Schröder Returns to Moscow as the War in Ukraine Enters a New Phase

At the 79th Cannes Film Festival, politics once again proved inseparable from art. Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev, whose films have long served as bleak moral portraits of contemporary Russia, received the Grand Prix for “Minotaur,” his first feature film in nearly a decade. Yet the defining moment of the evening was not merely the award itself, but the director’s speech addressed directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The 79th Cannes Film Festival is taking place at a moment when the global film industry continues to search for a balance between auteur cinema, commercial projects and the rapid rise of streaming platforms. This year, the festival once again confirms its significance not only as the leading venue for film premieres, but also as an indicator of broader cultural and social sentiment.

Turkey and Germany intend to restore their strategic partnership, including cooperation in defense and the military-industrial sector. This was announced on May 18 following a meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries in Berlin.

At the annual diplomatic reception marking “Europe Day” in Baku on May 14, as is customary for such ceremonial events, only positive aspects of relations between the European Union and Azerbaijan were discussed.