Eurotopics.net

Two important decisions on support for Ukraine are to be taken at next week's EU summit: the opening of EU accession talks and the delivery of 50 billion euros in financial aid. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has threatened to block both proposals by veto and called for the topics to be taken off the agenda. Europe's press examines strategies for dealing with Orbán.

Despite the international warrant for his arrest, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Gulf region on Wednesday. After meetings with President Mohammed bin Zayed and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, he praised their mutual trade relations. Other topics on the agenda were oil policy and the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine. Is this all just symbolic politics or does it go deeper?

In the Netherlands, the new Tweede Kamer (lower house) of the Dutch parliament has been sworn in, although the question of who will form the next government remains open. Election winner Geert Wilders and his far-right PVV are seeking coalition partners, but so far he has failed to secure the necessary support. Commentators voice unease about the composition of the parliament.

The results of the first Pisa study since the Covid-19 pandemic were published on Tuesday. Around 690,000 schoolchildren aged 15 and 16 from 81 countries were tested. Compared to previous surveys, performance has declined in most countries. Almost all the top spots are occupied by East Asian states - along with Estonia. Europe's press looks at why.

For months Ukrainian society has impressed observers with its seemingly unbreakable unity in the fight against the Russian invaders. Now political tensions are starting to emerge. Kyiv's mayor Vitali Klitschko has criticised President Volodymyr Zelensky in unusually harsh terms. Soldiers' wives are protesting and demanding that their husbands be allowed to return for a break from the front. Commentators examine the developments.