The French president speaks now, in French, thanking Trump for the friendship between America and France.

He says they have made "very substantive steps forward" in discussions on Ukraine, insisting Europe has not shied away from its responsibilities in helping the country.

The EU invested $128bn in Ukrainian security - highlighting the word investment, because, he says, Ukraine has held the front for the "collective security" of all of Europe.

Macron adds that they admire greatly the courage of the Ukrainian people and that he believes "no one in this room wants to live in a world where the will of the mightiest can just be imposed, and where internationally recognised borders can be just be violated".

Image source, Reuters

Trump outlines a number of talking points, including security at the border and inflation in the US, before criticising the previous government.

The "recklessness of Joe Biden's administration, he says, led to the deaths of "many, many people".

In contrast, he goes on, the Trump administration is focused on "fixing it" and "will get it done as quickly as possible" - referring to the war in Ukraine.

He adds that he hopes his "legacy" will be as a "peacemaker".

Image source, Reuters

Next, Trump says the cost and burden of securing peace must be paid for by the nations of Europe, not just by the US, noting that his French counterpart agrees with this.

"Europe must take that central role in assuring the long-term security of Ukraine, which they want to do," he says.

Trump talks about his desire to "recoup the colossal amount of money" the US has spent, saying it has spent more than $300bn (£237.5bn).

For context: Trump previously said the US had spent $350bn in supporting Ukraine. Available data suggests the figure is actually $120bn. BBC Verify has more on these figures in this video.

He goes on to say that the US "must have an agreement with Ukraine on critical minerals and rare earths as security", adding that progress is being made towards this.

Trump says the purpose of today's meeting is to end the war in Ukraine.

He says "hundreds of thousands" of Russians and Ukrainians have died "needlessly", and that an entire generation has been decimated.

Trump says "a lot of good things towards peace are happening" and that Macron has been central to this from the beginning.

He says be believes Macron agrees with him that "this is the right time... it may be the only time" to end the war.

Some context: The relationship between the US and Ukraine has grown increasingly strained of late. Last week, US and Russian officials held talks in Saudi Arabia - Ukraine was not invited. Later, Zelensky said Trump was "living in a disinformation space" governed by Moscow. The US president responded by calling the Ukrainian president "a dictator", and said he had done a "terrible job" of leading Ukraine.

Nomia Iqbal
Reporting from the White House

Image source, Reuters

Emmanuel Macron’s visit to the White House today comes on the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine - which we've been reporting on today.

The French president made sure he was the first European leader to be hosted by re-elected President Trump.

He will want a central role for Europe and for Ukraine after they were excluded from recent US-Russia talks, in Saudi Arabia, on how to end the war.

The US president kicks off proceedings by reflecting on his and French President Emmanuel Macron's friendship.

He references his invite to the Notre-Dame cathedral reopening last year, as well as Macron's last visit to the White House with his wife.

Trump says France is "America's oldest ally".

Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump's joint news conference at the White House has started.

We'll bring you all the key news lines, and you can follow along by pressing the watch live button at the top of the page.

Nomia Iqbal
Reporting from the White House

The media are gathered here in the historic East Room, with French press on the left and the rest of the world's on the right.

This presser was delayed after Trump and Macron's previous meeting in the Oval Office overran - the duo seemed to get on very well.

Some of the reporters here were describing it as another display of their "bromance".

There's movement and it looks like things are about to start - let's see what the US and French presidents have to say.

Image source, EPA

On the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we've heard from President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders, plus Ukrainians on how the war has affected them, and seen the latest handshake between French President Emmanuel Macron and his American counterpart Donald Trump.

If you're just joining us, welcome, here's what you need to know:

• Zelensky and Western leaders addressed reporters in Kyiv a little earlier, with the Ukrainian president saying "we hope that we can finish this war this year"
• We also heard from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who said Ukraine could be admitted to the EU "earlier than 2030" - but she said she was reluctant to give a firm date, as it might mean other applicant countries want one too
• Meanwhile, civilians from the war-torn country spoke of their resilience - 34-year-old Inna Zaitseva told Reuters she was "shaking" but that Ukraine "have stood and will stand"
• In the last hour or so, Macron arrived at the White House for talks with Trump - they're holding a news conference later which you'll be able to watch live on this page
• The pair shared a lengthy handshake, which they have a history of doing - as ourWhite House reporter Bernd Debusmann Jr outlines in his earlier post
• All the while, the UN has used this third anniversary to adopt a resolution, which reaffirms the body's "commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine"; the US opposed the resolution - instead filing its own, which makes no reference to backing Ukraine's territorial integrity

What was going on in the corridors of power when Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine took place?

A senior US diplomat and UK politician look back on the third anniversary of the full-scale invasion, and look ahead to what happens next on the latest Ukrainecast episode, presented by the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaly Shevchenko.

They talk to Julianne Smith, former US permanent representative to Nato, James Heappey, ex-UK armed forces minister and Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's former foreign minister.

• Listen to the episode via BBC Sounds

Over the last few posts, we've been sharing details of French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to the White House for talks with US President Donald Trump, on the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The pair had been due to hold a joint news conference now - at 14:00 EST (19:00 GMT) - but it's been pushed back.

When it does eventually happen, we expect the leaders' discussion to be dominated by the war in Ukraine and how it could be brought to an end.

We'll keep you updated.

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

The press has now left the room in which Macron and Trump are meeting, after an extended question-and-answer session which largely revolved around Ukraine.

At one point, Trump was asked whether he believes Ukraine will have to give up territory as part of any peace negotiations.

"We're gonna see," he told reporters. "It's a negotiation that's just starting."

Taking back Ukrainian land occupied by Russia, he added, is "not an easy thing to do".

Trump has previously suggested that Ukraine could get back "some" of its territory, and last week said Russia's occupation of Ukrainian land means it "has the cards" in negotiations.

Trump also said that Vladimir Putin will accept European peacekeepers in Ukraine if and when the war ends - a suggestion that the Kremlin has repeatedly said it opposes.

"I think the war [in Ukraine] could end soon, within weeks, if we're smart," Trump tells reporters in the Oval Office

"If we're not smart it will keep going...we don't want that," he says, adding: "Remember what I said, this could escalate into a third world war, we don't want that either.

Trump shared a recent call with Russian President Vladimir Putin during which the leaders agreed to begin negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.

Image source, Reuters

Staying in the Oval Office, the US president is asked if he will characterise Russian President Vladimir Putin as a "dictator", having previously used the word to describe Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky.

"I don't use those words lightly, we'll see how it all works out," Trump says, adding that they have a "chance of a very good settlement" between Ukraine and Russia.

An unresolved war between the two countries "could lead to World War Three", he says.

Meanwhile, Macron says they had a good discussion during a G7 call this morning, and that he will discuss "long-lasting peace" in Ukraine with Trump today.

Europe is willing to "step up" on defence, he adds, but "strong" US involvement is needed to ensure peace in Ukraine is achieved.

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

Image source, Reuters

Trump and Macron are now meeting in the Oval Office, and the US president is taking questions from the French and US-based reporters here in the room.

Trump says he expects that Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky could come to Washington "this week or next week" to sign an agreement with the US over Ukraine's rare earth minerals.

He adds that he is not sure when he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, though he previously said it could take place in Saudi Arabia.

"I don't know when we'll speak," he said. "At some point I'll be meeting with President Putin."

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

As we just reported, Emmanuel Macron arrived at the White House just a few moments ago, driving up to the West Wing in a black SUV past dozens of flag-bearing US military service members and throngs of reporters.

There is a massive contingent of French reporters here today and it was difficult to see, but I did notice that the two appeared to be cordial and shared a long handshake - the latest in a long series of them since the two first met in 2017.

The two leaders were smiling, and it looked to be a warm welcome and cordial greeting.

Both largely ignored shouted questions from the press, with an exception of a question regarding Pope Francis' health. The leaders wished him a speedy recovery.

Stay with us for more updates.

French President Emmanuel Macron has just arrived back at the White House where he has been greeted by Donald Trump.

As has become something of a tradition, the two leaders engaged in a lengthy handshake. We'll bring you more in a moment.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

We're watching and waiting for the arrival of French President Emmanuel Macron at the West Wing of the White House, where he's due to be greeted by Donald Trump any minute.

In the meantime, Trump has been posting on his Truth Social Platform, saying he's hopeful a deal between the US and Ukraine over an exchange of natural minerals will be signed "very soon".

He refers to the deal as "an economic partnership", and says it will "recoup the tens of billions of dollars and military equipment sent to Ukraine".

Earlier on today, we reported on how Zelensky had rejected Trump's initial demands for access to his country's natural minerals, but Trump says the deal will help Ukraine's economy grow.

At the same time, Trump says is he is in "serious discussions" with Vladimir Putin "concerning the ending of the war".

"Talks are proceeding very well!" Trump adds.

• Our news explainer has more on the types of minerals found in Ukraine - and why Trump is so keen to get access to them

Image source, EPA

Over in New York, the United Nations General Assembly has been meeting all morning on the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

It has just adopted one resolution - drafted by the EU and the UK - to mark the anniversary, which reaffirms the UN's "commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine".

A resolution, when passed, is used to formally express the opinion or will of the international organisation.

The resolution needed the support of two-thirds of those voting to pass - 93 states voted in favour, 18 against and 65 abstained.

The US opposed the resolution - instead filing its own, which makes no reference to backing Ukraine's territorial integrity, and refers to Russia's invasion as a "conflict".

French President Emmanuel Macron says he is visiting the US to "reaffirm" his "unwavering" support for Ukraine.

In a post on X, Macron says: "For three years, Ukraine has been fighting with admirable courage against an aggressor - Russia."

"For sovereignty and freedom. Our support for Ukraine will remain unwavering."

"I am in Washington to reaffirm this and to move forward with President Donald Trump and our allies," he says.