This is the Global News podcast from the BBC World Service.

I'm Valerie Sanderson and at 1400 hours GMT on Monday the 17th of February, these are our main stories.

Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, speaks about the idea of European leaders being invited to talks between the US and Russia on ending the war in Ukraine.

I don't know what they should do at the negotiating table.

If they're going to wheedle out some sly ideas about freezing the conflict, then why invite

them there?

The Israeli cabinet is due to discuss the hostage situation.

The Vatican says Pope Francis is being treated for a complex

clinical situation in Rome. Also in this podcast, we follow the stories of young people in Gaza

and hear about their hopes and fears for the future. My greatest hope is that the ceasefire continues.

And Gaza goes back to what it was

before or even better. But my biggest fear is that the war will return. And with days to go until

Germany's elections, far-right AFD members are campaigning against immigration.

We start with the apparent warming of the relationship between the United States and Russia.

The direct talks between the two countries on ending the war in Ukraine could be just the first step,

with Moscow and I speaking about aiming for a whole-scale restoration of ties.

The Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, says European leaders should not be invited to talks if they want to continue the war in Ukraine.

I don't know what they should do at the negotiating table.

If they're going to wheedle out some sly ideas about freezing the conflict,

while they themselves, in keeping with their customs and their character and habits,

have in mind the continuation of the war, then why invite them there?

Against this backdrop, the French president, Emmanuel Macron,

...