The Latest Breaking News from Friedrich Merz

Today on Critical Materials: the auto industry faces a reckoning over electric door handles. Plus, are Americans fed up with big trucks?

Ukraine will top agenda, but meeting comes as positive sentiment towards Germany in Poland hits near record lows

In an interview with Euronews, retired US Army Lieutenant General Ben Hodges emphasised that Ukraine's victory is crucial for US prosperity and global stability, amid concerns about reducing US military presence in Europe.

The FTSE 100 index closed down 4.80 points, 0.1%, at 9,534.91.

COMMENT: Making Ukraine a member of Nato would send the powerful message to Putin that the West, like the Kremlin, can act with confidence on the world stage, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley

The United States has set a Thursday deadline for Ukraine to accept its controversial 28-point peace plan, placing Kyiv’s embattled government under acute pressure. US President Donald Trump has described the proposal as “a starting point”, but both the substance and the process have provoked concern in Ukraine, Russia, and…

Moscow says European counterproposal ‘does not work for us’ in sign that both sides remain far apart

Political elites in Europe’s ‘mature’ democracies warn of external threats – but at home they normalise racism and undermine the rule of law, writes Shada Islam

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Kyiv's concerns had been taken on board and would be incorporated into possible amendments to US President Donald Trump’s initial peace proposal. Rubio noted that higher-level talks will be needed to agree on a final text.