Eurotopics.net

In a speech to representatives of the Hungarian minority in Romania, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán criticised the sanctions against Russia and the policy of supplying weapons to Ukraine and called for peace negotiations instead. He also caused a stir with comments about the supposed purity of the Hungarian race. Europe's press is outraged.

After most schools in England and Wales broke up for the summer holidays last week, an estimated 18.8 million holidaymakers were on the road in the UK over the weekend - the highest number since 2014 - according to the RAC transport policy and research organisation. Massive queues formed at the Port of Dover, and more congestion is expected over the coming weeks. Europe's press is quick to pin the blame on Brexit.

The Austrian government wants to abolish the quarantine requirement for people infected with Covid. While countries like the UK, Spain and Denmark have already taken this step, Austria, like Germany, has so far stuck to a mandatory isolation policy. As of August, people testing positive for Covid will have to fulfill only mininum requirements such as wearing a mask at work. The press is divided.

Representatives from Russia and Ukraine met Friday with UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Istanbul to reach an agreement on how to export the grain supplies that are trapped in Ukrainian ports. On Saturday Russian rockets were fired on Odessa. According to Russia they were targeting military infrastructure, but according to Kyiv they hit civilian port facilities. Commentators are dismayed.