Eurotopics.net

Now it’s Austria’s Chancellor Karl Nehammer who who is trying to mediate in the Ukraine war. On Monday he travelled to Moscow to meet President Vladimir Putin in person, becoming the first EU leader to meet with Putin since Russia invaded Ukraine. While there he called for an investigation into war crimes like the one in Bucha. Commentators discuss what the visit can achieve in the current situation.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a surprise visit to the Ukrainian capital on the weekend. On the one hand, the UK has supplied Ukraine with weapons without hesitation since the beginning of the war, but on the other hand it has been slow in imposing sanctions on Russian oligarchs for a long time. Commentators criticise the PM for putting himself in the limelight.

The war in Ukraine is having a major impact on the world economy. Shortages of grain and other essential foodstuffs are causing prices for basic foodstuffs to rise rapidly, according to the WTO. A look at Europe's commentaries shows which approaches are not at all helpful.

The atrocities committed in Bucha, which Moscow categorically denies, sent shock waves around the world and provoked an even harsher tone against Russia. Now a video has emerged - verified by the New York Times - showing the execution of a captured Russian soldier by troops fighting under the Ukrainian flag. Europe's press debates how to deal with such acts.

As expected, Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen have placed first and second in the first round of the French presidential elections. After 97 percent of the votes had been counted, the liberal Macron had garnered 27.6 percent of the vote with his far-right challenger not far behind at 23.4 percent. The two will now be pitched against each other in a run-off vote in two weeks' time, as in 2017. Macron's narrow lead has Europe's press concerned.