International press review
In the spotlight: Ukraine at war promised "a European destiny"
Audio 05:37
French, German and Italian leaders received by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in kyiv, June 16, 2022. © REUTERS / Valentyn Ogirenko
By: Véronique Rigolet Follow
4 mins
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The “ historic
” visit
of the three European leaders to Kiev on June 16, which launched this process, made the front page of all the international press.
El Pais
welcomes the “
resounding support given to Ukraine with this promise of a European destiny
”, “
a decisive promise
” salutes
Le Soir.
"
It is the strongest symbol sent since the beginning of the war
", estimates the Suddeutsche Zeitung.
“
The support of the largest economies in the EU creates diplomatic momentum
”, also insists the
Wall Street Journal
“
and it shows Moscow that the future of Ukraine lies in Europe and the West
".
And "
even if no one doubts that the road will be long before Ukraine becomes (perhaps one day) a full member of the European Union
", explains
El Pais
, "
the political impetus given yesterday by the most influential countries of the EU should be decisive
”, considers the Spanish daily which underlined this morning that “
the opinion of the European Commission would be positive
”
,
(and it is therefore done now, note).
► Also to listen: Visit of Macron, Scholz and Draghi to kyiv: "It's a strong political signal for Ukraine"
El Pais
, who also does not doubt "
the decisive green light from the European Council next week
".
Despite the reluctance in particular "
from Portugal and Denmark
,
the positive assessment of France, Germany and Italy should carry all its weight
", also analyzes
Die Welt.
Beyond the European banner, Ukraine urgently needs weapons
"
Without weapons, the bloodletting will continue in Ukraine
," warns the Swiss daily
Le Temps.
It is not the promise "
of a European banner which alone will force Putin to retreat
", also warns the
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
, which underlines "
that Ukraine needs arms and ammunition more than ever from the West to be able to defend themselves against Russian aggression
".
And the Frankfurt daily, like the
Suddeutsche Zeitung,
castigate the German government which, despite “
the promises reiterated yesterday in Kiev by Chancellor Scholz, is lagging behind in the supply of heavy weapons to Ukraine
”.
"
Kiev needs much more than 3 multiple rocket launchers
", still mocks the
FAZ
for whom "
time is running out, while Kiev risks losing the war
".
Faced with the European diplomatic offensive, the Kremlin draws the weapon of gas
Yesterday, during the visit of the European trio to Kiev, Russia “
announced new gas cuts to Europe
”.
“
A hell of a coincidence
” quips the
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
which, like the Italian daily
La Repubblica
, accuses “
Moscow of using the supply of gas as a political weapon
”.
What Moscow denies, insists for its part the Russian daily
Kommersant
which assures "
that if Gazprom has reduced its gas deliveries, it is because of a technical problem concerning the overhaul of the turbine engines of a compressor station
" .
► To read also: Energy: Russian gas is scarce in European pipes
Main targets of its gas cuts, "
2 very dependent countries that are Germany and Italy
", but also France, notes the
Wall Street Journal
which is worried that this "
standoff
" will "
enter the Europe in an extremely dangerous energy crisis
" which could quite simply "
paralyze the European economy
".
"
Even if Berlin assures that its gas supplies are secure from other sources, the reduction in Russian supplies will make it difficult to fill gas stocks before winter
", explains the American daily, "
which could put the factories and households of the European continent at risk
".
Arrest of a Russian spy who tried to infiltrate the International Criminal Court
Serguei Vladimirovich Cherkasov, 36, was arrested in the Netherlands "
as he believed he had succeeded in his extraordinary attempt to obtain an internship at the ICC using the false identity of a Brazilian citizen
", reports the
Guardian
.
"
A false identity that he had forged for more than 10 years
", underlines for his part the
Times
which specifies "
that he had thus spent years studying at Trinity College in Dublin, under this false identity
", in order to then be able to apply for the Criminal Court of The Hague.
Dutch services had been tracking this Russian agent "
for a long time
", and finally arrested him as the ICC "
began to investigate Russian war crimes in Ukraine
", says the
Guardian.
“
If he had succeeded in obtaining his internship, he could thus have copied, altered or even destroyed documents or evidence presented
”.
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