Friedrich Merz, Germany's likely next head of government, is already trying to shape foreign policy. He is especially concerned about Germany's ailing relationships with France and Poland.

Security policy has become the most urgent challenge for Germany. Its prospective government isn't backing away from it. The post Merz Just Shifted Germany's Defense Policy Into Warp Speed appeared first on World Politics Review.

Friedrich Merz, the chancellor-in-waiting, has the in-tray from hell as country tries to cope with increasing economic downturn

Donald Trump has said Ukraine is willing to sign a minerals and security deal with Washington. Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of ties with the US. DW has more.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Germany's conservative chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz agreed during a meeting in Paris to open a new chapter in Franco-German relations, a source close to Merz told Reuters.

The US said it had 'paused' intelligence sharing with Ukraine, days after announcing it was also suspending military aid. Zelensky said that Ukrainian and US teams were working on an upcoming meeting.

The Christian Democrats won with 28.6% of the vote while the far-right Alternative for Germany came second with 20.8%.

Participants at the London summit for Ukraine on March 2 tried to put on a brave face even as multiple dilemmas confronted the Europeans.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky joined leaders from Europe, Turkey and Canada in London on Sunday for a summit on the war in Ukraine and European security hosted by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

European markets fell on Monday as traders reacted to the results of the German federal election. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index was trading 0.3% lower by 3:40 p.m. in London, weighed down by France's CAC 40 index, as Germany's DAX gave up some of its earlier gains to settle 0.31% higher.