Transcripts For BBCNEWS Verified Live 20240914

With the kremlin saying mr putins words were extremely unambiguous. The meeting between Mr Biden and Sir Keir comes as news emerged of Russias Expulsion of six british diplomats from moscow, accusing them of spying and sabotage, claims the Uk Government says are completely baseless. The kremlin said london had engaged in Multiple Unfriendly Acts and that actions of the British Embassy In Moscow aimed to cause harm to russias people, but the Uk Government says it believes the suspension came after it brought in measures against the russian embassy earlier in the year. Well discuss the expulsion of those diplomats shortly and also how the west is interpreting those comments from President Putin. But first our political editor chris mason, whos travelling with the british Prime Minister, has been talking about the meeting with President Biden about ukraine. They met at the White House in july shortly after the Prime Minister had taken office and when the uk general election. He was here for a Nato Summit then. This time it is a specific visit entirely based around a meeting with the president in what is in plain sight now Shuttle Diplomacy around ukraines allies arriving at a collective decision about this question of the missiles. This Meeting Today, we saw the foreign secretary, Antony Blinken In Kyiv the other day. The Prime Minister is off to rome to meet the italian employment is the upper Tail End of the weekend just around the corner. The week after that, it is the un general assembly, World Leaders gathering in new york. There is a real sense of place in all of these conversations. Western countries trying to come to a collective decision they are all comfortable with and can live with. Chris mason there. For more on the reaction we are joined by our diplomatic correspondent catherine hawley. Reaction to the expulsion. It looks like a clear link, in terms of the timing between expulsions and meeting of Keir Starmer and joe biden. What is your analysis of the situation . The timing is interesting because news of the expulsion, its not news to the Foreign Office, because what we are told is in early august, the uk was informed the accreditation of the six diplomats was to be removed, it then was removed in mid august. They are back in the uk, they arejunior diplomats who have been replaced. No news to the Foreign Office, but the timing is interesting at a time of heightened tensions between russia and the west, and we are a high stakes decision imminent on the long range missiles. The sense im getting from the Foreign Office is it was a tit for tat. In april there was an arson attack. Sorry, in april, two men were charged Robin Olsen attack on a Business Link to ukraine, a warehouse, and two men were charged and there were suggestions they were linked to russia. Then in may, the russian defence To Shea was expeued russian defence To Shea was expelled from the Uk And Russian Diplomats were told they could only stay in the country for five years. In the Sense Officials are giving us is they think these expulsions that came in august was some kind of a response attack. The timing is interesting, theres clearly a message that this public announcement of the removal of the accreditation. Is it a message for Keir Starmer, Domestic Consumption in russia . ,. , starmer, Domestic Consumption in russia . In russia . Certainly a message there. Caroline, in russia . Certainly a message there. Caroline, thank in russia . Certainly a message there. Caroline, thank you in russia . Certainly a message there. Caroline, thank you very much. Lets put that question to a former russian diplomat who resigned from his post in 2022 in protest against the invasion of ukraine. Thank you forjoining us on bbc news. On that question of the expulsion of the british diplomats, what do you read into that . Do you read into that . Good afternoon do you read into that . Good afternoon. I do you read into that . Good afternoon. I think do you read into that . Good afternoon. I think it do you read into that . Good afternoon. I think it clearly. Afternoon. I think it clearly signals to british government, we can interpret as a kind of symmetrical response. This is a favourite favourite thing for russian government, has been for many years. When you cannot strike your adversary back, the same way he strikes you, you can try to do some kind of manoeuvre. This is a symmetrical response, so the west is now discussing the Lifting Restrictions on ukraine, on the launchers of Western Weapons into russian territory. And this expulsion is kind of an answer to this. Putin says that he, moscow can make it harder for the putin says that he, moscow can make it harderfor the uk in particular to work, gather information. To make uk less informed about what is going on informed about what is going on in moscow. That is kind of a warning. You want escalation, you will get escalation, but maybe not necessarily in terms you can expect. Putin now demonstrated, well, i could see a little bit unpredictable. Just to be clear, uc you see a link between the expulsion of the diplomats you say. You do see a link between that and President Putin using it as a way of expressing his displeasure over the way there could be an easing of the restrictions of using long range missiles. I restrictions of using longrange missiles. I think that is fact. Longrange missiles. I think that is fact, that longrange missiles. I think that is fact, that it longrange missiles. I think that is fact, that it has longrange missiles. I think| that is fact, that it has come into public domain. I think it gives us some reasons to suspect it was done by purpose. On purpose. This purpose is to signal something, and the signal something, and the signal can be that this is a warning or some kind of displeasure expressed by moscow to this ongoing discussions about ukraine. About ukraine. What other re5ponses about ukraine. What other responses might about ukraine. What other responses might we about ukraine. What other responses might we see. About ukraine. What other i responses might we see from President Putin Ebay Decision is made to ease the restrictions on Ukraines Risk of the long range missiles so it can make targets further into russia, hit those targets . Would it make a target if there is missiles come from the uk and france rather than the usa . I think all these problems are mostly existent in the minds of western politicians. Because it seems uk, France And Other Countries are so reluctant in intensifying its existence, assistance to ukraine. It seems the west is still very much afraid of what the west thinks can be russian response. We see from this almost two and a half years that went russia is genuinely threatened by some action like ukrainian insurgent action, drones over the kremlin last year, they do not respond at all because theyjust last year, they do not respond at all because they just are last year, they do not respond at all because theyjust are at at all because theyjust are at a loss. They dont know how to respond. They are very good responding orally, through the telegram channel, for instance. But not action. Putin is really afraid of action. But it seems the west is equally afraid, and Thatis The West is equally afraid, and that is why we still find ourselves in this very fragile balance situation. Ourselves in this very fragile balance situation. 0k, boris, thank you balance situation. 0k, boris, thank you very balance situation. 0k, boris, thank you very much balance situation. 0k, boris, thank you very much for balance situation. 0k, boris, thank you very much for your thoughts on this story today. We can speak now to the former diplomat. Lets speak to former diplomat philip reeker, who was the us charg daffaires to the uk from 2021 to 2022. Prior to that, he was the acting Assistant Secretary of state for europe and eurasia. Thank you very much for your time. I wonderfirst thank you very much for your time. I wonder first of all, can you give us your thoughts on whether there are any significant point of difference at this stage between the us and the uk on that question of allowing ukraine to use these long range missiles to hit targets deep inside russia. Thank you, pleasure to be with you. Specifically on that question, i dont think there are any differences, theres been an ongoing conversation between the us and the uk on just about every issue globally, but certainly in terms on support for ukraine. I was in london, heading our mission there when vladimir putin attacked. He did nitrate up putin attacked. He did nitrate up to the day that it would happen. He denied. We and the uk together released intelligence information, we knew what was coming. We have been lockstep since then through different Prime Ministers, obviously, the whole different government in the uk. Great opportunity for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to have this sit down with President Biden. Biden now with more time for these meetings since hes not running for re election. I understand they will meet today in the oval office, just the two of them, and then proceed to the Blue Room of the White House for an expanded meeting for at least two hours with their senior staff and the two ambassadors. Their senior staff and the two ambassadors. And for so long in the conflict. Ambassadors. And for so long in the conflict, weve ambassadors. And for so long in the conflict, weve heard the conflict, weve heard warnings about the risk of further escalation, the warnings coming from the west. What is changing . We have heard a lot of warnings from vladimir putin as well since he undertook this illegal, unprovoked attack against ukraine, its sovereignty, its integrity. An attack against the west, really. We have stood together to support ukraine in this, to make sure they have what they need, even though it is not always easy to do. I think this Meeting Today between the Prime Minister and the president will have an opportunity not only to review the latest strategy there, remembering of course the two foreign ministers, Antony Blinken and david lammy, were just together in london and ukraine together. They got the latest on this. And a reminder that less than a week ago, our two intelligence chiefs met publicly and discussed the Ft Forum and they wrote how we are coordinating on it. We are ready lockstep, this will be a chance to talk about a wide ranging of strategic issues, including the middle east, the indo pacific, which isjust ten east, the indo pacific, which is just ten days out from the un general assembly, and a reminder present biden will soon post in delaware the so called Asia Indo pacific quad, the leaders of india, japan and australia. Im sure he will discuss that with the Prime Minister. He will discuss that with the Prime Minister. 0k, former us affair to the Prime Minister. 0k, former us affair to the uk, Prime Minister. 0k, former us affair to the uk, thank Prime Minister. 0k, former us affair to the uk, thank you Prime Minister. 0k, former us affair to the uk, thank you for| affair to the uk, thank you for your time. Always a pleasure. We will keep a close eye on the meeting when it happens and bring you all the news from that. Lets cross live to warsaw and speak to our eastern correspondent. Everyone trying to read between the lines of what President Putin has been saying. Tell us more about that because theres been a pretty robust response where you are in poland, hasnt there . In poland, hasnt there . Yes, there has in poland, hasnt there . Yes, there has. A in poland, hasnt there . Yes, there has. A robust in poland, hasnt there . Yes, there has. A robust response | there has. A robust response from poland and from Keir Starmer as well. And i think interesting those responses, because vladimir putin of course thinks hes drawn another red line in the sand. He has made a statement about the potential permission being given to ukraine to use those british and potentially american long range missiles into russia. He has said it will bring nato directly into participating in the war in ukraine. He said that would mean there were consequences. His spokesperson went on to say this was an unambiguous statement from vladimir putin. He said he believed those to whom that message was addressed had got that message. I think it is interesting that the robust response from britain but here in poland. Poland is right on the Front Line with ukraine, its neighbours ukraine and potentially could be in the Front Line of any response if there were one. Get the Prime Minister here has been unequivocal, saying we shouldnt worry about what vladimir putin is saying, dont be put off by it, dont pay too much attention, he said. He suggested it meant russia was feeling threatened, somewhat weak. He said russia is trying to discourage us from helping ukraine, ukraine has a legitimate right to self defence, id said the words should do the opposite, encourage ukraines allies to stand by. The words were given extra rate coming from poland, right on the border with you ukraine. Right on the border with you ukraine. ~. , right on the border with you ukraine. ~. , ukraine. We are hearing in ukraine. We are hearing in ukraine two ukraine. We are hearing in ukraine two people ukraine. We are hearing in ukraine two people have i ukraine. We are hearing in. Ukraine two people have been killed and six injured. The attack comes as weve been hearing of the Kremlin Warning that the use of western suppled long range missiles by ukraine against targets inside russian territory would escalate the conflict to a new level. Waterhouse, whos In Kyiv. As ever in ukraine, politically, they dont really buy these warnings by the kremlin. I think mps are just are calling them artificial red lines which have been crossed before. They in fact accuse vladimir putin of trying to blackmail the west as It Wavers in its continued support for ukraine. And that really is how its seen here. You know, you referenced all of those discussions overseas in these parts. It is just seen as needless delay as the country continues to try and mobilise enough men to fight a costly war. So i think there is a degree of impatience here. And clearly, you know, ukraine at this moment in time is trying to improve its position in any way it can on the battlefield, despite significant counteroffensives inside russia itself and despite, you know, a possible lifting of restrictions that we might realise later today on the use of western missiles, that is no Silver Bullet for ukraine. It is still very much russia which is in the stronger position. So youre seeing these really delicate calculations by the west in terms of how it can step up support. But also russia is considering its own responses, but also be in No Doubt it is trying to improve its own position, not least with an upcoming us president ial election, where support for ukraine would be far from assured if, say, Donald Trump was elected. Around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. Some Breaking News for you now. The police say that Bbc Presenterjay blades has been charged with engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour and appeared at kidderminster magistrates� court earlier today. With me is our entertainment correspondent, lizo mzimba. If people arent familiar with who Jay Blades is, tell us more and what has happened at court. He is a familiar face on british television, the main presenter of the Repair Shop, which moves successfully from daytime to prime time, where members of the public bring and cherish, old and damaged items and the team in the Repair Shop have various skills. Jay blades is a craftsman, and expert furniture maker. Hes been at the centre of the show since it began on the bbc in 2017. Its when a bafta and is a very familiarface, notjust for familiar face, not just for that familiarface, notjust for that but Charity Events with members of the royal family. That but Charity Events with members of the royalfamily. He was made an mbe for services to craft in 2021. Now we have this news that he has been charged with controlling and coercive behaviour, including physical and emotional abuse, according to public court documents. West Mercia Police say the Television Presenter appeared at Kidderminster Magistracy Court this morning and hes been bailed to appear at Worcester Crown Court on Friday October the 11th. Worcester Crown Court on Friday Octoberthe11th. He Worcester Crown Court on Friday October the 11th. He was last on the bbc on wednesday one episode of the Repair Shop. He was due to be on the bbc again this evening on Bbc One with a repeat of a programme called david a jay� s touring tool shed, but we understand the Episode Wont be broadcast. As to the rest of the Repair Shop, we are awaiting from the bbc if theres any news on that. Thank ou ve theres any news on that. Thank you very much to nigeria next, where the governor of Borno State has told the bbc that up to Two Million people have been affected by major flooding in the region. The Borno Region is in the North East of the country on the border with cameroon, which has seen thousands of homes have been destroyed by flooding. In chad, at least 300 people have died as a result of weeks of unusually heavy rainfall. These are the latest these are the latest Drone Pictures Drone Pictures from the floods which followed from the floods which followed the collapse of a dam the collapse of a dam earlier this week earlier this week during heavy rainfall. During heavy rainfall. Thousands of people thousands of people are desperately short of food and shelter. Are desperately short of food and shelter. The nigerian military have the nigerian military have used boats and trucks used boats and trucks to rescue people displaced. To rescue people displaced. State governor babagana State Governor Babagana zulum told our reporter zulum told our Reporter Azeezat Olaoluwa that half Azeezat Olaoluwa that half of the regions capital, of the regions capital, maiduguri, was under water. Maiduguri, was under water. Ican i can remember ican i can remember i can remember more i can remember more i can remember more than 3000 i can remember more than 3000 people killing. Dozens of people killing. Dozens of classrooms destroyed. We are classrooms destroyed. We are trying to get out of this trying to get out of this problem and now we are having a problem and now serious calamity. Thank you forjoining us. Youve captured footage using a drone, some of which we will show to our viewers. What have you seen . Properties, houses, homes. It is shocking. D0 properties, houses, homes. It is shocking is shocking. Do you have any estimates is shocking. Do you have any estimates of is shocking. Do you have any estimates of how is shocking. Do you have any estimates of how many is shocking. Do you have any l estimates of how many people are still trapped by the floodwater who are in need of rescuing . I floodwater who are in need of rescuing . Rescuing . I dont have any information rescuing . I dont have any information about rescuing . I dont have any information about that, i rescuing . I dont have any| information about that, but what has been happening is basically Search And Rescue operation, people are volunteering with authorities and the government to go into areas to rescue people. And to provide shelter and protection. You are talking to us from one of the camps, the Displacement Camps, but as we have heard people are desperately in need of food and shelter. What is a situation like in the camp where you are . Where you are . Yes, displacement where you are . Yes, displacement is where you are . Yes, | displacement is three where you are . Yes, displacement is three women where you are . Yes, displacement is three women and men in desperate Need Forfood and shelter. And experiencing a crisis of other things. The water is everywhere. Irate crisis of other things. The water is everywhere. We can see from your water is everywhere. We can see from your Footage Water is everywhere. We can see from your footage Roads Water is everywhere. We can see from your footage roads are from your footage roads are basically turned into rivers. And as someone who comes from this place, who has grown up yeah, what has been the most shocking thing for you . This is the worst flood in the past 30 years. Honestly, the most raikkonen thing for me is to see a mother the most striking thing. Hospitals being flooded with water, patience. Just before we go, i dont know irresponsible for you to use your camera to let 0c what surrounds you i dont know if it is possible. This is a localfilm maker, born and local film maker, born and raised localfilm maker, born and raised in maiduguri. We can see people in the Displacement Camp behind you. Weve heard from the governor how so many people are short of food. You can see how many people are gathered, some 2 Million people affected by the flooding. Thank you for your time. By the flooding. Thank you for yourtime. Reporting by the flooding. Thank you for your time. Reporting on the floods in nigeria. Do stay here on bbc news. Hello there. Last night was unusually cold for this early in autumn, but its not going to be as cold as that for some time to come, because the weather is changing. Were going to cut off the supply of Cold Arctic Air and change the wind direction. In the next few days, were going to have more of an atlantic wind, and that will bring with it some higher temperatures by day and night. May bring a little bit of rain, but theres not much of that around today at all. Were enjoying the sunshine and lighter winds. Still a little on the chilly side. 1a or 15 scotland and Northern Ireland could make 17, possibly 18, in the South East of england with the sunshine. Will cloud over in Northern Ireland later and well see a little rain this evening. Most of the rain, though, will push its way eastwards overnight into scotland. The winds are picking up in the northwest. To the south well have some clearer skies, but where its cloudy and its also quite windy, its going to be a lot milder than it was Last Night and even further south. Temperatures wont be as low as Last Night, but could get as low as four or five in the southeast. But itll warm up in the sunshine. On saturday we could see a bit of sunshine breaking through The Cloud In Scotland and Northern Ireland, but those strong winds will push more rain into the northwest during the afternoon, pushing some cloud into england and wales. But probably not too much of that and its going to be a milder day on saturday. Everywhere 17 or 18. Scotland and Northern Ireland 19, maybe 20 for some Eastern Parts of england. Now, there is that Weather Front bringing that rain into the northwest thats going to Stumble And Stutter its way southwards into england and wales on sunday. And this is where we start with this cloud and patchy rain. It should move away from northern england, but we could see some wetter weather coming back into wales, bringing a little rain into the midlands and the southwest. Further north, the showers in Northern Scotland should move away. The winds wont be as strong. Well have some sunshine still 17 or 18 degrees and we could make 20 celsius in the southeast of england, where it should stay dry until late in the day. And then were going to find high Pressure Building in for the beginning of next week. Thats going to steer all these Weather Fronts and areas of low pressure to the northwest of the uk. So the wetter, windier weather is going to be steered away from us. So therell be a lot of dry weather into next week, maybe a bit of Mist And Fog in the morning, but the nights are not going to be particularly cold and it should also feel a little bit warmer by day. This is bbc news, the headlines. The us president and british Prime Minister will meet in washington in the next few hours to discuss whether to allow ukraine to fire missiles at targets deep inside russia. A panel of people, chosen to reflect the population of england , has backed a change in the law to allow people who are terminally ill to end their life. Sven Goran Eriksson is remembered as a loving father David Beckham is among the mourners at the funeral of the former england manager