Russia-Ukraine updates: Putin says 'certain positive movements' in negotiations

The U.S. announced new sanctions Thursday against members of the Russian elite, including Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, and said it would block 19 oligarchs and 47 of their relatives and close associates from traveling to the U.S.

The U.S. will put full-blocking sanctions on eight members of the Russian elite, as well as 17 of their relatives, 12 of their companies, two of their jets and one super-yacht, banning them from the U.S. financial system.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, as well as one of Russia’s richest men, Alisher Usmanov, are among the eight sanctioned, according to the White House.

Germany had already seized Usmanov’s super-yacht, and the White House said both the boat and Usmanov’s private jet – which it said was one of the largest privately-owned aircraft in Russia – would be blocked for use in the U.S. or by Americans.

The U.S. also put visa restrictions on 19 Russian oligarchs and on 47 of their relatives and close associates, blocking them from obtaining U.S. visas and traveling to the U.S.

The U.S. also imposed full-blocking sanctions on seven Russian entities and 26 Russian and Ukraine-based people engaging in disinformation.

-ABC News' Ben Gittleson

The Russians are targeting civilians and Russian military forces are closing in on Kharkiv, while convoy remains "stalled," a U.S. Defense official told reporters on Thursday.

"Clearly they've shown a willingness to hit civilian infrastructure on purpose, and that you see in the example of media towers and media facilities," the official said.

The Russians have also been hitting government infrastructure in cities like Kyiv and Kharkiv, the official said.

The Russian advance on Kyiv is still "stalled" and is roughly 25K north of the city, which is where it was "about two to three days ago," the official said.

"We believe that their movement has stalled for many reasons, including the Ukrainian resistance, their own logistics and sustainment challenges that they've had, as well as ... certainly it could be possible that the weather is not cooperating. And ... lastly, because we think to some degree they are doing some reassessment of their own," the official said.

Russian forces are closing in on Kharkiv, according to the official.

The official couldn't confirm that Kherson has fallen under Russian control.

The official said one possibility as to why Russia advanced on Kherson is the Russians intend to move past Kherson to the town of Mykolayiv to be in position to move on Odessa from sea and land.

So far, the U.S. hasn't seen any naval moves near Odessa, but they are watching closely, according to the official.

Mariupol is still under Ukrainian control though the city is under increasing bombardment as Russian forces attempt to advance on the city "from the north as well as from the coastline northeast of Berdyansk," according to the official.

Approximately 90% of the more than 150,000 Russian forces that were arrayed at the border are inside Ukraine, according to the official. This is up from an estimated 82% on Wednesday.

As of Thursday morning, the U.S. has counted more than 480 Russian missile launches.

The official said a majority of the Russian missiles are being launched from within Ukraine.

"They have mobile systems, they're moving them inside," the official said. "The next biggest chunk are coming from Russia, more than 160 from Russia. More than 70 are coming from Bellarus. And then a very small number, less than 10, that we've observed coming from the Black Sea."

The official said the Ukrainians "still have a majority of their air and missile defense capabilities available to them."

-ABC News' Matt Seyler

Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed the Ukraine invasion is going strictly according to plan on Thursday.

“I want to say that the special military operation is going strictly in accordance with the schedule, with the plan. All objectives are being successfully attained," Putin said in a televised meeting of his national security council.

“The very course of fighting shows that it is neo-Nazis whom we are fighting against," Putin said.

-ABC News' Patrick Reevell

Talks held between Russia and Ukraine on Thursday have stopped, according to officials.

Ukraine's presidential adviser, Mykhailo Podolyak, tweeted, "Unfortunately, the results Ukraine needs are not yet achieved."

Russia’s lead negotiator said the two sides agreed to open “humanitarian corridors” for civilians to leave Ukrainian cities.

The negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, who is an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, said that both sides had agreed to a possible “temporary cease-fire” in some “sectors” connected to the humanitarian corridors.

Medinsky called the result "substantial."

-ABC News' Christine Theodorou and Patrick Reevell