Russia-Ukraine updates: Putin says 'certain positive movements' in negotiations

A third round of talks between Russia and Ukraine ended without any resolution.

Russian forces are continuing their attempted push through Ukraine from multiple directions, while Ukrainians, led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, are putting up "stiff resistance," according to U.S. officials.

The attack began Feb. 24, when Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation."

Russian forces moving from neighboring Belarus toward Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, have advanced closer to the city center in recent days despite the resistance, coming within about 9 miles as of Friday.

Russia has been met by sanctions from the United States, Canada and countries throughout Europe, targeting the Russian economy as well as Putin himself.

For previous coverage, please click here.

Hulu

Two Men at War

A look at the two leaders at the center of the war in Ukraine and how they both rose to power, the difference in their leadership and what led to this moment in history.

Mar 05, 2022, 11:16 AM EST

Safe passage operations from Ukraine cities will not start Saturday: ICRC

The International Committee of the Red Cross said safe passage operations from Ukrainian cities will not start on Saturday.

"We understand that the safe passage operations from Mariupol and Volnovakha will not start today," the ICRC said in a statement.

The ICRC said it remains in dialogue with the parties about the safe passage of civilians from different cities affected by the conflict, saying, "The scenes in Mariupol and in other cities today are heart-breaking."

"As a neutral and impartial humanitarian intermediary, we stand ready to help facilitate the safe passage of civilians once the parties have reached an agreement and that its terms are strictly humanitarian for the ICRC to be involved," the ICRC said.

Adding, "Regardless of whether humanitarian corridors are implemented in the coming days, parties must continue to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure under international humanitarian law both for those who choose to leave and those who remain."

-ABC News' Somayeh Malekiah

Mar 05, 2022, 10:55 AM EST

Zelenskyy claims more than 10,000 Russian troops have been killed

Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy on Saturday claimed that more than 10,000 Russian army troops have been killed in the war.

"It's young men, 18 to 20-year-old boys, who lost their lives having no idea why their country sent them to war," Zelenskyy said during a speech.

"We're inflicting such heavy losses on the enemy that they couldn't have imagined in their worst nightmares," Zelenskyy said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gives an update on the Russian invasion of Ukraine in Kyiv, Ukraine, March 5, 2022.
Ukrainian President's Office via AP

He said Ukraine is managing to hold the line on all key fronts and directions and that the Ukrainian army has gone on counterattack in Kharkiv.

Zelenskyy also thanked Polish President Andrzej Duda for the country's support which helped prevent a humanitarian crisis at the border.

"There's practically no border between Ukraine and Poland any more," Zelenskyy said.

The Ukrainian president said he has already begun discussions on post-war reconstruction efforts.

"I spoke to World Bank President and IMF managing director, and we have an agreement on measures to support Ukraine. Tens of billions of dollars will be provided for renovation after the war, and that's just the beginning," Zelenskyy said.

"I'm grateful to Americans, to bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress, but also to millions of ordinary people who call for tougher sanctions against the aggressor and better protection of Ukraine," Zelenskyy said.

-ABC News' Fidel Pavlenko

Mar 05, 2022, 9:58 AM EST

Putin says it's 'impossible' to implement 'no-fly' zone, calls sanctions 'akin to a declaration of war'

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday dismissed the idea of imposing a "no-fly" zone over Ukraine, which Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy has been calling for.

"It's impossible to do it, any attempts by other countries to do it will be regarded as their participation in military conflict," Putin said Saturday while speaking to female pilots and stewardesses from Russia’s national airline Aeroflot.

Putin claimed that Ukrainian “neo-Nazis” were not allowing people to leave Ukrainian cities in order to use them as human shields. The Red Cross on Saturday confirmed that the evacuations were stopped because of Russian shelling.

Putin also commented on the sanctions the West imposed on Russia, calling them "akin to a declaration of war," but insisted that Russia could adapt and suggested the countries imposing them would reverse because it also hurt their interests.

On the invasion of Ukraine, Putin claimed again that it was going "according to plan, to schedule." He also claimed that Russia was only using professional soldiers, not conscripts in Ukraine and would continue to do so.

Talks with Ukraine are continuing, according to Putin, with Russia's key demand being the "de-militarization" of Ukraine.

Putin also made threatening comments about Ukraine's statehood.

"Especially those from today's leadership, should understand that if they continue doing what they are doing, they call into question the future of Ukrainian statehood. And if it happens it will be wholly and fully on their conscience," Putin said.

Putin said there is no current plan to implement martial law in Russia and would only do so in the case of “outside aggression” against specific regions of Russia.

Putin also suggested that Russia might try to block international airlines from flying over Siberia, which would disrupt international airlines trying to fly from Europe to Asia.

-ABC News' Patrick Reevell and Somayeh Malekiah

Mar 05, 2022, 8:36 AM EST

Blinken says visit to Poland comes at 'one of the most urgent moments'

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Saturday his visit to Poland comes at "one of the most urgent moments in the long history of friendship between our two countries."

Speaking at a joint press conference with Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau in the southeastern city of Rzeszow, Blinken said the ideals that bind Poland and the United States are "under threat in this region like never before."

"We will stand together, as we've been standing together, in support of Ukraine and against Russia's unprovoked unwarranted premeditated invasion," Blinken told reporters.

Out of the more than 1.36 million people who have been forced to flee Ukraine since Russian forces invaded on Feb. 24, over 756,000 have crossed into neighboring Poland, according to the latest figures from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, and Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau attend a joint press conference at the Bristol Hotel in Rzeszow, Poland, on March 5, 2022.
Omar Marques/Getty Images

Blinken noted that "at this moment of crisis for millions of Ukrainians and as the security of Europe hangs in the balance," it's an "incredibly powerful reflection of Poland's values that those fleeing the war will find refuge in Poland."

He outlined U.S. funding to support the needs of Ukrainian refugees in Poland and other countries, including a $2.75 billion requested aid package and the $54 million in humanitarian assistance announced last week.

Meanwhile, Rau warned Russia that Poland would not recognize any territorial transfers taken by force. He told reporters that Russian shelling of residential areas and a nuclear power plant in Ukraine "are war crimes under international law" and should "be prosecuted with utmost determination."

The U.S. has yet to say whether Russia has engaged in war crimes in Ukraine.

-ABC News' Justin Gomez

Related Topics