Eurotopics.net

The US and Russian presidents will discuss the Ukraine crisis today. Joe Biden has threatened Russia with tough economic sanctions if Russian troops are not withdrawn from the border area, while Vladimir Putin has demanded guarantees that Ukraine will not be admitted to Nato. Europe's press discusses how much is at stake at the virtual summit.

Pope Francis has travelled to the Republic of Cyprus and Greece for four days, where he visited the island of Lesbos for the second time. While there he sharply criticised the treatment of refugees in Europe, describing it as a shipwreck of civilisation. In Nicosia, he called the reception camps places of torture and slavery. He also pledged to bring 50 asylum seekers from Cyprus to Italy.

During a tour of the Gulf states French President Emmanuel Macron has sealed a deal for the sale of 80 Rafale fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates. He also visited Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and thus became the first Western leader to visit bin Salman since the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which the latter allegedly commissioned. Commentators don't like what they see - for different reasons.

France's conservative party Les Republicains will send Valérie Pécresse into the 2022 presidential race. The head of the Île-de-France region prevailed in a run-off against staunchly right-wing Eric Ciotti. Former favourites such as Brexit chief negotiator Michel Barnier were eliminated in the first round. Commentators discuss whether Pécresse can hold her own against Macron and the far-right candidates Zemmour and Le Pen.