Skip next section ‘No signs that Russia seriously wants peace,’ says Pistorius
01/31/2026January 31, 2026
‘No signs that Russia seriously wants peace,’ says Pistorius
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has said he doubts that Russian President Vladimir Putin really desires peace as the US leads efforts to end Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
In comments published on Saturday, Pistorius told the RND media group that although US President Donald Trump had given new impetus to diplomatic efforts toward peace, recent actions by Moscow seemed to speak a different language.
“So far, […] I see no signs that Russia seriously wants peace,” Pistorius said, noting that even while recent US-led negotiations in Abu Dhabi were going on, Putin had attacked Ukraine “in a way that has hardly been seen in this war.”
Pistorius also rejected claims by the Kremlin that its attacks have never targeted civilians or civilian infrastructure, saying: “This is terror directed exclusively at the civilian population during a winter with temperatures of minus 20 degrees [Celsius] (-4 degrees Fahrenheit).”
The minister added that Putin has shown no willingness to compromise.
https://p.dw.com/p/57naM
Skip next section New figures show about one in two Germans will get cancer in their lifetime
01/31/2026January 31, 2026
New figures show about one in two Germans will get cancer in their lifetime
Almost every second man and more than 40% of women in Germany will develop cancer during their lifetime, according to new figures from the Robert Koch Institute, published for World Cancer Day.
About one in six women and one in seven men are affected before the age of 65.
Here are key numbers according to cancer registry data:
In 2023, about 517,800 new cancer cases were diagnosed in Germany
More men (276,400) than women (241,400) were affected
About half of all new cases involve just four types: breast, prostate, lung, and colon cancer
https://p.dw.com/p/57nGL
Skip next section US needs Europe, German defense minister says
01/31/2026January 31, 2026
US needs Europe, German defense minister says
Pistorius calls on Europe to stand firm toward US President Donald Trump [FILE: January 28, 2026]Image: Christian Mang/REUTERS
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius urged European governments to act more confidently toward the United States.
It would be a mistake “if we stared at the White House like a rabbit staring at a snake,” Pistorius told the RND media group.
He added: “Then we would lose focus on what we need to do: Become more sovereign and independent.”
US President Donald Trump relies on uncertainty and fear to achieve his goals, “but those who are afraid make the wrong decisions, so let’s not allow ourselves to be intimidated,” said the defense minister.
Pistorius was referring to European governments’ resistance to Trump’s renewed push to have the US take control of Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of Denmark.
Europe’s strategic importance to the US
He stressed that the US needs Europe just as much as the Europeans need the US, saying that Europe is of geostrategic and geoeconomic importance to Washington.
“Imagine if Europe were to become Russia’s sphere of influence if [Russian President] Vladimir Putin succeeded in driving the Americans out of here or causing them to withdraw,” Pistorius said.
Washington would be “sandwiched between Russia and China. That would certainly not be in the Americans’ interest,” he added.
Greenland: Trump forcing NATO to increase Arctic presence
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https://p.dw.com/p/57nD6
Skip next section Welcome to our coverage01/31/2026January 31, 2026
Welcome to our coverage
Guten Tag from the DW newsroom here in Bonn.
You join us this morning as we bring you the latest headlines from German news, starting with Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stressing that the US needs Europe just as much as Europe needs the US.
Stay with us for this and more on what Germany is talking about today.
https://p.dw.com/p/57nCd
