Eurotopics.net

On his trip across Europe Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also visited Aachen under strict security precautions to receive the Charlemagne Prize for work done in the service of European unification. He thanked Europeans for their support and reaffirmed his country's desire to join the EU and Nato as quickly as possible. The laudatory speech was given by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Sweden's Loreen has won the Eurovision Song Contest for the second time, easily claiming the jury's vote with her song Tattoo. Käärijä from Finland won the hearts of the viewers. A meaningful competition or gratuitous kitsch?

In an appearance on CNN, former US President Donald Trump declared that he could end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours, however without explaining how exactly he would go about doing it if given the chance. Trump also repeated his claims that the 2020 election was rigged. Commentators are unsurprised but take a look at the potentially serious consequences.

Just days before the presidential and parliamentary elections in Turkey on Sunday it still looks like a tight race between long-time incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his challenger Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. Commentators examine the implications of an election victory for the opposition alliance over Erdoğan and his AK Party for Europe.

Former prime minister Boyko Borisov and his Gerb party narrowly won the recent parliamentary elections in Bulgaria. Now Borisov has nominated EU Commissioner for Innovation Mariya Gabriel as his candidate for prime minister. Commentators welcome the decision and are for the most part optimistic that it could finally lead to a stable government in the country.