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.

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.
Oct 20, 2022, 2:53 PM EDT

DOJ says it will continue to be "relentless" in efforts to hold people responsible for war crimes accountable

The Justice Department will "continue" to be "relentless" in its pursuit to hold those responsible for war crimes and other atrocities in Ukraine accountable, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said Thursday, while sitting next to his German counterpart, Minister of Justice Christine Lambrecht.

"We are committed to finding ways to expand our cooperation with our German partners in these efforts," Garland said.

Garland also thanked Germany for its help in apprehending a suspect accused of getting sensitive technologies to Russia as part of an indictment announced Wednesday.

The Justice Department charged five individuals including Yury Orekhov, the alleged mastermind behind the plot. Orekhov was arrested in Germany as part of the Justice Department's task force KleptoCapture, which is cracking down on Russian-related crimes as the war in Ukraine continues.

Asked if any U.S. intelligence was compromised after Germany replaced its head of cybersecurity over alleged ties to Russia, Garland didn't answer, saying intelligence sharing is what makes the relationship with Germany so strong.

-ABC News' Luke Barr

Oct 20, 2022, 6:56 AM EDT

US will 'not hesitate' to sanction Iran over drone sales, official says

The United States is committed to stopping Russia from obtaining foreign weapons, including Iran-made drones, a State Department official said.

Officials from the United States, United Kingdom and France on Thursday raised the issue during a meeting of the U.N. Security Council, State Department spokesman Ned Price said.

A woman arranges flowers outside a house where a couple was killed in a Russian drone strike two days beforehand, on Oct. 19, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine.
Ed Ram/Getty Images

"The United States began warning in July that Iran was planning to transfer UAVs to Russia for use in Russia's brutal war against Ukraine, and we now have abundant evidence that these UAVs are being used to strike Ukrainian civilians and critical civilian infrastructure," Price said. "As Iran continues to lie and deny providing weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine, we are committed to working with allies and partners to prevent the transfer of dangerous weaponry to Russia."

He added, "We will not hesitate to use our sanctions and other appropriate tools on all involved in these transfers."

-ABC News' Matthew Seyler

Oct 19, 2022, 8:08 PM EDT

Putin's martial law declaration 'speaks to his desperation': Blinken

Secretary of State Antony Blinken told "Good Morning America" anchor George Stephanopoulos in a new interview that Russian President Vladimir Putin's declaration of martial law in illegally annexed parts of Ukraine "speaks to his desperation" as Ukrainian forces continue to make progress in rebuffing the invasion.

"Just in the last few weeks, he's tried to mobilize more forces. He's gone through with this sham annexation of Ukrainian territory," Blinken said in a preview from the sit-down, which will air Thursday on "Good Morning America."

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos about Russian measures against Ukraine.
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Blinken responds to Putin’s declaration of martial lawU.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos about Russian measures against Ukraine.
ABCNews.com

-ABC News' Tal Axelrod

Oct 19, 2022, 3:34 PM EDT

Ukraine to restrict electrical supply after Russia knocks out power plants

Ukraine will start restricting electricity supplies across the country on Thursday after Russia knocked out more power plants, a senior aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, said on Wednesday.

"From 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., it is necessary to minimize the use of electricity ... if this is not done, you should prepare for temporary blackouts," Tymoshenko wrote in a Telegram post.

-ABC News' Jason Volack

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