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 24, 2022, 12:48 PM EDT

Zelenskkyy calls for 'full embargo on trade with Russia' in address to G-7

In an address to the Group of 7 nations Thursday, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for a "full embargo on trade with Russia" and harsher restrictions on Russia's economy.

"Russian banks and, most importantly, the Central Bank of Russia, must get a complete blockade from the global financial system. War criminals should be left without money at all! And their frozen assets should turn, inter alia, into reparations for the reconstruction of Ukraine," Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy also warned of the risk Russia poses to Europe.

"It is better to give Ukraine the kind of weaponry support we really need now than to look for weapons for other countries later. We mean Georgia, Moldova, the Baltic States, Poland and Central Asia," he said.

-ABC News' Fidel Pavlenko

Mar 24, 2022, 11:30 AM EDT

NATO to establish 4 more battlegroups near Ukraine border

NATO said on Thursday it will be establishing multinational battlegroups in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia in addition to the four NATO battlegroups already in place.

"In light of the gravest threat to Euro-Atlantic security in decades, we will also significantly strengthen our longer term deterrence and defense posture and will further develop the full range of ready forces and capabilities necessary to maintain credible deterrence and defense," NATO heads of state and government said in a statement.

NATO leaders pose for a photo ahead of an emergency summit at NATO heaadquarters in Brussels, Belgium, March 24, 2022.
Brendan Smialowski/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

They called on President Vladimir Putin to "immediately" stop the war and for Belarus to end its complicity.

NATO also warned Putin against the use of chemical weapons.

"Any use by Russia of a chemical or biological weapon would be unacceptable and result in severe consequences," NATO leaders said.

They also strongly condemned Russia’s devastating attacks on civilians and said they are deeply concerned about the increased risk of sexual violence and human trafficking.

-ABC News' Christine Theodorou

Mar 24, 2022, 11:00 AM EDT

Lavrov's stepdaughter among those targeted by latest UK sanctions on Russia

The United Kingdom imposed sanctions on another 33 people and 26 legal entities from Russia on Thursday.

Various Russian banks, including Gazprombank and Alfa-Bank, and Russian paramilitary organization the Wagner Group, were targeted, as well as Polina Kovaleva, the stepdaughter of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Kovaleva reportedly owns a house in London. The assets of these persons and legal entities will be frozen under the sanctions, according to a document published by the U.K. Treasury's Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation.

The document noted that this latest wave of sanctions were meant to target "key strategic industries and individuals," as Russia's invasion of Ukraine enters its second month.

Mar 24, 2022, 10:40 AM EDT

Putin has record month of international calls

Russian President Vladimir Putin made a record number of international telephone calls over the past month, according to the Kremlin.

The most calls -- eight -- were placed to French President Emmanuel Macron. Others on the list include leaders of Germany, Israel, India, Turkey, Luxembourg, Uzbekistan, Armenia and the European Council. There were also negotiations with the leaders of Azerbaijan, Finland, Bahrain, Senegal, Abu Dhabi, South Africa, Egypt, Belarus, Saudi Arabia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Venezuela, Syria, Iran and China, according to the Kremlin.

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting in Moscow, Russia, March 2, 2022.
Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin via Reuters

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