President Zelensky in Ireland for Ukraine Talks
BBC News
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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has said "now more than ever, there is a chance to end this war"
Speaking on his first official visit to Ireland, Zelensky says some things "still need to be worked out" in the draft peace plan, but the US is taking "serious steps" to end the war
President Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff has landed in Moscow ahead of talks with President Putin on the US-backed plan
Putin has shown little desire for compromise believing Russia is winning on the battlefield, writes our Russia editor Steve Rosenberg
Ukraine's military says fighting is ongoing in the key eastern city of Pokrovsk, after the Kremlin claimed its forces had taken it
Edited by Nathan Williams and Ben Hatton
Zelensky is asked about the recent developments on the peace plan that has been put forward.
He says he spoke to US envoy Steve Witkoff yesterday and Ukraine is now waiting for the results of Witkoff's meeting with Putin this afternoon.
"I will react according to those results, if I feel we can count on real, specific dialog, not just words, we will meet," he says.
Zelensky says he is not ready to share the specific points of the new peace proposals, but he says the most challenging points are relating to territory and money, in terms of frozen Russian assets in Europe.
He adds that Ukraine is also counting on "strong" security guarantees from both the US and Europe.
And that brings to an end the press conference
Next, Paul Cunningham from RTE asks if Ukraine faces a bad deal soon, or a worse deal later – given the advances that Russia has made.
Zelensky replies that there "no simple solutions".
He says the peace process should be open and fair: "Nothing decided about Ukraine without Ukraine."
"We have to stop the war in such a manner that in one year, Russia would not come back", he says. "That may happen."
Zelensky adds that "that's why we want certainty" and says Ukraine want security guarantees that are clear and defined.
Ukrainian's public broadcaster is the first to ask a question – will Europe be part of the peace process?
Zelensky replies by referencing the meeting between Russia and the American delegation today. He says the US will report to him after the meeting, and future steps to a peace process will depend on this.
Micheál Martin adds that "a peace settlement is required". He also says that Ireland backs Ukraine using frozen Russian assets to reconstruct and financially support Ukraine.
Zelensky goes on to say that sanctions on Russia should remain in place as long as the occupation of Ukraine continues.
Hey says he discussed frozen Russian assets with PM Martin and says "it is high time to transfer them to Ukraine so we can reliably ensure both our defence and recovery", as it will "benefit not only us but our partners".
He says he hopes Ireland and others will support the need to "hold Russia accountable for its aggression".
Zelensky also gives his thanks to the Ireland "for your respect for our people and respect for Ukraine".
Zelensky thanks Martin for Ireland's welcome, he says his visit comes at one of the most "challenging" and yet "optimistic" moments.
“Now more than ever, there is a chance to end this war,” he says.
On the peace plan, he says some things “still need to be worked out”, but says the US is taking serious steps to end the war "one way or another".
He adds that Ukraine has ambitions of becoming a member of the EU within the next five years.
Micheál Martin begins by welcoming Zelensky to Ireland, and says he wishes the visit was "under different, happier circumstances."
Martin says that as "efforts to end the war advance", Putin has tried to gain advantage by intensifying "Russia's relentless onslaught".
He adds that Putin has shown "complete indifference" to international law, adding that small countries like Ireland rely on international law for "security and safety".
Putin "must never be allowed to succeed" he says.
He adds that he hopes for peace for Ukraine, and announces that today, he will sign a partnership agreement with Zelensky, which will increase support for the country.
Irish PM Micheál Martin has just begun speaking, we'll bring you what he says shortly, and a reminder that you can watch live by clicking the play button at the top of the page.
It's taking a little longer than we expected for the news briefing to begin, so while we wait let's just bring you up-to-date date about Zelensky's visit so far.
While in Dublin, Zelensky accused Russia of launching a new "disinformation campaign" ahead of its government's meeting with US envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow today.
Zelensky said that Ukraine was committed to "constructive cooperation" with Trump's team and European allies but warned that Russia was using talks as a way to weaken sanctions.
We're about to hear from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheál Martin.
They're holding a joint press conference in Dublin, which we're expecting at about 13:30 GMT.
We'll be bringing you all the key lines here, and a reminder that you can watch live at the top of the page.
Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky and First Lady Olena Zelenska arrived in Dublin last night for their first official state visit to Ireland
Zelensky met Irish President Catherine Connolly and signed a visitors' book in Áras an Uachtaráin, the official residence of the president in Dublin, writing "we greatly appreciate Ireland's generosity"
Zelensky inspected a guard of honour as he met Ireland's Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheál Martin
By Olga Robinson and Emma Pengelly
As we reported earlier, Russia has claimed to have taken control of Pokrovsk, so we've asked an expert to give their assessment of the situation in the heavily contested city in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region.
Emil Kastehelmi, a military analyst and co-founder of the Black Bird Group – which uses open source data to track the war – says Russia controls western and southern parts of Pokrovsk, but the situation elsewhere is unclear.
He describes eastern and northern areas of the city as a "grey zone", meaning neither side can fully claim it, according to information that is currently available.
"Neither party likely has a clear control of the remaining districts and blocks. There would need to be further proof of Russia's success in the area in order to call Pokrovsk fully lost," Kastehelmi adds.
We've used data from the US-based Institute for the Study of War to map the area around Pokrovsk and other areas on the front line in Donetsk.
Chris Page
BBC News Ireland correspondent
Irish President Catherine Connolly greets Ukrainian President Zelensky and his wife, Olena Zelenska
The Irish government is emphasising a theme of solidarity and support as it hosts President Zelensky on his first official visit to the country.
Although planning has been going on for some time, the timing has turned out to be significant – with the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheál Martin framing the visit as coming at a “critical time for Ukraine and Europe”.
Ahead of Zelensky’s talks with Martin, a cabinet meeting is being held to sign off on a financial assistance package for Ukraine – €100m (£88m) will go towards non-lethal military support, and another €25m (£22m) will help with Ukraine’s energy needs.
Ireland has taken in about 120,000 Ukrainian refugees – one of the largest numbers, relative to population size, of any nation in Western Europe.
Zelensky has acknowledged this in his entry in the visitors’ book at the official residence of the President of Ireland – where he expressed “sincere gratitude for Ireland’s steadfast support during our fight against Russian aggression".
A motorcade which Reuters says is reportedly carrying US officials including Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff has been pictured outside the Kremlin.
Earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, said talks involving Putin are expected to start after 17:00 Moscow time (14:00 GMT) and will last "as long as it takes".
In his update from Dublin, Zelensky accuses Russia of launching a new "disinformation campaign" ahead of today's meeting with Witkoff.
He says that Kyiv will keep monitoring what he describes as Moscow's "attempts to use diplomatic engagement as cover to weaken sanctions and block important collective European decisions".
Zelensky adds that Ukraine remains committed to "constructive" cooperation with Trump's team and its European allies, saying that his country approaches "all diplomatic efforts with utmost seriousness".
President Zelensky has met with the Ukrainian delegation, after they had two days of talks with US officials in Florida.
"We discussed in person the matters that cannot be discussed on the phone," he writes on X.
Zelensky is currently in Dublin ahead of talks with the Irish government. It marks his first official visit to the country.
He says his team will continue "the most constructive work possible" with US representatives and European partners, but adds that "this is exactly the level of commitment that must be compelled by the Russian side".
James Waterhouse
Ukraine correspondent in Kyiv
The situation in Pokrovsk has been deteriorating for some time. The city has been vastly destroyed over the past few years as Russia has ground its way inside.
If it is captured by Russian forces it will not dramatically change the dynamics of the front lines.
What is more significant is what President Zelensky admits: Ukraine could be forced to give it up along with the remaining part of the eastern Donbas region which Russia mostly occupies. An unfavourable peace deal is what Ukraine fears more.
What is also notable is the timing of these Kremlin claims.
The Russian defence ministry has released carefully curated videos of Putin in military fatigues in occupied Ukraine being briefed by his officers, claiming two cities have been captured.
Its messaging does not suggest Russia is ready to stop fighting and start compromising.
The question for Kyiv is what the US will do if Putin rejects their latest peace draft.
Will it be sent back to the Ukrainians for more negotiations? Or will Washington insist they just sign, or else?
We just don't know, but with continued engagement by all sides, this peace endeavour stumbles on.
By Richard Irvine-Brown, Shayan Sardarizadeh & Emma Pengelly
We’ve been looking at a video clip shared on Telegram by the Ministry of Defence in Moscow, as well as a longer version from a pro-Kremlin war blogger, that claims to show Russian troops holding up flags in the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk.
The city in Ukraine's Donetsk region has been fiercely fought over for over a year, with recent months seeing incremental Russian gains in their efforts to occupy it. Some experts now contest how critical it is, due to the level of destruction brought about by fighting.
The footage shows soldiers walking through heavily damaged central Pokrovsk and unravelling a Russian flag opposite the Donetsk National Technical University.
It's hard to determine from this video alone if Russians are in control of Pokrovsk. Videos from active combat zones can emerge online with a significant time lag and flag raising in itself does not constitute evidence of control of an area.
Ukrainian forces fighting in Pokrovsk have denied Russia has seized the city, claiming to control the north still and that the Russian troops who raised the flag were beaten back shortly afterwards.
Vitaliy Shevchenko
Russia editor, BBC Monitoring
More now from Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who says the meeting between Witkoff and Putin is expected to start after 17:00 Moscow time (14:00 GMT) and will last "as long as it takes".
Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner will also be involved in the talks, he says.
Russian state news agency TASS is reporting that Witkoff has landed at Moscow's Vnukovo airport, where he will be met by Russia's chief negotiator Kirill Dmitriev. Vitaliy Shevchenko
Russia editor, BBC Monitoring
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov
The Kremlin has yet again signalled its unwillingness to compromise over the war with Ukraine.
Speaking hours before talks between Putin and Witkoff, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov says Moscow sees any negotiations as a way of achieving its military aims in Ukraine.
"Russia remains open to peace talks, but through peace talks we must achieve our objectives set as part of the special military operation," Peskov tells reporters in Delhi.
He also praises Trump's proposals for a settlement , without specifying what they currently are.
"Trump's plan is a very good basis for this, and we hope to be able to stick to that basis," he says.
Proposals voiced by the administration in Washington late last month contained a large number of points favourable to Russia, such as a demand for Ukrainian forces to withdraw from territories they currently control.
Later negotiations between US and Ukrainian teams are reported to have introduced amendments, but what may have changed is unclear.
As we've been reporting, Ukraine's eastern military command says it's continuing to engage with Russian forces in Pokrovsk.
That is despite Moscow claiming the town had capitulated to its forces earlier. Ukraine dismisses the claims as "propaganda" – and says attempts to suggest Russia is advancing has resulted in a "significant" loss of personnel.
Pokrovsk is a key strategic town in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk. Moscow controls a large part of the region, one of four annexed by Russia following what were widely seen sham referendums in September 2022.
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