James FitzGerald
Live reporter

My colleagues and I are pausing our coverage of the Munich Security Conference - but we'd urge you to check out our report on the day's action here.

And head here for a writeup of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's latest comments on future trade arrangements for Northern Ireland - something else he was asked about in Germany today.

I've been joined by James Harness, Samuel Horti and Antoinette Radford - thanks for following along.

Image source, PA Media

World leaders have given us several key moments during the second day of the Munich Security Conference.

Here's a look back at what's been going on:

• US Vice-President Kamala Harris said the US had "formally determined" that Russia has committed crimes against humanity during its invasion of Ukraine - something echoed by the Ukrainian foreign minister. Russia has previously denied similar claims
• UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called on Western allies to "double down" on their support for Ukraine - saying he and other leaders were united in their determination that "Russia fails" in the war

• Sunak was also asked about reports that the UK was close to agreeing with the EU a post-Brexit deal for Northern Ireland, and insisted there was "still work to do". But he and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said they'd had a "positive discussion"
• China's top diplomat Wang Yi addressed the recent spat between his country and the US over an alleged spy balloon - accusing Washington of a "hysterical" and "absurd" response

Image source, Reuters

Today we've heard UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak say that Ukraine was at a "pivotal moment" in its fight against Russia. So, let's have a quick look at some of the latest developments there:

• President Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier that 10 Ukrainian regions had been shelled over the previous day, resulting in an unspecified number of deaths and injuries
• The Ukrainian army said it had significantly reinforced its border with Belarus - following recent comments from the Belarusian leader that he would let Russia use his territory to launch another offensive on his neighbour
• Much of Russia's focus remains on taking Bakhmut. One Ukrainian solider in the eastern town said it was the "toughest place" he had fought in the war
• In its latest update, the Ukrainian military said more than 1,000 Russian troops had been killed in a single day - a figure it was not possible for the BBC to independently verify

Jenny Hill
Reporting from Munich

The world leaders and senior diplomats are united in their message: Russia cannot be allowed to win this war, and allies will intensify – or at the very least maintain – support for Ukraine.

But each delegate is wrestling to a greater or lesser extent with three dilemmas:

• How to help Ukraine militarily without escalating the conflict (hence, in part, the hesitation in some quarters over the delivery of fighter jets)
• How to send military supplies without diminishing national stocks and leaving individual countries vulnerable
• And how to ensure that public support for Ukraine doesn’t dwindle

Even as delegates met today at the plush Munich hotel and pledged their support for Ukraine, protesters gathered a few streets away to demonstrate against the delivery of arms.

A large banner at the front of the protest read: "Negotiations instead of shooting!"

Image source, Reuters

Image source, UK pool

More from the prime minister now, who's given an interview to UK broadcasters after his speech in Munich.

He reiterates his call for allies to step up their support for Ukraine to "ensure a lasting peace".

Sunak has spent time at the conference urging Western leaders to provide Kyiv with more military supplies at what he describes as a "pivotal moment" in the war.

Sunak says he's had meetings with US and European leaders who all want to see that Russia fails in the war.

We've received a few details about what PM Rishi Sunak discussed with American Vice-President Kamala Harris when they met in Munich.

The two spoke about the importance of international support for Ukraine in what they described as a “global war”, a Downing Street statement said.

They said they were giving the conflict that label because it impacted worldwide food and energy security, and would have long-lasting impacts on internationally accepted norms.

Image source, PA Media

Today's formal allegation of "crimes against humanity" levelled at Russia by the US is not the first.

A report , externalby the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) last year found Russian violations of international human rights law were likely to amount to crimes against humanity.

The report said the body had “credible” evidence of attacks like targeted killings, rapes or abductions that qualified as a widespread or systemic attack against a civilian population.

A reminder that Russia has repeatedly denied intentionally harming civilians during its invasion.

US Vice-President Kamala Harris says her country has formally determined that Russia has committed crimes against humanity in Ukraine.

You might have heard that phrase used interchangeably with another one - war crimes - during the war. But there is a difference.

As the UN explains here, external, a crime against humanity can take place during times of war and peace - the offence does not need to be linked to an armed conflict. For example, sexual slavery is a crime against humanity.

A war crime only happens during an armed conflict. An example of a war crime is if a soldier kills an unarmed civilian in a warzone.

Here's a chance to look back on what UK Prime Minister Sunak said earlier about efforts to finalise a new, post-Brexit trade deal for Northern Ireland. He said there "isn't a deal" yet and that there were "still challenges to work through" - but that these were being addressed "intensely".

These comments were followed with a joint statement about a "positive discussion" between Sunak and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

We'll have more on US Vice-President Kamala Harris' comments on Russia soon - but first, an update on what Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been up to.

A short while ago, he met Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, with two key topics on the agenda: the Ukraine war and the Northern Ireland Protocol, which is the post-Brexit trading arrangement that has been a source of tension since it came into force in 2021.

Sunak has been trying to make a deal on new post-Brexit trading rules for Northern Ireland.

According to a short joint statement released after their meeting, Sunak and von der Leyen agreed that now was an essential time to provide Ukraine with military power, and they reaffirmed the EU and UK's commitment to align their support for Kyiv.

On Northern Ireland, the two said "very good progress" made been made, and that they'd had a "positive discussion".

"The leaders agreed to remain in close contact over the coming days," the statement said.

• What is the Northern Ireland Protocol?
• Deal by no means done, says Sunak

Image source, Reuters

If you're just joining us, here's a quick look at the big moments from a busy second day of the Munich Security Conference.

• US Vice-President Kamala Harris said the US had "formally determined" that Russia has committed crimes against humanity during its invasion of Ukraine - something echoed by the Ukrainian foreign minister
• Giving his own speech at the event, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called on Western allies to "double down" on their support for Ukraine, and to help guarantee Kyiv's long-term security
• Sunak was also asked about reports that the UK was close to agreeing a post-Brexit deal for Northern Ireland with the EU, but insisted that there was "still work to do"
• China's top diplomat Wang Yi addressed a recent spat between his country and the US, accusing Washington of a "hysterical" and "absurd" response to an alleged spy balloon incident

You can scroll down through this page to read more detailed updates from the day so far.

In one of today's key moments, US Vice-President Kamala Harris accused Russia of “gruesome acts of murder, torture, rape and deportation” in Ukraine, adding that the US had "formally determined" that Russia had committed crimes against humanity.

Russia has repeatedly denied targeting civilians in the war.

As we mentioned earlier, crimes against humanity are trialled at the International Criminal Court (ICC), but the ICC has no powers to arrest suspects, and can only exercise jurisdiction within countries who signed up to the agreement that set up the court (Russia is not one of them).

But while the ICC may not be able to prosecute suspected Russian war criminals, Ukraine's courts may be able to. It has already prosecuted a 21-year-old Russian tank commander, Vadim Shishimarin, who was jailed for life for shooting an unarmed civilian.

Ukraine's courts have so far charged more than 100 suspected war criminals.

Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

Ukraine's foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba has supported US Vice-President Kamala Harris' statement that Russia has committed crimes against humanity in his country.

Kuleba, who is also attending the Munich Security Conference alongside Harris and other world leaders, said Moscow "waged a genocidal war" because it did not think Ukrainians "deserve to exist as a sovereign nation".

"Everything that stems from that is crimes against humanity, war crimes and various other atrocities committed by the Russian army in the territory of Ukraine," he said.

As we've been reporting (and as you can watch below), US Vice-President Kamala Harris says her country has formally determined that Russia has committed crimes against humanity in Ukraine.

The UN defines such crimes as part a “widespread or systemic attack” on a particular civilian population.

There are 15 crimes that count - among them murder, enslavement, torture, rape and deportation.

Crimes against humanity are trialled at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

However, the ICC has no powers to arrest suspects, and can only exercise jurisdiction within countries who signed up to the agreement that set up the court.

Russia is not a signatory to that agreement - so it is unlikely to extradite any suspects.

Earlier we heard Kamala Harris address delegates at the Munich Security Conference.

The US vice-president said the United States has "formally determined" that Russia had committed crimes against humanity in Ukraine.

Russia has repeatedly denied committing abuses during its invasion of Ukraine.

Jessica Parker
Brussels correspondent

When it comes to the UK and EU getting over the line a fresh trade agreement for Northern Ireland, timings are in flux.

Early next week is being widely talked about with a possible announcement on Tuesday, followed by a House of Commons debate on Wednesday.

Some believe the agreement could be unveiled even earlier, potentially on Monday.

EU ambassadors have been told things could move very quickly and have been put on standby by the European Commission.

However there is the usual dose of caution too with one EU diplomat remarking: "The last miles are the hardest."

Image source, PA Media

As well as Ukraine, Rishi Sunak was asked a short time ago about reports that the UK is close to agreeing with the EU a new post-Brexit arrangement for trade in Northern Ireland.

The prime minister said "there isn't a deal" yet, but there was "an understanding of what needs to be done".

For a recap of what the protocol is, check our our earlier post here.

Speculation has been building for weeks that a compromise is close. Hopes were raised still further yesterday, after Sunak met leaders of Northern Ireland's five main parties in Belfast yesterday. Each politician gave cautiously upbeat assessments after individual meetings with the PM.

Positive noises came out of Europe, too, with a senior official hailing “constructive” talks with the UK foreign secretary and “good progress”.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference a short time ago, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak urged other world leaders to help ensure Kyiv's long-term security.

Sunak is also asked about the potential supply of fighter jets to Ukraine - something Western nations have so far hesitated to do.

He notes that there are "complications" with providing certain types of aircraft, but says the UK is training Ukrainian fighters to use the jets at a Nato standard, and in Nato-standard aircraft.

And he adds that the UK would "happily support other countries" if they had the capacity to provide jets immediately.

Sunak responds to questions from Ukrainian audience members about the timely provision of weapons to Kyiv - and responds by reiterating the urgency of the situation.

“Now is the moment to act," he says. “My pitch to people is to remember, you know: what do we have those stockpiles for?”