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.
Dec 22, 2022, 11:44 AM EST

NSC spokesman tight-lipped on more advance weapons for Ukraine

White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby stayed tight-lipped in an ABC "Good Morning America" interview Thursday on whether the United States will offer Ukraine additional advanced military supplies beyond Patriot missiles and precision-guided munitions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly asked for more advanced weapons, such as American-made planes and long-range missiles, which the Biden administration has been hesitant to supply.

In his speech to Congress Wednesday night, Zelenskyy noted that Russia has "much more missiles and planes than we ever had."

"We're going to keep supporting Ukraine as the president said for as long as it takes and doing it in lockstep with the Ukrainians," Kirby told "GMA" co-anchor Whit Johnson.

Kirby added, "The focus is very much on air defense. You saw the president announce the Patriot battery which will soon go to Ukraine. That will be a significant contribution to their air defense. I won't get ahead of decisions that are still before us. We'll keep working with Ukrainians as the needs evolve on the battlefield."

During a joint press conference Wednesday, President Joe Biden and Zelenskyy were asked by a Ukrainian journalist why the United States couldn't just give Ukraine all military capabilities it needs to defeat Russia.

While Zelenskyy said he agreed that he would like to see Ukraine get more advanced weapons, Biden said such a move could trigger World War III.

"The idea that we would give Ukraine material that is fundamentally different than is already going there, would have a prospect of breaking up NATO and breaking up the European Union and the rest of the world," Biden said. "We're going to give Ukraine what it needs to be able to defend itself, to be able to succeed and succeed on the battlefield."

Dec 22, 2022, 7:01 AM EST

Russian officials dismiss Zelenskyy trip to Washington

Russian officials said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit on Wednesday to Washington, his first trip out of his country since the invasion began 10 months ago, amounted to political theater.

Other officials in Moscow warned that the U.S. was "continuing down the path" toward getting further involved in the conflict.

A woman walks along in Red Square, with St. Basil's Cathedral seen in the background, during snowfall in Moscow, Russia, on Dec. 14, 2022.
Evgenia Novozhenina/Reuters

"We can say with regret that so far neither President Biden nor President Zelensky have said even a few words that could be perceived as potential readiness to listen to Russia's concerns," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "America is continuing down the path toward a de facto and indirect war with Russia until the last Ukrainian."

He added, "The U.S. and other countries are going to expand the range of arms supplies to Ukraine; this does not contribute to a fast resolution. Arms supplies to Ukraine prolong the suffering of the Ukrainian people."

President Joe Biden speaks during a news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Dec. 21, 2022.
Andrew Harnik/AP

Russia's ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, said the visit showed that neither Zelenskyy nor the U.S. were "ready for peace."

"The Hollywood-style trip to Washington by the head of the Kyiv regime has confirmed that the administration's conciliatory statements about the lack of intention to start a confrontation with Russia are just empty words," Antonov said.

-ABC News' Tanya Stukalova

Dec 21, 2022, 4:58 AM EST

US 'must help Ukraine liberate its territories,' Institute for the Study of War says

As President Volodymyr Zelenskyy travels to Washington, calls for the United States to take a larger role in the conflict are continuing.

The Institute for the Study of War called on Tuesday on the West, led by the United States, to stop expending resources trying to change a reality it does not control and instead focus on what it can shape plenty: Denying Russia’s ability to wage a war against Ukraine.

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, awards a serviceman at the site of the heaviest battles with the Russian invaders in Bakhmut, Ukraine, Dec. 20, 2022.
Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP

Instead of focusing on Russia's inflexible and maximalist intent in Ukraine, "the United States must help Ukraine liberate its territories and people through a large-scale counteroffensive or risk facing the same challenge with the same escalation risks under worse conditions," the ISW said, warning of the dangers of a Russian military foothold in Ukraine.

-ABC News’ Edward Szekeres

Dec 20, 2022, 6:17 PM EST

Plans underway for Zelenskyy to visit Capitol Wednesday and address Congress: Sources

Plans are underway for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, sources told ABC News.

The speech comes as the U.S. is set to announce a military aid package for Ukraine that includes Patriot air defense systems, U.S. officials told ABC News .

Zelenskyy previously addressed Congress via video on March 16, roughly three weeks into the war with Russia.

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