What is SWIFT and why does Ukraine want Russia banned from it?

The European Union is being criticized for not cutting off Russia from the global payments system. But what exactly is SWIFT? What would a ban mean for Russia? And why is the EU dragging its feet? DW explains. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba didn’t mince his words in calling out the European Union for dragging

Democracy in decline worldwide

For the first time since 2004, the Bertelsmann Transformation Index (BTI) has recorded more autocratic states than democracies around the world. Civil society activists often represent the last bastion of resistance. Autocracies such as Russia and China on the one hand; democracies like the USA or Germany on the other. Is that the great conflict

Russian media reporting ‘thwarted terror attack’ in Donbas

Russian-backed separatists claimed that Ukraine’s Defense Ministry could have organized the alleged attempted attack. The Russian TASS news site reported that an attempted terrorist attack had been thwarted in Luhansk, a city controlled by pro-Russian separatists in the disputed Donbas region, on Tuesday, amid continuing concerns of a possible Russian invasion into Ukraine. The report claimed that

Ukraine reaffirms desire to join NATO after envoy comments

NATO membership remains an absolute priority for Ukraine, a spokesman for Volodymyr Zelenskyy said as Ukraine’s UK ambassador backtracked on comments that Kyiv was “flexible” on the issue. Ukraine’s aspirations to join NATO and the European Union remain an absolute priority, a spokesman for Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday. The country’s Foreign Ministry took it

Germany leads NATO operation in Lithuania, sends troops – WION

Germany is leading a NATO operation in Lithuania and has stationed around 500 soldiers there. Also, the German chancellor Olaf Scholz has offered a clarification on why Germany is not supplying weapons to the Ukraine.

Germany urges ‘prudence’ in potential sanctions against Russia over Ukraine

Germany’s leader has urged Europe and the United States to think carefully when considering sanctions against Russia for any aggression against Ukraine in a crisis pitting Berlin’s main gas supplier against its biggest security allies. Among a range of possible Western sanctions against President Vladmir Putin’s government, Germany could halt the Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia if it

German leaders agree to new omicron measures – DW News

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and leaders of the country’s 16 states agreed on a new raft of rules and restrictions on Friday to curb the spread of COVID-19. Scholz outlined new rules for restaurants and bars, while also shortening quarantine and self-isolation periods.

Kazakhstan’s former head of national security detained on suspicion of treason – DW News

Russia is sending troops to Kazakhstan to support the government, which has been facing days of angry protests. For Moscow, there is more at stake than cementing its influence in a neighboring country shaken by unrest. After days of violent protests, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has vowed to destroy “armed bandits.” He gave “special thanks”

Finland says it could join Nato despite Russian pressure

Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö on Saturday reiterated his country’s right to join Nato if it wants to, in a dismissal of Russian demands for no further expansion of the Western military alliance near its borders. “Finland’s room to manoeuvre and freedom of choice also include the possibility of military alignment and of applying for Nato

German police raids target ‘anti-vaxxer murder plot’ against state leader

Searches carried out in Dresden after plans for the killing discussed on Telegram messaging group German police have carried out armed raids on several locations in the eastern state of Saxony in connection with a plot by anti-vaccination activists to murder the state’s prime minister, Michael Kretschmer. The searches at five addresses in the city