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 …

Russian oligarchs move yachts as U.S. looks to ‘hunt down’ and freeze assets  — Some of Russia's wealthiest are moving their superyachts, potentially with the hope they can avoid having those items seized.  — Data reviewed by CNBC from Marine Traffic shows that at least four massive yachts owned …

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 …

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.

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.

Suddenly welcoming, Europe opens the door to refugees fleeing Ukraine  —  Nations in Europe are opening the door to a historic wave of refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine, breaking with the continent's past resistance to asylum seekers from the Muslim world and Africa, and embracing hundreds …

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.

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 …

Candace Owens Is Mad Girls Aren't Being Taught to Make Their Future Husbands a Sandwich — and 13 Other Crazy CPAC Moments You Missed  —  Kevin Sorbo owns a suit of his own tweets.  Mike Lindell can't figure out electoral democracy OR microphones.  And VIPs got the most expensive McDonalds dinner in history

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.

The roots of a Tai-Rahm confrontation  —  Welcome to POLITICO's West Wing Playbook, your guide to the people and power centers in the Biden administration.  —  In December, Ambassador to Japan RAHM EMANUEL met with U.S. Trade Representative KATHERINE TAI ahead of his move abroad.