Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky has been holding talks with US President Donald Trump at the White House to discuss hopes of an end to the fighting in his country.
It follows last week’s summit between Donald Trump and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin in Alaska where they failed to agree a ceasefire.
President Zelensky was supported in his visit to Washington by European leaders, including the French and German Presidents and the British Prime Minister.
The meeting between President Trump and President Zelensky was cordial with none of the acrimony that accompanied their last meeting in the Oval Office earlier this year.
President Trump appeared to go further than previously in offering future security guarantees for Ukraine following a peace agreement. He said that Europe would be the “first line of defence” for Ukraine but promised that the US would be “involved” stating “we’ll give them good protection”.
There was also discussion of a three-way meeting between Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin. The proposal has been advocated previously by the US and Ukrainian leaders but it has not been agreed to by Russia.
Clive Myrie presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Sarah Smith, Katy Watson and Paul Adams.
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