Russia-Ukraine updates: Putin says war was ‘unleashed’ on Russia
The Russian president delivered his annual Victory Day speech.
More than a year after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, the countries are fighting for control of areas in eastern and southern Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's forces are readying a spring counteroffensive, but Putin appears to be preparing for a long and bloody war.
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US adds 200 export control restrictions on Russia
On the anniversary of the war, the U.S. Commerce Department is adding nearly 200 additional export restrictions on Russian entities for the invasion of Ukraine.
The U.S. has already sanctioned Russia and Belarus with export controls because of the war. The new controls levied Friday limit semiconductor exports to Russia as well as oil and gas exports.
The U.S. said previously that its export controls have impacted on Russia's military.
"Thanks to President Biden's leadership and the collective efforts of the Global Export Control Coalition, we have further degraded Russia's military capabilities by denying access to many components used for aircraft and tanks, as well as semiconductors and other items needed for advanced military applications," U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves said in a statement.
-ABC News' Luke Barr
Ukraine's surprising resistance and the rise of its unlikely wartime hero
As tens of thousands of invading Russian troops and tanks thundered across his nation's border in February 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy received an offer from the United States to evacuate him and his family out of the country.
But in the biggest moment of his yet budding political life, with a world superpower bearing down with brutal force, Zelenskyy rejected the offer to escape, replying, "The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride."
A year later, he and his country are still standing strong, forcefully pushing back against Russian President Vladimir Putin's aggressive campaign to pummel Ukraine into submission.
Zelenskyy set the defiant tone for his country just hours after the war started. He shed his suits and ties for military fatigues and combat boots, and boldly posted a selfie video message to the frightened citizens of his nation. Standing on a street outside his office in the capital city of Kyiv, members of his cabinet and military advisors at his side, the then-44-year-old Zelenskyy stared into the camera and announced he and his leadership team were staying put.
"We are all here defending our independence and we are defending our country and we will keep doing that," he said.
It was a dramatic rallying cry that echoed around the world and began the transformation of Zelenskyy into a wartime hero with some admirers even comparing him to Great Britain's Winston Churchill standing up to Nazi Germany during World War II.
-ABC News' Bill Hutchinson
Poland delivers 1st Leopard tanks to Ukraine
Poland announced Friday that it has provided Ukraine with its first Leopard tanks to aid the fight against Russia.
"The Leopard tanks will definitely stand up well in your formation on the battlefield. They will work great," Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a visit to Kyiv to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion.
Poland delivered four Leopard 2A4s -- a model of the latest version of the German main battle tank -- to Ukraine, with more expected to be on the way, according to Morawiecki.
"We will also soon hand over more and we urge our partners from the European Union and NATO to do the same," Morawiecki said.
-ABC News' Joe Simonetti
Kuleba says Ukraine will do 'whatever it takes' to defeat Russia
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Friday that his country will do "whatever it takes" to defeat the Russian invaders.
"This war has no timeline. It has only [one] result in the end and that's victory, because we stand for the right cause," Kuleba told ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos during an interview on "Good Morning America."
"We defend ourselves. We are liberating our territory with generous support of many countries of the world, with the United States being at the top of it," he added. "I want to convey the words of gratitude from the people of Ukraine to the people of America for standing by us in this very just struggle for freedom and peace."
Kuleba noted that "ammunition, tanks, long-range missiles, planes" are the "most-wanted weapons" on Ukraine's list.
"I have no doubt that we will prevail," he said. "But, you know, for David to be able to defeat Goliath, David needs a sling. And all of these weapons, it's all about this sling that will help us to win."
Kuleba said Ukrainians are fighting for "territorial integrity."
"If you are attacked, you have to fight. You have to take up the fight and defend your country," he added. "And this is the feeling that drives us through all of this endless suffering."
When asked whether there's any kind of peace proposal that could be accepted by both sides, Kuleba said: "As of now, we are irreconcilable."
"Because while we defend our territory, [Russian President Vladimir Putin] wants to grab our territory. While we want accountability for numerous atrocities committed by the Russian army in Ukraine, Putin wants to escape responsibility," he explained. "This aggression of Russia will go down in textbooks as the most apparent case of aggression in modern history. So the truth is on our side and this is why we feel so empowered to fight and to win."
White House announces $300M military aid package for Ukraine
The Biden administration has announced a new $300 million military aid package for Ukraine.
The package includes additional ammunition for U.S.-provided High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, as well as "additional howitzers, artillery and mortar rounds, and anti-armor capabilities that Ukraine is using to push back against Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression," the Department of Defense said in a statement.
This marks the Biden administration’s 37th drawdown of equipment from Defense Department inventories for Ukraine since August 2021.