Meta disrupts social media misinformation campaigns targeting Ukrainians

Meta disrupts social media misinformation campaigns targeting Ukrainians
Meta disrupts social media misinformation campaigns targeting Ukrainians
Rapeepong Puttakumwong/Getty Images

(NEW YORK) — A pair of social media misinformation campaigns exploiting tensions in Russia and Ukraine were identified and disabled on Facebook over the weekend, according to two senior leaders at the social network’s parent company Meta.

One operation thwarted by Meta’s security team involved about 40 accounts described as “inauthentic” with some profile pictures suspected to have been generated artificially, Threat Disruption Director David Agranovich said Sunday night. The fictitious personas operated across the internet, the Meta employees said, including on Twitter, YouTube, Telegram and two Russian social media networks.

The campaign also included fake websites resembling news outlets that claimed to be based in Kyiv with the people behind the sites posing as news editors and expert sources.

The operation was connected to a campaign previously detected and taken down by Facebook in April 2020. At the time, the activity was found to have come from Russia, the Donbas region and two media organizations in Crimea.

“The campaign had a very limited following across its presence online,” Agranovich said.

When Meta took action against the accounts, they had fewer than 4,000 followers on Facebook and fewer than 500 on Instagram, Agranovich said. The security team did not say how many total impressions or views the inauthentic posts received.

Another operation involved the specific targeting of Facebook accounts belonging to members of the Ukrainian military, as well as politicians and a journalist. The profiles were used to share YouTube videos portraying Ukrainians as weak and surrendering to Russia, which Facebook said was done by compromising the accounts likely through personal email. One video appeared to show Ukrainian soldiers coming out of a forest waving a white flag.

The Meta employees did not disclose the total number of compromised accounts, only referring to them as “a handful.” They also did not reveal the names behind the accounts, citing privacy concerns.

While Facebook described the number of accounts affected as minimal, the phishing operation that led to the compromise was reportedly widespread and attributed by cybersecurity researchers to a previously known misinformation campaign called “Ghostwriter.”

“Ghostwriter has previously targeted the NATO alliance, seeking to erode support for the organization,” said Ben Read, director of Cyber Espionage Analysis at the cybersecurity firm Mandiant. “I wouldn’t be surprised if similar operations were seen in the near future.”

Mandiant has linked the “Ghostwriter” campaign to the Belarusian military, and concerns remain over the exploitation of Ukrainians’ personal data.

“Leaking misleading, or fabricated documents taken from Ukrainian entities could be leveraged to promote Russia- and Belarus-friendly narratives,” Read said.

ABC News has tracked the spread of disinformation related to Ukraine and Russia across online forums and social media networks.

In one example, a video that appeared to show a man with his leg blown off was shared by a Russian separatist militia on Telegram last week. The stump of the man’s leg was blurred.

“Ukrainian punishers continue the genocide of the civilian population of Donbass,” the video’s caption read.

But other, unblurred videos of the scene show the man was, in fact, an amputee. There is no blood and the attachment for a prosthetic leg is clearly visible.

At Meta, Facebook has increased its fact-checking capacity in Russia and Ukraine and added new features to protect Ukrainians and help them lock down their accounts and check privacy settings. Meta will now also extend some of those features to Russia in an effort to protect the increased targeting of Russian protesters, the company announced.

Earlier this week, Russian state media was barred from running ads or monetizing the platform.

In response to calls for Meta to shut down Facebook and Instagram in Russia, Vice President of Global Affairs Nick Clegg said the company does not want to restrict services for Russians who are protesting and organizing against the war.

“The Russian Government is already throttling our platform to prevent these activities,” Clegg said in Tweet Sunday. “We believe turning off our services would silence important expression at a crucial time.”

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Madonna once asked Benedict Cumberbatch if he was using his “real” name

Madonna once asked Benedict Cumberbatch if he was using his “real” name
Madonna once asked Benedict Cumberbatch if he was using his “real” name
Theo Wargo/Getty Images for MTV/ViacomCBS

Benedict Cumberbatch shared a very unique memory he has of Madonna, which involves her asking a pretty personal question.

Appearing recently on The Graham Norton Show, the Oscar nominee was asked if he ever auditioned for the “Like a Prayer” hitmaker.  “Oh, god, yes I did,” Benedict revealed with a laugh, though he didn’t reveal for what project. “She just sort of came in breezily, very late and had a clipboard in her hand.”

Mimicking a gesture of her holding up the clipboard to her face, the Power of the Dog Oscar nominee continued, “[She] said, ‘Yeah.  Benedict Cumberbatch… is that really your name?’ And I went, ‘Yes it is, Madonna.'” 

As the rest of the guests laughed, Benedict deadpanned, “I didn’t get the part.”

Madonna’s birth name is Madonna Louise Ciccone, while Cumberbatch’s full name is Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch.

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“Down Home”: Jimmie Allen’s next single will honor his late father, James

“Down Home”: Jimmie Allen’s next single will honor his late father, James
“Down Home”: Jimmie Allen’s next single will honor his late father, James
BBR Music Group

Jimmie Allen is leaning into sentimentality on “Down Home,” the lead single off his forthcoming third studio album. Jimmie shared a preview of the track in December 2020, which serves as a letter to his late father, James, who passed away at the age of 65 in 2019.

“Down Home’s” lyrics reference the many ways Jimmie’s family lived “down home” in his native Delaware, from his mom cooking grits to the now Nashville-based singer hustling away at his music dreams. “I hate that you’re gone/I wish you were here/But I hope I’m making you proud ’cause I know you’re up there/Looking down home,” Jimmie sings over a melody accented by steel guitar.

“It’s a song that’s actually helped me a lot because in the midst of missing my father, I think about him seeing everything I’ve got going on and it’s like even though he’s gone, he’s always with me,” Jimmie explains of “Down Home,” calling it “one of the most special songs” he’s written, and adding, “I hope this song finds its place in the world and this song helps people that have lost not only a father, or a parent, or a loved one just like the song has helped me.”

“Down Home” will officially be released on March 8. It follows Jimmie’s most recent #1 hit, “Freedom Was a Highway,” featuring Brad Paisley

“Down Home” is also the name of Jimmie’s headlining tour that continues through May 13.

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The Police’s Stewart Copeland joins Eddie Vedder for cover of “Message in a Bottle” during Vedder’s LA solo show

The Police’s Stewart Copeland joins Eddie Vedder for cover of “Message in a Bottle” during Vedder’s LA solo show
The Police’s Stewart Copeland joins Eddie Vedder for cover of “Message in a Bottle” during Vedder’s LA solo show
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Police drummer Stewart Copeland made a surprise appearance at Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder‘s solo concert in Los Angles this past Friday.

Vedder invited Copeland on stage for the show’s encore, which included a ramshackle cover of The Police’s “Message in a Bottle” — “Still practicing,” Eddie quipped at one point — and a closing performance of Neil Young‘s “Rockin’ in the Free World.”

Copeland’s guest spot allowed Red Hot Chili PeppersChad Smith, who’s been Vedder’s drummer for the tour, to take a breather during “Message in a Bottle,” but he returned to the stage to play guitar on “Rockin’ in the Free World.”

Fan-shot footage of the performance is streaming now on YouTube.

Vedder’s tour, which launched earlier this month in support of his new Earthling solo album, concluded Sunday in San Diego. For the run, Vedder was joined by his Earthlings solo band, which included Smith, ex-RHCP guitarist and current Pearl Jam touring member Josh Klinghoffer, Jane’s Addiction bassist Chris Chaney, singer-songwriter Glen Hansard, and producer and guitarist Andrew Watt.

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“Be the bad guy”: New ‘Morbius’ trailer shows Jared Leto torn by his new powers

“Be the bad guy”: New ‘Morbius’ trailer shows Jared Leto torn by his new powers
“Be the bad guy”: New ‘Morbius’ trailer shows Jared Leto torn by his new powers
Sony Pictures

The final trailer for Sony Pictures’ Spider-Man adjacent action film Morbius just dropped, showing star Jared Leto torn between his character’s horrific vampiric super powers, and his alter-ego’s dedication as a life-saving scientist.

An attempt to cure himself, and humanity, of a deadly disease, Dr. Michael Morbius’s treatment gives himself all the powers of a real-life bloodsucker, and more: Flight, inhuman speed and the ability to vanish are on full display in the trailer. 

“Now, I face a choice,” Morbius tells a mentor, played by Jared Harris. “To hunt and consume blood, or die.”

“We all have monsters within us,” Harris’ character advises. “It’s up to us to control it.”

“What if I can’t?” Morbius replies.

While his anti-hero’s place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has not been confirmed, the trailer shows him sharing the screen with a baddie who is part of it, Michael Keaton‘s Adrian Toomes, was the heavy in Spider-Man: Homecoming.

“You’ve been given a gift,” says the guy who fought Spidey as The Vulture. “It’s time you let go of who you used to be, and discover who you’re meant to be.”

Matt Smith, plays this movie’s heavy, Loxias Crown, who also partook in Morbius’ treatment. He has other ideas for his life change: “Just accept who you are!” he tells him: “You’re the bad guy!”

Morbius, which also stars Tyrese Gibson and Bokeem Woodbine, opens April 1.

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Late Rolling Stones co-founder Brian Jones was born 80 years ago today

Late Rolling Stones co-founder Brian Jones was born 80 years ago today
Late Rolling Stones co-founder Brian Jones was born 80 years ago today
David Redfern/Redferns

Brian Jones, the accomplished slide guitarist and multi-instrumentalist who founded The Rolling Stones, was born 80 years ago today, February 28, 1942.

Jones, who died at age 27 in July 1969, formed The Stones in 1962 to showcase the music of the American blues artists he loved, including Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and Elmore James. Brian came up with his band’s name, taken from the Waters song “Rollin’ Stone Blues,” and he initially was the group’s leader.

Jones’ slide guitar was a key element of the group, and he also played harmonica on many of the band’s recordings.  However, the band’s leadership soon shifted to singer Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards, as they emerged as The Stones’ main songwriting team.

As The Rolling Stones began exploring other musical styles, Brian’s ability to play almost any instrument allowed him to add interesting sonic flavors to many songs.  Jones played the recorder on “Ruby Tuesday,” sitar “Paint It Black,” dulcimer on “Lady Jane,” marimba on “Under My Thumb” and “Out of Time,” Mellotron on most of 1967’s Their Satanic Majesties Request album, and autoharp on “You Got the Silver.”

However, as the 1960s progressed, Jones’ talents became increasingly hindered by drugs and his contributions began to wane. In June 1969, he was fired from The Rolling Stones. Less than a month later, he was found dead in the swimming pool at his house in Hartfield, U.K.

The coroner ruled Jones had died by drowning and later listed the cause as “death by misadventure,” noting that he had an enlarged liver and heart due to drug and alcohol abuse. Allegations that Jones had been murdered have circulated over the years, but a 2010 review by local police asserted that no new evidence had emerged to change the coroner’s original verdict.

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Ukraine and Russia meet at Belarus border but no ceasefire agreement reached

Ukraine and Russia meet at Belarus border but no ceasefire agreement reached
Ukraine and Russia meet at Belarus border but no ceasefire agreement reached
pop_jop/Getty Images

(NEW YORK) — Delegations from Ukraine and Russia held talks Monday morning on Belarus’ border in an attempt to end Moscow’s invasion as Russian troops continue to attack.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to send a delegation to meet with Russian negotiators during a phone call Sunday with Belarus’ authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s president’s office announced.

The two sides began talks Monday at the Pripyat River on the border, north of Chernobyl, the spokesperson said, an area that is currently under Russian military control.

Roughly six hours after the talks began, they ended with both sides reporting back to officials in their respective capital cities ahead of a possible second-round to talks.

“The Ukrainian and Russian delegations held the first round of talks today, the main purpose of which was to discuss the issues of a ceasefire on the territory of Ukraine and hostilities. The parties identified a number of priority topics on which certain decisions were outlined,” Mikhail Podolyak, adviser to the head of the office of the president of Ukraine, said in a statement following Monday’s talks.

Podolyak added, “In order for these decisions to get some opportunities for implementation, logistical solutions, the parties leave for consultations in their capitals. The parties discussed the possibility of holding a second round of negotiations in the near future, at which these topics will receive concrete development practice.”

Ukraine has said the key issue for the talks is an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of Russian troops. Russia has signaled it wants to discuss Ukraine adopting “neutral status.”

The Ukrainian delegation included Podolyak; David Arahamiya, a member of the Servant of the People political faction; Oleksiy Reznikov, the minister of Defense of Ukraine; Andriy Kostin, the first deputy dead of the Ukrainian Delegation to the Tripartite Contact Group; Rustem Umerov, a member of the Parliament of Ukraine; and Deputy Foreign Minister Mykola Tochytsky.

Russia’s delegation includes officials from the foreign and defense ministries and presidential administration.

The talks are the first between the two sides since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion on Thursday, but Zelenskyy, in a televised address, said he had little hope of a breakthrough.

“I will be honest, as always: I do not really believe in the outcome of this meeting, but let them try,” Zelenskyy said. He added that if there was a “chance” to end the war, he should take part in the talks.

As the talks got underway, French President Emmanuel Macron and Putin spoke by phone.

According to Macron’s office, Putin purportedly agreed to halt all strikes against civilian targets, preserve civilian infrastructure and secure main roads, in particular, the road south of Kyiv.

During the call, Macron reiterated a request of the international community to end the Russian offensive against Ukraine and reaffirmed the need to implement an immediate ceasefire. Macron also called on Putin to respect international humanitarian law and the protection of civilian populations as well as the delivery of aid in accordance with a resolution brought by France to the United Nations Security Council.

According to a readout of the call released by the Kremlin, Putin told Macron Russia is open to negotiations with Ukrainian representatives and expects the talks will lead to the “desired results.” During the call, Putin denied that Russian forces are attacking civilian targets, according to the Kremlin’s readout.

The two leaders agreed to speak again in the coming days.

Ukraine had earlier rejected a proposal from Russia to hold the talks in the southern Belarusian city of Gomel, on the grounds that Belarus is directly involved in Russia’s attack, having hosted the Russian invasion force that is now moving south on Ukraine’s capital Kyiv and letting Russia fire missiles from its territory.

The Kremlin has signaled it wants to hold talks where Zelenskyy will discuss “neutral status” for Ukraine, in effect hoping to negotiate Kyiv’s terms of surrender. But Zelenskyy’s administration has said while it wants talks to end the killing in Ukraine, it will not make concessions.

“We will not surrender, we will not capitulate, we will not give up a single inch of our territory,” Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s foreign minister, said at a press conference.

While brokering the meeting, Zelenskyy said Lukashenko has promised that no missiles or aircraft would carry out strikes on Ukraine while the negotiations were underway. But in an unpromising sign for the talks, Ukrainian officials said Belarus had launched at least two Iskander ballistic missiles at Ukraine on Sunday after the agreement to meet was reached.

It was also Lukasheko who suggested that Russian and Ukrainian delegations meet at the Belarus-Ukraine border, Zelenskyy said, adding that though he is not optimistic a resolution will be reached, he does not want there to be any doubt that he did not try to stop the war.

The diplomatic effort came as Russian troops continued to try to press their attack in Ukraine but faced a fierce defense from Ukrainian forces. In Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, in the country’s northeast, Ukrainian defenders succeeded in beating back Russian units during street fighting.

The momentum of Russian forces in Ukraine appears to have been slowed by fuel and logistics shortages, as well as “stiff resistance,” a U.S. senior defense official told ABC News on Sunday.

The official also credited the slowdown of the Russian invasion to resistance by Ukraine.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Russia-Ukraine live updates: Russian advance frustrated by resistance: US official

Russia-Ukraine live updates: Russian advance frustrated by resistance: US official
Russia-Ukraine live updates: Russian advance frustrated by resistance: US official
ERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP via Getty Images

(NEW YORK) — Russia’s military launched a long-feared invasion of Ukraine early Thursday, attacking its ex-Soviet neighbor from multiple directions despite warnings of dire consequences from the United States and the international community.

Thursday’s attacks followed weeks of escalating tensions in the region. In a fiery, hourlong speech on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he was recognizing the independence of two Russia-backed separatist areas in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region: the self-proclaimed People’s Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk.

Russia has blamed Ukraine for stoking the crisis and reiterated its demands to NATO that Ukraine pledges to never join the transatlantic defense alliance.

Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern:

Feb 28, 11:59 am
Talks between Ukraine, Russia end after six hours

Talks between a Ukrainian delegation and Russian officials at the Belarus-Ukraine border have ended after six hours. Both sides will return to their capital cities for consultation ahead of a second round of talks.

Ukraine said it wanted a ceasefire and Russian withdrawal, while the Kremlin said it would not announce its position. Russia’s negotiators have talked of striking a deal that’s in the interests of both sides.

Feb 28, 11:47 am
Russian advance frustrated by resistance: US official

Russian forces are frustrated by their slow advance, but that could lead them “to be more aggressive and more overt in both the size and scale of their targeting of Kyiv,” a senior U.S. defense official said Monday, implying less discriminate attacks with more danger to civilian populations.

The Russians heading south to Kyiv continue to be slowed by fuel shortages and stiff Ukrainian resistance and have only moved about three miles since Sunday, leaving them about 16 miles away from the capital city, the official said.

“We believe they want to encircle Kyiv and it’s possible that they could adopt siege tactics there,” the official warned.

On Sunday the same official said there were indications Russian forces were adopting siege tactics around the city of Chernihiv in northern Ukraine.

So far, the Russians have fired more than 380 missiles, the official said.

Putin has committed about 75% of the more than 150,000 forces he had arrayed at the border to the invasion inside Ukraine, according to the official.

There’s no indication Belarusian forces are involved or are preparing to join Russia in the invasion, and Russia has not placed nuclear weapons in Belarus, according to the official.

Feb 28, 10:53 am
Putin tells Macron he’ll stop strikes against civilian targets

According to the Elysée, Russian President Vladimir Putin told French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday that he’ll stop strikes against civilian targets.

Putin also told Macron he’ll preserve civilian infrastructure to secure main roads, including the road south of Kyiv, according to the French government.

Macron and Putin will speak again this week, the Elysée said.

Feb 28, 10:18 am
IOC recommends no participation of athletes from Russia, Belarus

The International Olympic Committee said its executive board is recommending prohibiting athletes and officials from Russian and Belarus in international competitions.

The recommendation is “to protect the integrity of global sports competitions and for the safety of all the participants,” the IOC said.

Feb 28, 9:57 am
Neutral Switzerland adopts EU sanctions targeting Russia

Switzerland is breaking from its longstanding policy of neutrality by adopting the packages of sanctions imposed by the European Union citing Russia’s continuing military invasion of Ukraine.

Switzerland, which has long been a safe haven for Russian assets, announced on Monday that it’s imposing financial sanctions targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Russian Foreign Ministry Sergey Lavrov, and is targeting the assets of certain people and companies.

Switzerland also is imposing entry bans against individuals who have a connection to Switzerland and are linked to Putin and will be closing Swiss airspace to flights from Russia, with the exception of flights for humanitarian, medical or diplomatic purposes, officials said.

Switzerland will also extend a ban on imports, exports and investments concerning Crimea and Sevastopol, which has been in place since 2014, to the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.

Swiss officials said they are partially suspending the 2009 agreement on visa facilitation for Russian nationals, and those with diplomatic passports will continue to be allowed entry without a visa in an effort to continue diplomatic talks.

-ABC News’ Christine Theodorou

Feb 28, 9:01 am
US banning Russia’s central bank from accessing reserves in US

Senior administration officials on Monday provided more specifics on the sanctions against Russia announced over the weekend and emphasized the drastic nature of these steps, saying the “actions represent the most significant actions the U.S. Treasury has taken against an economy of this size, and assets of this size,” noting the Russian central bank is multiple times larger than Iran’s or Venezuela’s.

The U.S. has put into effect sanctions on Russia’s central bank that keep Moscow from accessing any of their more than $600 billion in reserves in the U.S., or in U.S. dollars in foreign countries. The sanctions also target Russia’s National Wealth Fund and the Ministry of Finance.

Officials said it was clear from the beginning of the invasion that Russian President Vladimir Putin was planning to use central bank assets to mitigate any sanctions.

“Today’s announcement that prohibit transactions with the Central Bank of Russia in the national wealth fund will significantly hinder their ability to do that, and inhibit their access to hundreds of billions of dollars in assets from our actions alone, they will not be able to access assets that are either in United States or in US dollars,” officials said.

“What we’ve done today is not only preventing them from using those dollars in the United States, but preventing them from being able to use those dollars in other places like Europe or Japan to defend their currency and prop up their institutions. And our goal was to make sure that not only would they not have access to dollars, but also not have access to other currencies,” officials said.

“Our strategy — to put it simply — is to make sure that the Russian economy goes backwards, as long as President Putin decides to go forward with his invasion of Ukraine,” a senior administration official said.

-ABC News’ Sarah Kolinovsky, Justin Gomez

Feb 28, 8:39 am
White House: ‘No reason to change’ US alert levels

After Russian President Vladimir Putin put Russia’s nuclear deterrent forces on a state of heightened alert this weekend, a White House official confirms the U.S. has not changed its own alert level.

“We are assessing President Putin’s directive and at this time see no reason to change our own alert levels,” a White House official confirmed to ABC News.

“We think provocative rhetoric regarding nuclear weapons is dangerous, adds to the risk of miscalculation, should be avoided, and we will not indulge in it,” the official added.

The official also noted that, as recently as June, when President Joe Biden met Putin face-to-face in Geneva, the two leaders affirmed nuclear war is tantamount to mutually assured destruction.

The leaders said in a joint statement in June, “Today, we reaffirm the principle that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought.”

-ABC News’ Sarah Kolinovsky

Feb 28, 8:21 am
US shutters embassy in Belarus, draws down embassy in Russia

The U.S. is suspending operations at the embassy in Belarus, where just half a dozen U.S. diplomats had been based, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced.

The U.S. is also drawing down its embassy in Moscow, authorizing the departure of non-emergency staff and diplomats’ families, Blinken said in a statement.

He didn’t cite any specific threat but said the department took these steps “due to security and safety issues stemming from the unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces in Ukraine.”

-ABC News’ Conor Finnegan

Feb 28, 6:47 am
Russia hikes key rate to 20% as ruble tumbles

Russia’s central bank on Monday raised its key interest rate to 20% from 9.5% in an apparent effort to slow the fallout from severe international sanctions.

The rate hike came as the Russian ruble tumbled, trading down as much as 30% against the U.S. dollar on Monday, according to Bloomberg. The currency traded about 17% lower midday in Moscow.

The Russian stock market reportedly closed for the day.

-ABC News’ Zunaira Zaki

Feb 28, 6:23 am
500,000 refugees have fled Ukraine, UN says

More than 500,000 people have fled Ukraine since the Russian invasion began on Thursday, the U.N. Refugee Agency said on Monday.

More than half have crossed the border into Poland, the agency said. Filippo Grandi, the U.N. high commissioner for refugees, had said on Sunday that 368,000 people had fled to neighboring countries.

-ABC News’ Zoe Magee

Feb 28, 5:00 am
Ukraine delegation arrives for talks with Russia

The Ukrainian delegation sent for talks with Russia arrived Monday morning at the Belarus-Ukraine border, where the meeting will be held.

Ukraine has said the key issue for the talks is an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of Russian troops.

Russia has signalled it wants to discuss Ukraine adopting “neutral status.”

The head of Russia’s delegation has said the two sides will meet within about an hour. They are meeting on the Pripyat River, north of Chernobyl.

The Ukrainian delegation includes the Minister of Defense Oleksiy Reznikov, the head of Zelenskyy’s parliamentary party, as well as advisors to the president and MPs.

Russia’s delegation includes officials from the Foreign and Defense ministries, and the presidential administration.

The talks were agreed to on Sunday in a call between Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Belarus’ leader Alexander Lukashenko.

Fighting continued throughout the night, as Russia attempted to advance and bombarded Ukrainian forces.

-ABC News’ Patrick Reevell and Julia Drozd

Feb 28, 3:29 am
Russian advance slows north of Kyiv, UK military says

The U.K. Ministry of Defence said on Monday that the advance of Russian ground forces had been slowed by Ukraine’s defense of an airport in Hostomel, about 19 miles north of Kyiv.

“Logistical failures and staunch Ukrainian resistance continue to frustrate the Russian advance,” the ministry said on Twitter.

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IOC recommends no participation of athletes from Russia, Belarus

IOC recommends no participation of athletes from Russia, Belarus
IOC recommends no participation of athletes from Russia, Belarus
FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images

(NEW YORK) — The International Olympic Committee on Monday said its executive board is recommending prohibiting athletes and officials from Russia and Belarus in international competitions.

The recommendation is “to protect the integrity of global sports competitions and for the safety of all the participants,” the IOC said in a statement.

The recommendation comes just three days after the IOC urged sports federations across the globe to move or cancel any events they were planning to hold in Russia or Belarus.

The move was prompted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last week, which violated the Olympic Truce. Belarus also breached the truce by supporting the Russian government.

“The current war in Ukraine,” the IOC said in its statement Monday, “puts the Olympic Movement in a dilemma. While athletes from Russia and Belarus would be able to continue to participate in sports events, many athletes from Ukraine are prevented from doing so because of the attack on their country.”

“This is a dilemma which cannot be solved,” the committee continued, adding that after carefully considering the situation it issued its latest recommendation with “a heavy heart.”

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DNCE releases “Dancing Feet” music video

DNCE releases “Dancing Feet” music video
DNCE releases “Dancing Feet” music video
Courtesy RCA Records

After a four-year wait, DNCE fans can finally watch an all-new music video from Joe Jonas‘ band.  They dropped their first new single “Dancing Feet” on Friday and, on Monday, followed up with its companion visual.

“Dancing Feet,” which features DJ Kygo, adopts a retro-vibe with the fashion the band rocks throughout the music video.  The quartet works for the ultra wealthy at The Palm Tree Resort and run errands all day, such as parking people’s cars, playing tennis with them and supplying the music for a raging party.  The group then blows off some steam from another hard day’s work by sneaking into an exclusive club and dancing the night away on a light up floor.

The single marks DNCE’s first since 2018 and Kygo’s first song of 2022.  As for why the two joined efforts on the funk-fueled collaboration, the band explained in a press release, “We first met Kygo when we did some shows together in 2016. We’re excited to collab with him for the first time on ‘Dancing Feet’ and share this song with the world and lean into our funk & disco influences.”

Kygo added in his own statement, “Joe and I met years ago in Las Vegas and have wanted to find the right song to work on together for a while” and said he knew “Dancing Feet” was “a special song” when he started working on it. He adds of shooting the song’s visual, “It was also great to have the chance to shoot a fun music video in Miami with DNCE and perform the song with them during Super Bowl weekend.”

“Dancing Feet” is available to stream and purchase now.

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