Eurotopics.net

In the wake of large-scale deployment of Russian troops on the eastern Ukrainian border, Nato is increasingly concerned about the possibility of a Russian winter offensive. Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned Moscow last week to refrain from "any further provocations or aggressive actions". Europe's press is divided over whether a repeat of the 2014 scenario is imminent.

Tennis star Peng Shuai has been missing since she accused China's former vice premier Zhang Gaoli of sexual assault. After a growing number of athletes and politicians voiced concern, Chinese state media shared videos purporting to show her at a children's tournament and in a restaurant on the weekend. But the tennis association WTA is not convinced. What will be the fallout?

The dramatic situation on the Belarusian-Polish border appears to be easing somewhat. Belarus has provided shelter for some of the migrants suffering from hunger and freezing temperatures. Precisely what role phone calls between Chancellor Merkel and Belarusian ruler Lukashenka and between French President Macron and his Russian counterpart Putin played in this is unclear. Europe's press is divided over the merits of this telephone diplomacy.

Several countries are once again reacting to surging Covid infections with drastic restrictions. This is exacerbating social tensions between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated, as well as between supporters and opponents of new lockdowns. Commentators from Slovenia, Estonia, Slovakia and Spain, which is unusually united on this issue, have their say.