Berlin

Germany's foreign minister met Russian counterparts in a rare direct encounter, urging Moscow to abandon what Berlin called a dangerous escalation of the war in Ukraine. The meeting stands out amid the near-total breakdown of high-level contacts between Berlin and Moscow since Russia's full-scale invasion, and is being watched for signs of any diplomatic opening.

Germany and Russia have held their first direct talks since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The meeting marks a notable diplomatic thaw between Berlin and Moscow, prompting debate over why the contact is happening now and what it could signal for the future of the war, European security and Western policy toward Moscow.

Germany's foreign minister has confirmed a meeting with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, saying it was motivated by security concerns stemming from Russia's actions. The talks signal that Berlin, despite its strongly critical stance toward Moscow, still sees value in direct diplomatic contact on issues affecting European security. Observers are watching whether the exchange produces any change in Russia's posture toward the West.

Russian and German diplomats have held their first high-level talks since 2022, meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations. The encounter marks the most significant direct contact between the two governments since Germany radically reoriented its Russia policy after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The talks signal a possible, cautious thaw in diplomatic channels between Berlin and Moscow, though no concrete outcomes have been announced.

Germany is moving against Berlin's so-called Russian House, which remained open throughout Russia's war in Ukraine despite EU sanctions. The cultural institution had been protected by a reciprocal arrangement covering Moscow's Goethe-Institut, but Berlin now links it to sabotage activity, prompting the push to close it.

The German and Russian foreign ministers have held a rare direct meeting at a time of sharply heightened tensions between Berlin and Moscow. Direct high-level contacts between the two governments have become unusual since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, making the talks notable. The meeting suggests both sides see some value in keeping diplomatic channels open, even as political relations remain deeply strained.

A far-left party has won the Berlin election, with the nationalisation of housing as a central pledge. The result, reported by Reuters, signals strong voter support in the German capital for radical measures to address the housing crisis, including taking private rental stock into public ownership. Commenters are weighing what the win means for German politics and housing policy elsewhere.

The ongoing wrangling over forming a new government in Berlin is being read as more than a local dispute: it is also about the future balance of power in Germany's Bundesrat. Commenters point out that in early 2026 the Union still held eight of the sixteen state premier posts, all of them men, and argue the outcome in Berlin could shift that national calculus.

A full list of results, times and standings for the Berlin Marathon 2026 has been published by Olympics.com. The Berlin Marathon is one of the world's major distance running events, known for fast courses and record attempts. Runners and fans are checking the complete standings to follow performances and finishing times across the race categories.

Tigst Assefa's attempt at a world record at the Berlin Marathon was undone by cramps, while Guye Adola took the men's title in the German capital. The race, one of the world's fastest marathon courses, saw the Ethiopian star fall short of the mark despite her record-breaking pedigree, handing attention instead to Adola's victory.