Russia tasks Hollywood actor Seagal with improving U.S. ties

Mikhail Kasyanov, who served as prime minister under Vladimir Putin in the early 2000s, told DW he believed that the Russian president had "already started to realize that he's losing this war."

Russia's president has said banning oil imports from his country would be impossible for some dependent European states, after the EU failed to reach consensus to impose the measure.

He's probably the most awaited director at this year's Cannes Film Festival. Dissident filmmaker Kirill Serebrennikov is the only Russian with a film in the official selection. In previous years, Russia banned him from going to Cannes. Now in exile in Berlin, his film "Tchaikovsky’s Wife" is competing for the top prize. Eve Jackson speaks to him about what it means to be there in person, why his film is not about Tchaikovsky's homosexuality and why it's important to defend Russian culture.

Where do you get oil and gas if you want to end dependence on Russia? Germany imported more than 500,000 barrels of crude oil from Russia every day in 2020. In theory, Iran could step in. But it's complicated.

German Economy Minister said the EU was close to finally agreeing on a ban on Russian oil imports as the war in Ukraine enters the fourth month.

As the World Economic Forum in Davos draws to a close, Business Editor Kate Moody gives us an update on the final day's agenda. The war in Ukraine and global food and energy security dominated discussions throughout the event. The head of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Fatih Birol, has told FRANCE 24 that it will be very difficult for Europe to move away from Russian gas because of its over-reliance on the country's supplies over the years.

The Czech Republic and Slovakia rely heavily on Russian gas imports. Now, the Ukraine war and skyrocketing gas costs have forced both countries to consider other energy sources.

Cypriot President Nikos Anastasiadis granted an interview to FRANCE 24 from the capital Nicosia. The northern third of the Republic of Cyprus has been under Turkish domination since 1974. Anastasiadis said that Russia's invasion of Ukraine uses the "exact same arguments that Turkey used to invade Cyprus". Asked about tensions with Turkey over hydrocarbons, he expressed hope that Ankara will not "will not attempt to do anything that will cause conflagration and risk peace in the region".

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has been denounced by world leaders and prompted diplomatic and financial sanctions. But what do ordinary Russians think? President Vladimir Putin never misses an opportunity to refer to patriotism and national unity in a bid to justify his acts of aggression. A large majority of Russians adhere to this patriotism, some by joining Unarmia, a movement created by the Russian ministry of defence. Yet others have serious doubts about whether the invasion of Ukraine is in the best interests of the country they love.

As the war in Ukraine continues, one Parisian NGO is using art as a force for unity. The "Agency of Artists in Exile" is currently inundated with requests from both Ukraine and Russia. The agency is building bridges and collaborations between artists from both countries, all of whom are united in their opposition to Vladimir Putin's war. Our team reports.

A Ukraine court has sentenced two Russian soldiers to over 11 years in prison for the shelling of civilian buildings. Meanwhile, Ukraine says Russia controls "around half" of Sievierodonetsk. DW has the latest.

A decree signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin stipulates that Western countries must start paying for gas through a Russian bank that will transfer foreign currency into rubles.