The Latest Breaking News from Friedrich Merz

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Zelensky claims his troops ‘gradually pushing back’ Putin’s forces in Sumy

Russian forces seeking to create 'buffer zone' in Sumy after beating back Ukrainian incursion into Kursk

The Independent UK · May 10, 2025

European leaders in Ukraine’s Kyiv press Russia for 30-day ceasefire

The Kremlin says it will consider a 30-day truce, but within its own position.

Al Jazeera · May 10, 2025

European leaders tell Putin to agree to unconditional ceasefire by Monday or face ‘massive’ sanctions – as it happened

European leaders, in coordination with Donald Trump, are proposing a 30-day unconditional ceasefire starting 12 May

The Guardian - UK · May 10, 2025

Starmer to join European leaders in Kyiv for ‘coalition of the willing’ talks

It comes after US President Donald Trump called for ‘ideally’ a 30-day ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow.

Evening Standard · May 9, 2025

Dutch leader says NATO's chief insists allies should spend at least 3.5% of GDP on defense budgets

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof says NATO’s chief wants the allies to agree to start spending at least 3.5% of GDP on their defense budgets at their summit next month

The Independent UK · May 9, 2025

Merz in Brussels: 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine possible within days, decision lies with Moscow

Ukraine agreed to a 30-day ceasefire proposed by US mediators in Saudi Arabia in March, but so far Russia has refused to sign, instead presenting counter demands.

Euronews · May 9, 2025

NATO Chief Seeks Defence Spending At 5% Of GDP By 2032: Dutch PM

NATO chief Mark Rutte wants member countries to agree at a summit in June to reach five percent of GDP on defence-related spending by 2032, Dutch premier Dick Schoof said Friday.

International Business Times · May 9, 2025

New German Chancellor Merz aims for stronger EU ties with France and Poland

Visiting Paris and Warsaw, Chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke about defence and European unity, marking a shift from his predecessor's policies and aiming for a stronger EU.

Euronews · May 9, 2025

Friedrich Merz rules out permanent joint debt at EU level in his visit to Brussels

"We cannot go into never-ending spirals of debt," German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said during his first official visit to Brussels.

Euronews · May 9, 2025

Germany’s new government wants to be a foreign policy power

When the CDU/CSU and the SPD sealed their coalition agreement to form the next German government, the would-be chancellor Friedrich Merz proudly announced: “Germany is back on track”. Against a backdrop of considerable geopolitical and geoeconomic challenges, the partners wanted to send clear signal not only to the German public,…

The Conversation · May 9, 2025