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.
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.
Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Mar 05, 2022, 11:48 AM EST
US approves flight from Russia to pick up personnel accused of spying
The U.S. on Saturday confirmed that it approved a flight chartered by the Russian government to pick up the Russian United Nations Mission personnel who were ordered expelled earlier this week for reportedly spying, State Department spokesperson confirmed to ABC News.
"This special exception was done in accordance with federal regulations to ensure Russian mission personnel and their families departed by the date we had instructed," the spokesperson said.
-ABC News' Conor Finnegan
Mar 05, 2022, 11:41 AM EST
Blinken speaks to Chinese counterpart on Russian invasion of Ukraine
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday spoke to his Chinese counterpart for the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine. The State Department said Blinken warned State Councilor Wang Yi that "the world is watching to see which nations stand up for the basic principles of freedom, self-determination, and sovereignty."
Secretary of State, Antony Blinken and Poland's Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau (not seen) give a press statement at the Bristol Hotel, March 5, 2022, in Rzeszow, Poland.
Omar Marques/Getty Images
"He underscored that the world is acting in unison to repudiate and respond to the Russian aggression, ensuring that Moscow will pay a high price," Ned Price, a spokesperson for Blinken, said in a statement.
China, however, continues to do business with Russia and even countries like India hold back from condemning the Kremlin's war.
Starting late last year, U.S. officials shared privately with the Chinese, just as they did publicly, that they believed Russia was preparing for a potential invasion of Ukraine, urging Beijing to use its influence with the Kremlin “to indicate to Putin that this kind of aggression would be met with a swift and severe response,” a State Department official said last week.
But China’s Foreign Ministry said earlier this week that it did not request Russia to hold off on an invasion until after the Winter Olympics. The State Department had no comment on that report.
-ABC News' Conor Finnegan
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.
