Daily brief
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky faces diplomatic criticism from Iran, which accuses him of trying to prolong the war, and political pressure from some European allies. He has accused EU backers of 'blackmail' and drawn criticism from Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico.
Several countries marked the anniversary of the 2014 Crimea referendum, with Russia celebrating it as a 'reunification' while Ukraine, Latvia, and Turkey denounced it as illegitimate.
Kenya announced it will no longer allow its citizens to be enlisted to fight for Russia in the war in Ukraine, according to minister Musalia Mudavadi.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the EU has 'completely discredited itself' in the Ukraine peace process, a claim echoed by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
EU Commissioner Margrethe Vestager floated a 'Black Sea model' of naval coordination as a way to help unblock the Strait of Hormuz.