Emily Atkinson
Live editor

Image source, Reuters

Overnight, it was announced that US President Donald Trump had suspended deliveries of military aid to Ukraine.

What followed was a barrage of reaction from Ukraine and its allies, Russia and the US.

For hours afterwards, however, the key players stayed quiet.

Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, and US President Donald Trump were up and active, but both steered clear of mentioning the pause.

Then mid-afternoon, Zelensky shared a lengthy statement, in which he expressed a willingness to consider a partial truce if Russia agreed to do the same.

He also thanked Trump personally for his support for Ukraine, and said their fiery meeting in the Oval Office last week was "regrettable".

It's "time to make things right," he said.

As our North America correspondent Tom Bateman puts it: the key question now is whether Zelensky’s statement will be enough.

Trump has not yet responded. Perhaps we'll get a clearer idea of the president's intentions as he makes his major address to Congress later tonight.

We're ending our live coverage now. Our main story will continue to provide rolling updates.

This page was edited by Emily Atkinson and Alex Therrien. The writers were Rachel Flynn, Krystyna Gajda, Seher Asaf, Vicky Wong, Imogen James and Nabiha Ahmed.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he has spoken with several European leaders today, including Britain's prime minister, Keir Starmer, and Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

He thanks the leaders for their "clear support for Ukraine" in a post on X.

Zelensky says there are "very important updates from the European Commission regarding substantial funding for Europe’s defence", which for Ukraine "primarily means additional air defence[s]".

"We will continue consultations, and new joint steps will be taken," he adds.

"Ukraine deserves peace. Ukrainians deserve respect."

Iqra Farooq
BBC World Service

The BBC World Service's OS programme has been reaching out to Ukrainians following the announcement that the US was suspending aid for Ukraine.

Vadym, a Ukrainian living in London, says: "We're witnessing not only the US siding with Russia, but also democracy being ruined step by step.

He says US President Donald Trump and Vice-President JD Vance "don't understand the fundamental facts of history".

"The decisions they make will probably lead to the US being isolated and, in many ways, collapsing, because they'll have managed to alienate the whole of Europe."

Viktoria, who lives in Kyiv, says she was "devastated" by the US announcement.

"It makes me feel sad for the Americans when you observe your leader making these kinds of announcements one after the other," she adds.

"I hope Americans will find their strength to fight for their freedom. We do need as much as aid as possible."

Are European nations being repaid for Ukraine support?published at 19:18 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March

19:18 GMT 4 March

By Nick Eardley

Earlier, US Vice-President JD Vance said the US needed "payback" for it's support of Ukraine, claiming that European nations were getting repaid for their contributions.

It’s true to say the United States has been a significant contributor to the Ukraine war effort – it’s support is by far the largest of any single country.

If you take military spending alone, the US has spent almost as much as every other country combined.

It is also right to say that some of what the EU contributes has been in the form of loans.

But that’s true of most donors, including the United States.

The EU has also provided some grants, which won’t be repaid.

The EU has published a breakdown of its own. It says around 65% of contributions from EU countries have been grants or what it calls “in kind support”, with the rest being loans on generous term.

Image source, Reuters

President Zelensky says he's asked Ukrainian officials to contact their US counterparts to obtain official information on the suspension of military aid.

"I have instructed the defence minister, our intelligence chiefs and diplomats to contact their counterparts in the United States and get official information," he says in his nightly address.

"People should not be left to guess."

He says maintaining a "normal, partnership relationship with America is crucial for truly ending the war. None of us wants an endless war."

Polly Bayfield
BBC Newsbeat

On the front line in Donetsk, in eastern Ukraine, Ukrainian soldier Dmytro says he’s not optimistic about returning to his normal life soon.

“It does not look like the war will end any time soon,” he tells BBC Newsbeat from his truck.

The 29-year-old covers his face during our call and predicts fighting will be “complicated” within a few weeks.

“I don’t think it will be pretty,” he says. “There is no doubt American weapons have given us a fighting chance.”

President Trump said in a press conference he wanted one thing to happen – for young people like Dmytro to “stop being killed by the thousands” in this war.

“It’s real cheap to claim the worst thing about this war is the killing of young people,” Dmytro tells me.

“The real tragedy… is the history of Russian aggression.

“The killing should be stopped but it should never have begun in the first place.

Zelensky prepared to go down Trump's roadpublished at 17:54 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March

17:54 GMT 4 March

Tom Bateman
North America correspondent

Volodymyr Zelensky’s statement is a response to the arm-twisting by Donald Trump and is clearly an attempt to try to get this relationship back on track after the utter disaster of the last four days - culminating in the suspension of US military assistance to Ukraine.

That move by the US is seeing arms shipments being held in Poland and will over time have a significant impact on Ukraine’s ability to defend itself.

The key question now is whether Zelensky’s statement will be enough. What Trump wants him to do is two things; first sign the minerals deal, then sign up to a quick ceasefire without a US security guarantee.

Zelensky seems to be suggesting he’s prepared to go down that road – calling the deal a “step” towards a security guarantee, which he is still looking for.

But there is also an emotive element to all this. We saw Zelensky humiliated by the administration on Friday - where he was called ungrateful and disrespectful - and we’ve seen the disparaging comments amplified since then.

There is a view among critics in Washington that the administration wants to see Zelensky grovel in order to restore a relationship with the White House and to get the military assistance back.

We’ll get a clearer sense tonight whether Zelensky’s done enough when Trump makes his joint address to Congress.

Image source, PA Media

No 10 says Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's "steadfast commitment to securing peace" following his statement on X.

"Underscoring that any peace for Ukraine needed to be lasting and secure, the prime minister said no one wanted peace more than Ukraine," a No 10 spokeswoman writes.

• A reminder: Starmer outlined plans over the weekend to bring about what he called a "coalition of the willing" - essentially European nations stepping up their efforts to end the war in Ukraine and defend it against Russia

Image source, Getty Images

As Zelensky issued his statement - summarised in one of our previous posts - US Vice-President JD Vance spoke to reporters about the war in Ukraine and the US decision to pause military aid.

He says the US needs to "get some payback for the incredible financial investment" it has made in Ukraine, adding that European nations are getting repaid for their support.

"Well, it's really ridiculous, and frankly, an insult to the American people, that the Europeans are getting a better deal than the American people," Vance says.

Asked if the US might resume providing Ukraine with military aid, Vance says that when Kyiv begins negotiating "everything is on the table".

He says to move forward, they need Ukraine to come and tell them what they need privately: "That is the most important thing, and that lack of private engagement is what is most concerning to us."

Zelensky expresses willingness to consider partial trucepublished at 16:48 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March

16:48 GMT 4 March

Danny Aeberhard
Europe analyst, BBC World Service

Image source, Reuters

On Friday, at their fractious White House meeting, Donald Trump said President Zelensky did not "have the cards".

That reality appears to have hit home, hours after Washington suspended all military aid.

Zelensky expressed a willingness to consider a partial truce - in the air, and at sea - if Moscow did likewise.

He also expressed regret for the way the White House meeting had gone. That's despite many observers believing he was the victim of a political trap.

He again thanked America, naming Trump specifically, for previous aid, and said he was prepared to sign a deal with the US on accessing Ukrainian minerals.

Ukraine has resisted three years of full-scale invasion by its enemy, Russia.

But it's the actions of an ally that's left its underbelly exposed - the radical pivot of US foreign policy by President Trump.

Now we've had time to digest that statement from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, here's a summary:

• 'Time to make things right': Zelensky expressed regret over his spat with Donald Trump in the Oval Office last Friday, saying it "did not go the way it was supposed to"
• 'Strong leadership': He said Ukraine was ready to work as fast as it could to end the war with Russia - and take Trump's lead
• First stages: He also proposed some initial stages towards ending the war, including releasing prisoners, and a truce in the sea and sky
• Ready to sign: He thanked the US for its support throughout the war, adding that Kyiv was "ready" to sign the US-proposed minerals deal
• No word on aid: His statement did not directly address the US decision to suspend aid to Ukraine

Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

President Zelensky uses the final lines of his statement to reiterate Ukraine's gratitude for previous US support.

"We do really value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence," he writes on X.

"And we remember the moment when things changed when President Trump provided Ukraine with Javelins. We are grateful for this," the president says.

He also says Ukraine is "ready" to sign the US-proposed minerals deal.

If you're just joining us, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has shared a statement after the US announced it would pause military aid to Ukraine. Scroll back through our previous two posts for more on this.

In a post on X, Zelensky says the first stages in ending the war could include "the release of prisoners and truce in the sky — ban on missiles, long-ranged drones, bombs on energy and other civilian infrastructure — and truce in the sea immediately, if Russia will do the same".

"Then we want to move very fast through all next stages and to work with the US to agree a strong final deal."

We're still combing through the statement - stay with us further updates.

Image source, Reuters

As we just reported, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has released a statement on X. We can bring you more on that now.

He reiterates Ukraine's "commitment to peace", adding: "None of us wants an endless war."

"Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer," he continues.

"Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians. My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts," the president adds.

"We are ready to work fast to end the war."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed regret over his angry exchange with Donald Trump in the Oval Office.

"Our meeting in Washington, at the White House on Friday, did not go the way it was supposed to be," he writes in a post on X.

"It is regrettable that it happened this way. It is time to make things right."

More on this shortly. For now, here's a look at how the meeting unfolded:

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

Things are abnormally quiet at the White House at the moment, with most reporters - and staff - only coming in slightly later, given that President Trump isn't speaking at Capitol Hill until about 19:10 EST (00:10 GMT).

There's nothing else on his public schedule so far today, and he's been notably silent about Ukraine on social media - although he's been posting about other matters.

We do know, however, that Ukraine is going to be one of the focuses of his speech to Congress tonight.

Among the major themes - first reported by Fox - is what the White House has termed has described as Trump's plans for peace around the world, including Ukraine.

A White House official told Fox the speech will outline his plan to end the fighting there.

Trump's deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller, told CNN that he believes Trump "is using a two by four to go and get his point across" to Zelensky.

"That is that President Trump wants to stop the killing," he added. "Zelensky has got to get back to the table. He has to take this seriously. No more goofing off."

The BBC has contacted the White House for further details.

Stay with us for more updates.

The UK's Chancellor Rachel Reeves says the US is the closest partner with the UK on defence and security - and that will continue to be the case

Speaking at a conference, she also says there is a "recognition across Europe that we must step up" to secure the "collective defence" of the continent.

Reeves adds that she wants to speed up the delivery and procurement of defence equipment..

She says things have been "much quicker" when procuring for Ukraine, but they need to make this the norm for the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

A Ukrainian opposition MP says rebuilding transatlantic unity and re-establishing communication between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky should be a "top priority" following the US move to halt aid to Ukraine.

"[The situation] is more than just between Trump and Zelensky. It's about freedom, it's about two nations," Mariia Ionova tells the BBC. "There is still a chance that we can do a lot of things together."

She says Ukraine and European allies should "build a common position" on ending the war.

"The decision to pause military support is just a signal that Trump would like us to capitulate. The suspension of the military aid is a matter of concern," she adds.

Image source, Getty Images

News of the US decision to pause military aid for Ukraine was communicated to us overnight by a White House official.

Since, we've heard reaction from world leaders, politicians and experts, as well as Ukrainian civilians and soldiers on the frontline.

There are some notable absences, however.

US President Donald Trump is yet to comment. He's up and active on his Truth Social platform, but silent on Ukraine.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky shared details of his call with Germany's incoming chancellor, Friedrich Merz. But, again, no mention of the suspended aid.

Over in Moscow, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told the BBC's Steve Rosenberg that the pause was likely to be the "best" contribution to peace - but no word from President Putin.

Ben Barry, a senior fellow for land warfare at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, has been speaking to our colleagues on BBC Radio 4's World at One programme about the possible impact on Ukraine of the pause in military aid.

He believes Ukraine will feel the loss of US intelligence as well as hardware.

"Intelligence has been a key part of US, UK, and western support to Ukraine - but the US is the world’s intelligence superpower, and neither the British nor the rest of Europe could quickly fill the gap from the vast US intelligence assets," he says.

"I think, in terms of military capability, the thing that will worry Ukraine most is the non-supply of Patriot missiles, which have this unique capability to intercept incoming ballistic missiles and have more capability in this, than anything that Europe’s got."

The other two capabilities are long-range artillery and the short-range ballistic missiles which again, Europe doesn’t supply, he says.