Eurotopics.net

The G20 Summit will take place in India this weekend under the motto One Earth, One Family, One Future. In reality, however, the format is suffering as a result of global crises and tensions: Russian President Vladimir Putin is only sending a representative and China's head of state Xi Jinping has cancelled his participation altogether. Commentators shed light on the lines of conflict.

Carles Puigdemont is demanding amnesty and an end to proceedings against Catalan separatists in exchange for supporting a new socialist government. The Socialists (PSOE) would need the votes of his party Junts per Catalunya to piece together a majority and form a new government. Puigdemont himself is also facing legal proceedings for organising an independence referendum in 2017 as Catalonia's regional president. He wants the secession attempts to be recognised as politically legitimate.

According to the US government, Vladimir Putin plans to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Vladivostok this month. Apparently, he wants Pyongyang to supply Moscow with weapons for its war against Ukraine. European commentators see this as a sign of Russia's weakness and note that it will give North Korea's leadership new leverage.