This video can not be played What Trump and Zelensky have said about each other as rift deepens Edited by James Harness and Jacqueline Howard Germany is days away from a general election and Chancellor Olaf Scholz has spoken about Ukraine in a speech on the election trail in the town of Ilsede,

Sunday's election comes as Germany and the rest of Europe grapple with the new Trump administration, the Russia-Ukraine war and security across the continent. Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition was an alliance of the Social Democrats,

European leaders met in France on Monday as President Trump's delegation prepared for talks with Russia about how to end the war with Ukraine. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called it a "difficult situation" for Europe,

Germany's chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has hit back at Vice President JD Vance who had criticized European nations over free speech and their treatment of far-right parties. A day after Vance told the Munich Security Conference that the biggest threat to European their security came not from Russia and China but "from within,

Germans voted for a change of leadership on Sunday, with historically reliable exit polls from a parliamentary election showing centrist conservatives in the lead and the far right in second. The results amounted to a rebuke of the nation’s left-leaning government for its handling of the economy and immigration. That almost certainly means the country’s next chancellor will be Friedrich Merz, the leader of the Christian Democrats. But he will need at least one or two coalition partners to govern. “We have won it,” Mr. Merz told supporters in Berlin on Sunday evening, promising to swiftly form a majority to govern the country and restore strong German leadership in Europe. “The outside world is not waiting for us,” he added. “And it is also not waiting for lengthy coalition talks and negotiations.” The election, which was held seven months ahead of schedule after the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party coalition, will now become an essential part of the European response to President Trump’s new world order. It drew what appeared to be the highest turnout in decades. Mr. Merz has promised to crack down on migrants and slash taxes and business regulations in a bid to kick-start economic growth. He also vowed to bring stronger leadership in Europe at a moment when the new Trump administration has sowed anxiety on the continent by scrambling traditional alliances and embracing Russia. Exit polls showed his Christian Democrats and their sister party, the Christian Social Union, winning a combined 29 percent of the vote. The far-right Alternative for Germany, known as the AfD, appeared to be in second place. On Sunday evening, suspense ran high about the coalition that Mr. Merz might be able to assemble. Smaller parties could play a key role. Like other German party leaders, Mr. Merz has promised never to partner with the AfD, parts of which are classified as extremist by German intelligence. Elevating the AfD: The AfD, with its anti-immigrant and nationalist platform, has long been a pariah of German politics. A new band of influencers unafraid of confrontation had helped push the Alternative for Germany party to second place in pre-election polls. Jim Tankersley is the Berlin bureau chief for The Times, leading coverage of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. More about Jim Tankersley Christopher F. Schuetze is a reporter for The Times based in Berlin, covering politics, society and culture in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. More about Christopher F. Schuetze Melissa Eddy is based in Berlin and reports on Germany’s politics, businesses and its economy. More about Melissa Eddy A New Chinese Embassy: Britain appears ready to approve what would be the largest diplomatic outpost in Europe, but neighbors and activists in London fear tapped phone lines and suppressed protests. Greenland’s Big Moment: Ignored for most of its existence, the huge ice-bound island has been thrust into a geopolitical maelstrom. It’s trying to make the most of it. Cambodia’s Art Come Home: Foreign institutions and collectors are returning artifacts with deep spiritual meaning. But where and how to display them remain open questions. One Lake, Two Worlds: The Rwandan shore of Lake Kivu offers leisure. Across the border in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the lake was recently the site of devastation after a rebel offensive. Okinawa, Caught Between Two Powers: Residents of the Japanese island see U.S. bases as a legacy of war, but younger generations also worry about a threat from China.

Misleading claims targeting the German chancellor have been spreading online days before German voters head to the polls to elect a new government. View on euronews

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stressed the importance of keeping the path open for Ukraine to join the European Union and rejected suggestions that the country was to blame for its invasion by Russia,

Germany's chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has hit back at Vice President JD Vance who had criticized European nations over free speech and their treatment of far-right parties.

the Russia-Ukraine war and security across the continent. Why is Germany holding an election? The election comes seven months ahead of schedule following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s ...

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As the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine approaches, President Trump is intensifying pressure on European allies to increase defense spending.