Eurotopics.net

Stian Jenssen, chief of staff to Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, suggested in a panel discussion that Ukraine could be offered Nato membership in exchange for ceding territory to Russia, according to the Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang. Under what conditions negotiations could begin would be up to Ukraine, Jenssen reportedly added. Kyiv described the remarks as unacceptable. Commentators weigh in.

Several data indicators point to a marked slowdown in China's economic growth: according to the country's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), industrial output rose by 3.7 percent year-on-year in July - falling far behind the growth rate for June (4.4 percent), while retail sales rose by 2.5 percent (compared to 3.1 percent in June) and investment in the real estate sector fell by 8.5 percent. Europe's press takes stock.

After decades of debate, a large Soviet war monument in the centre of Sofia is to be taken down and moved to a museum. The city council had decided to demolish it in 1993, but the move was repeatedly blocked. Now former prime minister Boyko Borisov's Gerb party has given up its resistance and the path for the monument's removal appears to be clear - or is it? The debate continues in the opinion columns.

Donald Trump has been indicted for the fourth time within the space of a few months, this time on charges related to alleged efforts to tilt the result of the 2020 US presidential election in his favour in the state of Georgia. If convicted of organised crime, Trump faces at least five years in prison. This trial is different from previous ones, Europe's press stresses.