Eurotopics.net

The Liberal candidate Rafał Trzaskowski has won the first round of the presidential election in Poland with 31.4 percent of the vote, giving him a narrow lead against right-wing conservative candidate Karol Nawrocki (29.5 percent). The two will now face each other in the run-off on 1 June. The right-wing populist Sławomir Mentzen came third with 14.8 percent, followed by far-right candidate Grzegorz Braun with 6.3 percent.

Talks between Ukraine and Russia will begin today in Istanbul a day later than planned. Vladimir Putin, who first proposed the negotiations, will not attend. In the meantime Putin has extended Russia's defence plan by two years. The EU plans to impose new sanctions on Russia as of Tuesday.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a U-turn in migration policy, declaring his aim of ending what he called a 'squalid chapter' of rising inward migration. Among other measures tougher requirements for obtaining work visas and citizenship are planned. For commentators, the government's proposed reforms raise fundamental questions.

On Tuesday, a Russian fighter jet briefly entered Nato airspace after the Estonian navy tried to intercept an unflagged tanker in the Baltic Sea which apparently belongs to Russia's "shadow fleet". The national press calls for consequences.