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

Live Reporting

Edited by Nathan Williams

  1. Starmer will be waking up with a sense of relief

    Henry Zeffman
    Chief political correspondent

    As Sir Keir Starmer wakes up in Downing Street this morning I would imagine he’ll be feeling a slight sense of relief.

    There have been many mornings in the short time since Donald Trump returned to the White House when the prime minister and the government have woken up to consequential interventions from the US president requiring their response.

    This is not one of those mornings.

    President Trump’s comments on Ukraine in his mammoth speech to Congress did not break new ground. He spoke encouragingly about President Zelensky's attempt to mend their relationship after last week’s extraordinary Oval Office slanging match.

    Many of the big, indeed head-spinning, questions about President Trump’s approach to this conflict in particular, as well as America’s traditional alliances in general, are still there.

    But last night the US president did not compound those questions. And it says something about where things are that that will be a justified cause for relief in government this morning.

  2. What we know about US-Ukraine minerals deal

    In his speech to Congress, US President Donald Trump said Zelensky wrote Ukraine is "ready to sign" a rare minerals deal with the US "at any time that is convenient to you".

    The preliminary agreement, published by Ukrainian media, before the Trump-Zelensky meeting, envisages an "investment fund" will be set up for Ukraine's reconstruction.

    Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Kyiv and Washington would manage the fund on "equal terms", with Ukraine contributing 50% of future proceeds from state-owned mineral resources, oil and gas to the fund.

    The fund will then invest "to promote the safety, security and prosperity of Ukraine".

    The US government will, subject to US law, "maintain a long-term financial commitment to the development of a stable and economically prosperous Ukraine" - and it will own the maximum amount of the fund allowed under US law, the agreement says.

    Zelensky has been pushing for a deal to include a firm security guarantee from the US but no such guarantee has yet been made.

    The published text, however, adds that the US supports "Ukraine's efforts to obtain security guarantees to build lasting peace".

    In his speech to Congress, Trump reiterated the agreement itself would serve as a guarantee by giving the US a financial stake in the future of Ukraine.

    A map showing where the mineral deposits are in Ukraine. They are scattered along the centre of the country from top to bottom, with some in the Russia controlled areas of Donetsk

  3. Trump receives 'important letter' from Zelensky

    Donald Trump delivers speech in Congress wearing a dark blue suit, maroon tie and white shirt. He's standing behind a lectern, a thick black binder on top of it, a female (L) and a male (R) clerks behind himGetty Images

    During his speech in Congress earlier, Trump said he had received an "important letter" from Ukraine's leader, which appeared to match what Volodymyr Zelensky posted publicly on social media yesterday.

    As we mention in the post below, Zelensky says he's now ready to work under Trump's "strong leadership" to end the war and start negotiations with Russia "as soon as possible" to secure a lasting peace.

    "I appreciate that he sent this letter," Trump told lawmakers.

    His offer comes after an Oval Office meeting last week during which the two leaders argued in front of TV cameras, before cancelling plans to sign a minerals deal that would allow the US to profit from an economic partnership involving Ukraine's resources.

    Trump was reportedly hoping to announce during his speech to Congress that the deal had finally been sealed. But it did not materialise.

  4. Trump says Zelensky is ready to negotiate in first address to Congress

    Donald Trump holds his fist in the air, surrounded by people taking photos and congratulating himEPA

    US President Donald Trump has delivered his first address to Congress since returning to power - and Ukraine was one of many topics he touched upon.

    During the speech, Trump read out a letter he said he'd received from President Volodymyr Zelensky in which the Ukrainian leader suggested he was ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible.

    Trump also added there's now "strong signals" Russia is "ready for peace".

    This comes after Zelensky yesterday said he was ready to work under Trump's "strong leadership" to end the war and "come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer".

    Zelensky offered the olive branch a day after Trump paused all military aid to the country following a showdown between the Ukrainian leader and the US president in the Oval Office last week.

    Trump also claimed he had received strong signals from Russia that it's ready for a peace deal with Ukraine.

    Stay with us as we bring you the latest.