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

The United Kingdom's National Crime Agency said it's seized a superyacht owned by a Russian national -- worth around $49.92 million -- in Canary Wharf in London.

The National Crime Agency's statement doesn't identify the Russian national but says the owner deliberately registered the ship to a company based in Saint Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean. The agency also said the ship carried Maltese flags, allegedly to hide its origins.

British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the seizure "turned an icon of Russia’s power and wealth into a clear and stark warning to Putin and his cronies." Shapps said the seizure proves "we can and will take the strongest possible action against those seeking to benefit from Russian connections."

-ABC News' Christine Theodorou

Belgium announced Tuesday its decision to expel 21 Russian intelligence officers.

The officers were working for the Russian embassy and consulate in Brussels and were allegedly involved "in espionage and influence operations threatening national security," Belgian Foreign Minister Sophie Wilmes said in a statement on Twitter.

Meanwhile, the Netherlands said it has expelled 17 Russian intelligence officers. The officers were in The Netherlands under diplomatic cover, Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra said in a statement on Twitter.

Ireland confirmed it has asked four senior Russian officials to leave the country.

"This is because their activities have not been in accordance with international standards of diplomatic behaviour," Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said in a statement posted to Twitter. "The Government continues to believe that diplomatic channels between Ireland and the Russian Federation should remain open."

The Czech Republic also announced its decision to expel one Russian diplomat from the Russian embassy in Prague. The individual was requested to leave the country within 72 hours.

"Together with our Allies, we are reducing the Russian intelligence presence in the EU," the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Twitter.

-ABC News' Christine Theodorou

Tuesday's talks in Istanbul between Ukraine and Russia have concluded.

Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky told reporters the talks were "constructive."

Meanwhile, Alexander Chaly of the Ukrainian delegation told reporters that talks will continue, and in two weeks they plan to involve other countries in the negotiation process.

Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia said he believes enough has been covered to now involve the presidents of Ukraine and Russia in the talks.

Medinsky noted, "As a result of today's substantive conversation, we have approved and offer a solution, according to which a meeting between the heads of state is possible simultaneously with the initialing of the agreement."

"The proposed format is like this: first an agreement will be drafted, then the agreement will be approved by the negotiators and signed by the foreign ministers at a meeting, and then the possibility of a meeting between the heads of state will be discussed in order to sign this agreement," Medinsky said.

Ukrainian officials said a military alliance of other countries -- including the U.S. -- needs to be created to provide security protections to Ukraine.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed skepticism about the talks, saying he would leave it to the Ukrainians to characterize any progress.

Russia's military will "drastically" decrease activity near Kyiv and Chernihiv to try to improve trust and aid further talks with Ukraine, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Col. Gen. Alexander Fomin said Tuesday.

"Due to the fact that the negotiations on elaborating a treaty on Ukraine's neutrality and nuclear-free status, as well as on providing Ukraine with security guarantees are shifting to the practical field, and taking into account the principles discussed during today's meeting," Fomin told reporters, "the Russian Defense Ministry has decided to decrease its military activity in the areas of Kyiv and Chernihiv drastically in order to increase mutual trust and create conditions required for further negotiations and for achieving the ultimate goal of reaching an agreement on and signing of the aforementioned treaty."

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was asked by reporters Tuesday about Russia's announcement that it will scale back operations around Kyiv and Chernihiv. He said it may be a "means by which Russia is, once again, trying to deflect and deceive people into thinking that it's not doing what it is doing, whether it's simply trying to regroup given the heavy losses that it's suffered -- I don't know." But any attempt to "subjugate" eastern or southern Ukraine will not succeed either, he added.