Eurotopics.net

EU foreign ministers have agreed in principle on sanctions against Russia for the poisoning of opposition politician Alexei Navalny. Now the concrete preparations are beginning, i.e. the compilation of names and individual measures. An agreement was also reached on sanctions against Lukashenka. Reactions to the news vary.

Alexander Lukashenka visited detained representatives of the opposition in jail for discussions on Sunday. According to media reports, he tried to persuade them of the merits of his constitutional reform. Two of the participants were released the next day, but a demonstration taking place at the same time was brutally quashed. Was the meeting the start of a dialogue or a publicity stunt?

The conflicting parties in Nagorno-Karabakh have agreed on a ceasefire and the resumption of peace talks. This was announced by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday after a meeting with his counterparts from Armenia and Azerbaijan. But despite the agreement attacks continued over the weekend. Commentators analyse the situation and examine the options for de-escalation.

Travel warnings, quarantine rules, accommodation bans, lost bookings and last-minute cancellations: the tourism sector has been severely hit by the coronavirus crisis and there is no sign of a reversal in the trend. Observers describe fatal consequences for those who earn their living through tourism - and for the environment.

The Nobel Committee has awarded this year's Nobel Peace Prize to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). The Committee said it was honouring the programme for its efforts in the fight against hunger and its contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict areas. A good decision, some say. Others argue that it was too tame.

The conflicting parties in Nagorno-Karabakh have agreed on a ceasefire and the resumption of peace talks. This was announced by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday after a meeting with his counterparts from Armenia and Azerbaijan. Military attacks continued over the weekend nonetheless. Commentators see little hope of real peace.