German leader ventures to Ukraine and Russia amid warnings of war

German leader ventures to Ukraine and Russia amid warnings of war

Press play to listen to this article BERLIN — Even before Washington warned that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could be imminent, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was facing a daunting double mission to Kyiv and Moscow this week. In Ukraine on Monday, his main task is to pacify national leaders angry at Berlin’s refusal to … Read more

German President Steinmeier re-elected

German President Steinmeier re-elected

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier what elected to a second five-year term Sunday by a special assembly of lawmakers and state-nominated delegates. The position of president in Germany is largely symbolic, but its holder is nonetheless the country’s highest authority. This year’s assembly casting votes included former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and BioNTech co-founder Özlem Türeci. … Read more

In Ukraine, even peace accords can be a Russian weapon

In Ukraine, even peace accords can be a Russian weapon

Press play to listen to this article In their frenzied diplomatic effort to dissuade Russia from a new invasion of Ukraine, Western leaders are pinning renewed hope on the long-stuck Minsk peace accords. The Minsk agreements, first negotiated in 2014 and 2015, were intended to bring an end to the war with Russian-backed separatists, then … Read more

Olaf Scholz’s hard lessons in German leadership

Olaf Scholz’s hard lessons in German leadership

Press play to listen to this article BERLIN — Chancellor Olaf Scholz is finding out the hard way that there’s a lot more to leading Germany than being an Angela Merkel tribute act. Scholz meets Joe Biden at the White House on Monday as part of a US trip intended to repair the battering that … Read more