Europe – Page 484 – Prologue Journal

Putin claims Russian lines are holding.

New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/27/world/europe/ukraine-says-its-offensive-is-pushing-in-two-directions-toward-the-sea-of-azov.html

Putin, at Summit With African Leaders, Casts West as Mutual Foe

New York Times At a summit in St. Petersburg, Russia, President Vladimir V. Putin offered free grain as he sought to shore up ties with the continent. But lower-than-hoped-for attendance among African leaders hinted at tempering support. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/27/world/europe/russia-africa-summit-putin.html

Putin’s Promise of Free Grain Reflects Russia’s Priorities in Africa

New York Times The Russian leader made the overture days after pulling out of the Black Sea grain deal that benefited many countries on the continent. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/27/world/europe/putin-africa-summit-grain-deal.html

Photos Suggest Prigozhin Is in Russia, Meeting African Officials

New York Times The whereabouts of the leader of the Wagner mercenary group has been a subject of continuing questions since an aborted mutiny last month. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/27/world/europe/prigozhin-photos-russia-africa-wagner.html

Where Wildfires Are Raging in Europe and North Africa

New York Times Firefighters have scrambled to extinguish blazes in at least 10 countries as a heat wave has swept the Mediterranean region. Here’s what to know. https://www.nytimes.com/article/wildfires-europe-africa.html

King Charles Doesn’t Have as Many Swans as He Used to

New York Times For hundreds of years, the royal family has laid claim to many of England’s swans. An annual count found a worrisome drop in cygnets along a stretch of the River Thames this year. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/27/world/europe/uk-royal-swans.html

E.C.B. Raises Rates Again, Citing ‘Too High’ Inflation

New York Times The bank said some price pressures were easing, but that “underlying inflation remains high overall,” as it raised rates a quarter percentage point. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/27/business/ecb-interest-rates-europe.html

How Russia’s State Media Describes Life In Occupied Crimea

New York Times Since Russia invaded Ukraine last year, Russian government officials and state television have hammered home the message that everything is fine. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/27/world/europe/russia-media-crimea-ukraine.html

Putin Promises Free Grain at Africa Summit, Aiming to Help Russia’s Image

New York Times At a summit for African countries, the Russian president insisted that Western hypocrisy rather than his invasion of Ukraine was to blame for disruptions in the global food supply. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/27/world/europe/putin-russia-africa-summit.html

North Korea Vows Support for Moscow in Visit by Russian Delegation

New York Times Pyongyang vowed increased military cooperation against the United States, a common enemy, during a visit by Russia’s defense minister. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/27/world/asia/north-korea-russia-visit.html