Eurotopics.net

Negotiators from Ukraine and Russia are preparing for direct negotiations between Zelensky and Putin, the Russian state agency Ria Novosti reports. According to the Financial Times they are working on a 15-point plan in which the top priorities are Russia's demand that no Western military forces be stationed in Ukraine and that it remain neutral, and Ukraine's demand that the Russian troops withdraw. Europe's press discusses the prospects of success.

The prime ministers of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia travelled by train to Kyiv on Tuesday to pledge solidarity and support for Ukraine in a meeting with President Zelensky. "This is the fight of freedom against the world of tyranny," said Polish Prime Minister Morawiecki. There was no official EU mandate for the visit, but it is said to have been coordinated with Brussels and the UN. Zelensky said the visit was a strong signal of support. Europe's press takes differing views.

After days of violent protests, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has held out the prospect of autonomy for Corsica. The riots were triggered by an attack on the well-known and widely admired Corsican nationalist Yvann Colonna in a prison in Arles at the beginning of March. Colonna has been in a coma ever since. The press questions France's policy towards the island.