Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed Donald Trump's envoys for their first visit to Kyiv since Russia invaded Ukraine, a day after they held talks with Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
The Ukrainian President greeted Mr Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff at St Sophia Cathedral, which is near where a Russian drone hit Ukraine's security services HQ on Friday.
After two rounds of discussions with the US negotiators, Mr Zelensky said the goal was a "just, fair peace" that would ensure there was "never an opportunity to resume aggression against Ukraine". He added that security guarantees would be required.
Officials from UK, France and Germany join talks
Officials from the UK, France, and Germany were also in Ukraine to join the second round of talks. Mr Trump's commitment to ending the war has lost momentum in recent months amid the US administration's focus on the Iran war.
After yesterday's talks in Ukraine's capital, Mr Witkoff said: "We've had very meaningful discussion, substantive, important, and we're very encouraged." He added that American officials would continue for "as long as it takes". Mr Kushner said that Mr Trump has asked them to find a way not only to end the war but to "create the right conditions for long-term peace".
Putin holds three-hour Kremlin talks
On Saturday, Putin held more than three hours of talks with Mr Kushner and Mr Witkoff, but no major developments were announced. The US President's efforts to cosy up to the Russian despot have so far failed to broker peace in Ukraine, which was first invaded by Moscow in 2022.
Footage released by the Kremlin showed Putin on Saturday greeting the pair and saying the current situation "is not so easy". And he thanked Mr Trump for his peace efforts, though critics have raised doubts over whether Russia is committed to achieving peace.
On Friday, the US President dodged a chance to condemn Putin despite an attempted drone strike on a German airport that allies, including the UK, blamed on Russia.
Pressed in the Oval Office over the incident, Mr Trump said of his Russian counterpart: "I speak to him. I know him very well. Putin's not looking to attack Nato territory." Questions have long been raised over Mr Trump's commitment to the long-standing NATO alliance and its key principle of collective security.
UK summons Russian diplomat over Leipzig attack
The British Government this week summoned a senior Russian diplomat to protest at last month's "egregious and reckless attack" at Leipzig airport. The Prime Minister had earlier expressed the UK's "full solidarity" with Germany.
Andy Burnham, whose first international trip in office was to Kyiv in a show of support, said: "Russian attempts to undermine our united resolve and our willingness to support Ukraine are futile and doomed to fail."
A drone laden with explosives found near a Ukrainian plane was subsequently defused. The airport is a major international freight hub used for providing support to the Kyiv government, which has been battling invading Russian forces for more than four years.
Germany said it was part of a pattern of "Russian hybrid operations", while Brussels said it had "all the hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism". Moscow has denied involvement.
The Kremlin has been accused by European countries of running a campaign of sabotage and disruption with the aim of undermining support for Ukraine and causing wider instability and unrest.
Concerns continue to mount over the threat of Russian spy ships to a massive UK network of undersea cables and pipelines. These carry 99% of international telecoms and data traffic, underpinning global banking and trade, as well as half the gas that heats our homes.
