Zelensky and Martin to hold joint press conference shortly
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.
Too early to say if Pokrovsk is fully under Russian control, says analyst
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
'A critical time for Ukraine and Europe': Ireland welcomes Zelensky
BBC News Ireland correspondent
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
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".
Zelensky accuses Russia of using talks to weaken sanctions
In his update from Dublin, Zelensky accuses Russia of launching a new "disinformation campaign" ahead of today's meeting
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".
As a reminder, Russia has been hit with multiple sanctions from the US and the EU following the start of its full-scale
'Matters that cannot be discussed on the phone' - Zelensky meets Ukrainian delegation
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
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".
The question for Kyiv: What if Putin rejects latest draft peace deal?
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
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.
Video claims to show troops holding Russian flags in Ukraine’s Pokrovsk
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.
Witkoff lands in Moscow ahead of talks - Russia media
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.
Russia says talks must achieve its war objectives
Russia editor, BBC Monitoring
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
Ukraine says Pokrovsk 'propaganda' mission is costing Russia
As we've been reporting, Ukraine's eastern military command says it's continuing to engage with Russian forces in
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.
'Elimination of the enemy continues in Pokrovsk,' Ukrainian forces say
Russia editor, BBC Monitoring
The Ukrainian military has denied Russia's claims that it has captured the strategically important town of Pokrovsk in
"Search and assault operations and the elimination of the enemy in urban areas continue in Pokrovsk," Ukraine's eastern
military command says in a statement posted on social media, external.
"Taking advantage of unfavourable weather conditions, the invaders made another attempt to 'flag-plant' in one of the
city's districts so that propagandists could use it as proof that they had taken control of the entire city of Pokrovsk.
"After that, they fled in a hurry, and the mopping up of enemy groups continues," it says.
Ukraine's 7th Rapid Reaction Corps has also issued a denial of Russia's claims that Pokrovsk has been captured.
"Despite the difficult situation, defence forces continue to hold the enemy back," it said on social media, external.
It also acknowledged that Russian attacks on logistics routes in the area have made it more difficult for Ukrainian
forces to redeploy and to deliver supplies to them
Russia's chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov told President Vladimir Putin, external that Pokrovsk had been
"liberated" during a meeting at an army command post on 30 November.
Putin has shown little desire for compromise on Ukraine
This will be Steve Witkoff's sixth visit to Russia this year – he'll be accompanied by President Trump's son-in-law
Their trip comes at a time of intense diplomatic activity. Two weeks ago the Americans presented to Kyiv a 28-point
peace plan widely seen as heavily weighted in Moscow's favour.
One of its provisions would oblige Ukraine to cede parts of the Donbas it still controls.
Since then there have been US-Ukrainian talks in Geneva and in Florida – now an amended plan will be put to the Kremlin.
President Putin has said the original draft proposal "could form the basis for future agreements".
But he has shown little desire for compromise believing Russia is winning on the battlefield and can dictate the terms
Last night Russian TV showed Putin in military fatigues – his commanders told him Russian forces had seized the
Ukrainian town of Pokrovsk.
As well as territorial demands, Moscow has been insisting that Ukraine pledge never to join Nato and accept caps on the