How can European leaders resist Trump's pressure?published at 13:02 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February

13:02 GMT 21 February

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 21 February

12:57 GMT 21 February

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 21 February

12:56 GMT 21 February

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 21 February

12:52 GMT 21 February

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 21 February

12:45 GMT 21 February

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 21 February

12:41 GMT 21 February

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 21 February

12:38 GMT 21 February

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 21 February

12:33 GMT 21 February

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.

As world leaders continue to push for a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia, let's check-in with some of the people who fled the war-torn country after Russia launched its full-scale invasion nearly three years ago.

Husband and wife Anatolii and Lidiia Kyrylov - who are 69 and 73 - fled the south-east Ukrainian city of Mariupol when it came under siege in 2022.

They resettled in the Scottish city of Aberdeen. They tell the BBC that they now have no home to return to, but hope they can stay in the UK.

The couple had spent most of their lives in Mariupol. That all changed after Russia attacked the trading port.

When they reached the safety of a Ukrainian checkpoint, an emotional Anatolli said there was "so much happiness, so much tears, you cannot imagine", and they fell to their knees.

More than 28,000 Ukrainian refugees have arrived in Scotland since the Russian full-scale invasion.

Soon, many of those people will be applying to remain for another 18 months under an extension scheme. At the moment, the scheme does not offer an option to permanently remain.

Anatolii says he is "very worried" about what will happen when the extension is over. He wants his family and all Ukrainians in Scotland to have "certainty" in the future.

"We definitely want to stay here," he tells the BBC.

As we reported a bit earlier, the US is urging Zelensky to strike a deal that would give Washington access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals.

The Ukrainian president rejected such a deal earlier this week, but White House national security adviser Mike Waltz yesterday suggested access to rare minerals could be exchanged for aid - or even as compensation for the support the US has already provided.

Here, the BBC's analysis editor Ros Atkins looks at the minerals Trump wants - and whether he's likely to get them.

Image source, VADYM FILASHKIN/Telegram

Twelve civilians were killed and six more were injured over the past day in Russian attacks, according to Ukrainian officials.

Dozens of homes were damaged and infrastructure was hit across the Donetsk, Kherson, Nikopol and Zaporizhzhia regions, local officials say.

Some 183 people were evacuated from Donetsk, regional head Vadym Filashkin said in a Telegram post.

Russian attacks also struck infrastructure facilities and power lines in the Kyiv and Potlava regions, but no civilians were injured, authorities say.

As we reported earlier, Ukraine's Air Force says it shot down 87 out of 160 Russian drones launched overnight. Another 70 decoy drones vanished from radar screens and caused no damage, it adds.

The Russian military has yet to comment on the strikes.

Vitaliy Shevchenko
BBC Monitoring's Russia editor

The US is opposing calling Russia the "aggressor" in a G7 statement marking the third anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, reports say.

This comes as yet another sign of a rift between Donald Trump's administration and Western nations supporting Ukraine.

The FT quoted, external unnamed Western officials as saying that US representatives have objected to the phrase "Russian aggression" and similar wording which has been routinely used by Ukraine's allies, including the Group of Seven advanced economies, or G7.

"The Americans are blocking that language, but we are still working on it and hopeful of an agreement," the FT quoted one official as saying.

CNN, external also reports that the US is opposing language blaming Russia for the war, and quotes an official as saying that "there is a lot of concern at equivocating who is responsible for the war".

Russia joined the G7 in the 1990s, but was removed after Moscow annexed Ukraine's Crimean peninsula and parts of eastern Donbas region in 2014.

Earlier in February, Donald Trump said it should be admitted back: "I'd love to have them back. I think it was a mistake to throw them out."

The remarks shocked some of the other members of the G7, with French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot saying Russia's return to the group was "unimaginable, external".

Vitaliy Shevchenko
BBC Monitoring's Russia editor

No agreements have been put in place yet for a meeting between the Russian and US presidents, the Kremlin has said.

"There's nothing specific yet about a meeting between Putin and Trump. There's an understanding that this feeling is needed," spokesman Dmitry Peskov said during a daily press briefing.

His comments come the day after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the two sides would only meet if they make progress on ending the war in Ukraine.

Asked by a journalist about "the feeling that the Trump administration has become pro-Russian and anti-Ukrainian", Peskov said: "That feeling is incorrect."

"President Putin remains open to a Ukraine settlement through peaceful negotiations,” Peskov said.

Speaking about the war with Ukraine, he said: “It’s too early to sum up results. The special military operation is continuing. All of the objectives set by the head of state must be reached.”

He also denied reports that Russia demanded the withdrawal of Nato troops from Eastern Europe during the recent talks with the US in Saudi Arabia.

Image source, Reuters

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said that while it's too early to discuss sending a peacekeeping mission to Ukraine, the conflict-struck nation can still count on support from Europe.

"We are still a long way from a ceasefire and we do not know whether international troops, UN troops or whatever might play a role there, and whether it will even happen," he says.

European leaders were not invited by the US to Tuesday's talks with Russia over the future of Ukraine - neither were Ukraine.

Scholz, speaking to a German broadcaster today, tried to reassure Kyiv in the wake of this week's chaotic moves, saying: "[Ukraine] can rely on Germany and Europe as a whole now that negotiations are taking place."

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine almost three years ago to the day – on 24 February 2022.

Since then, control of the frontline has shifted, with Russian forces first rapidly gaining territory before Ukraine started to push them back.

More recently, Russia has been edging forward from the south-east.

A closer look at the border shows the limits of Russian military control, as well as Ukraine’s advance into Russia’s Kursk region.

Zelensky has said the Kursk operation, launched with a mass incursion in August, has established a buffer zone which prevents Russian forces from being deployed in key areas in eastern Ukraine.

Kyiv and Moscow say they have killed or wounded thousands of each other's troops in Kursk, giving figures the BBC cannot independently verify.

Vitaliy Shevchenko
BBC Monitoring's Russia editor

We can now bring you an update on the Russia strikes on Ukraine that were reported overnight by Kyiv's military.

In Zaporizhzhia region, a 53-year-old civilian was killed last night after a Russian strike damaged several buildings, regional administration head Ivan Fedorov says, external.

In separate strikes carried out yesterday, at least four residents in the frontline town of Kostyantynivka – including a 72-year-old woman - were killed, Ukrainian police say. According to the report, Russian forces dropped four bombs and used artillery.

Also in the eastern Donetsk region, Russian aircraft targeted residential areas in Mykolayivka, killing one man, Ukrainian state emergencies service DSNS says.