this is bbc news. we will have the headlines and news stories for you at the top of the hour as newsday continues straight after hardtalk. welcome to hardtalk. i'm stephen sackur. china's president xijinping is in moscow for a state visit with a man now wanted for war crimes. such is the geopolitical fallout from vladimir putin's invasion of ukraine. international criminal court have issued a arrest warrant for the russian president won't deter him for his continued assault on

ukraine but it does raise new questions on the long—term consequences for russia. my guest is russian state tv talk show host evgeny popov. how solid is putin's home front? evgeny popov, in moscow, welcome to hardtalk. thank you very much- _ welcome to hardtalk. thank you very much. good _ welcome to hardtalk. thank you very much. good to _ welcome to hardtalk. thank you very much. good to have - welcome to hardtalk. thank you very much. good to have you - welcome to hardtalk. thank you very much. good to have you onl very much. good to have you on the show _ very much. good to have you on the show. your _ very much. good to have you on the show. your president - the show. your president vladimir putin is a wanted man. international criminal court have filed a war crimes charges

against him. do you recognise the symbolic importance of that? fit the symbolic importance of that? , a, a, that? of course you are going to recognise _ that? of course you are going to recognise some _ that? of course you are going to recognise some symbolic l that? of course you are going | to recognise some symbolic of this tremendously disputed decision by international criminal court but it means nothing for russia, it means nothing for russia, it means nothing for russia, it means nothing for the russian president and it will not change the way putin makes his decisions of course. first of all you know you are going to close always to legislate russia by this decision. it is the final step to close any possibility to negotiate with russia. the second topic is to reason for this decision. you

know, the warrant for putin's arrest for failing know, the warrant for putin's arrest forfailing children, vladivostok children, thousands of children who were in danger during the war, during the last nine years. and of course russia has to save their lives. and of course russia should and must give them normal life. the normal life is possible for them. and it is possible in russia. ~ ~ russia. mr popov stopped mr po ov. russia. mr popov stopped mr p°p°v- you — russia. mr popov stopped mr popov. you may _ russia. mr popov stopped mr popov. you may or— russia. mr popov stopped mr popov. you may or may - russia. mr popov stopped mr popov. you may or may not l russia. mr popov stopped mrl popov. you may or may not be aware that there are more than 16,000 documented cases of ukrainian children being deported, transferred to russia or russian held territory, occupied territory in ukraine. more than 16,000 documented cases but many more thousands which the ukrainians believe

have not yet been exposed to the world. that contravenes international law and to quote the chief prosecutor of the international criminal court, those children have been used as the spoils of war. you are a human being, leave aside your politics, does it not offend you that your country is responsible for using children as the spoils of war? it is responsible for using children as the spoils of war?- as the spoils of war? it is not true, as the spoils of war? it is not true. of _ as the spoils of war? it is not true, of course. _ as the spoils of war? it is not true, of course. and - as the spoils of war? it is not true, of course. and you - as the spoils of war? it is notl true, of course. and you know we must save the lives of those children. and they are in families, orphanage, and they are safe right now. they are in are safe right now. they are in a safe territory. mr are safe right now. they are in a safe territory.— are safe right now. they are in a safe territory. mr popov, you know as well — a safe territory. mr popov, you know as well as _ a safe territory. mr popov, you know as well as i _ a safe territory. mr popov, you know as well as i do _ a safe territory. mr popov, you know as well as i do that - a safe territory. mr popov, you know as well as i do that many i know as well as i do that many of these children were taken when they still had family. in some cases parents or

grandparents but they still had family in ukraine and even if they had no family in ukraine they had no family in ukraine they could have been released to the ukrainian state. even now, as the chief prosecutor says, russia has an obligation, if it has these children, to hand them back to ukraine. they are ukrainian _ hand them back to ukraine. they are ukrainian children. _ hand them back to ukraine. tie: are ukrainian children. we don't have any requests from relatives, from parents, of those children. if we will get some requests from relatives, from parents, or of course you can see their children. in russia or any other territories. but we did not get any requests from ukrainian parents, from ukrainian side. you know, it is a mockery. it

is a political mockery of reality. it is a political mockery of reali . ._ is a political mockery of reali . is a political mockery of reality-— is a political mockery of reali . reality. if i may say so, the mockery — reality. if i may say so, the mockery here _ reality. if i may say so, the mockery here is _ reality. if i may say so, the mockery here is russia - mockery here is russia pretending that it is acting in the interests of these children. we know from a yale university study that russia has actually set up camps where these children are being quote, reeducated with pro—russia patriotic and military related education. we know that your child commissioner, the official in moscow who is the fellow invitee of president putin has already said she herself, adopted eight ukrainian child and she said this, we are helping the children of our country. we don't leave them in war zones. of course the problem there is of course the problem there is that it of course the problem there is thatitis of course the problem there is that it is not your country. it

is the sovereign territory of ukraine. ., ~' ., is the sovereign territory of ukraine. ., ~ ., ,, , ukraine. you know, stephen you are still living _ ukraine. you know, stephen you are still living in _ ukraine. you know, stephen you are still living in the _ ukraine. you know, stephen you are still living in the world - are still living in the world of myths. and we cannot leave children on a battlefield. 0f children on a battlefield. of course we can't leave it at the war. we can't leave it in danger. and of course we will do everything to give them a new life, peaceable life in russia. but if these relatives or these parents want to see them, want to speak to them, they can do it. but we did not get any requests. 50 they can do it. but we did not get any requests.— get any requests. so you are aaivin get any requests. so you are giving me — get any requests. so you are giving me right _ get any requests. so you are giving me right now, - get any requests. so you are giving me right now, a - giving me right now, a guarantee, and you speak of course as a russian mp and somebody close to mr putin and

his own political party, you are telling me that you guarantee if the international community, international criminal court, ukrainian authorities, however, a virtue and demand the return of these children russia will hand them over? i children russia will hand them over? ., _ children russia will hand them over? ., ., over? i did not say that. i told you. _ over? i did not say that. i told you, first _ over? i did not say that. i told you, first of - over? i did not say that. i told you, first of all, - over? i did not say that. i told you, first of all, we | told you, first of all, we don't as united states and many other countries recognise international criminal court. but if parents of those children want to see them, want to take him home, want to speak to take him home, want to speak to them, of course they can do it. but again, we did not get any requests from relatives of those children and from parents of those children. you those children and from parents of those children.— of those children. you say that this makes _ of those children. you say that

this makes no _ of those children. you say that this makes no difference - of those children. you say that this makes no difference to . this makes no difference to vladimir putin orto this makes no difference to vladimir putin or to russia, thatis vladimir putin or to russia, that is not true, is it? it makes a big difference to vladimir putin. there are now 123 countries, cigna trees to the treaties that created the international criminal court. which are now obliged to arrest vladimir putin should he step onto their story will. vladimir putin is now the president of russia, unable to travel to most countries in the world. most countries in the world will no longer even agreed to talk to him or meet him because he is a wanted war criminal. this changes things. of course it changes things. i told you that this decision is stupid. because international criminal court or people who are behind this decision are going to close even the little possibility to talk with

russia. because of course, we should talk to finish the civil war. —— finish this war. but if you are talking about putin's travel possibilities he is going tojoin a summit in south africa in august and no one will arrest him. he will travel to countries that are our neighbours which are friendly neighbours which are friendly neighbours and no one are going to arrest him. because president putin, as every other world leader, have immunity. immunity to international criminal court or other stupid organisations.— criminal court or other stupid orianisations. , ., organisations. maybe you should have told that _ organisations. maybe you should

have told that to _ organisations. maybe you should have told that to others - have told that to others sitting presidents that ended up sitting presidents that ended up before the international criminal court. your ideas about immunity may not last. and you know what, i want to move on from international justice but one final point on this. the un recently received a report from the international commission of inquiry on ukraine which catalogued a whole series of other alleged abuses and war crimes including systematic killings, torture, the deportation of children, of course which we have already discussed, ijust wonder course which we have already discussed, i just wonder this. you are very well—connected in moscow, do you think there are people in the who are now worried when they have seen what the icc have already done that ultimately they will be an accounting for what russia has done over the past year and more stopped there will be an accounting and many individuals, notjust biden himself but many individuals inside your system will ultimately be held to account

for what russia has done? you were going _ for what russia has done? you were going to _ for what russia has done? gm. were going to change our gene. i know the west wants to divide my country. —— our regime. change putin into a conveniently wielded politician. but you will lose this war. publicly, economically, militarily and other sites. economically, militarily and othersites. because economically, militarily and other sites. because of course putin is the president of russia. the most of russian people have elected him. most of russian people voted for him. he is legitimate president of russia. head of my state. and you will deal with him of course, if you want to finish this war. because we have no

other president. we have no other president. we have no other head of state. and the world, the western world should deal with our authority. hang on. ifi deal with our authority. hang on- if i may _ deal with our authority. hang on. if i may get _ deal with our authority. hang on. if i may get to _ deal with our authority. hangj on. if i may get to something thatis on. if i may get to something that is happening in your city right now, president xijinping is in moscow talking to president putin, a power imbalance there because xi jinping represents a country with an economy ten times the size of russia and russia desperately needs that friendship without limits of the two of them talked about more than a year ago. what do you think xijinping is going to deliverfor vladimir you think xijinping is going to deliver for vladimir putin? first of all, stephen, if we are talking about fractured economies, we already showed you that our economy is not

simple 2% of world economy. it is strong economy because we are now against 50 states. against all nato states and our economy feels pretty good. 0ur economy feels pretty good. our economy feels pretty good. our economy is stable will top our economy is stable will top our economy is stable will top our economy is going to be stable for many, many years. and we don't have vegetable deficit or some other deficit in russia. we don't have inflation. it’s we don't have inflation. it's iood to we don't have inflation. it's good to know _ we don't have inflation. it's good to know the vegetable supply is fine in moscow but what is not so fine is the weapons and military production capacity and i am just wondering whether you believe china is going to supply you, russia with weapons? i don't know. i don't _ russia with weapons? i don't know. i don't think _ russia with weapons? i don't know. i don't think we - russia with weapons? i don't know. i don't think we need i russia with weapons? i don't. know. i don't think we need it.

of course china is the most important economy partner right now. and our trade with china is around $200 billion. and of course we have close relationship with china because we are together against western money. against western irony. and we are going to stay close. —— tierney. we will develop our relationship. but for policy. we want to save our way of living and we will do it via china. ., ._ ., china. you say the one thing we don't need _ china. you say the one thing we don't need is — china. you say the one thing we don't need is weapons. - china. you say the one thing we don't need is weapons. that - don't need is weapons. that does fly in the face... i don't

know and — does fly in the face... i don't know and no _ does fly in the face... i don't know and no evidence. - does fly in the face... i don'tl know and no evidence. plenty does fly in the face... i don't - know and no evidence. plenty of evidence that _ know and no evidence. plenty of evidence that the _ know and no evidence. plenty of evidence that the russian - evidence that the russian military is struggling in terms of its ability to rearm those forces fighting, the heaviest fighting on the eastern front in ukraine. tito fighting on the eastern front in ukraine.— fighting on the eastern front in ukraine. no one knows the situation- _ in ukraine. no one knows the situation. no _ in ukraine. no one knows the situation. no one _ in ukraine. no one knows the situation. no one knows - in ukraine. no one knows the situation. no one knows the l situation. no one knows the situation. no one knows the situation-— situation. let's analyse if it is a myth- _ situation. let's analyse if it is a myth. the _ situation. let's analyse if it is a myth. the leader - situation. let's analyse if it is a myth. the leader of. situation. let's analyse if it | is a myth. the leader of the wagner private military organisation. he seems to his own telegram videos desperately over the last month and pleading with the russian army to provide him with more weapons. he said his fighters are being starved of ammunition and quote, my people are dying in droves. why do you think he

is now so furious with the chief of the army and defence minister? 1 chief of the army and defence minister? ~ ., ., ., minister? i know nothing about this conflict. _ minister? i know nothing about this conflict. i _ minister? i know nothing about this conflict. i have _ minister? i know nothing about this conflict. i have heard - this conflict. i have heard this conflict. i have heard this conflict. i have heard this conflict is solved for now. and mr prigozhin and wagner group get everything that you need for now. and of course they are successful military division and they are fighting briefly in ukraine —— briefly. and they should get everything that they need —— bravely. and we of course in a huge war with nato and other countries are now. if

huge war with nato and other countries are now. 111 huge war with nato and other countries are now.— huge war with nato and other countries are now. ifi may. we last spoke _ countries are now. ifi may. we last spoke in — countries are now. ifi may. we last spoke in september- countries are now. ifi may. we last spoke in september you i last spoke in september you assured me then that russia was winning the war and wasn't going to win the war. here we are in march of 2023, you have not even yet taken bakhmut. and losses are staggering. tens of thousands of soldiers have either lost their lives or been taken out of action with wounds in that fight for a bakhmut over many months. and you still have not taken the city. can you honestly sit here today, so many moments after we last spoke and said that you are still confident russia is winning this work was back i am strongly sure that we are going to win this war, of course. you left us no _ to win this war, of course. you left us no other— to win this war, of course. you left us no other chances. - to win this war, of course. gm. left us no other chances. we must win because it... left us no other chances. we must win because it. . .- left us no other chances. we must win because it... why do ou must win because it... why do you think _ must win because it... why do you think mr— must win because it... why do you think mr prigozhin - must win because it... why do you think mr prigozhin in - must win because it... why do you think mr prigozhin in just l you think mr prigozhin injust the last couple of days has

been extremely pessimistic about the fighting, he has said that the prospects for russia are to use, his work, foggy and that he is deeply alarmed that russia is not doing what it should be to prepare for a moment —— major ukrainian offensive in the spring. prigozhin is worried that your own military defence minister, chief of the army, are not preparing properly for what is to come. {lit preparing properly for what is to come. .., , to come. of course i understand, - to come. of course i l understand, stephen, to come. of course i - understand, stephen, that to come. of course i _ understand, stephen, that you are going to divide us to leave back our society. but you cannot do this. of course we cannot do this. of course we can see some public conflict between wagner and the minister of defence but as i know, i know that the conflict between the minister of defence and the

wagner group are solved. in no other problems which we have between minister of defence and prigozhin. 0f between minister of defence and prigozhin. of course we cannot win tomorrow. it is a long—term process. of course, we are going to defend our state for months, years, until we get security guarantees. months, years, untilwe get security guarantees.- months, years, untilwe get security guarantees. what you have done _ security guarantees. what you have done is _ security guarantees. what you have done is increasingly, - have done is increasingly, wiped out all the scent inside your own country. when i see your own country. when i see you i mean the kremlin. why is the kremlin so frightened of its own people and criticism of the war? ~ ., ., _

the war? we live in a democracy country and _ the war? we live in a democracy country and people _ the war? we live in a democracy country and people can - the war? we live in a democracy country and people can speak. country and people can speak whatever they want. of course, the most russian people are supporting our military. democracies don't lock up people for writing a social media post against the war and they certainly don't detain 12—year—old girls who are accused at school of drawing a picture which depicts russian soldiers attacking ukrainian civilians. these are things that do happen inside russia today. that do happen inside russia toda . ., , ., ., today. you understand that we are at war- _ today. you understand that we are at war. and _ today. you understand that we are at war. and of _ today. you understand that we are at war. and of course, - today. you understand that we are at war. and of course, no i are at war. and of course, no one can wish our military to die. no one can wish our state to divide. no one can wish our power to diffuse or our regime to change. by military,

unlawful hoax or some other things. and of course you arrest much more people for social media posts will stop much more people. i social media posts will stop much more people.- social media posts will stop much more people. i don't know where you _ much more people. i don't know where you get — much more people. i don't know where you get that _ much more people. i don't know where you get that information i where you get that information from but i am interested that you would defend the detention. of a 12—year—old awol of a 12—year—old awol documented case —— well documented case —— well documented case. herfather was documented case. her father was interrogated documented case. herfather was interrogated and beaten and is now in an orphanage and he is now in an orphanage and he is now imprisoned for three years on charges. you would defend that as part of healthy society? i that as part of healthy society?— that as part of healthy society? that as part of healthy socie ? ., �* ., , society? i don't defend any unlawful— society? i don't defend any unlawful moments. - society? i don't defend any unlawful moments. i- society? i don't defend any. unlawful moments. i defend society? i don't defend any - unlawful moments. i defend my country in my state which is at war with nato countries right now. and of course if we have

some strange cases, we will solve it. and we have prosecutors and a law and our country and we are going to follow law to defend every people who is in a strange situation like that. i don't know anything about the situation, but i will of course, study and give any help as a deputy. and you should understand that in great britain, you, i mean your crown, your prime minister, are arresting much more people for social media posts than in

russia. and i have some numbers. 2016... give me a second. numbers. 2016... give me a second-— numbers. 2016... give me a second. ~ ., ., ., second. we are out of time. i can give _ second. we are out of time. i can give you _ second. we are out of time. i can give you any _ second. we are out of time. i can give you any more - second. we are out of time. i i can give you any more seconds. 3000 arresting people for social media posts. great britain for 2016. 3000 people. mr popov, you have made that point, sadly we are out of time i think you very much for joining me on hardtalk. thank you.

hello. well, it's been a pretty grey and damp start to the new working week. many of us have already seen some outbreaks of rain. these are the rather moody skies that we had during the day in argyll and bute. now, so far this month, we've already seen more rainfall than average in a number of places. aldergrove is west of belfast and here we've had about one and a half times as much rain as we see in an average march, but there is more rain on the cards as well. you see, the satellite picture shows the band of rain that we had on monday. but out in the atlantic, we've got several more areas of rain bearing cloud set to move in. and so this week we are going to see rainfall totals really pile up, particularly across western areas. you can see the largest totals over our western hills, whereas in the east you get something of a shelter effect. so the rain won't be quite as heavy for those eastern areas. now, over the next few hours, we do have some fairly heavy bursts of rain to come through and there'll be some low cloud around a bit of mist and fog around our western

coast and hills. but it's a mild start to the day tuesday, temperatures nine or ten degrees, rain start the day across eastern england, probably north—east scotland. that clears away what will follow is a day of bright spells, a bit of sunshine and some heavy showers and thunderstorms. we then see another area of rain move into northern ireland as we go through the course of the afternoon. now it's going to be another mild day, temperatures 1a, 15 degrees celsius. as we go from tuesday into wednesday, actually the isobars pinch together. and so it's going to be a windier day on wednesday. again, overnight rain tending to clear through a day of sunshine and heavy thundery showers. this time, some of the showers could even have some hail mixed in. some of the showers in the west may merge together to give some longer spells of rain. it's going to be blustery gusts of wind, 40, even 50—odd miles an hour in places. but it is still, however, pretty mild with temperatures again reaching around 11t degrees in the mildest spots. for thursday we're looking at more rain as well. still quite a blustery day, the potentialfor some heavier

rain to work in perhaps to parts of south—east england during the day. but away from that, the showers could merge together again to give some longer spells of rain at times. temperatures still up to about 11t degrees. and really through friday and the weekend, there's no change in the weather pattern. it stays unsettled with more rain at times. that's the latest.

welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore. i'm monica miller. the headlines: china's president extends a hand and a peace plan to russia's vladimir putin in the pair's first meeting since the invasion of ukraine. the united nations releases a major new report on climate change, dubbed a "survival guide for humanity". police in france fire tear gas at protesters marching against the government's planned pension reform, as protests grow across the country. the barricades go up in new york in preparation

for protests — amid specuation of incoming charges for former