Little progress on a political level, mutual economic sanctions, a profound loss of trust – relations between Russia and most of its European neighbours are in a crisis. But how is the mood of the people: Should the two sides approach each other actively or not make any concessions and go their separate ways? In March 2016, the Körber Foundation the population in Russia and Germany surveyed simultaneously on these issues by TNS Infratest.

Tamara Eidelman is the Board President of the Moscow History Teachers Association. In her interview with Madeleine Janssen, she explains what Russian students need if they want to learn more about Josef Stalin, why history teaching in Russia is very traditional and how she perceives the new Russian minister of education.

In our interview, Fyodor Lukyanov, Editor-in-Chief of “Russia in Global Affairs”, explains what a well-balanced relationship between Russia and NATO would look like and why the current situation reminds him of the Cold War.

In summer 2016, a few passionate people in the Czech Republic published “Gulag Online”, a virtual museum about the Gulag system. They present interactive maps, biographies of prisoners, and 360° pictures of former barracks. In his interview with Madeleine Janssen, the chairman Štěpán Černoušek explains why the internet is a good instrument to access history and how his work is perceived in Russia.

Polish foreign and security policy focuses on securing the Polish Eastern flank more than ever. Benevolently, Polish politicians reacted to the international military operation “Anakonda”. What are Poland’s strengths? What are the future prospects for the NATO-Russian relation? Dominik P. Jankowski, Chief Specialist for Crisis Management with the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, answers our questions in a video interview.

At the 162nd Bergedorf Round Table in Moscow, a group of politicians, office-holders, and experts from Russia and Europe were discussing the future of their countries' relations themed “What unites us, what divides us?”. The conference report is now available. It provides insight into the current relations between Russia and Europe. The crisis has become the new norm, instead of a rapprochement the “escalated alienation” prevails. The Ukraine conflict has reached a deadlock. “De-escalation” is the order of the day.