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Friedrich Merz

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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the CDU federal party conference in Stuttgart, Germany.

Germany joins growing ranks of countries considering social media bans

Germany’s ruling conservatives have passed a motion to ban social media use for under 14s.

  • Andreas Rinke

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Zelensky and Witkoff in Berlin.

Trump offers ‘platinum standard’ security guarantee for Ukraine in bid to end war

The NATO-like security proposal would only be on the table for a limited time. Germany’s leader said, “For the first time, a ceasefire now seems possible”.

  • Michael Koziol
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin arrive for a press conference after their meeting in Alaska on August 18.

Let’s be blunt: Putin has called Trump’s bluff on Ukraine

As alarm grew over Ukraine’s rising death toll from Russian attacks, the Pope took to social media at the weekend to plead for a ceasefire. Trump, meanwhile, played golf.

  • David Crowe
Trump and the week that was in Ukraine

Five takeaways from Trump’s Ukraine summit (and his post-mortem on Fox News)

What started with a historic, if disconcerting, meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska led to a hasty summit with European leaders - and then a revealing interview on Fox News.

  • Michael Koziol
Zelensky and Putin

The sticking points when it comes to ending the war in Ukraine

Major questions remain on what security guarantees Kyiv could be given, possibly in return for giving up a chunk of its territory to Russia.

  • Tom Housden
Volodymyr Zelensky, Donald Trump  and Vladimir Putin.

White House love-in moved war in right direction – but potential dealbreaker looms

If you are Vladimir Putin, you probably would not love the images that came out of Washington today –  even if an end to the war still feels very far away.

  • Michael Koziol
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US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Thursday.

‘Takes two to tango’: Trump mulls punishing Ukraine, as well as Russia

Meanwhile, the Kremlin has accused Britain of being involved in the surprise drone attack that destroyed Russian bombers at the weekend.

  • Catherine Lucey, Kate Sullivan and Arne Delfs
German soldier

Germany must have a stronger army than Britain, chancellor says

Friedrich Merz has outlined plans to create Europe’s largest fighting force in his first major speech as chancellor.

  • James Rothwell and Daniel Hardaker
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz meet onboard a train en route to Kyiv.

European leaders unite, call Trump to propose unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine war

The leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Poland have joined with Ukraine to propose an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.

  • Tom Balmforth
Friedrich Merz, front right, leader of the Christian Democratic Union, gestures while addressing supporters at the party headquarters in Berlin.

‘Never thought I would have to say something like this’: Germany turns away from US

Germany’s new leader did not even wait for the final election results before delivering his verdict on the US President - and charting the path forward.

  • Rob Harris