Russia-Ukraine updates: Putin says 'certain positive movements' in negotiations

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his defense minister to assist “volunteer” fighters to travel to Ukraine to join Russian forces there.

The order appears to relate to Russian efforts to recruit Syrian fighters that U.S. officials have said are underway.

Russia’s defense minister Sergey Shoigu claimed to Putin that 16,000 volunteers from “the Middle East” had expressed a desire to come.

Shoigu claimed that the fighters, who he said had experience fighting ISIS, wanted to come not for money but a “sincere” desire to help.

U.S. officials have said they believe Russia is recruiting Syrians experienced in urban combat from its areas held by its ally, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. They are reported to be being offered just a few hundred dollars.

-ABC News’ Patrick Reevell

The Senate passed a $1.5 trillion government funding bill late Thursday that includes $13.6 billion in supplemental aid to Ukraine by a vote of 68-31.

The legislation will now head to President Joe Biden's desk for his signature.

In a statement, White House press secretary Jen Psaki thanked leaders for "getting this bill done" and said Biden "looks forward to signing it into law."

"With these resources, we will be able to deliver historic support for the Ukrainian people as they defend their country and democracy," she said in part.

The supplemental Ukrainian aid is split between defense and nondefense funding. The $1.5 trillion also includes funding for many of the administration's priorities as well as sizable amounts for defense spending.

-ABC News' Allie Pecorin and Justin Gomez

President Joe Biden will call for an end to normal trade relations with Russia on Friday, following their invasion of Ukraine, according to a source familiar with the matter. The decision would give the White House clearance to increase tariffs on the Kremlin.

"Tomorrow President Biden will announce that the U.S., along with the G-7, European Union, will be calling to revoke Most Favored Nation status for Russia, or called permanent normal trade relations, ‘PNTR,’ in the U.S.,” according to the source. “Each country will implement based on its own national processes. President Biden and the administration appreciate the bipartisan leadership of Congress and its calls for the revocation of the PNTR. Following the announcement tomorrow, the Admin looks forward to working with Congress on legislation to revoke PNTR.”

A bipartisan group of lawmakers has already publicly voiced support for this move.

-ABC News' Justin Gomez

Nearly 40,000 civilians were evacuated from Ukraine Thursday, though routes out of Mariupol and Volnovakha remain completely blocked, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

During his latest address from his office in Kyiv, Zelenskyy accused Russia of deliberately striking an area in the besieged eastern city of Mariupol where people were due to gather for evacuation Thursday.

“They have a clear order to hold Mariupol hostage, to torture it, to carry out constant bombardment," Zelenskyy said.

"This is outright terror. Blatant terror," he said. "We are all dealing with a terrorist state."

The president also expressed concern that Russia’s intense propaganda about biological and chemical weapons means it may be preparing to use them in Ukraine -- a sentiment recently voiced by the U.S. State Department.

"They accuse us. ... Again us! That we are allegedly developing biological weapons. Allegedly, we are preparing a chemical attack," Zelenskyy said. "This makes me really worried, because we’ve been repeatedly convinced: If you want to know Russia's plans, look at what Russia accuses others of."

He added that the public support for Ukraine in European countries has convinced him Ukraine will succeed in joining the European Union.

"Today, when I see the support of the people of each country in the squares of European capitals, I know that the Ukrainian people are already in the European Union," Zelenskyy said.

-ABC News' Patrick Reevell