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.

For previous coverage, please click here.

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Two Men at War
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Zelenskyy calls for action to prevent 'catastrophe' after nuclear power plant shelling

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave an urgent plea for intervention after officials said Russian troops shelled Ukraine's largest nuclear power plant overnight.

"Russia wants to repeat Chernobyl, but six times worse," Zelenskyy said in a video message. "Europe wake up, tell your politicians: 'Russian troops are shelling a nuclear power plant in Ukraine. Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant.'"

The president warned there are six power units at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant -- where a fire ignited during the shelling -- and only one power unit exploded at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the site of the 1986 nuclear disaster.

"The Russian military must be stopped immediately," Zelenskyy said. "Shout to your politicians. Ukraine has 15 nuclear units. If there is an explosion, it is the end of everything. The end of Europe. This is the evacuation of Europe. Only immediate action by Europe can stop Russian troops. Prevent the death of Europe from the catastrophe at the nuclear power plant."

President Joe Biden spoke with Zelenskyy to receive an update on the fire at the power plant and "joined President Zelenskyy in urging Russia to cease its military activities in the area and allow firefighters and emergency responders to access the site," the White House said in a readout of the call.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also spoke to Zelenskyy about the "gravely concerning situation" at the power station and said he would be seeking an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting "in the coming hours," his office said.

A White House official told ABC News its latest information shows no indications of elevated levels of radiation.

The International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations nuclear watchdog group, also tweeted that Ukraine's regulatory authority said there hasn't been any change in radiation levels reported at the site in the wake of the blasts.

-ABC News' Uliana Lototska and Molly Nagle


Russian troops fire at Ukraine's largest nuclear power plant, official says

Russian troops are firing at Ukraine's largest nuclear power plant, officials said.

"Russian army is firing from all sides upon Zaporizhzhia NPP, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe," Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba tweeted early Friday. "Fire has already broke out. If it blows up, it will be 10 times larger than Chornobyl! Russians must IMMEDIATELY cease the fire, allow firefighters, establish a security zone!"

Andriy Tuz, a spokesperson for the power plant, warned in videos posted to Telegram that Russian shelling caused a fire at the plant. He said the first power unit was hit and that rescuers have not yet been able to put out the fire due to the ongoing shelling.

The International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations nuclear watchdog group, said only Unit 4 was in operation currently and "radiation levels and fire safety at the NPP is within the norm." The fire broke out at a training building outside the power plant, the IAEA said.

The power plant's livestream captured blasts and a fire at the facility.

The situation at Ukraine's largest nuclear power plant has become "critical," authorities had warned earlier Thursday as Russian troops approached the site.

"The battle is going on in the town of Enerhodar and on the road to the ZNPP (Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant) site," Ukraine's regulatory authority said in an "urgent letter" to the IAEA.

Ukraine reported that Russian tanks and infantry “broke through the block-post” to the town of Enerhodar, near the power plant, according to IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, who called on troops to refrain from use of force.

During an emergency IAEA board of governors meeting this week, Grossi warned that an incident affecting nuclear facilities "could have severe consequences, aggravating human suffering and causing environmental harm" beyond Ukraine's borders.

IAEA tweeted it is aware of reports of shelling at the power plant and is in contact with Ukrainian authorities.

-ABC News' Cindy Smith, Kirit Radia and Bill Hutchinson


Facebook restrictions in Russia becoming more extensive, agency says

Facebook restrictions in Russia are becoming more extensive, according to internet monitoring agency NetBlocks.

The restrictions impact internet providers including Rostelecom and Beeline, according to NetBlocks.

They follow restrictions placed on Twitter and Facebook in recent days that have caused some content to take an extremely long take to load, if at all, on major providers, making the platforms "largely unusable," NetBlocks reported.

Circumvention is possible using VPN services.

The independent Russian news site Meduza also reported Thursday that it is inaccessible for some readers in Russia.

-ABC News' Christine Theodorou and Patrick Reevell


Volkswagen suspends production of cars in Russia, stops exports

Volkswagen is the latest automaker to pause its business in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.

The German car company announced Thursday that its board has decided to stop the production of cars in Russia "until further notice."

It also decided to immediately stop vehicle exports to Russia, Volkswagen said.

"We are convinced that a sustainable solution to the conflict can only be found on the basis of international law," the company said in a statement. "With the extensive interruption of business activities in Russia, the Executive Board is reviewing the consequences from the overall situation, during this period of great uncertainty and upheaval,"

Volkswagen has production sites in Kaluga and Nizhny Novgorod.

Earlier this week, General Motors and Volvo Cars said they will suspend vehicle exports to Russia until further notice. Mercedes Benz said Wednesday it will pause exports and manufacturing in Russia until further notice. Ford has also suspended its operations in the country.

-ABC News' Christine Theodorou


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