Europe – Page 24 – Prologue Journal

Russia and Ukraine Swap More Than 300 Prisoners Ahead of U.S. Transition

New York Times Exchanges have taken place before, but this deal, involving big numbers on both sides, comes as Trump prepares to take over in Washington, potentially endangering American aid to Kyiv. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/30/world/europe/russia-ukraine-prisoner-swap.html

Dark Doldrums Overshadow Europe’s Energy Markets

New York Times Periods of low sun and wind, a weather pattern known as a Dunkelflaute, can increase electricity prices and stoke political tensions. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/30/business/energy-environment/europe-energy-solar-wind.html

Dominique Pelicot, Convicted in Mass Rape Trial in France, Will Not Appeal

New York Times Seventeen of the other 50 men convicted in the case — most for participating in rapes of Gisèle Pelicot, then Mr. Pelicot’s wife — have filed appeals, according to a lawyer. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/30/world/europe/dominique-pelicot-appeal-france-rape-trial.html

Where Is Russia Finding New Soldiers? Wherever It Can.

New York Times From murder suspects to immigrants to a former Olympic gold medalist, Russia pressures those it thinks should fight in Ukraine. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/30/world/europe/russia-ukraine-war-soldiers.html

Monday Briefing

New York Times Jimmy Carter dies at 100. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/30/briefing/jimmy-carter-plane-crash.html

Amid Anti-Western Drift, Georgia Inaugurates a Conservative President

New York Times Even though a figurehead, Mikheil Kavelashvili occupies a symbolic role as the country moves further from the West and toward Russia and China. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/29/world/europe/georgia-president-mikheil-kavelashvili.html

Azerbaijan Blames Russia for Plane Crash and Rebukes Kremlin

New York Times The leader of Azerbaijan criticized the Russian response to the crash of a passenger jet that Azerbaijani officials said had most likely been hit by Russian air defenses. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/29/world/europe/azerbaijan-blames-russia-plane-crash.html

Elon Musk Doubles Down on Support for German Far-Right AfD

New York Times The world’s richest man, a key adviser to President-elect Donald Trump, ridicules critics over his backing of the German extremist party AfD, as Germany prepares for elections. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/28/world/europe/musk-support-for-german-far-right-afd.html

Michel del Castillo, 91, Dies; Child’s-Eye Chronicler of Concentration Camps

New York Times His first novel, “Tanguy,” published when he was 24, was a fact-based Holocaust story that one reviewer said “begins where Anne Frank’s diary ended.” https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/28/books/michel-del-castillo-dead.html

Kirsten Simone, Danish Ballet Star, Is Dead at 90

New York Times One of Denmark’s most authoritative ballerinas, she was a prominent figure in a country better known for its male dancers. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/28/arts/dance/kirsten-simone-dead.html