Talks between Macron and Putin fail to produce breakthrough | First Thing

French president says both sides need to work quickly to avoid escalation after five-hour session at the Kremlin. Plus, Will Arnett on his weird period

Good morning.

Emmanuel Macron and Vladimir Putin did not appear to reach a breakthrough in five hours of talks at the Kremlin on Monday evening aimed at fending off a Russian attack on Ukraine.

Is Russia still moving troops to the Ukraine border? It certainly looks like it. A recent trip by the Guardian to the Voronezh and Kursk regions in Russia found a hive of barely hidden military activity as Russian troops continued to position themselves for a potential assault on Ukraine.

What have Nord Stream 2 and gas got to do with the Ukraine standoff? Gas is not just a source of energy, sometimes it is a political weapon. As western countries weigh possible sanctions against Russia for an invasion of Ukraine, the future of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline hangs in the balance.

Are neo-Nazis and QAnon really involved? Since protesters have arrived in Ottawa, the extreme elements of the protest have been visible: neo-Nazi and Confederate flags were seen flying, and QAnon logos were emblazoned on trucks.