Summary

  • Volodymyr Zelensky says he is travelling to Saudi Arabia next week, where talks between Ukrainian and US officials aimed at ending the war will take place

  • The Ukrainian president says he will work "constructively" with Trump to reach a "fast" and "lasting" peace

  • Earlier, US envoy Steve Witkoff said the idea was to "get down the framework for a peace agreement"

  • At a summit in Brussels, the Ukrainian president called on European leaders to support steps he's outlined for building a "full and fair" end to the fighting

  • Meanwhile, Russia has repeated its opposition to European troops in Ukraine after any deal - saying it would be "direct war"

  • Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022

  1. 'We need to be ready if the US is no longer by our side'published at 19:32 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March

    We can now bring you some more comments from Macron's address.

    Macron says France, along with Ukraine and other European countries have prepared a "solid and durable plan for peace" and that once peace is agreed European peacekeepers can be deployed to secure it.

    He adds he went to the United States two weeks ago to defend this.

    "I want to believe the US will stay at our side, but we must be ready if that is not the case," Macron says.

    Peace in Ukraine must be brought on quickly, he says, before adding that whether it is the case or not, European countries must be ready to face the Russian threat.

  2. Macron: Europe must prepare for potential tariffspublished at 19:24 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March

    Macron also reacts to the new tariffs introduced by Donald Trump.

    As a reminder: Tariffs of 25% were placed on US imports from Canada and Mexico yesterday, as well as 20% on Chinese goods.

    The French president says that Europe must prepare in case the US president imposes similar measures on its bloc.

    Macron says "there will be a reaction from our part", if this does happen, and that he will do everything to convince Trump that this would be a bad decision.

    The French president then rounds off his televised speech by referencing principles that drive French society, before La Marseillaise plays him out.

  3. We cannot abandon Ukraine on the way to peace, says Macronpublished at 19:13 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March

    French President Emmanuel Macron giving a televised address in front of a white background next to the French and European flags

    The path to peace cannot go by "abandoning Ukraine", Macron says.

    He adds that Russia didn't respect a previous ceasefire arrangement that had been negotiated, and therefore "we can no longer believe the words" of the country's leader.

    Macron says he is working with allies in the UK, Germany and several other countries in Europe.

    He talks about security guarantees for Ukraine after any peace deal is agreed, including the "deployment of European forces" to the country.

    And he says he plans to hold a meeting of European army chiefs in Paris next week.

  4. France's security also threatened by Putin's invasion - Macronpublished at 19:09 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March

    Macron moves onto address the war in Ukraine specifically.

    He says that it is not only the Ukrainian people who are fighting bravely, but France's security is also threatened.

    He says that if one country can invade another, then nobody can be sure of what will happen - history has shown us this.

    The threat of Russia is there, and it is touching us, Macron adds.

    The French president goes on to list ways this threat is being carried out by Putin, citing attacks on hospitals as well as claiming that the country is manipulating opinions on social media.

    Who can believe that Russia will stop with Ukraine, he asks, after suggesting that the country is focusing on arming itself.

  5. Macron: We are in a new erapublished at 19:05 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March

    We're now hearing from French President Emmanuel Macron, via live translation.

    He says the US has changed its position on the Ukrainian war, while at the same time wanting to impose trade tariffs on Europe.

    He says security has become more uncertain, adding "we are now in a new era".

  6. White House says it is 'reconsidering' Ukraine fundingpublished at 18:57 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March

    Bernd Debusmann Jr
    Reporting from the White House

    I'm currently at the White House press briefing, where Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt refuses to be drawn into reporter's questions regarding a pause in intelligence sharing with Ukraine.

    While Leavitt said that - as far as military assistance - the US has simply paused and is "reconsidering" funding, she referred questions about intelligence sharing to the National Security Council and the Central Intelligence Agency.

    Ukraine was overshadowed at this briefing by other matters, including tariffs and direct talks between the US and Hamas over the fate of hostages in Gaza.

    By the standards of the White House, it was somewhat short.

    The BBC has reached out to both the NSC and CIA for comment on the intelligence sharing pause.

  7. Macron to address France tonight 'at time of great uncertainty'published at 18:39 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March

    MacronImage source, PA Media

    Ahead of an EU summit in Brussels tomorrow, we're expecting to hear from French President Emmanuel Macron in a short while.

    In a social media post this morning, the French leader told his citizens: "At this time of great uncertainty, when the world is facing its greatest challenges, I will speak to you tonight at 8pm." (19:00 GMT).

    We'll keep an ear across what Macron says and you'll be able to watch it by pressing watch live at the top of this page, so stick with us.

  8. 'I remain an optimist', says ex-Ukraine leader on Trumppublished at 18:38 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March

    Petro PoroshenkoImage source, Getty Images

    Ukraine’s former president Petro Poroshenko has told the BBC that he “remains an optimist” about the deterioration in relations between his country’s leader and Donald Trump.

    Poroshenko led Ukraine from 2014 to 2019, and visited the US president in the White House during Trump’s first term in 2017, where he secured sanctions relating to Russia's actions in Crimea.

    “That was exactly the same President Trump,” he tells the BBC News channel. “It’s absolutely possible to renew our transatlantic unity.”

    And, Poroshenko suggests that disagreements over whether the US provides security guarantees as part of a minerals deal are unnecessary too.

    “We do not depend on American troops, we depend on American military assistance,” he says, adding that support from European partners is also crucial.

  9. US intelligence 'has been fundamental' for Ukrainepublished at 18:30 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March

    US intelligence sharing is "more important" for Ukraine than the military aid cut-off, the Economist’s defence editor Shashank Joshi tells the BBC's PM programme.

    That's because "they could fight for months without munition, however they will feel this immediately", he says.

    "It’s at times been absolutely fundamental for Ukraine", Joshi says, explaining that "on day one of this conflict" Western intelligence supplied to Ukraine allowed them to anticipate and defend against a Russian assault on an airport outside of Kyiv.

    Since then, US intelligence has been used for alerts on incoming ballistic missiles, as well as for information to effectively use long-range strike systems.

    But Joshi says Ukraine also has some indigenous intelligence sources as well as commercial sources, adding: "I also don’t want to suggest that it’s cataclysmal and they can no longer see anything at all."

    He says for now, Ukraine still has access to Starlink - Elon Musk's satellite internet company - but they anticipate it could be cut off soon and are actively working on replacements.

  10. Three things to know todaypublished at 18:12 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March

    Gabriela Pomeroy
    Live reporter

    Trump addressing Congress on Tuesday eveningImage source, EPA
    Image caption,

    Trump addressing Congress on Tuesday evening

    Intelligence sharing paused: The US has suspended intelligence sharing with Ukraine on top of a pause to military support. The move was confirmed by Trump's national security adviser and the head of the CIA, and could have serious consequences on the battlefield.

    But freeze might come to an end: Mike Waltz, the US national security adviser, says President Trump would consider restoring military aid to Ukraine if peace talks are arranged. Speaking to Fox News, Waltz said "the president will take a hard look at lifting this pause" if they can "nail down these negotiations" and put confidence-building measures on the table.

    Progress in US-Ukraine relations?: On Tuesday evening,President Trumpsaid in his address to Congress that he had received an "important letter" from Zelensky, in which the Ukrainian leader suggested he was ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible. "I appreciate that he sent this letter," Trump told lawmakers, adding there were now "strong signals" Russia is "ready for peace".

  11. Zelensky preparing for EU meeting in Brussels tomorrowpublished at 17:50 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March

    Vitaliy Shevchenko
    Russia editor, BBC Monitoring

    Away from the US, President Zelensky also says Ukraine is hoping to "resume movement" in talks about EU membership: "We are expecting support from our partners."

    The Ukrainian president adds that earlier today he spoke to the prime ministers of the Netherlands, Portugal and Slovenia, as well as the German chancellor.

    "We are getting ready for the EU summit taking place in Brussels tomorrow," he says.

    "Everyone can see how fast diplomatic events are unfolding."

  12. Zelensky says 'positive movement' on meeting with USpublished at 17:45 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March
    Breaking

    Vitaliy Shevchenko
    Russia editor, BBC Monitoring

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says progress has been achieved in talks with the US on a new meeting between the two countries’ representatives.

    He says the head of the Ukrainian presidential staff, Andriy Yermak, had spoken to US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz earlier today.

    "There’s been positive movement. We are expecting first results next week," Zelensky says in his evening video address posted on social media.

    Zelensky does not specify whether the new meeting with the US would involve himself and Donald Trump.

  13. Analysis

    US intelligence plays two key roles in Ukraine war effortpublished at 17:33 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March

    Paul Adams
    Diplomatic correspondent

    A himars rocket is launchedImage source, EPA
    Image caption,

    US intelligence helps Ukraine make effective use of Himars rocket systems

    The precise significance of US intelligence to Ukraine's war effort has, for obvious reasons, never been spelled out in detail.

    But most analysts agree that it performs two important functions: helping Ukraine to plan offensive operations against Russian forces and giving Kyiv vital advance warning of threats posed by incoming Russian drones and missiles.

    Satellite information and signals intercepts give Ukrainian forces on the front line a sense of where Russian forces are, their movements and likely intentions.

    Without US intelligence, Ukraine will not be able to make such effective use of long-range Western weaponry, like the US Himars rocket system or the Stormshadow missiles supplied by Britain and France.

    But the steady flow of real-time information provided by Washington has also given Ukraine's military, critical national infrastructure and civilian population valuable advance information on incoming threats.

    Ukraine's air raid sirens and mobile phone alerts are all informed, to a greater or lesser extent, by the early warning data provided by US satellites, which can detect aircraft and missile launches deep inside Russian territory.

    It's clear that the US is using the withholding of military assistance and intelligence as another, blunt, diplomatic lever.

    The US National Security Adviser, Mike Waltz, said military assistance to Ukraine could resume if Ukraine agrees to participate in US-led diplomatic efforts.

    "I think if we can nail down these negotiations and move towards these negotiations," he told Fox News, "then the president will take a hard look at lifting this pause."

    The director of the CIA, John Ratcliffe, told Fox business the pause "will go away". But it’s clear what the White House wants from President Zelensky in return.

  14. Former intelligence official fears signal being sent to US alliespublished at 17:27 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March

    Bernd Debusmann Jr
    Reporting from the White House

    I've been speaking to a few current and former officials in the US national security apparatus about the US decision to pause intelligence sharing with Ukraine.

    One contact of mine – a former CIA officer and National Security Council staffer – tells the BBC he is concerned that the "betrayal of an ally" would having a chilling effect on other intelligence partnerships that the US has around the world.

    He describes the Trump administration's strategy as "responding with emotions" rather than a long-term strategy, which he fears plays into the hands of Russia and Vladimir Putin.

    Traditionally, the former official adds, intelligence-sharing agreements are strictly "non-political" and designed to survive shifts in domestic politics.

    A dramatic sudden shift in intelligence sharing – which he describes as being the result of "bruised egos" – is largely unprecedented.

    He adds that he believes "it's going to be a long four-years" if the Trump administration frays alliances overseas.

  15. Ukraine and US officials agree to hold further talks, says Zelensky's chief of staffpublished at 17:14 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March

    Andriy YermakImage source, Getty Images

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's chief aide Andriy Yermak says he has had a phone conversation with US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz.

    "We discussed the next steps towards a just and lasting peace," Yermak says in a social media post.

    Yermak doesn't specify exactly what this means, but says that the pair "scheduled a meeting for our teams in the near future".

    And, Zelensky's aide adds that he and Waltz "exchanged views on security issues" as well as "the framework of bilateral relations" between the US and Ukraine.

  16. Trump wants to end wars - CIA Directorpublished at 17:01 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March

    Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe attends U.S. President Donald Trump's address to a joint session of CongressImage source, Reuters

    We can now bring you some more comments from CIA director John Ratcliffe who a short while ago confirmed President Trump ordered a pause in intelligence sharing with Ukraine.

    "What President Trump said is, he asked for a pause," Ratcliffe told Fox News, adding that "President Trump is the peace president."

    He added: "[There's] never been in a war under his leadership. He wants to end the wars that exist."

    Ratcliffe said Trump has a "real question" about whether Ukrainian leader Zelensky was committed to the peace process.

    "I think on the military front and the intelligence front, the pause that allowed that to happen, I think will go away," Ratcliffe adds.

    "And I think we'll work shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine as we have to push back on the aggression that's there."

  17. Latest photos from Odesa after reports of more strikespublished at 16:55 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March

    Let's have a look at Odesa now, where residents in the south-western Ukrainian city are searching destroyed houses and removing debris after renewed Russian drone strikes over the last few days.

    Earlier, Ukraine said some districts in Odesa are without power and water after a strike overnight hit critical infrastructure.

    A resident stands inside a house destroyed by a Russian drone strike in OdesaImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    A man stands inside a house destroyed by a strike

    Residents carry out items from a house partly destroyed by a Russian drone strikeImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Residents carry out items from a house partly destroyed by a Russian drone strike

    Municipal workers are also working to remove debris at the site of a house partly detsroyed by Russian strikesImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Municipal workers were also pictured removing debris at the same site

  18. Intelligence sharing pause will have 'immediate impact', says ex-defence officialpublished at 16:39 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March

    Bernd Debusmann Jr
    Reporting from the White House

    Mick Mulroy, a former official at the US Department of Defense, tells the BBC he believes that cutting off intelligence to Ukraine "will have an immediate impact" on Ukraine’s ability to defend itself fully.

    "There is no way to replace the capabilities that the US intelligence can provide from our European allies," says Mulroy, former deputy assistant secretary of defense and retired CIA paramilitary officer.

    "This will likely inspire Russia to push harder on their efforts to take more terrain from Ukraine and away from the negotiating table."

    With regards to broader military assistance, Mulroy says he believes that any shortfalls would have a "significant impact" starting around May of this year. "That is when they will start running out of ammunition."

    Mulroy believes "the best way to ensure that Russia agrees is to present a unified front with Ukraine and Europe".

    "Russia only responds to strength," he says. "Not compliments or concessions."

  19. Romania declares two Russian diplomats 'persona non grata'published at 16:24 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March

    Romania has declared two Russian diplomats "persona non grata" - a diplomatic term used to indicate that a person is no longer welcome in a specific country and which often means they're expelled.

    The Romanian foreign ministry said the two diplomats - the Russian embassy's military attaché and his deputy - carried out activities that contravene the international treaty on diplomatic relations, but has not specified further.

    It comes amid claims of Russian interference in Romania's presidential election.

    Russia declared a Romanian embassy official persona non grata in July, which followed Bucharest expelling another Russian diplomat in May, according to the Reuters news agency.

  20. Diplomatic calls continue between Zelensky and European leaderspublished at 16:08 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March

    Zelensky looking straight at the camera wearing a black jumper. He holds one hand on his chin. There is a draped Ukrainian flag behind him and a red and white oneImage source, Getty Images

    After a call with Germany's leader, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky says he has also spoken with the Portuguese prime minister.

    Zelensky says he appreciates Portugal's support in both a "military and political" capacity and shared with Prime Minister Luis Montenegro details of what happened at a London leaders' summit that took place last week.

    Zelensky adds that he will be in contact with "all European partners" to discuss next steps, as it is important to them that "every country’s voice is considered in the joint plan".

    The head of his office has also been assisting the efforts. He says he called the adviser to the French president and the UK prime minister today.