Biden heads to Europe as NATO gears up for Ukraine summit: LIVE UPDATES

The U.S. State Department said Russia has listed a number of its diplomats in Moscow as "persona non grata" and is in the process of having them expelled from the embassy.

The Russian foreign ministry on Monday said it was close to severing diplomatic relations with the U.S. - an unprecedented move - after complaining to U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan about President Biden's characterization of Russian President Vladimir Putin as a "war criminal."

The State Department called Wednesday’s move “Russia’s latest unhelpful and unproductive step” in relations between the countries. It urged Russia “to end its unjustified expulsions of U.S. diplomats and staff.”

Several U.S. diplomats have already been expelled from the embassy. The U.S. has also removed 12 Russian United Nations representatives based in New York.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Secretary of Defense Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Milley have attempted reaching out to top Russian military leaders but have so far been ignored, according to reporting from the Washington Post.

American military leaders have been attempting to open up channels of communication in order to avoid any potential miscalculations that could lead to an escalation of the conflict, though those calls have gone unanswered by their Russian counterparts.

EXCLUSIVE: PONTE VEDRA, FLA.— Rep. Michael McCaul, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told Fox News Wednesday that President Biden needs to set "red lines" with regard to weapons of mass destruction with Russia, warning that Moscow’s potential use of nuclear weapons "would be a nightmare scenario."

During an interview with Fox News on the sidelines of the House Republican Issues Conference Wednesday, McCaul, R-Texas, said he hopes Biden will "show American leadership" this week during his trip to Brussels for a NATO summit and later, to Poland.

"I think he has to reassure our allies that we’re with them, and also to get these Eastern flank countries, NATO countries, to put into Ukraine anti-aircraft missiles—they have them, and they haven’t agreed to send them into Ukraine yet," McCaul said. "If we could get those in, Zelenskyy would have his no-fly zone, in addition to lethal drones."

Read more: McCaul urges Biden to set 'red lines' with Russia, warns use of nuclear weapons would be 'nightmare scenario'

The UK is set to announce a new support package to Ukraine, providing more military assistance as NATO leaders gather in Brussels to discuss a long-term strategy for the war.

“Vladimir Putin is already failing in Ukraine. The Ukrainian people have shown themselves to be extraordinarily brave and tenacious in defending their homeland, in the face of an unprovoked onslaught," UK Prime Minister Borris Johnson said in a statement.

“But we cannot and will not stand by while Russia grinds Ukraine’s towns and cities into dust. The United Kingdom will work with our allies to step up military and economic support to Ukraine, strengthening their defences as they turn the tide in this fight," he continued.

“One month into this crisis, the international community faces a choice. We can keep the flame of freedom alive in Ukraine, or risk it being snuffed out across Europe and the world.”

The 25 million pound package will include 6,000 new defensive missiles, which the Ukrainian military has been effectively using against the Russian invasion.

Support in Finland to join NATO has doubled since just one year ago, with a majority now voicing support for the first time since polling started in 1984. 

Finnish Business and Policy Forum EVA has collected data twice each year for almost 40 years to track attitudes and values, which includes politics, economics, foreign relations, the environment and well-being. Chief among those interests remains whether Finland should join NATO.

Results from Autumn 2021 found only 26% of the population supported joining NATO, but following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that number has leapt to 60% support for NATO membership. The same percentage of Finns support taking a decision this year on the matter.

Read more: Finland makes massive shift towards NATO, majority now support joining

American voters are closely following news about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and want to help.  

By a 63-32% margin, voters think the U.S. should be doing more for Ukrainians in their fight against Russia.

Fully 82% are concerned about the invasion and 76% approve of how Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is responding to it. 

Read more: Fox News Poll: Voters want the US to do more to help Ukraine against Russia

A Radio France fixer and interpreter was tortured by Russian troops during a 9-day detention in Ukraine, according to the international non-profit Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

The journalist, referred to as "Nikita" for safety purposes, was beaten with an iron bar, tortured with electricity, and subjected to a mock execution during his captivity, RSF reported. RSF's stated aim is to promote and defend "the freedom to be informed and to inform."

The 32-year-old fixer and interpreter, who has worked with foreign media since 2013, was taken prisoner by Russian soldiers on March 5 in central Ukraine.

"Nikita’s account is frightening : machine-gunning of his car, torture with a knife and electricity, repeated beatings with rifle butts and steel bars in the face and body, mock execution, food deprivation for 48 hours…" RSF wrote, noting it had verified his testimony.

Reporters Without Borders shares 'frightening' account of Radio France interpreter tortured by Russian troops

The U.S. government on Wednesday officially declared that Russian forces have committed war crimes in Ukraine but could not confirm whether Russian President Vladimir Putin would be held accountable. 

"We've been shocked by images of Russian forces and strikes hitting civilian sites in Mariupol, including the maternity hospital, a museum and an art school. The United Nations and other critical observers have confirmed hundreds of civilian deaths, and we believe that the exact civilian death toll will be in the thousands," U.S. ambassador at large for Global Criminal Justice Beth Van Schaack told reporters.

The ambassador’s comments came just moments after Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the department had formally assessed that Russian forces have committed war crimes in Ukraine.

State Department unable to confirm that Putin will be held accountable after declaring ‘war crimes’ by Russia

Tennessee became the first state to receive child cancer patients from Ukraine amid the Russian invasion. 

"Our promise to children with catastrophic diseases extends around the globe, and we are honored to play a part in helping these families move to safety to continue their children’s treatment," St. Jude President and CEO James R. Downing said in a press release Tuesday. 

Four children and their families arrived Tuesday at St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis, the first U.S. hospital to take in Ukrainian patients. The children's ages range from nine months to 9 years old. 

Tennessee becomes first state to take in young Ukrainian hospital patients

Nestle said Wednesday it will halt the sale of several nonessential products, including KitKat candy bars and Nesquik chocolate mix, in Russia in an unprecedented move amid pressure on the world's top consumer goods company after criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Nestle shares were down 1.3% Wednesday after hitting a session low shortly after the news. The statement was unusual for the maker of Maggi bouillon and Nescafe coffee, which has for decades continued to operate in war zones around the world.

The brands Nestle is suspending make up the "vast majority of volume and sales" in Russia, which totaled 1.7 billion Swiss francs ($1.82 billion) in 2021, a spokesperson said. Production of these items will also come to a halt.

Nestle to suspend many products in Russia, including KitKat