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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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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Russia blocks Twitter

Russia's state censor, Roskomnadzor, added Twitter to its list of banned sites in the country on Friday, following a request from the Russian prosecutor general.

Earlier Friday, Roskomnadzor banned Facebook as the Russian government moves to limit dissent over the war in Ukraine.

-ABC News' Patrick Reevell


Russia claims Ukraine forces were responsible for the attack on Zaporizhzhia

Russia's representative to the United Nations on Friday reiterated the Kremlin's claim that Ukrainian forces were responsible for the attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

The representative said Russian forces came under small arms fire by a "Ukrainian sabotage group" that was stationed in a training complex building on site.

The representative claimed that Russian troops returned fire, but that as they departed, Ukrainians set the building on fire.

The Russian representative claimed Ukrainian "radicals" are under the West's "close guardianship and protection," giving them "carte blanche," and allowing them to act like "ISIS terrorists" by "hiding behind civilians and placing heavy weaponry and multiple rocket launchers in residential areas."

Ukraine, the U.S. and its allies have denied these claims.

The UN relief chief also fact-checked the Russian delegate on Monday, saying Russia's claim about Ukraine placing weapons in civilian areas was false.

- ABC News' Conor Finnegan


US to deliver bulk of weapons to Ukraine within the next week

The majority of military capability the U.S. promised to send Ukraine, part of a $350 million package, will be delivered within the next week, a senior U.S. defense official told reporters Friday.

In addition to the U.S., 14 countries are also providing military assistance to Ukraine.

The new aid package was expedited so quickly because it has been categorized as “a presidential drawdown,” which bypasses the traditional process of congressional notification, according to the official.

According to another official, this is the largest-ever military support that falls under “a presidential drawdown."

A second official told reporters that weapons were getting into Ukraine through "multiple venues."

Instead of providing new weapons, the U.S. will provide weapons that are in the existing U.S. military arsenal and are eligible to be replaced. The official said the Ukrainians are being provided with weapons they have already received training for in the past.

"I think all of us have been tremendously impressed by how effectively the Ukrainian Armed Forces have been using the equipment that we've provided them," said the official.

Adding, "I think that Kremlin watchers have also been surprised by this, and how they have slowed the Russian advance and performed extremely well on the battlefield."

-ABC News' Luis Martinez


US says nuclear catastrophe 'narrowly averted,' thousands of Ukrainians, Russians killed in war

U.S. envoy Linda Thomas-Greenfield addressed the Security Council Friday, warning that, "the world narrowly averted a nuclear catastrophe last night. We all waited to exhale as we watched the horrific situation unfold in real time."

She called Russia's attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant "incredibly reckless and dangerous" and said it "threatened the safety of civilians across Russia, Ukraine and Europe."

Thomas-Greenfield urged Russia to withdraw troops from the facility, give operators full access to ensure continued safe operation and assess any damage and to halt any further use of force near Ukraine's nuclear facilities.

She said Russia has killed "thousands of Ukrainians" and "thousands" of Russian soldiers have been killed as well, adding, "President Putin must stop this humanitarian catastrophe by ending this war."

She called on Russia's envoy in the chamber to "say this won't happen again."

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi attended the meeting remotely, saying the agency was ready to deploy to Ukraine and establish "basic principles of safety and security starting with the physical integrity" of its nuclear power plants.

Ukraine has requested direct assistance, he said, calling it his agency's "duty" to assist.

The IAEA remains in contact with Ukrainian authorities, including Ukraine's nuclear regulatory agency and the company operating the facility, he said.

-ABC News' Conor Finnegan


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