Russia-Ukraine updates: US to ban Russian carriers from its airspace

Biden will announce the news in his State of the Union address, a source said.

ByMorgan Winsor, Libby Cathey, Meredith Deliso, Nadine El-Bawab, Emily Shapiro, Julia Jacobo, Ivan Pereira, Mark Osborne, Celia Darrough, Kevin Shalvey, and Bill Hutchinson
Last Updated: March 22, 2022, 4:04 AM EDT

Russian forces are continuing their attempted push through Ukraine from multiple directions, while Ukrainians, led by President Volodymr Zelenskyy, are putting up "stiff resistance," according to U.S. officials.

The attack began Feb. 24 as Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation."

Russians moving from Belarus towards Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, don't appear to have advanced closer towards the city since coming within about 20 miles, although smaller advanced groups have been fighting gun battles with Ukrainian forces inside the capital since at least Friday.

Russia has been met by sanctions from the U.S., Canada and countries throughout Europe, targeting Russia's economy and Putin himself.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Feb 25, 2022, 1:54 PM EST

Zelenskyy says, 'We are all here'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has posted a selfie-style video showing himself standing outside the president’s office in central Kyiv Friday night along his defense minister, prime minister and parliamentary leader.

Zelenskyy, in combat fatigues, said to the camera that Ukraine’s army is there and will win.

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a video showing himself standing outside the president’s office in central Kyiv, Ukraine, Feb. 25, 2022, along his defense minister, prime minister and parliamentary leader.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy/Facebook

"We are all here. Our military are here, as are our people and whole society. We're all here defending our independence and our country. And we'll go on doing that," he said.

President Joe Biden held a secure call with Zelenskyy on Friday, according to a White House official.

-ABC News' Patrick Reevell, Fidel Pavlenko

Feb 25, 2022, 1:51 PM EST

Russia says their troops seized large quantity of weapons 

The Russian troops conducting a special operation in Ukraine seized a large quantity of weapons recently supplied by Western countries, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said. 

"Among the trophies are the American Javelin anti-tank missile systems and British NLAWs," he said. 

He said Russian troops in Ukraine have disabled 211 Ukraine military installations and destroyed 67 tanks and six aircraft. 

Firefighters hose down burning debris in front of a damaged building following a rocket attack on the city of Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Feb. 25, 2022.
Ukrainian Police Department Press Service via AP

He said Russian troops have blocked the northeastern Ukrainian cities of Sumy and Konotop. 

-ABC News' Tanya Stukalova

Feb 25, 2022, 1:32 PM EST

NATO allies must stand ready to do more, NATO SG says 

Russia is demanding legally binding agreements to remove troops and infrastructure from NATO allies that joined after 1997, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Friday.

In addition to the significant sanctions imposed against Russia, NATO allies must stand ready to do more, Stoltenberg said, even if it means "we have to pay a price -- because we are in this for the long haul."   

The U.S., Canada and European allies have deployed thousands of more troops to the eastern part of the alliance, Stolentenberg said. Over 100 jets and more than 120 ships are operating on high alert in more than 30 locations, he said. 

PHOTO: Tanks uploaded on military truck platforms as a part of additional British troops and military equipment arrive at Estonia's NATO Battle Group base in Tapa, Estonia, Feb. 25, 2022.
Tanks uploaded on military truck platforms as a part of additional British troops and military equipment arrive at Estonia's NATO Battle Group base in Tapa, Estonia, Feb. 25, 2022. With Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealing for help, NATO members ranging from Russia's neighbor Estonia in the north down to Bulgaria on the Black Sea coast triggered urgent consultations about their security.
Sergei Stepanov/AP

-ABC News' Christine Theodorou

Feb 25, 2022, 1:16 PM EST

UK's Boris Johnson announces Putin, Lavrov sanctions

United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson will introduce sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, on top of the sanctions package announced Thursday, a Downing Street spokesperson said.

PHOTO: A protestor holds a banner depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin during a demonstration in front of the Russian Embassy in Madrid, Feb. 24, 2022.
A protestor holds a banner depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin during a demonstration in front of the Russian Embassy in Madrid, Feb. 24, 2022. Russia launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine on Thursday, hitting cities and bases with airstrikes or shelling, as civilians piled into trains and cars to flee.
Manu Fernandez/AP

The announcement was made during a Friday call with NATO leaders.

“The Prime Minister told the group that a catastrophe was engulfing Ukraine, and President Putin was engaging in a revanchist mission to over-turn post-Cold War order. He warned the group that the Russian President’s ambitions might not stop there and that this was a Euro-Atlantic crisis with global consequences," the Downing Street spokesperson said.

“The Prime Minister urged leaders to take immediate action against SWIFT to inflict maximum pain on President Putin and his regime," the spokesperson added.

If Russia was cut off from the SWIFT -- the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication international banking system -- it would significantly hinder Russia's participation in global markets.

-ABC News' Guy Davies

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