EU sanctions against high-ranking Russian officials have come into effect, in response to the poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny and for undermining peace in Libya. The Kremlin has vowed to retaliate in kind.

Lawmakers have praised wide-ranging sanctions against the Lukashenko regime, with Germany's foreign minister saying "the EU has delivered." Minsk has vowed to protect its citizens and business from the "hostile actions."

Belarus suspended its participation in the EU's Eastern Partnership after the bloc imposed sanctions on Lukashenko's government. Opposition figures criticized the move as showing "short-sightedness."

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has accused Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko of "unscrupulously exploiting" the migrants by sending them towards Poland.

Brussels has imposed sanctions on 22 Myanmar officials and a state- owned oil and gas company that has been a major source of funding for the ruling junta.

Western nations have agreed on more economic sanctions against Russia, but the energy sector is a delicate issue, says Theresa Fallon, director of the Centre for Russia Europe Asia Studies.

The past few days have delivered more reports of atrocities committed by the Russian military in Ukraine: women and girls raped, civilians locked up and shot, plus reports of chemical weapons being deployed in Mariupol. Calls continue for more to be done to stop Russian President Vladimir Putin. In the EU, leaders have condemned the Kremlin, decrying the attacks as "war crimes".

Hungary blocks finalization of EU sanctions package – DW's Christine Mhundwa reports

Al Qaeda's affiliate in Mali claimed it has killed four mercenaries from Russia's private military Wagner group in clashes over the weekend.

Brussels stopped short of labeling Revolutionary Guards a terrorist group in its latest raft of Iran sanctions. Meanwhile, the UK summoned a top Iranian diplomat over alleged threats to UK-based reporters.

Moldova's foreign minister told DW he believes "corrupt oligarchs" are working "shoulder to shoulder" with Russia to destabilize his country. Nicu Popescu called for the European Union to sanction those accused.