Zelensky and Biden's meeting seems to be running long, as their bilateral press conference is slightly delayed.

It was due to begin about 15 minutes ago and will begin shortly.

Image source, Getty Images

The Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky is in the US capital for his first overseas trip since his country was invaded by Russia in February.

He and Biden are about to hold a joint press conference - and here's what's been going on today so far.

• Zelensky is in talks with his American counterpart Joe Biden, after touching down in the US a few hours ago and receiving a red-carpet welcome at the White House
• During a conversation in the Oval Office, Biden pledged to keep up American support for the Ukrainian war effort - including by providing the Patriot air defence system
• Zelensky thanked Biden for his ongoing help, saying it was a "great honour" to travel to America, and presenting the US leader with a military medal

• The two leaders are due to give a press conference shortly - at about 16:30 local time (21:30 GMT), and Zelensky is set to address Congress at 19:30 (00:30 GMT)
• Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the ten-month conflict was "a tragedy... but not our fault", instead blaming "third countries" for the fighting

Anthony Zurcher
North America correspondent

The location for the press conference is the East Room of the White House, which - with its massive chandeliers and gold drapes - is frequently used for ceremonial events.

At the moment, it is full of seasonal decor, with ribbon and light bedecked Christmas trees arranged around the room.

One end of the room has two lecterns, backed by paired US and Ukrainian flags.

Reporters have now packed into seats set up for today’s news conference.

We're about 10 to 15 minutes away from the expected time that the Ukrainian and US presidents are due to give a news conference in the East Room of the White House.

They've been engaged in talks down the corridor for the last two hours.

Stay tuned for live updates when things get going - and you'll be able to watch the news conference live by clicking the play button at the top of this page.

Earlier, Volodymyr Zelensky gave Joe Biden an award from a soldier fighting near the front-line city of Bakhmut, which President Zelensky visited the day before his trip to Washington.

He told Biden that the award was handed to him by a "real hero" -- a captain of a HIMARS rocket system that has been a game-changer on the battlefield.

"He's very brave and he said, give it to very brave president," Zelensky said.

Biden appeared surprised by the gift - a military medal - saying it is "undeserved, but much appreciated".

Read more about President Zelensky's visit to Bakhmut here

Anthony Zurcher
North America correspondent

Image source, EPA

With less than a week before Christmas, the White House press room is usually a sleepy place.

Holiday plans, however, have been interrupted.

In less than 24 hours, the national media have geared up for a major foreign policy event.

Writers are crammed into briefing room seats and work cubicles, and cameras are set up and rolling at the White House in preparation for the remarks and press conference by the American and Ukrainian presidents.

This was a remarkably well-kept secret in a town that prides itself on revealing the hidden. Few in Congress or even the White House itself knew what was in store today before word was announced on Tuesday night.

Let's have a look at what's been happening on President Volodymyr Zelensky's trip to the White House so far.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

During their meeting in the Oval Office, before the media were ushered out, Biden told Zelensky he was "the man of the year" - a reference to Time Magazine's decision to put the Ukrainian leader on its cover this month.

The magazine's Person of the Year award goes to an event or person deemed to have had the most influence on global events over the past 12 months.

Image source, Getty Images

Ukraine has been provided with military equipment by more than 30 countries in the past 10 months of war.

But President Zelensky today is visiting his country's top donor: the United States.

In terms of direct military support since the start of the war with Russia in February, the US has committed $18.5bn (£15.1bn), external - far more than any other individual country - to 20 November and so not including recent packages.

The US is trailed by Germany and the UK, who have pledged the second and third largest amounts.

Read more about the military donations to Ukraine from around the world.

Image source, .

Image source, EPA

The discussion between the two presidents continues.

Zelensky says it's a "great honour" to be in the US. The Ukrainian leader then refers to his visit to the frontline city of Bakhmut yesterday.

He says a captain there asked him to pass his military medal on to Joe Biden, as he's a "very brave president".

Biden thanks Zelensky and says he wants to contact the captain to send a gift in return.

Image source, Getty Images

In their first moments together, Biden tells Zelensky that the United States backs "just peace" for Ukraine, telling the Ukrainian leader that his country continues to "impress the world".

Zelensky responds, telling Biden of the "appreciation from my heart" he feels for the US. He thanks Biden specifically for his "big support" for his country.

Here's the moment the leaders of Ukraine and the US shake hands at the White House.

This is President Zelensky's first trip abroad since his country was invaded by Russia in February.

Image source, Getty Images

The US defence department has released some details of what $1.85bn (£1.53bn) in military aid for Ukraine - announced today by the Biden administration - will pay for.

The arms package includes a wide range of equipment including:

• One Patriot air defense battery and munitiions
• 30 mortar systems
• Six armoured utility trucks
• High-speed anti-radiation missiles
• 500 precision-guided 155mm artillery rounds
• Night vision devices
• Body armour

Since Russia invaded Ukraine 300 days ago the US has been by far the leading military donor to Ukraine.

Image source, Getty Images

Zelensky is at the White House after being greeted by Biden and first lady Jill Biden on the South Lawn.

It will be a busy day for the Ukrainian leader. Here's a look at his schedule:

14:30 (19:30 GMT): Zelensky and Biden hold a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office

16:30 (21:30 GMT): Zelensky and Biden are expected to hold a news conference at the White House. They'll likely discuss the new package of military assistance from the US - some $1.85bn (£1.5bn)

18:15 (23:15 GMT): Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic speaker of the US House, will hold a photo-op with Zelensky ahead of his meeting with the US Congress

19:30 (00:30 GMT): Zelensky delivers a speech to Congress

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

We've just seen Volodymyr Zelensky and Joe Biden head into the White House for their first in-person meeting since 2021 - and the Ukrainian leader's first foreign trip since the war in Ukraine began.

They're due to hold talks for about two hours, before giving a press conference.

Zelensky arrived at the Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland earlier today.

Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived at the White House, with a red carpet laid out and two flags standing side by side: the US and Ukraine.

President Biden, and his wife Jill, met the Ukrainian leader before shaking his hand and posing for a few photographs.

They've now disappeared into the White House for a meeting in the Oval Office, which is scheduled to last for about two hours.

Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

While Volodymyr Zelensky visits the White House to bolster US-Ukraine ties, his troops continue to defend against Russian aggression.

Kyiv rocked by explosions... The Ukrainian capital was hit by 23 Russian-launched Iranian missiles on Monday, 18 of which were shot down, according to Kyiv officials. No one was killed but "critical infrastructure" was hit. It marked the third such attack by Russia in five days.

Russia targeting Ukrainian energy... Last week, Russia launched a barrage of missiles in one of the largest air strikes on Kyiv since the start of the war. The capital city once again accused Moscow of using winter as a weapon, by attacking civilian infrastructure like its energy grids.

The border with Belarus... Ukraine's Deputy Interior Minister Yevhen Yenin told the BBC this week that Ukraine was going to keep an eye on its border with Belarus amid fears that Russia may be preparing a fresh ground attack. Several experts have said there's no evidence of a new push just yet.

Fighting rages on... Troops are continuing to fight across Ukraine, with recent hits in Kherson, in the south, and the central city of Kryvyi Rih killing a number of people.

Image source, .

Image source, Volodymyr Zelensky/Telegram

We're hearing from Volodymyr Zelensky for the first time since he landed in Washington this afternoon.

In a short statement, posted to the messaging app Telegram, the Ukrainian leader said he was in Washington "to thank the American people, the president [Joe Biden] and the [US] Congress for their much-needed support".

He said he would be holding talks to strengthen Ukraine's defence capabilities, before adding:

The message was accompanied by images of Zelensky disembarking from his flight and meeting US officials.

Image source, Getty Images

Speaking while President Zelensky was in the air on his way to DC, Mariia Mezentseva told the BBC she felt "very proud" to see him journeying to Washington for his first foreign trip since the war began in February.

"I'm sure there more [trips] to come," she remarked.

The Ukrainian member of parliament says Zelensky's trip to the US comes at a "critical time".

She went on to detail important agenda items for his discussion with his American counterpart Joe Biden, including military and humanitarian support.

She hoped for a package of assistance to tackle "these winterisation efforts" - an apparent reference to Russian attacks on Ukraine's power grid amid freezing weather.

Image source, Getty Images

President Zelensky is headed to Blair House, the official guest house of the US president, before he meets with Biden later this afternoon.

The stately resident is located along Pennsylvania Avenue - just across the street from the White House. It will be a short journey for Zelensky over to South Lawn this afternoon.