Eurotopics.net

Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has reaffirmed his intention of strengthening relations with Russia despite the war against Ukraine. At a meeting with the Russian ambassador in Bratislava he said that it was necessary to prepare for the time after the end of the war in Ukraine, and thus for the normalisation of relations with Russia. The national press thinks little of the initiative.

Henry Kissinger has died at the age of 100. Having fled to the US from the Nazis in 1938, he went on to become Secretary of State and security adviser to US Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford from 1969 to 1977. In 1973 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end the Vietnam War. His policy of détente during the Cold War was widely praised. But he was also criticised, among other things for supporting the military coup in Chile. Obituaries reflect how controversial a figure he was.

At the start of the 28th UN Climate Change Conference which began on Thursday in Dubai, Germany and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to pay almost 200 million euros into the climate disaster fund to help poor countries cope with damage caused by climate change. Other countries, including the US and the UK, followed suit. Commentators still see many problem areas and call for more far-reaching resolutions.