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 says ban on Russian oil a possibility
President Joe Biden told reporters Wednesday that "nothing is off the table" when asked if he is considering banning Russian oil imports.
Biden also confirmed Russia is intentionally targeting civilians while refraining from commenting on whether Russia was committing war crimes, saying "it's early to say that."
When asked whether he thinks Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is safe or whether he should evacuate, Biden reiterated U.S. support for the leader.
"I think it's his judgment to make and we're doing everything we can to help him," Biden said.
—ABC News' Sarah Kolinovsky
Russia claims it took control over Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed on Monday that it took control over Ukraine's Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, the largest in Europe.
Russian military claimed it took control of the cities of Energodar and Berdyansk and the territory around the power plant, Major General Igor Konashenkov, the representative of the Russian Defense Ministry said in an official statement.
"The NPP staff continues to work on maintenance of facilities and monitoring of the radioactive situation in the normal mode. The radioactive background is normal," Konashenkov said.
The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed Russia informed the body that its forces took control over the plant, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said on Wednesday.
In an official letter to the Director General dated Tuesday, the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the International Organizations in Vienna also said personnel at the plant continued their “work on providing nuclear safety and monitoring radiation in normal mode of operation. The radiation levels remain normal.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Ukraine informed the IAEA that all its nuclear power plants remained under the control of the national operator, the IAEA said on Wednesday.
In an update on Wednesday, the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine informed the IAEA that it maintained communications with the country's nuclear facilities and that they continued to operate normally.
The Zaporozhye plant contains six out of the country's 15 nuclear energy reactors, according to the IAEA.
Ukraine has not released a statement confirming or denying Russia's claims.
—ABC News' Tanya Stukalova
Ukraine to send a delegation to meet with Russia for talks
Ukraine will send a delegation on Wednesday to meet with Russia for a second round of talks aimed at stopping the fighting, a spokesman for Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has told ABC News.
Russia earlier announced it was sending a delegation to sit and wait for possible talks but that Ukraine had not confirmed it would talk part in the negotiations.
Ukraine and Russia held talks on the Belarus-Ukraine border two days ago but without a breakthrough, according to officials.
Ukraine's foreign minister Wednesday morning said it was ready to negotiate but not to accept Russian ultimatums.
-ABC News' Patrick Reevell
Over 800,000 people have fled Ukraine, UNHCR says
Some 836,000 people have fled Ukraine since Russia launched an invasion there on Feb. 24, according to the latest figures from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
About 453,000 of them have gone to neighboring Poland, UNHCR said.
More than 4 million refugees from Ukraine may need protection and assistance in neighboring countries in the coming months. Meanwhile, an estimated 12 million people in Ukraine are in need of emergency assistance and protection, according to UNHCR.
-ABC News' Zoe Magee
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