Eurotopics.net

The far-right party Vox has made strong gains in a snap election in the central Spanish region of Castilla y León and is now third behind the conservative People's Party (PP) and the Socialists (PSOE). Vox now has 13 MPs in the regional parliament instead of just one. Spanish outlets speculate about an alliance between the conservatives and the far right.

Russia has announced that it will partially withdraw the troops it has had stationed near Ukraine for weeks. The US had predicted that it would attack Ukraine today, Wednesday, and so far the situation on the border remains unchanged according to Nato. Nevertheless, Putin's announcement is seen as a sign of an easing of tensions. While some commentators see this as a success for the West, others believe it's just tactics.

The Russian Duma has submitted a petition to President Putin calling on him to recognise the independence of the "people's republics" of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine declared by pro-Russian separatists. Russian commentators examine the potential consequences of such a move.

Prince Andrew has reached an out-of-court settlement with the plaintiff Virginia Giuffre to avoid a trial on charges of abuse. If the court in Manhattan accepts the settlement, the civil case will be dropped and the prince will be left with a clean record. Europe's press comments on what this means for the royal family, Prince Andrew and the British people.