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Putin’s Web of Influence - The Nord Stream Trap

April 23, 2025

Vladimir Putin wants to extend Moscow's influence within Europe. His strategy: getting influential personalities on his side and infiltrating political institutions. Is he succeeding?

Russland - Treffen zwischen Putin und Lukaschenko im Kreml
Image: Gavriil Grigorov/SNA/IMAGO

To illustrate the extent of Moscow’s influence, the investigative documentary sheds light on key events of the last decade. Investigators suspect that many sabotage actions in Europe, some of which triggered political earthquakes, were directly ordered by the Russian leadership. 

Image: Newen

In 2017, Russian network trolls and spies interfered in the Catalan independence movement on behalf of the Kremlin -- with the aim of causing the separatists to break with Madrid. 

Image: Newen

In northern Germany, Kremlin envoys forged alliances with politicians to finalize the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and secure western Europe's dependence on Russian energy. In the process, a former GDR state security informer close to Putin managed to convince state and federal politicians to circumvent American sanctions. Putin's calculation: a Germany that’s dependent on Russian energy will be more politically docile.
 

Broadcasting Hours: 

DW English

WED 07.05.2025 – 01:15 UTC
WED 07.05.2025 – 04:15 UTC
THU 08.05.2025 – 09:15 UTC
THU 08.05.2025 – 16:15 UTC
THU 08.05.2025 – 21:15 UTC
FRI 09.05.2025 – 12:15 UTC
SAT 10.05.2025 – 02:15 UTC
SUN 11.05.2025 – 08:15 UTC

Lagos UTC +1 | Cape Town UTC +2 | Nairobi UTC +3
Delhi UTC +5,5 | Bangkok UTC +7 | Hong Kong UTC +8
London UTC +1 | Berlin UTC +2 | Moscow UTC +3
San Francisco UTC -7 | Edmonton UTC -6 | New York UTC -4

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