Russia-Ukraine updates: US sanctions Russian military shipbuilder, diamond miner

Russia's largest military shipbuilding and diamond mining firms were targeted.

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.

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Two Men at War

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.

Mar 22, 2022, 4:40 PM EDT

Russia claims more than 360,000 people evacuated from Ukraine to Russia

Russia's Defense Ministry claimed Tuesday that it has evacuated 366,182 people from Ukraine to Russia since the invasion began.

Russia said 19,442 people, including 3,448 children, were evacuated from the Luhansk and Donetsk regions to Russia on Monday, without the participation of Ukrainian authorities, Mikhail Mizintsev, the head of Russia's National Defense Control Center, claimed in a press briefing.

Mizintsev claimed more than 68,000 residents were also evacuated from Mariupol without the Ukrainian authorities' involvement.

He claimed these people "are now completely safe under the Russian Federation's protection, and all those in need are receiving necessary aid."

Russia claimed it opened humanitarian corridors from Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy and Kharkiv on Tuesday.

Mar 22, 2022, 3:55 PM EDT

No signs China has given Russia military aid: US official

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said there are no signs that China has given any military assistance to Russia to help with the war in Ukraine.

President Joe Biden held a video call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday and Sullivan met with his counterpart in Rome on Monday over U.S. concerns that Beijing would aid Moscow.

Over a week ago, the U.S. confirmed that Russia asked China for military support and other aid since the invasion began.

"What I can tell you is we have not seen … the provision of military equipment by China to Russia," Sullivan said. "The president made clear to President Xi the implications and consequences of any such provision of equipment, and they very well understand one another."

When pressed on whether NATO allies would "put specific concrete steps in place" if China does provide assistance, Sullivan said Biden would be consulting with NATO and the EU.

“On April 1, the European Union is having a summit with China. And so this will be an opportunity, Thursday, for the United States and our European partners, to coordinate closely on what our message is. We believe we're very much on the same page with our European partners, and we will be speaking with one voice on this issue," Sullivan said.

-ABC News' Elizabeth Schulze

Mar 22, 2022, 3:44 PM EDT

Biden, allies to roll out new coordinated plans on Thursday

National security adviser Jake Sullivan said President Joe Biden and NATO allies will roll out new coordinated plans on Thursday in response to Russia's continued invasion.

Sullivan said Biden is traveling to Europe "to ensure we stay united" with our allies and to send a message that they are committed to help Ukraine "for as long as it takes."

"There will be hard days ahead in Ukraine. Hardest for the Ukrainian troops on the front lines and the civilians under Russian bombardment. This war will not end easily or rapidly," Sullivan said.

Sullivan said NATO allies will announce new sanctions, tighten existing ones, adjust troops on the Eastern Flank and outline plans to reduce Europe’s dependence on Russian energy.

Sullivan did not disclose any specific details about the sanctions but hinted that new ones will focus on a joint effort to crack down on countries helping Russia "undermine, weaken or get around the sanctions," calling it an "important part" of this next phase.

"We have applied an enormous amount of economic pressure, and in order to sustain and escalate that pressure over time, part of that is about new designations, new targets, but a big part of it is about effective enforcement and evasion, applying the lessons that we've learned from other circumstances where we have, in fact, imposed sanctions on countries," Sullivan said.

In Poland, Sullivan said Biden will "engage" with U.S. troops, hold a bilateral meeting with President Duda and meet with experts involved in the humanitarian response.

-ABC News' Justin Gomez

Mar 22, 2022, 3:14 PM EDT

Zelenskyy warns Russia's 'goal is Europe'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed Italy's Parliament on Tuesday, warning that "Ukraine is the gateway to Europe for Russian troops."

He called for more sanctions so Russia "is looking not for military reserves or mercenaries somewhere in Libya or Syria, but for peace."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the Italian parliament via video link, in Rome, March 22, 2022.
Roberto Monaldo/LaPresse via AP

"This is a war that Russia has been preparing for a long time. Which one person has been preparing for a long time. One! For decades," Zelenskyy said. "Their goal is Europe."

Zelenskyy compared the Russian invasion to the Nazis, saying, "The last one who did something like this in Europe were the Nazis, when they invaded other countries."

-ABC News' Christine Theodorou

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