Talks aimed at finding a way to end Russia's war against Ukraine are underway in Saudi Arabia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met individually with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ahead of the summit. Today, government representatives from the US and Ukraine will negotiate directly with each other. Europe's presses focuses on the limited leeway that Washington is allowing Kyiv.
Greenland's population of around 57,000 is electing its parliament, the Inatsisartut, today. All but one of the parties represented there have so far agreed on the goal of independence for the Arctic island, which belongs to Denmark but has autonomous status. Donald Trump's overt ambitions to take over Greenland loom large over political life in the capital Nuuk.
Mark Carney, former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, has been elected leader of the Canadian Liberal Party by a large majority. With the appointment Carney will also take over the post of prime minister after Justin Trudeau resigns. He has vowed that Canada will not become part of the US under any circumstances. European media weigh in.
Romania's central electoral bureau has barred the right-wing populist politician Călin Georgescu from the re-run of the presidential election on 4 May. Georgescu plans to challenge the decision. After he won the first round of the presidential election in November, the vote was annulled by the country's Constitutional Court due to allegations of Russian meddling. Commentators take stock.
Syria is experiencing its deadliest outbreak of violent clashes since the new government took power three months ago. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights more than 1,300 people have been killed in the country's coastal region, including at least 830 members of the Alawite minority, to which ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad also belongs. Observers accuse government affiliated security forces of massacres. Europe's press voices concern.
At an emergency summit in Brussels on Thursday, the EU member states decided to boost their defence spending and fund a massive rearmament push. Debt rules are to be relaxed for military investments and up to 150 billion euros are to be made available in EU loans. A declaration on further support for Ukraine was adopted without Hungary's participation. Mixed feelings in the press.
French President Emmanuel Macron has announced plans to meet with his European partners to discuss the possibility of extending the French nuclear umbrella to other countries. France and its 'Force de frappe' consisting of around 290 nuclear warheads has been the EU's only nuclear power since the Brexit. Europe's press examines the pros and cons.
Six people have been arrested in Romania on suspicion of treason and collusion with Russia. The move comes after the Russian military attaché and his deputy were expelled. According to an Italian intelligence service report, Russia orchestrated numerous hybrid attacks aimed at bolstering the far-right former presidential candidate Călin Georgescu. Moscow's foreign intelligence service SVR has now accused the EU leadership of pressuring Romania into bringing charges against Georgescu.
In their exploratory talks, the CDU/CSU alliance and the SPD have agreed to take out hundreds of billions in new loans. A debt brake enshrined in the constitution is to be eased to boost defence spending and the creation of a special fund of 500 billion euros for investments in infrastructure is also planned. In order to achieve the two-thirds parliamentary majority required for amending the constitution, the motions are to be put to vote next week, before the the current parliament expires.
In a speech to Congress on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump set out his goals and policies: "We have accomplished more in 43 days than most administrations accomplish in four years or eight years - and we are just getting started," Trump declared at the start of his speech. He only briefly touched on Ukraine towards the end of his 100-minute speech. Europe's media draw conclusions.
Portugal seems to be on course for a snap election after Prime Minister Luís Montenegro was accused of having benefited from lucrative consulting contracts concluded through a family firm. In reaction, Montenegro has proposed a confidence vote in parliament, where his PSD government does not have a majority. Commentators are divided over whether new elections are a good idea in the current situation.