push us back. president putin went on to say... for more on this, we canjoin my colleague vitaly shevchenko who has been much of that news conference. we will go on to some of the other that president putin has been saying in a moment. what we just cut to was the president taking a question from a member of the public who appear to be at home, that's something isn't it? ~ , , ., ., it? well, it might be unusualfor leaders outside _ it? well, it might be unusualfor leaders outside of _ it? well, it might be unusualfor leaders outside of russia, - it? well, it might be unusualfor leaders outside of russia, but i it? well, it might be unusualfor. leaders outside of russia, but this is what vladimir putin has been doing for more than 20 years. he's been holding these 0 and a sessions called direct lines with members of the public, but the thing to remember is that very little is left unscripted during these events. whereas vladimir putin has taken difficult questions now and again, most of the questions are much more friendly and easy to answer for him, and in fact serve to further his agenda, really. pare and in fact serve to further his agenda, really.— agenda, really. are hugely orchestrated _ agenda, really. are hugely orchestrated event - agenda, really. are hugely orchestrated event and - agenda, really. are hugely orchestrated event and a l agenda, really. are hugely i orchestrated event and a big spectacle, you can see all the people there in that hall asking questions. what are we finding out from this news conference that is beyond what we already expect from president putin? trier? beyond what we already expect from president putin?— president putin? very little, by this oint president putin? very little, by this point in — president putin? very little, by this point in time. _ president putin? very little, by this point in time. we - president putin? very little, by this point in time. we know- president putin? very little, by i this point in time. we know what president putin? very little, by - this point in time. we know what his views are and we know how he implements them. what i found slightly unusual is how heavily focused on ukraine the first hour of his 0&a was. he yet again defended his 0&a was. he yet again defended his so—called special military operation against ukraine, he questioned ukraine's territorial integrity by claiming that huge swathes of south—eastern ukraine actually belonged to russia. he questioned ukraine because my very identity by saying that ukrainians and russians are one people, and russian speaking ukrainians actually support russia and his policies. he remained as defiant as ever when it comes to the war with ukraine. he said that russia's objectives remain the same, and there's very little change that would indicate that vladimir putin is prepared to compromise with russia if the first hour and a half of his 0&a is anything to go by, i don't think this is the case.— anything to go by, i don't think this is the case. ., , ., this is the case. one more question, we touched — this is the case. one more question, we touched on _ this is the case. one more question, we touched on it _ this is the case. one more question, we touched on it earlier— this is the case. one more question, we touched on it earlier before - this is the case. one more question, we touched on it earlier before i - we touched on it earlier before i introduced you, president putin's comments about western countries. the eu is meeting today to discuss funding for ukraine while all of this is going on.— funding for ukraine while all of this is going on. vladimir putin has been saying _ this is going on. vladimir putin has been saying for— this is going on. vladimir putin has been saying for years _ this is going on. vladimir putin has been saying for years that - this is going on. vladimir putin has been saying for years that any - been saying for years that any tensions between russia and the west, between russia and its neighbours, is not actually russia's fault. he's been pointing fingers at all sorts of political leaders and countries abroad. and all this time he's been saying that russia is prepared to talk to them, russia is prepared to talk to them, russia is prepared to talk to them, russia is prepared to try and improve relations with them, but this will only happen once their behaviour improves, and this realistically will only happen if any talking happens strictly on russia's terms. 0k, vitaly shevchenko, we will let you get back to watching a news conference and we will be back with you shortly. if you want to keep going with that, you can keep going on the iplayer, where we are streaming the entire event. we can go to the iplayer app, and there you can watch the entire news conference blow by blow. the former head of mi6 has told the bbc today that president putin's belief demands that the west keep backing ukraine.— belief demands that the west keep backing ukraine. fundamentally he believes that _ backing ukraine. fundamentally he believes that russia _ backing ukraine. fundamentally he believes that russia isn't _ backing ukraine. fundamentally he believes that russia isn't russia i believes that russia isn't russia whether it ukraine for so he sees this idea of unity and reabsorption of ukraine into his sphere of influence is fundamental. 0ur security lies in that not happening. if he is seen to have succeeded in doing that, his appetite will not stop there, his aims remain maximus. it has to be containment, we have to ensure that ukraine becomes a viable western country and that the russian military threat is contained, and we have to explain to people why that is to all of our benefit, in the us and in europe. as we said, the european council is meeting in brussels today to discuss ukraine, including the possibility of increased funding and the beginning of formal talks on ukraine thejoining the bloc. european union leaders have also agreed to release more than ten billions euros worth of funding to hungary — which had previously been frozen over concerns about the rule of law there. prime minister viktor 0rban, had been threatening to block the eu's plans to help ukraine. as he arrived, the irish taisoeach, leo varadkar, told reporters this eu summit is one of the most crucial in years. i'v e i've been attending european council meetings for six or seven years now. this is probably one of the most important ones i've attended, precisely because of the big decisions we have to make in relation to ukraine, financial decision and also a decision on whether to begin negotiations, and we have to say yes to at least one of those two and ideally both. because ukraine is in peril, ukraine will not stand without support, ongoing support from both the european union and the us, the two towers of freedom and democracy of the world, and if ukraine doesn't have support from the eu and the us, putin will win and all other consequences for the world after that. the dutch prime minister mark rutter told reporters that europe's collective safety depends on that of ukraine. it collective safety depends on that of ukraine. , . . ., ., ., ukraine. it is crucial that today we have a positive _ ukraine. it is crucial that today we have a positive position _ ukraine. it is crucial that today we have a positive position on - ukraine. it is crucial that today we have a positive position on the - ukraine. it is crucial that today we l have a positive position on the next steps _ have a positive position on the next steps for _ have a positive position on the next steps for ukraine in the accession talks _ steps for ukraine in the accession talks it _ steps for ukraine in the accession talks. it will take anyway many years _ talks. it will take anyway many years before accession will take place _ years before accession will take place but — years before accession will take place but this is about the next sten _ place but this is about the next step. ukraine has worked very hard to make _ step. ukraine has worked very hard to make that next step happen, during _ to make that next step happen, during a — to make that next step happen, during a war, a war they are also fighting — during a war, a war they are also fighting for— during a war, a war they are also fighting for us, it's also about our collective — fighting for us, it's also about our collective safety. our _ collective safety. 0ur correspondent in kyivjessica parker 0ur correspondent in kyiv jessica parker says 0ur correspondent in kyivjessica parker says all eyes there are on developments in brussels today. todayis developments in brussels today. today is a big day for ukrainians in a pretty significant week. we have got this decision first of all about whether the eu will grant a further 50 billion euros in economic aid to ukraine, that's for things like paying pensions, public wages, keeping the economy turning over. then as well the rest of this decision about whether to move ukraine to the next stage of its aspirations to one day become a full member of the eu by starting formal membership talks, and that for now is less about economic issues but much more about morale. ukrainians i speak to say that they feel they are european, they feel they are defending european values in this war, following the russian invasion in 2022. and i think for a president zelensky, he really needs a political win because of course he headed to the us earlier this week to try and unlock and measure defence funding package but the deadlock wasn't broken, the issues became caught up in congressional wrangling in washington, dc, so he will really be hoping for a positive decision in brussels from leaders today. let's go live now to my colleague sophia petites in brussels. sophia, that summit is now underway, what are we hearing so far? —— sofia bettiza. the meeting hasjust started —— sofia bettiza. the meeting has just started at several european leaders reiterated the urgency to show a united front when it comes to ukraine. we heard from pedro sanchez, the prime minister of spain for example, who said that it's very important that leaders today agree on the next aid package for ukraine. we heard from the finish minister, who said he is ready to negotiate and he has brought... the aid package that is being discussed at the moment would deliver 50 billion euros to ukraine. this is money that ukraine is desperate to receive, we have from the ukrainian first lady said that if the west were to stop sending financial aid to ukraine, it would mean that ukrainians would be essentially left to die, but the issue here is that there is one country, hungary, that is very much against sending additional aid to ukraine. the prime minister of hungary, viktor 0rban, is not alone in feeling like this, there are several european countries that are definitely feeling the ukraine fatigue, but it is viktor 0rban that are seen today is the main obstacle to reach an agreement. find are seen today is the main obstacle to reach an agreement.— are seen today is the main obstacle to reach an agreement. and not 'ust fundin: for to reach an agreement. and not 'ust funding for ukraine i to reach an agreement. and not 'ust funding for ukraine that i to reach an agreement. and not 'ust funding for ukraine that on i to reach an agreement. and not 'ust funding for ukraine that on the h funding for ukraine that on the agenda, but also whether ukraine should join the black—macro? that’s should 'oin the black-macro? that's riaht, should join the black-macro? that's riaht, this should join the black-macro? that's right. this is — should join the black-macro? that's right, this is something _ should join the black-macro? that's right, this is something that's - right, this is something that's really important. —— de lock—macro. italy bought important for president zelensky. he said a few days ago that a positive decision in brussels today on that would send a powerful message of hope to his troops that are fighting against russia. but just to give a bit of context on that. the european commission has made an assessment on this, and they think that ukraine is ready to officially start negotiations, visual talks to join the european union, but again, on this issue, viktor 0rban is very much against ukrainejoining the eu. he said if that were to happen, it would have devastating consequences for the eu. he points to the fact that ukraine is a country that is at war, he is also said that ukraine is a very corrupt country. what he says here matters because any decision on a countryjoining the eu needs to be unanimous, so what we have here today in brussels is quite a small country, hungary, that has a lot of power. viktor 0rban has the power to essentially veto the whole thing. this is important for the eu because what they want to show today is a strong signal of solidarity. they want to be able to say to ukraine, you're not alone and you belong with european family. so if they were to fail to deliver this message to ukraine, the risk is that it would shatter the image of a united europe. shatter the image of a united euro e, ., shatter the image of a united euroe. ., �* ., shatter the image of a united euroe. ., �* ,, , europe. sofia bettiza in brussels, thank ou europe. sofia bettiza in brussels, thank you very — europe. sofia bettiza in brussels, thank you very much _ europe. sofia bettiza in brussels, thank you very much for - europe. sofia bettiza in brussels, thank you very much forjoining . europe. sofia bettiza in brussels, i thank you very much forjoining us. we will be back with sophia as we get more developments from that. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's take a look at some of the other stories making the news. it has been recommended that mp scott benton should be suspended for 35 days after being caught in a lobbying scandal. if the house of commons agrees with the recommendation, it will trigger a recall petition, which could lead to a by—election in his constituency. police are searching for a mother of three who disappeared from norwich almost a week ago have released cctv of her last known movements. 55—year—old gaynor lord did not return home after work. norfolk constabulary also said it was "linking in" with police in lancashire because of similarities with the nicola bulley investigation. a nurse who was found guilty of ill—treating patients by drugging them to "keep them quiet and compliant" will be sentenced at preston crown court today. 54—year—old catherine hudson gave unprescribed sedatives to two patients at blackpool victoria hospital between february 2017 and november 2018. you're live with bbc news. israel has continued its bombing of the gaza strip in the lead—up to a visit on thursday by the us national security advisor, jake sullivan. this is the aftermath of a strike in rafah in the south of the gaza strip. the hamas—run health ministry says at least 19 people have been killed in air strikes this morning. us officials say mr sullivan is expected to call for greater precision in future israeli targeting of hamas. it follows mounting international criticism over the number of civilian casualties, and the un general assembly overwhelmingly voting in favour of a ceasefire. israel's prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, met military commanders in gaza on wednesday. he told them — and i quote... "we continue until the end, there is no question. i say this even given the great pain, and the international pressures. nothing will stop us, we will continue until the end, until victory, nothing less. " the uk foreign secretary lord cameron has said that those responsible for settler violence against palestinians in the west bank would be banned from entering britain. the european union has a similar plan. 0ur middle east correspondent gave me her reaction to the proposal. this is hot on the heels of a similar decision by the us. many people who live in the settlements do have dual nationality and it really reflects the growing international concern that there has been particularly in recent weeks, but also to the entire year about a rise in settler violence in the occupied west bank. for once, instead of having the strong rhetoric we've seen from the us and the british as well, we are seeing actually that translated into action against settlers who may wish to travel in the future. find against settlers who may wish to travel in the future.— travel in the future. and all of this coming — travel in the future. and all of this coming as _ travel in the future. and all of this coming as senior- travel in the future. and all of this coming as seniorjewish i travel in the future. and all of. this coming as seniorjewish -- a this coming as seniorjewish —— a senior us official is due to come to israel. what are you anticipating might come out of that? this israel. what are you anticipating might come out of that?- israel. what are you anticipating might come out of that? this is a very important — might come out of that? this is a very important arrival— might come out of that? this is a very important arrival time - might come out of that? this is a very important arrival time for. might come out of that? this is a i very important arrival time forjake very important arrival time forjake sullivan, he's coming here after a week in which we've had the strongest public criticism from the us president about israel's conduct in the war in gaza so far. also after the un general assembly voted overwhelmingly in favour of an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. we understand that with this emerging division between israel and its closest allies in washington, jake sullivan will be talking about ways that israel can use more precise and targeted strikes to hit hammers inside gaza. he may be looking at ways of trying to increase the amount of aid going in, improve aid distribution is in the territory. —— to hit hamas. there is speculation in the media about whether he could be pushing for negotiations to take place on another release deal, with of course more than 100 hostages are still being held by hamas inside gaza, and on top of that, looking to the future, look into the timetable for an end to the war, look into what happens after the war, what is israel's vision, because we are seeing a lot of the disagreement between israel and the us focusing on that. we spoke to a professor department of war studies at king's college and i asked him what he expected to come out of that visit by jake sullivan. the americans are frustrated with israel, they want to make sure that the israelis understand that they have to bring this war to an end within four weeks, around four weeks by mid—january. as far as the americans concerned. and in the meantime, the americans want the israelis to make sure that there is enough food, water and fuel in the gaza strip, and the israelis do not open another front in the north. in terms of mr netanyahu's position, we saw him speak yesterday reiterating that this campaign is going to continue. ~ , , ., . ., ,, . continue. well, this is a classic benjamin _ continue. well, this is a classic benjamin netanyahu, - continue. well, this is a classic benjamin netanyahu, talking i continue. well, this is a classic| benjamin netanyahu, talking to continue. well, this is a classic- benjamin netanyahu, talking to his political base. i'm going all the way forward, i'm going to achieve the aim of them all, to topple hamas, which he cannot do, by the way. so this is talking domestic politics. way. so this is talking domestic olitics. �* , . ~ way. so this is talking domestic olitics. �*, ., ~ ., politics. let's talk about the domestic — politics. let's talk about the domestic situation - politics. let's talk about the domestic situation in - politics. l