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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Latest headlines:
Lavrov 'diverted' Blinken's calls to reconsider Russia leaving START treaty
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov "diverted" U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's calls to reconsider the decision to suspend Russia's participation in the New START treaty, Russia's foreign ministry told Interfax, Russian news agency.
“If they want to return to diplomacy, let them return. If they are engaged in self-promotion and such inexpensive PR, well, this is possible. True, the result will be appropriate," Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the ministry, told Russian TV channel Rossiya-1.
-ABC News' Natalia Shumskaia
Blinken, Lavrov hold 'on the go' talk at G-20 meeting
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had an "on the go" talk during the G-20 Meeting of Foreign Ministers in India, but there were no negotiations, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told TASS, a Russian news agency, Thursday.
"Blinken asked for a contact with Lavrov. Sergey Viktorovich [Lavrov] had communication on the go during the second session. But there were no negotiations, no meeting or so on," the diplomat said.
Blinken had said earlier in the day during a press conference he had "spoke briefly" with Lavrov and discussed ending the war, as well as Russia rejoining the New START Treaty on nuclear arms.
"I told the foreign minister what I and so many others said last week at the United Nations and what so many G-20 foreign ministers said today: End this war of aggression, engage in meaningful diplomacy that could produce a just and durable peace," he said. "The United States stands ready to support Ukraine through diplomacy to end the war on this basis."
A senior State Department official downplayed any hopes that the conversation moved the needle on any of the topics.
-ABC News' Tanya Stukalova and Shannon Crawford
Ukraine says it's shot down 80% of Russian missiles
Ukraine has shot down 80% of Russian missiles, according to Commander of the Joint Forces of the Ukrainian Air Force Serhiy Nayev.
Nayev made the assessment in a Facebook post on Wednesday about the effectiveness of the air defense system.
"The enemy is also changing his tactics and ways of using air strike means, so we test after every hit," he wrote. "This analysis proves that commanders, respectively, make decisions that ensure the durability of the air defense is at the highest level."
-ABC News' Ellie Kaufman
Ukrainians to send more forces to Bahkmut
Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrsky, the commander of Ukraine's Eastern Group of Forces, will send additional units to Bahkmut, according to Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar.
"Bakhmut has been the epicenter of hostilities for several months now. The enemy has concentrated its key efforts there because it aims to reach the borders of the Donetsk region. The situation there is really tense and difficult," Malyar said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy echoed that statement in his nightly address.
"The most difficult situation is still Bakhmut and the battles that are important for the defense of the city," he said.
-ABC News' Ellie Kaufman and Will Gretsky
Zelenskyy makes unannounced visit to The Hague
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for a war crimes tribunal in a surprise visit to The Hague on Thursday.
"There must be accountability for this crime. And this can only be achieved through the tribunal. ... We must transform the experience of the Nuremberg trials into new operational rules. And that is why we advocate the creation of such a tribunal. We want to continue the tradition of mandatory punishment for such crimes as a guarantee of non-repetition of such aggression," Zelenskyy said.
-ABC News' Will Gretsky