Putin Threatens Loss of Statehood; Russian Troops Near Odessa  —  The Russian leader escalated his threats as Ukrainian forces continued to resist.  Protests broke out in the first major city captured by Russia.  A limited cease-fire collapsed in a besieged city.  Israel's prime minister visits Moscow.

US works with Poland to provide Ukraine with fighter jets  —  Kyiv ratchets up pressure on west to bolster its air force so it can repel Russian air strikes  —  The US is working with Warsaw on a deal to provide Ukraine with Polish fighter jets as Kyiv ratchets up the pressure on the west …

Two GOP senators share photos of Zelenskyy during call after being asked not to by Ukraine  —  Two Republican senators are facing criticism after tweeting photos of a video call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy even though participating lawmakers were told to not share pictures on social media while it was in progress.

Brittney Griner, Star W.N.B.A. Center, Is Detained in Russia  —  WASHINGTON — Russia said on Saturday that it had detained an American basketball player in Moscow on drug charges, entangling a U.S. citizen's fate in the dangerous confrontation between Russia and the West over Ukraine.

How the Manhattan D.A.'s Investigation Into Donald Trump Unraveled  —  The criminal investigation into the former president crashed amid a disagreement about the merits of bringing a case.  The debate pitted a new district attorney against two veteran prosecutors who had pursued a case against Mr. Trump for years.

The Emptiness Inside Donald Trump's New Social Media Platform  —  Around 9:02 a.m. on Friday, an unexpected flash of purple appeared on my iPhone's lock-screen.  —  “Your wait is over!  Tap here to start using Truth Social.”  —  Tap I did, and inside the new social media platform created …

U.S. Officials Travel to Venezuela, a Russia Ally, as the West Isolates Putin  —  The trip is the highest-level visit by American officials to Caracas in years, driven by a desire to separate Russia from its remaining Latin American allies.  —  Senior U.S. officials are traveling to Venezuela …

Live updates: Israeli prime minister meets with Putin  —  The latest developments on the Russia-Ukraine war:  —  ___  —  JERUSALEM — Israel's prime minister was meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday.  —  Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's office confirmed …

'I Just Can't Stand By': American Veterans Join the Fight in Ukraine  —  All across the country, small groups of military veterans are hungry for what they see as a righteous fight to defend freedom against an autocratic aggressor.  —  Hector served two violent tours in Iraq as a United States Marine …

RFE/RL Suspends Operations In Russia Following Kremlin Attacks  —  WASHINGTON - Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) has suspended its operations in Russia after local tax authorities initiated bankruptcy proceedings against RFE/RL's Russian entity on March 4 and police intensified pressure on its journalists.

‘We Have to Run’: Inside the Exodus of Moscow  —  Even Moscow's most determined, most outspoken, most optimistic people have decided to go: “Everything we hoped for is falling apart, all our dreams”  —  MOSCOW — In that moment, it hit me just how quickly things had gone wrong.

Iowa Poll: As 2022 governor's race takes shape, Kim Reynolds leads Deidre DeJear … Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds holds an 8-point lead over Democratic challenger Deidre DeJear as Iowa's race for governor begins to take shape.  —  The latest Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll shows 51% …

Ukraine War Fever Could Kill GOP Midterm Chances  —  How does any rational or caring human being watch us lose a 20-year war against cave-dwelling barbarians, and not just lose that war, but lose it in the most humiliating fashion imaginable, and less than a year later already have a war-boner for Ukraine?

Russian demand for sanctions relief threatens Iran nuclear talks … VIENNA — Russia presented a new condition for a revival of the Iran nuclear deal on Saturday: A U.S. guarantee that the sanctions that have been imposed on Moscow for invading Ukraine won't be applied to Russian trade and investment with Iran.

Russia's invasion prompts more assertive foreign policy from Japan  —  Japan this week announced it would accept refugees from Ukraine and send bulletproof vests to Kyiv — extraordinary measures taken by one of the countries least welcoming to refugees and also has a self-imposed arms exports ban because of its militaristic past.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox Says He Plans To Veto Trans Sports Ban Bill  —  “I just want them to know that it's gonna be okay.  We're gonna work through this,” Governor Spencer Cox said of trans student athletes.  —  SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said that he plans …