As the horrors of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have became clearer, the Biden administration has pivoted to a more aggressive stance, with officials talking about constraining Moscow as a global power.

But that is an escalation, and escalations can go wrong.

Guest: David E. Sanger, a White House and national security correspondent for The New York Times.

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Background reading: 

• The United States toughened its messaging on the Ukraine war, saying that the American aim was not just to thwart the Russian invasion but also to weaken Russia so it could no longer carry out such military aggression anywhere.
• The change in stance could signal a situation that pits Washington more directly against Moscow.

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