Fanned by drought, water shortages and record temperatures, devastating wildfires are raging across southern Europe, with Spain, Portugal, Italy, Croatia, Greece and Turkey all severely hit. The media take aim at politicians for failing to implement preventive measures.

After ten days of intense negotiations in Geneva, representatives from around 180 countries were unable to agree on a UN internationally binding instrument on reducing plastic pollution. The efforts, which have been ongoing for three years, failed mainly due to resistance from oil-exporting states. European commentators examine the options for further action.

Following the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, both sides praised the good atmosphere and constructive talks, but no concrete results were apparent. Europe's press takes stock.

After Friday's summit in Alaska, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is travelling to Washington today – accompanied by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and several European leaders – to discuss the future of Ukraine with US President Donald Trump. Commentators review what Europe must do to make itself heard in the White House and the Kremlin.

All eyes are on Alaska, where Donald Trump is meeting Vladimir Putin this Friday - the first such encounter between a sitting US president and the Russian President since 2021. The focus of the talks will be ways to end the war in Ukraine. Commentators alternate between optimism and doubt.

Russia's telecommunications authority Roskomnadzor placed restrictions on voice and video calls on WhatsApp and Telegram this week, citing the need to "protect the population from fraud" on "foreign messenger services". At the same time, citizens are being encouraged to use the new Russian messenger app Max - to which state intelligence services reportedly have easy access.