With Congress out of town and President Joe Biden’s legislative agenda
paused, Washington will be dominated by Ukraine-Russia news this week.

Some major developments on Ukraine in the past 24 hours:

— Early this morning, NATO announced a buildup in Eastern Europe: “NATO
Allies are putting forces on standby and sending additional ships and
fighter jets to NATO deployments in eastern Europe, reinforcing Allied
deterrence and defence as Russia continues its military build-up in and
around Ukraine.” More from Reuters

— The State Department on Sunday ordered all family members of U.S.
government employees at the embassy in Kyiv to leave the country
immediately, and it authorized the departure of some other embassy
personnel. State also issued a new travel advisory for Ukraine: “Do Not
Travel due to the increased threat of Russian military action.”
Americans in Ukraine “should consider departing now.” 

— Top Pentagon officials, per the NYT’s Helene Cooper and Eric Schmitt,
presented Biden with options to send “several thousand U.S. troops, as
well as warships and aircraft, to NATO allies in the Baltics and Eastern
Europe.”

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