Eurotopics.net

The British government has imposed sanctions on seven Russian oligarchs considered to have close ties to President Putin, including the owner of the football team Chelsea FC, Roman Abramovich. Their assets are to be frozen and they are banned from entering the country. In addition, they are no longer allowed to do business with British companies or private individuals. Are these measures justified?

Roughly two weeks after the war began, the UN estimates that more than two million people have fled Ukraine for neighbouring countries Poland, Romania, Moldova, Slovakia and Hungary, making this the fastest growing refugee crisis in Europe since the World War II. Will the solidarity shown so far be lasting?

Spain's largest autonomous community, Castilla y León, has a new government: a coalition between the conservative People's Party (PP) and the far-right party Vox, which will be represented with three ministries, the parliamentary presidency and a vice-presidency. This is the first time that Vox will be in government in Spain. The national press is very divided over this development.

Poland has offered to send 28 Soviet-made fighter jets, which Ukrainian air force pilots already know how to fly, to Ukraine to help it defend itself against the Russian invaders. The MiG-29 jets were to be delivered to a US air base in Germany, repainted, and transferred to Ukraine. Washington has now rejected the scheme citing fears that Nato could be dragged into the war. Is this peacekeeping or a missed opportunity?

Talks between Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba are under way in Turkey today in the first meeting between high-ranking representatives of the two countries since the war began. In Europe's commentary columns expectations that the meeting will be fruitful remain low.