Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

As we've been reporting, Zelensky has recently taken to X to lay out several steps he sees as necessary precursors to achieving lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia.

• The first step he outlines is a truce in the air and the sea
• The next step is a release of prisoners as a means of establishing trust

He stresses that there needs to be "basic trust" in ongoing negotiations, and emphasises that the release of prisoners could help establish that foundation.

"This should be based on the understanding that any truce or trust-building measures can only serve as a prologue to a full and fair settlement, to a comprehensive agreement on security guarantees and the end of the war," Zelensky says.

The Ukrainian president also says he is grateful for the support he has so far received, adding that his people appreciate that "Europe is truly trying to do the right thing".

President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has been meeting with European leaders in Brussels today, says that his country wants peace, "but not at the cost of giving up Ukraine".

In a post shared on X moments ago, the Ukrainian president asks European nations to continue involving Ukraine in peace negotiations as he welcomes the "ReArm Europe Plan" - which we touched on a bit earlier.

The Ukrainian leader also welcomes various countries' efforts to increase defence spending.

He adds that Kyiv has been seeking peace "since the very first moment of the war".

We'll have some further details of his post with you shortly - stay with us.

Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

Let's take a look at the most recent commitments from European leaders on bolstering security:

• Belgium expects to deliver F16 fighter jets to Ukraine in 2026, the prime minister said
• Croatia has allocated 2% of its budget for defence and 30% for the modernisation of its military. It's also increasing the defence budget to €2.67bn (£2.23bn) by 2027
• Slovenia and Norway has committed to boost their defence spending

• Lithuania's leader said he proposes the 31 January 2030 as the date for Ukraine to join the EU
• Sweden's foreign minister said the country plans to send up to eight Gripen fighter jets to contribute to a Nato mission to police Poland's airspace
• The UK government announced new contracts worth almost £30m to supply Ukraine with attack drones designed to be able to monitor an area ahead of a strike

As we reported earlier, 20 countries are also thought to be interested in becoming part of a "coalition of the willing" to support Ukraine, according to British officials.

Vitaliy Shevchenko
Russia editor, BBC Monitoring

Image source, Getty Images

We can bring you the latest from Russia as President Vladimir Putin pledges the country will not give in to anyone over the war in Ukraine.

Addressing widows and mothers of Russian soldiers, he says: “We must win such a version of peace which would suit us and which ensures calm for our country for a long historical perspective.

"We don’t want anything that belongs to others, but we won’t give away anything that belongs to us. We need the option that would ensure our country’s stable development under conditions of peace and security.”

And responding to a mother's remark that Russia "shouldn't give in to anyone", Putin agrees: "We are not going to do that".

The Russian president also appears to take a swipe at French President Emmanuel Macron's televised address on Wednesday, saying: "Some can’t settle down. There are still people who want to return to Napoleon’s times, forgetting how they ended.”

Image source, Reuters

The White House has denied reports that a decision has been made to revoke the temporary legal status of 240,000 Ukrainians who fled to the US after the war began.

Earlier today, the Reuters news agency reported the move could come as soon as April and may lead to Ukrainians being deported.

But in a post on X, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt calls this "fake news" and says "no decision has been made at this time".

According to the BBC's US partner, CBS News, most of the Ukrainians enrolled in the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) programme came to the US under the Biden-era Uniting for Ukraine policy, which has been suspended by the Trump administration.

Many TPS programs are in the process of being phased out as some of Trump's appointees believe they have long been abused, CBS adds.

Image source, Reuters

Donald Trump’s envoy for Russia and Ukraine is calling on Zelensky to sign the minerals deal in order for him to move forward with the US administration.

When asked how a ban on US aid to Ukraine could be lifted, the envoy encourages Zelensky to sign the minerals agreement.

Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations on Thursday he says: “Once you’ve signed the document that you want to go forward, that you’re serious about it, then you can go forward”.

Kellogg says the deal would set a “foundation in which the United States can receive a direct return on its investment in Ukraine", adding this would act as a “de facto security guarantee”.

He adds "all options are on the table" to end the war and describes how the Trump administration is trying to bring both sides to the table by using “pressure points and incentives”.

Image source, Reuters

Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte has been giving a joint press conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda from the Nato headquarters in Brussels.

Asked about the US's decision to pause military support and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, Rutte underlines the importance of Ukraine being in a "position of strength" particularly when any peace talks begin.

He adds that he "welcome[s]" the fact that the US and Ukraine are currently discussing how to go forward.

"I am cautiously optimistic that this will lead to good results," he says. "It's better not to comment on what ifs.

"It's my assumption...things can move forward in a positive sense."

Image source, Reuters

Let's bring you some more comments from Russia's foreign ministry which earlier criticised a proposal for European peacekeepers in Ukraine and a one-month ceasefire.

Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters the Kremlin rejects the possibility of a temporary halt in fighting.

"Firm agreements on a final settlement are needed," she says.

Without this, any kind of respite is "unacceptable", she added.

Steve Rosenberg
Russia editor

Earlier today I had the chance to ask Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov whether anything had changed about Russia's stance on European peacekeepers in Ukraine.

He kicked off by saying: "We see no room for compromise here". He made it very clear that whatever flag the peacekeeping force would fly under, EU or national flags, Moscow would see it as troops from Nato countries, and as a direct participation of Nato countries in the "war against Russia".

Russian officials have been dismissive of Europe over the last few days. State television says Europe has lost influence.

Instead, it talks about “the triangle of Russia, China and the US”. Europe, as far as Moscow is concerned, is no longer a major force.

Meanwhile, one of the Russian newspapers this week described the US as Russia's “partner".

It’s quite a turnaround.

Emmanuel Macron warned the world was entering a "new era" in a prime-time speech to the French people on Wednesday. Let's take a look at what he said:

Ukraine's post-war security

Macron addressed the need for security guarantees for Ukraine after a peace deal is agreed, including the "deployment of European forces" to the country.

On dealing with Trump

On the new Trump administration, the president said: "I want to believe the US will stay at our side, but we must be ready if that is not the case".

Extending the nuclear deterrent

Macron said he was open to discussing extending the protection offered by its nuclear arsenal to protect other European nations.

France and the UK are Europe's only two nuclear powers, but historically European Nato members have had a safety net from the US's nuclear stockpile.

A Downing Street spokesperson responded to the comments and said the UK and France "regularly co-operate on issues to help safeguard". The Kremlin reacted to Macron's address claiming it was a threat against Russia.

Nick Beake
Europe Correspondent

Image source, Reuters

The reception President Zelensky received today from his European hosts was a world away from the treatment he got in the White House not even a week ago.

But laying on this sort of choreography is the easy part, much harder is answering the critical question of how Europe fills the gap left by President Trump’s suspension of aid for Ukraine.

That is the urgent short-term issue being discussed right now – but the 27 leaders are also trying to work out how they transform Europe’s defence industries in the years to come.

Public spending limits are being abandoned, loans of hundreds of billions of euros are being talked about and strict rules on borrowing could be thrown out the window.

“Five to midnight”, “decision time”, “moment of truth”. Take your pick of headlines that EU leaders are offering up.

But how do they translate to action? The outcome of today’s emergency meeting may underwhelm those hoping for momentous announcements.

Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán says European nations need to "strengthen" their defence capabilities in an effort to empower those countries, "rather than Brussels bureaucrats".

The nationalist leader, who has repeatedly clashed with European Union colleagues on migration and the war in Ukraine, posted the statement on X after his meeting with French President Macron on Wednesday.

Orbán wrote: "My meetings in France confirmed that while we may disagree on the modalities of peace, we do agree that we must strengthen the defence capabilities of European nations, & these efforts should empower member states rather than Brussels bureaucrats."

Orbán has previously attempted to block EU aid to Ukraine and has praised Trump for "standing bravely for peace".

He also demanded that Ukraine not be mentioned in any written conclusions following the summit today, in a letter to the European Council president.

Frank Gardner
Security correspondent

Image source, Reuters

General Valerii Zaluzhnyi may have swapped his military uniform for a well-cut suit but there was nothing diplomatic about his warning to the West this morning.

Ukraine’s Ambassador to London, Zaluzhnyi accused the US of "destroying" the established world order by trying to meet Russia "halfway".

Speaking at a security conference at Chatham House, he warned delegates there was a risk Nato could collapse and warned Europe could become Russia's next target.

His words come as President Trump continues to pile pressure on Ukraine to make concessions to Russia in advance of peace talks, while apparently putting no corresponding pressure on Moscow.

The ambassador’s hawkish words are also at odds with the recent conciliatory approach adopted by President Zelensky.

• Read more on Zaluzhnyi's remarks here

We're headlining on President Zelensky's appearance at a summit of European leaders in Brussels - a meeting that is ongoing.

Inna Sovsun, a Ukrainian MP, says her country is hoping to hear they are "not left alone".

She highlights the importance of a "rapid response" to the US decision to cut military aid and intelligence to Ukraine.

"That quick response is what we need so we can strengthen our position when we are negotiating with the Americans, and at some point with Russians," she tells our colleagues on BBC World TV.

Image source, Getty Images

Let's go back to the Russian missile attack on the Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, in which four people were killed overnight.

Marc Edwards and Karol Swiacki, from the charity Ukraine Relief, were in the hotel when the attack happened.

Edwards says they got a warning on their phones and had "barely stood up" when the missile hit the top of the building.

Edwards and Swiacki spoke live to the BBC News channel in front of the damaged hotel a short time ago - watch their interview above.

Image source, Reuters

We can now bring you some comments from Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is speaking to workers and the media at a defence factory in Liverpool.

He says the "security and defence of our country, of Europe and Ukraine, is absolutely in the upper mind of the world at the moment".

When asked about military support to Ukraine, he says what matters most "is a lasting peace" that brings an end to the war and ensures Ukraine is able to make its own decisions.

It is important that everyone focuses on this, he says, adding: "if there is a deal... we defend the deal."

He says the government must focus on what the potential security guarantees are, adding the "United Kingdom will play a leading part" in this.

"It has to be done in conjunction with the United States," he says firmly, as they are "intertwined" with defence and security.

Helen Catt
Political correspondent

Around 20 countries are reportedly interested in becoming part of the "coalition of the willing" to help Ukraine.

British officials said a meeting of officials was convened yesterday to discuss providing security guarantees following any peace deal.

It's not thought every one of the countries, which are largely from Europe and the Commonwealth, would necessarily send troops but some could provide other support.

The officials said it was "early days" but welcomed what they described as a "highly positive step".

The prime minister's deputy official spokesman said the government had been "very clear that it is for Europe and for the UK to step up and I think you are seeing evidence of that consistently".

• As a reminder: Starmer announced the UK, France and other countries will step up their efforts in a "coalition of the willing" at a summit in central London on Sunday, with hopes of involving the US

Image source, Reuters

Vicky Wong
BBC News

Image source, Karol Swiacki

Let's return now to the deadly missile strike that took place overnight in Kryvyi Rih, central Ukraine.

Founder of UK-based charity Ukraine Relief, Karol Swiacki, tells the BBC he was in the hotel restaurant at the time of the strike along with a group including two Americans and his charity's trustee.

Swiacki remains in Kryvyi Rih this morning and he says rescue dogs are continuing to search the area.

"We took two steps and there was a big boom, absolute nightmare, everything just within seconds changed," he says.

He describes the scene as "crazy" and a "nightmare", adding he is lucky to have survived.

"We are all safe we didn’t have a scratch, it is incredible… we still don’t know how we survived this, honestly."

He says the restaurant was on the ground floor and he thinks it’s one of only a few rooms that didn’t collapse.

"I will never stop helping people after this," he adds.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said US and British volunteers were at the hotel at the time of the strike but managed to leave the building.

Image source, Reuters

In Russia, a foreign ministry spokeswoman warns that the prospect of sending a European peacekeeping contingent to Ukraine, and a potential month-long truce, will only further escalate the war.

"The conflict will unavoidably resume with renewed force... this is absolutely unacceptable,” says Maria Zakharova.

She says the idea of an EU peacekeeping force in Ukraine shows that European leaders have "not learnt from the past".

Zakharova adds that any European peacekeeping, should it materialise, will revive the "agonising" Kyiv regime.

The emergency meeting in Brussels is well under way. Here's some of the snaps we've seen in the last few minutes:

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters