| "Some facts are so horrific, that equivalency is both false and morally wrong." - Margaret Brennan on the importance of telling the truth about the war in Ukraine. Welcome to the "Face the Nation" Five at Five newsletter. Scroll down for your five takeaways from today's broadcast of "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on CBS. Did someone forward you this? Sign-up at cbsnews.com/email. 1. Austin: There would be a "significant reaction" to Russia using chemical, biological weapons  Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin warned Sunday that a chemical or biological weapons attack by Russia in Ukraine would prompt a "significant reaction" from the United States, as well as global allies and partners. What we asked: "Would using a weapon of mass destruction like this change the U.S. calculus? Is there a level of catastrophe here where the United States could not sit on the sidelines?" What Austin said: "I think if a chemical or biological weapon was used, you would see a significant reaction from not only the United States, but also the global community. And again, I don't want to speculate about what exactly would change our calculation. I think, you know, engaging in hypotheticals is probably not helpful here, either. But I think this is a very serious step. And as you heard our president say, we won't take that lightly." Why it matters: The White House last week said Russia could escalate its attack by using such weapons or claiming Ukraine used chemical or biological weapons in a "false flag" attack as a pretext for more violence. 2. China's ambassador to the United States: Condemnation of Russia "doesn't help"  China's ambassador to the U.S., Qin Gang, said he would be "surprised" if Russia backed down if his country publicly condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine. What we asked: "If you are not condemning, if you are not cutting off Vladimir Putin from continuing this war, this war that is roiling the entire global economy, sending food prices and energy prices spiking. China wants stability. But why not cut off Vladimir Putin? What Gang said: "We have already made it very clear that, you know, national sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, including Ukraine, should be respected and protected. But as I said, condemnation only cannot work. What we need is good diplomacy based on vision, wisdom and courage." Why it matters: China's relationship with Russia has been under a microscope since an alliance between the countries was formed just weeks before Ukraine was invaded by President Putin's forces. 3. Markarova: Negotiate with Russia "does not mean to surrender"  Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S Oksana Markarova discussed the difference between surrendering and negotiating with Russia, as her country entered day 25 of the invasion What we asked: "Ukraine's constitution references joining NATO, but your president has said even just a few days ago that Ukrainians must admit the West has indicated Ukraine won't be a member of NATO. Is he signaling room for more of a diplomatic opening there? I just keep hearing that the diplomacy goes nowhere." What Markarova said: "Well, look, let me be very undiplomatic here. So, when murderous maniac catches somebody who attacks somebody on the streets of the city, do we ask a person, a victim, you know, what is it you are ready to give up? Leg? Arm, to stay alive? What is it that you are ready to give up in order to be alive? No, we call the police. We stop this and then we discuss what can we do to punish the criminal and help the victim? So I think this is- this is where we are right now. We are fighting, heroically, our armed forces and people to defend our home. Now, of course, from day one, our president said we would like this to stop. We are ready to negotiate. Negotiate does not mean to surrender. We are not ready to give up on either our dreams or on the territorial sovereignty or integrity. But we are ready to negotiate even with the brutal enemy in order to stop it. And we are asking all of our friends and allies to help us to A: fight successfully, but also to put all the pressure so that Russia negotiates." Why it matters: There is no clear path forward for diplomacy for the war in Ukraine despite global condemnation of the Russian invasion by countries, world leaders and businesses. 4. McConnell: "Vast majority" of Republicans back Ukraine  Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Sunday that he believes the "vast majority" of Republicans wholly support Ukraine in its defense against Russia's ongoing attacks What we asked: "Congresswoman Liz Cheney has said there's actually a Putin wing of the Republican Party these days. Think she's referring to Congressman Cawthorn, who called Zelenskyy a thug? Marjorie Taylor Greene said the U.S. should not fund a war the Ukrainians cannot possibly win. Is there any room in the Republican Party for this rhetoric and why isn't there more discipline?" What McConnell said: "Well, there's some lonely voices out there that are in a different place, but looking at Senate Republicans, I can tell you that I would have had I been the Majority Leader put this Ukraine supplemental up by itself. I think virtually every one of my members would have voted for it. The vast majority of the Republican Party writ large, both in the Congress and across the country, are totally behind the Ukrainians and urging the president to do- take these steps quicker. Yeah, to be bolder. So, there may be a few lonely voices off the side. I wouldn't pay much attention to them." Why it matters: Cawthorn and Greene are at odds with many congressional Republicans, though their comments drew a muted response from House Republican leaders, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy told reporters he would still back Cawthorn's reelection bid. 5. Gottlieb: Americans should not expect a "big wave of infection" from new COVID variant  Former FDA commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb said Americans should not expect a "big wave of infection" from the latest COVID variant, but predicts there will be a pick-up in infection if we don't take steps to protect those vulnerable. What we asked: "I just need to get your perspective on what BA.2, this new variant, means. Should we be concerned about a wave?" What Gottlieb said: "Well, look, I don't think we're going to see a big wave of infection, but we're going to see some uptick from where we are right now. Right now, we're at very low levels of infection. We have nine cases per 100,000 people per day. Those are levels that we haven't seen since last June. There are about 20,000 people currently hospitalized. And I think we're going to continue to see low levels of infection through the summer. But before we get there, we're probably going to see some tick-up of infection like the Europeans are seeing right now, maybe not as pronounced. And there are indications that the U.K. is already peaking, but some increase in infections. And that's a result of BA.2, which is probably 30 to 50% more transmissible than- than the Omicron variant that became prevalent here. As well as the lifting of mitigation, people are going out more, they're interacting more and some declining immunity from people who are boosted a long time ago or infected a long time ago. We're relying on that immunity, that immunity isn't as pronounced right now, so we are going to see an increase in infection. I think this is going to be a real test of whether or not we're able to live some semblance of normalcy and not reach back to the kind of mitigation that we've relied on in the past. And I don't think we'll be doing that while still protecting the vulnerable. And so far right now, I don't know that we're taking all the steps we need to be taking to protect vulnerable people to weather this bump and potentially another surge heading into next fall." Why it matters: With businesses welcoming back their employees and states dropping mask mandates, there is a general concern over how the U.S. will handle another wave of infection from the coronavirus. | 
