The war in Ukraine, and in particular the new Russian strikes, in the context of negotiations to reach a peace agreement is the leading topic in the world press.
The French newspaper "West-France" recalls the call of French President Emmanuel Macron, who insisted on "decisive action" if Moscow continues to "refuse peace".
US President Donald Trump proposed a 30-day complete ceasefire nearly a month ago, the French publication notes, quoting Macron's own statement.
"While Ukraine accepted President Trump's proposal for a complete and unconditional ceasefire for 30 days almost a month ago and we are working with all our partners on plans to ensure peace, Russia continues the war with renewed vigor, without regard for the civilian population," said the French head of state, quoted by "West-France".
The British newspaper "Independent" emphasizes that Macron made this statement two days after a Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Krivoy Rog, the birthplace of President Volodymyr Zelensky. "My thoughts are with the children and all the civilian victims of the bloody attacks carried out by Russia, including (the attack) on April 4 in Krivoy Rog," Macron wrote on the social platform "Ex".
For his part, Zelensky called on the West to increase pressure on Russia after it carried out another deadly air strike on Kiev.
"The pressure on Russia is still insufficient and the daily Russian strikes on Ukraine prove it," the Ukrainian president stressed. He added that not only the capital region was affected by the strikes, but also the Mykolaiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Khmelnytskyi and Cherkasy regions, writes "Independent".
"The number of air strikes is increasing. In this way, Russia reveals its true intentions - to continue terror as long as the world allows it," Zelensky stressed.
"The key to the sanctions mechanism against Russia is in the hands of Europe, not the United States,", the French newspaper "Monde" notes in an editorial.
With the acceleration of ceasefire negotiations in Ukraine, the future of Western sanctions against Vladimir Putin's regime is in question, the publication points out. Washington may decide to lift a number of restrictions, but it has very few levers to influence the Russian economy, explains the author of the article, Stephane Lauer.
One absence was striking in the list of tariffs announced on April 2 by the Donald Trump administration: unlike the most remote islands in Antarctica and the poorest countries, the regime of Russian President Vladimir Putin was not included, the newspaper notes. "Le Monde".
Despite the White House's claim that Moscow is already subject to sanctions that "impede all significant trade", Russian exports to the United States amount to 3.2 billion euros, the French newspaper wrote, adding that this is more than 130 other countries in the world that will have to pay tariffs. Attacked Ukraine will also have to pay 10 percent tariffs.
This raises the question of the fate of Western sanctions against Russia, notes the newspaper "Le Monde". While Washington is pushing for a quick end to the fighting, US special envoy Steve Witkoff, who is the main negotiator for the ceasefire, said last month that sanctions would be eased immediately after the talks are concluded, without waiting for a peace agreement or a possible green light from Europe, the newspaper continues.
But although Europe was not invited to the negotiating table, its role could prove to be of paramount importance, believes "Monde". The US can lift some coercive measures, but it does not have many means to put pressure on the Russian economy - for geographical reasons, Russia is far more dependent on the EU than on the US, the publication comments.
Before the war began in 2022, trade relations between Moscow and Washington reached a value of only $ 35 billion, or 10 times less than trade between Russia and Europe, the newspaper recalls. "Le Monde".
Moscow launched its strikes against Kiev at a time when Ukraine is grieving after the deadly attack on Zelensky's hometown, the American newspaper "New York Times" notes.
Russian strikes with missiles and drones have not stopped for the past three years, but have intensified in recent weeks, against the backdrop of peace talks led under the auspices of the United States, the American publication points out.
Against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, the Baltic countries are building a defensive line against a possible Russian invasion, the British newspaper "Telegraph" notes, also publishing a map of "potential routes for a Russian offensive".
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia intend to build 1,000 bunkers with anti-tank barriers. "Will they be able to finish them in time?", asks the British publication.