hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. the national zoo in washington bids farewell to its beloved trio of giant pandas who were loaned as goodwill ambassadors from china. welcome back, a russian battalion comprised of ukrainian prisoners welcome back, a russian battalion comprised of ukrainian prisoners of war will likely deploy to ukraine in the nearfuture. in an apparent violation of the geneva convention. they will be deployed to the east of the country where active combat is taking place under the control of the donetsk people's republic. the russians claim the soldiers will receive equal treatment, to the russian infantry, including salaries and benefits. george barros is a russian analyst at the institute for the study of war and geospatial intelligence team lead. what do you know about the men in this battalion and have been chorused and fighting their own side? ~ . ~ ., , ., ., chorused and fighting their own side? . ~ ., ., side? what we know state media has told us an enterprise _ side? what we know state media has told us an enterprise that _ side? what we know state media has told us an enterprise that is - told us an enterprise that is reported today that there are going to be an unknown number of ukrainian prisoners of war have been recruited to join the formation. a smaller unit within the people, the russian proxy that is operated of eastern ukraine since 2014. the exact number unknown but in previous weeks, the russians recruit those through penal colonies spread across russia and ukraine. in that region, they put no qualms about putting people to the meat grinder and lost thousands of thousands of russian men and imagining these ukrainians be going into battle with machine gun pointed at the back? �* , , into battle with machine gun pointed at the back? �*, , ., , at the back? there's been numerous amounts of — at the back? there's been numerous amounts of documentation - at the back? there's been numerous amounts of documentation of - at the back? there's been numerous amounts of documentation of abuse | at the back? there's been numerous i amounts of documentation of abuse by ukrainian prisoners and ukrainian civilians and territories. we've seen this is been a part of two known phenomenons that occurred in russian occupied territories, trying to address the systematic problems and due to russian equipment and personnel losses, it been suffering from an acute shortage of bodies and demobilisation of 300,000 men in september, they'll try to do it again in the future as well. number two, this of frequently violating international law and is people in the custody that includes ukrainian prisoners of war as well as civilians. in addition to the story, they talked about the way russians buy their own admissions after deported civilians from occupied ukraine into mainland russia to forced adoption schemes for children and also for adults and this is a part of an ethnic cleansing campaign thatis part of an ethnic cleansing campaign that is designed to change the typography of ukraine and shifted towards, making it closer to the kind of territory with the kind of makeup that the russians seek to be able to control. if makeup that the russians seek to be able to control.— able to control. if they were deployed. — able to control. if they were deployed. and _ able to control. if they were deployed, and to _ able to control. if they were deployed, and to what - able to control. if they were deployed, and to what area | able to control. if they were - deployed, and to what area and into what sort of battle? the deployed, and to what area and into what sort of battle?— what sort of battle? the unit is on the southern _ what sort of battle? the unit is on the southern front _ what sort of battle? the unit is on the southern front nine, _ what sort of battle? the unit is on the southern front nine, the - what sort of battle? the unit is on the southern front nine, the area | the southern front nine, the area where ukraine is been conducting a counter offensive and operating in the western part, the kind of battle happening there right now is slow and heavy infantry fights and they're trying to use trenches to defeat ukraine's mechanized advances. defeat ukraine's mechanized advances-— defeat ukraine's mechanized advances. . ~' , . defeat ukraine's mechanized advances. ., ~ , . ., advances. thank you very much for that. until the full—scale russian invasion in february last year, ukrainian membership of the eu seemed like a distant dream. but today it came a little closer — the eu commission has recommended that formal negotiations on accession should begin. the decision is not definitive; those recommendations will now go to existing member states for a final sign off in december. and of course even if they are approved, accession talks would be expected to drag on for years. but this is a big step forward. afterjump after jump through a afterjump through a lot of anti—corruption— afterjump through a lot of anti—corruption hoops - afterjump through a lot of anti—corruption hoops and i afterjump through a lot of - anti—corruption hoops and also with the things— anti—corruption hoops and also with the things for— anti—corruption hoops and also with the things for eu _ anti—corruption hoops and also with the things for eu membership, - anti—corruption hoops and also with the things for eu membership, it. anti—corruption hoops and also with the things for eu membership, it isi the things for eu membership, it is a big _ the things for eu membership, it is a big boost— the things for eu membership, it is a big boost and _ the things for eu membership, it is a big boost and it's _ the things for eu membership, it is a big boost and it's also _ the things for eu membership, it is a big boost and it's also been - the things for eu membership, it is a big boost and it's also been put . a big boost and it's also been put into the _ a big boost and it's also been put into the waiting _ a big boost and it's also been put into the waiting room _ a big boost and it's also been put into the waiting room as - a big boost and it's also been put into the waiting room as well- a big boost and it's also been put into the waiting room as well and it's worth — into the waiting room as well and it's worth pointing _ into the waiting room as well and it's worth pointing out _ into the waiting room as well and it's worth pointing out that - into the waiting room as well and i it's worth pointing out that russian perspective — it's worth pointing out that russian perspective on _ it's worth pointing out that russian perspective on eu _ it's worth pointing out that russian perspective on eu membership - it's worth pointing out that russian| perspective on eu membership and people _ perspective on eu membership and people in— perspective on eu membership and peopie in the — perspective on eu membership and people in the neighbourhood - perspective on eu membership and people in the neighbourhood as - perspective on eu membership and people in the neighbourhood as it. perspective on eu membership and| people in the neighbourhood as it is the chamber— people in the neighbourhood as it is the chamherto— people in the neighbourhood as it is the chambertojoin_ people in the neighbourhood as it is the chamber tojoin nato. _ people in the neighbourhood as it is the chamber tojoin nato. it- people in the neighbourhood as it is the chamber tojoin nato. it doesn't necessarily— the chamber tojoin nato. it doesn't necessarily have _ the chamber tojoin nato. it doesn't necessarily have to _ the chamber tojoin nato. it doesn't necessarily have to be _ the chamber tojoin nato. it doesn't necessarily have to be like - the chamber tojoin nato. it doesn't necessarily have to be like that - the chamber tojoin nato. it doesn't necessarily have to be like that buti necessarily have to be like that but it's worth _ necessarily have to be like that but it's worth remembering _ necessarily have to be like that but it's worth remembering that - necessarily have to be like that but it's worth remembering that his. it's worth remembering that his moscows— it's worth remembering that his moscow's view— it's worth remembering that his moscow's view of— it's worth remembering that his moscow's view of the _ it's worth remembering that his. moscow's view of the membership that's— moscow's view of the membership that's the — moscow's view of the membership that's the first _ moscow's view of the membership that's the first step _ moscow's view of the membership that's the first step in _ moscow's view of the membership that's the first step in the - moscow's view of the membership that's the first step in the next - that's the first step in the next step— that's the first step in the next step is— that's the first step in the next step is noto— that's the first step in the next step is nato membership. - that's the first step in the next i step is nato membership. there that's the first step in the next - step is nato membership. there will be step is nato membership. there will he very— step is nato membership. there will he very unhappy— step is nato membership. there will be very unhappy about _ step is nato membership. there will be very unhappy about this. - step is nato membership. there will be very unhappy about this. a - step is nato membership. there will be very unhappy about this. a long i be very unhappy about this. a long way down — be very unhappy about this. a long way down the _ be very unhappy about this. a long way down the line _ be very unhappy about this. a long way down the line but _ be very unhappy about this. a long way down the line but it _ be very unhappy about this. a long way down the line but it is - be very unhappy about this. a long way down the line but it is a - be very unhappy about this. a long way down the line but it is a step. way down the line but it is a step in the _ way down the line but it is a step in the right— way down the line but it is a step in the right direction _ way down the line but it is a step in the right direction for- way down the line but it is a step in the right direction for ukraine i in the right direction for ukraine at the _ in the right direction for ukraine at the time _ in the right direction for ukraine at the time when _ in the right direction for ukraine at the time when the _ in the right direction for ukraine at the time when the cracks - in the right direction for ukraine at the time when the cracks in l in the right direction for ukraine - at the time when the cracks in unity and support— at the time when the cracks in unity and support for— at the time when the cracks in unity and support for ukraine _ at the time when the cracks in unity and support for ukraine or- at the time when the cracks in unity and support for ukraine or the - and support for ukraine or the beginning _ and support for ukraine or the beginning to _ and support for ukraine or the beginning to show _ and support for ukraine or the beginning to show now. - and support for ukraine or the beginning to show now. imported morale boost _ beginning to show now. imported morale boost the? _ beginning to show now. imported morale boost the? if— beginning to show now. imported morale boost the? if you - beginning to show now. imported i morale boost the? if you remember how this all — morale boost the? if you remember how this all started _ morale boost the? if you remember how this all started when _ morale boost the? if you remember how this all started when president| morale boost the? if you rememberi how this all started when president, the pro—russian president passed on eu membership, mull overwhat was next in _ eu membership, mull overwhat was next in line _ eu membership, mull overwhat was next in line and what the secretary of state, _ next in line and what the secretary of state, we were there and the us is really— of state, we were there and the us is really trying to attract ukraine to the _ is really trying to attract ukraine to the eu — is really trying to attract ukraine to the eu you at these massive protests — to the eu you at these massive protests and in crimea in 2014, any suggestion— protests and in crimea in 2014, any suggestion that the country wants to move _ suggestion that the country wants to move closer to europe's embrace is seen _ move closer to europe's embrace is seen as— move closer to europe's embrace is seen as a _ move closer to europe's embrace is seen as a threat to russia and there is a lot— seen as a threat to russia and there is a lot of— seen as a threat to russia and there is a lot of talk about whether ukraine _ is a lot of talk about whether ukraine was even ready back then and now, ukraine was even ready back then and now. the _ ukraine was even ready back then and now, the ukrainians have been taking a lot of— now, the ukrainians have been taking a lot of steps there still a lot of corruption _ a lot of steps there still a lot of corruption and we don't know if they meet _ corruption and we don't know if they meet other— corruption and we don't know if they meet other requirements but certainly, there is lot more favourable of an atmosphere to admit them and _ favourable of an atmosphere to admit them and help them get to where they need to— them and help them get to where they need to go— them and help them get to where they need to go to allow them to get an. picking _ need to go to allow them to get an. picking up _ need to go to allow them to get an. picking up in congress, a word on the funding for ukraine. yesterday they plucked the bill that was passed by republicans in the house of representatives which provides 14 billion for israel but nothing for ukraine's war on russia. now that's been plugged by the senate. eventually it will get throughout some _ eventually it will get throughout some kind of compromise because basically— some kind of compromise because basically what the republicans betting, that the democrats would not pass _ betting, that the democrats would not pass anything they did not have the aid _ not pass anything they did not have the aid for— not pass anything they did not have the aid for israel and as he always does, _ the aid for israel and as he always does, president biden kind of gets the democrats in congress to call the democrats in congress to call the republicans bluff and ukraine will get _ the republicans bluff and ukraine will get some aid and i do not know if you _ will get some aid and i do not know if you wiii— will get some aid and i do not know if you will be the 60 billion of the biden— if you will be the 60 billion of the biden administration is proposing the president zelensky did a very poignant — the president zelensky did a very poignant interview over the weekend with nbc_ poignant interview over the weekend with nbc news talking about how it's not just _ with nbc news talking about how it's not just about us, if you with nbc news talking about how it's notjust about us, if you do not give _ notjust about us, if you do not give us — notjust about us, if you do not give us the _ notjust about us, if you do not give us the money now, you're going to he _ give us the money now, you're going to be sending your sons and daughters to fight and other nato countries — daughters to fight and other nato countries because it is not going to stop here — countries because it is not going to stop here. if you give us the money now, _ stop here. if you give us the money now. we _ stop here. if you give us the money now. we are — stop here. if you give us the money now, we are not going to call him in 2024 for— now, we are not going to call him in 2024 for any— now, we are not going to call him in 2024 for any more money. 0n the margin, _ 2024 for any more money. 0n the margin, i— 2024 for any more money. 0n the margin, i don't think even as tim said, _ margin, idon't think even as tim said. there— margin, idon't think even as tim said. there is— margin, i don't think even as tim said, there is this waning of support, _ said, there is this waning of support, this lessening of resolve specifically in republican circles we have — specifically in republican circles we have not really talked about it much, _ we have not really talked about it much, we — we have not really talked about it much, we stopped to look into whether— much, we stopped to look into whether or not this is all back to the idea — whether or not this is all back to the idea that president trump had problems— the idea that president trump had problems with ukrainians and president zelensky and everything is tied to _ president zelensky and everything is tied to that, certainly there is a lot of— tied to that, certainly there is a lot of work— tied to that, certainly there is a lot of work fatigue but i do think there _ lot of work fatigue but i do think there will— lot of work fatigue but i do think there will be funding for ukraine. mike— there will be funding for ukraine. mike lee — there will be funding for ukraine. mike lee is certainly turning away from it. not for some serious diplomacy because the nationals now for some serious diplomacy. the national zoo in washington has bid a tearful farewell today to their beloved trio of giant pandas who were loaned to the us as goodwill ambassadors. the bears — mei xiang, tian tian and cub xiao qiji — were loaded into crates made of steel and plexiglass, and later loaded into a boeing 777 cargo plane dubbed the "fedex panda express". it left dulles international airport this afternoon with a cargo of bamboo, apples and pears which will feed the bears on their19—hour, 9000—mile flight back to chengdu, china, which is the panda hub. the programme dates back to the nixon administration. at its peak, there were 15 pandas in the united states. today, with the return of these three, there are nowjust four left, in atlanta. this is what the director of the smithsonian national zoo said in her parting words. we have been with mei xiang and tian tian for more than two decades and celebrating the joy of all of their cubs — tai shan, bao bao, bei bei and now xiao qiji. it is a moment with some heartbreak in it, but it is also a moment ofjoy because we are celebrating the success of the world's longest—running conservation programme for a single species. in the more than 50 years that we have been working with these animals, giant pandas have been moved off the endangered species list. expensive stuff, how much it costs for a pair of pandas? half a million to discount for cobs. that's extraordinary, right? this is desperate news resume goers but what does this say about the political direction the chain is headed to look give up pandas are going, way towards russia, germany and some the countries of strained influence, panda diplomacy is changing. it is panda diplomacy is changing. it is said, no official— panda diplomacy is changing. it is said, no official reason given on either— said, no official reason given on either side _ said, no official reason given on either side but _ said, no official reason given on either side but it's— said, no official reason given on either side but it's hard - said, no official reason given on either side but it's hard not to l said, no official reason given on . either side but it's hard not to see it as _ either side but it's hard not to see it as symbolic— either side but it's hard not to see it as symbolic of— either side but it's hard not to see it as symbolic of a _ either side but it's hard not to see it as symbolic of a narrative - it as symbolic of a narrative because _ it as symbolic of a narrative because china _ it as symbolic of a narrative because china used - it as sym