US seeks balance as fears grow Russia may invade Ukraine

Top officials admit they don't know what Putin is trying to accomplish The buildup of Russian troops near Ukraine has left US officials perplexed, muddying the Biden administration's response. Some Republican lawmakers have been pressing the US to step up military support for Ukraine. But that risks turning what may be mere muscle-flexing by Russian President Vladimir Putin into a full-blown confrontation that only adds to the peril for Ukraine and could trigger an energy crisis in Europe. But a weak US response carries its own risks. It could embolden Putin to take more aggressive steps against Ukraine as fears…