German Chancellor rejected the prospect of debt relief for Athens, adding to tensions between the radical new Greek government and its international creditors.
A march by an emergent anti-Islamisation group in the German city of Leipzig failed to drum up much support, with first estimates showing turnout at below 1,000.
President Vladimir Putin slammed what he called attempts to rewrite history and lauded the Red Army at a ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.
German Chancellor urged her Russian counterpart in a phone call to "put pressure" on Ukraine's pro-Kremlin separatists to end a recent upsurge in violence.
President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev has discussed the situation in Ukraine as well ask sanctions against Russia during a phone call initiated by the American President Barak Obama.
The meeting in Astana in Norman format (with the participation of leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany, France) to resolve the situation in Ukraine is at the stage of preparations.
President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have discussed settlement of the Ukrainian crisis in the context of the possible meeting between the Heads of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France in Astana.