Friedrich Merz
- Opinion
- Japan
Germany and Japan once threatened democracy. Now they’re saving it
Forced to disarm after WWII, Japan and Germany are beginning to assume responsibility for preserving the world order.
- Peter Hartcher
Latest
- Analysis
- Middle East at war
Trump has a new target in Europe – and there is a price for speaking up
When the leader of a key US ally told us exactly what he thinks about how things are going in the war with Iran, it didn’t go down well with a furious US president.
- David Crowe
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
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
- Analysis
- Russia-Ukraine war
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
- Analysis
- Russia-Ukraine war
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
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
- Analysis
- Russia-Ukraine war
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
‘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
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