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
Zelenskyy asks UK parliament to increase pressure of sanctions, make Ukrainian skies safe
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke to the U.K.'s parliament Tuesday, asking it to increase the pressure of sanctions and "make our Ukrainian skies safe."
Zelenskyy has been asking NATO and the West to enforce a "no-fly" zone over Ukraine, but the U.S. and its allies have declined the request.
The Ukrainian president was greeted with rousing applause from members of the House, who stood before he spoke.
In his speech, Zelenskyy quoted Shakespeare, saying, "We have to be or not to be. This is a Shakespearean question. Not that I have the answer, but…Yes it is to be."
He also paraphrased the words of Winston Churchill.
"We will not give up. We will continue fighting for our land whatever the costs. We will fight in the fields, in the seas, in the streets. We will fight on the banks of different rivers," Zelenskyy said.
"We do not want to lose what we have," Zelenskyy said.
-ABC News' Joe Simonetti and Matt Gutman
European Commission releases proposal to make EU independent from Russian fossil fuels before 2030
The European Commission on Tuesday released its proposed plan to make the European Union independent from Russian fossil fuels before 2030, starting with gas.
The plan "will seek to diversify gas supplies, speed up the roll-out of renewable gases and replace gas in heating and power generation," according to the European Commission.
This plan could reduce the EU's demand for Russian gas by two-thirds before the end of the year, according to the European Commission.
"We must become independent from Russian oil, coal and gas. We simply cannot rely on a supplier who explicitly threatens us," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement.
Von der Leyen said she would be discussing the Commission's proposal with European leaders in Versailles later this week.
"Putin's war demonstrates the urgency of accelerating our clean energy transition," the European Commission wrote on Twitter.
Just before the invasion of Ukraine, the EU reported wholesale gas prices were around 200% higher than a year ago. The invasion aggravated the energy crisis even further.
The EU said it is reliant on imports of fossil fuels— gas, oil and coal— to meet its needs.
Last year, Russia provided around 45% of the EU's total gas imports, 27% of the EU's total crude oil imports and 46% of the EU's hard coal imports, according to the European Commission.
-ABC News' Christine Theodorou
US announces ban on Russian oil imports, other energy products
The United States will ban imports of Russian oil and other energy products but will not be joined in doing so by European allies, President Joe Biden announced Tuesday.
“Today, I'm announcing the United States is targeting the main artery of Russia's economy," Biden told reporters during a press conference from the White House. "We're banning all imports of Russian oil and gas and energy."
Biden said the ban means the U.S. "will deal another powerful blow" to Russian President Vladimir Putin amid his invasion of neighboring Ukraine. The move is also expected to trigger sharply higher gasoline and other energy prices in the U.S. and worldwide.
"There will be cost as well here in the United States," he added. "Republicans and Democrats understand, alike, understand that."
The decision was made in "close consultation" with U.S. allies and partners around the world, particularly in Europe, according to Biden.
"Because a united response to Putin's aggression has been my overriding focus, to keep all NATO and all the EU and our allies totally united," he said. "We're moving forward, understanding that many of our European allies and partner may not be in a position to join us."
-ABC News' Ben Gittleson and Molly Nagle
UK to phase out Russian oil by end of 2022
The United Kingdom will phase out the import of Russian oil and oil products by the end of the year, as part of its sanctions on Moscow for invading Ukraine, U.K. Buiness Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng announced Tuesday.
"Beyond Russia, the vast majority of our imports come from reliable partners such as the US, Netherlands and the Gulf. We’ll work with them this year to secure further supplies," Kwarteng said on his official Twitter account.
Kwarteng noted that while the U.K. "is not dependent" on Russian natural gas, as it only makes up 4% of the U.K's supply, he is exploring options to "end this altogether."
"The market has already begun to ostracise Russian oil, with nearly 70% of it currently unable to find a buyer," he added.
-ABC News' Joe Simonetti
