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

The third round of cease-fire talks between Ukraine and Russia took place in Belarus Monday and produced incremental steps forward, according to the lead Ukrainian negotiator.

Following the meeting, the third in eight days, lead Ukrainian negotiator Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted, "There are small positive movements forward in improving the logistics of humanitarian corridors... Intensive consultations have continued on the basic political block of the regulations, along with a ceasefire and security guarantees."

Ukrainian authorities have claimed efforts to evacuate its citizens out of the country have been disrupted by Russian forces shelling the humanitarian corridors Moscow agreed to in a cease-fire.

-ABC News' Patrick Reevell

In an exclusive interview with ABC News anchor David Muir, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that the United States and NATO should establish a no-fly zone over his country to stop Russian missiles from hitting civilian targets like a university dormitory and a pediatric clinic.

"Mr. President, as you know, the president [Joe Biden] and NATO have said no to this no-fly zone because of concerns this could trigger a much wider ... conflict, a much bigger war than what we're seeing already because there would have to be a willingness to shoot Russian planes outta the sky. Do you understand that concern?" Muir asked.

Zelenskyy, speaking to Muir from the Presidential Office in Kyiv, said that while Biden and NATO have refused to impose a no-fly zone, Russian missiles continue to target civilians, adding that he believes Russian missiles should be shot out of the sky.

"You have to preserve lives. There ... were simply kids there with tumors," Zelenskyy said of the missile strike on the pediatric clinic. "And in the university, there were ordinary students. I'm sure that the brave American soldiers who would be shooting it down knowing that it is flying towards the students, I'm sure that they had no doubt in doing so."

The White House indicated on Monday that it was considering a ban on Russian oil even without the support of its European allies, an official with the National Security Council told ABC News.

Europe relies much more on Russian oil and gas than the United States does and would likely see much higher prices if such a significant chunk of their energy imports were suddenly cut off.

If the United States banned Russian oil imports without Europe doing the same, the impact on Russia would be much smaller than if the U.S. and Europe worked in concert. Russia exported 1% of its oil exports to the United States in 2020.

Moving forward without Europe would also be a departure from Biden’s approach of working in lockstep with Europe on sanctions against Russia.

Bloomberg reported Sunday night that the Biden administration was weighing this move.

-ABC News' Ben Gittleson

In an exclusive interview Monday with ABC News anchor David Muir, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the path to peace is "more difficult than simply acknowledging" another ultimatum from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Zelenskyy spoke with Muir from the Presidential Office in Kyiv and said he will stay in his country for the duration of the war.

"When the Kremlin says these three conditions to end the war … that you must give up on joining NATO, recognize Crimea as part of Russia and recognize the independence of those two separatist regions in the east … you say it’s a nonstarter, not willing to [accept] those three conditions right now?" Muir asked.

Zelenskyy responded, "It is more difficult than simply acknowledging them ... this is another ultimatum and we are not prepared for ultimatums."

He went on, "But we have the possible solution resolution for these three items, key items, what needs to be done is for President Putin to start talking. Start the dialogue instead of living in the information bubble without oxygen. I think that’s where he is. He is in this bubble. He’s getting this information and you don’t know how realistic that information is that he’s getting."