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
Biden to call for end to normal trade relations with Russia: Source
President Joe Biden will call for an end to normal trade relations with Russia on Friday, following their invasion of Ukraine, according to a source familiar with the matter. The decision would give the White House clearance to increase tariffs on the Kremlin.
"Tomorrow President Biden will announce that the U.S., along with the G-7, European Union, will be calling to revoke Most Favored Nation status for Russia, or called permanent normal trade relations, ‘PNTR,’ in the U.S.,” according to the source. “Each country will implement based on its own national processes. President Biden and the administration appreciate the bipartisan leadership of Congress and its calls for the revocation of the PNTR. Following the announcement tomorrow, the Admin looks forward to working with Congress on legislation to revoke PNTR.”
A bipartisan group of lawmakers has already publicly voiced support for this move.
-ABC News' Justin Gomez
Nearly 40,000 civilians evacuated from Ukraine today as some routes blocked, Zelenskyy says
Nearly 40,000 civilians were evacuated from Ukraine Thursday, though routes out of Mariupol and Volnovakha remain completely blocked, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
During his latest address from his office in Kyiv, Zelenskyy accused Russia of deliberately striking an area in the besieged eastern city of Mariupol where people were due to gather for evacuation Thursday.
“They have a clear order to hold Mariupol hostage, to torture it, to carry out constant bombardment," Zelenskyy said.
"This is outright terror. Blatant terror," he said. "We are all dealing with a terrorist state."
The president also expressed concern that Russia’s intense propaganda about biological and chemical weapons means it may be preparing to use them in Ukraine -- a sentiment recently voiced by the U.S. State Department.
"They accuse us. ... Again us! That we are allegedly developing biological weapons. Allegedly, we are preparing a chemical attack," Zelenskyy said. "This makes me really worried, because we’ve been repeatedly convinced: If you want to know Russia's plans, look at what Russia accuses others of."
He added that the public support for Ukraine in European countries has convinced him Ukraine will succeed in joining the European Union.
"Today, when I see the support of the people of each country in the squares of European capitals, I know that the Ukrainian people are already in the European Union," Zelenskyy said.
-ABC News' Patrick Reevell
Parents of former Marine held in Russia express more fears after call
Joey and Paula Reed, the parents of ex-Marine Trevor Reed who has been held in a Russian prison for over two years, said they are more fearful for their son's life after he called them from Russia.
The couple said in statement that Reed is "seriously ill" and was "coughing up blood multiple times a day, [and] running a fever."
"He also reports a broken rib because 'something fell' on him,' and to make matters worse, he's being underfed," the Reeds said.
During the call, Trevor Reed was sent to the "prison disciplinary ‘commission,'" according to his parents, who added they feared he was being sent to solitary confinement.
The couple recently spoke with President Joe Biden about their son's imprisonment.
"We were able to tell him [we] spoke to President Biden and anxiously await hearing from the White House as the President promised. Trevor increasingly feels left behind, and it’s heartbreaking for us to hear that from our son, whose service we are so proud of," they said.
-ABC News' Conor Finnegan
Russian troops make progress toward Kyiv, US official says
Russian troops have advanced about 3 miles toward Kyiv in the past day, bringing them within roughly 9 miles of the city center, according to a senior U.S. defense official.
The troops are to the northwest of Kyiv, in the area of the Hostomel Airport, which is about 5 miles from the outer city limits.
Two lines of advance from the northeast are also making progress on their push to Kyiv. The closest of these troops is now approximately 25 miles from the heart of the city, the official told reporters during a Thursday evening briefing.
Some troops from one of those lines of advance, emanating from above the town of Sumy, seem to have turned around, heading back northeast, though the reason for the about-face is unclear, the official said.
Kyiv remains "well-defended" by Ukrainian forces, the official said. Security assistance continues to flow into Ukraine, including air-defense systems, according to the official.
Since the start of the invasion, Russian forces have fired more than 775 missiles against Ukraine, the official said.
-ABC News' Matt Seyler
Senate approves $1.5 trillion funding bill with supplemental aid to Ukraine
The Senate passed a $1.5 trillion government funding bill late Thursday that includes $13.6 billion in supplemental aid to Ukraine by a vote of 68-31.
The legislation will now head to President Joe Biden's desk for his signature.
In a statement, White House press secretary Jen Psaki thanked leaders for "getting this bill done" and said Biden "looks forward to signing it into law."
"With these resources, we will be able to deliver historic support for the Ukrainian people as they defend their country and democracy," she said in part.
The supplemental Ukrainian aid is split between defense and nondefense funding. The $1.5 trillion also includes funding for many of the administration's priorities as well as sizable amounts for defense spending.
-ABC News' Allie Pecorin and Justin Gomez