Russia-Ukraine updates: US sanctions Russian military shipbuilder, diamond miner

Russia's largest military shipbuilding and diamond mining firms were targeted.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's "special military operation” into Ukraine began on Feb. 24, with troops crossing the border from Belarus and Russia. Moscow's forces have since been met with “stiff resistance” from Ukrainians, according to U.S. officials.

Russian forces retreated last week from the Kyiv suburbs, leaving behind a trail of destruction. After graphic images emerged of civilians lying dead in the streets of Bucha, U.S. and European officials accused Russian troops of committing war crimes.

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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 12, 2022, 2:56 PM EST

NATO allies' resolve 'strengthened' since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Harris says

Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday re-emphasized the U.S.' commitment to defend NATO allies and said, "Our collective resolve has been strengthened” since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

"The United States stands firmly with the Ukrainian people [and] in defense of the NATO alliance," Harris said at the DNC Winter Meeting, hours after returning from her trip to Poland and Romania.

"Russia's invasion threatens not just Ukraine's democracy, it threatens democracy and security across Europe and by extension when democracy is threatened, anywhere, it threatens us all," Harris said.

Harris recalled her meeting with the presidents of both nations and how she met with refugees from Ukraine, who she said “feel very alone."

"I told them people around the world stand with them and they are not alone," Harris said.

-ABC News' Justin Gomez

Mar 12, 2022, 2:24 PM EST

To take Kyiv, Russia will have 'kill all residents,' defiant Zelenskyy says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters Saturday that Russia would have to carpet-bomb Kyiv and kill all its residents to be able to conquer the capital city.

"They will come here only if they kill us all," Zelenskyy said. "If that is their goal, let them come."

-ABC News' Jason Volack

Mar 12, 2022, 11:49 AM EST

Zelenskyy says Ukraine has lost 1,300 troops, claims Russia lost 12,000

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine lost 1,300 troops and claimed that Russia has lost 12,000 troops, to reporters Saturday.

"I can't say that I'm happy about their losses because it's not who I am. We're talking about human lives here, and those soldiers were brought to the war as cannon fodder, brainwashed and confused," Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy also commented on the humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians, saying the most successful corridor has been out of Sumy where tens of thousands were evacuated.

"It's a very difficult process and sometimes we have to invent unorthodox methods to facilitate that, because the Russians almost never observe cease-fire to allow evacuation of civilians," Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy also commented on discussions with Russia, saying he has been requesting direct talks at the highest level for over two years.

"At least we can see some progress now in that they also start to agree that dialogue is needed. But of course we would seek broader involvement of other world leaders, because in any talks about future firm security guarantees for Ukraine we will never trust only Moscow after such a bloody war it unleashed," Zelenskyy said.

-ABC News' Guy Davies

Mar 12, 2022, 3:17 PM EST

Biden authorizes $200 million in military assistance to Ukraine

President Joe Biden authorized $200 million in new military assistance to Ukraine, to come from existing U.S. weapons stocks, the White House said Saturday.

Biden authorized "the drawdown of up to an aggregate value of $200 million in defense articles and services of the Department of Defense, and military education and training, to provide assistance to Ukraine and to make the determinations required under such section to direct such a drawdown," the White House said in a press release.

-ABC News' Justin Gomez

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