Nick Miles

This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Nick Miles, and in the early hours of Saturday, the 15th of February, these are our main stories. President Zelensky of Ukraine has met J.D. Vance at the Munich Security Conference after the U.S. vice president launched a wide-ranging attack on European politicians.

African leaders at a summit in Ethiopia have agreed to increase their health budget and taxes to compensate for a freeze on foreign aid by the United States. The latest figures from South Korea indicate that the suicide epidemic among young people is continuing despite efforts to address it. Also in this podcast. Well, if you're familiar with YouTube, you may have heard that video.

African leaders at a summit in Ethiopia have agreed to increase their health budget and taxes to compensate for a freeze on foreign aid by the United States. The latest figures from South Korea indicate that the suicide epidemic among young people is continuing despite efforts to address it. Also in this podcast. Well, if you're familiar with YouTube, you may have heard that video.

Believe it or not, the video sharing platform is 20 years old. The future of Ukraine took centre stage at the International Security Conference in the German city of Munich on Friday. It came after several days of speculation about how President Trump's telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin on Wednesday might be the start of a process that will end the conflict.

Believe it or not, the video sharing platform is 20 years old. The future of Ukraine took centre stage at the International Security Conference in the German city of Munich on Friday. It came after several days of speculation about how President Trump's telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin on Wednesday might be the start of a process that will end the conflict.

On the sidelines of the conference, the US Vice President J.D. Vance told reporters that Washington could impose economic sanctions on Russia if it refuses to agree what he called a good peace deal that guarantees Kyiv's long-term independence. There are economic tools of leverage, he said, and there are, of course, also military tools of leverage the US could use.

On the sidelines of the conference, the US Vice President J.D. Vance told reporters that Washington could impose economic sanctions on Russia if it refuses to agree what he called a good peace deal that guarantees Kyiv's long-term independence. There are economic tools of leverage, he said, and there are, of course, also military tools of leverage the US could use.

Later, he addressed the delegates at the meeting.

Later, he addressed the delegates at the meeting.

So the emphasis there was on American expectations of more military spending by Europe. Well, later in the day, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, met the US vice president at the Munich conference. Mr Zelensky said they'd had a good conversation and that it would not be their last.

So the emphasis there was on American expectations of more military spending by Europe. Well, later in the day, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, met the US vice president at the Munich conference. Mr Zelensky said they'd had a good conversation and that it would not be their last.

He said they needed to prepare a plan on how to stop President Putin and finish the war with Russia and that President Trump was key to making that happen.

He said they needed to prepare a plan on how to stop President Putin and finish the war with Russia and that President Trump was key to making that happen.

The head of the European Commission is Ursula von der Leyen.

The head of the European Commission is Ursula von der Leyen.

Ursula von der Leyen. Our chief international correspondent Lise Doucette is covering the conference. Sumi Sumaskanda asked her what the mood among the delegates in Munich was like.

Ursula von der Leyen. Our chief international correspondent Lise Doucette is covering the conference. Sumi Sumaskanda asked her what the mood among the delegates in Munich was like.

Lise Doucette in Munich. As President Zelensky prepared for his visit to Munich, the Chernobyl power plant in northern Ukraine was targeted in a drone strike in the early hours of Friday morning. Russia has denied any knowledge of the attack, but Mr Zelensky said it showed President Putin was definitely not preparing for negotiations, but instead continuing to deceive the world.

Lise Doucette in Munich. As President Zelensky prepared for his visit to Munich, the Chernobyl power plant in northern Ukraine was targeted in a drone strike in the early hours of Friday morning. Russia has denied any knowledge of the attack, but Mr Zelensky said it showed President Putin was definitely not preparing for negotiations, but instead continuing to deceive the world.

A protective shelter that covers the remains of a destroyed reactor at the nuclear power plant was damaged. The shield was built to prevent radiation from spreading after the Chernobyl reactor melted down in 1986. The International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA, said the explosion caused a fire in the structure, which has since been extinguished.