On Putin’s birthday, opposition activists protest, call for him to quit

On the cusp of taking the reins from Angela Merkel, incoming chancellor Olaf Scholz has sent a strong signal about where his government's foreign policy priorities lie. DW has rounded-up the most important points.

Foreign ministers meeting in Liverpool threatened the Kremlin with fresh economic sanctions in the event of an invasion of Ukraine. Meanwhile, Tehran was told that time is running out to revive the nuclear deal.

Putin expressed the devastating effect the demise of the USSR had on him and millions of others, admitting he took up driving a cab during hard times, even though he said "it's unpleasant to talk about."

The Group of Seven countries have condemned Russia's military buildup near its border with Ukraine and warned that further military aggression against Ukraine would have "massive consequences." G7 foreign ministers also issued a warning to Iran.

The autocratic leaders of Russia and China railed against Western meddling and praised cooperation between their countries. The two will meet in person at the Beijing Winter Olympics in February.

Slovakia's former Prime Minister Robert Fico was detained before a protest defying coronavirus restrictions. Fico is a vocal critic of anti-COVID measures in the pandemic-hit country.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged the European Union to act swiftly, as concern grows over Russia's military buildup on the border to Ukraine. Coming up with a sanctions policy after an invasion would be too late, he said.

In November, shortly before the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Soviet Union, the Russian authorities moved to close down one of the country's oldest and most influential NGOs, Memorial, which was dedicated to preserving the memory of Stalin-era repressions. Despite everything, the group's historians are determined to continue the fight to open up the archives of the Soviet secret services. FRANCE 24's Elena Volochine and Gulliver Cragg report, with illustrations by Sofiya Voznaya.

As tensions simmer and troops amass along on both sides of the border, DW's Nick Connolly visited eastern Ukraine. Close to the Russian border, in the town of Milove, he spoke with locals about what it's like to live there.

For the first installment of our series marking thirty years since the fall of the Soviet Union, we ask the question: is Stalin making a comeback? Since 2014 and Vladimir Putin’s annexation of Crimea, statues and busts of the Soviet dictator have been appearing all over Russia. Meanwhile, many of the details concerning the crimes committed by his regime remain unknown, with archives in large part still closed. Putin, a former KGB agent and FSB chief, does not hide his nostalgia for the Soviet era. His regime has cultivated an ambiguous relationship with Stalin, and he stands accused of using the same methods against his opponents today.

As tensions simmer and troops amass along on both sides of the border, DW's Nick Connolly visited eastern Ukraine. Close to the Russian border, in the town of Milove, he spoke with locals about what it's like to live there.

The roots of conflict between Russia and Ukraine run deep. It all boils down to Moscow's unwillingness to accept Ukrane's independence. An overview.