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.

Image 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.

Image source, EPA

Volodymyr Zelensky says he has held an "honest conversation" with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz by phone, about various issues including Ukraine's future security.

"We rely on Europe’s unity around Ukraine and are working toward it," Zelensky says in a post on X.

"We all want a safe future for our people. Not a temporary ceasefire, but an end to the war once and for all. With our coordinated efforts and US leadership, this is entirely achievable."

Scholz also says on X that he told Zelensky "our solidarity is unbreakable" - and that the US president will take a leadership role as they negotiate for a ceasefire and lasting peace.

A pause in US military aid to Ukraine will harm the country's ability to fight, but it may take weeks or months for the effects to be felt on the frontline, according to experts at the Institute for the Study of War, external.

The organisation says a shortage in US Patriot defence missile systems - which Ukraine depends on to intercept missile strikes - would threaten critical infrastructure. With fewer Patriots, Ukraine will have to make difficult decisions on which places to protect, it adds.

"If it runs out of Patriots entirely then Ukrainian cities will lie open to Russian ballistic missiles," the institute warns.

It says while the frontline in Ukraine "does not risk imminent collapse", the effects of the pause in aid "will become more acute over time" - and that Russia will likely exploit it to make further territorial gains in eastern and southern Ukraine.

As we have been reporting, the US military has paused intelligence sharing with Ukraine.

"We have taken a step back, and are pausing and reviewing all aspects of this relationship," National Security Adviser Mike Waltz says.

Watch below as he tells reporters about the decision, adding that talks with Ukrainian counterparts are going well and that "we're going to see movement in very short order".

Image source, Reuters

In the last few hours, we've had an update from the UK Ministry of Defence about the latest state of the conflict in Ukraine for the Russian side:

• Russia, it says, has sustained "approximately 90,000" casualties (meaning those killed and wounded) in 2025 - taking the total of Russia casualties since the invasion to about 875,000
• In February, the total reported Russian casualties was 35,140 - this is down by 13,000 from January's total which it says was the second highest monthly figure of the war

The MoD suggests that the decrease in the recorded rate of casualties "likely reflects a decrease in the tempo of Russian operations and assaults".

It predicts that Russia's casualty rate will continue to average above 1,000 a day through this month.

US pauses intelligence sharing: The US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz tells reporters the US has "taken a step back" on sharing intelligence with Ukraine. It's part of the US's decision - announced on Monday - to suspend military aid to Ukraine. The US has provided Ukraine with intelligence since the war began - information that's believed to help understand Moscow’s next moves and also providing information on where Russian troops are for targeting.

Military aid linked to peace talks: Waltz, in an interview with Fox News, says Trump will consider lifting the suspension on military aid to Ukraine if peace talks are arranged and "confidence-building measures" are taken.

Russian attack on Ukraine continues: The Ukrainian Air Force says 181 drones were launched into the territory by Russia overnight, 115 of which were shot down. Zelensky's chief aide says Russia must stop the "daily shelling" if it wants peace.

Trump 'appreciates' Zelensky letter: Yesterday, the US president told Congress he had received a letter from the Ukrainian leader saying he is willing to come to the negotiating table and work under Trump's "strong leadership". "I appreciate that he sent this letter," Trump said. A Kremlin spokesperson says Trump's remarks that Ukraine is willing to enter talks are "positive".

Tom Bateman
US state department correspondent

Explaining US President Trump’s suspension of military assistance to Ukraine, the director of the CIA John Ratcliffe said the pause was on the military and intelligence fronts.

Likewise, asked whether the suspension included intelligence sharing, the White House national security adviser Mike Waltz said the administration was pausing and reviewing all aspects of the relationship.

Halting intelligence support would likely have serious consequences on the battlefield.

The information is believed to help Ukraine both strategically understand Moscow’s next moves and also tactically, for example providing information on Russian troop positions for weapons guidance and targeting.

Both men, however, suggested progress and a more conciliatory tone emerging between Washington and Kyiv.

Image source, Royal Navy

The Royal Navy says it has tracked a Russian warship through the English Channel and North Sea for three days.

The Russian corvette, named Boikiy, was part of a task group escorting a cargo ship on its return from Syria to Russia.

Patrol aircraft and Nato forces also assisted with the monitoring operation, the Navy says.

Boikiy is one of several Russian vessels to have been spotted around the British coastline in recent months.

The operation comes two weeks after the Navy monitored five ships, including three merchant vessels, as they sailed for a Russian Baltic port from Syria. More here on what we know about the Navy's operation.

Image source, Reuters

We reported earlier on remarks from a French government spokesperson, who said Macron was considering returning to Washington DC with Starmer and Zelensky for talks.

But the French presidency appears to now be playing down the prospect.

The Élysée Palace says no new visit by Macron is being considered "at this stage", AFP reports.

The UK prime minister's official spokesperson also says the French government has clarified that there are no plans for a joint trip to Washington.

National Security Adviser Mike Waltz says the US has "taken a step back" on sharing intelligence with Ukraine.

Speaking to reporters, Waltz adds that the US is "pausing and reviewing all aspects of this relationship".

He says he spoke on the phone with his Ukrainian counterpart.

Waltz says they had “good talks” about the location and substance of the next round of negotiations.

He says there will be movement in “very short order".

President Zelensky says he wants to see "an end to the war once and for all".

In a post on X, he says he shared a call with outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

"We rely on Europe’s unity around Ukraine and are working toward it. We all want a safe future for our people," Zelensky says.

"Not a temporary ceasefire," he adds, "but an end to the war once and for all. With our coordinated efforts and US leadership, this is entirely achievable."

Image source, Reuters

The head of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has appeared to confirm that the US has cut off intelligence sharing with Ukraine, in addition to suspending military aid.

Fox News journalist Maria Bartiromo puts to it John Ratcliffe that Polish President Andrzej Duda told her the US had stopped intelligence sharing and asks him to comment.

Ratcliffe says President Trump “had a real question about whether President Zelensky was committed to the peace process, and he said ‘let’s pause I want to give you a chance to think about that’.”

He adds the response came swiftly with Zelensky’s statement saying he was ready for peace.

Ratcliffe then adds: “On the military front and the intelligence front, the pause that allowed that to happen, will go away and we’ll work shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine as we have to push back on the aggression that’s there.”

The prime minister's official spokesperson has declined to comment on whether the White House has instructed the UK to suspend the sharing of US intelligence with Ukraine.

The spokesperson says it is the UK's "longstanding position" not to comment on intelligence.

"Our longstanding approach has always been to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position," they add.

Image source, Getty Images

US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz says Donald Trump will consider lifting the pause on military aid to Ukraine if peace talks are arranged and "confidence-building measures" are taken.

"I think if we can nail down these negotiations and move towards these negotiations, and in fact, put some confidence-building measures on the table, then the president will take a hard look at lifting this pause," Waltz says in an interview with Fox News.

Trump ordered the pause yesterday following a heated exchange between the US president and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky at the Oval Office last week.

Let's return briefly to another key exchange from Prime Minister's Questions.

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey raised reports that the White House had instructed the UK to suspend the sharing of US intelligence with Ukraine.

He asked Starmer if - in light of this and the pausing of military aid to Ukraine - the US could be considered a "reliable ally".

Starmer did not directly address the reports around intelligence sharing, instead saying the US is "of course reliable".

He added that the UK works "very closely with the US on defence, on security and on intelligence".

Vitaliy Shevchenko
Russia editor, BBC Monitoring

A British man captured while fighting alongside Ukrainian troops in Russia’s Kursk region has been sentenced to 19 years in prison, according to the regional judiciary.

James Scott Rhys Anderson was convicted of terrorism and mercenary activities by a military court.

The press service for Kursk courts says Anderson has “admitted his guilt and repented”.

He was taken prisoner in November 2024.

Image source, EPA

Sticking with PMQs...

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch asks Starmer what he's doing to convince the US that security guarantees for Ukraine would also be in its interests.

Starmer says he discussed them with President Trump when he visited the White House last Thursday.

He adds that he's spoken to the US president three times since then.

• Follow our dedicated PMQs coverage here

A telling moment from Starmer on Trump and Natopublished at 12:20 Greenwich Mean Time 5 March

12:20 GMT 5 March

Chris Mason
Political editor

Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Keir Starmer has again pointed to President Trump’s public backing for Nato’s Article 5 – the commitment of each member to come to the assistance of another in the event of an attack.

But it is telling in itself that such reassurances have to be sought – as Nato's capacity for deterrence relies on Article 5 being sancosanct and so beyond even the subject of discussion.

It would be a little bit like having to be reassured that your front door keys will actually open your front door.

The prospect that they won’t isn’t normal.

Image source, EPA

We need to do everything we can to ensure the US, Europe and Ukraine are working together on lasting peace, says British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Starmer tells MPs he's doing "everything I can to play my part".

He says he's in regular contact with the "key players", adding that he spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky yesterday afternoon.

We will continue monitoring the Commons for further lines on Ukraine - our full coverage of PMQs can be found here.