US is ignoring Russia’s security concerns, says Putin | First Thing

In his first public comments on crisis since December, Putin says west is using Ukraine as tool to hinder Russia'. Plus far-right Republicans, and a backlash against sex positivity

Good morning.

Vladimir Putin has accused the US of ignoring Russia's security proposals in his first public comments on the growing crisis over Ukraine since December.

What happens next? Putin said he was ready to continue negotiations with the west, which has said it is ready for dialogue but views Moscow's demands as a non-starter.

But ... Russia has also continued deploying thousands of troops and offensive weapons to the Ukrainian border, appearing to threaten a strike if the Kremlin does not get its way. Joe Biden has said that he believes Putin has not decided whether or not to launch an attack but that he expects that he will move in".

McDonald's grandmother, Tracie Hunter, called Van Dyke's punishment a slap on the wrist", according to the Chicago Tribune.

Local activists have led several protests over the past week, including a rally outside Illinois governor JB Pritzker's home last Friday. A number of other actions are planned for Thursday, when Van Dyke will be released.

The wave of far-right candidates includes sitting legislators such as the Arizona state senator Wendy Rogers, who has admitted to being a member of the Oath Keepers, a far-right militia with 11 members under federal indictment for seditious conspiracy.

Other militia groups have candidates running or already in local office. The Washington Three Percent militia claims members in dozens of elected offices throughout the Pacific north-west, the Washington Post found, including a mayor, a county commissioner and at least five school board seats".