The Latest Breaking News from Olaf Scholz

Frustration is growing among German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's junior coalition partners over what they say are shortcomings in his leadership on Ukraine, an internal rift that risks undermining Western unity against Russia.

French President Emmanuel Macron has declined to endorse accusations by his US counterpart Joe Biden, that Russia is committing "genocide" in Ukraine – warning that verbal escalations would not help end the war. Ukraine's Volodymr Zelensky decribed France's reaction as "painful".

Relations strained after Kyiv said it would prefer visit from German chancellor

Germany's president would have liked to visit Ukraine and the fact that he was not received there was "irritating", Chancellor Olaf Scholz told RBB public radio, adding that he had no immediate plans himself to visit Kyiv.

Vladimir Putin vehemently opposed to neighbouring state signing up to western military alliance

In the first half of the 20th century, Germany was aggressive, expansionist and dangerous. Its legacy includes millions of needless war deaths and the unspeakable crimes of the Nazi regime.

Karl Nehammer becomes first western leader to hold face-to-face talks with Russian president since invasion of Ukraine

Vladimir Putin vehemently opposed to neighbouring state signing up to western military alliance

Germany's Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, the political foundation linked to Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrat party, said that it will seek to promote democracy in Russia even though it has been barred from working in the country.