French President Emmanuel Macron said Kyiv's Western allies were "ready for a prolonged conflict" in Ukraine as world leaders gathered at the Munich Security Conference on Friday to renew their vow to back Kyiv against Russian forces ahead of the first anniversary of Moscow's invasion. Read our live blog to see how the day's events unfolded. All times are Paris time (GMT+1).
This blog is no longer being updated. For more of our coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here.
10:15pm: 'France's priority is to help Ukraine defend its territory'
France has made "very significant announcements in terms of military support to help Ukraine defend its own territory," French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Anne-Claire Legendre has told FRANCE 24.
"We announced new support in terms of artillery and air defence, which is really the priority today for Ukrainians because Russian strikes are targeting civilian infrastructure and we are seeing a new mobilisation by Russian forces," Legendre added.
Addressing the Munich Security Conference earlier in the day, French President Emmanuel Macron said "now is not the time for dialogue with Russia", adding that Kyiv's Western allies were ready for a "prolonged conflict" in Ukraine.
8:05pm: Washington expects further Russian attacks in Ukraine's Donbas
The United States expects Russian forces to attempt another push into Ukraine's eastern Donbas region in the coming weeks, says White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.
“We do expect that when the weather improves, the Russians will try to make additional offensive moves anywhere along that front,” Kirby said in an interview with FRANCE 24's Washington correspondent Kethevane Gorjestani.
“We’re working in lock step with the Ukrainians almost every day. And we communicate constantly with Ukraine about their needs for the fight,” he said.
Click here for the full interview.
7:30pm: Russia asked German spy for Ukraine intel, reports say
A German intelligence officer who allegedly passed state secrets to Russia was asked to gather information about Ukraine's artillery and air defence positions, according to German media reports.
Germany's Der Spiegel magazine has reported that Russia's FSB intelligence service instructed the suspect to find out the exact positioning of Himars precision rocket launchers, supplied by the US, and the Iris-T air defence system, supplied by Berlin.
"People familiar with the case say it is rather unlikely that such data was passed on," the magazine said.
But the alleged spy, identified only as Carsten L., did manage to pass on dossiers held by Germany's BND foreign intelligence agency on Russia's top-secret communication systems, according to German magazine Focus.
Carsten L. was arrested on December 22 on suspicion of treason.
5:45pm: 'We know there will be no talks before a crucial battle,' says ex-French envoy
Efforts to push for peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow have taken a back seat as Western powers focus on bolstering their military support for Ukraine and ensuring it is ready to face down a looming Russian offensive, says Jean de Gliniasty, a former French ambassador to Russia.
4:25pm: Scholz blasts Russia's 'imperialist war of aggression'
Russia's invasion of Ukraine marks the first time in history that a nuclear power "wages an imperialist war of aggression on European soil", Germany's Olaf Scholz told the Munich Security Conference earlier today.
FRANCE 24's International Affairs Editor Douglas Herbert discusses the key takeaways from the German chancellor's speech.
3:50pm: Ukraine accuses French retailer Auchan of aiding Russia
Ukraine's foreign minister has accused Auchan of being a "full-fledged weapon of Russian aggression" following an investigative report that suggested the French retailer was supplying goods to the Russian army.
"Last year, I urged the world to boycott Auchan for failing to withdraw from Russia and stop funding war crimes. However, the reality seems to be far worse: Auchan has evolved into a full-fledged weapon of Russian aggression," Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter.
Auchan's Ukraine branch said it was "shocked" by the reports.
3:20pm: 'Not the time for dialogue' with Putin, says Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron has urged allies to intensify their military support for Ukraine to help the country launch a counter-offensive against Russia, saying now is "not the time for dialogue" with Moscow.
"We absolutely need to intensify our support for (...) the Ukrainian people and its army and help them to launch a counter-offensive, which alone can allow credible negotiations," Macron said in a speech at the Munich Security Conference.
The French president said Kyiv's Western allies were "ready for a prolonged conflict" in Ukraine.
"It is not the time for dialogue because we have a Russia which has chosen war, further intensify this war, and has chosen to go as far as committing war crimes and attacking civilian infrastructures," he said.
Macron also urged European countries to "ramp up military production capabilities", calling for an "ambitious defence investment programme".
2:50pm: Send your tanks now, Germany's Scholz tells allies in U-turn
Allies with available battle tanks should send them to Ukraine "now", German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has told the Munich Security Conference, speaking immediately after Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky.
"Those who can send such battle tanks should really do so now," Scholz said, adding that he would be "intensively campaigning" for allies to move on the issue. His call marked a dramatic reversal of roles as the German leader had for months been under pressure from allies to approve the delivery of German-made Leopard tanks to Ukraine.
Germany finally relented in January, saying it would send Kyiv a company of 14 Leopard 2 tanks and work with allies to assemble two tank battalions for Ukraine. However, subsequent talks with NATO partners struggled to make up the numbers for a full battalion.
On Wednesday, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius admitted that allies have only mustered "half a battalion" of Leopard 2 tanks so far – including the 14 from Germany itself and three from Portugal.
2:35pm: 'No alternative to Ukrainian victory,' Zelensky tells Munich conference
Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky has urged allies to "hurry up" with their support for Kyiv in a video-link address to the Munich Security Conference, saying there is "no alternative to Ukrainian victory".
"We need to hurry up. We need speed – speed of our agreements, speed of our delivery, speed of decisions to limit Russian potential. There is no alternative to speed because it is the speed that life depends on," he said.
Zelensky said it was "obvious" that Ukraine would not be the last stop of President Vladimir Putin's invasion. He said the Kremlin was thinking of ways to "strangle" Moldova even as the West dithers over who should send battle tanks to Kyiv and how many.
"Delay has always been and still is a mistake," he said, adding: "There is no alternative to Ukrainian victory... No alternative to Ukraine in the EU. No alternative to Ukraine in NATO."
1:05pm: Ukraine’s Zelensky to open Munich conference focused on war
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to open the Munich Security Conference via video link, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and France's President Emmanuel Macron also set to speak.
The spotlight of the conference will be on the Ukraine war, as world leaders gather to renew their vow to back Kyiv against Russian forces ahead of the first anniversary of Moscow's invasion.
Others attending the gathering include US Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, China's top diplomat Wang Yi and NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg.
Russian delegates including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who was a regular attendee at Munich in the past, have not been invited.
Representing Ukraine at the conference, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said he planned talks with a series of top officials focused on weapons supplies. "The priorities will be speeding up the supply of arms and ammunition already promised to Ukraine, and the adoption of political decisions in the future on the provision of combat aircraft for Ukraine," he said in an Instagram post.
6am: Kyiv seeking billions to counter war damage
Pictures of devastation in Ukraine following Russia's invasion have sparked urgent questions over the country's reconstruction. Kyiv is seeking billions of dollars for the reconstruction.
After a 30% contraction in its economy in 2022, Ukraine will need $38 billion by the end of year to cover its budget deficit alone.
On top of that, Kyiv said it will need $17 billion this year for urgent energy repairs, de-mining and to rebuild some of its critical infrastructure.
While the EU is expected to provide the lion's share of funds to cover the budget deficit at $18 billion, and Washington a further $10 billion, Kyiv has yet to identify sources of funding to meet additional costs.
3:30am: US support for Ukraine solid, says senator en route to Munich
The US remains steadfast in its support for war-torn Ukraine, a leading Democratic senator told AFP before heading to the world's largest global security conference in Germany.
"The eccentrics get press attention, but I think the strong solid central weight of even House Republicans is behind continuing to support Ukraine, so long as there are not corruption concerns," said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, chairman of the powerful Budget Committee.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)
