Michael Murphy enjoys a grand Russian adventure filled with opulence, culture and history

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s trip to Russia to meet Vladimir Putin was overshadowed by a spat about a museum event, apparently cancelled by Russia, where she was due to refer to German art seized by the Soviets in the wake of World War Two.

Russia’s lower house of parliament has approved the return of six 14th century stained-glass panels which were seized from a church in Germany after the Second World War.

Paul McCartney is going back to Russia later this year, it was announced today.