Eurointelligence: “What is not fully appreciated is the sheer degree to which Germany has become a Russian ally. This is not just about Gerhard Schröder, though his influence in the SPD is still very strong. There are many Germans who feel culturally and politically closer to Russia.”

“They may disagree with Putin, but the Russian leader is kind of the devil they know, whereas your average German struggles to figure out US leaders like George W. Bush or Donald Trump.”

Bloomberg: “A group of anti-vaccination demonstrators and conspiracy theorists have blocked roads and targeted businesses in the Australian capital of Canberra ahead of the return of federal parliament on Tuesday, in an echo of similar protests in Canada.”

“After nine days of noisy and chaotic disruption, Ottawa’s mayor declared a state of emergency as major cities across the country were hit over the weekend by protests opposed to vaccine mandates and other pandemic restrictions,” the Globe and Mail reports,

“With no end in sight to the protests in the country’s capital, Ottawa police announced that they would begin arresting anyone who attempted to bring material aid, such as fuel, to the protesters, some of whom have set up camp in the city.”

Politico: “It’s not every day that Canada becomes the red-hot center of a global protest movement.”

“But what started as a rally of Canadian truckers angry at cross-border vaccine mandates has fast become a magnet for far-right grievances around the world.”

French President Macron “will offer President Putin a peace plan including western gestures towards Moscow when he visits the Kremlin today on a mission to ease tensions over Ukraine,” the Times of London reports.

“The French leader outlined his ideas for a ‘new security order in Europe’ as the United States stepped up its warnings of an imminent invasion.”

“Russian President Vladimir Putin could order an attack on Ukraine within days or weeks, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan warned on Sunday, as Washington and its European allies continued efforts to offer Putin a diplomatic way out of the crisis,” Reuters reports.

Said Sullivan: “We are in the window. Any day now, Russia could take military action against Ukraine, or it could be a couple of weeks from now, or Russia could choose to take the diplomatic path instead.”

President Joe Biden will visit Israel “later this year” after Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett invited him to the country, CNN reports.