Russia-Ukraine updates: Russian missile strikes hit multiple Ukrainian cities

Dozens of injuries were reported in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.

Russia has continued a nearly 19-month-long invasion of neighboring Ukraine. Recently, though, the Ukrainians have gone on a counteroffensive, fighting to reclaim occupied territory.

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Russian FM says NATO has 'returned to the schemes of the Cold War'

The NATO summit in Vilnius showed that the NATO "alliance has finally returned to the schemes of the Cold War," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Wednesday.

"NATO consistently lowers the threshold for the use of force and strengthens the nuclear component in military planning," the statement added.

The Russian Foreign Ministry also noted NATO countries "promised to continue supplying more and more long-range weapons to Kyiv," saying they are doing so in order to "prolong the conflict."

-ABC News' Tanya Stukalova


Zelenskyy says he received 'unambiguous statement' Ukraine will be in NATO

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he received assurances that Ukraine will become a member of NATO and told reporters he believes it will happen "as soon as the security situation is stabilized," when answering questions after the conclusion of the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Wednesday.

When asked what Zelenskyy got out of the summit, he said he received "support from the leaders and an unambiguous statement that Ukraine will be in NATO."

"I believe that we will be in NATO as soon as the security situation is stabilized. In simple terms, the moment the war is over, Ukraine will definitely be invited to join NATO and Ukraine will definitely become a member of the alliance. I have not heard any other opinion today," Zelenskyy said.

-ABC News' Ellie Kaufman


Wagner forces turn over weapons, military equipment to Russian forces

Wagner forces are turning over weapons and military equipment to the Russian Armed Forces, the country's defense ministry said Wednesday.

More than 2,000 pieces of equipment and weapons were transferred to the Russian Armed Forces from Wagner forces, including hundreds of tanks, air defense systems, self-propelled artillery mounts, armored personnel carriers and more, the defense ministry said.

Among the equipment, dozens of units have never been used in combat before.

Russian forces also received more than 2,500 tons of various ammunition and about 20,000 small arms, the defense ministry said.

Separately, the Belarusian Interior Ministry has "begun talks seeking to invite Wagner Group members to train its troops," Interfax, a Russian news agency, reported Wednesday.

-ABC News' Ellie Kaufman


Zelenskyy has 'powerful' meeting with Biden

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his in-person meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden in Lithuania’s capital on Wednesday was "very good" and "powerful."

Zelenskyy took to Twitter after their meeting ended in Vilnius, saying it lasted "twice as long as planned" and "was as meaningful as it needed to be."

"If the protocol had not stopped the meeting, we would have talked even longer," he tweeted.

Zelenskyy said their meeting covered "all the topics," including long-term support for Ukraine, weapons, politics and NATO membership.

"We clearly see how to end this war with our common victory," he added. "Thank you, Mr. President!"


Biden to make 'memorable speech' focusing on NATO, Ukraine

U.S. President Joe Biden will make a "memorable speech" before world leaders in Lithuania's capital on the final day of a high-stakes NATO summit, according to National Security Council Senior Director for Europe Amanda Sloat.

Biden's remarks on Wednesday afternoon will focus on similar themes to what he said during his speech in Poland in late February marking one year since Russia waged war on Ukraine.

"President Biden will talk about the strength of the NATO Alliance and how it remains a force for global security and stability, as it has for more than seven decades. He'll talk about how NATO is more vital to our shared future and that didn't happen by accident," Sloat told reporters during a press briefing in Vilnius on Wednesday morning.

"As the president has talked about before, Vladimir Putin thought he could break our resolve when he invaded Ukraine. But our NATO allies and our partners around the world responded by coming together to support the brave people of Ukraine as they defend their freedom, their independence and their democracy," she added.

Beyond addressing the strength of the NATO alliance and the importance of standing by Ukraine, Biden will also look to pitch cooperation like we've seen for Ukraine to tackle other major challenges facing the world, "including the climate crisis, emerging technologies, upholding the international rules of the road and expanding opportunities so we build an economy where no one gets left behind," according to Sloat.

-ABC News' Molly Nagle