Vitaliy Shevchenko
Russia editor, BBC Monitoring

The head of the Crimean Tatar Mejlis, a body representing the indigenous population of the annexed Ukrainian region, has rejected suggestions to recognise it as part of Russia.

“Crimean Tatars categorically reject attempts to recognise Crimea as Russian territory, no matter who makes them,” Majlis head Refat Chubarov said.

He also told Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform that any deals on Crimea’s status reached without the involvement or agreement of Ukraine and the Crimean Tatar people would be illegitimate.

Chubarov is currently in New York attending the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Together with thousands of Crimean Tatars, he fled Crimea following its annexation by Russia in 2014.

Dozens of members of the Crimean Tatar community have since been jailed by the Russian authorities, often on dubious charges of extremism seen as Russia's revenge to the community that has generally opposed the annexation.

In 1944, Stalin deported almost all Crimean Tatars to Central Asia in what Ukraine recognises as an act of genocide. They were only allowed to return home in the late 1980s.

Ukraine didn't fight back when Russia annexed Crimea – here's whypublished at 21:21 British Summer Time 24 April

21:21 BST 24 April

Abdujalil Abdurasulov
Ukraine reporter

As we've been reporting, Crimea has been a point of contention in peace talks for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Donald Trump has recently accused Ukraine of failing to defend Crimea in 2014.

It's true that Ukraine didn't put up armed resistance to Russian soldiers at the time. But they made that choice because they wanted to avoid a full-scale invasion and the kind of war we’re seeing now.

Russia moved to take Crimea during a power vacuum in Ukraine. President Yanukovich had fled, and law enforcement was demoralised.

At a Security Council meeting in February 2014, acting defence minister Ihor Tenyuh said the Ukrainian army was virtually destroyed by the previous administration and warned against open confrontation with Russian troops.

Council members argued that any use of force would give Moscow an excuse to invade more of Ukraine.

Ukrainian leaders hoped not fighting back might appease Russia, but soon realised this only encouraged the Kremlin to seize more territory.

Because of such painful experience, today Kyiv insists on having “security guarantees” as part of a long-lasting peace deal with Russia.

Back on the ground in Ukraine now, and the Ukrainecast team have been speaking to Vitalii Pashchenko, a student in Kyiv who got caught up in Russia's strikes on the Ukrainian capital.

He describes the emotions he felt following the attack, including "a sense of the loss that the entire nation is experiencing on practically a daily basis."

You can hear the full interview in the latest episode here.

Gary O'Donoghue
Senior North America correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Donald Trump declined earlier on to say what specific pressure he's putting on Vladimir Putin in peace negotiations. But, according to reports, the White House is working on a seven-point plan that has already been rejected by President Zelensky.

The plan would require enormous concessions from Ukraine, including on Crimea - which is a huge red line for Kyiv. In fact, the first Trump administration was very clear that Russia illegally annexed Crimea and that shouldn’t have happened.

There are also big concerns around Russia keeping parts of provinces that it’s occupied during the war - which would effectively freeze the frontlines where they are . Again, this is something that would be incredibly hard for Ukrainians to accept.

There are some issues that remain for Moscow too. For example, Russia would not want to hand over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which it currently occupies, to the US. There are also questions around whether the Russians will be happy with Ukraine joining the EU- even if it’s prevented from joining Nato.

These are not small concerns in any negotiation, and even President Trump - despite his optimistic tone today - can’t wish those issues away in a short period of time.

Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claims "Russians used a ballistic missile manufactured in North Korea" in the strike on Kyiv, according to "preliminary information".

In a post on X, Zelensky says if this is confirmed it will be "further proof of the criminal nature of the alliance between Russia and Pyongyang".

"They kill people and torment lives together – that is the only meaning behind their cooperation," he says.

Zelensky says no country "should be left alone to face such threats" and calls for "real pressure on Russia to stop this".

He says the fact that strikes continue amid international diplomatic efforts shows "Putin is not afraid".

• For context: Kyiv and Western officials have accused North Korea of sending thousands of troops to aid Russia’s war effort against Ukraine

Tom Bateman
US State Department correspondent

We just got a significant insight into Trump’s thinking there, which supports the notion that the White House has not demanded any meaningful territorial concessions of Putin.

Trump was asked by a reporter what concessions Russian had offered up so far. “Stopping the war,” said Trump.

“Stopping taking the whole country, pretty big concession,” he added.

We already know the White House tends to mirror some Kremlin talking points – and this one felt like it could only be justified as a “concession” based on Putin’s previous false claims that Ukraine has never been a nation or separate state of its own.

This week, the leaked White House proposal for a ceasefire had Moscow keeping virtually all the territory it currently occupies, plus formal US recognition of Russian control of Crimea, with front lines frozen.

In other words, Russia gets to keep a big chunk of Ukraine in return for simply stopping its invasion.

But Trump’s thesis here that “stopping [Russia] taking the whole country” is a concession is false.

In fact, Ukrainian forces, backed with US and European arms, fought back Russian forces in 2022, forcing Putin into a retreat and stopping him taking Kyiv and therefore potentially the whole country early in the invasion.

Image source, Reuters

After a delayed start Trump and Norway's PM have left the Oval Office, but not without sharing updates on their meeting. Here's what you need to know:

• Trump says the next few days "will be very important" for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia
• Norway's PM praised Trump for his "initiatives to make progress", and reiterated that "Ukraine is under attack - we must deliver peace"
• The president said he is putting "a lot of pressure" on both sides to bring about an end to the war, but did not share specifics, adding "we will get this over with, soon"
• Trump admitted his frustration with Putin, but said he doesn't see Russia's attack on Kyiv overnight an "obstacle to peace"

Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre praises Trump for his role in pushing for an end to the war in Ukraine.

He explains that both parties must now deliver, to bring about a peace deal, while reiterating that "Ukraine is under attack".

Trump adds that his Norweigan counterpart "wants to see people stop dying more than anything else".

He also says that the pair found "common ground" during their meeting".

Trump says he's putting a lot of pressure on both Russia and Ukraine to get them to sign a peace deal.

"We are nice people, but we're using a lot of pressure on both."

Trump says he doesn't believe the overnight strikes on Kyiv are an "obstacle to peace".

Secretary of State Marco Rubio added that "this war is end-able", and called the missile attack on Ukraine's capital "horrible".

Image source, Reuters

Trump is asked if he stands by his earlier assertions that Ukraine has to give territory to secure pace, including Crimea.

"It depends what territory," Trump replies, adding: "we'll do the best we can".

Trump says Crimea had nothing to do with him, but was "given" by former US President Obama.

He says there was no fighting involved with Crimea, and that it will be difficult to get back.

Image source, Reuters

Earlier, Trump told Putin to "stop!", calling Russia's deadly overnight attacks on Kyiv "very bad timing", and urged the Russian president to "get the peace deal DONE".

Trump admits that he was frustrated with Putin, saying: "I didn't like last night... we were in the midst of talking peace and missiles were fired".

But, Trump refuses to set out what additional sanctions Russia might face, instead preferring to wait a week "to see if we have a deal".

And, the US president also doubles down on his push for Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky to reach a deal, adding: "It takes two to tango and you have to have Ukraine want to make a deal too".

"I have no allegiance to anybody, I have allegiance to saving lives," Trump says when asked if the meeting with Støre has altered his views.

He repeats claims that the war in Ukraine would not have started if he had been President at the time.

On stopping the war, Trump says the number one reason he wants to broker a peace deal is to stop the deaths on both side. "It's a killing field," he adds.

He reiterates his belief that Russia will accept the peace deal: "I think we're going to get this over with, I hope so. Soon."

Image source, Reuters

It's now the turn of Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, who says he "salutes" President Trump for his "initiative to make progress" towards a ceasefire.

Støre says the two leaders have exchanged ideas on what he calls a "complex picture which needs political will and push".

Image source, Reuters

After a delay, we're now hearing from US President Trump and Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre - you can watch and follow along by clicking Watch live at the top of this page.

Trump starts by taking a question on the war in Ukraine, he emphasises again that it's "very important" the war ends as he discusses the death toll in both Russia and Ukraine.

He adds that meetings are taking place "right now" and says "the next few days are going to be very important".

Zhanna Bezpiatchuk
Reporting from Kyiv

“They are in the morgue”, says a young lady who lost her brother and sister in the Russian attack on Kyiv overnight.

Other young people are waiting for progress in the rescue operations. Their friend is trapped under rubble. The mother of one of the teenagers says they all are good friends.

The scene around is full of devastation, with crying people and tens of heavily damaged residential blocks in the place where just yesterday stood a lively residential area.

“I have to hold on,” 76-year-old Lubov tells me, sitting in front of her destroyed home. She is blind and is trying to find a bottle of water by touch that was laid next to her on the grass.

All flats in the nearby apartment blocks are covered with the thick layers of broken glass. Overnight, people were running barefoot across this glass for safety after Russian missiles hit their area.

Lubov can’t run. Her son Oleksandr carried her through glass and dust.

You can feel and see resilience, pain, and grief. Many believe that their country needs more security aid, more air defence systems and clear recognition of Russia’s responsibility.

We're still waiting to hear an update from US President Donald Trump and Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

The two leaders have been holding a meeting in the Oval Office. We'll bring you the latest updates as we get them, though it's not yet clear when that will be.

While we wait, our next post will bring you some more reaction from people in Kyiv, where at least 12 people have been killed following Russia's overnight strikes.

We're due to hear from Donald Trump again this evening, and soon.

He'll be speaking alongside Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre following a meeting between the two leaders in the Oval Office.

Before the meeting, Trump told reporters he has his "own deadline" for a Russia-Ukraine peace deal.

We'll bring you anything else the US president has to say on Ukraine as it comes. You'll also be able to follow the news briefing when it gets under way - just hit the Watch live button at the top of this page.

It's clear where Trump wants to point the finger - and it's not at Putinpublished at 18:16 British Summer Time 24 April

18:16 BST 24 April

Tom Bateman
US State Department correspondent

Image source, Reuters

This isn’t really an equal blame game bouncing between the two sides from the White House - it’s clear where Trump publicly wants to point the finger for a perceived lack of progress in talks, and that is at President Zelensky.

On Wednesday he accused Zelensky of making “inflammatory statements” in the press, even though the Ukrainian leader was pointing out his country’s long-standing position to never recognise Russia’s illegal invasion of its territory.

He also invoked the line from his February Oval Office attack, calling Zelensky “the man ‘with no cards to play’”.

His spokeswoman then said the Ukrainian leader was “moving in the wrong direction”, with no similar criticism directed at Moscow.

While Trump’s brief focus today turned to Putin, he rarely if ever directly criticises him.

Trump’s message today was a plea; urging Putin to stop firing missiles at Kyiv because it was “bad timing”.

As he tries to cajole the parties to an outcome and says his patience is wearing thin, the US president clearly feels more empowered to berate and humiliate Zelensky – with Ukraine in the much weaker position territorially and in terms of its own arms production.

A remarkably different tone from Trumppublished at 18:06 British Summer Time 24 April

18:06 BST 24 April

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from Washington

As we reported earlier, Trump said he believes that Putin will listen to him. What the president did not say - and what we do not know - is why.

Trump has repeatedly said he believes Russia "holds all the cards", whereas Ukraine, in his eyes, have none.

The president's plea for Putin to "stop" is a remarkably different tone to what we've heard from him in the past.

I remember vividly as Trump and a slew of his top officials - including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz - confidently told reporters at the White House that the war could be ended in as short as a few week's time.

On another occasion, on Air Force One, I asked Trump if he trusted Putin. He similarly replied with "I do".

That was several weeks ago, but Russian missiles and drones have continued falling on Ukrainian targets.

From the perspective of many observers, it is becomingly increasingly unclear if Trump believes he can convince his Russian counterpart to end the war.