Eurotopics.net

Putin and Erdoğan have met for the second time since the start of the Ukraine war. In Sochi the two heads of state advocated closer trade relations - even if their positions on Syria, Ukraine and Nagorno-Karabakh are in part diametrically opposed.The press comments on Turkey's ambition to play a pivotal role.

The Israeli government and representatives of Islamic Jihad have agreed on a ceasefire with Egyptian mediation. At least for the first few hours on Monday, both sides have adhered to the truce. A look at Europe's commentaries shows how unstable the situation in and around the Gaza Strip remains.

Panagiotis Kontoleon, head of the Greek intelligence agency EYP, has resigned over a wiretapping scandal. Opposition politician and MEP Nikos Androulakis had filed a complaint after the EU Parliament's Cybersecurity Agency discovered the Predator spyware on his mobile phone. The Greek press takes stock of the pressure on Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotaki.

The war in Ukraine has injected new life into Nato, as this week's summit in Madrid has clearly shown. Northern expansion, billions for rearmament and the strengthening of the eastern flank are the main measures taken in reaction to the common threat from Russia, which no longer enjoys partner status. Europe's press does not see these developments as entirely positive.

Turkey is demanding a high price for agreeing to Nato membership for Sweden and Finland: a day after signing a vaguely worded trilateral memorandum it demanded that the two countries extradite 33 people it considers "terrorist suspects", and who are said to belong to the PKK or the Gülen movement. Commentators are fiercely critical.