Russia tests readiness for World Cup with Sochi match

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto doesn't rule out vetoing a ninth package of sanctions against Russia over its war on Ukraine – a package that is currently being prepared by the EU, along with a proposed price cap on Russian oil. "We want peace, not another [sanctions] package," he says. "We are a direct neighbour of Ukraine.

Germany is hosting a meeting of justice ministers about sharpening up investigations into war crimes committed in Ukraine. NATO will support Kyiv "as long as it takes," Jens Stoltenberg has said. Follow DW for more.

RT, the Kremlin-backed international broadcaster, is opening a media center in South Africa and seeking partners on the continent. Russia's disinformation campaign aims for more power in Africa.

Moscow has said it had "no other choice" than to postpone negotiations on the New START nuclear treaty capping the number of warheads each country has. The US says the treaty is "important for the world."

NATO countries are set to hold talks with Moldova, Georgia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina as they allegedly face pressure from Russia. Germany has pledged to give Ukraine hundreds of generators. Follow DW for more.

Thursday saw the giants of football fall at the World Cup in Qatar. First, Belgium were eliminated after a goalless draw with Croatia. Morocco's 2-1 victory over Canada saw them top Group F in stunning fashion. The Atlas Lions will face Spain in the next round after another shock result saw La Roja lose to Japan 1-2, meaning that the Samurais top the group.

OSCE foreign ministers are meeting in Poland, which did not invite Russia's Sergey Lavrov in light of the war in Ukraine. Moscow railed against this step, Western countries argued the Kremlin only had itself to blame.

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin says the war in Ukraine has exposed basic weaknesses in Europe's defense and strategy. UK says Russia's withdrawal allowed Ukraine to target transport nodes. Follow DW for more.

To justify the invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin used the false pretexts of "denazification" and "demilitarisation" of the country. Russian state propaganda is built around the myth of a Ukraine in the hands of "Nazis", one where the Russians come to "liberate" the "Russian speakers".

More than six years after the attacks, hearings will begin to determine whether 10 men played a role in the 2016 Islamist suicide bombings in Brussels.

Russia is expanding its attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. At the start of winter, there are hundreds of thousands of people without electricity or heating. DW reporter Jan-Phillipp Scholz met some of them.

Ukraine said Russian forces were shelling the entire front line in the Donetsk region. Despite a high profile prisoner swap, Russian government officials are keen to tamp down hopes for a rapprochement with Washington.