Ukraine war latest: Ukraine appoints new government in biggest wartime overhaul

That's all for our live coverage of the war in Ukraine today.

If you're just checking in, here is a recap of the key developments so far.

• Ukraine appointed a new cabinet and a new prime minister, Yulia Svyrydenko;
• Outgoing PM Denys Shmyha was made defence minister;
• Russia returned 11 children to Ukraine who have been separated from their families by the war while Ukraine returned three to Russia, a Qatari official said;
• Following Donald Trump's 50-day peace ultimatum, Moscow said it did not respond to threats;
• Preparations were underway to transfer additional Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine "as quickly as possible", NATO's top military commander said.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is holding a news briefing.

We'll bring you any updates on Ukraine here, and you can watch the full live stream below.

This week, Yalda and Richard discuss Donald Trump's big decision to send weapons to Ukraine through NATO. Why has he changed his mind?

Yalda explains why she thinks Trump is following a similar position to presidents before him when it comes to Vladimir Putin.

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Here's a look at the latest battlefield maps in Ukraine.

Scroll through the maps below to view different parts of Ukraine, including the situation in key regions such as Luhansk, Donetsk, Kursk and Belgorod.

We've heard from Ukraine's new defence minister this afternoon for the first time since his appointment was confirmed.

Denys Shmyhal said leading the country's ministry of defence in wartime is "an honour and a profound responsibility".

He has replaced Rustem Umerov in the role.

"One of the key missions: increase the share of Ukrainian-made weapons from 40% to 50% within six months," he said.

"We will turn the ministry into a system that works fast, transparent and without bureaucracy.

"At the same time, we will strengthen our defence partnerships worldwide."

Russia has lodged a protest with the Japanese embassy in Moscow over the participation of Japanese forces in a US-led military exercise.

Named Resolute Force Pacific, the exercise saw the US air force carry out a rapid, mass deployment of personnel, equipment and aircraft to multiple locations in the Indo-Pacific.

"Russia considers such irresponsible activity, which bears all the hallmarks of preparation for armed conflict, unacceptable," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

"It poses a potential threat to the security of the Russian Federation and will inevitably prompt appropriate countermeasures."

It comes days after Russia's foreign minister warned the US, South Korea and Japan against forming a security partnership targeting North Korea.

Sergei Lavrov was visiting the city of Wonsan when he accused the three countries of what he described as military buildups around North Korea.

Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy are considering a drone "mega deal" that involves Washington buying battlefield-tested Ukrainian drones in exchange for Kyiv purchasing weapons from the US, Zelenskyy has said in an interview with the New York Post.

Zelenskyy said his latest talks with Trump focused on a deal that would help each country bolster its aerial technology.

He said Ukraine's latest drones had been able to penetrate Russia's defences to take out heavy bombers and strike as deep as 800 miles into Russian territory.

"The people of America need this technology, and you need to have it in your arsenal,"  Zelenskyy told The Post.

The Ukrainian leader said drones were the key tool that has allowed his country to fight off Russia's invasion for more than three years.

"We will be ready to share this experience with America and other European partners," he said. 

He also said that Ukraine was in talks with Denmark, Norway and Germany.

"I think this is really a mega deal, a win-win, as they say," he added.

Sir Keir Starmer has been asked by our political editor Beth Rigby how much of a game-changer Donald Trump's weapons deal will be for Ukraine.

"We've been working with our allies and with the US for a very long time now, but particularly intensely in recent weeks," he says.

"To get to the position we're in now, where the president [Trump] has made it absolutely clear that he wants Putin to move and backing that up with capability... that is really important."

Starmer added that he had a "long discussion" about the war in Ukraine with his German counterpart today, and insisted "we are working hard with the US on this".

Merz reiterated that he was grateful to Trump after expressing his readiness to assist Ukraine in recent days.

He added that defence ministers will be reaching arrangements "on the logistics side of things" regarding the delivery of Patriot air defence systems.

Merz does not mention Germany's Taurus missiles but says Ukraine will receive additional support that will help with long-range attacks "very shortly, very soon".

"Ukraine will be much better positioned and use these systems and get the support of us with regard to those systems in the weeks and months to come."

 Back here in the UK, Sir Keir Starmer has been speaking after signing a new defence treaty with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Starmer said the war in Ukraine was among the topics discussed by the two leaders today.

"We're leading the work to get the best kit to Ukraine as fast as possible, we'll keep pushing this forward with the US and other allies because ultimately our security starts in Ukraine," he said.

Starmer added that the new deal represents "a partnership with a purpose".

Merz told reporters that the treaty relates to the "major challenges of our time".

Russia was "shaking the European security architecture" since Britain's exit from Europe.

"It is under these conditions that we aim to secure the freedom, prosperity of the people of both our countries," he added.

Merz praised the "very important initiative" Donald Trump took on Monday when he announced the US is ready to provide weapons to Ukraine in a move that would be purchased and paid for by European partners.

"Germany wants to make an important contribution here... we need to have clarity as to how the US will replace the weapons systems that the Europeans will transfer to Ukraine," he said.

"All of that will increase the pressure on Putin to finally negotiate about peace in Europe and the US."

Russia's foreign ministry has said Moscow "did not accept threats" after Donald Trump threatened to impose severe tariffs unless a peace deal was reached within 50 days.

Trump provided few details on how the tariffs would be implemented, but he described them as secondary tariffs, meaning they would target Russia's trading partners in an effort to isolate Moscow in the global economy.

The US president also announced a deal to boost weapons shipments heading to Ukraine.

Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for Russia's foreign ministry, said Trump's decision to supply Ukraine with new missiles was a signal to "continue the slaughter" and a rejection of peace efforts.