U.S. has intel that Russian commanders have orders to proceed with Ukraine invasion  —  Washington — The U.S. has intelligence that Russian commanders have received orders to proceed with an invasion of Ukraine, with commanders on the ground making specific plans for how they would maneuver …

Wielding the threat of war, a new, more aggressive Putin steps forward … He is the man with the very long table who seats world leaders and ministers at an almost comical distance.  He is a lone figure in a dark coat laying a wreath at a St. Petersburg cemetery or sitting solo in his Olympic viewing booth in Beijing.

Cruz: ‘Joe Biden becoming president is the best thing that ever happened, tragically, for Vladimir Putin’  —  Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) blasted President Biden on Sunday for what he described as his enabling of Russia's aggression towards Ukraine, saying Biden's presidency was the “best thing” …

Biden is still willing to talk to Putin, Blinken says.  —  WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said on Sunday that President Biden was still willing to talk to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia despite the U.S. government's assessment that Mr. Putin has already decided to invade Ukraine.

Historic Leak of Swiss Banking Records Reveals Unsavory Clients  —  Despite two decades of pledges by Credit Suisse to crack down on illegitimate funds, data leaked from the bank reveals that it catered to dozens of criminals, dictators, intelligence officials, sanctioned parties and political actors with outsized wealth.