Eurotopics.net

The 23rd EU-China summit will take place on the first of April via video conference. The main topic will be the war in Ukraine and its global repercussions. China has declared itself neutral in the conflict and has not condemned the Russian invasion. But while continuing to maintain good relations with Moscow, Beijing has also said that Ukraine has the right to sovereignty.

There were signs of rapprochement in the negotiations on the Ukraine war on Tuesday. Russia said it plans to reduce its attacks on Kyiv and concentrate on eastern Ukraine. Ukraine formulated conditions for agreeing to neutrality, including the establishment of a group of states that will guarantee the country's security. Europe's press remains very sceptical.

The planned meeting of the Visegrád Group in Budapest has been cancelled. Poland and the Czech Republic had declined to participate on the grounds that Hungary's prime minister has not sufficiently distanced himself from Russia. Europe's press discusses whether this means the end of the V4 format.

Turkey was an obvious choice as the venue for the negotiations between Ukraine and Russia: it shares a border with both countries. Turkey is a member of Nato and supported Russia's opponents in Syria and Nagorno-Karabakh, but it also has frequent quarrels with the EU over gas, Cyprus and refugees. As a mediator, it has now gained additional clout. Commentators are less than enthusiastic.