MNI BRIEF: EU, UK Must Not Risk 'Rift' Over Protocol-Sefcovic

The UK and the EU should continue on a 'diplomatic path' over the Northern Ireland Protocol -- a key element of the Brexit agreement -- and not risk a rift in the Western alliance at a time of war in Ukraine, EU Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said in an interview Friday.

With results from the Northern Ireland assembly election due later in the day and polls pointing to a change to a more-EU friendly legislature in the province, Sefcovic told CNBC discussions were ongoing with UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, but added that Brussels remained committed to the Protocol, even as talks continued over the implementation of the agreement.