see some meteors. any techniques, any suggestions? get a big, wide field of the sky in your eyes. don't focus on any particular point. just look up. you'll catch them out of the corner of your eye as well. the other thing, of course, is that if you're in company, you basically both have to be looking in the same direction because they're so fleeting, typically half a second. half a second? yeah, you have no time to point them out. there are ones that last longer. if you've a break in the clouds you'll be able to see the geminid shower wherever you are. it will be at its height tonight and tomorrow with dozens of colourful shooting stars every hour lighting up the skies. pallab ghosh, bbc news. more sky gazing now with ben roach with the weather. palla b pallab ghosh mentioned the cloud has been causing problems for many people looking for shooting stars tonight and over the next few days i have to this programme continues on bbc one. the eu makes an historic agreement to begin talks for ukraine to join the bloc, but neither the eu nor the us congress has agreed its next funding package for the country. without that financial support to wage the war, will eu membership be a pipe dream? ukraine needs funds to replenish its ammunition stocks. without the next big financial package, does the equation change for zelensky�*s chances of victory? we'll be joined by the former chair of ukraine's foreign affairs committee, hanna hopko. and, on the day putin restored his annual tradition of a supposedly unmediated six—hour phone—in, we speak to one of his biggest cheerleaders, evegeny popov, about where russia's war goes next. also tonight, the governor of the bank of england warned today that inflation still hasn't been conquered. we've been speaking to cornish people in a county where the cost of living crisis is biting especially hard and where for some, there's little festive cheer. is power—sharing close to returning to stormont after almost two years? nick is in northern ireland. michael gove, the housing secretary, responds to newsnight�*s exclusive report on a london council accused of overcharging residents for services that hardly happened. good evening. ahead of today's final european council summit of 2023, hungary's leader viktor orban repeatedly voiced his opposition to ukraine's membership of the eu, but in the event his rhetoric came to naught and eu leaders agreed the historic step to open accession talks, without orban in the room. the decision would come as a great relief to president zelensky and his plan tojoin the union once the war with russia is over. however what the eu did not yet agree was a four—year 50 billion euro fund from the bloc�*s shared budget. this, after the failure of the us congress to agree a $60 billion package for ukraine proposed by the white house. so what does the future hold for ukraine? here's mark. today's summit was meant to maintain momentum, accelerating plans to bring ukraine into the eu, and keeping funding for the war going. but hungary's leader, viktor orban, arrived in a mischievous mood. so to give money to ukraine is easy to do, because in the short term, the money for ukraine is already in the budget. so there is no any extra decision to give it in short term. in long term, long term and a bigger sum of money, my position is that we should give it outside. this evening, hungary bowed on the accession but rowed back on the finance, blocking ukraine's money. it's become a weapon in orban's bigger battle with the eu. orban is looking for a formula that enables the money to flow from brussels without having to implement domestic reform. and so he's seeking to build leverage to enable him to deliver that outcome. and i think that's probably unclear at this summit and perhaps not even next year. so that's, i think, one big objective of orban, to build leverage. and that follows a series of setbacks on capitol hill, where republicans have been holding up a $61 billion military aid package for ukraine since october. oh, i have said it's practically impossible, even though we reach an agreement, to craft it, get it through the senate, get it to the house before christmas. these moves in america have already meant months of delay in new weapons reaching ukraine. at the rusi think tank last night, i asked the uk chief of defence staff whether the west had the strategic patience to keep going. i think you've had successive political leader in the west declaring how important it is that russia does not win and that ukraine is successful. and i think the the clarity of that language and the openness of our political leaders in declaring those positions, i think has been extraordinary. those running ukraine policy in whitehall don't think the supply of ammunition or money is just going to be cut off from one day to the next. but what they are worried about is the uncertainties that are now being introduced into the equation. and they say that the ukrainian army, because of that, is unable to plan its campaign for next year, and that that hands the initiative to vladimir putin. by chance, putin held his annual press conference today. it was a moment for him to insist that russia's war aims against ukraine were unchanged and to imply satisfaction that developments in the west are now going his way. translation: there will be peace when we achieve our goals that. you've just mentioned. now, let's return to these goals. they have not changed. today, ukraine produces practically nothing. they are trying to save something, but they produce almost nothing. everything is brought in from other countries for free. but this freebie may end someday. and apparently it is ending little by little. and on the front, fighting continues, with the russians pressing on, apparently oblivious to heavy casualties. for russia and indeed for hungary, policy on ukraine is now being shaped by an expectation of a change in the white house next year. i think trump's shadow is playing a major role in orban's calculations. there's a question about whether he will have more leverage if he waits till the potential arrival of trump in the white house. the hungarians will also be chairing the eu presidency at the end of next year. that will give orban huge leverage over the way the eu makes decisions. and it will perhaps exhaust other countries that at that point are more willing to release money to orban in exchange for little reform. so, eu leaders ending their meetings for today, like the biden administration, sees support for ukraine being tied to other issues, and already the ukrainian ability to work out what to do next has been undermined. during that six—hour phone—in, vladimir putin fielded questions from ordinary russians and journalists — though the bbc�*s steve rosenberg appeared to have been studiously avoided. while topics varied, many were centred on the war. putin replied to one saying, in his oft repeated mantra, "there will be peace in ukraine when we achieve our objectives, listing de—nazification, demilitarisation, and its neutral status." in a moment we'll hear from hanna hopko, co—founder of the international centre for ukrainian victory. but, a little earlier i spoke to evgeny popov, an mp from putin's united russia party, who is also the host of the country's political news programme 60 minutes. i began by asking him about a us intelligence report out this week estimating that more than 300,000 russian soldiers have been killed or wounded since the war began. it's a complete lie. and we can't believe any message which we are receiving from the cia or some us government structure because they are fighting against us. we don't know exact numbers, but we know that people are dying every day in ukraine and in our russian territories on donbas. but it's war and we are fighting for our freedom. we are fighting for our security guarantees, but nobody knows exact numbers. and i can tell you for sure that your numbers is not true completely, because we have much less losses in ukraine during almost two years. you won't tell us the numbers. maybe you don't know the numbers, but that would suggest that it doesn't matter what the numbers are as far as russia is concerned. they will just keep fighting and losing soldiers. is there any point at which you think too many losses to bearfor the russian people? every russian people which is dying on the battlefield, it's a tragedy for my country, for me personally, for my government, for every russian. but now we must be on the battlefield, because you are, and nato and the us are threatening to my country, to my people, to my territory, to my sovereignty. and of course you are moving your military infrastructure year by year, closer and closer to my borders for war. president putin was answering questions from the russian people today and at some points text messages were coming on the screen and one of those text messages read, "why is your reality at odds with our lived reality?" these text messages appear to be critical. do you accept that russian people, notjust those who have lost members of theirfamily, but also through the problems in the russian economy, are suffering? oh, let's discuss russian economy. would you tell me about gdp growth in this year in the uk? i can help you. you have zero growth economy. we have 3.5% economy growth in this year. the russian central bank has raised the interest rate to 15%, the fourth raise. our people in better health, economy health than your british people right now. but of course, you are asking me about critical questions. we are a democracy. we are living in a free country and people can ask questions, wherever they want. and i've seen your bbc correspondent on this press conference. i've seen and i've listened your times correspondent�*s question to mr putin. but i can't see, can't see my correspondent, russia tv correspondent on the press conference of rishi sunak orjoseph biden. and you can tell me and you're telling me about democracy. we will come on to talk a bit about democracy in a moment. but last night, the us republican senator ronjohnson, who is an ally of donald trump, told newsnight that the way to end this war in ukraine is a settlement between zelensky and putin. is that your view? we're going to continue until we achieve our goals. our goal is clear. we need security guarantees. and we will get it on a battlefield or by negotiations. even if those negotiations meant that president zelensky would remain in power? who is mr zelensky? would you tell me? he don't have economy, he don't have people, he don't have army. hejust has... he doesn't have, i'm sorry. he hasjust american and uk money, american and uk weapons, and he hasjust tired people who wants to end this war. he's supported by the majority of people in his country. i'm not sure about this. he is lying to you. let me come back to democracy. the biggest threat, the biggest thorn, i should say, in president putin's side is alexei navalny. is alexei navalny dead? i don't know. he'd beenjailed because he made an economic crime and he is injail. but we don't know where he is. it's not, it's your problem, but it's not a problem for russian society. nobody discusses in russia. nobody. you would know if alexei navalny was alive or dead, wouldn't you? i don't know. it's not a question for me. there's been international condemnation of russia's occupied territories in georgia, south ossetia and abkhazia. does president putin have ambition to do to georgia what he is doing to ukraine? we have enough territory, you know. we are the most biggest country in the world. and we don't need any other territories. but the only we need is security guarantees. you, not me, moving your military infrastructure to my borders, to russia, closer and closer at every given year. what should i do? i must defend my country and my people. that's it. mr popov, thank you very much forjoining us. dr hanna hopko, co—founder of the international center for ukrainian victory and former ukrainian mp and chair of its parliament's foreign affairs committee joins me now. thank you very much forjoining us. first you heard mr popov said all zelensky has is american and uk weapons and a tired people who want to end the war. putin said the weapons are running out, what is your response to that?— weapons are running out, what is your response to that? actual think fi . htin: your response to that? actual think fiaahtin the your response to that? actual think fighting the spirit _ your response to that? actual think fighting the spirit of— your response to that? actual think fighting the spirit of the ukrainian l fighting the spirit of the ukrainian nation is so high, so we will defeat the enemy. it is notjust about russian imperialism. it is about really historicaljustice russian imperialism. it is about really historical justice from stalin time when during the soviet union they organised a man made famine and to present times. it is important that we in ukraine know what do we stand for, why we fight for our freedom what do we stand for, why we fight for ourfreedom and what do we stand for, why we fight for our freedom and actually why we win with the support of our western friends, who share with us values. share the values, but the money is less fort coming than a year ago. how much of a worry is that to you? especially as we heard with victor orban taking over the eu presidency and leaving the room and abstaining from the vote on starting accession starts. how worrying is that for you in the eu? , ., , ,, starts. how worrying is that for you inthe eu? , ., , ,, , in the eu? first i would express my cratitude in the eu? first i would express my gratitude to — in the eu? first i would express my gratitude to the _ in the eu? first i would express my gratitude to the eu _ in the eu? first i would express my gratitude to the eu leaders - in the eu? first i would express my gratitude to the eu leaders who - in the eu? first i would express my i gratitude to the eu leaders who made the historic decision of opening talks for ukraine and moldova and georgia and i believe that also on theissue georgia and i believe that also on the issue of financial support, the 50 billions of euros, of ukraine facility fund, they will also adapt the decision. because in the european union people, the leaders, true leaders, can see the russian aggression against ukraine as a strap also for the —— threat also for european security. strap also for the -- threat also for european security.— strap also for the -- threat also for european security. here is one ofthe for european security. here is one of the tweets _ for european security. here is one of the tweets from _ for european security. here is one of the tweets from president - of the tweets from president zelensky in brussels. i stress this day will go down in our history, todayis day will go down in our history, today is the day when determination will either be in brussels or moscow. people won't understand if putin's smile becauses the reward for the meeting in brussels. it seems volodymyr zelensky�*s tone is more urgent than usual, you had better agree this money or the effect on the rest of europe is going to be felt? so effect on the rest of europe is going to be felt?— effect on the rest of europe is going to be felt? so first of all, it i is not _ going to be felt? so first of all, it i is notjust _ going to be felt? so first of all, it i is notjust russia _ going to be felt? so first of all, it i is notjust russia fighting i it i is notjust russia fighting ukraine. russia annexed crimea. it is already ten years. this is why in the eu people understood that it is about an axis of evil and russia and china and north korea and iran and drones that are atacting ttacking the ukraine are made in iran. in the eu people understand and in the united states is notjust giving money to ukraine, but it is about defeating one enemy russia, not to allow another in another part of the world to behave like russia. fist allow another in another part of the world to behave like russia.- world to behave like russia. at the start of the — world to behave like russia. at the start of the war, _ world to behave like russia. at the start of the war, volodymyr - start of the war, volodymyr zelensky, one of his aims was to keep the story on the front—pages on everybody�*s lips. but of course things change. things move on. and i wonder, if you can tell us, because you have been there recently, what is it like for people in ukraine at the moment? 50 is it like for people in ukraine at the moment?— is it like for people in ukraine at the moment? , ., , ~ ., ., the moment? so people in ukraine of course we all — the moment? so people in ukraine of course we all dream _ the moment? so people in ukraine of course we all dream about _ the moment? so people in ukraine of course we all dream about victory. i course we all dream about victory. so this is why we want to see the solidarity from other western partners, by receiving more weapons. it is key. today was the historic decision of opening negotiations, we would like another decision. what decision of opening negotiations, we would like another decision. mhdti would like another decision. what i wanted to get _ would like another decision. what i wanted to get at, _ would like another decision. what i wanted to get at, the _ would like another decision. what i wanted to get at, the daily - would like another decision. what i wanted to get at, the daily life - would like another decision. what i wanted to get at, the daily life for. wanted to get at, the daily life for people, because you are facing bombardment. {iii people, because you are facing bombardment.— people, because you are facing bombardment. _, , ., ., bombardment. of course, i arrived to london from — bombardment. of course, i arrived to london from kyiv _ bombardment. of course, i arrived to london from kyiv and _ bombardment. of course, i arrived to london from kyiv and three _ bombardment. of course, i arrived to london from kyiv and three days - bombardment. of course, i arrived to london from kyiv and three days ago | london from kyiv and three days ago i woing at liam, because of explosion and today i received many messages from my friends, it is like four attacks. so actually of course russia keeps terrorising ukrainians by constant massive cruise ballistic missiles, they are trying to kill civilians, destroying energy infrastructure and we're not allowed to sell ukrainian grain. in infrastructure and we're not allowed to sell ukrainian grain.— to sell ukrainian grain. in the uncertainty — to sell ukrainian grain. in the uncertainty about _ to sell ukrainian grain. in the uncertainty about finances i to sell ukrainian grain. in the l uncertainty about finances and everything else and the lack of elections in ukraine, do you think that volodymyr zelensky is in a less certain position in the country? i think now we have to think about the future of the ukraine, not about elections or different political movements, discussion about, conduct election or not. we have to think how to generate more support, weapons like missiles from germany, storm shadow from the uk and more attack guns. crimea is an achievable goal. ukraine will win the war and this will be a common victory. thank ou for this will be a common victory. thank you for coming _ this will be a common victory. thank you for coming in. _ this christmas many people are facing hardships that they never had to face before. today the governor of the bank of england said that there is still some way to go in the uk's fight against inflation, and the office of national statistics says that the cost of living has been rising in recent months. we've been to one area where the pressures are many. in cornwall, the county ope