Russia-Ukraine updates: Putin says 'certain positive movements' in negotiations
A third round of talks between Russia and Ukraine ended without any resolution.
Russian forces are continuing their attempted push through Ukraine from multiple directions, while Ukrainians, led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, are putting up "stiff resistance," according to U.S. officials.
The attack began Feb. 24, when Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation."
Russian forces moving from neighboring Belarus toward Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, have advanced closer to the city center in recent days despite the resistance, coming within about 9 miles as of Friday.
Russia has been met by sanctions from the United States, Canada and countries throughout Europe, targeting the Russian economy as well as Putin himself.
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Latest headlines:
- Ukrainian air force claims Russia carried out false flag airstrike in Belarus
- UN has credible reports of Russian cluster bomb use, attacks on health care
- Putin claims 'certain positive movements' in Ukraine negotiations
- Russian general prosecutor wants Meta declared 'extremist organization'
- Putin orders Russian military to help volunteer fighters from Middle East travel to Ukraine
US expected to announce new sanctions against Russian oligarchs
The U.S. Treasury and State Departments are expected to announce new sanctions against Russian oligarchs on Thursday, according to a White House official.
The sanctions will expand upon recently announced EU sanctions, block specific oligarchs’ travel to the U.S. and target the oligarchs’ relatives, according to the official.
-ABC's Ben Gittleson
UN children's agency says half a million children have fled Ukraine
One week into the conflict, half a million children have already fled Ukraine to neighboring countries with the number continuing to grow, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund said on Thursday.
"Millions of children could be caught up in the violence as the fighting intensifies in and around the country’s major urban centers," UNICEF said in a statement.
Since Feb. 24, 17 children have been killed and 30 others have been injured, according to reports the UN has been able to verify. UNICEF said the true number of casualties is "likely far higher."
“The use of explosive weapons in cities could quickly turn this crisis into a catastrophe for Ukraine’s children,” said Afshan Khan, UNICEF’s Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia.
“There are no armed operations of this scale that do not result in children being harmed. The consequences will be tragic,” Khan said.
The conflict has sparked massive population displacement that could soon constitute one of Europe’s largest refugee crises since World War II, UNICEF warned.
UNICEF said hundreds of homes have been damaged or destroyed and there are reports of schools, orphanages and health centers sustaining heavy damage.
"Humanitarian needs across the country are multiplying by the hour," UNICEF said.
The country is running low on critical medical supplies and has had to halt urgent efforts to curb a polio outbreak, UNICEF said.
- ABC News' Christine Theodorou
Zelenskyy says he doesn't know how long Ukraine will hold out against Russia
When asked by reporters how long Ukraine can hold out against the Russian advance, Ukraine President Volodymr Zelenskyy said "I don't know."
In a press conference on Thursday reporters asked the president if he would ever leave Kyiv, Zelenskyy said "no!"
Zelenskyy said he's ready to meet and talk directly with Russia President Vladimir Putin and stressed once again the need for a 'no-fly' zone immediately over the entire country, saying it would act as a deterrent.
He paid tribute to the valor of Ukrainian forces and appealed to Russian mothers not to send their sons to die on foreign soil.
Zelenskyy also thanked President Joe Biden for the continuing support, but criticized the West for being late to introduce sanctions that he believes could’ve prevented the Russian invasion in the first place.
-ABC News' Ian Pannell
Russia claims forces it backs in Luhansk, Donetsk expanded their territory
Russia's Defense Ministry claimed the forces it backs in Luhansk and Donetsk, the two Ukrainian regions it recognized as independent states, are advancing and gaining territory.
Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov claimed, in a press briefing on Thursday, that Donetsk forces conducted an offensive advancing eight kilometers and taking control of the localities of Novokrasnovka and Krasnovka.
Russia claims its armed forces and Donetsk units also took control of the localities of Blahoveshchenka, Synya Hora, Petrivske, Sladkaya Balka, and others, according to Konashenkov.
Konashenkov also claimed that Luhansk forces backed by Russia took control of the Yarovaya-Krasnyi Lyman-Prilovye road.
-ABC News' Tanya Stukalova
