Anastasia Trofimova sparked controversy in Venice and had Ukrainian Canadians protesting her documentary in Toronto after TIFF rescheduled a North American premiere over political heat and security concerns.

There is an air of desperation around Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky these days as he tries to convince his Western allies, the United States in particular, that he has a realistic plan to force Russian President Vladimir Putin to give up his maximalist goals and sue for peace.

Russia has warned the West that aggressive actions and rhetoric from the US and its allies could dangerously escalate the Ukraine conflict. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova cautioned about global consequences.