International press review
In the spotlight: the 27 European countries are preparing to open the doors of the EU to Ukraine
Audio 04:51
In Brussels, on June 23, Ukrainians gathered in front of the European Council.
There, the 27 EU leaders discuss Ukraine's candidacy for the Union.
© REUTERS/Johanna Geron
By: Véronique Rigolet Follow
4 mins
Advertising
"
Unanimously, the Twenty-Seven should grant Ukraine the status of official candidate for membership
", headlines
Le Soir.
“
A historic decision
” enthuses the Belgian daily, which stresses that “
what still seemed unimaginable not so long ago
” will be acted upon without firing a shot today, after “
the green light last week from the Commission and the unfailing support of 3 major countries of the Union, France, Germany and Italy
”.
After 4 long months of a brutal war, "
European leaders thus intend to send a clear message to Moscow
", by opening the door to the Union "
to Ukraine attacked by Russia, but also to Moldova which fears to be the next on the list
”, underlines
Le Soir
.
► Also to listen: War in Ukraine: before the African Union, "the Ukrainian president intends to assert his story"
"
Even if we know that Ukraine is not ready, and that the process will take many more years
," commented
Le Temps
, the green light from the EU "
shows Russia that it cannot no longer claim a sphere of influence over its neighbour
,” notes the
Guardian
.
This will "
raise the morale of Ukrainians in the midst of war with Russia
", rejoices the
Washington Post
, which salutes "
the stubbornness of Ukrainian diplomacy which has made inevitable what looked like a recent coup poker
”.
Although it will indeed take "
years or even decades for Ukraine to become a full member
“, also recognizes the American daily.
Afghanistan calls for help after earthquake kills over 1,000
The images of the destruction in the south-east of the country appear on the front page of all the international press.
"
The pain will therefore never stop in Afghanistan
", laments the headline of the
New York Times
, which underlines that "
this earthquake, the deadliest for 20 years
" has just been added "
to the long list of tragedies which have hit the country for a year, since the Taliban came to power, with widespread famine, drought, attacks by the Islamic State and a severe economic crisis that has devastated all facets of Afghan society
," said the American daily.
A "
true humanitarian crisis
", with three-quarters of the population living below the poverty line, notes the
Washington Post
, which is concerned "
that the ongoing floods are delaying the arrival of rescuers
" in a country also "
deserted by the Western community
".
Despite promises of international aid, "
isolated Afghanistan could find it difficult to obtain aid
", also fears the
Guardian
, which defends the idea of overriding international sanctions this time "
for humanitarian reasons.
which is, he says, very different from “
development aid
”.
Turkey and Saudi Arabia bury "the Khashoggi affair"
“
All is forgiven
,” mocks the
Washington Post
, which reports that “
Turkish President Erdogan thus rolled out the red carpet yesterday in Ankara to welcome MBS, the Saudi Crown Prince
,” with “
wide smiles, and even kisses on both sides. days
”.
This marks "
the grand return to the international scene of the pariah prince
", comments bitterly, the
Suddeustche Zeitung
.
4 years after "
the sordid and brutal assassination
" of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul, "
the killer prince has become a providential saviour
", is moved by
Le Temps
.
► To read also: United States: a Jamal Khashoggi street inaugurated opposite the Saudi Arabian embassy
While “
the Turkish economy is in a bad state
”, “
MBS has bought its new freedom
”, denounces the
Times
for its part “
by signing billions of dollars of investments in Turkey
”.
And after Erdogan, “
it is Joe Biden who, next month, will shake hands with the ex-pariah
”, underlines the British daily again, which suggests “
that the American president put a clothespin on his nose, when he will ask MBS for an increase in oil production to alleviate the embargo on Russian energies
”.
Polio is back in Britain for the first time in 40 years
“
The virus has been detected in London sewage.
“
A first in 4 decades
” panicked the British tabloids which, like the
Daily Mail
and
Metro
headlined “
the national polio alert
”.
"
The Kingdom is on high alert
", similarly headlines the
Wall Street Journal
, whose correspondent in London reports "
that the health services will contact all parents of children under 5 in London who are not in day of their polio vaccination
.
"
The fear of an epidemic is not ruled out
", explains for its part the
Times
which points out that "
as most infected people do not show symptoms, the virus can spread without being noticed
".
© RFI
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
European Union
Ukraine
Russia
Moldova
Afghanistan
UN
Turkey
Saudi Arabia
Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Mohammad bin Salman
Health and medicine
UK
Newspaper