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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Key national security officials to testify on Capitol Hill over Ukraine crisis

As tensions rise between the United States and Russia over the conflict in Ukraine, national security officials will appear on Capitol Hill March 8 at 10 a.m. for the House Intelligence Committee's annual worldwide threats hearing.

The public portion of the hearing will include CIA Director Bill Burns, FBI Director Chris Wray and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines. Burns notably traveled to Moscow last fall reportedly to confront Russian President Vladimir Putin over the troop buildup on Ukraine's borders and his plans to invade the country.

Publicly and privately, lawmakers have criticized the Biden administration over the pace and scope of intelligence sharing with Ukraine over the last week.

The officials will also testify before the Senate later in the week.

-ABC News' Ben Siegel


Zelenskyy slams NATO for denying no-fly zone request

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy angrily denounced NATO in a televised address Friday over its refusal to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine.

"Knowing that new strikes and casualties are inevitable, NATO has consciously taken the decision not to close the sky over Ukraine. All the people who will die from this day, will die also because of you," he said.

Zelenskyy accused NATO of creating a narrative "that the closure of the sky will allegedly provoke a war with Russia."

"It's a self-hypnosis of those who are weak, unconfident inside, though it can possess weapons a lot bigger than we do. You should have thought about people, about humanity," he said.

Zelenskyy said the alliance did agree to purchase 50 tons of fuel, but the president scoffed at the move.

"I don't know who you can defend and whether you are capable. You can't pay off with liters of diesel fuel for the liters of our blood, shed for our common Europe, for our common freedom, for our joint future," he said.

-ABC News' Patrick Reevell and Yulia Drozd


Kamala Harris to travel to Poland, Romania next week

Vice President Kamala Harris has scheduled a trip to Warsaw, Poland, and Bucharest, Romania, next week, according to her office.

Harris will meet with leaders of both countries from March 9 to March 11, deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said in a statement.

"They will discuss our continuing support for the people of Ukraine through security, economic, and humanitarian assistance and our determination to impose severe economic consequences on Russia and those complicit in Russia’s invasion," she said.

"The vice president’s meetings will also focus on how the United States can further support Ukraine’s neighbors as they welcome and care for refugees fleeing violence," Singh added.

-ABC News' Ben Gittleson


White House says it's 'looking at ways to reduce' Russian oil imports

The White House on Friday did not rule out banning Russian oil imports to the U.S., saying it was "looking at ways to reduce the import of Russian oil," but showed continued reluctance in light of the impact it would have on energy prices.

“We are considering a range of options, but what's really essential is that we maintain a steady supply of global energy,” Cecilia Rouse, the chair of the White House's Council of Economic Advisers, said at the White House press briefing.

Adding, “Energy is a global market and we do not want to disrupt that market.”

Bloomberg on Friday reported that “the administration is weighing a ban on U.S. imports of Russian crude oil,” and that “conversations are taking place within the administration and with the U.S. oil and gas industry on the impact such a move would have on American consumers and the global supply,” citing unnamed “people familiar with the matter."

An expert at GasBuddy told ABC News on Thursday that banning Russian oil imports would, in fact, likely raise gas prices in the U.S.

Psaki said there wasn’t any “outside event” for which the U.S. was waiting to implement a ban, but that the White House was “mindful of not taking steps” that would raise energy prices for Americans and that the U.S. also wanted to take steps in concert with allies.

There would be a much larger impact on energy prices in Europe, which is a lot more reliant on Russian oil, according to experts.

-ABC News' Ben Gittleson


US Restricts the export of luxury goods to Russia, Belarus

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced Friday that it will restrict the export of U.S. luxury goods to Russia and Belarus, as well as "certain Russian and Belarusian oligarchs and malign actors located worldwide," as a result of their actions in Ukraine.

The Department of Commerce said it will impose restrictions on the export, reexport and transfer of luxury items including certain spirits, tobacco products, clothing items, jewelry, vehicles and antique goods.

"Putin’s war of choice in Ukraine continues to take a devastating toll on innocent civilians in Ukraine, fueling one of the worst humanitarian crises Europe has seen in decades," Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said in a statement.

Raimondo added, "Putin and the oligarchs who fund him have gotten rich off of Putin’s rampant corruption and the exploitation of the Russian people. We will not allow Putin and his cronies to continue living in opulence while causing tremendous suffering throughout Eastern Europe. Today’s action takes away another source of comfort and reminds them that Russia is increasingly isolated."

-ABC News' Luke Barr