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
WHO confirms 'several' attacks on Ukrainian health care facilities
The World Health Organization said on Sunday it had confirmed "several" attacks on health care facilities in Ukraine.
The attacks caused "multiple deaths and injuries," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Twitter.
"Additional reports are being investigated," he said. "Attacks on healthcare facilities or workers breach medical neutrality and are violations of international humanitarian law."
Ukraine says Chernihiv, Mariupol defenses underway
Ukraine’s military on Sunday said it was "fighting fierce battles to maintain certain borders," including defending Chernihiv and Mariupol, cities targeted by Russian shelling.
"The enemy, suffering losses, makes constant attempts to avoid direct fire contact with our troops," military officials said, according to an official translation posted on Facebook.
An operation is underway to defend Chernihiv, a city about 100 miles north of Kyiv, the capital, the update said. In the east, the Ukrainian military’s "main efforts are focused on defending the city of Mariupol and inflicting fire damage on the overwhelming forces of the enemy."
Ukraine’s military claimed on Sunday to have destroyed 88 Russian aircraft and helicopters.
"Some enemy pilots who catapulted and survived were found by Ukrainian soldiers," the update said. "They have received medical treatment and are already testifying about the Putin regime's crimes against humanity."
Russia targeting civilians 'to break Ukrainian morale,' UK says
Russia has responded to the “scale and strength” of Ukraine’s resistance by targeting populated areas, including Kharkiv, Chernihiv and Mariupol, the U.K. Ministry of Defence said on Sunday.
"This is likely to represent an effort to break Ukrainian morale," the ministry said. "Russia has previously used similar tactics in Chechnya in 1999 and Syria in 2016, employing both air and ground-based munitions."
The Defence Ministry said Russian fuel trucks and supply lines have been targeted, "slowing the rate of advance of their ground forces."
President Biden speaks to Zelenskyy by phone
President Joe Biden called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Saturday evening, according to the White House, adding that they spoke for 32 minutes.
They spoke from 6:18 p.m. ET to 6:50 p.m. ET, the White House said.
The White House released a readout of Biden's call with Zelensky, saying the leaders discussed recent talks between Ukraine and Russia and Biden "reiterated his concern" about Russia's attack on a nuclear power plant. Biden also noted assistance being sent to Ukraine and said that the administration is "working closely with Congress to secure additional funding."
Biden also "welcomed the decision this evening by Visa and Mastercard to suspend service in Russia."
Earlier in the day, Zelenskyy spoke virtually to about 300 members of Congress and their staff. He pleaded passionately for more assistance from America and the West, specifically asking for war planes, according to those in the meeting. There was no mention of that in the readout from the presidents' conversation.
-ABC News' Justin Gomez
136 civilian deaths reported
A spokesperson for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights said 136 civilians have been killed in Ukraine, including 13 children.
Another 400 Ukrainian civilians have been wounded, spokesperson Liz Throssell said.