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German journalist in Moscow faces banking restrictions amid sanctions climate

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Albrecht Müller, editor of NachDenkSeiten, said he had been in contact with Moscow-based journalist Ulrich Heyden, adding that their discussion focused on the closure of Heyden’s account by his Hamburg-based bank.

Heyden said Hamburg Sparkasse had terminated his account and outlined the process in detail. “In the written explanation sent to me, it was stated that all business relationships with customers residing in Russia were being reviewed and that these relationships were being terminated,” he said.

Heyden added that a bank official provided further clarification during a phone call. “The employee told me this was linked to sanctions on Russia and said the account could be maintained if I resided in Germany,” he said.

He noted that establishing a second residence in Germany was not legally feasible. “Since I spend most of the year in Russia, registering a second residence in Germany is not legal. I explained this to them,” he said.

Transfers to Russia had already been restricted

Heyden said the bank had previously imposed various limitations. “About a year and a half ago, my ability to transfer money to Russia was removed. The account still existed, but its functionality was severely limited,” he said.

He added that the bank had described itself as a “regional bank,” using this as justification for restrictions on international transactions. “This reasoning was also included in the written explanation,” he said.

Müller asked whether journalists working in other countries had encountered similar situations. Heyden said he was not aware of comparable cases among German journalists working in Moscow for major media outlets. “There are about ten German journalists in Moscow, and I have no information that they have faced such restrictions,” he said.

“There is a political dimension”

Heyden said he had sent a letter dated March 13 to Frank-Walter Steinmeier. “In the letter, I relayed the bank’s justification and noted that I found it quite unusual,” he said.

He added that he believed the decision might have a political context. “I did not describe it as a direct political attack, but I stated that there appears to be a political background,” he said.

Heyden also pointed to similar cases involving journalists Thomas Röper and Alina Lipp, who he said had been subject to sanctions. “These two individuals face more severe measures. They are directly under European Union sanctions,” he said.

He highlighted a common thread among the three journalists. “All three advocate for a more balanced or positive relationship with Russia, and that is notable,” he said.

A narrow framework in coverage of Russia

Reflecting on his career, Heyden said he had long observed a predominantly negative portrayal of Russia in Germany. “Since the 1990s, there has consistently been a negative perspective toward Russia,” he said.

He also referred to editorial expectations. “I was often asked to focus on negative topics such as crime, plane crashes, AIDS cases and social problems,” he said.

Alternative subjects, he added, received less attention. “Topics such as the diverse peoples of Russia, witnesses who survived the war, or historical experiences were not sufficiently covered,” he said.

According to Heyden, this approach narrowed the scope of reporting. “It was as if editorial offices had predefined expectations about what kind of content on Russia was required,” he said.

Relations sharply deteriorated after 2022

Heyden assessed the weakening of civil ties between Germany and Russia in the context of the Ukraine war. “After Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine in 2022, 95% of city partnerships were suspended,” he said.

He said the emotional climate during that period had been intense. “At that time, it was almost impossible to discuss events in a broader context,” he said.

Public institutions played a decisive role in this process, he added. “The termination of city partnerships largely occurred through official decisions,” he said.

He noted that some individual initiatives had continued. “Some people are trying to maintain these relations without official support,” he said.

War graves work has also slowed

Heyden said cooperation on war graves between Germany and Russia had also been affected. “After 2022, Russia significantly reduced permits for the exhumation of German soldiers’ remains,” he said.

He added that such activities had not stopped entirely but had slowed considerably. “These efforts have not completely ceased, but they have clearly lost momentum,” he said.

According to Heyden, the issue receives little attention in Germany. “The media almost never covers this topic,” he said.

He also referred to German soldiers who died in Russia during World War II. “It is estimated that around 3.5 million German soldiers lost their lives in Russia,” he said.

“I will pursue legal action”

Heyden said he would initiate legal proceedings against the bank’s decision. “Through a lawyer, I will challenge this decision and seek its reversal,” he said.

He noted that Sparkasse occupies an important position for freelancers. “Sparkasse has a certain monopolistic position, and I have been a customer of this bank for more than 30 years,” he said.

He emphasized that his relationship with the bank had been trouble-free. “Our relationship with the bank has always been evaluated positively. For this reason, the justification for the decision is unclear,” he said.

Heyden added that public attention could influence the process. “Bringing this issue into the public sphere could create a certain level of pressure,” he said.

He also relayed a remark by a bank employee. “The employee said there was pressure from the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority,” he said, referring to BaFin.

“People should establish direct contact”

At the end of the interview, Heyden offered suggestions on how relations between German and Russian societies could be improved. “Establishing direct communication with Russians living in Germany could be an important step,” he said.

He added that travel to Russia remains possible. “Travel is not difficult, but it requires individual organization,” he said.

Heyden outlined travel routes. “The most common method is via Istanbul. It is also possible to travel via Serbia,” he said.

He also commented on attitudes toward foreigners in Russia. “There is a very positive approach toward Western visitors, and young people in particular are open to communication,” he said.

As an alternative, he pointed to other ways of accessing information. “Those who cannot travel should seek information about Russia from different sources and read diverse perspectives,” he said.

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Outgoing UK PM Starmer to boost defense spending by £1 billion to secure legacy

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29/06/2026

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Outgoing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is pledging to secure at least £1 billion in additional funding for the defense sector, according to people familiar with the matter.

The move is being viewed as an effort by Starmer to cement his political legacy in the prime minister’s office before stepping down, the Financial Times reported.

Sources said Starmer aims to publicly present the defense sector investment plan on Tuesday, June 30, following multiple prior delays to its publication.

Under the plan, the total funding volume for the armed forces over the next four years is expected to rise approximately £14.5 billion to £15 billion above previously projected levels.

The Starmer-led government had previously proposed providing £13.5 billion in additional resources for defense needs.

However, former Defence Secretary John Healey opposed the prime minister’s proposal, viewing the amount as insufficient, and subsequently resigned from his post in June.

Healey had insisted on an £18 billion increase in the defense budget. In his resignation statement, the outgoing secretary called on the head of government to commit to raising military spending to 3% of gross domestic product by 2030.

Healey noted that the prime minister’s existing plan would only maintain this ratio at 2.68%.

Following these developments, newly appointed Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis reshaped the budget plan and made several difficult decisions, according to sources.

The new program drafted by Jarvis reportedly places a higher priority on the combat readiness of the military and the deployment of autonomous technologies—including unmanned ground vehicles—across all military units compared to the proposals put forward by the departed Healey.

A government official indicated that in the event of potential last-minute disruptions, the ultimate deadline for the announcement would be July 6, immediately ahead of the NATO summit to be held in Ankara.

The Financial Times pointed to the obligation to demonstrate to allied countries, most notably US President Donald Trump, that the United Kingdom is making serious investments in defense as a key source of pressure on Starmer.

According to assertions in the report, Starmer could hand over prime ministerial authority to Andy Burnham, who is seen as his strongest successor, as early as July 20.

Sources familiar with the process noted that Burnham has already begun receiving briefings on government operations.

Furthermore, sources stated that Burnham has privately agreed with arguments that the spending plan should be approved before the NATO summit rather than being delayed.

Conversely, one source did not rule out the possibility that the incoming prime minister could face more intense pressure, which could lead to a reassessment of defense funding.

Commenting on the position of the military leadership, the source remarked: “The military wing has adopted an attitude of ‘it is better than nothing,’ but we will have to renegotiate this issue with the new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, in any case.”

Keir Starmer announced in June that he would resign following pressure from within his own party.

Starmer has led the British government for approximately two years.

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Europe faces 15-year low in winter gas reserves as June storage targets fall short

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29/06/2026

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European Union member states risk entering the upcoming heating season with their lowest natural gas reserves in 15 years, according to industry assessments.

A report by consultancy firm Wood Mackenzie, published by the Financial Times, warns that if current trends persist, energy markets could face a new wave of price spikes ahead of the winter period.

Analysts project that European underground gas storage facilities may reach a fullness level of only 76% by the end of the injection season, which typically runs from April to October.

After a harsh winter left storage facilities at a mere 28% capacity at the start of the season, EU nations are struggling to rebuild their reserves to historical norms.

According to data from Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE), the current average storage fullness level stands at 48.29%.

June, traditionally the highest-volume month for filling underground storage facilities in the European energy sector, failed to deliver the targeted efficiency this year. Industry officials note that above-normal temperatures expected in July and August will drive up electricity consumption for cooling, making it even more difficult to direct gas into storage.

Having severely depleted its reserves during the past two harsh winters, Europe must store approximately 70 billion cubic meters of natural gas to prepare for the upcoming winter.

However, the storage injection rate failed to accelerate in June, falling 14.7 percentage points behind the five-year average. In the final week of June alone, this deficit widened by an additional 0.2 percentage points.

Renewable energy sources are also proving insufficient to bridge the supply gap. According to WindEurope data, the share of wind energy in electricity generation averaged approximately 14% in June.

This is down from 15% recorded during the same period last year, with the share of wind-generated electricity dropping to as low as 9% in the second half of June. A heatwave sweeping the region, with temperatures hovering two degrees Celsius above seasonal norms, represents another key factor driving up energy demand.

Multiple global geopolitical developments underpin the natural gas shortfall confronting Europe. Disrupted shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG) through the Strait of Hormuz due to hostilities between the US and Iran, combined with production declines in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have tightened global supply.

Meanwhile, in line with decisions by the Kyiv administration, the transit pipeline carrying Russian natural gas to Europe through Ukrainian territory has been completely shut down. The EU must now secure gas not only for its own domestic consumption but also to supply facilities in Ukraine.

In an effort to bypass this halt in Gazprom’s pipeline gas through increased LNG imports, EU countries purchased 109 million tons (approximately 142 billion cubic meters) of LNG last year, representing a 28% increase over the previous year.

However, LNG imports in June fell by approximately 17% compared to the same month last year, dropping to 7.8 million tons—the lowest level in 10 months.

Another critical factor squeezing supply in the European market is the EU’s strategy to phase out Russian energy products entirely.

Russia currently supplies 14% of Europe’s total LNG imports.

According to a phased embargo plan approved by the European Council, LNG imports from Russia will be completely banned starting January 1, 2027.

The import ban on Russian pipeline gas is scheduled to take effect on September 30, 2027. While a transition period is provided for existing contracts, member states have been tasked with the obligation to verify the country of origin for all imported natural gas.

Despite these market uncertainties, the “day-ahead” spot gas price at the Dutch TTF hub—Europe’s benchmark gas trading platform—declined to $475 per thousand cubic meters at the end of June, down from an average of $565 in May.

With a total active gas storage capacity of 109 billion cubic meters, Europe maintains its position as the largest importer in the global LNG market.

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Buckingham Palace updates King’s official role to focus on securing faith in multi-faith Britain

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29/06/2026

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The official job description of the British monarch has been formally revised to state that the King’s role is to “secure the environment for faith” within a multi-faith nation, according to a newly updated definition of the Crown’s responsibilities published by Buckingham Palace.

Under the rewritten description, the King, who holds the title of “Supreme Governor of the Church of England,” is tasked with preserving a supportive space for religious practice.

The adjustment was disclosed in the 2025–26 Sovereign Grant report, the annual financial and administrative review of the royal household. It modifies the definition of the King’s role as “Head of the Nation,” which last year described the monarch as the “Head of the Church of England and Defender of the Faith.”

This year’s report details the role with greater specificity: “His Majesty is Supreme Governor of the Church of England and secures the environment for faith in a multi-faith nation.”

Prior to his coronation, intense public debate centered on whether King Charles III would break with his Christian predecessors by choosing to be styled as “Defender of Faiths” in the plural, rather than the traditional singular “Defender of the Faith.” Ultimately, the King chose to retain the historic singular formulation.

Nevertheless, both during his tenure as the Prince of Wales and since ascending the throne, the King has made interfaith dialogue a cornerstone of his public life.

Regularly referencing the Abrahamic religions, King Charles maintains active engagement with Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Orthodox, and other religious communities across the United Kingdom and globally.

By contrast, the official role of Queen Elizabeth II, as outlined in the Sovereign Grant reports during her reign, was more straightforwardly defined, styling her as “Supreme Governor of the Church of England” and “Head of the Armed Forces.”

In this year’s assessment, the King’s relationship with the military has been rephrased, stating that he “provides spiritual support to our Armed Forces.”

The updated report also outlines several of the King’s core purposes in detail, describing him as a “catalyst for charitable activity,” recognizing his work on “the degradation of nature,” and highlighting his responsibility to “foster a sense of pride, continuity, and stability, reinforcing the social fabric and cohesion of the United Kingdom, particularly at significant moments in national life, both in times of celebration and tragedy.”

The document adds: “His Majesty also has a particular role in bringing together and engaging with communities and faith groups across the different regions and nations of the United Kingdom.”

Beyond the constitutional and ceremonial adjustments, the report revealed that the King paid £12.9 million in tax during the 2024–25 financial year, a figure that places him among the top 100 taxpayers in the country for that period.

Furthermore, it was announced that the King and Queen will not move their permanent residence to Buckingham Palace even after the ongoing £369 million reservicing and renovation program is completed.

A YouGov opinion poll published on Friday indicated that 66% of the British public support the decision not to relocate to the palace.

This is not the first time Buckingham Palace has revised the formal job description of the reigning monarch.

In 2022, near the end of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, the Sovereign Grant redefined the role of the monarchy by removing a series of specific duties she “must fulfill,” delegating more responsibilities to the then-Prince of Wales.

That revision marked the first time in at least a decade that the late Queen’s official duties had been altered in the palace’s annual report, removing specific events—such as the State Opening of Parliament—that had previously been deemed mandatory under “constitutional convention.”

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