| Russia’s war with Ukraine worsened over the weekend, posing ominous new challenges for Ukraine’s government and NATO allies as members of Congress said Sunday they expect to approve $10 billion in aid to Ukraine this week. Lawmakers in Washington, who listened on Saturday to pleas from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a conference call, said they are split on the merits of a possible U.S. import ban on Russian oil and gas, which is not backed by the Biden administration, but are in bipartisan agreement with the administration that a no-fly zone, fervently advocated for by a frustrated Zelensky, would lead the U.S. and Europe into World War III with Russia. Facing a separate legislative deadline Friday to fund the U.S. government, lawmakers want to concurrently approve a $10 billion emergency bill to assist Ukraine as soon as possible. Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) told “Fox News Sunday” they expect a measure that includes $4.8 billion for U.S. forces deployed to NATO nations, intelligence and cybersecurity spending and additional funds for weaponry to be used by Ukraine’s military to reach President Biden’s desk this week. The bill also includes $4.25 billion in humanitarian assistance (The New York Times). “We need to make sure that we’re reinforcing Ukraine and providing as much lethal aid as possible,” Ernst said. She also emphasized the need for humanitarian funding for refugees crossing into countries neighboring Ukraine. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) also sent a letter to colleagues Sunday saying the House is eyeing a bill to “ban the import of Russian oil and energy products into the United States,” among other measures to isolate Russia economically. Jordain Carney, The Hill: Lawmakers in both parties see limits on U.S. help for Ukraine. The Wall Street Journal: Ukraine, COVID-19 aid at stake as talks on omnibus spending bill continue. The Hill: Ukraine crisis adds pressure to spending talks. The other pressing issue for the U.S. is what to do on the gasoline front as prices skyrocket across the country. As of Sunday, the national average for a gallon of gasoline climbed above $4, marking the highest price at the pump since the economic collapse of 2008 (CNBC). Starting late in the week, calls among lawmakers for the U.S. to halt importing Russian oil have grown, with the White House reportedly looking at plan B in case it makes that move as it attempts to balance the Ukraine situation and rising inflation on the homefront. According to Axios, the White House is discussing a potential Biden visit to Saudi Arabia this spring in a bid to push the U.S. ally into supplying more oil. That possible maneuver comes after administration officials met with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s team over the weekend, with lawmakers suggesting that oil from the country could help replace the oil Russia supplies. In 2021, the U.S. imported an average of 20.4 million barrels of crude and refined products per month, making up roughly 8 percent of liquid fuel imports (Reuters). Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday said the administration and allies are talking about whether to ban Russian oil imports. “We are now in very active discussions with our European partners about banning the import of Russian oil to our countries while of course, at the same time, maintaining a steady global supply of oil,” Blinken told “Meet the Press” (The Hill). The Wall Street Journal: Biden is caught between inflation and calls to ban Russian oil. Bloomberg News: Oil shoots near $130 per barrel as chance of a ban on Russian supply spurs crisis fears. Sylvan Lane, The Hill: Efforts to decimate the Russian economy threaten to boomerang. 
© Associated Press/Jocelyn Gecker The war’s Day 11 showed no signs of peaceful resolution (NBC News analysis) as Russian forces took aim at civilians and ignored temporary cease-fires, continued the invasion in southern parts of Ukraine, and attempted to slowly encircle Kyiv. Ukrainian forces managed to slow Russia’s advances in some cities, including Mykolaiv. Trapped residents of Mariupol are still trying to evacuate a city without water or access to sufficient food and cut off from electricity and internet communications. Zelensky warned Ukrainians today to expect Russia’s renewed assault on Ukraine’s major cities. Russian and Ukrainian officials are expected to meet again today with little optimism of a breakthrough heading into a third round. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Ukraine will see relief only when it bows to all of Russia’s demands. The Washington Post: Russia is a no-show today at a United Nations International Court of Justice proceeding. The Biden administration, NATO countries and many members of Congress have turned aside the idea of imposing and defending a no-fly zone against Russian air power. The United States is trying to “end this war in Ukraine, not start a larger one,” Blinken told “Meet the Press” (The Hill). The Hill’s take from Sunday talk shows: Ukraine no-fly zone debate dominated. CNN: More than 30 countries have shut down their own airspace to Russian commercial flights. Over the weekend, the secretary said the U.S. gave a “green light” to the idea that Poland, as a neighboring intermediary, could send fighter jets to Ukraine so its pilots and the Zelensky government could defend themselves (The Hill). It’s not clear Poland has warmed to that idea. There are numerous practical questions, including how to provide replacement planes to Poland and how to get the Polish planes to Ukraine, reports The New York Times. The next tranche of F-16s for export is set to go to Taiwan, American officials said, and they are reluctant to delay them. “We're talking with our Polish friends right now about what we might be able to backfill their needs if in fact they choose to provide these fighter jets to the Ukrainians. What can we do? How can we help to make sure that they get something to backfill the planes that they're handing over to the Ukrainians?" Blinken said from Moldova during an interview with CBS News. Blinken (pictured below) will meet Tuesday with French President Emmanuel Macron, who recently spoke at length with Putin. 
© Olivier Douliery/Pool Photo via Associated Press Other weekend attempts by world leaders to appeal to the Russian president to change course appear to have gone nowhere, including a Saturday visit to the Kremlin by Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett (The New York Times), and a Sunday phone call to Putin by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey. Erdoğan emphasized the urgent importance of a cease-fire and humanitarian corridors and for a peace agreement to be signed, according to his official Twitter account (Reuters). The Hill: The war in Ukraine jeopardizes U.S. interests in the Western Hemisphere. The Hill: U.S.-India relations are strained by the Ukraine crisis. New Delhi has refused to join a Western alliance to isolate Russia. Russia’s determination to block accurate reports and broadcasts about Putin’s war and orders to report propaganda pose significant challenges for everyday Russians who want independent information as well as the independent journalists trying to cover the news inside Russia for the outside world (The Hill). Many Ukrainians find that their relatives in Russia do not believe there’s a war (The New York Times). Independent TV Rain in Russia took itself off the air rather than broadcast disinformation (Deadline). The BBC pulled out of Russia. The Kremlin blocked Facebook and unveiled a “fake news” law (The Wall Street Journal). Independent outlet Meduza, headquartered in Latvia, was still trying to operate independently inside Russia through its app. TikTok on Sunday said it temporarily blocked uploading of new video from Russia. “In light of Russia’s new ‘fake news’ law, we have no choice but to suspend livestreaming and new content to our video service while we review the safety implications of this law,” the company announced (The Verge). 👉 Photojournalists and news crews working in dangerous situations in Ukraine continue to reveal the arc of war thus far. Take a look: The Associated Press, Los Angeles Times, The Art Newspaper, National Geographic, The Guardian and The New York Times. White House: Vice President Harris will travel later this week to Poland and Romania to show solidarity with NATO allies and Ukraine (The Hill). … Emily Horne, spokeswoman for the National Security Council for 13 months and a veteran State Department official, is departing the West Wing on March 25 and will be succeeded by Adrienne Watson, whose experience is in Democratic politics (The Washington Post). 
© Associated Press/Oleksandr Ratushniak | 
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