in a dig atjoe biden�*s presidential rival, donald trump, mr biden flatly rejected isolationism. he said the rangers who fought in normandy 80 years ago would undoubtedly want the us to stand up to vladimir putin's aggression in europe. well, i'm here to tell you that with them gone, the wind we hear coming off this ocean will not fade. it will grow louder. as we gather here today, it's notjust to honour those who showed such remarkable bravery on that day, june six, 1944. it's to listen to the echoes of their voices, to hear them, because they are summoning us and they're summoning us now. they ask us what will we do? they're not asking us to scale these cliffs, but they're asking us to stay true to what america stands for. they're not asking us to give or risk our lives, but they are asking us to care for others and our country more than ourselves. they're not asking us to do theirjob. they're asking us to do ourjob, to protect freedom in our time, to defend democracy, to stand up to aggression abroad and at home, to be part of something bigger than ourselves. president biden was speaking soon after meeting ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky. mr biden assured him that america would never waver in its support for ukraine. it was the first time the two met since december. he apologised to mr zelensky for his country's long delay in approving a new military aid package to kyiv. president biden also said he's approved a further $200 million in assistance to reconstruct ukraine's electricity grid, which is the target of constant russian bombardment. mr zelensky earlier warned of the threat that russia poses to europe in a speech at the french national assembly. translation: it is in ukraine where the _ translation: it is in ukraine where the key _ translation: it is in ukraine where the key to _ translation: it is in ukraine where the key to the - translation: it is in ukraine where the key to the safety i translation: it is in ukraine where the key to the safety ofi where the key to the safety of europe lies because without control over ukraine russia will have to become a normal nationstate and not a colonial empire constantly in search of new territories in europe, asia and africa. president zelensky and other world leaders have spent most of the week in france to mark the 80th anniversary of the d—day landings in normandy, when tens of thousands of soldiers arrived on the beaches in an invasion that was a key moment in the eventual defeat of nazi germany and the liberation of europe. the war in ukraine loomed over d—day commemorations on thursday, where president zelensky and western leaders paid tribute to world war ii veterans. ukraine's president shared an emotional moment with one of those veterans. take a listen. you are the saviour of the people. as d—day commemorations wrap up i spoke tojovita neliupsiene, the european union's ambassador to the united states. we are remembering these past few days, d—day, the strong transatlantic alliance and the end of world war ii. in those commemorations do we see an effort to reaffirm the transatlantic relationship? {lit transatlantic relationship? of course. we listen to the speeches of president lacko president biden and president zelensky as well and we see that our commitment to each other�*s security and transatlantic commitment to common values like freedom and rule of law in general a rule—based order. i think it is more important right now then a few years ago and we see that we take democracy and peace for granted but actually we have to fight for that and ukrainians are doing that right now and it is extremely important right now if we do not want those that make if we want our values to prevail. we that make if we want our values to prevail-— to prevail. we heard from joe biden and _ to prevail. we heard from joe biden and from _ to prevail. we heard from joe biden and from the _ to prevail. we heard from joe biden and from the top - to prevail. we heard from joe biden and from the top eu i biden and from the top eu deployment the same sentiment that of russian aggression against ukraine is not checked that it could spread across the continent. how serious a threat is that? it continent. how serious a threat is that? , ., continent. how serious a threat is that? , . , ., is that? it is an existential threat for _ is that? it is an existential threat for all _ is that? it is an existential threat for all europeans i is that? it is an existential. threat for all europeans and is that? it is an existential i threat for all europeans and if we look, at the russians, if they are not stopped and this should probably be the premise for our decisions, first of all we saw what happened in georgia and in the crimea when crimea was occupied. now two years ago and the war is still going so we should put all our efforts not only towards supporting ukraine and providing defence capabilities as well as financial support for the country but also to be serious on how we implement our own sanctions, how we talk with all of our partners across the globe to make sure that there is an understanding that there are different theatres of what is happening around the globe but they are actually related and some of the actors, russia in the defence industry is enhanced by chinese components provided for them. drones produced by iran are in ukraine, we have to be serious because those actors are not waiting for an invitation, they are getting their act together as their community should cherish its freedom and way of life and we have two act together. life and we have two act together-— life and we have two act touether. , ., ~ ,, together. do you think the us eu alliances _ together. do you think the us eu alliances strengthening i together. do you think the us eu alliances strengthening or| eu alliances strengthening or is it the same? is there any change? i is it the same? is there any change?— change? i believe that our alliance is _ change? i believe that our alliance is stronger - change? i believe that our alliance is stronger than i change? i believe that our alliance is stronger than iti alliance is stronger than it was before. we not only cooperated with war and security in europe but as well as economic and technological cooperation is growing. there are many things we can do together in the field and the effort to do that. trade talks have stalled and there has not been any activity towards an agreement for many years now. trade and technology council achieved results. first of all on technology, we got an agreement and a memorandum for understanding with semiconductors. we even have an institutional cooperation with the ai office in europe and the ai safety office here. so many things are happening. issues like technology, it is a competitive field but on the other hand it has many challenges, for personal data, for how we will approach and how ourjobs will be changed in those challenges are beyond the borders. one country cannot deal with those issues alone so cooperation is important and we are moving in the right direction.— are moving in the right direction. ~ ., ~' are moving in the right direction. ~ ., ~ ., direction. would you like to see a more _ direction. would you like to see a more formalised i direction. would you like to see a more formalised deali direction. would you like to i see a more formalised deal that goes through congress? it is see a more formalised deal that goes through congress?- goes through congress? it is a choice of every _ goes through congress? it is a choice of every jurisdiction i goes through congress? it is a choice of every jurisdiction of i choice of everyjurisdiction of how to do the deal but what is important is that we remain committed to have an informant like the trade and technology council, that we have not only ministerial level meetings but meetings because it should go to the details. it would be nice to have it expanded more to the digital area to see if we can do something on mutual recognition so that we work on critical minerals so there are many areas where we can work together and do a good job for our businesses so that they can thrive and compete globally. to what extent does the relationship ebb and flow depending on who was in power in the states and was in power in the states and was in power in the states and was in power in the oval office here? will there be changes to the alliance in november whether it is a second term of biden or a second term of trump?- is a second term of biden or a second term of trump? first of all we are _ second term of trump? first of all we are europeans _ second term of trump? first of all we are europeans and i second term of trump? first of all we are europeans and will i all we are europeans and will be interested in working with whoever is in the administration because as we start this conversation we have on our plate topics that are extremely important for the security and safety of people, the global world order. so i think that resonates with all—american people and i believe that we will continue on the same wave. voters across the 27 european union countries are going to the polls to choose members of the european parliament — meps. the eu—wide election is the world's second biggest democratic exercise — after india — and right—wing and far—right parties are expected to make big gains. final results will be released late on sunday evening after every country has voted. let's take a look at the numbers. about 373 million people are eligible to vote — that's about five times the uk population. people will cast ballots from finland in the north to cyprus in the south, ireland in the west to bulgaria in the east. the next european parliament will have 720 seats, with each country having seats proportionate to the size of their population. germany is guaranteed 96 seats, france 81 and italy 76, while the netherlands has 31. dutch voters were the first to cast ballots, with exit polls suggesting a tight race between a left—green alliance and the party of anti—islam populist geert wilders. ireland and the czech republic voted on friday. while voting in most eu countries happens over a single day, the czechs get two days to vote. people in other eu member countries will vote over the weekend with far—right parties eyeing victory in france, belgium, austria and italy. across europe, nearly two million more teenagers can vote for the first time, after some eu countries changed the law to allow 16 and 17—year—olds to take part. these belgian teenagers explain why the eu elections matter to them. it's a very big opportunity for us. i really like it because it gives us a voice that we never had before. europe needs to be stronger because we can't always trust nato. the tension is really getting real and my history teacher| now are really saying that it wouldn't surprise me - if something would i happen in the future. so that really scares me. opinion polls suggest younger voters have helped the far right make significant gains. these young farmers say the eu isn't listening to them and that immigration continues to be a problem. the reason why we vote for the right is that we have a status quo that we want them to do away with. we have global issues that we don't know how we can take control of. we can actually solve the issues that the left tried to solve but failed to do so. there is a big issue when it comes to security and when it comes to keeping track of all the people that come in. i think that europe doesn't have the capacity to receive that many people. for more on this, i spoke to lucinda creighton, ireland's former minister for european affairs, and senior fellow at the centre for european policy analysist. for our viewers around the world, lucinda, put into context for how important these elections are. over 370 million people are eligible to vote. what sort of significance or power do meps have? quite a lot. in power do meps have? quite a lot- in the _ power do meps have? quite a lot. in the early _ power do meps have? quite a lot. in the early days - power do meps have? quite a lot. in the early days of i power do meps have? quite a lot. in the early days of the i lot. in the early days of the european parliament it was not a powerful legislature but over various treaty changes and constitutional change in europe over the decades it has become extremely powerful. it is basically the co— decision—maker now for almost all aspects of legislation. it is a very powerful and important body and obviously very significant that literally hundreds of millions of europeans are going to the polls at the one—time this weekend to elect a new parliament of 720 members. so a big election and, of course it is notjust the election of the parliament itself but then the parliament itself but then the parliament will have to confirm the executive, the european commission which will be nominated over the course of the summer. it has huge political consequences for europe and so it is obviously important the people go and vote this weekend.— vote this weekend. different countries — vote this weekend. different countries vote _ vote this weekend. different countries vote in _ vote this weekend. different countries vote in different i countries vote in different ways the popular party is a states, general elections are not always the winning candidates in european elections. what do you expect to see in terms of parties of user policies that might do well this weekend?- user policies that might do well this weekend? earlier this ear well this weekend? earlier this year there _ well this weekend? earlier this year there was _ well this weekend? earlier this year there was talk _ well this weekend? earlier this year there was talk on - well this weekend? earlier this year there was talk on a i well this weekend? earlier this year there was talk on a huge l year there was talk on a huge dramatic lurch to the right in europe and we have seen trends in some member states over the last number of years where politics has become more polarised in the far right and far left have become a little more extreme. in practice i think the shift will not be that dramatic and we will certainly see an increase in conservatives and right wing members elected in these elections. i think that is clear. we're going to see a decline in the number of meps elected from the socialist and green political groups in europe but it is not going to be quite as dramatic as some have predicted. i think actually the influence of the far right will be reasonably limited. there will be more of them but i don't think it will be dramatic and i don't think it is going to hugely shift the dynamic in the european parliament. there is certainly a movement to the centre—right and the right and i suppose thatis and the right and i suppose that is perhaps as a response to a fairly left and green agenda over the last five years and i think it is certainly a challenge for the citizens of europe to solve the policies that are being pursued at european level.— that are being pursued at european level. that are being pursued at euroean level. ., european level. even though the green party _ european level. even though the green party did _ european level. even though the green party did so _ european level. even though the green party did so well- european level. even though the green party did so well last i green party did so well last time five years ago. the eur0pean _ time five years ago. the european parliament i time five years ago. tr: european parliament had time five years ago. t't: european parliament had two flagship for the past few years. the first was the green deal, dramatically reducing carbon emissions and greening europe and the other was around digitalisation and regulation and i think the rhetoric we have heard in recent months in particular through the moderate parties of the centre particularly renew which is the liberal party of french president emmanuel macron and from the ep p the centre—right group which was once associated with angela merkel who is not a big personality there at the moment. they are the biggest block, the centre right christian democrats and they have definitely become a little more sceptical around the big drive regulation and the talk of focusing for the next mandate on implementation of legislation rather than new legislation rather than new legislation and certainly we have seen indications that there will be a loosening around the green agenda as well. it will not be abandoned but some of the more challenging legislation that was promised is likely to either not happen or be watered down to some extent. that is in direct response to business to small business especially and especially to very angry farmers of the european union. the next major gathering of world leaders takes place in less than a week's time when heads of state will convene for the g7 summit. it will be hosted by italy in the region of puglia. the group of seven includes the us, britain, canada, france, germany, italy, japan and the european union. but this year, the guest list will include saudi crown prince mohammed bin salman, as concerns grow over the situation in the middle east, as well as ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky, as his nation looks for solutions against russia's invasion. diplomats at the summit are expected to discuss ways they can use profits generated by frozen russian assets to help ukraine, officials said on friday. with me is now isjeremy shapiro, director of research at the european council on foreign relations — senior adviser on european affairs at the us state department. thank you forjoining us. if we look firstly at what we saw the us presidentjoe biden do this week. a lot of muscle flexing, a lot of showing of strength of the various alliances. what is your assessment of where the us— you eu relationship is now? in a certain way it is in very good shape. there is nothing is good shape. there is nothing is good for a relationship is finding an enemy and they have found an enemy in russia and vladimir putin and that has definitively bought them together. these summits in some sense a lot show we are and a lot easier with a lot grander language than they used to be. but there is a difficulty at the core of it which is that increasingly in part because of what is happening with russia europeans have come to depend evermore on the united states and yet at the same time the united states is less and less certain to be there for them after the next election or even regardless of how that comes out into the distant future. so there is a weirdness that is there is a weirdness that is the relationship gets closer it becomes fragile. irate the relationship gets closer it becomes fragile.— the relationship gets closer it becomes fragile. we saw while ukraine was — becomes fragile. we saw while ukraine was waiting _ becomes fragile. we saw while ukraine was waiting on - becomes fragile. we saw while ukraine was waiting on us i ukraine was waiting on us congress to agree to extra funding that europe did step into the breach there and provide funding.- into the breach there and provide funding. there is no question — provide funding. there is no question that _ provide funding. there is no question that europe - provide funding. there is no question that europe is i provide funding. there is no question that europe is an l question that europe is an important part of the effort in ukraine. at the same time it really is the united states that provides the back bone of it which in some sense provides the strategy which makes most of the major decisions even if a lot of money and weapons are coming from europe. so more importantly maybe and this is something we don't think about often it is the united states that holds europe together on the question so without the united states there it is really not the case that the europeans would be able to fill that void in the void that you are talking, the gap you are talking about over the last six months, europeans were able to partially fill that but there was a gap of money and weapons in what biden was doing throughout those six months was providing the leadership that europe cannot provide. 50 europe cannot provide. so ou're europe cannot provide. so you're saying the common enemy has strengthened the relationship, nato members would say the same. how do those two relationships play then? ., ., , , those two relationships play then? . ., , , , then? the relationship between? the us eu and — then? the relationship between? the us eu and the _ then? the relationship between? the us eu and the us— then? the relationship between? the us eu and the us and - then? the relationship between? the us eu and the us and nato?| the us eu and the us and nato? they relate a lot more closely than they used to. in some ways it is a strange question because they have something like 23 members in common so when a certain sense they are the same thing. the main difference is the united states and there is an increasing awareness on both sides of the atlantic that the economic relationship and strategic relationship and strategic relationship and strategic relationship and not inseparable so in the previous segment you had with the eu ambassador she was emphasising all of the important work they are doing in the trade and technology council which in some sense is about security, it is about china and about russia. so it is not as if the relationship so that distinct but i think what you end up having in all cases is you end “p having in all cases is you end up having a europe which is becoming, a relationship that is becoming less and less balanced and in which the united states is exercising an ever more dominant role and that creates a lot of risk and i think that is the risk from a european perspective there that they are seen quite clearly because of the election here in november. because of the election here in november-— november. and on that the eu ambassador— november. and on that the eu ambassador said _ november. and on that the eu ambassador said earlier i november. and on that the eu ambassador said earlier that l november. and on that the eu ambassador said earlier that it| ambassador said earlier that it did not matter if it was going to be a second term of trump for a second term of biden that the eu would work with whoever in the relationship would exist. do you agree with that? i am sure if i was the ambassador i would say the same thing but i think it is pretty clear to everybody that the relationship will not be the same. of course the eu will continue to relate to whatever us is there but from my experience in europe the vast majority of european policymakers are very worried about a donald trump administration and very worried about his policies towards things like ukraine and trade and they understand thatjoe biden is perhaps an anomalous us president in a certain way because he is so trans atlantis as to his call. there is a recognition that there will probably never be another who is that transatlantic cyst but also that donald trump would be also that donald trump would be a very, very abrupt break from the biden administration. becausejoe biden because joe biden considers himself becausejoe biden considers himself to be irish and european in that regard. he -a s a european in that regard. he pays a lot — european in that regard. he: pays a lot more attention to irish reporters, perhaps you have experienced that. it irish reporters, perhaps you have experienced that. if we look at the _ have experienced that. if we look at the parliamentary i look at the parliamentary elections under way in the eu. meps will be elected and with the rise of the far right you expect to see a shift in policy after these elections and how do you think that will impact everything? that do you think that will impact everything?— do you think that will impact everything? do you think that will impact eve hint? , ., ., ., everything? at my think tank we have done _ everything? at my think tank we have done some _ everything? at my think tank we have done some analysis - everything? at my think tank we have done some analysis on i everything? at my think tank we have done some analysis on thisj have done some analysis on this and tried to predict some of the outcomes of the european elections and we agree with a of the analysis out there which does see a shift to the right but not a massive one and it continues a trend that has been going for a few years and eventually we will get somewhere in terms of changes in policy but our best guess is that after this election there will not be massive changes in policy that come from the gathering strength of the far right because they still will be unable to take any of the big positions in the european commission or in the european council. they will still not have a majority in the parliament, the centrist parties will still be able to cobble together a majority. there will be a lesser majority with greater problems and they will have to pay more attention to the far right but i do not think we will see major changes. think we will see ma'or changed think we will see ma'or chances. ~ ., ., ., changes. we will have to leave it there. jeremy _ changes. we will have to leave it there. jeremy shapiro, i changes. we will have to leave | it there. jeremy shapiro, thank it there. jeremy shapiro, thank you so much forjoining us. that is it for the moment. you can keep on top of all of the news of the day on our website. thank you for watching. stay tuned to bbc news. hello. a real mix of weather coming up this weekend. some rain, some sunshine, but one thing there won't be much of in the mix is warm weather. now, the warmest weather on friday was found in the east and the south—east of england. 21 degrees is actually about right for this time of year 12 in the north of scotland. that is a little below par. and we will keep, generally speaking, below average temperatures for most parts of the uk, not only through the weekend but actually into the start of next week. a feed of cool air from the north. now on saturday morning, we start off with a fair amount of cloud across england and wales and splashes of rain. but much of that clearing southwards skies brightening sunny spells and just the odd shower into the afternoon. similar story for northern ireland. for scotland, there will be a few more showers, some heavy ones, still some wintry ones over the very highest mountains. temperatures in northern scotland, ten or 11 degrees, perhaps 18 or 19, in south wales and southern england. so yes, below average temperatures for most now through saturday night. we'll see cloud and showery rain pushing into scotland, perhaps into northern ireland, much of england and wales holding onto clear skies. and it is going to be a rather chilly night, five degrees there in the centre of cardiff, for example. some spots in the countryside will see temperatures fairly close to freezing, i suspect, for sunday morning. now, on sunday, this little frontal system in the north bringing some showers. this next weather front just easing its way in towards northern ireland. that could well bring a spell of more persistent rain as it pushes across south west scotland into northern england as well. to the north of that it is sunny spells and showers to the south of that wales, the midlands down towards the south of england, a decent amount of dry weather, some sunshine, perhaps highs of 19 degrees, whereas further north, just 1a, for example, there in glasgow now through sunday nights and into monday, this little frontal system here is expected to ease its way southwards at east with some uncertainty aboutjust how much rain it will bring and how long that will linger across central and eastern parts of england. if rain does linger for any length of time on monday, it really will feel very disappointing indeed. even if you get some sunshine with a scattering of showers, temperatures at best 10 to 17 degrees. and we stick with those rather cool conditions for much of the coming week. and there will be further outbreaks of rain at times. voice-over: this is bbc news. we will have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme. this week we are heading into space divided how we will live, work and eat on the moon. we have space homes and a space woman. shill have space homes and a space woman. ~ ., have space homes and a space woman. �* ., . , woman. all of a sudden it clicked in _ woman. all of a sudden it clicked in my _ woman. all of a sudden it clicked in my head - woman. all of a sudden it clicked in my head well, | woman. all of a sudden it i clicked in my head well, the international space station has a submarine in space.- a submarine in space. moon bolts and — a submarine in space. moon bolts and moon _ a submarine in space. moon bolts and moon dust. it i a submarine in space. moon bolts and moon dust. it is i a submarine in space. moon i bolts and moon dust. it is fine and powdery. _ bolts and moon dust. it is fine and powdery. i _ bolts and moon dust. it is fine and powdery, i can _ bolts and moon dust. it is fine and powdery, i can move i bolts and moon dust. it is fine and powdery, i can move it. and powdery, i can move it loosely— and powdery, i can move it loosely with my toe.