Eurotopics.net

On Wednesday evening, the heads of state of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland travelled to Ukraine to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky and send a signal of solidarity. The evening before the meeting it was reported that German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier had been told he was not not welcome in Kyiv. Commentators can understand why.

Russia's president has stressed that the attack against Ukraine is proceeding according to plan and denied that the withdrawal from the Kyiv region was a defeat. He claims the intention was to first paralyse the enemy so that Russia would be better positioned for the planned major offensive in eastern Ukraine. Some observers say Moscow plans to take eastern Ukraine before 9 May. Europe's press is worried.

Many left-wing parties in Europe are facing a crucial test: what stance to adopt vis-à-vis Russia, which is waging a war of aggression against Ukraine, but which as the successor state of the Soviet Union helped liberate Europe from fascism? And how do they feel about the US, Nato, arms supplies and rearmament? This dilemma is also reflected in the press.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak have been issued with fines after the police concluded their investigation into the Partygate affair over lockdown-breaking parties. Johnson's opponents argue that this renders him morally and politically unacceptable and are calling for his resignation. But his supporters argue that he is indispensable if for no other reason than his clear stance on the Ukraine war.