Gunfire, explosions erupt inside Ukrainian capital as Russian forces advance on Kyiv: LIVE UPDATES
It's war: Russia launched a three-pronged invasion of Ukraine, targeting Kyiv, attacking the second-largest city Kharkov, and bringing in troops from Crimea. US, UK say Russia moving 'slower than expected' as army moves into capital city.
Coverage for this event has ended.
The Ukranian capital of Kyiv is under attack from multiple directions, according to Fox News foreign correspondent Trey Yingst.
Yingst says heavy "fighting in the streets" including small arms fire and loud explosions can be heard approximately 10-15 minutes from where he is located in the city of Kyiv.
Russian forces are inside the city limits, according to Ukranian officials.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy warned earlier in the evening that Russian forces will storm Kyiv in the early hours Saturday morning local time.
In a video message to Ukrainians he warned them to make preparations and be ready for what they will face.
Kyiv officials are warning residents that street fighting is underway against Russian forces, and they are urging people to seek shelter.
The warning issued Saturday advised residents to remain in shelters, to avoid going near windows or on balconies, and to take precautions against being hit by debris or bullets.
"By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I hereby delegate to the Secretary of State the following authorities, subject to fulfilling the requirements of section 614(a)(3) and section 652 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (FAA), in order to provide immediate military assistance to Ukraine," Biden announced on the White House website late Friday night.
This authorizes $350 million to provide immediate military assistance to Ukraine, in defense articles and services of the Department of Defense, and military education and training, and to make the determinations required under such section to direct such a drawdown.
Earlier in the day, the White House asked Congress for $6.4 billion for humanitarian assistance for Ukraine and NATO Allies, as well as efforts to counter Russia’s cyber-attacks and misinformation in the region
“As the President and bipartisan members of Congress have made clear, the United States is committed to supporting the Ukrainian people as they defend their country and democracy," an OMB official told Fox News. "In a recent conversation with lawmakers, the Administration identified the need for additional U.S. humanitarian, security, and economic assistance to Ukraine and Central European partners due to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion. The Administration will continue to closely coordinate with our European allies and partners to assess on-the-ground needs, and remain in close touch with Congress as these needs evolve.”
Fox has been told that some of the money could be stuffed into the pending omnibus spending bill but that most of the funds would fall into President Biden's budget.
Fox News' Chad Pergram contributed to this report
Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst has the latest from Kyiv, Ukraine, on 'Hannity.'
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News on Friday that Secretary of State Antony Blinken has consulted with him, and while the two have "very different worldview," they have a "shared desire" to make the United States "strong and great."
During an interview with Fox News on the sidelines of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) Friday, Pompeo criticized the Biden administration’s foreign policy approach but said he is only hoping for their success.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday hailed the 13 Ukrainian border guards who were killed after refusing to surrender to a Russian warship, telling the Russians to "go f--- yourself."
The guards will posthumously receive the "Hero of Ukraine," the highest honor Ukraine can bestow, Zelenskyy said.
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Cities like Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles, New York City and Philadelphia have some of the largest Ukrainian-Americans pockets in the country. Many people in these cities have organized rallies to show their support and to protest a war.
Oleg Tolmachev tells Tucker what it was like leaving his country's capital as the Russians close in.
Ukraine recently prohibited males age 18 to 60 from leaving the country as it deals with Russia’s invasion but has not yet enacted a military draft. Yet thousands of men have been rushing to enlist to help defend their homeland, according to a report.
Hundreds were seen lined up outside the town hall in Mankivka, a town in central Ukraine, according to NPR.
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A video circulating on social media purportedly shows a tank running over a civilian vehicle in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.
The tank, which some social media users speculated was Russian, is seen swerving across multiple traffic lanes before running over a car traveling in the opposite direction, crushing it.
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OC Global Partners co-founder Christopher Cox predicted that the Russia-Ukraine war "will come down to the Ukrainian people" Friday on "Jesse Watters Primetime."
"This will come down to the Ukrainian people," he told host Jesse Watters. "They are a strong people. We have seen how Ukrainians have actually blown themselves up to destroy bridges to prevent the Russian advance. If that will persist through tonight and the days ahead, Putin will be in for a very difficult fight."
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The former Soviet Republic of Kazakhstan has denied a request from Russia to send troops into Ukraine, NBC News reported Friday.
The country also said it will not recognize the breakaway republics from Ukraine in Luhansk and Donetsk that Russia recognized shortly before invading Ukraine.
Russia is one of Kazakhstan's main trading partners and is a member of Russia-led economic and military blocs.
The decision comes a month after Russia sent military peacekeepers to Kazakhstan after the country’s president asked for help in controlling protests that escalated into violence, including the seizure and setting afire of government buildings.
Reuters contributed to this report
Bret Baier discusses the attacks on Ukrainian cities as Russians move toward Kyiv on ‘Jesse Watters Primetime.’
Ukraine’s Defense ministry is warning residents in Ukraine of Russian troops disguising themselves as members of Ukraine’s armed forces.
In a post shared to Facebook, the ministry shared photos of alleged Russian troops disguised as Ukrainian armed forces being arrested by Ukrainians and sent a warning message to those in the country.
“Be vigilant - Russian troops can disguise themselves as servicemen of the [Ukraine’s] Armed Forces and other law enforcement agencies, as well as be in civilian clothes,” the post stated. “See someone suspicious - call the police.”
Fox News national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin has the latest from the Pentagon on 'The Five.'
Sen. Marco Rubio, in an exclusive interview with Fox News, said President Biden was "wise" to share intelligence regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin’s plans to stage false flag attacks ahead of the Ukraine invasion, saying that there is a new level of "global unity" in the wake of the Biden administration’s transparency.
"That is something we were involved in conversations on," Rubio, the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said during an interview with Fox News on the sidelines of the Conservative Political Action Conference. "Ultimately, I think it was wise to do it. We actually encouraged it, as long as you know, we’re not compromising any sources and methods."
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The White House has asked Congress for $6.4 billion for humanitarian assistance for Ukraine and NATO Allies, as well as efforts to counter Russia’s cyber-attacks and misinformation in the region
“As the President and bipartisan members of Congress have made clear, the United States is committed to supporting the Ukrainian people as they defend their country and democracy," an OMB official told Fox News. "In a recent conversation with lawmakers, the Administration identified the need for additional U.S. humanitarian, security, and economic assistance to Ukraine and Central European partners due to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion. The Administration will continue to closely coordinate with our European allies and partners to assess on-the-ground needs, and remain in close touch with Congress as these needs evolve.”
Fox has been told that some of the money could be stuffed into the pending omnibus spending bill but that most of the funds would fall into President Biden's budget.
Fox News' Chad Pergram contributed to this report
"Administrator Samantha Power will travel to Poland and Belgium on February 26-28 to discuss the U.S. government’s coordinated response with allies and partners to respond to Russia’s premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified invasion of Ukraine," the U.S. Agency for International Development said in a statement Friday. "Sarah Charles, USAID Assistant to the Administrator for the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, and Nancy Izzo Jackson, Senior Bureau Official for the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, which leads the U.S. refugee response, will also join the trip."
In Poland, Power will meet with Polish government officials, the U.S. Ambassador to Poland, and Ukranian diaspora to outline the humanitarian response to the crisis in Ukraine, the statement says.
"In Brussels, Belgium, the Administrator will meet with European Union (EU) officials as well as U.S. Representatives to the EU and NATO to discuss the U.S. government’s coordinated response with NATO allies and European partners and anticipated humanitarian and development needs as Russia escalates its assault on Ukraine, its democracy, and the freedom and welfare of the Ukrainian people," the statement added.
"Data from the automated radiation monitoring system of the exclusion zone, which is available online, indicate that the control levels of gamma radiation dose rate (red dots) have been exceeded at a significant number of observation points," the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine said in a statement.
"But now it is currently impossible to establish the reasons for the change in the radiation background in the exclusion zone because of the occupation and military fight in this territory," the statement added.
The agency says the cause was "heavy military machinery" disturbing the soil and increased pollution in the exclusion zone.
Ukraine lost control of the Chernobyl site on Thursday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had announced several hours earlier Thursday that Russian forces were trying to seize the Chernobyl nuclear plant.
A nuclear reactor at the plant 80 miles north of Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, exploded in April 1986, sending a radioactive cloud across Europe.
Pentagon press secretary John Kirby spoke to reporters Friday on the U.S. military's plans to aid Ukraine as Russian forces continue to advance through the country.
One reporter asked Kirby if U.S. intelligence suggests Russian President Vladimir Putin would stop his advancement with Ukraine. Some European countries are anxious that the Russian president's campaign could continue past the borders of the war-torn country.
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Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., said Biden must enact "painful" sanctions on Russia, not just "slaps on the wrist," if he's serious about forcing Russian President Vladimir Putin to roll back his invasion in Ukraine.
In an interview with Fox News Digital at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) Braun slammed President Biden for his "weakness" on the Russia-Ukraine war, saying that his reaction to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine should have been stronger.
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The South Dakota governor weighs in on the growing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
A civilian hiding in a bomb shelter said on Friday that Russia has no chance in taking over Ukraine.
"I can tell you that I am here with an awful lot – a group of really angry people. They believe that if he occupies the country, then he has another thing coming for him. Apparently, according to official stats, there has been 2,800 Russian troops killed in Ukraine just today," Mychailo Wynnyckyj, associate professor at National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, told "The Story w/ Martha McCallum" on Friday.
Wynnyckyj said that is about half of what was killed over the 20 years of the U.S. war in Afghanistan.
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Gov. Kristi Noem, R-S.D., blasted the narrative being pushed by the media that criticizing President Biden's handling of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis means siding with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
While Republicans have been outspoken condemning Biden's "weak" leadership in recent days, several members of the press came to the president's defense like CNN+ anchor Kasie Hunt, who suggested House Republicans were "the enemy" over a tweet criticizing Biden. MSNBC contributor Matthew Dowd said those slamming Biden should "take down" their American flags and replace them with the "Russian flag." Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin said critics "might as well put on their Team Russia shirts."
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A Russian official on Friday issued a warning to Finland and Sweden should both nations intend to join NATO, saying such moves would have "serious military-political repercussions."
During a news briefing, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova made the remarks as Russian forces continue to battle the Ukrainian military following an unprovoked invasion into the neighboring country.
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White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the Biden White House has not "ruled out diplomacy forever" with Russia amid the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Psaki said the U.S. would not be completely icing out the Eastern European aggressor "forever" during the White House daily press briefing on Friday.
Psaki was also asked why President Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin were not talking.
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Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said Russian forces will storm Kyiv in the early hours Saturday morning local time.
In a video message to Ukrainians he warned them to make preparations and be ready for what they will face.
Russia forces have continued to kit the capital city of Kyiv with explosives and shelling.
Despite the increasingly danger in Ukraine Zelenskyy has remained in his country, vowing to fight back against Russia aggression.
Russia on Friday limited access to Meta Platforms Inc's Facebook social media platform after it refused to stop fact checks on Russia media outlets.
"Yesterday, Russian authorities ordered us to stop the independent fact-checking and labelling of content posted on Facebook by four Russian state-owned media organizations. We refused. As a result, they have announced they will be restricting the use of our services," Facebook spokesperson Nick Clegg told Fox News.
"Ordinary Russians are using our apps express themselves and organize for action," he continued. "We want them to continue to make their voices heard, share what’s happening, and organize through Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger.”
Russia has seen mass protests to President Vladimir Putin's deadly invasion of Ukraine.
Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said Friday it was unclear if Russian President Vladimir Putin has plans outside of his current invasion inside Ukraine.
"It is not entirely clear if Mr. Putin has designs beyond the Ukraine," Kirby said. "And it's because that's not perfectly clear that we continue to look for ways to bolster our NATO capabilities and to reassure our allies. I mean, one of the reasons we're doing this is because we want to make it clear to him that we will defend every inch of NATO territory."
Kirby's comments contradict warnings issued by President Biden and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg who said Response Forces had been deployed for the first time for collective security following threats made by Putin.
Stoltenberg also expressed the urgency to back other former Soviet nations like Georgia and Moldova.
Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo by Mikhail Tereshchenko, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the White House will sanction Russian President Vladimir Putin in coordination with its European allies.
"In alignment with the decision by our European allies, the United States will join them in sanctioning President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov," Psaki told reporters during a press briefing Friday.
The move comes one day after the U.S. rolled out its second tranche of sanctions that targeted other Russian elites and their families, but omitted top Russian government officials like Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Heavy explosions were heard in Ukraine's capital city of Kyiv late Friday night local time.
Fox News Trey Yingst reported that explosions appeared to be coming from the north as Russian forces continue to bombard the city.
Officials believe Russian forces are attempting to encircle Kyiv and carry out a takeover.
Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova told reporters Friday that Ukrainian citizens are returning home to fend off Russian forces after first seeing their children safely evacuated.
Markarova said they are unable to fly into Ukraine, but directed them to return through the Western border. The news comes one day after all men ages 18-60 were directed to remain in the country.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has remained in Ukraine as fighting intensifies on the second day of the deadly Russian invasion.
For the first time ever, NATO deployed its Response Force for collective security amid threats from Russian President Vladimir Putin who said NATO can expect ‘military-technical consequences' if they don't respond to his demands.
"This goes far beyond Ukraine," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned Friday. "This is about how Russia is actually challenging, contesting core values for our security. Then warning that NATO should withdraw all forces and infrastructure from almost half of our members.
"They said that if we don't do that, if we don't meet their demands, there will be what they call ‘military-technical consequences,'" he added.
United States provided security to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week at a security conference in Munich Germany, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said Friday at the Ukrainian Cultural Center in Chicago.
"We also were surprised to have President Zelenskyy on Saturday come and speak to us last Saturday in Munich. Many people said he was risking his life to do it, and I believe he was," he said. "I think you should know, if you don't already, that the United States was providing protection and security for him for that trip so that he could make an appeal, personal appeal to the people of the world in light of what he was facing."
Russia under President Vladimir Putin is known for assassinating and disappearing journalists, dissidents and opposition leaders, both within and outside its own borders.
Zelenskyy remains in Ukraine and has refused to leave as fighting intensifies amid Russia's illegal invasion.
Protests over Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine have continued for a second day in Russia.
Prominent Russians in the entertainment and business sectors have joined the masses as citizens took to the streets of Moscow, St. Petersburg and other major cities across the country to denounce Putin's aggression.
Russian authorities reportedly arrested over 1,700 individuals Thursday and roughly another 150 people were arrested Friday.
A boy plays on a swing in front of a damaged residential block hit by an early morning missile strike on February 25, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images
Russia has forged ahead with its deadly invasion into Ukraine.
The United Nations human rights office reported that at least 25 civilians have been killed. Another 102 civilians are said to have been injured so far. The casualties are believed to have been caused mostly by Russian airstrikes and shelling.
Agency spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said, "The figures, we fear, could be much higher."
On the ground photographs show the devastation caused by the second round of attacks.
Russian forces have mobile crematorium that can 'evaporate' soldiers killed in attacks, Fox News has confirmed.
The mobile crematorium has been seen among the Russian troops as they continue their assault into Ukraine.
British secretary of defense Ben Wallace told The Telegraph, who first reported the news, that the mobile crematorium could be used as a way to minimize the appearance of Russian military casualties.
Russian forces continue to advance by encircling the capital city of Kyiv.
NATO announced Friday at its virtual summit that it will activate the NATO Response Force for the first time ever in response to Russia's decision to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
According to NATO, the Response Force "is a highly ready and technologically advanced multinational force made up of land, air, maritime and Special Operations Forces (SOF) components that the Alliance can deploy quickly, wherever needed."
The NATO Response Force will provide defensive air, land, and sea support to NATO allies in Europe. NATO noted that the Response Force will not enter Ukraine but will remain on alert in case Russian President Vladimir Putin expands his military operation.
“This is an historic moment and the very first time the Alliance has employed these high readiness forces in a deterrence and defense role. They represent a flexible, combat credible force that can be employed in multiple ways and we are utilizing fully their inherent agility," NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Tod Wolters said in a statement.
Wolters called the unprecedented measures "prudent" and necessary to "enhance our speed, responsiveness, and capability to shield and protect the one billion citizens" of NATO's member nations.
Separately, at a press briefing, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called the Russian invasion of Ukraine a "brutal act of war," and labeled the attack "unjustified and unprovoked."
"In response to Russia’s massive military build-up, we have already strengthened our collective defense on land, at sea, and in the air," Stoltenberg said.
A tank drives along a street after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the deployment of Russian troops to two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine following the recognition of their independence, in the separatist-controlled city of Donetsk, Ukraine, Feb. 22, 2022. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko
The Ukrainian military has released a statement thanking a marine for allegedly sacrificing himself in order to demolish a bridge that would allow Russian tanks to advance.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine released the statement Friday via social media, reporting that Vitaliy Volodymyrovych Skakun, a battalion engineer, had voluntarily undertaken a mission to mine out the support structure of the Genichesky Bridge near the Kyiv before Russian forces could cross it. Shakun did not have time to flee the blast zone before detonating the explosives, and informed his battalion that he would be blowing it up regardless.
The Armed Forces reported that the subsequent explosion was immediate and thwarted Russian efforts to mobilize their tank column over the bridge.
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The presidents of the United States and Ukraine wrapped up a secure call around 12:32 p.m. EST.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he discussed sanctions, “concrete defense assistance” and an anti-war coalition during the roughly 40 minute call.
“Grateful to USA for the strong support to Ukraine!” Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter.
Hundreds of Ukraine supporters gathered outside the White House on Thursday calling on President Biden to impose tougher sanctions on Russia.
"Russia bombed my family and friends now in Kyiv and many cities of Ukraine, one woman, Maria, told Fox News. "I want the whole world to know that this is time to act."
"We need to act because we are protecting not only Ukraine, but the whole Western civilization," she continued.
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Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kiev with members of his government.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a video on Twitter Friday night showing that he was still in the nation's capital.
He struck another defiant chord as he pointed out the men with him and their positions, noting that they are all leaders and ministers in the government and none have fled Kyiv.
"We're all here," Zelenskyy said in the video posted to Twitter. "We are in Kyiv. We are defending Ukraine."
Zelenskyy said early on Friday that Russia had designated him "target number one" and his family "number two" as he warned that Russian forces intend to "decapitate the government."
Russian officials announced Friday that there will be a "partial restriction" of access to Facebook following the social media platform's decision to suspend the accounts of several Russian state-run media organizations.
Facebook reportedly placed restrictions on several Kremlin-backed outlets on Thursday, limiting Russia's state-run news agency, RIA Novosti, as well as several websites and a Russian state-run television channel, Zvezda. Russia's state-run news watchdog, Roskomnadzor, claimed in a statement posted to Telegram, that they've recorded two dozen instances of Facebook restriction since 2020.
Roskomnadzor went on to call the decision to suspend some access to Facebook within Russia a measure "to protect Russian media." They said that they demanded Facebook lift the restrictions placed on Kremlin-backed outlets but were "ignored."
As a result, Roskomnadzor approached the Russian Foreign Ministry, which, they say, "decided to recognize the social network Facebook as involved in the violation of fundamental human rights and freedoms, as well as the rights and freedoms of Russian citizens."
It is not clear how widespread Russia's restrictions on Facebook will be. They will take effect Friday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Natali Sevriukova reacts next to her house following a rocket attack the city of Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
After Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine, many Americans of all walks of life are wondering how they can help the Ukrainian people in their time of suffering.
While there are many fundraisers, charities and organizations to consider donating to or helping in some way, Charity Navigator has put together a list of some of the top-rated nonprofits that are aiding in relief and recovery efforts in Ukraine.
These charities have earned high ratings for their financial efficiency and for clarity and transparency about their operations.
Click here to read more.
Ukrainian military drills with tanks on Feb. 7, 2022.
The top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee said Russia's siege on Ukraine is a threat to the U.S. and told Fox News that America would need to get involved if nearby NATO members were attacked.
"What we're seeing is that Russia, under [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's leadership, has invaded a validly elected democracy, an independent nation, violating international law," Rep. Mike Turner told Fox News. "It's a threat to Europe and a threat to our NATO allies and therefore to the United States."
Turner went on to note that "has openly stated that his goal is to reunite the geographical territory of the Soviet Union, and we should believe him," and that while American troops should not engage with Russia's military directly, "we do play a role here that is very important."
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More than 50,000 Ukrainian refugees have fled the country in the first two days of fighting, according to the U.N. High Commissioner for refugees.
The majority of the refugees have fled to Poland or Moldova, and many more are moving towards the borders, Commissioner Filippo Grandi wrote on Twitter.
"Heartfelt thanks to the governments and people of countries keeping their borders open and welcoming refugees," he said.
Officials from the U.S. and U.K. on Friday said Russian forces have not made the kinds of gains they expected in Ukraine, with one official saying Russia was "behind on Day 1 targets."
“The Russians have lost a little bit of their momentum," a U.S. defense official said. "No population centers have been taken. Russia has yet to achieve air superiority.”
The official noted that Ukraine’s air and missile defense capability is still working, though degraded.
“In general we assess the Russian forces are encountering greater resistance than they expected," the official added. “Ukrainian command and control is intact.”
A British intelligence update from the Ministry of Defense noted that Lviv has sounded air raid sirens but officials have seen no evidence of strikes in the city.
Fox News' Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.
Thousands of Russian marines assaulting beach from Sea of Azov west of Mariupol in southeast Ukraine near Russian border, U.S. official tells Fox News correspondent Lucas Tomlinson.
Russia has fired over 200 missiles into Ukraine.
Ukrainian resistance stronger than expected, Russians behind Day 1 objectives, the official adds.
Ukraine Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said Friday that Russian forces have lost 2,800 service members since the start of the invasion.
She added that Russia also lost 80 tanks, 516 armored combat vehicles, 10 aircraft and seven helicopters.
"We are strong!" she wrote on Facebook. "Victory will be ours!"
MOSCOW, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 22, 2022: Russia's President Vladimir Putin gives comments to the media after a ceremony to sign a declaration on allied cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan at Moscow's Kremlin. Sergei Guneyev/POOL/TASS (Photo by Sergei Guneyev\TASS via Getty Images)
In brief remarks on Russian state television, Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated his call for Ukraine's military to disarm against Russian troops. He also called on Ukraine's army to remove its leadership, which he referred to as a "‘gang of drug addicts and neo-Nazis."
“Take power into your own hands. It’s easier for us to come to an agreement with you than with a band of drug addicted and neo-Nazis," he said.
Although earlier Friday the Kremlin suggested that Putin may be open to negotiations with Ukraine, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in his own remarks Friday that Russia would negotiate if Ukraine "lays down its arms."
Lavrov also claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was offered previous opportunities to negotiate, and that Russia has "no obligation to recognize an anti-state coup."
As the world reels from Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Russian President Vladimir Putin's apparent indifference to the sanctions imposed against his country thus far, calls are growing across the globe for Putin to be hit with financial pain that he cannot ignore.
One way of doing that is to cut Russia off from access to the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), the main global network that allows financial institutions to send and receive information on international bank transfers.
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One of the 13 Ukrainian soldiers who died on Snake Island was live streaming at the time of the attack.
A Ukrainian soldier on the ill-fated Snake Island was live-streaming as Russian warships opened fire and wiped out the 13 soldiers stationed there.
A Russian warship issued a warning to the Ukrainian border guards at Zmiinyi Island – also known as Snake Island – only to be told by one of the guards "Russian Warship, go f--- yourself."
One of the soldiers was live-streaming at the time, capturing the sounds and chaos of the opening salvo.
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European Union officials are preparing a third round of sanctions against Russia over the attack on Ukraine, including freezing the European assets of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, according to multiple media reports.
The latest sanction package could also further penalize Russia's financial and energy sectors, although the source declined to provide additional details or say when the sanctions may be enacted.
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MOSCOW, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 24, 2022: Russia's President Vladimir Putin is seen during a meeting with members of Russian business community in the Moscow Kremlin. Alexei Nikolsky/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS (Photo by Alexei Nikolsky\TASS via Getty Images)
The Kremlin said Friday, via a Russian state-run news agency, that Russian President Vladimir Putin is prepared to send a delegation to negotiate with Ukrainian officials over the country's "neutral status."
The message came in response to a Friday morning message from Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy, who said, in a video posted to his Telegram channel, that he was "not afraid" to engage in talks with Russia, if it could halt the Russian invasion of Ukraine that began Wednesday.
"We heard from Moscow today that they want to talk about the neutral status of Ukraine," Zelenskyy said. "We are not afraid of Russia, we are not afraid of engaging in talks with Russia, we are not afraid of discussing anything, such as security guarantees for our state, we are not afraid of talking about neutral status."
"Fighting is ongoing all over Ukraine. Let's sit at the table for negotiations to stop people dying," Zelenskyy continued.
Russia suggested that it could send a delegation to Minsk in Belarus, a nation led by close Putin ally, authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko.
A man clears debris at a damaged residential building at Koshytsa Street, a suburb of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, where a military shell allegedly hit, on February 25, 2022. - Russian forces reached the outskirts of Kyiv on Friday as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the invading troops were targeting civilians and explosions could be heard in the besieged capital. Pre-dawn blasts in Kyiv set off a second day of violence after Russian President Vladimir Putin defied Western warnings to unleash a full-scale ground invasion and air assault on Thursday that quickly claimed dozens of lives and displaced at least 100,000 people. (Photo by Daniel LEAL / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images)
Russia's Defense Ministry claimed Friday, in a statement to Russian state media, that the Russian military has blocked the city of Kyiv from the west, and that Russia is now in control of a strategic cargo airport just outside the Ukrainian capital.
Kyiv's mayor Vitali Klitschko told a news briefing Friday that the city has now entered a "defensive phase" as Russian troops move closer.
"The city has gone into a defensive phase. Shots and explosions are ringing out in some neighborhoods saboteurs have already entered Kyiv. The enemy wants to put the capital on its knees and destroy us," he said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba announced Friday that he is working with the General Prosecutor's Office on a case against Russia.
Kuleba cited attacks on a kindergarten and an orphanage as examples of violations of the Rome Statute.
"We are collecting this and other facts, which we will immediately send to the Hague," he wrote on Twitter. "Responsibility is inevitable."
China will feel emboldened in its aggression towards Taiwan after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to experts.
Taiwan reported that it dispatched fighters to caution nine Chinese planes that flew into its defensive airspace on the first day of Russian’s invasion. China has conducted similar flybys in the past, but the timing remains notable.
James Anderson, former Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy under President Trump, told Fox News Digital that China would be watching "intently" to see if Russia suffers "significant and lasting consequences" from its action in Ukraine and how the U.S. has responded.
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Paratrooper assigned to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division directs an M1075 Palletized Load System vehicle at a tactical assembly area Feb. 21 in Zamość, Poland. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Claudia Nix)
Paratroopers assigned to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division unload food and water at a assemble area Feb. 21 in Zamość, Poland. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Claudia Nix)
Chinese state media reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke over the phone Friday.
CCTV claims that Putin told Xi he was willing to hold "high-level talks" with Ukraine after Xi urged the Russian president to "abandon the Cold War mentality."
Pope Francis made a visit to the Russian Embassy to the Holy See Friday to "express his concern for the war," the AFP reported.
The visit lasted just over half an hour.
PA via Reuters Defence minister James Heappey updates MPs in the House of Commons, London, on the latest situation in Ukraine following the invasion by Russia. Picture date: Friday February 25, 2022.
Armed Forces minister James Heappey told colleagues during a Question Time session with the House of Commons that talks are "ongoing" but he could not comment specifically on the talks.
He also noted that the U.K. continues to seek unanimous approval to cut Russia from the SWIFT bank system, but some countries continue to hold out.
Defense Minister Ben Wallace also spoke, referring to Putin as a dictator and echoing comments by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that 60 of the 90 battalion tactical groups at Russia's disposal have deployed into Ukrainian territory.
Sky News estimated that 60 battalions would put between 30,000 to 60,000 troops on the ground.
The Armed Forces claimed in a statement that Russian morale was "extremely low."
American soldiers sent to the Polish-Ukrainian border in connection with the crisis in Ukraine stand near radar near arlamow on February 24, 2022. (Photo by Maciej Luczniewski/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Thousands of U.S. soldiers that have been sent to the Polish-Ukrainian border are preparing for an influx of Ukrainian refugees into the country by helping set up processing centers. (Photo by Maciej Luczniewski/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
General view inside the Stade de France stadium before a training session ahead of the UEFA Nations League soccer match between France and Croatia at the Stade de France stadium in Saint Denis, north of Paris, Sunday Sept. 6, 2020.
The UEFA Champions League, one of the top soccer club competitions in the world, will host its final in Paris instead of St. Petersburg, Russia.
The Associated Press and The Times of London first reported the news, which follows Russia's war on Ukraine.
The final, a showcase event capping a tournament featuring the top soccer clubs across Europe, was scheduled to take place at St. Petersburg’s Gazprom Arena. After intense public pressure, UEFA is moving the game to the Stade de France.
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A man inspects the damage at a building following a rocket attack on the city of Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Ukraine's Ministry of Defense urged citizens late Friday morning to block Russians from advancing if they see military personnel or vehicles in their cities.
They said people should go out into the street with Ukrainian flags and shoot video of Russian troops on their phones.
"Let them know that they are not expected here, that they will be resisted by absolutely everyone. Show them that they are not liberators but invaders in a foreign land," the update said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday morning in separate tweets he had told EU President Ursula von der Leyen that more sanctions need to be imposed, he spoke to Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and thanked him for $50 in aid and informed U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the latest events in a call.
Russia has closed its airspace to British planes, Dutch news agency BNO reported Friday morning.
The U.K. has also closed its airspace to Russian planes and British Airways previously said it was avoiding flying over Russian airspace, according to Reuters.
Russian troops appear to have penetrated the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv. Read more here.
Putin considers Kyiv inextricably linked to Russia. He has noted that Kyiv was the historic capital of the Rus people -- the group that eventually grew into Russia. He laid out his rationale for invading Ukraine and reuniting Kyiv with Russia last year, leaving a potential warning that the world appears to have missed.
Fox News contributor Kiron Skinner reacts to Russia's invasion of Ukraine as conflict enters its second day.
A presidential adviser says Ukraine lost control of the Chernobyl nuclear site Thursday, where Ukranian forces had waged a fierce battle with Russian troops.
Adviser Myhailo Podolyak said Ukrainian authorities did not know the current condition of the facilities at Chernobyl, the site of the world's worst nuclear disaster.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy makes a televised speech early Friday morning
In early morning video speech Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused NATO leaders of being afraid to say whether the country could join the organization but said, "We are not afraid, we are not afraid of anything."
"Today, I have asked 27 European leaders whether Ukraine will be in NATO," he said. "I have asked directly - everyone is afraid, no one answers. But we are not afraid, we are not afraid of anything. We are not afraid to defend our country, we are not afraid of Russia, we are not afraid to talk to Russia, we are not afraid to talk about anything, about security guarantees for our country, we are not afraid of talking about neutrality, we are not NATO members at the moment. But what guarantees will we get? And most importantly which countries will give us those guarantees?"
Zelenskyy has said he will remain in the capital city of Kyiv even as Russian troops close in. He said he is Vladimir Putin's "target number one."
Russian troops have reached the town of Vorzel, on the outskirts of Kyiv, the Ukrainian defense ministry announced on Twitter.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy put out a call for "effective international assistance" and an "anti-war coalition."
"We defend our freedom, our land," he tweeted. "We need effective international assistance. Discussed this with [Polish President Andrzej Duda]. Appealed to the Bucharest Nine for defense aid, sanctions, pressure on the aggressor. Together we have to put 🇷🇺 at the negotiating table. We need anti-war coalition."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took aim at NATO powers early Friday morning, accusing them of "watching from afar" as Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine.
"This morning we are defending our state alone. Like yesterday, the world's most powerful forces are watching from afar," Zelenskyy said, according to reporting from the Kyiv Independent. "Did yesterday's sanctions convince Russia? We hear in our sky and see on our earth that this was not enough."
"Russia will have to talk to us sooner or later about how to end hostilities and stop this invasion." he continued. "The sooner the conversation begins, the smaller Russia's losses will be."
A video circulating on social media purportedly shows a Ukranian woman excoriating an occupying Russian soldier and telling him that he has no business in the country and will ultimately die there.
A transcript of the video, posted by Mashable Editor Chris Taylor, outlines the conversation with a woman holding an umbrella engaged in a shouting match with what appears to be a Russian soldier. The video has been viewed over 2 million times on Twitter.
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