Germany labelled Russian court sentences against top opposition leader Alexei Navalny and his brother on Tuesday "another blow against outspoken civil society" in the country.
The leaders of France and Germany discussed a shaky ceasefire deal and economic reforms for Ukraine in a telephone call with President Petro Poroshenko on Sunday.
New figures released on Monday showed that Germany continues to be heavily dependent on Russia for its fossil fuel supplies as tensions remain high over Ukraine.
The government rejected on Friday the justification given by Russian President Vladimir Putin for annexing the Crimea in his annual state of the nation address.
A Moscow strategy paper seen by German media shows how Russian President Vladimir Putin has been advised to influence Europe through right-wing populist parties including Alternativ für Deutschland (AfD).
A Russian spy, jailed in Germany with her husband last year, has been freed early and allowed to return home, media reports said Friday, suggesting a possible prisoner swap.
Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier was no closer to an answer to escalating violence in Ukraine on Tuesday night despite a surprise meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Update: Germany's Foreign Minister jetted to Kiev and Moscow on Tuesday in a bid to revive a failing peace plan in eastern Ukraine, where intense fighting has pushed EU-Russia relations to breaking point.
Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday called on the West not to lose hope in what may be a long struggle with Russia over Ukraine, but vowed that the Kremlin "will not prevail".
Michael Garcia, who conducted the inquiry into wrong-doing in the Russian and Qatari World Cup bids, says a report published on Thursday by Fifa is "materially incomplete and erroneous".
Foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Wednesday warned there are signs that pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine are readying for major military clashes with troops of the Western-leaning government.
The West should consider adding pro-Russian separatists to sanction lists imposed on Moscow over its actions in Ukraine following disputed elections, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday.
Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier called on Russia Monday to respect "the unity of Ukraine" in the wake of elections held by pro-Russian separatists in the East of the country.
The European Union will "fully play its role" to implement the gas deal signed by Ukraine and Russia on Thursday, Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Francois Hollande said in a joint statement.
If you read reports from Russian media, you might be forgiven for thinking that Professor Professor Lorenz Haag from Chemnitz (so well-qualified he gets the title twice) is a titan of academia.
German exports to Russia have collapsed by more than a quarter, according to figures released on Wednesday, as sanctions brought about by the Ukraine crisis take effect.
Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday called on Ukraine's allies to help the war-scarred nation pay off its gas debts to Russia, amid concern over gas supplies this winter.
