Eurotopics.net

Russia's President Putin and his French counterpart Macron discussed the Ukraine crisis for six hours during the latter's visit to Moscow on Monday. Although no concrete results were achieved, Putin described the conversation as useful. Macron noted that there was much work to be done but that there were also issues on which the two see eye to eye. Europe's press is unimpressed.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has visited US President Joe Biden in Washington. In the ensuing news conference the two leaders sought to send a clear message to deter Russia from invading Ukraine. But while Biden intimated that Nord Stream II could be cancelled, Scholz avoided making an unequivocal statement on the matter. The press asks whether the warning was credible enough.

In the Partygate scandal surrounding British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, his wife Carrie Johnson is increasingly coming under fire. Tory peer Michael Ashcroft's new book First Lady, which criticises that she wields too much influence, has fanned the flames of the scandal. Commentators examine to what extent the accusations are driven by misogyny.

Dacian Cioloș, leader of the main Romanian opposition party USR since October, has resigned after an internal power struggle. Vice-President of the party Cătălin Drulă has taken over as the USR's interim leader. Commentators wonder what will now become of USR, which started as an anti-corruption formation.

There was no handshake because of Covid, but an unmistakable closing of ranks: Russia's President Vladimir Putin and China's leader Xi Jinping demonstrated unity against the West at their meeting in Beijing. They emphasised their common ground, rejected Nato expansion, criticised the "abuse" of democratic values and concluded a new gas supply contract. Europe's press voices concern.