Russia-Ukraine updates: 2 US veterans who joined Ukrainian forces missing

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met on Sunday via videoconference with a small group of Ukrainian troops who have been training in the United State since before Russia invaded their country on Feb. 24, according to Pentagon press secretary John Kirby.

Austin spoke to Ukrainian soldiers as the group prepared to head back to Ukraine on Sunday.

"The Secretary thanked them for their service and for their courage, noting the skill with which the Ukrainian Armed Forces are fighting Russia's unprovoked invasion," Kirby said in a statement. "And he (Austin) pledged continued U.S. support for providing and coordinating additional security assistance."

The Ukrainians soldiers were in Biloxi, Mississippi, for naval training when the invasion began on Feb. 24. While in the United States, the U.S. Defense Department also trained the soldiers on how to use equipment the United States is sending as part of its military assistance to Ukraine, including Switchblade drones, Kirby said.

Kirby said the group spoke to Austin on Sunday from in Little Creek, Virginia, where they are "completing additional advanced tactical training."

-ABC News' Matt Seyler

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer confirmed he plans to travel to Moscow on Monday and meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Nehammer noted in a Twitter post on Sunday that while Austria is militarily neutral, the country's position on Russia's war against Ukraine is that it must stop.

Nehammer said that humanitarian corridors and a ceasefire need to be established and that a full investigation should take place appraising allegations of war crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine.

The chancellor said he has notified Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his European partners of his plan to meet with Putin.

Nehammer's decision to meet with Putin comes after he visited Kyiv on Saturday and met with Zelenskyy.

-ABC News' Christine Theodorou

A top Ukrainian prosecutor said the bodies of more than 1,200 Ukrainians allegedly killed by Russian forces have been found in or near the capital of Kyiv since the start of the Russian invasion in February.

Ukraine's prosecutor-general, Iryna Venediktova. made the grim announcement on Sunday, the 46th day of the war in Ukraine.

"As of the morning of April 10, we found the bodies of 1,222 people who died during the Russian occupation of Kyiv region. This is only in Kyiv region," Venediktova said.

Venediktova said many of the bodies recovered in the Kyiv region are those of civilians.

"Of course, what we have seen on the ground in all regions of Ukraine are war crimes, crimes against humanity and we will do everything to prosecute them," Venediktova said.

In addition to the atrocities found near the capital city, Venediktova mention at rocket attack Friday on a train station in Kramatorsk in the Donetsk Oblast of eastern Ukraine that killed 50 people, including five children. Venediktova called the deadly attack in Kramatorsk a "war crime."

Pope Francis prayed for an Easter truce in Ukraine during Palm Sunday services at the Vatican, telling thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square that "nothing is impossible for God."

In his angelus prayer following Palm Sunday Mass, the pope expressed hope for a period of calm to allow leaders in the now 46-day war to negotiate peace.

"Let the weapons be put down! Let the Easter truce begin," Pope Francis said. "But not to provide more weapons and pick up the combat again – no! – a truce that will lead to peace, through real negotiation that is even disposed to some sacrifice for the good of the people. In fact, what victory is there in planting a flag on a pile of rubble?"

Vatican police estimated that about 65,000 people made the pilgrimage to St. Peter's Square for the start of Holy Week. It was the first Palm Sunday Mass celebrated in St. Peter's Square in two years due to the pandemic.

Many of those in attendance held palm branches in a symbolic gesture commemorating the return of Jesus to Jerusalem.

“When we resort to violence ... we lose sight of why we are in the world and even end up committing senseless acts of cruelty," Francis said during his homily. "We see this in the folly of war, where Christ is crucified yet another time."