Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. has assessed that Russia’s forces are committing war crimes in Ukraine, CNN reports.

Said Blinken: “We’ve seen numerous credible reports of indiscriminate attacks and attacks deliberately targeting civilians, as well as other atrocities. We are committed to pursuing accountability using every tool available, including criminal prosecutions.”

“Finnish Customs has placed a total of 21 yachts under a transfer ban on grounds of suspicion that they are owned by oligarchs or other individuals falling within the sanctions regime of the EU,” the Helsinki Times reports.

“The Taliban on Wednesday backtracked on their announcement that high schools would open for girls, saying they would remain closed until a plan was drawn up in accordance with Islamic law for them to reopen,” Reuters reports.

“Teachers and students from three high schools around the capital Kabul said girls had returned in excitement to campuses on Wednesday morning, but were ordered to go home. They said many students left in tears.”

A new Echelon Insights poll finds 58% of American voters think the U.S. should respond militarily to an attack on Poland or Lithuania, without mentioning these are members of the NATO alliance, to 23% who think the U.S. should not respond.

Support rises slightly to 60% to 21% in a split test where their NATO membership is mentioned.

Support rises to 66% to 21% when the provisions of NATO’s Article 5 are outlined.

New York Times: “As war has raged, the Kremlin’s talking points and some right-wing discourse in the United States — fueled by those on the far right — have coalesced. On social media, podcasts and television, falsehoods about the invasion of Ukraine have flowed both ways, with Americans amplifying lies from Russians and the Kremlin spreading fabrications that festered in American forums online.”

“By reinforcing and feeding each other’s messaging, some right-wing Americans have given credibility to Russia’s assertions and vice versa. Together, they have created an alternate reality, recasting the Western bloc of allies as provokers, blunderers and liars, which has bolstered Mr. Putin.”

With President Biden flying to Brussels Wednesday for a NATO summit, his diplomacy in his first year produced big gains in overseas approval of U.S. leadership, Gallup reports.