Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said congressional leaders were nearing an agreement to fund the government, which should include around $14 billion in aid for Ukraine. 

"I think it's an important step and needs to be passed. And it needs to be passed quickly," McConnell told reporters Tuesday. 

Later Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said lawmakers were “very very close to finalizing the agreement” on government funding, but he described the Ukraine package as "more than $12 billion."

CORRECTION (March 8, 2022, 4:17 p.m. ET): This blog post has been updated to reflect that the spending deal is not yet finalized.

Congressional Republicans are championing President Joe Biden’s decision to ban Russian oil imports, a highly anticipated move that could continue to push gas prices to record highs.

But in the same breath, GOP leaders — eager to win back the House and the Senate this fall — are trying to capitalize by blaming Biden and his energy policies for Americans paying more at the pump.

Republicans argue Biden could have it both ways — sanction Russian oil but also keep American prices down by allowing a rampant increase in domestic production, which they argue Biden isn't doing in furtherance of liberal environment goals.

But oil production isn't a spigot that can just be flipped on, and the domestic market has been suppressed not just by federal rules, but also due to an international market that depressed the price and made drilling unprofitable. Democrats point to the thousands of wells that have been approved but aren't being drilled.

Read more here.

Poland's minister of foreign affairs has announced a deal to send all of the nation's fighter planes, known as MiG-29s, to a U.S. air base in Germany.

"The authorities of the Republic of Poland, after consultations between the President and the Government, are ready to deploy – immediately and free of charge – all their MIG-29 jets to the Ramstein Air Base and place them at the disposal of the Government of the United States of America," the statement said. 

Poland also requested the U.S. to provide it with used aircraft with corresponding operational capabilities and requested that other NATO allies do the same.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation" that the U.S. would give a "green light" if Poland or another NATO member were to send jets to Ukraine and that the U.S. could "backfill" those jets. 

"We're talking with our Polish friends right now about what we might be able to backfill their needs if, in fact, they choose to provide these fighter jets to the Ukrainians," he said. "What can we do? How can we help to make sure that they get something to backfill the planes that they're handing over to the Ukrainians?"

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised America in a tweet Tuesday after President Joe Biden announced that the United States would ban Russian oil imports. 

"Thankful for US and @POTUS personal leadership in striking in the heart of Putin’s war machine and banning oil, gas and coal from US market," Zelenskyy said. 

He added, he encourages "other countries and leaders to follow."

Ukraine is still standing. That may be a surprise to Russia as its invasion grinds toward a third destructive week. Not only has it seemingly underestimated its neighbor's resolve, but now its ability to wage — let alone win — a prolonged conflict has come into question.

Between the stiffer-than-expected Ukrainian resistance, Russia's early military woes and the expansive penalties that have roiled Moscow's economy, could President Vladimir Putin look for an early offramp to end the war?

Ukrainian officials and Russia experts did not express much optimism.

Read the full story.

Alia El-Yassir, U.N. Women’s Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, is urging for humanitarian corridors for Ukrainians to flee the country.

"There has to be safe access to the kinds of needs, the basic items that they need, and also the humanitarian assistance that they need," said El-Yassir on MSNBC, pointing to specific needs women may have when fleeing. 

"We have to make sure that we're looking at the gender dimensions of these issues. We cannot be gender blind," she continued. 

El-Yassir also said she is concerned the women and young girls fleeing the country "are vulnerable to abuse, they are vulnerable to exploitation, and they are vulnerable to violence, gender-based violence, because they are women and girls. This is what we've seen across conflicts, across the world. It is unfortunate." 

The House of Representatives will vote Tuesday on a ban on Russian oil that goes further than the measures President Joe Biden announced earlier in the day, according to a letter from Speaker Nancy Pelosi. 

More than just cutting off the import of Russian energy products, the legislation will also review the country's access to the World Trade Organization. Additionally, it will reauthorize and strengthen the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which allows the United States to impose sanctions on countries in response to human rights abuses. 

"Because this legislation is an urgent imperative – both morally and for our security interests – the House will consider this legislation on the Floor today," Pelosi said. "It is our hope that we have a strong, bipartisan vote."

McDonald's announced Tuesday it will temporarily close 850 restaurants in Russia and pause all operations in the country. 

"In Russia, we employ 62,000 people who have poured their heart and soul into our McDonald’s brand to serve their communities. We work with hundreds of local, Russian suppliers and partners who produce the food for our menu and support our brand," CEO Chris Kempczinski said in an email to McDonald’s employees and franchisees. 

McDonald's will continue to asses the situation, but can't predict when they might be able to reopen, he added.