Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia is trying to drag out talks on a Ukraine ceasefire because it wants diplomacy to break down and the war to continue
Ukraine's military denies the encirclement of its forces in Russia's Kursk region, after Donald Trump asked Vladimir Putin to spare the lives of thousands of "surrounded" Ukrainian troops
In response, Putin says Russia will guarantee life to Ukrainian troops in Kursk if they give up arms and surrender
Speaking after the G7 meeting in Canada, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he is "cautiously optimistic" about a Ukraine ceasefire but more work needs to be done
Earlier Trump said the US had "good and productive" discussions with Putin during talks in Moscow on Thursday
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago: Here's a look at why and how the war has unfolded
What Putin response to ceasefire plan means for peace talks
The US secretary of state says there is reason to be cautiously optimistic over the Ukraine ceasefire deal, but adds that it will not be easy or simple.
He says the US feels they are "some steps closer" to the end of the war but it's a "journey of many steps".
"There's a lot of work remains to be done," he says, adding that they'll know more once US special envoy Steve Witkoff returns.
Image source, AFPRubio says the one takeaway is the US is not going to allow the things the G7 disagrees on to keep his country from working with other nations "on the things we agree on".
He adds that he hopes the actions of the US will reflect that stance.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is now speaking following a G7 meeting in Quebec.
We'll bring you the key lines on what he has to say.
A little earlier, we brought you comments from President Trump who suggested that Ukrainian troops are "completely surrounded" by the Russian military.
In the last few moments, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces has rejected the idea that troops are surrounded in Kursk.
“Since the beginning of the current day, 13 combat clashes have taken place in the Kursk direction. There is no threat of encirclement of our units," they say.
They say Ukraine's defence forces have "regrouped" and moved to "more advantageous defence frontiers".
Image source, ReutersZelensky earlier accused Putin of deliberately setting conditions that only complicate the process
We heard from President Zelensky a short while ago when he accused Putin of dragging out the ceasefire process.
In further updates on X this afternoon, the Ukrainian president says there are "solid understandings" between Ukraine and its European partners.
Referring to the talks earlier this week between the US and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia, Zelensky writes that when he first heard the US proposal of an immediate ceasefire on the ground he agreed "immediately".
He further accuses Putin of lying about what's happening on the battlefield, the number of casualties and the state of the Russian economy.
"Putin cannot exit this war because that would leave him with nothing," he says, as he pushes for those who can add pressure on Russia to do so.
As we've been reporting, US President Donald Trump has hailed "good and productive discussions" between Russia and the US on the Ukraine war.
Here's a quick overview of what you need to know:
We'll be staying across developments as the day goes on - make sure to keep checking in with us here.
Nomia Iqbal
North America correspondent
This is a real moment of truth for President Trump.
He would not give Ukrainian President Zelensky any conditions for a ceasefire.
That led to the bust up in Oval Office, and Trump halting military assistance and intelligence sharing. Ukraine eventually conceded after meetings in Saudi Arabia.
America says it's now up to President Putin.
Whilst the Russian leader has suggested some positive aspects about the plan, he is trying to impose conditions.
So will President Trump allow that after refusing to do it for Zelensky?
And if not, what pressure will he impose on Putin - a man he claims he has a close relationship with?
Rachel Flynn
Live reporter
Image source, ReutersThe world stopped and watched the Oval Office spat, less than two weeks before Ukraine accepted a US-proposed ceasefire deal
After more than three years into Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the White House says today that "we've never been closer to peace".
We don't know what's next, but we do know there have been big steps towards securing peace. Let's remind ourselves of how we got here:
Late 2024: Trump campaigns on a promise to end the war. He repeatedly says he could settle the war between Russia and Ukraine in one day.
Early February: Trump calls Putin, and says they both agreed to start negotiations for an end to the war. Days later, Zelensky said Ukraine would "never accept deals made behind our backs without our involvement".
Late February: Trump calls Zelensky a "dictator". Zelensky retaliates and says Trump is "living in a disinformation space" governed by Moscow. Zelensky goes to Washington to sign a US minerals deal. Instead, he is told to leave after an angry spat with Trump and Vice-President Vance.
3 March: US suspends all military aid to Ukraine. Two days later, US confirms it has also paused intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
11 March: After US-Ukraine talks in Jeddah, Ukraine agrees to a US proposal for a temporary 30-day ceasefire, and the US agrees to resume intelligence sharing and military aid.
Today: Russia says there is "cautious optimism" over a ceasefire deal after what Trump calls "productive discussions" between Russia and US. While Putin says there is "a lot ahead to be done," the White House says "we've never been closer to peace".
Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House
Image source, Bernd Debusmann Jr/BBCWhite House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt just briefly spoke with reporters outside the West Wing of the White House, telling us that last night's talks with Russia were "productive".
She says President Donald Trump has no plans to talk to Vladimir Putin today, although he is "putting pressure on Putin and the Russians to do the right thing".
"Yesterday was a productive day," she says. "We've never been this close to peace."
Leavitt confirms that the White House's envoy, Steve Witkoff, spoke to Putin in Moscow.
In the last few moments, President Volodymyr Zelensky has reiterated that the return of prisoners as well as an "unconditional" 30-day ceasefire are two "quick" steps that could move Ukraine closer to "a just and lasting peace".
In a post on X, the Ukrainian president criticises Russia for "deliberately setting conditions that only complicate and drag out the process".
His comments followed his meeting with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, secretary of state of the Holy See.
Ben Tavener
Moscow Producer
Russia’s defence ministry says “as a result of decisive actions” by its forces it has “liberated” 28 settlements in Russia’s Kursk region, including Sudzha.
The ministry also says it's liberated one settlement in Ukraine's Sumy region. The ministry’s Zvezda TV channel says this figure relates to the last week.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Donald Trump lauded "good and productive discussions" between Russia and the US yesterday.
However he warns thousands of Ukrainian troops are "completely surrounded" by the Russian military, saying they are in a "very bad and vulnerable position".
He also revealed he had asked Putin "that their lives be spared", adding: "This would be a horrible massacre" on a scale "not seen since World War II".
Image source, Getty ImagesThe foreign ministers from the G7 group of countries have been meeting in Ukraine
All the foreign ministers of the G7 group of nations, including the US, UK and other European powers, say they agree with the US proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine, according to Canada's foreign minister.
Melanie Joly, host of the G7 meeting in Quebec, says: "Through long conversation, we were able to find strong G7 unity on a variety of issues," she says.
"All G7 foreign ministers agree with the US proposal of a ceasefire that is supported by Ukrainians.
"And we are now studying and looking at Russian reactions, so ultimately the ball is now in Russia’s court when it comes to Ukraine."
Image source, ReutersMembers of the G7 yesterday during their meeting in Charlevoix, Quebec
A draft final statement from a two-day meeting of the G7 calls on Russia to agree to the ceasefire agreement proposed by the US.
Senior diplomats from the member countries - Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US - have approved the statement, but it still needs sign-off from foreign ministers, G7 officials told Reuters news agency.
"G7 members called for Russia to reciprocate by agreeing to a ceasefire on equal terms and implementing it fully," the statement says.
They also emphasised the need for robust "security arrangements" to ensure a lasting piece, warning Moscow it will face further sanctions if not.
Downing Street says Prime Minister Keir Starmer's "intent is crystal clear" in reaching a ceasefire agreement for Ukraine.
A spokesperson says: "I think the nebulous responses are coming from Russia, the ball is in their court.
"There is a proposal there and in the meantime we are concentrating with our international partners on the best way to drive progress to secure that just and lasting peace."
Downing Street also says they are "not putting a timescale" on putting forward a plan for Starmer's "coalition of the willing" - which he announced with France and other countries earlier this month - because of "how quickly events can move".
Vitaliy Shevchenko
Russia editor, BBC Monitoring
The defence ministry in Moscow says its forces continue advancing in Kursk region.
According to a statement published this morning,, external they have “liberated” Goncharovka, a suburb of the key town of Sudzha, that was retaken from Ukrainian troops recently.
The statement suggests that Ukrainian forces are still present in other parts of Kursk region following the surprise incursion they launched in August last year.
But, the defence ministry says, Russian forces “continue destroying” them.
Image source, Reuters"Our determination to support Ukraine is decisive," says von der Leyen.
The European Union is extending its sanctions on nearly 2,400 individuals and entities associated with Russia, the European Commission president says.
In a post on X, Ursula von der Leyen says the sanctions include travel bans, asset freezes and a ban on funding and resources and aim to "increase pressure on Russia".
Four people have been removed from the list, officials said - businessmen Vladimir Rashevsky and Vyacheslav Kantor, Russian sports minister Mikhail Degtyarev and the sister of oligarch Alisher Usmanov. The latter three were taken off at the request of Hungary, the EU country which is friendliest to Russia.
The move comes after the US brought in fresh sanctions on Russian oil, gas and banking sectors, according to the BBC's US partner, CBS News.
We're now hearing from US President Donald Trump, who has been talking about the war in Ukraine and what he calls the "mess" with Russia.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump adds: "Millions of people are needlessly dead, never to be seen again…and there will be many more to follow if we don’t get the ceasefire and final agreement with Russia completed and signed.
"There would have been NO WAR if I were president."
Danny Aeberhard
Europe regional editor, BBC World Service
Russia's President Vladimir Putin has raised many questions about the US ceasefire proposal, and the Kremlin anticipates a phone call between him and Donald Trump soon.
Both Moscow and Washington are talking of "optimism", even if acknowledging lots of work ahead. It's certainly not shared by Kyiv.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky believes Putin is manipulating a situation - raising preconditions to see the US proposal fail or be entangled in the long grass, while not outright rejecting it.
Many seasoned Kremlin watchers agree.
Meanwhile, in the latest drone strikes, Ukraine has set an important oil refinery in southwestern Russia ablaze.
And Moscow's forces continue to try to drive Ukrainian troops out of the remaining parts of the Russian region of Kursk they still hold.
Image source, EPAForeign minister Andrii Sybiha also earlier expressed scepticism over Putin's willingness to seek peace
Ukraine's foreign affairs minister Andrii Sybiha says the country has begun to form a team to monitor any possible ceasefire - state news agency Ukrinform reports.
"This is an extremely complicated process.
"And to avoid possible provocations from the Russian side, we need to be ready," Sybiha says during a briefing in Kyiv.