Abdujalil Abdurasulov
Reporting from Kyiv

Earlier, we looked at what we do and don't know about the US-Ukraine negotiations on a potential minerals deal.

We're going to take a close look now at what was said to be in the first draft of the deal.

Last Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected US demands for a reported 50% share of its rare earth minerals - which Trump said would reflect the amount of aid the US had provided to Ukraine during its war with Russia.

"I can't sell our state," the Ukrainian leader said.

The provisions of a second draft of the deal on Sunday appeared to be even tougher than in the first document.

Instead of 50/50 revenue split, the revised draft suggested the US wanted full control, Zelensky told journalists at a press conference on Sunday.

Zelensky is also said to want any deal to include security guarantees.

• Read on: Why is Ukraine negotiating a minerals deal with the US?

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

US President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet French President Emmanuel Macron outside the Oval Office at around 12:15 EST (17:15 GMT), followed by bilateral meeting and a lunch.

At 14:00 EST (19:00 GMT), they will hold a joint press conference.

Many observers on both sides of the Atlantic will be watching out for their handshake.

During a visit to the Élysée Palace in December, the two men appeared to have a tight grip as they greeted one another.

In full view of the cameras on the steps of the palace, Trump placed his hand above Macron's and pushed it down as they shook hands again.

During their first meeting in Brussels in May 2017, the two appeared to hold each other's hands so tight that their fists went white.

Macron later described the handshake as "not innocent" and a "moment of truth" between the two.

Their longest handshake clocked in at 29 seconds.

We collated a few notable examples in the video below:

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

Image source, Reuters

We just caught sight of French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House as he left - with delegation in tow - from the Oval Office just moments ago.

While Macron did not address reporters directly, he did acknowledge us, shouting "how are you" from across a paved walkway.

He briefly responded to shouted questions from the press.

One reporter asked him how the G7 leaders' call with Donald Trump went this morning. He responded: "Perfect."

The scene was slightly abnormal by the standards of foreign leader's visits to the White House.

Instead of getting into a large black SUV - which had its doors held open by a US Marine - Macron strolled to the main gate of the White House to leave. He is staying nearby at Blair House, where foreign leaders often stay when visiting.

With the news conference in Kyiv wrapped up, we're now going to turn our attention to Washington DC, where Ukraine is also top of the agenda.

French President Emmanuel Macron is in the US capital to meet with Donald Trump, where he's just offered a very brief word to reporters.

Stick with us and we'll bring you the details shortly.

Image source, Reuters

We've just heard from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and western leaders at the conclusion of a summit to mark the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Here's a look back at what was discussed:

• After imposing a new round today, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said sanctions on Russia won't end unless Moscow demonstrates a willingness to create a lasting peace in Ukraine

• She also said Kyiv could be admitted to the EU "earlier than 2030" if the country continues "at that speed and at that quality"
• Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said she was "open minded" about sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine if and when the war ends, but added that "a lot of questions have to be answered" before then
• Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said "might no longer means right in this world" - in an apparent reference to recent high-level talks between Russia and the US
• Ukraine's Zelensky was asked about the US and his relationship with President Donald Trump several times, but did not respond directly. He said he hoped "that the United States will continue support, like all the partners"
• The Ukrainian president also said he hoped to finish the war "this year", and reiterated his bid to join the EU and Nato

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is asked for timeline for when exactly Ukraine might be allowed to join the EU.

She says the process to join is "merits based", and joining must be beneficial for both the applicant country and the EU.

She explains that the EU is reluctant to give a firm date on when Ukraine might join, as it might mean other applicant countries ask for one too.

Von der Leyen adds that Ukraine is doing well, and could be "admitted earlier than 2030" if the country continues "at that speed and at that quality".

The news conference ends and the leaders depart. We'll bring you a recap of the top lines shortly, stay with us.

Western leaders are continuing to take questions from reporters in Kyiv to mark the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Tap watch live to follow along as we bring you the key lines here.

Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs is asked if Europe needs to rapidly increase military aid to Ukraine given the "increasingly uncertain geopolitical situation" - and if it's capable of doing so.

"Yes and yes," Rinkēvičs replies.

He says the defence industry needs "a clear commitment" that Europe will spend more. He says the commitment must be "results oriented", without being impeded by "procedures, procedures, procedures".

"I do believe that we can do that, I do believe that we must do that, and I do believe that we will do that," he concludes.

Ukraine's Zelensky adds that Kyiv requires more funding to boost its own defence production.

Image source, Reuters

A Norwegian reporter asks Zelensky what his hopes are for Ukraine and its people after three years of war.

"We hope that we can finish the war this year," he responds, and adds that it has been "very difficult" for the whole nation.

Zelensky says that in the short term Ukraine needs security guarantees to prevent Russia returning in years to come.

He says joining the EU and Nato soon "will help us very much".

Zelensky recently accepted that he would stand down as president if Ukraine was made a member of Nato in return. Russia said it would not accept this as part of any peace deal.

The same reporter cuts in to ask Zelensky about his relationship with US President Donald Trump.

He doesn't explicitly comment on their relationship, but Zelensky says he hopes "that the United States will continue support, like all the partners".

"We need also not to lose this unity between Europe and the United States," he says.

For context:Last week, Trump called the Ukrainian president "a dictator", and said he has done a "terrible job" of leading Ukraine. It followed Zelensky saying Trump was "living in a disinformation space" governed by Moscow.

Image source, Reuters

If you're just joining us, we're continuing to monitor the news conference in Kyiv. We'll keep writing up the key lines - you can follow it in full by tapping the watch live button above.

A question for Canadian Prime Minster Trudeau and Zelensky now on the significance on Canada as a North American ally of Kyiv's, in light of their more recent communications with US President Donald Trump.

Trudeau says: "Canada has second largest diaspora of Ukrainians in the world...we felt deeply connected."

He adds that Canada - like many other countries - wants to do all it can to support Ukraine.

"Might no longer means right in this world," he adds, in an apparent reference to large powers discussed in the past few days, such as Russia and the US following their recent high-level talks.

Zelensky adds that Ukraine "really appreciates" all the help it has received from Canada.

A Danish reporter asks the Danish prime minister where the nation stands on the question of deploying troops to Ukraine if and when the war ends.

For context: The British PM said last week he was "ready and willing" to put UK troops on the ground in Ukraine to help guarantee its security as part of a peace deal.

Mette Frederiksen says she's "open minded", and that Denmark "will be with our friends Ukraine as long as it takes".

She highlights the importance of ensuring Ukraine gets "what they need on the ground", and urges allies to contribute more.

She says a lot of questions have to be answered before a concrete solution can be reached on sending troops.

"This war is about Ukraine, and its also about European security," she says. "We need to look at the entire eastern flank when it comes to deterrence and defence."

Image source, Reuters

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and a group of western leaders file in for the news conference in Kyiv, and take their seats at a round table.

It gets under way with questions from reporters.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen takes the first. She's asked about lifting sanctions on Russia if a peace deal is reached.

She says the sanctions won't end unless Moscow demonstrates a willingness to create a lasting peace in Ukraine.

Zelensky chimes in, adding that Russia's war has killed thousands. "That's why we'll never forget it," he adds.

Image source, Reuters

We're expecting to hear shortly from the Ukrainian president in Kyiv, where he's been meeting European leaders and Canada's Justin Trudeau to discuss the ongoing war with Russia.

We'll bring you the key lines and takeaways in our next few posts, but you can also watch the news conference live at the top of the page.

Stay with us.

Image source, Getty Images

“Ukraine is not the country you can conquer in three days. The Russians couldn’t break us in 300 years – they tried, but they couldn’t.”

These are the words of 34-year-old Yevheniia Bondini, a Kyiv resident reflecting on Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years on.

Others in Kyiv, like Viktoriia Blinova, 42, share the same sentiment.

She tells the Reuters news agency: “They will never get Kyiv. We are strong, we are an absolutely unbreakable nation. So they [Russians] shouldn’t dream about Kyiv in three days", referring to comments from the Kremlin in 2022.

Inna Zaitseva, 34, says: "My hands are shaking. We have always been here, we didn’t go anywhere. We have always stayed in our country and believed in our warriors and our President. We believe him.”

“We have stood and we will stand. We have to do our part. Hope? We have to work for victory,” says Blinova.

Ben Hatton
Live reporter

Image source, PA Media/Ukrainian president's office

Today marks the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. For many there, the day began like so many others: by taking stock of the damage caused by overnight Russian drone strikes.

Ukraine said it shot down 113 of 185 Russian drones, while its own drones struck an oil refinery in the Russian city of Ryazan, just south of Moscow.

As dawn broke, western leaders - from Canada, Spain, Denmark, Norway, Estonia, the European Union and others - began arriving in Kyiv by train.

Zelensky then opened a summit in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, and said a prisoner of war exchange could be the "start" of a process to end the war.

The message from western leaders present was overwhelmingly one of support for Ukraine. A number stressed the need for Kyiv to have a say in any future peace deal, and announced new support as well as sanctions on Russia.

There were no US speakers at the summit in Kyiv. But we heard, via a senior Ukrainian official on social media this morning, that Ukraine and the US are in the "final stages of negotiations" on a minerals deal.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron is in Washington DC - Ukraine is expected to be top of the agenda when he meets Donald Trump. We're due to hear from the two leaders later.

We're expecting plenty more to come today. Stick with us.

Image source, Reuters

As world leaders met in Kyiv, people in the nearby town of Irpin marked the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

A memorial event took place at the site of the Romanivka Bridge. The bridge was blown up by the Ukrainian military to stop Russian advances, and tens of thousands of residents were evacuated under it.

The BBC's Orla Guerin reported from Irpin in March 2022.

"They came on foot, in an endless stream - trying to outpace the Russian shells laying waste to their hometown," she wrote.

"There were families with children in strollers clutching stuffed toys, young mothers with babes in arms, and the elderly moving as fast as their years would allow. Most were silent. Some were weeping.

"At the edge of Irpin there was urgency, panic, and anguish. It felt like we were witnessing the death of a city."

Image source, Reuters

Following the EU's announcement of new sanctions on Russia, the UK has announced 107 new sanctions on Russia and North Korea.

The sanctions will target "Russian military supply chains, revenues fuelling Putin's illegal war, and Kleptocrats driving profits for the Kremlin," the UK says.

The targets include:

• Producers and suppliers of machine tools and electronics for Russia’s military
• North Korean Defence Minister No Kwang Chol and other North Korean officials complicit in deploying over 11,000 forces to Russia
• LLC Grant-Trade owner Marat Mustafaev and his sister Dinara Mustafaeva, who the UK says have funnelled advanced European technology into Russia

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the UK has imposed almost 2,000 sanctions on Russia. They are designed to punish individuals, companies, and governments by - for example - banning them from entering the UK, having bank accounts, or doing business there.

While European leaders met in Kyiv, and others joined via video, French President Emmanuel Macron was not in the room.

That's because he's in Washington DC to meet US President Donald Trump - the pair are taking part in a G7 leaders' call this morning, before a bilateral meeting later.

We're expecting a news conference from them at around 14:00 ET (19:00 GMT). You'll be able to follow it live on this page.

Image source, Reuters

Sara Monetta
Reporting from Kyiv

Dimko Zhluktenko is a 26-year-old drone pilot who enlisted into the Ukrainian Army last year.

He feels passionately about not being forced into a ceasefire without security guarantees.

"If there is a ceasefire, Russia will just use that time - as they’ve always done - to regroup and to attack on a much bigger scale," he says.

When asked about the impact the politics is having on him and his comrades, he shrugs.

"To me personally, it doesn't change a thing," he says.

"I'm still willing to defend my home. I know that if the United States will pull out all the aid that they give to us, it's going to be just more deadly. But we are still going to stand our ground."

At today’s leaders' meeting, the absence of the US is the elephant in the room.

Donald Trump has been increasingly confrontational towards Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, and he has blamed Kyiv for provoking Russia’s aggression.

Trump has repeatedly called for a "quick peace" – an end to hostilities that would see Ukraine make considerable concessions to Russia.

Image source, Getty Images

As we've been reporting, a senior Ukrainian official says the country is close to finalising a minerals deal with the US.

Donald Trump says the US is seeking access to Ukraine's minerals in return for previous aid - with Ukraine insisting on security guarantees going forward.

Last week Zelensky rejected a US demand for $500 billion in mineral wealth, saying nowhere near that much aid had been provided, adding: "I can't sell our state."

A deal now seems to be close - but it's not known which minerals it would cover, how much the US would try to recoup from previous aid, and what any future "security guarantee" could look like.

Ukraine holds huge deposits of critical elements and minerals, including lithium and titanium, as well as sizeable coal, gas, oil and uranium deposits - supplies worth billions of dollars.

Last year, Zelensky presented his "victory plan" to Ukraine and its western partners, which proposed that foreign firms could gain access to some of the countries' mineral wealth at the end of the war.

It said "strategic partners" could receive a "special agreement for the joint protection of the country's critical resources, as well as joint investment and use of this economic potential".

It was one of five points he put forward - which included an invitation for Ukraine to join Nato.