Eurotopics.net

A devastating fire in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana on New Year's Eve has claimed 40 lives and left 119 people injured. The blaze apparently broke out when sparks from table fireworks ignited the ceiling panelling in a bar. Commentators express shock at the extent of the tragedy.

Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed Kyrylo Budanov, the former head of the military intelligence service HUR, as the new Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine. He succeeds Andriy Yermak, who was forced to step down from this key position in Ukrainian politics in December amid a major corruption scandal. What prompted the appointment of the popular lieutenant general?

Bulgaria became the 21st country in Europe to introduce the euro as the new year began. Although the highly contentious move comes in the midst of a political crisis following the recent resignation of the government, Europe's press voices optimism.

As the year 2025 draws to an end, commentators in Europe's press take stock and conclude that just twelve months into his second presidency Donald Trump has not only upended the situation in the US, but in international politics, too. However, some take hope from the fact that he is not as firmly in the saddle as he pretends to be.

For Europe, the threat from the East has grown and support from the West has become more fragile in 2025. Commentators discuss how the continent should position itself to face the future.