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 08, 2022, 3:10 PM EST
McDonald's to temporarily close restaurants, pause operations in Russia
McDonald's announced Tuesday it is temporarily closing its restaurants and pausing operations in Russia, as a result of the invasion of Ukraine.
"The conflict in Ukraine and the humanitarian crisis in Europe has caused unspeakable suffering to innocent people. As a System, we join the world in condemning aggression and violence and praying for peace," the company's chief executive officer, Chris Kempczinski, said in a statement.
McDonald's employs 62,000 people in Russia, operating in 850 communities, the company said. It will continue paying salaries for all its employees in Russia.
A view shows a McDonald's restaurant in Saint Petersburg, Russia, March 8, 2022.
Anton Vaganov/Reuters
"Our values mean we cannot ignore the needless human suffering unfolding in Ukraine," said Kempczinski.
Kempczinski said it is impossible to predict when the company will be reopening its restaurants.
"We are experiencing disruptions to our supply chain along with other operational impacts. We will also closely monitor the humanitarian situation," Kempczinski said.
-ABC News' William Gretsky
Mar 08, 2022, 2:51 PM EST
Poland says it's 'ready' to hand over all its MiG-29 fighter jets to US air base in Germany
Poland announced Tuesday it is "ready" to "immediately" hand over all its MiG-29 fighter jets to a U.S. air base in Germany to boost Ukraine's fight against Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked the West and NATO to supply Ukraine with fighter jets.
The Polish government said in a statement that will provide its Russian-made MiGs to the Rammstein Air Base "free of charge," placing them "at the disposal" of the U.S. government, and asked the United States to backfill them "with used aircrafts with corresponding operational capabilities."
"The Polish Government also requests other NATO Allies -- owners of MiG-29 jets -- to act in the same vein," the statement added.
A senior U.S. defense official told ABC News: "We have seen the Polish government’s announcement and have nothing to offer at this time."
Two Polish Air Force Russian-made MIG-29 fighter jets fly above and below two Polish Air Force U.S.-made F-16's fighter jets, during the Air Show in Radom, Poland, Aug. 27, 2011.
Alik Keplicz/AP, FILE
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State told ABC News they are working with the Polish government and consulting with NATO allies on this.
"This is Poland's sovereign decision to make. We have in no way opposed Poland transferring planes to Ukraine. There are a number of challenging practical question," the spokesperson said. "In the meantime, we continue to surge security assistance for Ukraine and deliveries are ongoing."
A senior U.S. diplomat told ABC News that the U.S. was not "pre-consulted" on this news. U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that she found out about Poland's announcement while driving to Capitol Hill to testify.
"To my knowledge, it wasn't pre-consulted with us that they plan to give these planes to us, but as you know, we have been having consultations with them for a couple of days now about this request from the Ukrainians to receive this aircraft, and, were they to donate them, whether we would be able to help support backfill in their own security need," Nuland said.
-ABC News' Christine Theodorou and Luis Martinez
Editor's note: This post was updated to reflect the correct fighter jet models as MiG-29s, not MiG-19s.
Mar 08, 2022, 2:06 PM EST
Ukraine claims Russian general was killed in fighting near Kharkiv
Ukrainian intelligence claimed Tuesday that a Russian general was killed in fighting near the eastern city of Kharkiv. If confirmed, this would be the second general Russia has lost in Ukraine in a week, according to reports from Russian media last week.
Ukraine’s defense intelligence agency identified the general as Vitaly Gerasimov, chief of staff of the 41st Army.
Ukraine’s defense intelligence agency also published audio of an alleged intercepted phone call between two officers from Russia’s FSB intelligence agency discussing Gerasimov’s death.
Ukrainian serviceman stands next to the vertical tail fin of a Russian Su-34 bomber lying in a damaged building in Kharkiv, Ukraine, March 8, 2022.
Andrew Marienko/AP
Russia has not confirmed or denied the death.
The executive director of the open source group Bellingcat, Christo Grozev, said he had confirmed Gerasimov’s death with a Russian source. Grosev said Bellingcat had also identified the FSB officer in the alleged recording.
Last week, the 41st Army’s deputy commander, Major General Andrei Sukhovetsky, was confirmed by Russian media to have been killed.
-ABC News' Patrick Reevell
Mar 08, 2022, 1:37 PM EST
Zelenskyy asks UK parliament to increase pressure of sanctions, make Ukrainian skies safe
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke to the U.K.'s parliament Tuesday, asking it to increase the pressure of sanctions and "make our Ukrainian skies safe."
Zelenskyy has been asking NATO and the West to enforce a "no-fly" zone over Ukraine, but the U.S. and its allies have declined the request.
The Ukrainian president was greeted with rousing applause from members of the House, who stood before he spoke.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy receives a standing ovation as he addresses British lawmakers via video link, in the House of Commons in London, March 8, 2022. The Ukrainian leader urged the U.K. to increase sanctions on Russia, to recognize Russia as "a terrorist country" and to keep Ukraine's skies safe.
Jessica Taylor/UK Parliament via AP
In his speech, Zelenskyy quoted Shakespeare, saying, "We have to be or not to be. This is a Shakespearean question. Not that I have the answer, but…Yes it is to be."
He also paraphrased the words of Winston Churchill.
"We will not give up. We will continue fighting for our land whatever the costs. We will fight in the fields, in the seas, in the streets. We will fight on the banks of different rivers," Zelenskyy said.
"We do not want to lose what we have," Zelenskyy said.
