UK and france to send defence chiefs to Ukraine

Europe is mobilising on a scale "not seen for decades" to be ready to sustain a peace deal in Ukraine, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said at a summit of Kyiv's allies in Paris.

French President Emmanuel Macron said European countries will deploy a "reassurance force" to Ukraine after a peace deal is secured.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the US to be stronger against Russia and to react to Moscow's violations of agreements.

Moscow said the Black Sea maritime truce announced on Tuesday would only begin once Western restrictions on Russia's food and fertiliser trade are lifted.

Leaders at the Paris summit agree that now is not the time to lift sanctions on Russia.