Russia-Ukraine updates: 2 US veterans who joined Ukrainian forces missing

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk told ABC News that an anticipated visit to Ukraine on Sunday by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will focus on logistics of funneling more military assistance to the country's embattled troops to fight off Russian forces.

Vereshchuk told ABC News' foreign correspondent James Longman that the face-to-face visit will also give Ukrainian leaders a better chance to express the urgency and turmoil of their predicament.

"When you talk on the phone, the emotional part of the conversation cannot be conveyed," Vereshchuk said.

Vereshchuk said it is incumbent on NATO to step in, given Russia's apparent plans to take the Donbas region in eastern as well as territory in southern Ukraine.

She expressed disappointment in Germany for seemingly dragging its feet on sending heavy artillery, including tanks, to Ukraine and said it appeared German leaders are attempting to placate Putin.

“They don’t understand. There is no way to pacify Putin," Vereshchuk said. "It would be a huge problem for NATO if Russia has dominance over the Black Sea.”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has defended the support his country has sent Ukraine, saying last week, “The weapons we are delivering have made a very substantial contribution" to Ukraine fight against Russia."

"We are delivering, we have delivered and we will deliver," Scholz said.

Vereshchuk also told ABC News that about 200 Russian soldiers have been exchanged for Ukrainian soldiers, so far. She said the highest ranking Russian military leader captured by Ukraine was a lieutenant colonel.

Vereshchuk, who is in charge of prisoner exchanges for her country, said Ukraine won’t exchange those responsible for war crimes.

Vereshchuk also claimed that 200,000 Ukrainians have been forcibly deported to Russian-controlled territory into "filtration camps," including 5,000 children.

"We saw what Stalin did, we know what they are," Vereshchuk said of the camps.

Eight people were killed, including a 3-month-old infant, after Russian forces shelled the Black Sea port city of Odesa Saturday, Ukrainian officials said.

"The war started when this baby was 1 month old. Can you imagine what is happening?" Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during a press briefing. "They are just scum. ... I don't have any other words for it, just scum."

Russian forces fired at least six cruise missiles, Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to Ukraine's interior minister, said on Telegram. Ukrainian forces were able to shoot down two of the missiles, according to Zelenskyy, who said they were launched by Russian strategic aircraft from the Caspian Sea region.

"Residents of the city heard explosions in different areas," Gerashchenko said in on Facebook. "Residential buildings were hit."

"The only aim of Russian missile strikes on Odesa is terror. Russia must be designated a state sponsor of terrorism and treated accordingly. No business, no contacts, no cultural projects. We need a wall between civilization and barbarians striking peaceful cities with missiles," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter.

Following the airstrike, the Russian Defense Ministry said that the Russian Aerospace Forces were targeting an airfield terminal outside Odesa storing "a large batch of foreign weapons" from the U.S. and European countries.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will visit Ukraine on Sunday.

Zelenskyy said they will discuss the list of weapons Ukraine needs and their delivery date.

A spokesperson for the State Department declined to comment and a spokesperson for the Defense Department said they had "nothing to offer" on the trip.

-ABC News' Jason Volack

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Russia would be held to account for its actions and that the British government is helping collect evidence of war crimes, when the two spoke on Saturday.

Johnson confirmed that the U.K. will provide Ukraine with more defensive military aid including protected mobility vehicles, drones and anti-tank weapons.

He also updated Zelenskyy on new U.K. sanctions against members of the Russian military and confirmed the U.K. would reopen its embassy in Kyiv next week.

Ahead of the U.N. Secretary-General’s meetings with Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, both leaders agreed on the importance of establishing a cease-fire and humanitarian corridor to allow civilians to leave Mariupol, according to a statement from the British government.

The leaders discussed the U.K.'s efforts with partners to reach a long-term security solution for Ukraine, including discussions with international partners to provide more financial support to Ukraine.