Biden flags ‘clear sign’ Russia considering chemical weapons | First Thing

US president says Russian leader's back is against the wall' and warns of severe consequences of any such attack. Plus, the backlash against book banning

Good morning.

Russia's false accusation that Ukraine has biological and chemical weapons is a clear sign" that a desperate Vladimir Putin is considering using them himself, Joe Biden has said.

What is going on with the peace negotiations? The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has called for talks with his Russian counterpart as the key to ending the war. He said direct discussions in any format" were needed.

Is Russia targeting journalists? A reporter describes life under siege in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol and why it is so important to break the silence. The Russians were hunting us down. They had a list of names, including ours, and they were closing in," said Mstyslav Chernov.

What else is happening? Here's what we know on day 27 of the invasion.

The Missouri Republican Josh Hawley is wrong to attack Jackson, and should be ignored in confirmation hearings this week, the Senate judiciary chair said.

The Texas senator Ted Cruz complained that the supreme court confirmation hearings have become increasingly angry and confrontational. His comments came the day after he was filmed becoming confrontational at an airport in Montana.