Russia-Ukraine updates: Putin suspends key US-Russia nuclear treaty

President Vladimir Putin said he'd sought an "open dialogue" with the West.

Almost a year after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine, the two countries are engaged in a struggle for control of areas throughout the east and south.

Putin's forces pulled out of key positions in November, retreating from Kherson as Ukrainian troops led a counteroffensive targeting the southern port city. Russian drones have continued bombarding civilian targets throughout Ukraine, knocking out critical power infrastructure as winter sets in.

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Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Feb 17, 2023, 1:20 PM EST

Belarus ready to make Russian attack planes, president says at meeting with Putin

Belarus is ready to make Russian attack planes, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday.

"Belarus has been making up to a thousand components for MC-21 and Superjet 100 planes. There used to be repair plants, but now they also make component parts," Lukashenko said.

"We are even ready to make it in Belarus with a little support from Russia," Lukashenko said.

-ABC News' Will Gretsky

Feb 16, 2023, 5:28 PM EST

Ukrainian vice prime minister tells remaining civilians in Bakhmut to evacuate

Vice Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk called on the roughly 6,000 civilians still in Bakhmut to evacuate "immediately."

Officials said they don't want the people still in the city to put themselves and their children at risk and don't want them to interfere with the Ukrainian army. Five civilians were killed and nine others were injured on Thursday, according to the vice prime minister.

"Frankly speaking, I am very surprised that 6,000 civilians are still working there," Vereshchuk said in a statement.

-ABC News' Will Gretsky

Feb 16, 2023, 3:25 PM EST

Belarus will fight alongside Russia if it is attacked, president warns

Belarus would only join the war in Ukraine, fighting alongside Russia, if it is attacked, President Alexander Lukashenko told state-run Belta news agency.

"We don't want a war. And in no case are we going to send our troops into the territory of Ukraine. Unless you commit aggression against the territory of Belarus from there. Here is my answer. It was given a long time ago," Lukashenko said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed Lukashenko's threat in an interview with the BBC.

"I hope [Belarus] won't join [the war]," he said. "If it does, we will fight and we will survive."

Allowing Russia to use Belarus as a staging post for an attack again would be a "huge mistake," he added.

Russian forces launched part of their full-scale invasion from Belarus 12 months ago. They drove south toward Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, but were fought back and made to retreat within weeks, after suffering heavy casualties.

Lukashenko is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday.

-ABC News' Will Gretsky and Tanya Stukalova

Feb 16, 2023, 3:11 PM EST

Zelenskyy rules out territorial deal with Putin in BBC interview

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has ruled out giving up any of his country's territory in a potential peace deal with Russia.

In a BBC interview to mark a year since Russia's full-scale invasion, he warned conceding land would mean Russia could "keep coming back," while Western weapons would bring peace closer.

However, he does believe Ukrainian forces can keep resisting Russia's advance until they are able to launch a counteroffensive -- although he repeated his calls for more military aid from the West.

"Of course, modern weapons speed up peace. Weapons are the only language Russia understands," Zelensky told the BBC.

-ABC News' Will Gretsky

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