cease-fire has been holding. >> keir, the cease-fire envisioned a prisoner or hostage exchange as

nbc's keir simmons, appreciate your following this story in ukraine for us. thank you. >>> joining me to discuss today's cease-fire further, michael mcphaul. thank you both of you. i'll start with you ambassador. in the president's remarks this past hour he described himself as hopeful but skeptical. do you think that's the reaction across much of the global community? >> yes, of course. you know, there's been attempts at cease-fires before. so one needs to be skeptical, but one also needs to be hopeful that this will stick. particularly that president poroshenko himself decided that this was in ukraine's interest for now to sign up to. we have to express our support for his decision. i would just point out, however, the cease-fire, the details are now coming out says nothing about a political solution. so this is about military combat but it's not about solving the crisis of sovereignty in eastern ukraine yet. >> such an important point. let's take a deeper look at that. professor, what is in and what is not in this cease-fire? so far what we've learned is w

keir simmons, nbc news, eastern ukraine. >>> it was a surprising new video that went viral over the weekend putting libya back on the radar. it shows rebels who stormed part of the u.s. embassy compound in tripoli. and it comes nearly two years after islamic militants launched a deadly attack on the u.s. consulate in benghazi. another reminder that libya is spiraling out of control. the story tonight from nbc's bill neally. >> reporter: in a country freefalling into chaos, libyan gunmen celebrate. they've just taken an american diplomatic compound, so they take to the swimming pool. a symbolic moment they want the world to see. nbc news can't authenticate this video, but the u.s. ambassador to libya says it appears to show a residential annex. the homes like the main embassy compound were abandoned quickly last month. all u.s. staff safely evacuated as fighting intensified. the gunmen control the annex, the main u.s. embassy nearby, says the ambassador, remains secure. for now. but these men are allies to islamist militias. this takeover an uncomfortable reminder of the killing of ambassado

keir simmons reports. >> reporter: mr. and mrs. clooney have just left the building where they signed the legal papers that means they are now officially married. the bride's father describes it as a simple affair. the truth, it was simply stunning. >> george clooney with his new wife wearing, yes, a wedding ring. proof that he has finally made that lifelong commitment after decades as a committed bachelor. the bride, a british lawyer is said to have worn a wedding dress by the same designer as kate middleton. mr. and mrs. clooney married in romantic venice amid stunning scenery traveling in a boat italian for love. pursued by the paparazzi. one vessel close to capsizing. he wore a tuxedo for the ceremony on saturday in front of 150 guests including matt damon, cindy crawford, bono and bill murray. while crowding on to every canal bank and bridge, thousand of well wishers. the couple requested no cameras for the exchange of vows. official pictures will apparently appear in a magazine for a large donation to charity. >> reporter: me

. >>> nbc news foreign correspondent keir simmons joins us live. getting the glimpse we see the extraordinary difference between how things take place on capitol hill in this country and what happens in the parliament. despite the back and forth we heard, cameron is expected to win the vote comfortably here at least regarding strikes in iraq. >> that's right, tamron. i guess just to defend the american political system a little bit, if you like. as pointing out as you did in the beginning with than the british parliament is only debating whether or not the u.k. should be involved should be working with the u.s. on those air strikes against isis over iraq. they aren't even talking about the question of whether the u.k. should help in the air strikes against isis over syria. the reason the british prime minister said they're not going to do that or at least not now, there's no democratically elected syrian government to invite this intervention. so he says he would like to see the u.k. back and be involved with the u.s. in those air strikes over syri

keir simmons joins us live in mariupol shehe's been witnessin thi this. >> that's right, tamron. we're right by the front line between the ukrainian forces the pro-russians who are a little way along the road here. right through the morning there have been explosions just across the country side there. thunderous explosions trt pro-russians. now you can hear there is silence. as the cease-fire came into effect two ukrainian tanks came here and drove slowly heading out. we'll take you across to slow there are ukrainian forces here hidden across the side of the road. you can see them with this armored personnel carrier relaxing, really. standing guard. but at the same time you can see from their posture they have been told there's a cease-fire. we have spoken to them. we asked them whether we think the cease-fire will hold. and he might be surprised to know having been engaged in a vicious battle with the pro-russians they said they don't believe in it. they said they don't believe the russians can be trusted. they have, it appears, managed to hold the crucial city of mariupol. it

. >> keir simmons, be careful out there. thank you for calling in.ow the question is, can the president and other nato leaders later this week stop putin? show of force going to help? joining me from stamford university, contribute or the michael mcfall. good to see you again. thank you very much. >> sure. >> this is all very tense obviously going into the nato meeting. we hear from prime minister cameron that the uk is going to organize a force of europeans for the eastern nato frontier but what is going to get putin to change his mind? >> well, it's clear that putin has escalated militarily. the rebels were losing just ten days ago, two weeks ago. he's clearly upped the antenow and fighting outside of the city, that's evidence that they're winning. so the west, the obama administration and the nato alliance needs to think about ways to shore up the ukrainian side, a combination of two things. one, more sanctions, of course. if they escalate, the west has to respond. and two, i think there will be a serious discussion about military assistance for t

keir simmons is here with what he's seeing. >> reporter: josh, you're right.resident obama can say that russia can't rewrite the borders of nations at the barrel of a gun, but things look very different on the ground here. just the peace deal that president putin is now putting forward has seven points but if you look at two of the crucial ones in it, it stipulate that is the ukrainians must pull back their artillery so they can no longer fire on pro-russian rebels in this area of eastern ukraine. in other words saying to kiev, you have to get out of here and leave it to the pro-russian rebels. it stipulates the pro-russian rebels could no longer be on the offense. we can see when we're here that clearly ukraine is on the defensive. we've seen tanks destroyed. we went to the border here, the supposed russian/ukrainian border but that border is being controlled by the pro-russian rebels. so all of the evidence is that this area is now firmly back in the hands of those pro-russian rebels. all of that a debate over whether there was a russian invasion or incursio

keir simmons, good morning. >> reporter: nervous moments. the couple have left their hotel. they are on their way here. more police, italian police have just turned up. so, expecting them any second, perhaps. they need to be here. because in the building behind me, they're going to sign the legal documents that will make them, for real, mr. and mrs. clooney. but through the weekend they have had wedding celebrations that the bride's father described as grand, but simple. another way of putting it? simply stunning. george clooney with his new wife wearing, yes, a wedding ring. proof that he has finally made that lifelong commitment after decades as a committed bachelor. the bride, a british lebanese lawyer, amal alamuddin, is said to have worn a wedding dress by the same designer as kate middleton. they married in venice, traveling in a boat called amore, italian for love. one vessel seeming close to capsizing. he wore a tuxedo for the ceremony saturday in front of 150 guests, including matt damon, cindy crawford, bono and bill murray. while crowding on to every canal, bank a

>> keir simmons on the ground. thank you very much.arty and his wife maureen each face up to 30 years in prison when they are sentenced in january. experts say they are unlikely to be locked up that long. they were convicted of accepting more than $165,000 in gifts and loans tr a business executive in exchange for political favors when mcdonnell was governor. >>> an internet prank artist having terrifying fun by dressing up a dog to look like a giant spider. he staged a fake spider dog attack in an elevator. he waited for the doors to open and watched people scream and runaway. later, he strung up a fake web, took the scare to an entirely new level. this you-tube video has more than 3 million views at the moment. the creator's facebook page declares insane people are the best. he's proving it again this morning. >> it is 8:05. let's send it back outside to the gang. hey, guys. >> we're trying to take a selfie with a flip phone. we're going to figure this out. you're celebrating your first anniversary. you and him. where are you from? >

keir simmons is in venice again this morning. on, good morning. we are learning more details this morning. it was a 30-minute ceremony saturday night. there were four speeches by loved ones and at the end, we're told, there was a lengthy kiss in front of the hundred or so enthusiastic guests and revealed for the first time this morning, the wedding dress. she looked stunning. a white, off-the-shoulder wedding dress complemented by a white bouquet. in "people" magazine's cover, george clooney and amal alamuddin gazed into each other's eyes, the wedding dress being fitted. >> the oscar dela ren that dress she is wearing is a french laced and encrusted with pearls and diamonds. it has a circular train, beautiful veil. it is a classic looking dress. >> marriage, clooney told "people" magazine feels pretty damn great. it looked fun, too. arrived by boat in a tuxedo. alamuddin's mother told "people," george and amal radiated love all night. it was legendary. it turned amal, who likes to hang out in ripped jeans, in a fashion icon. she b

nbc's keir simmons is in mariupol with the very latest for us. keir, good morning. >> reporter: tamron, good morning. there's no sign of a cease-fire here. we're told there's fighting just outside of this town. and yesterday shells exploded near a road we were traveling on. president poroshenko of ukraine says a cease-fire process has been agreed with russia. but as you say, moscow is denying that saying it can't agree a cease-fire because it is not part of the conflict despite plenty of evidence of russian military here in ukraine. what a clear is russia is winning in this region. we've seen ukrainian government tanks destroyed. we went to the border and saw pro-russian rebels in control of the border. we spoke to a commander who says they plan to take more of ukraine before they're done. if there is a cease-fire of any sort, it's likely to be in the favor of those pro-russian rebels. tamron. >> all right. keir, thank you very much. >>> back here at home, joan rivers remains on life support nearly six days after suffering cardiac arrest. nbc's an

keir simmons is live in venice. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. the folks around the world thought they would never hear mr. and mrs. clooney again, but he's done it. just in the last few hours arriving here with his bride to sign the marriage papers which means it is now legal after a weekend of celebrations that the bride's father called grand but simple. another way to put it, simply stunning. george clooney with his new wife, arriving at the italian equivalent this morning. through the weekend he was spotted wearing, yes, a wedding ring. proof that he has finally made that life long commitment. after decades after a committed bachelor. the bride, a british-lebanese lawyer amal alamuddin, said to have worn a dress by the same designer as kate middleton. married amid stunning scenery, traveling in a boat called amore, italian for love. pursued by the paparazzi, one vessel seemed close to capsizing. he wore a tux for the ceremony on saturday, in front of 150 guests including matt damon, cindy crawford and bono. crowded on every canal bank and bri