Biden and Putin exchange warnings amid Ukraine tensions | First Thing

Presidents share 50-minute phone call - their second conversation this month - as Russia continues to amass troops along Ukraine border

Good morning.

With Russia amassing tens of thousands of troops near its border with Ukraine over the past two months, Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, hopped on a 50-minute phone call yesterday to exchange warnings.

The talk - the leaders' second conversation this month - did little to lower the political temperature, according to their governments.

Biden has laid out two paths" out of these escalating tensions, according to a senior administration official: one of diplomacy and deescalation, the other of deterrence including serious costs and consequences" such as economic sanctions, strengthening Nato's force posture and military assistance to Ukraine.

Maxwell was found guilty Wednesday of five of six charges for her involvement in ex-boyfriend Epstein's sexual abuse of teenage girls.

There is pressure for high-profile visitors to Epstein's properties in New York, Palm Beach and the the US Virgin Islands to be held accountable for any potential crimes - especially as the government's case against Maxwell appeared to avoid reference to broader aspects of the conspiracy.

Several obstacles stand in the way of a possible deal, however, including statutes of limitations on criminal and civil sexual crime complaints and the fact that there are just some defendants whose crimes are so egregious that the government would not want to strike a deal in exchange for testimony.