https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Germany in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed German customs have raided three companies suspected of illegally exporting machine components and chemicals to Russia in violation of EU sanctions, according to a statement released Thursday. https://www.thelocal.de/20260403/german-customs-raid-companies-over-suspected-exports-to-russia Fri, 03 Apr 2026 09:38:03 +0200 german-customs-raid-companies-over-suspected-exports-to-russia The thorny issue of what to do with Russian assets has not only stumped Western leaders but also officials in Berlin who are saddled with three crumbling buildings belonging to Moscow. https://www.thelocal.de/20260208/berlins-crumbling-russian-houses-trapped-in-bureaucratic-limbo Sun, 08 Feb 2026 15:59:25 +0100 berlins-crumbling-russian-houses-trapped-in-bureaucratic-limbo Armin Laschet, a prominent member of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's party, called on Friday for renewed dialogue with Russia, saying the current situation was "absurd". https://www.thelocal.de/20260117/prominent-member-of-merzs-party-calls-for-dialogue-with-moscow Sat, 17 Jan 2026 09:43:35 +0100 prominent-member-of-merzs-party-calls-for-dialogue-with-moscow A Ukrainian man arrested in Italy this week over the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream underwater gas pipelines from Russia to Europe on Friday refused to be extradited to Germany, reports said. https://www.thelocal.de/20250823/ukrainian-refuses-german-extradition-in-nord-stream-sabotage-case Sat, 23 Aug 2025 11:40:59 +0200 ukrainian-refuses-german-extradition-in-nord-stream-sabotage-case For European leaders, the absence of a Ukraine deal at the summit between Russian leader Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump has at least one upside: They have not yet been completely sidelined in a key strategic moment for the Continent's future. https://www.thelocal.de/20250817/europeans-try-to-stay-on-the-board-after-ukraine-summit Sun, 17 Aug 2025 10:07:19 +0200 europeans-try-to-stay-on-the-board-after-ukraine-summit A three-way summit US President Donald Trump has mooted with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin could take place in Europe, Germany's leader suggested on Saturday. https://www.thelocal.de/20250817/germany-proposes-trump-putin-zelensky-summit-be-held-in-europe Sun, 17 Aug 2025 09:53:03 +0200 germany-proposes-trump-putin-zelensky-summit-be-held-in-europe European leaders on Saturday expressed support for a three-way summit between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia's Vladimir Putin and US leader Donald Trump, after a US-Russia summit failed to produce a ceasefire. https://www.thelocal.de/20250816/european-leaders-back-putin-trump-zelensky-meeting Sat, 16 Aug 2025 16:25:16 +0200 european-leaders-back-putin-trump-zelensky-meeting European leaders urged more "pressure" on Russia overnight Saturday, after the announcement of a Trump-Putin summit to end the war in Ukraine raised concern that an agreement would require Kyiv to cede swathes of territory. https://www.thelocal.de/20250810/european-leaders-urge-more-pressure-on-russia-ahead-of-trump-putin-summit Sun, 10 Aug 2025 13:07:15 +0200 european-leaders-urge-more-pressure-on-russia-ahead-of-trump-putin-summit Germany said on Friday it will soon start delivering two more US-made Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine, as Kyiv faces a growing number of Russian drone and missile attacks. https://www.thelocal.de/20250801/germany-to-start-deliveries-of-two-patriot-systems-to-ukraine Fri, 01 Aug 2025 14:55:40 +0200 germany-to-start-deliveries-of-two-patriot-systems-to-ukraine Germany's new top diplomat on Wednesday sought to stress unity with the United States on Ukraine, warning of further sanctions if Russia does not budge in stalled negotiations to end the war. https://www.thelocal.de/20250529/germanys-top-diplomat-seeks-common-stance-with-us-on-ukraine Thu, 29 May 2025 12:00:02 +0200 germanys-top-diplomat-seeks-common-stance-with-us-on-ukraine Western powers must not be divided in confronting Russia over the Ukraine war, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Wednesday, urging a united stance between Europe and the United States. https://www.thelocal.de/20250514/germanys-merz-urges-europe-us-unity-on-ukraine-war Wed, 14 May 2025 17:41:51 +0200 germanys-merz-urges-europe-us-unity-on-ukraine-war The leaders of France, Britain and Germany arrived in Ukraine on Saturday for talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky, vowing to ratchet up pressure on Russia until it agrees a ceasefire the day after a lavish military parade in Moscow. https://www.thelocal.de/20250510/european-leaders-arrive-in-kyiv-in-show-of-solidarity-against-russia Sat, 10 May 2025 10:00:41 +0200 european-leaders-arrive-in-kyiv-in-show-of-solidarity-against-russia Frightened by the prospect of US security disengagement and three years of Moscow's war against Ukraine, European countries are debating reinstating compulsory military service to boost their defences in the face of Russian aggression. https://www.thelocal.de/20250316/spurred-by-trump-turnabout-european-nations-debate-conscription Sun, 16 Mar 2025 10:12:09 +0100 spurred-by-trump-turnabout-european-nations-debate-conscription Relations between the United States and Europe have historically had their ups and downs, but a storm has now blown up as a result of Washington's recent strategic shift. Will it blow through or get more intense? https://www.thelocal.de/20250307/are-europes-ties-with-united-states-set-to-worsen Fri, 07 Mar 2025 10:25:32 +0100 are-europes-ties-with-united-states-set-to-worsen Germany is set to rearm in a way not seen since World War II after likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz said his government would vastly increase defence spending. https://www.thelocal.de/20250305/unexpected-turn-germany-set-for-massive-rearmament-as-divide-with-us-widens Wed, 05 Mar 2025 16:02:27 +0100 unexpected-turn-germany-set-for-massive-rearmament-as-divide-with-us-widens EU chief Ursula von der Leyen Tuesday presented a five-part plan to mobilise some €800 billion for Europe's defence -- and help provide "immediate" military support for Ukraine after the US suspended aid. https://www.thelocal.de/20250304/a-new-era-is-upon-us-eu-unveils-e800-billion-plan-to-rearm-europe Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:51:42 +0100 a-new-era-is-upon-us-eu-unveils-e800-billion-plan-to-rearm-europe European leaders threw their support behind Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after his spat with Donald Trump sent shockwaves across the world, casting doubts over efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war. https://www.thelocal.de/20250301/trump-zelensky-shouting-match-takes-world-leaders-aback-as-europe-backs-ukraine Sat, 01 Mar 2025 09:17:15 +0100 trump-zelensky-shouting-match-takes-world-leaders-aback-as-europe-backs-ukraine Russian dissident punk band Pussy Riot played at a pro-Ukraine protest in Berlin on Saturday, on the eve of German elections as the war nears three years. https://www.thelocal.de/20250223/pussy-riot-stages-pre-election-berlin-show-for-ukraine Sun, 23 Feb 2025 09:42:41 +0100 pussy-riot-stages-pre-election-berlin-show-for-ukraine EU countries on Wednesday agreed a new round of sanctions on Russia as the bloc looks to keep up pressure in the face of US talks with Russia. France will host a new Ukraine summit, the president announced. https://www.thelocal.de/20250219/eu-keeps-up-pressure-on-russia-with-new-sanctions Wed, 19 Feb 2025 11:59:36 +0100 eu-keeps-up-pressure-on-russia-with-new-sanctions European leaders have been left in shock after the US sidelined them in its bid to bring peace to Ukraine and suggested it would no longer guarantee the continent's security, but will they now take action? https://www.thelocal.de/20250218/will-europe-match-words-with-actions-after-being-sidelined-by-trump Tue, 18 Feb 2025 13:34:43 +0100 will-europe-match-words-with-actions-after-being-sidelined-by-trump