Russia-Ukraine updates: 2 US veterans who joined Ukrainian forces missing

The Americans, Andy Tai Ngoc Huynh and Alexander Drueke, are both from Alabama.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's "special military operation" into neighboring Ukraine began on Feb. 24, with Russian forces invading from Belarus, to the north, and Russia, to the east. Ukrainian troops have offered "stiff resistance," according to U.S. officials.

The Russian military has since launched a full-scale ground offensive in eastern Ukraine's disputed Donbas region, capturing the strategic port city of Mariupol and securing a coastal corridor to the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula.

For previous coverage, please click here.

Two Men at War
Two Men at War
A look at the two leaders at the center of the war in Ukraine and how they both rose to power, the difference in their leadership and what led to this moment in history.
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Austrian chancellor meets with Putin in Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer started negotiations Monday in the Russian presidential residence, Russia's semi-official Interfax reported, citing Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.

This marked the first visit to Russia by an EU leader since the invasion started.

After the meeting Nehammer told reporters this wasn't a "friendly visit" with Putin and that he addressed the "serious war crimes in Bucha," The Austrian Press Agency reported. Nehammer said he told the Russian leader that the sanctions will escalate if Ukrainians keep dying, according to The Austrian Press Agency.


US, India discuss 'destabilizing effects' of war

At a virtual meeting on Monday, President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about Russia's war in Ukraine -- a topic that has caused some friction between the two countries as India has taken a more neutral stance.

Biden said, "I want to welcome India's humanitarian support from people in Ukraine, who are suffering a horrific assault, including a tragic shelling in a train station last week that killed dozens of innocent children and women and civilians attempting to flee the violence. The United States and India are going to continue our close consultation on how to manage the destabilizing effects of this Russian war."

Biden added, "I'm looking forward to our discussion today, Mr. Prime Minister. Our continued consultation and dialogue are key to ensuring the US-India relationship continues to grow deeper and stronger, delivering our people and our global good -- good that we all are seeking to manage particularly in your part of the world."

Modi said the situation in Ukraine was "very worrying," noting he has spoken to both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and called for peace and direct talks between the two.

Modi called the killings of civilians in the Ukrainian city of Bucha "very worrying." "We instantly condemned the killings and have called for an independent inquiry. We hope that the ongoing discussions between Russia and Ukraine will lead to peace," Modi said via a translator.

"We have also emphasized the importance of the security of civilians in Ukraine and the unhindered supply of humanitarian assistance to them," he added. "We have sent medicines and other relief material to Ukraine and to its neighboring countries. And on Ukraine's request, we will be sending them another consignment of medicines very soon."

After the leaders' call, a senior administration official told reporters that "there was no sort of concrete ask and concrete answer" on India's response to the war in Ukraine.

Asked about India's purchase of Russian oil during the conflict, the official said energy was brought up on the call but that the U.S. "hasn't asked India to do anything in particular."

"We know not all countries will be able to do what we've done" to ban Russian energy imports, the official said. "Other countries have to make their own choices."

"That said, we don't think India should accelerate or increase the import of Russian energy," the official said.

Asked about India's abstention from the United Nations General Assembly vote to suspend Russia from the U.N. Human Rights Council, the official said, "India is going to make its own judgements."

The official also suggested that India can play a role in mitigating the threat the war has posed to the global food supply, and that there was discussion "about what more India might be able to do."

-ABC News' Molly Nagle and Ben Siegel


Mariupol death toll could be over 20,000: Mayor

Vadym Boychenko, the mayor of the hard-hit Ukrainian city of Mariupol, told The Associated Press that more than 10,000 residents have been killed.

Boychenko said, with corpses "carpeted through the streets," it's possible that the southeastern city's death toll is over 20,000.

-ABC News' Mike Trew


Russians still attacking Mariupol, partially blocking Kharkiv: Ukraine

The Ukrainian Armed Forces said Monday that Russian troops are continuing to attack hard-hit Mariupol in southeastern Ukraine.

The Ukrainians said the Russians are still partially blocking the northeast city of Kharkiv using rockets, artillery and mortars.

In Kherson, in the south of Ukraine, Russian forces are trying to gain a foothold in the administrative borders, according to the Ukrainians.

And in Severodonetsk in eastern Ukraine, Russian forces made an unsuccessful attempt to storm the city and weren't able to advance deeper into Ukraine's territory, the Ukrainians said.

-ABC News' Irene Hnatiu


Biden announces $800 million new security assistance package

President Joe Biden on Thursday announced a new $800 million security assistance package to help Ukrainians fighting in the eastern Donbas region. This funding includes heavy artillery weapons, tactical drones and howitzers.

This package includes 72 new howitzers. Combined with the 18 howitzers announced last week, the 90 howitzers headed to Ukraine can equip five battalions, according to the administration.

Biden noted that he’s run out of pre-approved money and equipment to send to Ukraine and he appealed to Congress to approve more.

When pressed by ABC News on how long the U.S. can sustain this level of spending, Biden said, “We have the capacity to do this for a long time."

He went on, "The question is, are we going to continue to maintain the support of the international community? And keep the pressure on Putin to prevent him from overrunning the country, No. 1, and No. 2, make sure we continue to maintain the economic sanctions, which, over time, and we're beginning to see, they’re devastating their economy and their ability to move forward."

Biden also announced a separate $500 million in economic aid to Ukraine to help fund government operations like salaries, pensions and social programs.

The president added that the U.S. is now banning Russian-affiliated ships from American ports.

Biden met with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal Thursday morning ahead of his remarks.

-ABC News' Luis Martinez and Sarah Kolinovsky