Assault, will kyiv be impacted by the shift in attention to that escalation of conflict in the middle east . Well, my guest is olha stefanishyna, Ukraines DeputyPrime Minister for european and Euro Atlantic European and euro atla ntic integration. European and euro atlantic integration. With the fighting attritional and winter looming, should ukraine be concerned about the long term sustainability of the backing it gets from Western Allies . Olha stefanishyna in kyiv, welcome to hardtalk. Greetings from kyiv, indeed, good to hear you. Good to see, you steve. Thank you forjoining us. Madam deputy Prime Minister, let me ask you a very simple question does it worry you the world now has another deeply troubling conflict to focus on . That is, of course, the escalating war in the middle east . ~ h, escalating war in the middle east . ~ , ~. , east . Well, sadly we know very well when east . Well, sadly we know very well when massive east . Well, sadly we know very well when massive atrocious i well when massive atrocious crimes are committed against Civil Population and civilians, weve seen this massively in ukraine for already 600 days and of course our hearts are with those who have fallen over this act of terror which cannot be called any other way. We are standing strong with with our israeli friends and were making sure that there is no other understanding apart from the very fact the crimes against civilians, crimes in the population and any act of terror are unacceptable in the world based on the rules. Your ke all , world based on the rules. Your key ally. Of world based on the rules. Your key ally, of course, world based on the rules. Your key ally, of course, when world based on the rules. Your key ally, of course, when it key ally, of course, when it comes to weapons, economic and Financial Assistance as well, is the United States. The us and joe biden have pledged their unyielding support to israel. They are sending munitions, it seems. They also have deployed an Aircraft Carrier to the eastern mediterranean. And one republican senator, josh hawley says this, right now hamas poses an existential threat to israel and any funding for ukraine should be redirected to israel immediately. Thats israel immediately. Thats just israel immediately. Thats just the voice of one senator. Do you fear in the debate in washington about funding ukraine going forward, this could be a factor . Ukraine going forward, this could be a factor . Well, were livin in could be a factor . Well, were living in a could be a factor . Well, were living in a globalised could be a factor . Well, were living in a globalised world living in a globalised world where everybody can go public with any statements like that. Were standing by facts. There is a significant amount of long term political, financial, and legal commitments to ukraine. Ukraine is the middle of discussing Security Guarantees and security insurance act with allies including the United States. There has been statements of different character in different character in different cabinets or oppositions in the us and many other countries, but it does not any how undermine the unity to stand with ukraine and the long term commitment to ukraine. In fact, long term commitment to ukraine. Infact, injust long term commitment to ukraine. In fact, injust two days, regardless whatever has been happening, were having the next round of the meetings with the new priority to be agreed on. I with the new priority to be agreed om with the new priority to be aareed on. ,. ,. , agreed on. I appreciate that, the meetings agreed on. I appreciate that, the meetings go agreed on. I appreciate that, the meetings go ahead agreed on. I appreciate that, the meetings go ahead in agreed on. I appreciate that, i the meetings go ahead in terms of discussion of what ukraine needs,in of discussion of what ukraine needs, in terms of weaponry. Money is really important. Youre the deputy pm responding for euro atlantic integration. You watch what happens in the United States very carefully. You know the republicans are searching for a new speaker. You know the turbulence the washington means theres a limbo period without any new authorised funding for ukraine and you know in the words of one expert who follows this, max bergman of the centre for strategic studies in washington, he says, the chaos in the House Of Representatives leaves ukraine in a dangerous limbo. If the us congress doesnt pass a funding bill, ukraine is going to be in deep trouble. Do you feel that trouble. Do you feel that trouble looming . Trouble. � do you feel that trouble looming . Trouble. Do you feel that trouble looming . Well, of course. Trouble looming . Well, of course. Its trouble looming . Well, of course, its not trouble looming . Well, of course, its not like trouble looming . Well, of course, its not like were| course, its not like were very calm about different discussions and the situations happening, including nonvoting on Financial Aid for ukraine. But on the other side, were understanding the broader picture. In fact, unfortunately, were living in a wartime for already ten years, which included changing of the three us president s, the obama administration, the trump administration, the now biden administration, the now biden administration, and we have different times different dynamics, but none of this periods of time has led to any dramatic or significant decisions which really undermined our efforts to end the war and to bring ourselves back to the family of european nations. I back to the family of european nations. , ,. , nations. I guess my point is this, if nations. I guess my point is this. If i nations. I guess my point is this, ifi may, nations. I guess my point is this, ifi may, would nations. I guess my point is this, if i may, would you. This, if i may, would you accept you are right now inevitably but dangerously dependent on the United States . Weve had the Foreign Affairs representive of the eu, josep borrell, knowing theres no way the eu can step in and fill the hole if us support is to be withdrawn. The eu simply doesnt have the capacity to fill that great big hole. Youre very dependent on washington, arent you . Well, first and foremost, washington, arent you . Well, first and foremost, everything | first and foremost, everything related to survival of ukraine as a governance mechanism, through microFinancial Assistance of the eu, but of course the us is the largest, not only supplier and producer of Military Support for ukraine, but the larger leader co ordinating the effort across all the group of more than 50 countries and thats especially important to understand and to preserve the support at this particular moment, because now the Counteroffensive Measure is taken by Ukrainian Armed forces, theyre going in a very steady, predictable, and clear way. Were advancing on a daily basis with of course smaller amount of territories, but every day our soil has been deoccupied. Thats why sustainability of Military Support is existential for ukraine first. And secondly, its vital to make sure that it does not undermine any other efforts weve been taking over the last 600 days. The last 600 days. Lets shift focus. When the last 600 days. Lets shift focus. When you the last 600 days. Lets shift focus. When you talk the last 600 days. Lets shift focus. When you talk about l the last 600 days. Lets shift l focus. When you talk about the sustainability of support, lets shift focus from the United States to europe. How worried were you by the triumph of robert fitzer� s party in the slovakian election . His campaign was people in slovakia have bigger problems than ukraine. Its suggesting in parts of europe theres serious weariness with continuing the level of support you had in the past. You had in the past. Indeed, its really you had in the past. Indeed, its really going you had in the past. Indeed, its really going to you had in the past. Indeed, l its really going to complicate to build one picture following this slovak elections. At this moment, we have different signals coming from this country. But i think regardless different political slogans and the electoral moments, any country like slovakia should not forget theyre members of nato, members of the eu, that means being part of the collective European Security and meaning that all of these decisions related to Military Support, and the Security Priorities for the whole eastern flank of nato, cannot be decided unilaterally by only one country. It should be a collective decision. Collective decision. Thats definitely collective decision. Thats definitely true, collective decision. Thats definitely true, no collective decision. Thats definitely true, no one. Collective decision. Thats definitely true, no one country is decide matters. If one looks at what is happening in europe, was it wise for your government to pick a massive fight with Poland Over Grain exports . Some of the arguments has been solved in recent days, but the bad feeling definitely will not be forgotten in poland. And many advisors to mr zelensky said its crazy to pick this kind of fight, to even threaten to take poland to the wto in a lawsuit, why on earth did you do that . ,. , lawsuit, why on earth did you do that . ,. , do that . That sounds so not correct. Do that . That sounds so not correct. In do that . That sounds so not correct, in fact, do that . That sounds so not correct, in fact, because correct, infact, because ukraine has never been putting any problematic related to the grain to poland or any other country. In fact, the elections has started in poland and this has started in poland and this has become the issue fuelling the electoral agenda. Thats why we were only reflecting on that. In fact its ukraine and European Commission who brought the whole discourse in a constructive way to go. In wto, no claim has been filed. There has been a request for a consultation thats normal rules based mechanism. In fact, it has become really public because it was all over social media. But i can assure you its just a Family Business between two countries and were back to normal communication. It should not be treated as something which caused a huge crisis in bilateral relations orany crisis in bilateral relations or any relations in europe. When the argument was at its height and the polish Prime Minister said that Weapons Supplies to ukraine would be stopped, can you tell me they definitely have been resumed . Whats the situation . fist definitely have been resumed . Whats the situation . Whats the situation . At this oint we whats the situation . At this point we have whats the situation . At this point we have not whats the situation . At this point we have not seen whats the situation . At this point we have not seen that l point we have not seen that this statement had affected the ongoing processes in terms of military assistance. Military assistance. Thats a very tactful military assistance. Thats a very tactful answer. Military assistance. Thats a very tactful answer. Im military assistance. Thats a very tactful answer. Im not| very tactful answer. Im not sure what it means. Are you getting weapons from poland or not . �. , ~ ,. , not . Im not the Minister For Defence not . Im not the Minister For Defence. Im not . Im not the Minister For Defence. Im the not . Im not the Minister For Defence. Im the political defence. Im the political person in this issue. I will check. But if there were problems like that, it would be brought to my attention. But at this point no shift away from the co operation we have been taking. The cooperation we have been takina. ,. ,. , taking. You mention to me the state of the taking. You mention to me the state of the war taking. You mention to me the state of the war on taking. You mention to me the state of the war on the taking. You mention to me the state of the war on the front i state of the war on the front lines, you said steady predictable progress. Others would say what we have right now is an attritional fight that frankly looks stalemated. The hopes you had of a breakthrough to cut the russian supply lines between crimea and the donbas over the summer months has not been achieved. While the war rages, and this matters to your portfolio, the signals from nato are quite clear, you are not going to be given a time frame for nato membership as long as the war continues to rage on your territory. Continues to rage on your territory territory. Well, as im speaking territory. Well, as im speaking to territory. Well, as im speaking to you territory. Well, as im speaking to you from | territory. Well, as iml speaking to you from a territory. Well, as im speaking to you from a country in the actual war, its really hard for me to, you know, to have this kind of discourse. First and fore most, i can confirm two things were not talking about the timeline at this particular moment. And second, were really preparing ourselves for the membership. And i think its really more important that even circulating on a deadline, there is a consensus that has been built this summer that ukraine will become a member of nato. And i can assure you that all the steps necessary for that have been done at all levels. It will be for politicians to make a decision of course. Of course theres a summit of nato in washington, the 75th anniversary, well see how we can add more clarity to that. But again, im sure that we do not have to expect the counteroffensive approaches and the way towards ukraine victory should be companied as the top serious, its the real life, its the real losses we face on our side, its the real losses we face on ourside, its its the real losses we face on our side, its the real massive atrocities on civilians, the real winter coming. Atrocities on civilians, the realwinter coming. So atrocities on civilians, the real winter coming. So nothing has changed in terms of the atrociousness of this war. The only thing thats really different now from what we had a year ago is that we can say that we have a steady, rather slow but steady advancing. And this gives a perfect predictability in many ways, including issues relating to planning financial and Military Support to ukraine. Nothing has chanced, support to ukraine. Nothing has changed. You support to ukraine. Nothing has changed. You say. Support to ukraine. Nothing has changed, you say, and support to ukraine. Nothing has changed, you say, and you support to ukraine. Nothing has changed, you say, and you have a that ukraine is taking terrible losses. We know that because this war is raging on many fronts, the russian defences have clearly been built and it is a struggle and according to the New York Times the pentagon believes that you may have lost tens and Tens Of Thousands of soldiers, although you dont give any public number yourselves. You dont give any public numberyourselves. Has you dont give any public number yourselves. Has anything changed in terms of your absolute determination to fight until you have retained or regained every inch of sovereign ukrainian territory, or will they come a time, given the scale of pain and loss that ukraine is suffering, where you may have to consider something short of that . Just may have to consider something short of that . Short of that . Just speaking of a week ago. Short of that . Just speaking of a week ago, russia short of that . Just speaking of a week ago, russia has a week ago, russia has deliberately attacked one of the residential villages which affected momentarily dying of over 50 people, including children, elderly people, women and everybody who were on this soil. This has been an attack which could not really be considered as something which we could be tired of. Again, it is something the world has never seen since the second world war, and we understand that the fight is accidental for the whole country, our fight is existential or the europe as a whole, and our fight is existential for the whole world order which existed before february 24. So we consider any discussion on territorial concessions, on getting of the war, on our lowering commitment as a sign of weakness. It is not about ukrainians. Ukrainians are the strengths. Ukrainians are of the very, and this is nothing that could be changed and it cannot be changed with changes of politicians or any election. Right, but going back to the support you get from your partners in europe, we talked about nato. Lets talk about the eu. We know there were seven different recommendations where the eu said, look, you are going to have to work on all of these seven because before we can get a green light on negotiations, ukraine negotiating a long term entry to the eu. As i understand it from the summer of the message was you only got approval for two of those seven areas of reform. Unless something changes dramatically in the next few weeks, you arent going to be getting formal eu negotiations. Negotiations. Well, since that time, negotiations. Well, since that time. Things negotiations. Well, since that time, things have negotiations. Well, since that time, things have changed i time, things have changed dramatically and we will definitely be able to surprise our partners just in a couple of weeks when the European Commission will release its report, and this would give us the way to think how the Accession Talks might be started. Only two caleb ewan � s judgement far beyond only two elements completed. Im proud of our permit and progress we managed to show an advance in over the seven criteria is which are related to the rule of law, fight against corruption, issued related human rights and politically imposed person, they affect the whole Reform Challenge in ukraine and the commitment to deliver on every area you can. ,. ,. , , can. You are certainly very positive can. You are certainly very positive. Let can. You are certainly very positive. Let me can. You are certainly very positive. Let me ask can. You are certainly very positive. Let me ask you can. You are certainly very| positive. Let me ask you one specific question. The hungarians led by Prime Minister viktor orban have sounded very unenthusiastic about ukraine, eu perspective partly because they are a very worried about the protection of language, Minority Rights for their Ethnic Hungarian population inside ukraine. You have been having you associations about that. Have you conquered orbans fear about what he calls � hungaraphobia in ukraine . I hungaraphobia in ukraine . I am an operating just here in the government and we are expertise, we have done a lot to secure the rights of all minorities in ukraine and for your understanding it is more than 100 different type of ethnicities we have in ukraine and basically hungarians are raising, i mean, the negative spirit of their rights, we have invested a lot of our efforts to ensure public and legal measures, Mitigating Hungarian colleagues had. We had a consultation, we have adopted the legislation and receive multiple amounts of positive opinions from different actors, but still, we need to see for the political consent of this issue because it is exactly member state who will make decisions by the end of the year, and i have this feeling that we are relatively close to agreement if hungarian colleagues will stick to their words and promises. fik. Colleagues will stick to their words and promises. Colleagues will stick to their words and promises. Ok. I guess the bigger words and promises. Ok. I guess the Bigger Picture words and promises. Ok. I guess the Bigger Picture is words and promises. Ok. I guess the Bigger Picture is that words and promises. Ok. I guess the Bigger Picture is that the the Bigger Picture is that the eu wants to be sure that you train is truly free and democratic Country Living up to the values of the European Union, and with that in mind, you have a big challenge and i question to face. That is are you going to hold elections, as usual according to the electoral next year . President zelensky has not dismissed the old idea although he says someone else has to pay for the preparations. But your own Civil Society organisations in ukraine say the idea of elections is extremely dangerous, they say it could destabilise the state as a whole and that ukraine is in no position to run a fair and legitimate election during wartime. What is your your view . ~ ,. , view . Well, first, let me start answering view . Well, first, let me start answering the view . Well, first, let me start answering the Question View . Well, first, let me start answering the question from i view . Well, first, let me start| answering the question from a perspective of a member of government of a country representing an advance to democracy, which has a pretty long history of real action, which has been recognised by European Union in particular in their decision of granting ukraine candidates, and this commitment and recognition and feeling of ukrainian people is there. We are fighting for our democracy and we know very well, and you made a correct point, this was a idea of an election somewhere in the year it was not inspired by ukrainian administration. We have never heard, lets say, any request for this from our international partners. So it is just the deadlines which show that if there would be no war, there would be a timeline for preparing for the election. But, again, no legaland Security Circumstances to understanding are there to speak about the electoral process, and i dont think that this is the particular moment of time where we can really shift focus from surviving throughout the war and fighting the war to, starting and preparing for the election. Aha, preparing for the election. A last quick question. You are entering your second winter, you are suffering great losses, we have discussed the context, diplomatic and economic support. It is on for ukraine and will get even more obligated. Be honest with me. His doubt creeping in to you personally as to whether ukraine can achieve a victory in this war . Ukraine can achieve a victory in this war . There is no doubt, i can tell in this war . There is no doubt, i can tell for in this war . There is no doubt, i can tell for sure in this war . There is no doubt, i can tell for sure on in this war . There is no doubt, i can tell for sure on behalf i can tell for sure on behalf of me, but also on behalf of ukrainian people, absolutely not. We understand that probably this could be a longer process, probably ukrainians stop picturing, i mean, any deadlines, we are entering the phase where we understand and we would have two fighters long as it is needed until the victory of ukraine, restoration of our borders and bringing ourselves back and securing lets say our borders, this is rather the discourse and the feeling that we have at this moment, but of course, there is no single doubt and not a Single Person in ukraine can really. Really show this doubt, and i think that the most important thing that what i am talking about is i am not talking on behalf of the Political Community in ukraine, it isjust the Political Community in ukraine, it is just the feeling of the people, and now when our husbands and children are fighting the war, they are at war, many, many people have died just living in ukraine just because of them being ukrainians. This is not something that could really inspire any thoughts of the full victory of ukraine, a part of the full victory of ukraine. Olha stefanishyna, we do have two and there but i thank you very much forjoining me from kyiv. Thank you. Hello there. So far this october, weve been building in some pretty big contrasts in terms of rainfall. Parts of the south havent even had a single drop of rain yet, whereas across northern scotland, aboyne in aberdeenshire, weve already had 113mm of rain. Thats already more than an average october. And of course, were only a third of the way through the month. Then we had these Temperature Contrasts on tuesday 26 degrees in writtle near chelmsford in essex, just 13 in lerwick, behind a cold front across the far north of scotland. And over the next few days, as that cold front pushes its way gradually southwards, we are going to see those temperatures drop away. And certainly, by the time we get to the weekend, well all be feeling as if autumn has firmly arrived. Mind you, for some of us, the temperatures will be dropping as we look at the weather into wednesday. Heres our cold front bringing some rain southwards, clearing away from scotland and northern ireland, so the Flood Warnings continuing to fall here. But weve got the Rain Heading In across parts of england and wales. A mild start to the day on wednesday here. A much colder start, though, in scotland with temperatures down into low single figures in the countryside. Now, weve got this band of rain, this cold front, with us through the day on wednesday, some particularly heavy rain across the hills of mid wales. Could bring one or two impacts here. Some wet weather as well for the midlands and parts of east anglia for much of the day. To the south of our front, its another warm day with temperatures again reaching the 20s. Otherwise, for scotland, northern ireland, northern england, those temperatures will be dropping away. And it will be blustery for the far north of scotland too, gusts reaching 60mph, driving in plenty of showers here. Now, heading through wednesday night and into thursday, our weather front sinks across into Southern Parts of england. Its very weak by this stage, just a few patches of rain. Temperatures for most of us much closer to the october average. We still have some heat hanging on across the very far south of england. And for a time on friday, we actually get a zone of warmer air pushing back northwards. But with that heavy rain for england and wales, scotland and northern ireland, a day of sunshine and blustery showers. So the cool weather continues across these northern areas. Across the south, more of us will see temperatures climbing back into the high teens to low 20s. But that wont last. Into the weekend, it will cool down properly, with temperatures around about 10 to 14 degrees. And for the mountains of northern scotland, on saturday, itll be cold enough for a little bit of snow over the very mountain tops. Thats the latest. z startfeed. z startfeed. z startfeed. z startfeed. startfeed. z startfeed. z startfeed. z startfeed. We will the number of dead continues to rise in gaza as israel bombed territory for another night. We israel bombed territory for another night. Another night. We have to leave the area because another night. We have to leave the area because it another night. We have to leave the area because it seems another night. We have to leave the area because it seems that l the area because it seems that the area because it seems that the israelis are leaving the area that they should leave. This is the