Russian President Vladimir Putin says Europe's demands for the end of the war in Ukraine are "not acceptable"
In a speech in Moscow, he adds: "We are not going to fight with Europe, but if Europe wants to fight with us, we are ready right now"
Putin was meant to meet US envoy Steve Witkoff earlier this afternoon for talks on the draft peace plan, but the meeting appears to be delayed
Putin has shown little desire for compromise, believing Russia is winning on the battlefield, writes our Russia editor Steve Rosenberg
Earlier, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said some things "still need to be worked out" in the draft peace plan but that "now more than ever, there is a chance to end this war"
Ukraine's military says fighting is ongoing in the key eastern city of Pokrovsk, after the Kremlin claimed its forces had taken it
Ukrainian President Zelensky is about to address the Oireachtas - the Irish parliament - on his first official visit to the country.
We'll bring you key lines here as we get them, or you can watch live by clicking the play button at the top of the page.
Laura Gozzi
Europe reporter
In his unscheduled comments to journalists a little earlier, Putin referenced claimed military gains by Russia in eastern Ukraine.
On Monday Putin said that the Russian army had conquered the towns of Pokrovsk and Kupyansk - but both Ukrainian authorities and international observers questioned this.
Today Putin repeated that Krasnoarmeysk (Pokrovsk's old Soviet name) was under the complete control of the Russian army and invited international and Ukrainian journalists to come see for themselves.
"If someone has doubts, please come visit Krasnormeysk and see who really controls it," he said.
He also vowed to respond to recent Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil tankers in the Black Sea. He called those attacks "piracy", promised to intensify strikes on Ukrainian facilities and vessels, and threatened to "cut Ukraine off" from the sea entirely.
We're waiting for those talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US envoy Steve Witkoff to get under way, but how significant of a moment is this?
We knew the contents of the previous 28-point peace plan - that was criticised for being overly favourable to Russia - but little is known about the updated version.
The BBC's Russia Editor Steve Rosenberg has more on what we do - and don't - know about the new proposals.
Laura Gozzi
Europe reporter
It's past 18:00 in Moscow but Putin and Witkoff have not yet met. Until a short while ago Putin was giving a speech at an investment forum elsewhere in the capital, where inflation and the Russian banking sector was discussed.
When he wrapped up the speech he left without taking any questions from the room. But as he was leaving he spoke to journalists who had gathered in the lobby of the trade centre.
Asked about European involvement in the peace talks on Ukraine, he said that Europe had "pulled itself out of the European settlement" and accused Europeans of having "no peaceful agenda" - and of instead hindering efforts by the US to solve the conflict.
He also said that Europe's demands for the end of the war were "not acceptable" to Russia. Then, he added: "We are not going to fight with Europe, I have already said this a hundred times. But if Europe wants to fight with us, we are ready to do so right now."
Kyiv's European partners have been pushing for a seat at the negotiating table and have been particularly insistent on security guarantees for Ukraine that would help ensure it doesn't come under attack again.
In his final point on Europe, Putin added: "This is not Ukraine. In Ukraine we act with surgical precision, in an accurate way. So? That's not war in the real, in the modern sense of that word."
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 towns, cities and civilian infrastructure have come under repeated attack by the Russian army. According to figures shared by the UN last month, there have been more than 53,000 civilian casualties, including 14,534 deaths, since 2022.
Image source, Rossiya24Laura Gozzi
Europe reporter
Image source, TASSA video shared by Russian state news agency TASS shows Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law, strolling around central Moscow after dining at a restaurant on Theatre Square – where the Bolshoi is, a stone’s throw from the Kremlin – before getting into a motorcade and driving off.
We can't hear what they’re saying to each other but the exchange looks friendly, with Dmitriev (who lived and studied in the US and speaks English) pointing out the sights to his American counterparts.
Later, the three were seen ambling around the Christmas market on Red Square and leisurely admiring the stalls.
Image source, Perviy Kanal
Steve Rosenberg
Russia editor
From what President Zelensky was saying in recent days "tough issues still have to be worked through".
High on the list is likely to be the issue of territory. Up to this point Russia has been demanding that Ukraine hand over those parts of the Donbas it still controls - land Russia has been unable to seize in four years of war. That is unacceptable to Kyiv.
So far, Vladimir Putin has shown little desire to compromise or make concessions. The message to Kyiv from Moscow has been a stark one: Deal now or face more war and worse terms later.
But might an agreement be reached?
The last few days have seen intense diplomacy focused on ending the war. After the US delivered the original 28-point draft peace plan to Ukraine, widely seen as weighted in favour of Moscow, there have been US-Ukrainian talks in Geneva and in Florida.
Now Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are in Moscow to present Vladimir Putin the amended plan. Those amendments haven't yet been made public.
"The fog of diplomacy surrounding Steve Witkoff’s visit to Moscow is a sign of an imminent diplomatic breakthrough, or at least movement towards one," wrote tabloid Moskovsky Komsomolets optimistically.
We'll see.
Image source, IERTEUkraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheál Martin have just wrapped up their press conference.
Here's a quick roundup of what we heard:
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.
Image source, PA MediaIrish 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.
Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesUkrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky and First Lady Olena Zelenska arrived in Dublin last night for their first official state visit to Ireland
Image source, PA MediaZelensky 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"
Image source, ReutersZelensky 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
Image source, ReutersIrish 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".
Image source, Reuters
Image source, Reuters