Summary

Media caption,

Trump and Macron cite ‘progress’ in Ukraine war peace talks

  1. 'We cannot return to might is right'published at 10:05 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February

    Trudeau

    Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is now speaking at the summit in Kyiv - you can watch live at the top of the page.

    Discussing the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he says the world cannot return to a "might is right" approach to international relations.

    We'll have more from Trudeau soon.

  2. Russia has gained 'open ear' in the White House, says Germanypublished at 09:52 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February

    German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has just addressed the summit in Kyiv via video link.

    "It is Russia that started this war," he says. "Russia may have gained an open ear in the White House but they have not gained an inch of legitimacy."

    "Does anybody honestly think that some thoughtless conversations, or some reckless statements, can crush our resolve?" he asks.

    "No, quite the opposite. The past two weeks have only strengthened our resolve as Europeans. More than ever we have to stand up for ourselves and Ukraine."

    Steinmeier is addressing the summit as Germany prepares to form a new government, with the conservatives winning Sunday's election, and the far-right AfD coming second.

  3. As world leaders listen on, Zelensky thanks fallen soldierspublished at 09:47 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February

    Now let's go back to Kyiv, and the "Support Ukraine" summit.

    President Zelensky tells the world leaders: "Today you can see our capital city, you can see our people.

    "For those leaders who arrived in Ukraine, we started this day by paying tribute to our soldiers who gave their lives for our country,

    "Leaders - offline and online - are supporting our sovereignty our territorial integrity, and we are all aware that this is an unprovoked and criminal war of Russia against Ukraine."

    The "family photo" of European leaders, and Canada's Justin Trudeau, in Kyiv earlierImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    The "family photo" of European leaders, and Canada's Justin Trudeau, in Kyiv earlier

  4. Russia condemns 'attack' on consulate in Francepublished at 09:39 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February

    While European leaders support Ukraine in Kyiv, Russia is demanding a full French investigation into what it calls "terrorist" explosions at its consulate in Marseille.

    Russia state news agency TASS cites a consulate employee as saying three unidentified devices, two of which exploded, were thrown onto the territory of the mission this morning, causing no damage.

    Another report on Reuters says plastic bottles were thrown at the wall of the consulate, with one exploding. More than 30 firefighters attended, the news agency says.

    Russia foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova says: "The explosions on the territory of the Russian Consulate General in Marseille have all the hallmarks of a terrorist attack."

  5. Kyiv summit beginspublished at 09:32 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February

    This morning we've brought you pictures of world leaders arriving in Kyiv for a summit on the three-year anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion.

    President Zelensky began with an opening address, watched on by 15 world leaders. More countries are joining via link.

    Here are some first pictures - we'll have the comments on this page shortly.

    The Ukrainian president in the middle of the circular table surrounded by European leadersImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    The Ukrainian president is in the middle of the circular table

    Zelensky speaking at the tableImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Zelensky opened with an address in Ukrainian

    Canada's Justin Trudeau and Lithuania's Gitanas Nausėda at the roundtableImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Canada's Justin Trudeau and Lithuania's Gitanas Nausėda watch on

  6. EU marks anniversary with new sanctions on Russiapublished at 09:16 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February

    The European Union has hit Russia with more sanctions this morning.

    It's the 16th round of sanctions imposed by the bloc since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago.

    The latest package extends prohibitions on aluminium imports from Russia. It also almost doubles the number of ships in Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" - which aim to evade previous sanctions - under sanction, raising the total to 153.

    "This new round of sanctions not only targets the Russian shadow fleet but those who support the operation of unsafe oil tankers, video game controllers used to pilot drones, banks used to circumvent our sanctions, and propaganda outlets used to spout lies," the EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, says.

    "With talks underway to end Russia's aggression, we must put Ukraine in the strongest possible position. Sanctions provide leverage," she adds.

    Sanctions - effectively legal penalties which limit trade, financing or travel, or freeze assets - have been widely used by western nations against Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

    Eventin cargo shipImage source, Havariekommando
    Image caption,

    Last month, Germany said a Panamanian-flagged ship that got stuck in its waters was part of the Russian shadow fleet

  7. In pictures: European leaders arrive in Kyiv railway stationpublished at 08:49 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February

    We can now bring you more pictures of world leaders arriving in Kyiv, in a show of support on the three-year anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

    The leaders include the European Union's Ursula von der Leyen and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

    Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau is also in Kyiv - alongside leaders from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Spain and Sweden.

    Media caption,

    Anniversary of invasion: Canada and European leaders meet in Kyiv

    The Canadian prime minster embraces Yermak upon his arrivalImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Trudeau embraces President Zelensky's chief of staff Andriy Yermak upon his arrival

    Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez arrives in KyivImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Spain's Sanchez was also met by Yermak

  8. Trump's minerals-for-security deal is 'promising', Johnson sayspublished at 08:35 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February

    James Waterhouse
    Ukraine correspondent, in Kyiv

    A file photo of Boris Johnson. He is walking down a street in the UK wearing a coat and smart clothingImage source, Getty Images

    Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says Ukraine should look past Donald Trump's recent comments - and focus on signing a mineral deal that would ensure the country’s security and sovereignty.

    Trump has called Zelensky a "dictator" and suggested Ukraine started the war.

    Johnson condemned the US president's recent comments as "Orwellian", saying Trump might as well have blamed the US for the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor during World War Two.

    Trump has also criticised the Ukrainian leader for refusing to sign a deal that would give Washington a share of Kyiv’s mineral resources as a repayment for past and future military support.

    But Johnson tells me the new draft agreement on the table is "promising".

    "It commits the United States to a free, sovereign and secure Ukraine, and it commits the United States to future financing," he says.

  9. 'We held out then, we must hold out now,' say defiant Ukrainianspublished at 08:19 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February

    Vitaliy Shevchenko
    BBC Monitoring's Russia editor

    In their statements marking the third anniversary of the full-scale invasion, a number of Ukrainian officials appear to be drawing parallels between the threat to Ukraine then, and the uncertainty caused by doubts over continued US assistance now.

    "We held out then, we must hold out now," says Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who was the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army in 2021-2024, and is now serving as Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK.

    "No matter how difficult it may be for us, we will definitely won’t be ashamed," he adds in a statement on social media, external.

    The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) sounds a similar note.

    "Our fight still continues. We didn’t break down then, we won’t surrender now," it says, external.

  10. Russia says any peace plan needs to look at 'root causes'published at 08:15 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February

    While world leaders arrive in Kyiv, we're also hearing from Russia on the US-led talks that took place last week in Saudi Arabia.

    Russia's deputy foreign minister acknowledges the US efforts for a speedy deal - but says Moscow wants a long-term peace deal, not a quick fix.

    Sergei Ryabkov says "a ceasefire without a long-term settlement is the path to a swift resumption of fighting and a resumption of the conflict with even more serious consequences... we do not want this," in comments published by the Russian state RIA news agency.

    "We need to find a long-term solution, which, in turn, must necessarily include an element of overcoming the root causes of what has been happening in and around Ukraine."

    Control maps of Urkraine
  11. Trudeau and several European leaders also in Kyivpublished at 07:53 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February
    Breaking

    Justin Trudeau speaks to assembled diplomats at Kyiv train stationImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Justin Trudeau stepping off the train in Kyiv this morning

    Canada's prime minister has also arrived in Kyiv, joining at least 13 other European leaders.

    So far we've seen Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez as well as the leaders of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia arrive at the railway station, shortly after the European Union and European Council bosses.

    Zelensky earlier said at least 14 leaders would attend the summit, due to also be attended virtually by at least 20 other countries.

    The show of support from Ukraine's allies comes as US President Donald Trump applies pressure on President Zelensky, calling him a "dictator".

    Danish PM Mette FrederiksenImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Danish PM Mette Frederiksen (centre)

    Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr StøreImage source, Reuter
    Image caption,

    Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Støre

  12. European leaders arrive in Kyiv for show of supportpublished at 07:30 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February

    Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa (r) at the Kyiv railway station on 24/2/2025Image source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    The EU chiefs took the train to Kyiv

    European Union leaders, Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa, have arrived in Kyiv and will join President Zelensky today in events marking the anniversary.

    "We are in Kyiv today, because Ukraine is Europe. In this fight for survival, it is not only the destiny of Ukraine that is at stake. It's Europe's destiny," von der Leyen wrote on X.

    The show of support comes after US President Donald Trump called Zelensky a "dictator" and suggested Ukraine started the war.

    Meanwhile, Ukraine was excluded from US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia about ending the war.

    You can read our fact-check of President Trump's claims here.

  13. Analysis

    Putin believed Russia would make quick work of Ukrainepublished at 07:16 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February

    Jeremy Bowen
    International Editor

    Vladimir Putin believed Russia's mighty and modernised army would make quick work of its obstinate, independent neighbour and its recalcitrant president.

    Ukraine's western allies also thought Russia would win quickly. On television news channels, retired generals talked about smuggling in light weapons to arm an insurgency while the west imposed sanctions and hoped for the best.

    As Russian troops massed on Ukraine's borders, Germany delivered 5,000 ballistic combat helmets instead of offensive weapons.

    Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv and once heavyweight boxing champion of the world, complained to a German newspaper that it was "a joke… What kind of support will Germany send next, pillows?"

    Zelensky turned down any idea of leaving his capital to form a government in exile. He abandoned his presidential dark suit for military attire, and in videos and on social media told Ukrainians he would fight alongside them.

    Ukraine defeated the Russian thrust towards the capital. Once the Ukrainians had demonstrated that they could fight well, the attitude of the Americans and Europeans changed. Arms supplies increased.

    "Putin's mistake was that he prepared for a parade not a war" a senior Ukrainian official recalled, speaking on condition of anonymity. "He didn't think Ukraine would fight. He thought they would be welcomed with speeches and flowers."

    On 29 March 2022, the Russians retreated from Kyiv. Hours after they left, we drove, nervously, into the chaotic, damaged landscape of Kyiv's satellite towns, Irpin, Bucha and Hostomel.

    On the roads the Russians had hoped to use for a triumphant entry into Kyiv, I saw bodies of civilians left where they were killed. Charred tyres were stacked around some of them, failed attempts to burn the evidence of war crimes.

    A destroyed bridge near the frontline in Bucha and Irpin on 3 March, 2022Image source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    A destroyed bridge near the frontline in Bucha and Irpin on 3 March, 2022

  14. 185 drones launched at Ukraine overnightpublished at 07:08 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February

    Ukraine's military says it shot down 113 of 185 Russian strike drones overnight over 12 regions, including the capital Kyiv.

    Another 71 disappeared from radars after being jammed.

    Shahed-type strike drones and decoys were launched from near the Russian cities of Orel, Bryansk and Kursk, and from Cape Chauda in Crimea, Ukraine's Air Force said.

    Russia has launched near-daily mass drone attacks at Ukraine for months.

    Meanwhile, Ukrainian drones struck an oil refinery in the Russian city of Ryazan overnight, just south of Moscow.

    Ukrainian firefighters extinguish a fire in a building destroyed after Russian shelling of the city of Kostiantynivka, UkraineImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Ukrainian firefighters after Russian shelling of the city of Kostiantynivka on Sunday

  15. 'Three years of resistance. Three years of gratitude'published at 07:05 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February

    Today is the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine - starting a war that has killed tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians, and destroyed swathes of Ukraine.

    To mark the date, Ukraine's President Voldymyr Zelensky issued an early morning statement hailing "three years of resistance" and "three years of absolute heroism of Ukrainians".

    "I am proud of Ukraine!" he says.

    "Thank you to everyone who protects and helps it. To everyone who works for Ukraine. And eternal memory to everyone who gave their lives for our state and people."

    Map showing frontlines in eastern Ukraine