Russia-Ukraine updates: Putin says war was ‘unleashed’ on Russia

The Russian president delivered his annual Victory Day speech.

More than a year after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, the countries are fighting for control of areas in eastern and southern Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's forces are readying a spring counteroffensive, but Putin appears to be preparing for a long and bloody war.

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Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Apr 04, 2023, 5:22 PM EDT

Zelenskyy invited to NATO summit in July

NATO's Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced that he invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to a NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 11 and 12.

Zelenskyy will meet with alliance member states, according to Stoltenberg.

-ABC News' William Gretsky

Apr 04, 2023, 3:35 PM EDT

US 'working diligently' to get WSJ reporter consular access: White House

The U.S. is continuing to push for consular access for Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal reporter detained in Russia, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during a briefing Tuesday, adding that "this is a priority" for President Joe Biden.

Asked how worrying it was the U.S. still didn't have consular access, Jean-Pierre said, "We're concerned."

"We're taking this very seriously," Jean-Pierre said, pointing to Secretary Antony Blinken’s conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov over the weekend. "We're working diligently, very hard to get a counselor to Evan.”

Jean-Pierre declined to say whether the U.S. was close to determining that Gershkovich was being "wrongfully detained" or provide a timeline of when that determination may happen, saying the State Department's process "is currently ongoing." That classification would allow the federal government to use more resources to try to free him.

-ABC News' Ben Gittleson

Apr 04, 2023, 12:05 PM EDT

US announces $2.6B in new security aid for Ukraine

The Pentagon announced $2.6 billion in new security assistance for Ukraine on Tuesday.

The aid will come in two forms: a $500 million presidential drawdown authority package pulling from existing U.S. stockpiles (the 35th such package for Ukraine); and $2.1 billion from Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funds to procure new equipment.

PHOTO: New Ukrainian army brigade recruits take part in a military exercise conducted by foreign instructor Magnus Ek, 53, in infantry training, combat tactic, shooting range practice and first aid, in the eastern Donetsk region, Ukraine, March 27, 2023.
New Ukrainian army brigade recruits take part in a military exercise conducted by foreign instructor Magnus Ek, 53, in infantry training, combat tactic, shooting range practice and first aid training, in the eastern Donetsk region, Ukraine, March 27, 2023.
Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters

Both the PDA and USAI packages are largely focused on providing munitions for Ukraine, including additional Patriot air-defense missiles and HIMARS ammunition. They also include anti-drone weapons, vehicles, communications equipment, spare parts and more.

-ABC News' Matt Seyler

Apr 03, 2023, 10:21 PM EDT

At least 501 children killed, almost 1,000 injured since February 2022: UNICEF chief

At least 501 children have been killed and almost 1,000 others injured since February 2022, Catherine Russell, executive director of UNICEF, tweeted Monday.

"Another tragic milestone for Ukraine's children and families," she wrote, adding: "This is just the UN verified number. The real figure is likely far higher, and the toll on families affected is unimaginable."

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