Jamie Whitehead
Live reporter

Image source, Getty Images

As leaders from the 30 countries came together in Paris today under the banner of the "coalition of the willing", a message was sent out to the world: Europe is united. Europe is strong.

Relations between the US and Ukraine have cooled in recent weeks following that explosive meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, President Trump and Vice-President JD Vance. And so, a lasting and secure peace in Ukraine was top of the agenda in the French capital today.

"Europe is mobilising on a scale not seen for decades," British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told reporters following the talks, but was quick to add that American support was still needed for a ceasefire agreement.

There was talk of a "reassurance force", with European countries deploying troops to Ukraine once a ceasefire is reached, and an agreement at the summit that it would be a mistake to lift sanctions on Moscow now.

Zelensky, dressed in his usual military attire, said he has no plans to meet with Trump as Ukrainian and American teams work towards a deal on rare earth minerals. He further called on the US to be stronger against Russia, and said he was leaving the summit feeling motivated.

As we bring our coverage of the summit in Paris to a close, there is plenty more coverage of the Ukraine war across the BBC:

• International editor Jeremy Bowen reports that Zelensky is buoyant, but Europe will struggle to guarantee Ukraine's security.
• Russia and Ukraine have agreed a naval ceasefire in the Black Sea
• You can also read the full report on today's summit in Paris

Image source, Reuters

As we catch up on today's diplomacy, let's zoom out for a moment and take stock of where things stand on a Black Sea truce deal between Russia and Ukraine.

An agreement to cease fighting was secured in separate deals between the two countries and the US in Saudi Arabia at the start of this week.

However, Vladimir Putin now says that this will only come into force when Western sanctions against its food and fertiliser trade are lifted.

During his press conference today Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters that the US informs him that this deal - as well as another agreement not to hit energy targets - is working.

But, he stressed that all the countries at today's summit agreed that Russian sanctions should not be lifted until the war is over.

As a result, he rejected the Kremlin's suggestion that this should be part of any deal on an end to naval fighting.

This impasse means that it is currently unclear when exactly the agreement is meant to come into force.

• There's more in our article on how a historic "Black Sea grain deal" stopped ships from being hit by fighting until July 2023.

Image source, Reuters

Bulgaria is offering to establish a co-ordination centre to monitor commercial shipping - and keep an eye on "all potential hostile actions" in the Black Sea.

Following today's summit in Paris, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov said the restoration of commercial shipping was extremely important.

He added that a co-ordination group would increase the resilience of critical underwater infrastructure in the Black Sea.

The aim is to establish guidelines for navigation and to carry out monitoring activities - by air and by water, as well as critical infrastructure, and all potential hostile actions in the Black Sea," he said.

Image source, Reuters

We've been hearing from more international leaders following the summit on Ukraine in Paris.

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk says the nations in the summit have "the same position when it comes to the necessary effort on our part to maintain the best possible relations with the United States. Even if the circumstances are not always favourable".

He adds: "Poland will very effectively support all actions for peace, stabilization, and righteous resolution of this war. Above all, when we effectively defend our border and the entire eastern border of NATO and the European Union."

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis says "a common thread in today's discussions is that we must reach a ceasefire as soon as possible".

On Greece's position, he adds: "Greece does not belong to the countries that are ready to send troops to Ukraine, within the framework of an "alliance of the willing".

"And it also believes that this whole discussion may be a bit disruptive and not allow us to focus on the main thing, which is none other than how we will achieve at this moment the end of the war an hour earlier, and this can only be done through an initial ceasefire."

Image source, EPA

Image source, Getty Images

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni says she hopes there will be a US delegation involved the next time European nations meet to discuss Ukraine, the AFP news agency reports.

As other European leaders have discussed a "reassurance force" to defend any potential peace deal, Meloni says she will not be sending Italian troops to Ukraine - an assertion she's made before.

In a statement released by her office, Meloni stresses the "importance of continuing to work with the United States to stop the conflict and achieve a peace that ensures the sovereignty and security of Ukraine".

Image source, EPA

Volodymyr Zelensky was the third leader to share his thoughts on today's summit, after Emmanuel Macron and Keir Starmer earlier on.

Here's what the Ukrainian president told reporters:

• An aid package agreed with France yesterday was followed by the "very good step" of support for domestic production within Ukraine today
• While Putin attempts to divide the US and Europe, Zelensky said he will work with the White House - which needs "to be stronger" on Ukraine
• Despite this, the leader said he has no plans to visit Washington while the terms of a critical minerals deal is in "flux"
• And, responding to US envoy Steve Witkoff's comments that sending troops to Ukraine would be "absurd", Zelensky said he is "from another planet" while Ukraine is hit by missiles daily
• Zelensky said he was "not disappointed" that no security guarantees were confirmed today - and pointed to an expansion of Ukraine's drone and missile capabilities as "very important"
• Europe must be at the negotiation table to end the war - represented by Macron and Starmer - as coalition of the willing summits become "clearer and stronger"
• Putin, meanwhile, will not be there: "What can a man who wants war say at peace talks?" Zelensky asked

Image source, EPA

Zelensky was also asked about the pace of the ceasefire, US involvement - and when the world can expect to see a halt in fighting.

The world "moves slower than the country at war," he says.

"We are being hit on a daily basis by missiles - it's hard to explain to people who live in a different dimension, at a different pace, in a different idea of the world."

He says that things that are sought quickly "take weeks and months" to achieve in reality.

Referring to the US special envoy Steve Witkoff, he says the US says things that sound "abstract" to Ukrainians.

"For us, these people are from another planet," he says adding this was not a criticism - just observation that he and Witkoff are "living in different realities."

Pressed on how quickly he thinks progress will be made, he says he believes its "going slowly - but he cannot push anyone".

Let's bring you one more question fielded by Zelensky at the summit this afternoon - one in which he brought up the situation on the ground in Ukraine, specifically in Kherson.

He says the Americans are telling him the ceasefire on the sea and energy infrastructure is working.

But he believes there have been violations by the Russians.

He tells reporters that today, energy infrastructure was damaged in Kherson by Russian artillery and that civilians lost access to electricity as a result.

"This is how it works with the Russians," he says.

Given what happened in the city, which he stresses is not the battlefield, the US should react to the "violations", he says.

Zelensky's final question is more personal: "What is your state of mind as you leave Paris today, what is your message?"

Zelensky pauses for a second, before saying the summit has been a "motivating one" as he believes the European leaders will not abandon Ukraine.

He says this is a signal to Putin that Ukraine "will not surrender", as they are "a strong country who want lasting peace".

With that, Zelensky's news conference ends.

French newspaper Le Monde asks the Ukranian president what his relationship with Trump is like a few weeks after their explosive White House meeting, and follows up asking why direct talks have not happened.

"Putin is not ready for direct talks," Zelensky replies, adding that he is not afraid of any format of talks.

He goes on to say that Putin "wants war, and what can a man who wants war say at peace talks?"

"I'm not going to swallow his narrative," Zelensky continues, "I'm not interested."

Zelensky says it is important for Ukraine to be in a strong position so that there can be a "fair and lasting peace."

"I told him from day one," Zelensky says.

Image source, EPA

Zelensky is asked if he is clear on Europe's position and whether they are determined enough.

He responds that the European stance today in the summit was "unanimous" on the importance of sanctions, domestic production within Ukraine and future security guarantees.

He acknowledges that this is not the first summit on Ukraine, and says that after each meeting Europe's "direction is becoming clearer and stronger".

He says: "The Ukrainian position is very clear, that Europe should be at the negotiation table to end the war, this is mandatory because Europe is powerful. We have agreed that Europe will be represented by Macron and Starmer."

He adds that while each leader has their own views, everyone speaks in support of Ukraine.

Zelensky goes on to say Ukraine would like to work together with Washington and he has stressed to the Trump administration that air defence systems are important for Ukraine.

He also says that America's presence is important to peace efforts alongside European partners.

A journalist from the New York Times asks if Zelensky is disappointed about the lack of security guarantees from today's summit.

"I'm not disappointed," he replies.

"I got the things that are important to me," he adds, saying a "guaranteed expansion" of Ukraine's drone and missile capabilities after the war were "very important."

He reiterated the importance of not lifting sanctions against Russia, and is satisfied with the investment pledged to the army.

Image source, Getty Images

Zelensky is next asked about the mission between France and Britain to bring about peace in Ukraine.

He stresses that work is being done as European leaders focus their attention on the future infrastructure of security guarantees for Ukraine.

He adds that an important part of these conversations today has been on the Ukrainian armed forces and its enhancement, through additional funding.

"All countries made an emphasis that Russia cannot dictate the strength of our armed forces," he adds.

Image source, EPA

The next question focuses on the mineral deal between Ukraine and the US, and Zelensky is asked about reports of a new draft.

Zelensky says he will not be going to Washington at the moment as there is no issue on the agenda. He says terms and conditions are in constant flux and he understands American and Ukrainian teams are working on agreements.

Zelensky says lawyers will study upcoming drafts and if there are issues, they'll get answered.

• What we know about US-Ukraine minerals deal

Zelensky is asked by French television if he agrees with French President Emmanuel Macron's statement from earlier, where he, in the words of the journalist, described the US as a weak ally.

"Uncountably, the US is very important," Zelensky replies after asking if the French/Ukrainian translation in his ear can be turned up.

He says Putin wants to divide Europe and America, and "his machinery has been working on that for more than a year"

Zelensky says "we need the US to be stronger," and that he agrees with Macron.

"We need to work for this, we need to work with the White House."

Volodymyr Zelensky is having his say on this morning's Paris summit.

Yesterday, Zelensky says, he had a "very good" bilateral meeting with France that secured an aid package for Ukraine.

And today, he says the discussion of security guarantees was one of the main topics at the summit.

Additionally, the Ukrainian president says that the countries agreed that sanctions on Russia should not be lifted while the war continues.

Zelensky says this has been coupled with a "vision" to support domestic production in Ukraine - he calls this a "very good step".

Image source, EPA

We've heard from both UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, who have been speaking on peace in Ukraine following a European leaders' summit in Paris.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is now taking his turn. We heard from him briefly when he left the meeting - he stressed that "everybody" understood that Russia does not want "any kind of peace".

We'll be bringing you all the key developments from him. Stay tuned.

We've just experienced a flurry of news lines from European leaders attending a summit on Ukraine.

• The summit's host, French President Emmanuel Macron, said France and Britain are leading efforts to send a reassurance force to Ukraine to deter future Russian aggression

• According to British PM Sir Keir Starmer, Vladimir Putin must be given a deadline to make progress on a Ukraine ceasefire
• Outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said sanctions against Russia should not be lifted until there is peace in Ukraine - remarks which were echoed by both Macron and Starmer
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who we should be hearing from again shortly, said it was reassuring to witness 31 countries speaking with "a common voice" on how best to strengthen and push Russia

Image source, PA Media

British Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer has just finished speaking to reporters in Paris, where he described a feeling of European strength and unity, saying the continent was "mobilising on a scale not seen for decades," Here's a recap of everything else he touched upon:

• There should be a deadline for Ukraine peace talks, Starmer said, adding that the group meeting today has agreed to go further "to support the peace process, support Ukraine and increase the pressure on Russia to get serious"
• The coalition of the willing wants to see Russia come to negotiations "in days and weeks," with Starmer saying the allies had discussed how to implement a "full or partial ceasefire leading to a "just and lasting peace" today
• But he said that US support was still needed for a ceasefire agreement and said this was a discussion that had been had with President Trump "on many occasions," but added that he didn't know if a deal with Russia would be struck
• Defence chiefs from the UK, France and Germany will meet in Ukraine to discuss support for Kyiv with Starmer telling reporters that the British Parliament should have a say on any UK troop deployment to Ukraine
• Starmer also announced that UK Defence Secretary John Healey will chair a meeting next month to "deliver more military aid and keep Ukraine in the fight because peace comes through strength"