Adam Easton
Warsaw Correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Polish President Andrzej Duda has advised Ukraine’s President Zelensky to continue co-operating with President Donald Trump.

"A few minutes ago, President Zelensky called me. We had a candid conversation on the heels of the recent meetings with General Kellogg and other developments," President Duda wrote on X.

"I conveyed to him that we consistently believe there is no other way to stop the bloodshed and achieve lasting peace in Ukraine except with the support of the United States.

“For this reason, I suggested to President Zelensky to remain committed to the course of calm and constructive co-operation with President Donald Trump.

"I trust that goodwill and honesty form the foundation of the US negotiation strategy. Have no doubt that President Trump is guided by a deep sense of responsibility for global stability and peace,” he added.

Image source, EPA

Donald Trump's Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg says he has held "extensive and positive" discussions with Volodymyr Zelensky.

"A long and intense day with the senior leadership of Ukraine. Extensive and positive discussions with Zelensky, the embattled and courageous leader of a nation at war and his talented national security team," he writes on social media.

These are the first remarks from Kellogg about meeting Zelensky since the media - including the BBC - gathered for a news conference from the pair yesterday, only for it to be cancelled at the last minute and camera crews ushered out.

Let's bring you an update from the frontline.

Russia's defence ministry said a short while ago that its forces have captured the villages of Nadiyivka and Novosilka, both in the southern part of Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, according to state-owned Tass news agency.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's armed forces said Russia "made three attempts to advance near Novosilka” in a post on Telegram, but doesn't mention if those attempts were successful.

The post also says Nadiyivka is among the locations where “enemy troops have been most active”.

This comes after Ukraine's military said it responded to an overnight attack of 160 Russian drones, which we reported on earlier.

Our correspondents have just finished answering your questions about the war in Ukraine following a turbulent week in US-Europe relations, shedding light on what has transpired and what to expect going forward.

Here's a recap of the questions you sent in:

• Kicking off the session, BBC Monitoring's Russia editor Vitaliy Shevchenko answered a question about the political history between Ukraine and Russia
• Another reader asked, will the US, UK and Europe end their special relationship? Chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet addressed this query, beginning by saying "We live at a hinge moment of history"
• Russia editor Steve Rosenberg answered the question, Why does Russia keep talking about Ukrainian elections?
• There were also a few questions about the US president, including what is Trump’s motive to side with Russia?
• Europe's potential response was also a focal point, with one reader asking, how can European leaders resist Trump's pressure?
• Another question focused around UK PM Keir Starmer's upcoming trip to the US: How can the UK navigate its relationship with the US administration which has seemingly sided with Russia?

Next up, our colleagues over at BBC 5 Live will also be answering questions from readers at 15:00 GMT, which you can follow live at the top of this page.

What do Americans think of their president's Ukraine criticism?published at 13:27 Greenwich Mean Time

13:27 GMT

Nomia Iqbal
North America correspondent

Christopher in Sunderland asks: "What do people inside America think of the deal and Trump’s criticism of Ukraine? Do they believe the rhetoric that Trump is claiming? Will the US completely shift its global foreign policy?"

I think a lot of President Trump’s supporters will be perfectly fine with the criticism.

This may be foreign policy to the rest of the world, but to them he is trying to deliver a domestic policy he promised on the campaign trail.

He said he would end the war in Ukraine - not quite on day one as he vowed though.

Last week I was in the swing state of Pennsylvania – Trump won it in 2024 – and there was some overlap between those who voted for him and those who didn’t: They want the US to stop sending money to Ukraine.

Many of them, however, admire President Zelensky.

A recent Economist/YouGov poll suggested nearly half of respondents see him favourably so they may not be impressed with the president’s verbal attacks, but most of Trump supporters are used to his uncompromising style of speaking.

In terms of shifting global foreign policy, we’re often told to take Trump seriously, not literally. There’s a lot of rhetoric but nothing has substantively changed.

More military hardware is arriving in Ukraine thanks to the Biden administration signing off a package last year. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says assistance will continue plus US sanctions remain on Russia with Vice-President JD Vance even suggesting these could increase.

That was the last question asked to our correspondents through Your Voice, Your BBC News. Sit tight as we continue to bring you the latest updates from the Ukraine war.

How does the UK keep ties with the Ukraine and the US right now?published at 13:17 Greenwich Mean Time

13:17 GMT

Damian Grammaticas
Political correspondent

Another question focuses around Starmer's upcoming trip to the US: How can the UK navigate its relationship with the US administration which has seemingly sided with Russia while insuring unwavering support for Ukraine?

Keir Starmer is going to be in the US on Thursday next week. You can guarantee this is a question that's being asked and debated inside the corridors of power here, in Downing Street and the Foreign Office.

There is big concern about what we've seen, which is this shift in the US position on these things. But what I think European leaders and Keir Starmer see here is an important opportunity to make sure they are part of the debate. Their concern is that they've been cut out of that for the time being. They want to get in the door, to talk to President Trump, and have several ways they think they can tread that line and address him.

One is flattery - saying you are changing the dynamic here, you are opening a path that could lead to some sort of settlement, which is a good thing.

They will seek to say what's important is not just securing an immediate cessation of hostilities, but a durable one. And if President Trump is able to do that, then that will be a significant achievement. But if he doesn't do that, that could be a significant risk for him and his reputation in the future.

And what can they bring to the table? Promises to increase military spending, to put boots on the ground and some sort of reassurance force if there were to be a deal.

The other thing is Ukraine - the important thing is that Starmer will seek to bring the Ukrainian voice in and say they have to be part of this conversation too.

Why does Russia keep talking about Ukrainian elections?published at 13:08 Greenwich Mean Time

13:08 GMT

Steve Rosenberg
Russia editor

Another question that came in via Your Voice, Your BBC News: "How can Putin say there should be elections in Ukraine, when he is destroying it?"

How can he say it? The answer: Easily. There's no doubt that Putin's goal is first of all to force Ukraine back into Russia's orbit.

That was the goal three years ago, right, when he started the so-called special military operation, which was conceived as an operation. I don't think he believed it was going to last for such a long time and become a war. He was confident that by sending in troops, the Ukrainian government would fall quickly and the whole of Ukraine would fall under a pro-Moscow leader, and he'd have Ukraine basically on a plate. That didn't happen.

It doesn't mean that he's changed his goal, I'm sure that remains the aim. Putin believes that countries like Ukraine, particularly Ukraine, should be in Russia's sphere of influence.

The key question now, is when he sits down for talks with Trump at some point, will they discuss carving out the world? Would they be talking about creating spheres of influence? It's something that I think the Russians would like. They do not like how the Cold War ended with the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Could the US lift sanctions on Russia?published at 13:04 Greenwich Mean Time

13:04 GMT

Vitaliy Shevchenko
BBC Monitoring's Russia editor

"Do you think the Trump administration will remove sanctions against Russia if the EU and Ukraine refuse to accept any deal that's without them?" Jacob from Camberley asks.

The Trump administration's single-minded approach to foreign policy has upended so many rules and put so much strain on the Western alliance that at this stage nothing can be ruled out.

Both US and Russian officials say they are interested in restoring economic co-operation - which would be impossible without lifting sanctions.

However, they are one of the most effective levers in Washington's hands, which it can use to change Russia's behaviour.

Without it, and without continued support for Ukraine, America's chances of getting any concessions out of Vladimir Putin will be vanishingly small.

That's why US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the lifting of sanctions has not been discussed with Russia yet.

How can European leaders resist Trump's pressure?published at 13:02 Greenwich Mean Time

13:02 GMT

James Waterhouse
Ukraine correspondent in Kyiv

Trump seems to be pressurising Zelensky and European leaders to accept a profoundly unfair peace settlement. How can they resist this pressure? Are there ways they can put him under pressure to compromise - to agree to a settlement that's fairer to Ukraine? From James in Cambridge.

Volodymyr Zelensky is at his lowest point in his relationship with the US since the invasion.

As Europe works out how it can step up, he’s got a Russia-friendly US president trying to get access to Ukraine’s natural minerals in exchange for military help.

He also isn’t even sitting at the negotiating table where his country’s future is being discussed.

In the past, battlefield progress was his best currency as allies debated how to help Ukraine.

But Russian dominance in a grinding war has fed a tiredness which has seemingly reached the White House.

If Emmanuel Macron of France and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer can convince Donald Trump that they have a European plan on their visits to Washington next week, perhaps the political tide could turn.

But at the moment, it seems any ceasefire deal would more likely favour Moscow, rather than Kyiv.

Image source, Reuters

What does this all mean for Nato members?published at 12:57 Greenwich Mean Time

12:57 GMT

Steve Rosenberg
Russia editor

One reader asks our correspondents answering questions on the stream: "If Putin gave Ukraine eight years between invading Crimea and then the other parts of Ukraine, is he likely to aim for a tighter schedule now that he has the US indifference, or support, to pull back other parts of Europe under his sphere of influence?"

If you think back to the Munich Security Conference a few days ago, this very open schism between the United States and Europe, questions were being asked then about America's commitment to Nato.

This is a vitally important question. Because if, as many people believe, the Trump administration isn't that bothered about Nato, if it's questioning its commitment to Nato, that raises very important questions, which actually the Russian press, one Russian newspaper today in an editorial, was raising.

The newspaper said Nato had been created to defend common values of America and Europe, but those common values, the paper said, don't exist anymore.

If that's the case it raises questions about what will the Trump administration do if there is an attack on a Nato member. Will Nato and the Trump administration invoke Article 5 and come to the aid of that Nato member? If we're asking that question, you can bet that they're asking it in the Kremlin.

These are critical, dangerous times.

Where does Russia's army stand now?published at 12:56 Greenwich Mean Time

12:56 GMT

James Waterhouse
Ukraine correspondent in Kyiv

Have we seen the best of the Russian army in Ukraine and, if so, does Nato really have a lot to worry about? asks Ian Wilson in Cumbernauld.

During the early months of the full-scale invasion, Russia undoubtedly played its best hand by sending in more than 150,000 professional soldiers.

The problem for Moscow was they planned to take over the whole of Ukraine within days.

They certainly didn’t anticipate the level of Ukrainian resistance they were met with.

As a result, one of the biggest armies in the world struggled with poor supply lines and logistical problems as the pace of their advance slowed.

But Russia has adapted. The Kremlin has since increased its defence spending to well above 6% of its annual GDP, its highest since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

It means it’s making its size count, whereas Ukraine cannot. President Zelensky has long argued that, if it isn’t stopped now, Russia won’t stop at Ukraine – he claims the Baltic countries or Poland could be next.

The possibility of America pulling troops out of Europe has now added weight to his argument.

Zelensky suggested a European army - is it realistic?published at 12:52 Greenwich Mean Time

12:52 GMT

Lyse Doucet
Chief international correspondent

Zelensky suggested a European army a few days ago. Would that be a realistic goal? Surely a show of strength and unity across the rest of Europe would be a strong message? asks Alan Rookard.

Ukraine’s President Zelensky delivered a blunt message to Europe at last weekend’s Munich Security Conference – it’s time for a European army.

He made it clear this would not replace the Nato military alliance where the US plays the dominant role.

But he said Europe had to send a much stronger message to enemies and allies that it could defend itself.

I spoke to the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas immediately after his speech.

“We don’t need another army,” was her reply. The focus of European governments is on strengthening their unity and increasing their defence spending.

They’ve been under pressure for years as part of their Nato commitment. Some have already enlarged their budgets.

President Trump’s team have demanded it reach 5% of GDP. Not even America spends that. But Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte told me it was time for Europe to do more.

Trump and Putin: Keep your friends close but enemies closer?published at 12:45 Greenwich Mean Time

12:45 GMT

Nomia Iqbal
North America correspondent

Image source, Reuters

What is Trump’s motive to side with Russia? Keep your friends close but enemies closer? What are his intentions - or end game? asks JB.

Donald Trump’s readiness to criticise anyone other than Russia’s Vladimir Putin has always baffled his allies.

His detractors believe he is somehow compromised by Russia even though multiple investigations have never returned any substantial evidence.

Trump himself has denied it saying he thinks it’s no bad thing to talk to your adversaries. I suspect for Donald Trump – who admires authoritarian leaders – it is much easier to exert pressure on Ukraine than it is on Russia so he's adopted the Kremlin’s talking points.

It’s possible there could be geopolitical reasons such as getting closer to Russia to push back against China’s growing influence.

But there may be a personal element to this too: President Trump and President Zelensky have a very rocky relationship that goes all the way back to 2019.

His first impeachment was over allegations that he tried to bribe Zelensky into digging up dirt on his then rival Joe Biden. Lev Parnas a former aide to Trump ally, Rudy Guiliani, claimed last year that Donald Trump “hates Ukraine and believes it was the cause of all his problems".

Will Trump's comments lead to more support for Ukraine?published at 12:41 Greenwich Mean Time

12:41 GMT

James Waterhouse
Ukraine correspondent in Kyiv

Mike May in Dorset asks: "Do you think the comments from Trump highly criticising Zelensky's leadership will lead to the escalation of armed support to Ukraine and troops from Europe being sent to Ukraine?"

Most of Europe would like to. But can it? There’s also division over how it would enforce a ceasefire.

The UK and France are among those who’ve said they’d been willing to send troops to Ukraine to enforce an eventual ceasefire. But the likes of Germany and Poland are more cautious.

EU countries are reportedly preparing one of its military aid packages for Ukraine worth at least €6bn (£4.9bn) ahead of the war’s three-year anniversary. It will include artillery shells and air defence systems and could go up to €10bn.

The reality is, though, that Europe is still reliant on the US. It’s why countries are still asking for America to provide a guarantee it would step in, in case Russia turns on them.

Will the US, UK and Europe end their special relationship?published at 12:38 Greenwich Mean Time

12:38 GMT

Lyse Doucet
Chief international correspondent

Richard White got in touch to ask: "Are we about to witness a break-up of the special relationship we have come to rely on between the US, the UK and Europe?"

We live at a hinge moment of history.

President Trump has turned his back on the transatlantic alliance, the rules-based international order which has underpinned security since the end of the Second World War.

His highly personalised and transactional approach to peace-making has already rewarded Russia’s President Vladimir Putin for his full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and cut Kyiv and the rest of Europe out of the start of peace talks.

Minds have been concentrated in European capitals on the urgent need to fortify their own ranks and forge a new order.

Britain is signalling its readiness to play a pivotal role. It’s long prided itself on a “special relationship” with the US. That too is being tested as never before.

London will try to help rescue what’s left of this transatlantic partnership. But old assumptions have been shattered; a new architecture is being built in this bleakest of times.

What's the political history between Ukraine and Russia?published at 12:33 Greenwich Mean Time

12:33 GMT

Vitaliy Shevchenko
BBC Monitoring's Russia editor

Stephen from Manchester asks: "What is the political history between Ukraine and Russia leading up to the present conflict? I'm trying to have a balanced view but find it impossible."

At various points in history, parts of Ukraine were in the Russian empire and later it was in the USSR.

After its break-up, Ukraine increasingly started looking West. The root of the current conflict lies in 2014, when demonstrators ousted pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych, who unexpectedly refused to sign a political co-operation agreement with the EU after a meeting with Vladimir Putin.

He fled to Russia, and Moscow secretly sent troops across the border - without insignia, and denying that they were Russian.

They were able to capture the Crimean peninsula in the south and parts of the eastern Donbas region. The conflict smouldered for eight years until Russia attacked Ukraine openly in February 2022.

Our correspondents are now answering some of the questions you've sent in via Your Voice, Your BBC News - just click watch live at the top of the page to follow along.

They've also been answering lots of queries they won't get to in our live stream, looking at the new world order, Trump's relationship with Putin and whether a European army suggested by President Zelensky is feasible.

So stay with us for the next hour or so as our experts walk you through the key issues ahead of the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Monday.

Image source, Reuters

We're soon going to be handing the reins over to some of our BBC correspondents, who will be answering questions about the latest developments in the war.

But if you’re just joining us, here are the key lines from this morning:

• Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for “reliable and clear” security guarantees from allies to end the war

• The White House still wants Zelensky to sign a deal on US access to Ukraine’s critical minerals; Zelensky rejected such a deal on Wednesday

• The Kremlin said there was an “understanding” that a meeting between Trump and Putin was “needed”, but that no arrangements had been made

• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump and Putin would only meet if the two sides made progress on peace in Ukraine

• The US is reportedly opposing language calling Russia the “aggressor” in a G7 statement marking the full-scale invasion's third anniversary

• Meanwhile, twelve civilians were killed in Russian attacks on Ukraine overnight, local officials report

Coming up in 30 minutes, our correspondents will be answering your questions about the war in Ukraine, the latest war of words between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky and the new world order.

You'll be able to watch this special Your Questions Answered segment at the top of this page at 12:30 GMT, just click watch live.

You've been sending us your queries via Your Voice, Your BBC News, and there's still time to get in touch.

You can email bbcyourvoice@bbc.co.uk, WhatsApp +44 7980 682727 or click here to send a message.

Let's bring you some more voices of Ukrainian nationals who are now living in the UK, after fleeing their homes nearly three years ago.

Last night, during a BBC One Question Time special on the war, a Ukrainian audience member described how her family has been separated because of the conflict.

"I wish I would see my family all together," she said in an emotional moment, adding that her parents "live on the frontline" in an area of Ukraine occupied by Russia.

She was responding to a question on whether Ukrainian refugees should be allowed to stay in the UK when the conflict ends.

As we just mentioned, many Ukrainian nationals came to the UK after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. They will soon have to apply to extend their visas via the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme, but the extension does not offer any permanent option to remain.