Frustrated Putin may order escalation of violence in Ukraine, U.S. officials say  —  U.S. intelligence agencies have determined that Russian President Vladimir Putin is growing increasingly frustrated by his military struggles in Ukraine, and may see his only option as doubling down on violence …

Scoop: Biden to deny executive privilege for Flynn and Navarro  —  President Biden will deny the shield of executive privilege for two top advisers to former President Donald Trump — his first national security adviser, Michael Flynn, and former trade adviser Peter Navarro …

The Mysterious Case of the Missing Russian Air Force  —  On the fifth day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, one of many unanswered questions is why Russia has launched a military campaign at huge cost with maximalist objectives, and then declined to use the vast majority of its fixed wing combat aircraft.

‘Yes, He Would’: Fiona Hill on Putin and Nukes  —  For many people, watching the Russian invasion of Ukraine has felt like a series of “He can't be doing this” moments.  Russia's Vladimir Putin has launched the largest ground war in Europe since the Second World War.  It is, quite literally, mind-boggling.

The tide has turned against the Russia apologists — and the neutrals  —  For the better part of five-plus years, Donald Trump attempted to inject some nuance into the GOP's posture toward Russia.  It was a partially a strategy of necessity — given how Russia's 2016 election interference loomed …

How Russia's Nobel-Winning Newspaper Is Covering Ukraine  —  “We continue to call war war,” Dmitry Muratov, the editor of Novaya Gazeta, said.  “We are waiting for the consequences.”  —  Last year, Dmitry Muratov, the editor-in-chief of the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta …

In just 72 hours, Europe overhauled its entire post-Cold War relationship with Russia  —  Just last week, many European countries were still so somnolent about the threat Russia posed to Ukraine that Germany's spy chief was caught unawares in Kyiv when the Kremlin invasion started.

House centrists: Tlaib “keying your own car”  —  Centrist House Democrats are unloading on Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) for her plan to give a response to President Biden's State of the Union address on Tuesday.  — “It's like keying your own car and slashing your own tires,” Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) told Axios.

GOP leaders denounce Greene, Gosar for speaking at white nationalist event  —  WASHINGTON — GOP leaders in the House and the Senate on Monday denounced a pair of far-right Trump allies — Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and Paul Gosar, R-Ariz. — for speaking at a gathering of white nationalists in Florida over the weekend.

Five dead, including three children, in Sacramento County church shooting  —  A man killed four people, including three of his children, before turning the gun on himself inside a church in the Sacramento suburbs on Monday evening, authorities said.  —  The explosion of gunfire took place …

Hungary will not allow lethal weapons for Ukraine to transit its territory - FM … Hungary will not send troops or weapons to Ukraine and will not allow lethal weapons to transit its territory in order to keep the country safe, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Monday during a visit to Kosovo.

Statement of ICC Prosecutor, Karim A.A. Khan QC, on the Situation in Ukraine: “I have decided to proceed with opening an investigation.”  —  Last Friday, I expressed my increasing concern, echoing those of world leaders and citizens of the world alike, over the events unfolding in Ukraine.

GOP Sen. Roger Wicker Calls For No-Fly Zone Over Ukraine  —  The Mississippi Republican says “a strong coalition of like-minded nations should step in and seriously consider this.”  —  Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) endorsed the idea of creating a no-fly zone over Ukraine amid the Russian invasion …

Warlord who persecuted gay Chechens killed in Ukraine fighting  —  Magomed Tushayev killed during Ukrainian military skirmish  —  Magomed Tushayev, (L) & Ramzan Kadyrov (Photo via Illia Ponomarenko, defense reporter, The Kyiv Independent)  —  One of the top warlords and close advisor …

Senate rejects Democratic bill to codify abortion rights  —  WASHINGTON — The Senate voted 46-48 Monday to block a bill pushed by Democrats to codify abortion rights into federal law ahead of an expected Supreme Court decision that could limit access to the procedure.