Latest YouGov poll shows Friedrich Merz's conservative CDU/CSU bloc commanding 28% of voter support, leading Chancellor Scholz's Social Democrats by 9 percentage points - Anadolu Ajansı

Paris and Berlin are currently at odds on several files including trade agreements and what approach to take on China.

President Volodymyr Zelensky separately met with German opposition leader Friedrich Merz and Israeli President Isaac Herzog on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos on Jan. 22.

German opposition leader Friedrich Merz sees potential in collaborating with U.S. President Trump, advocating for a strong European negotiating stance. His call for unified military purchases faces challenges from France's defense industry.

German opposition leader Friedrich Merz, tipped to become chancellor in next month's election, said on Tuesday U.S. President Donald Trump could prove an interesting partner for Europe

Friedrich Merz, the frontrunner to become chancellor after Germany’s snap election next month, will take his campaign pitch to the World Economic Forum next week.

Germany's conservative opposition leader Friedrich Merz, frontrunner in polls to become the next chancellor, on Tuesday urged a united European stance in talks with US President Donald Trump. Merz also said Germany needed to get Poland "at the table as fast as possible" and praised Meloni of the post-fascist Brothers of Italy party,

The front-runner to become Germany's next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has expressed optimism about constructive European cooperation with US President Donald Trump. "I think he will be an interesting partner for us,

Conservative leader Merz, front-runner to become next German chancellor, proposes EU-US energy and defense deals to establish constructive relationship with US President Trump - Anadolu Ajansı

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday that he met with German opposition leader Friedrich Merz, just weeks before a federal election in Germany.

The ruling elite’s responses to Trump include unifying Europe under German leadership, making the continent militarily independent, and achieving greater profitability and competitiveness at the expense of the working class.