Russia-Ukraine updates: Putin suspends key US-Russia nuclear treaty in speech denouncing West

President Vladimir Putin said he'd sought an "open dialogue" with the West.

ByMorgan Winsor, Emily Shapiro, Meredith Deliso, Nadine El-Bawab, Bill Hutchinson, Ivan Pereira, Patricio Chile, Kevin Shalvey, Julia Jacobo, Teddy Grant, Jon Haworth, and Mary Kekatos
Last Updated: February 24, 2023, 5:53 AM EST

Almost a year after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine, the two countries are engaged in a struggle for control of areas throughout the east and south.

Putin's forces pulled out of key positions in November, retreating from Kherson as Ukrainian troops led a counteroffensive targeting the southern port city. Russian drones have continued bombarding civilian targets throughout Ukraine, knocking out critical power infrastructure as winter sets in.

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Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Nov 14, 2022, 1:21 PM EST

US citizen among prisoners freed in liberated Kherson

A U.S. citizen has been freed from prison in Kherson, the southern city that Russia had occupied for about eight months, according to a member of Ukraine's parliament.

Swede Merekezi was arrested in Kherson in July and had not been in contact with officials for "a long time," Ukraine parliament member Alexandr Kovaliov said in a statement posted to Facebook on Monday.

Merekezi was in Ukraine to defend "our country’s independence" and will be heading home on Monday, Kovaliov said.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State said they are aware of unconfirmed reports but declined to comment further due to privacy concerns.
"This once again proves the cohesion and hard work of our team," Kovaliov said.

-ABC News' Shannon Crawford and Will Gretsky

Nov 14, 2022, 6:31 AM EST

Zelenskyy visits Kherson after liberation

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksyy on Monday visited Kherson, the southern city that Russia had occupied for about eight months.

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy listens to the national anthem during his visit to Kherson, Ukraine, Nov. 14, 2022.
Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP

He handed out awards and was seen speaking to soldiers and civilians. Video footage showed Zelenskyy waving to residents who waved at him from an apartment window and yelled, “Glory to Ukraine!”

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office and posted on Facebook, Ukrainian soldiers take a selfie with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, center, during his visit to Kherson, Ukraine, on Nov. 14, 2022.
Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the visit, other than to say that it was Russian territory

-ABC News’ Joe Simonetti

Nov 13, 2022, 1:36 PM EST

Ukrainians celebrate Kherson liberation

Russian forces completed their retreat from the Ukrainian city of Kherson on Friday. Now, Ukrainians are celebrating the liberation.

A boy waves a national flag as he celebrates after Russia's retreat from Kherson, in central Kherson, Ukraine Nov. 13, 2022.
Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters

A girl wrapped in the national flag exchange flowers with a Ukrainian soldier in central Kherson, Ukraine, Nov. 13, 2022.
Efrem Lukatsky/AP

Nov 12, 2022, 2:45 PM EST

Banksy mural unveiled in Ukraine

Renowned street artist Banksy debuted a new work in a war-torn Ukrainian town in the Kyiv region.

PHOTO: A work of world-renowned graffiti artist Banksy is seen at the wall of destroyed building in the Ukrainian town of Borodianka, on Nov. 12, 2022.
A work of world-renowned graffiti artist Banksy is seen at the wall of destroyed building in the Ukrainian town of Borodianka, which had been occupied by Russia until April and heavily damaged by fighting in the early days of Russian invasion, Nov. 12, 2022.
Gleb Garanich/Reuters

The anonymous British artist posted photos of a mural to Instagram on Friday in Borodyanka, which was liberated from Russian forces in April.

The piece, which depicts a young girl doing a handstand on a pile of concrete rubble, was painted onto the wall of a building destroyed by shelling.

PHOTO: Local residents take photos of a work of world-renowned graffiti artist Banksy at the wall of destroyed building in the Ukrainian town of Borodianka, on Nov. 12, 2022.
Local residents take photos of a work of world-renowned graffiti artist Banksy at the wall of destroyed building in the Ukrainian town of Borodianka, which had been occupied by Russia until April and heavily damaged by fighting in the early days of Russian invasion, Nov. 12, 2022.
Gleb Garanich/Reuters

Fans were taking photos of the work, as well as several others presumed to be by the artist, in the region on Saturday.

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