Russian President Vladimir Putin's "special military operation” into Ukraine began on Feb. 24, with troops crossing the border from Belarus and Russia. Moscow's forces have since been met with “stiff resistance” from Ukrainians, according to U.S. officials.
Russian forces retreated last week from the Kyiv suburbs, leaving behind a trail of destruction. After graphic images emerged of civilians lying dead in the streets of Bucha, U.S. and European officials accused Russian troops of committing war crimes.
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.
Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Mar 19, 2022, 7:06 AM EDT
112 children killed in Ukraine conflict, officials say
At least 112 children have been killed since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, the local Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office said.
Empty strollers sit outside the Lviv city council to highlight the number of children killed in the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, on March 18, 2022.
Alexey Furman/Getty Images
More than 140 children have been wounded during the first 24 days of the war, officials said.
Empty strollers are placed outside the Lviv city council during an action to highlight the number of children killed in the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, on March 18, 2022.
Alexey Furman/Getty Images
In Lviv, 109 empty strollers are placed outside the city council during an action to highlight the number of children killed in the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, on March 18, 2022.
Alexey Furman/Getty Images
Fifty-seven children have been killed in Kyiv, officials said. Another 36 were killed in Kharkiv and 28 were killed in the Donetsk Oblast, they said.
Mar 19, 2022, 5:38 AM EDT
Russia pursuing 'strategy of attrition,’ UK military says
As Russia's attempts to capture Ukrainian territory have been slowed by Ukrainian resistance, the invading forces have switched to a “strategy of attrition,” the UK Ministry of Defence said on Saturday.
"This is likely to involve the indiscriminate use of firepower resulting in increase civilian casualties, destruction of Ukrainian infrastructure, and intensify the humanitarian crisis," the Ministry said on Twitter.
Mar 18, 2022, 8:31 PM EDT
Zelenskyy responds to massive Moscow rally
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted to the massive concert that occurred Friday in Moscow in support of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and on the eight-year anniversary of Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.
"A big rally took place. And I want to pay attention to one detail. It is reported that a total of about 200,000 people were involved in the rally in the Russian capital -- 100,000 on the streets, about 95,000 at the stadium. Approximately the same number of Russian troops were involved in the invasion of Ukraine," Zelenskyy said in his latest national address Friday night.
"Just imagine 14,000 corpses and tens of thousands of wounded and maimed people at that stadium in Moscow," he continued. "There are already so many Russian losses as a result of this invasion. This is the price of war. In a little more than three weeks. The war must end."
Zelenskyy noted progress in evacuating more than 180,000 Ukrainians through humanitarian corridors, though charged that Russian invaders are blocking the supply of humanitarian aid to some besieged cities.
"This is a totally deliberate tactic. They have a clear order to do absolutely everything to make the humanitarian catastrophe in Ukrainian cities an 'argument' for Ukrainians to cooperate with the occupiers," he said. "This is a war crime. They will be held accountable for this. 100%."
Mar 18, 2022, 3:36 PM EDT
Biden, Xi hold 1st call in months
President Joe Biden held a video call with Chinese President Xi Jinping for one hour and 50 minutes on Friday, marking the first time the two leaders spoke since November.
The White House readout of the call doesn't say whether the conversation was constructive or not, but the White House said Biden made clear the "implications and consequences" if China aligns with Russia and provides them "material support."
President Joe Biden participated in a video call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, March 18, 2022.
Xinhua/Newscom
China's readout of the call said China supports negotiations but passes the buck to the U.S. and NATO to "conduct dialogue with Russia to solve the crux of the Ukraine crisis and resolve the security concerns of both Russia and Ukraine."
The call was “direct,” “substantive” and “detailed,” according to a senior administration official.
The official said Biden “really wasn't making specific requests of China” on the call and instead was “laying out his assessment of the situation, what he thinks makes sense, and the implications of certain actions.”
The official said that the call was “less about coming away with a particular view out of conversation today and more about making sure, again, that they were able to really have that direct candidate and detailed and very substantive conversation at the leader level.”
-ABC News' Mary Bruce, Karson Yiu and Justin Gomez
