France has seized a yacht linked to Rosneft boss Igor Sechin in the Mediterranean port of La Ciotat, the country's finance minister has said.

In a statement Thursday, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said the vessel was seized overnight as it was being prepared to depart the dock, despite being in need of repairs.

The yacht was owned by a company of which Sechin was identified as being the main shareholder, the statement said.

Sechin had been included on a list of Russian oligarchs to be subject to European Union sanctions in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 

In a 90-minute phone call Thursday with President Vladimir Putin, French President Emmanuel Macron warned the Russian leader that "he was committing a serious mistake" by invading Ukraine, and that "his actions would punish his own country," according to an Élysée Presidential Palace source.

Putin initiated the call with Macron, the source said, describing it as "not-so-friendly."

Putin balked at Macron's concerns, the source added, and said the Russian leader was attempting to "maintain his justifications for the invasion on Ukraine" and that if "Ukrainians did not accept the conditions laid out in a diplomatic path demanded by the Russians, then they would obtain its goal by military force."

The source added: "Putin's goal is to take control of all of Ukraine."

The Kremlin's version of the phone call described the conversation as a "frank exchange," and that Putin disputed "many of the points" Macron raised regarding Russia's reasons for its "special operation."

Sabre Corp. on Thursday said it terminated a global distribution agreement with Russia’s Aeroflot, crippling the country’s largest airline’s ability to sell seats.

The Texas-based airline software giant provides airline ticket distribution and reservation services for airlines around the world. Sabre’s decision to end the distribution agreement means Aeroflot’s flights won’t show up on online travel agencies or other third party sites. Aeroflot didn’t immediately comment.

It is the latest measure that has isolated Russia’s airlines since the country invaded Ukraine last week.

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Kherson Mayor Ihor Kolykhaev said Thursday that Russian troops have "captured the city."

"Yes it really is true. The situation is difficult, we need a green corridor for humanitarian aid for our city!" he told NBC News via WhatsApp.

The mayor said Russian troops had established a "military commandant's office." He said he was "not offered any conditions for cooperation."

However, Kolykhaev said, he had outlined a number of conditions himself, including a demand that "there must be only the Ukrainian flag above the building of the city council because Kherson is Ukraine."

"There can be no tanks in the city," he also said, adding: "There should be green corridors for humanitarian convoys and for evacuation of the population if required." 

The head of Kherson's regional council had said earlier Thursday, however, that Russian forces had taken control of the city's regional state administration building.

In a Facebook post, Hennadiy Lahuta said Russian attackers had "completely occupied the building of the Kherson Regional State Administration."

"However, we have not given up our responsibilities," Lahuta said.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba warned NATO partners that a direct confrontation with Russia is "inevitable" unless the military alliance helps Ukraine bring an end to the current conflict. 

“You can think as much as you want about how to avoid a direct confrontation with Russia,” he said Thursday afternoon during a TV marathon. “But if you do not help us to stop it now, a direct confrontation will be inevitable because you will be next.”

Ukrainians continue to be threatened by Russian airplanes, helicopter and missile systems, he said. “Therefore, if you do not take radical steps to strengthen Ukraine's air defense, the blood of our dead citizens will be in your hands, as well.”

In a tweet Thursday he also said, “Russia’s barbaric war tactic is to manipulate the civilian suffering it itself inflicts.”

The television address came as a second round of talks was expected to take place between Russia and Ukraine.

“Your restraint and your unwillingness to take the next steps — all this gives Russia the opportunity to continue the killings without punishment,” he said.

Serhii, the father of Iliya, a teenager, cries over his son's body lying on a stretcher at a maternity hospital converted into a medical ward in Mariupol, Ukraine, on Wednesday.

The internet's primary international governing board has rejected Ukraine's request to cut Russia's connections to the rest of the world.

On Monday, Ukraine asked the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, which oversees domain name management for the internet, to cancel connections to websites on Russia's .ru domain and shut down global internet access that comes from St. Petersburg and Moscow. 

ICANN, which prides itself on being an apolitical body, denied Ukraine's request Wednesday evening, saying: "Our mission does not extend to taking punitive actions, issuing sanctions, or restricting access against segments of the Internet – regardless of the provocations."

The Biden administration has asked Congress for $10 billion in humanitarian and defense assistance for Ukraine. 

In a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., on Thursday, Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda D. Young said that the administration appreciates Congress' support for Ukraine, which has allowed the United States to provide $1.4 billion in assistance to the country since 2021. 

"This request identifies an immediate need for $10.0 billion in additional humanitarian, security, and economic assistance for Ukraine and Central European partners due to Russia’s unjustified and unprovoked invasion," Young said. "It also outlines a number of authorities needed to provide maximum flexibility in supporting Ukraine, our European allies and partners, and other emergent global needs."

This is more than the $6.4 billion the administration had asked Congress for last week. 

Young urged Congress to wrap this emergency funding into a governmentwide spending package by March 11. 

Young added that she anticipates Congress may need to provide more to Ukraine over time.