About the Show
Anchored by Jake Tapper, The Lead airs at 4 p.m. ET on CNN.
On the Next Episode of The Lead
We've moved! Come join us at our new show page.
world lead
Sen. Corker: It will be very difficult to get Russians out of Crimea
(CNN) – A defiant Russian President Vladimir Putin denied having designs on seizing Ukraine's Crimean peninsula, while defending his country's right to intervene to protect ethnic Russians and others he said were under threat.
"I'm not worried that a war will start, because we're not going to go to war with Ukraine," he said. "I want you to understand clearly: If we do this, it will only be to protect local people."
But on the ground, the Russian siege of Ukrainian military facilities continued.
"It's going to be very difficult to get the Russians out of Crimea," said Sen. Bob Corker, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
FULL POST
world lead
Would Ukraine's military stand a chance?
Russia's armed forces number 774,500; Ukraine has just 139,000 troops. Could a nation roughly the size of Texas stand a fighting chance against Russia's might? CNN's Jake Tapper and Tom Foreman discuss.
world lead
U.S. considers steps to isolate Russia
CNN's Jake Tapper and Brigadier Gen. Kevin Ryan discuss the United States' move to halt all military cooperation with Russia.
world lead
Kerry tours Kiev's Independence Square
CNN's Jake Tapper and Matthew Chance discuss Secretary of State John Kerry's tour of Independence Square in Kiev. He arrived in Kiev earlier today to meet with Ukraine's prime minister and acting president, to discuss financial aid.
world lead
Putin threatens more military action
CNN's Jake Tapper and Phil Black discuss Russian President Vladimir Putin's statement defending the invasion of Ukraine.
