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 …

Ukraine invasion opens faint, but once unthinkable, fissures between Putin and Russian oligarchs … LONDON — Fissures appear to be forming between Russian President Vladimir Putin and members of the oligarch class who made billions of dollars while showing fealty to the autocratic leader …

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 …

Biden's State of the Union address to focus on Ukraine, U.S. economy  —  What to expect during Biden's first State of the Union address amid ongoing crisis in Ukraine  —  WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden will come before Congress Tuesday seeking to sell his domestic and foreign policy agenda …

‘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.

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

Exclusive: Nord Stream 2 owner considers insolvency after sanctions … The Swiss-based company which built the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany is considering filing for insolvency, two sources familiar with the situation said, as it attempts to settle claims ahead …

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.

Axios-Ipsos poll: Biden gets little credit for COVID recovery  —  Americans are abandoning COVID-19 fears and precautions, a sea change in the past few weeks as severe illnesses fell, states dropped mandates and the CDC relaxed guidelines, according to the latest installment of the Axios/Ipsos Coronavirus Index.

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.

Stop the Steal Fanatic Is Flirting With Ticket Back to Jail  —  Joshua Macias was charged with trying to involve himself in the 2020 election, and then accused of joining the Capitol Riot.  Now he has a new problem. … On Nov. 5, 2020, two men arrived outside the Philadelphia Convention Center …

Visa, Mastercard block Russian financial institutions after sanctions … U.S. payment card firms Visa Inc (V.N) and Mastercard Inc have blocked multiple Russian financial institutions from their network, complying with government sanctions imposed over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.