Russian President Vladimir Putin's "special military operation" into neighboring Ukraine began on Feb. 24, with Russian forces invading from Belarus, to the north, and Russia, to the east. Ukrainian troops have offered "stiff resistance," according to U.S. officials.
The Russian military has since launched a full-scale ground offensive in eastern Ukraine's disputed Donbas region, capturing the strategic port city of Mariupol and securing a coastal corridor to the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula.
Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Jun 29, 2022, 3:20 PM EDT
Zelenskyy addresses NATO summit
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the NATO summit Wednesday, commending the decision to invite Finland and Sweden to join NATO.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky appears on a giant screen as he delivers a statement at the start of the first plenary session of the NATO summit at the Ifema congress centre in Madrid, June 29, 2022.
Gabriel Bouys/AFP via Getty Images
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky delivers a statement at the start of the first plenary session of the NATO summit at the Ifema congress centre in Madrid, June 29, 2022.
Office of the President of Ukraine via YouTube
Zelenskyy told the NATO leaders, "The goals of Ukraine are exactly the same as yours: We are interested in security and stability on the European continent and in the world."
“This is not a war of Russia only against Ukraine, this is a war for the right to dictate conditions in Europe,” he said.
-ABC News' Christine Theodorou
Jun 29, 2022, 1:37 PM EDT
Biden, Erdogan meet after Turkey drops opposition to Finland, Sweden joining NATO
President Joe Biden met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the NATO summit in Madrid Wednesday, where he thanked Erdoğan for dropping his objections to Finland and Sweden becoming NATO members.
“I want to particularly thank you for what you did putting together the situation with regard to Finland and Sweden and all the incredible work you're doing to try to get the grain out of Ukraine and Russia,” Biden said.
US President Joe Biden gestures as Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit at the Ifema congress centre in Madrid, on June 29, 2022.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
“We think your pioneering in this regard is going to be crucial in terms of strengthening NATO for the future,” Erdoğan said. “And it's going to have a very positive contribution to the process between Ukraine and Russia.”
Senior administration officials told reporters Wednesday that the U.S. made no formal offer in exchange for Erdoğan dropping Turkey’s resistance to Finland and Sweden becoming NATO members.
The U.S. Department of Defense earlier came out in support of Turkey’s plans to modernize its aircraft fleet with American-made F-16s.
-ABC News' Gabe Ferris
Jun 29, 2022, 10:43 AM EDT
Finland, Sweden invited to join NATO
The leaders of NATO countries have invited Sweden and Finland to join NATO, they announced at the Madrid summit.
NATO leaders in their declaration called Russia "the most significant and direct threat to Allies' security and to peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area."
President Joe Biden offered a smile and fist pump when NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg spoke about the newest invitees to the alliance.
Jun 29, 2022, 8:52 AM EDT
Wimbledon players display Ukrainian colors
Tennis players competing at Wimbledon have shown support for Ukraine in a rare break with the tournament's usual all-white dress code.
Several players, including the women's world top player, Iga Swiatek, sported blue-and-yellow ribbons on Tuesday in a sign of solidarity with Ukraine.
Poland's Iga Swiatek sports a ribbon with Ukraine's colors on her hat in a first round women's singles match on day two of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, June 28, 2022.
Alberto Pezzali/AP Photo
-ABC News' Edward Szekeres, Max Uzol, Yuriy Zaliznyak
