Daily brief
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused European Union allies of blackmail for pressuring Ukraine to reopen the Russian Druzhba oil pipeline. He stated that linking EU financial support to the pipeline's operation amounts to coercion. The dispute centers on the flow of Russian oil through Ukrainian territory.
A report indicates the European Parliament's center-right EPP group has worked closely with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) (ongoing coverage).
The EU is considering an expansion of its naval mission in the Middle East.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said the EU should request a mandate to negotiate with Russia on Ukraine.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán criticized both the EU and Ukraine in a campaign speech.