Eurotopics.net

The presidents of Russia and China have met face-to-face for the first time since Russia's fullscale invasion of Ukraine. Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping held talks on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Uzbekistan. Putin thanked Xi for China's "balanced position" and Xi said China wanted to bring "stability to a chaotic world". Commentators analyse the deeper meaning of their words.

Mourning for the late Queen is currently dominating British public life. In the media, critics of the monarchy can hardly get a word in edgeways, and on the streets the police are cracking down against anti-monarchy demonstrators.

"Never before has this Parliament debated the State of the Union with war raging on European soil." With these words EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen began her speech to MEPs in Strasbourg on Wednesday. Russia has attacked the European system of values, but if it acts in unison the EU can repel this assault, she stressed. Commentators discuss whether she found the right words.