Europe – Page 521 – Prologue Journal

Pope Reveals He’s Working on Secret ‘Mission’ of Peace in Ukraine

New York Times Francis said he was doing “all that is humanly possible” to help return Ukrainian children taken to Russia and urged Hungary not to slam doors on migrants. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/30/world/europe/pope-francis-hungary.html

Biden Praises ‘Absolute Courage’ of U.S. Journalist Detained in Russia

New York Times In a speech at the annual White House Association Correspondents’ dinner, the president said his administration was “working every day” to secure the release of Evan Gershkovich. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/30/world/europe/biden-gershkovich-russia-ukraine.html

Many in U.K. Greet King Charles’s Coronation With a Shrug

New York Times Images of the new king may be blanketing Britain, but many in the country are more focused on navigating a cost-of-living crisis than celebrating a dysfunctional royal family. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/30/world/europe/charles-coronation-mood.html

They Refused to Fight for Russia. The Law Did Not Treat Them Kindly.

New York Times Since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, hundreds of Russian men have faced criminal charges for becoming war refuseniks. That has not stopped others from going to unusual lengths to avoid battle. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/30/world/europe/russia-military-deserters-ukraine.html

Ticketmaster Finds Itself in a Royal Mess Over Coronation Concert

New York Times Some British residents said they received misleading emails suggesting they had secured free tickets to the concert for the coronation of King Charles III at Windsor Castle. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/29/world/europe/ticketmaster-coronation-concert.html

Life in Ukraine’s Trenches: Gearing Up for a Spring Offensive

New York Times With fighting in the eastern Donbas region settling into a bloody stalemate, a patch of the Zaporizhzhia region of southeastern Ukraine could prove to be the war’s next big theater. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/29/world/europe/ukraine-russia-counteroffensive.html

Under the Hollywood Spotlight, a Fading Welsh Town is Reborn

New York Times A former industrial hub, Wrexham had long been in decline. Now, it’s reviving as the globally famous star of a reality series about its once forlorn soccer team’s rejuvenation. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/29/world/europe/wrexham-afc-wales-reynolds-mcelhenney.html

London’s Coronation Countdown: Travelers Arrive, Others Flee

New York Times While hundreds of thousands are expected to arrive in London ahead of the crowning of King Charles III, others are making plans to get out of town. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/29/travel/london-coronation.html

Large Fuel Tank Fire Burns in Crimea After Suspected Drone Attack

New York Times A Russian-installed local official did not specify who might be behind such an attack. Ukraine typically maintains a policy of strategic ambiguity about strikes in Crimea. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/29/world/europe/russia-ukraine-war-crimea-fire.html

London’s Other Royals, the ‘Pearlies,’ Keep Alive Cockney Customs

New York Times The Pearly Kings and Queens, known for their button-festooned costumes, preserve a charitable tradition that began in the Victorian era and became a symbol of the city’s working-class culture. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/29/world/europe/london-pearly-kings-queens-cockney.html