>> it would be better if russia at any time have anything to do with minsk. other than that every single day ukrainian position he have been fired on. no international monitors are allowed to go by russia. >> they can't monitor? >> they can't monitor. >> to see whether troops and equipment are going back and forth. >> the effect on civilians, 5 million people have been traumatized by war. 3.2 million right now are in danger in dire need of humanitarian aid and living in combat areas. it is a really large number of people. i don't think people in our country know population of iowa 3.2 million that many people are living in dire humanitarian need. >> russia argues that ukraine is partially responsible, ukraine has not gone through the process it needs to give those regions in eastern ukraine proper direction. >> a certainly status law allowing for special status in those two areas, however, what's happening is, they keep moving it, so russia now wants constitutional reform. another country wants constitutional reform in ukraine. i think you understand how diff

russia has a choice, fully implement minsk or face sanctions. withdraw weapons and troops, ensure that all hostages are returned, allow full humanitarian access to occupied territories which by the way is required by international law and by several united nations resolutions. support free, fair and internationally monitored elections, under ukrainian law and restore the border which belongs to it. put plainly, russia can prove by its actions that it will respect ukraine sovereignty just as it insists on respect for its own. by the same token, after two difficult years ukrainians still have work to do as well. the president who is here knows that and accepts that. neither the people of ukraine nor their partners believe that enough has happened in ukraine either. ukraine has responsibilities with respect to minsk and it is critical that keev yup holds its end of the problem, but ukraine is clearly far brighter today than it was when we met several years ago, far brighter even before protests and with our transatlantic support, 2016 has all the g

. >> reporter: agreement signed last february in the capitol minsk was supposed to end the fighting.he ukraine and army front line in another village close to what was the airport of the separatist controlled city of donetsk. heavy weapons are supposed to have been withdrawn as part of the minsk deal but both sides accuse each other of breaking that agreement almost everyday. this area has seen some of the fearist fighting since the conflict began and now the ukrainian army tell us the separatist rarely target positions here using antitank weapons and mortars and also tell us that the two towers there on the horizon are about 2 1/2 kilometers away and say the separatist use those towers as look out posts and sniper positions. they have moved 78-year-old grandmother to so called safety four times since the fighting started but she has come under fire every time and every house has been destroyed. >> translator: i'm not going any where because i got married here. my children were born here. my grandchildren were born here. everyone is gone and i don't want to go because if i do how wil

reporter: and the inability to an act reforms threatens the minsk agreement arbitrated by germany and france one year ago. >> there is still a great risk. that is why we are clearly telling the separatists in russia that the pressure must stop. because, in addition to a stable security situation, a political outlook is needed. and this is where the snag lies. the people in this transition zone have not been able to elect representatives democratically. for this to happen, kiev must pass an election law that opposition is growing among ukrainians. >> the minsk agreement practically legalizes the crimes against the separatists. >> voting in the occupied areas makes no sense at all. reporter: for now, that is what the deal calls for. brent: are you in the mood for a hazardous snack? there's one story in particular to get your teeth into, but you don't want to choke. guest: on chocolate from mars -- they are recalling products from 50 countries. a piece of plastic was found in one of its chocolate bars. it includes snickers and some milky way bars. the company has traced a piece of plasti

the ukraine and they discussed the political importance of the minsing agreement and tissue of the minsk agreement and their effort together to root out any kind of corruption, etc. might the president, since he has been meeting with leaders to bring more openness in his last part of his administration, might he consider a visit to ukraine in his last year of his administration? mr. earnest: i don't have any updates about the president's travel at this point. obviously the situation in --aine is something that has it's been something that the administration has been working on quite a bit lately and obviously vice president biden had the opportunity to travel to ukraine at the end of last year and i think vice president biden, more than anyone, at senior levels in the administration has been invested in trying to bring about the resolution in ukraine he would like to see. much of that has been blunted by the refusal of the russians to implement their part of the minsk agreement. we have seen ukrainians take some important steps. we've also seen them put in place some important reforms th

. >> reporter: an agreement signed last february in minsk was supposed to end the fighting.he ukrainian army front line in another village. heavy weapons are supposed to have been withdrawn as part of the minsk deal, but both sides accuse each other of breaking the agreement almost every day. this area has seen some of the fiercest fighting since the conflict began. now the ukrainian army sell us the separatists regularly target their positions here. they also tell us that the two towers on the horizon are used as lookout posts and sniper possessions. they moved this 78-year-old grandmother to so-called safety four times. but she has come under fire every time. and every house has been destroyed. >> translator: i'm not going anywhere, because i got married here. my children were born here. my grandchildren were born here nch everyone is gone, and i don't want to go, because if i do, how will they fine me? i won't move until there is peace. >> reporter: the conflict hasn't finished. i personally believe the ukrainian military are needed here to deter the enemy's on slot. we h

today and very recently from the russian prime minister who has been speaking about the need for the minsk agreement to be implemented in full. what is also interesting that he chose to speak out about the situation regarding n.a.t.o. he said that 2016 for the russian government now feels a little bit like 1962, that there was a danger of a new cold war developing. that certainly is something that mr stoltenberg, the secretary general of nato, said that russia needed to be respectful of countries that shares border with it. the other thing is that there has been a meeting of the normandy format that was held earlier this morning. russian news agencies reports that there was not tangible progress made there, but all sides have agreed to revisit the format next month in march where we expect the four foreign ministers again to meet and all of them say they are committed to the minsk agreement, which the ceasefire has been frozen for some time. certainly that's nothing that has happened that way here as well. they will be speaking here at the conference later on this morning >>> thank you ver

. >> an agreement signed last february in the capital of min mins minsk, they continue the fighting. heavy weapons are supposed to have been withdrawn as part of the minsk deal, but both sides accuse each other of breaking that agreement almost every day. this area has seen some of the fiercest fighting since the conflict began. now the separatists rarely target their positions using anti-tank weapons and mortars. they also tell us that the two towers there on are two and a half kilometers away, and they say that the separatists use those towers as lookout posts and sniper positions. they've moved the 78-year-old grandmother to so-called safety four times since the fighting started, but they have come under fire every time and every house has been destroyed. >> i'm not going anywhere because i got married here. my children were born here. my grandchildren were born here. everyone is gone and i do not want to go. if i do, how will they find me. i won't move until there is peace. >> the conflict has not finished. i personally believe that the military are needed here to deter the enemy

. >> an agreement signed last february in minsk was supposed to end the fighting. this is the ukraine, an army front line close to what was the airport of the separatist controlled city. heavy weapons are supposed to have been withdrawn as part of the minsk deal but both sides accuse each other of breaking that agreement almost every day. this area has seen some of the feesest fighting since the conflict began, now the ukrainian army tell us that the separatists regularly target their position here with anti tank weapons and mortars. they tell us the towers are 2.5 kilometers away and the separatists use them as lookout posts and sniper positions. they've moved 78-year-old grandmother to so-called safety four times since the fighting started, but she's come under fire every time and every house has been destroyed. >> i'm not going anywhere, because i got married here. my children were born here, my grandchildren were born here. everyone said gone and i don't want to go, because if i do, how will they find me? i won't move until there is peace. >> the conflict hasn'

john: there has been some movement with the minsk agreement, but are have been shortcomings. your characteristic -- characterization of a frozen conflict -- there are questions about how the russians will extricate themselves from this, which is taking a toll because of sanctions. mr. kugler: -- mr. quigley: given the economy, do you sense that mr. putin feels they have their hands full or are you concerned about efforts to destabilize the baltic region? mr. clapper: well, there are concerns about that, but right now that is more in the soft arena rather than a hard military assault on the baltics, which does not seem to be in the cards right now. i do think the russians are preoccupied right now with syria , and they have put more into that. they are confronting the possibility -- bonnie: you are watching bloomberg markets. i am vonnie quinn in for betty liu. on are watching a hearing thoughts on apple, and their moving to other issues including worldwide threats. the cia director is also present. let's get more from "bloomberg " anchor david westin who joins me and is a

. >>> heavy weapons are supposed to be withdrawn as part of the minsk deal but both sides accuse the other of violating that nearly every take. the army tell us that the russians are first, drink here. they say the spraforts as alone outposts. 78-year-old was mooferred to safety four time, had he has come down under fire every day. >> my children were born here, my grandchildren are born here. rg's gone, how will they do, they won't find me. i won't move until there is paste. >> the conflict hasn't fished. i believe the ukrainian military has to decide to stay and to bring an end to this conflict. >> reporter: at a niche checkpoint, these men are fiercely patriotic and want the ent to mosque. >> whether we are united nationsed we will die feet you're enemy and the evil must co-invite. muskovite. >> they wish only the fight will end. charles stratford, good night. >> young children andth fants are at risk, from kabul cs, raz asaya has the story. >> strapped to a breathing tube. inside an intensive care unit, eight month old sara, next to her two more infants with in effected lungs. do

them he spends probably 50% of the time at least on the issue of ukraine and full implementation of minsk and responsibility for protecting the integrity and sovereignty of ukraine. we're deeply engaged on not fronts. >> we'll go to florida. >> thank you very much. welcome mr. secretary. i hope that we're both opposed to the schemes at the u.n. to achieve unilateral statehood recognition outside of the peace process. i remain firmly opposed to your administration's offer continually to get a waiver to the law that prohibits u.s. fund from going to yunesco a law that's been effective in prohib getting a waiver. in legacy shopping as it tries to change off its goals of foreign policy will your administration abstain a vote on a french resolution at the u.n. supporting palestinian statehood. i would ask you definitively answer here this morning, mr. secretary. will the united states veto any resolution at the u.n. supporting palestinian statehood, yes or no? >> i don't know of any resolution by the french specifically -- >> if there were -- >> we have always opposed any one sided resolution,

. >> reporter: an agreement signed last february in minsk was supposed toen the fighting.ukrainian army front line in another village close to the airport of the city of donetsk. heavy weapons are supposed to have been withdrawn, but both sides accuse each other of breaking that agreement almost every day. now the ukrainian army tell us that the separatists regularly target their positions here. and the towers they say, the separatists use those towers as a sniper position. they have moved this grandmother to so-called safety four times since the fighting started. >> translator: i'm not going anywhere. everyone is gone, and i don't want to go, because if i do, how will they find me? i won't move until there is peace. >> translator: the conflict hasn't finished, i personally believe the ukrainian military are needed here to deter the enemy's on slot. we have to be here to protect and help the people who decided to stay and bring an end to this conflict. >> reporter: at a nearby check point volunteers entertain the solders. these men are fiercely patriotic and anti-moscow. >

he was critical of russian saying that the minsk agreement needs to be implemented fully otherwise sanctions are going to be maintained, robust sanctions are going to be maintained against russia. again, syria seems to be the all consuming topic that has up so much of the time of the delegates as they attend this conference. our correspondent is standing by and will keep us updated on the developments coming out of munich as this conference comes to a close at al jazeera. so remember, don't go away. stay with us here at al jazeera. and psychopaths who try to hijack it. isil is as much islamic as the kkk is christian. stoorgt tonight, th"on target" r of two evils, assad or i.s.i.l? the united states, rid russia and others involved in syria's war have agreed to implement a, quote, cessation of hostilities, end quote. that after diplomats met in munich to restart peace talks. sending a hopeful note, staffan de mistura said, quote, sustained delivery of assistance is expected to begin this week to besieged areas where civilians are in desperate need of assistance, end quote. in the meantime the

now as sure as i ate my first bowl of borscht in minsk," "of a baseball card and the ritz'll taste great with a schmear." do we have a deal or not, mr. dworkin? so cute but so serious. after judge bradley's ruling, you should be too. ten years is gift. why are you putting on the white beard, red coat, and funny hat this time of year? hell, i'll talk to my guy, but considering his honor handed me an appeal on a platum platter, i'm gonna have to recommend he pass. i thought if i did what they wanted, maybe they'd leaveulie alone. (mccoy) how much did he ask you to steal? he just said to fill up the bag. i fit in-- a little over $700,000. why didn't you call the police? do you have any idea what it's like having your daughter's life rest on the whim of men without conscience? men who'll do anything for money? i'm not a hero. i was scared. when you left your apartment that morning, did you lock the door? of course. and when julie's there, i check it twice. good for you. i'm just suggesting with dworkin across the aisle, that it's best to watch your back. thanks to the honorable judge bradley

the minsk accords is the right way to go to settle things down there. don't forget, david, even if things settle down, crimea was still annexed. >> i know. >> you have to look at this conduct by russia and the rest of the europeans do as well and say this is an unwelcome development in european history. as i said in the speech, it has been a quarter century since we had to be preoccupied with that. unfortunately, it looks like now we do. i wish it were otherwise, but both ukraine and in nato, we're going to have to help countries to harden themselves against russian influence, including the little green men phenomenon, and also melt as we did in decades past staunch defense of our nato allies. >> in afghanistan, before you leave office, obama administration is over, what do you expect will have -- eight to 10,000 soldiers there? >> the plan is to have 9,800 through the end of the year. that's our plan. we adjust plans. the president adjusted his plans in october. the thing to look for in this coming up season is the growing capability of the afghan secu

pushing on minsk.sations with president put in the course of the last months from the united nations meeting on, in every one of them he spends probably 50% of the time at least on the issue of ukraine and full implementation in mincement and responsibility of protecting the sovereignty of ukraine. we're engaged on those fronts i think our support is welcomed. >> we're going to go to the congresswoman from florida. >> i hope we're opposed to the schemes to achieve unilateral peacehood. i remain opposed to your administration's offer continually to get a waiver to the law that prohibits u.s. funds from going to enesco. i will continue to fight every effort by the administration to get a waiver to that law. in its last months of legacy shopping as it tries to check off the remaining goals of its misguided foreign policy is your administration going to abstain from a vote on a french resolution at the u.n. supporting palestinian statehood. i'll ask you to definitively answer here this morning. will the un

necessary assistance to ukraine until its integrity is protected by the full implementation of the minsk agreement. we have made it clear. sanctions are not an end unto themselves. witness what we have succeeded in the context of the iran nuclear agreement. we should not forget why they were imposed in the first place. to stand up for ukraine's fundamental rights. rights of international norms that have been accepted ever since world war ii, that were part of what that great battle was about. russia has a simple choice. fully implement the agreement, or continue to face economically damaging sanctions. the path to relief is clear -- withdraw weapons and troops, ensure that all ukrainian hostages are returned, allow full humanitarian assets --humanitarian access to occupied territories, which by the way, is required by international law. support free, fair and internationally monitored elections in ukraine, and restore ukraine's control of sight of the international border, which belongs to it. put plainly, russia can prove by its actions that it will respect ukraine's sovereignty, just a

necessary assistance to ukraine until its integrity is protected by the full implementation of the minsk agreement. we have made it clear. sanctions are not an end unto themselves. witness what we have succeeded in the context of the iran nuclear agreement. we should not forget why they were imposed in the first place. to stand up for ukraine's fundamental rights. rights of international norms that have been accepted ever since world war ii, that were part of what that great battle was about. russia has a simple choice. fully implement the agreement, or continue to face economically damaging sanctions. the path to relief is clear -- withdraw weapons and troops, ensure that all ukrainian hostages are returned, allow full humanitarian assets -- humanitarian access to occupied territories, which by the way, is required by international law. support free, fair and internationally monitored elections in ukraine, and restore ukraine's control of sight of the international border, which belongs to it. put plainly, russia can prove by its actions that it will respect ukraine's sovereignty, just

morale standpoint, and a lot of the incidents occurring along the line that has been drawn via the minsk agreement are occasioned by upstart separatists who the russians don't completely control. john, do you want to add to that? >> there has been some movement as far as negotiations with the minsk agreement, but there still is shortcomings as far as implementation of that. but your characterization of a frozen conflict, i think there's still uncertainty about how the russians themselves are going to extricate themselves from this which is taking a toll in addition to the oil prices. but -- because of sanctions. >> well, given the economy for whatever reasons and the two conflicts they're most involved with, do you sense that putin feels they have their hands full, or do you, do you have concerns about efforts to destabilize the baltic region? >> well, there are concerns about that, although right now that's more in the soft arena, if you will, in the information, operations or cyber realm rather than hard military assault on the baltics. that doesn't seem to be in the cards right now. i

will be maintaining and a lot of the issues that are occurring along the line has been drawn via the minskagreement are occasioned by upstart separatists who russians do not completely control. john, you want to add to that? dir. brennan: there has been movement as far as the agreement, but there are still shortcomings. but your characterization, i think there is still uncertainty about how the russians themselves will extricate themselves from this, which is taking a toll, the oil prices, because of the sanctions. >> given the economy and the two conflicts they are most involved with, do you sense that putin has his hands full, or do you have concerns about efforts to destabilize the baltic region? director clapper: there are concerns about that, but that is more in the soft arena. rather than hard military assault on the baltics. that does not seem to be in the cards right now. i do think that the russians are preoccupied right now with syria, and they have put a lot into that. they are confronting the possibility, or considering whether they will put more ground forces. of course, i thi

the good news is there's a diplomatic process under way called the minsk process where it was negotiated, which, if carried out, will give us the end of the russian aggression against ukraine in the east. it involves elections in the dunbas in these occupied territories, a new electoral law to provide for the special conditions over there, osce monitors, a lot of other things, and then ending with the restoration of the eastern ukrainian international border. now, once minsk is fulfilled, okay, once this -- these elections have taken place and the russian forces are out and there's no more fighting and the eastern border is restored, yeah, the sanctions will come off. now, you notice that i didn't mention crimea. it is possible that there'll be a satisfactory solution in the east, but crimea will still be under russian occupation. in that case, we would lift the overall sanctions against russia but maintain the sanctions on crimea. and the united states and europe have imposed separate and separable sanctions on crimea with this possibility in mind. it's no secret. we've said that this i