Frank Gardner
Security correspondent in Kyiv

If diplomacy alone could end this war, then the fighting in Ukraine would probably stop tomorrow.

Today brought the leaders of some of Kyiv’s biggest backers in Europe to the Ukrainian capital.

Arriving by train together, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, President Macron and Chancellor Merz were joined by Poland’s Donald Tusk as they met Ukraine’s President Zelensky.

They then held a virtual meeting of the so-called coalition of the willing - a group of leaders from those countries and organisations prepared to help protect Ukraine’s security once the war ends.

That, in turn, was followed by a phone call to President Trump described as ‘productive’.

The intended message from all this is simple: that Russia must agree to the US-proposed 30-day ceasefire or face further sanctions from a united West.

But, the Kremlin, still basking in the afterglow of yesterday’s well-attended Victory Parade in Moscow, has pre-conditions. It wants all outside military aid to Ukraine to stop first. That’s a non-starter as Ukraine’s allies are not about to abandon this country to further Russian advances.

If anything, today has reaffirmed Western military support for Kyiv.

Image source, Prime Minister GR/X

As we've been reporting, a virtual meeting of the "coalition of the willing" took place earlier this morning.

Since then, some of the leaders who joined have shared their thoughts on social media. Here are some key comments:

• Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis: "I was very glad to take part in the leaders' call on Ukraine. We need an immediate and unconditional 30-day ceasefire, as a first step to a just and lasting peace agreement"
• Ilie Bolojan, interim President of Romania: “All leaders supported the proposal for a total and unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine for 30 days, as well as the need to maintain pressure on Russia, including through new sanctions if the ceasefire is violated"
• Kristen Michal, Prime Minister of Estonia: “Estonia is ready to back Ukraine’s security guarantees. This is a commitment we all must share"
• Alexander Stubb, President of Finland: “Ceasefire to be complemented by monitoring mechanism and followed immediately by negotiations for peace agreement. Important to work together with the US"
• Luc Frieden, Prime Minister of Luxembourg: “Together with the US, we need to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, based on international law"

Image source, Reuters

We’re starting to hear reactions from Russia after the meeting of European leaders in Kyiv.

Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and now deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, says: “Macron, Merz, Starmer, and Tusk were supposed to discuss peace in Kyiv. Instead, they are blurting out threats against Russia.”

He questions whether the leaders really think giving Russia a choice between “a truce for the respite” or new sanctions is "smart," and tells them to “shove these peace plans".

Henry Zeffman
Chief political correspondent

Keir Starmer and fellow European leaders have called President Trump from Ukraine to discuss plans for a 30-day ceasefire with Russia from Monday.

Henry Zeffman
Chief political correspondent

Keir Starmer and fellow European leaders have called President Trump from Kyiv as they hold peace talks on the war in Ukraine.

After a virtual meeting of the coalition of the willing, the prime minister, along with Ukrainian President Zelensky, French President Macron, German Chancellor Merz and Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk, called Trump to update him on their support for the US proposal.

Image source, EPA

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has released a statement on X reiterating her support for a "full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire".

She says the "Coalition of the willing convened" and the 30-day ceasefire is meant to "pave the way for meaningful peace negotiations".

Von der Leyen warns that if the potential ceasefire is broken, the EU is ready to "impose further biting sanctions".

“Our objective is clear: a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, which is vital for security and stability across our continent," she adds.

Image source, EPA

As European leaders discuss a ceasefire and possible further sanctions on Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says Russia is already "used to sanctions".

“We know what to do to minimise their impact after these sanctions are announced. We have learnt to do this. There is no point in trying to scare us with these sanctions," he says.

He also says some Europeans are irritated that several leaders chose to celebrate Victory Day with Russia.

Yesterday, more than 20 world leaders, including China's Xi Jinping, joined Putin at the ceremony commemorating World War Two.

Image source, Reuters

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has just tweeted about his meeting in Kyiv today.

“Russia must agree to a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace in Ukraine,” Starmer says.

Frank Gardner
Security correspondent in Kyiv

Image source, Reuters

Not much, despite the presence of four major European leaders in Kyiv today.

Russia has already indicated it will not even consider America’s proposed 30-day ceasefire unless the West halts arms supplies to Ukraine.

That’s a non-starter. In fact, quite the opposite is happening with renewed pledges of military hardware and ammunition coming from European nations. Ukraine believes that only hard pressure on Moscow will work, notably in the form of those secondary sanctions that President Trump alluded to recently.

If those were applied then it would impact Russia’s ability to keep funding its military campaign against Ukraine and reduce its capacity for luring new recruits with the promise of cash bonuses. But, this depends heavily on Donald Trump’s mood and on whether he considers Russia or Ukraine to be the obstacle to peace on any given day.

Meanwhile, it is quite likely that President Zelensky will use today’s leaders’ visit to ask Germany’s newly elected Chancellor Merz to speed up the delivery of long-range Taurus cruise missiles. Ukraine says it needs weapons like these to be able to hit the bases across the border from which Russia is launching its daily attacks.

Image source, Reuters

Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz says he will keep “increasing pressure on Russia's war machine” unless Russia agrees to a permanent ceasefire.

In a series of tweets, he says leaders from France, Germany, Poland and the UK stand together in Kyiv to show their support for Ukraine. “The bloodshed must end,” he says.

We can bring you some of the latest images from Kyiv.

As a reminder, a meeting of European leaders is currently under way as they try to secure a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

A visit drenched in symbolism, deliberately sopublished at 09:16 British Summer Time 10 May

09:16 BST 10 May

Henry Zeffman
Chief political correspondent, travelling with the PM

Image source, Reuters

Keir Starmer and his fellow European leaders are here in Kyiv now, in large part as a response to the parade President Putin held in Moscow yesterday where he was joined by around 20 world leaders including Xi Jinping of China.

Within an hour of stepping off the sleeper train, Keir Starmer joined President Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Zelensky, with the First Lady Olena Zelenska, at Maidan square in central Kyiv - long a symbol of Ukrainian independence.

At a solemn ceremony, they laid candles at a memorial to Ukraine’s war dead.

What’s clear from speaking to senior UK government sources is that VE Day is weighing heavily on their minds too.

At the end of a week in which Britain commemorated 80 years since the end of war in Europe, Starmer is here in Ukraine to see a war in Europe.

Vitaliy Shevchenko
Russia editor, BBC Monitoring

As the Victory Day ceasefire declared by Vladimir Putin enters its third and final day, more Russian attacks are reported in Ukraine.

In northern Sumy region, an 85-year-old woman was killed, three others were injured, 19 residential homes and 10 other buildings were destroyed or damaged, Ukrainian police say.

In Kostyantynivka, eastern Donetsk region, one person was injured and two apartment blocks caught fire after Russian attacks. Rescuers who arrived at the scene were targeted by repeat “double tap” strikes, Ukrainian state emergencies service DSNS says.

In the southern city of Kherson, a 58-year-old local resident sought medical help after being attacked by a Russian drone carrying explosives, the regional administration says.

Image source, EPA

The meeting of European leaders in Kyiv today comes after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced new sanctions on Putin’s so-called “shadow fleet” yesterday.

This term refers to a group of Russian oil tankers used to get around current sanctions on oil and gas exports.

In response, Zelensky said in a tweet on Friday that he is grateful to the UK for the “powerful new sanctions package”.

“Every step that limits the Kremlin’s ability to fund its war brings peace closer. The UK is once again demonstrating a leadership approach,” he said.

Image source, EPA

Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov says Ukraine’s allies must stop sending weapons to Ukraine before any ceasefire can happen.

Speaking to ABC News, external, Peskov says if arms deliveries continue, it will be an “advantage” for Ukraine, as the country “will continue their total mobilisation” and bring more troops to the front line.

He also says Ukraine is "not ready for immediate negotiations," while Putin is trying to “achieve a settlement through peaceful and diplomatic means".

Image source, Reuters

We're now seeing images of leaders from the UK, France, Germany and Poland alongside Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky.

They've been paying their respects to victims of the war at a memorial in Kyiv's Independence Square.

Image source, EPA

While Ukraine’s European allies meet in Kyiv, Russia has this week been hosting leaders from around the world for the country's Victory Day commemorations.

Russia said that 27 world leaders attended yesterday’s parade in Red Square, but it was the presence of China’s Xi Jinping that stood really stood out.

Russian state TV spoke of relations between the two countries as being at their highest-ever level, united against the "collective West".

Putin and Xi held two rounds of talks before the parade as well as an informal chat on the war in Ukraine, Chinese reports said.

Brazil's Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Serbian President Aleksander Vucic were also at the event.

Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico was the only leader of an EU member country to travel to Moscow.

• We have more on Russia's Victory Day celebration in this story

Image source, Reuters

"My first thought is with the Ukrainians," says Emmanuel Macron as he arrives in Kyiv.

In a post on X, the French president praises Ukrainians for fighting not just for their country, but for Europe too.

He says: “Faced with Russian aggression, our response must be collective." Which is why he is making this trip with Germany, Poland and the UK.

He also shares three key messages:

"First, peace," he says, "a just and lasting peace begins with a complete and unconditional ceasefire".

Second, "the peace agreement to be built must guarantee its security".

"Finally, the future," Macron adds, "a fee, strong, prosperous, and European Ukraine: that is our vision."

“History is watching us,” he concludes.

Image source, AFP/Getty Images

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk has arrived in Kyiv.

In a post on X, he says: "Kyiv. An important day awaits us."

At Independence Square in Kyiv, he is greeted by Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Frank Gardner
Security correspondent

Image source, EPA

Today is the last day of Russia’s self-declared three-day ceasefire which is due to end at midnight tonight, Moscow time.

The US embassy here in Kyiv is warning of the risk of significant air strikes in the days ahead.

But while there has been a pause in the near nightly bombardment of Ukrainian cities by Russian drones and missiles, there has been no let-up in fighting on the front line.

Britain, France, Germany and Poland are all urging Russia to agree to the US proposal of a 30-day ceasefire.

But Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov has said Russia first needs Western nations to stop arming Ukraine, something that would leave this embattled nation vulnerable to further Russian advances on its towns and villages.

The war continues.