A Russian-born painter, he created a mural of the Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev smooching the East German leader Erich Honecker — and with it a tourist attraction.
Tag: Cold War Era
Reckoning With Memories of Budapest
A Times journalist spent three months capturing a contemporary portrait of Hungary’s capital, where he lived for several years as a child in the early ’90s.
José Eduardo dos Santos, Longtime Angolan Ruler, Dies at 79
As Angola’s president for 38 years, Mr. dos Santos ended the country’s civil war. He also launched an economic boom, but it mainly benefited his family and friends.
Kaliningrad, Russian Outpost, Is Again a Flash Point in East-West Relations
Wedged between Poland and Lithuania and bristling with missiles capable of flinging conventional or nuclear warheads into Europe, Kaliningrad has become emblematic of the Cold War era.
How Ukraine’s Greatest Novelist Is Fighting for His Country
Andrey Kurkov has spent his life writing about realities so absurd they defy satire. It was perfect preparation for this moment.
A Mini-Russia Gets Squeezed by War
The self-declared republic of Transnistria, on the Ukraine border, has been steered by Moscow for decades. During a rare visit, a reporter and photographer get an inside look into how it operates, and hear from Transnistrians their fears of war.
Finland Moves to Join NATO, Upending Putin’s Ukraine War Aims
Neutral Finland’s leaders unequivocally said they intended to seek membership in the alliance, with Sweden expected to do the same, inviting new threats from Moscow.
Two Europes Confront Each Other Over the Glory, or Shame, of War
On Monday, Vladimir Putin will mark Russia’s Victory Day by extolling the virtues of force. France’s leader, Emmanuel Macron, will honor a very different anniversary.
How the Ex-Chancellor Gerhard Schröder Became Putin’s Man in Germany
Gerhard Schröder, who is paid almost $1 million a year by Russian-controlled energy companies, has become a pariah. But he is also a symbol of Germany’s Russia policy.