A.M. Links: Putin Makes Statement on Situation in Ukraine, Western Republicans To Urge Court To Back Same-Sex Marriage, Obama To Release Budget Plan

• In his first public statement since the Crimea crisis began
  Russian President
  Vladimir Putin said that Russia reserves the right to use “all
  means” to protect the interests of citizens living in eastern
  Ukraine. Putin added that “nationalists” and “anti-semites” are in
  the streets of Kiev.
• The head of Egypt’s armed forces, Field Marshal
  Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, says that he cannot ignores call for him
  to run for president.
• Republicans from Western states are expected to urge the U.S.
  Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit in Denver to rule bans on
  
  gay marriage unconstitutional today.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
  Netanyahu has urged the Obama administration to insist that
  Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state.
• President Obama is set to release his 2015 budget plan today.
  According to the White House, the budget proposal will include a
  
  $60 billion expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit.
• An immigration reform group linked to Facebook CEO Mark
  Zuckerberg has
  criticized Republicans for not doing enough to work towards
  changing immigration policy.

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