diplomacy
Merz and Trump want solutions to Ukraine and tariffs
The phone call was a first scan between Merz and Trump, which lasted about 30 minutes. From the German side it is then said that it was surprisingly relaxed.
Easy relaxation signals in the customs dispute, willingness to cooperate in terms of Ukraine and mutual invitations to Germany and the United States: These are the results of the first introductory discussion of the new Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) with US President Donald Trump. It was a “remarkably positive, relaxed and polite phone call”, it was then said from government circles.
The conversation took place on Thursday evening two days after the election and swearing -in of the Chancellor in the Bundestag. Trump congratulated him on this, it was then said from the German side. On the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, Merz assured that the United States would remain an “indispensable friend and partner of Germany”.
Ukraine was the main topic
The majority of the 30-minute conversation took the topic of Ukraine. The two of them had agreed close cooperation with the aim of termination of the Russian war of aggression, said government spokesman Stefan Kornelius. The Chancellor shared the president’s claim that killing in Ukraine had to come to a quick end. Russia now has to agree to a ceasefire in order to create space for negotiations. Trump said that he wanted to support European peace efforts.
As for a possible peace solution, there is considerable differences between the USA and the European allies. While Trump urges Ukraine to concessions to Russia, countries such as Germany, France and Great Britain warn of a dictation peace.
Settling of the trade dispute sought
The second topic of the conversation was the trade conflict between the USA and the EU. Trump and Merz agreed to want to quickly resolve the disputes between the USA and the EU, it said from the German side. However, one solution is not in sight at the moment. It was only on Thursday that the EU Commission announced that it would prepare other special tariffs for US exports worth up to 95 billion euros in the event that negotiations with Washington do not lead to a solution.
The month of July is currently the period for a solution. A 90-day period is running in it that Trump has set for the EU’s offers. If these are not enough for him, he wants to raise extensive new special tariffs on imports from the EU. They would be added to the special tariffs that are already applicable.
Merz goes into Trump’s German roots
Merz and Trump practically didn’t know each other before the conversation. Many years ago they only met in New York. According to information from the German government circles, Merz Trump invited to Germany. Merz also dealt with the German roots of the US president and mentioned that he knew the home town of Trump’s ancestors: Kallstadt on the Weinstrasse in Rhineland-Palatinate. The grandparents of Trump emigrated to New York from there at the end of the 19th century.
Trump signaled that he could imagine a visit to Germany. As President, apart from stopover at the US base in Ramstein, he was so far only for the 2017 G20 summit in Germany.
Merz wants to go to the USA before mid -June
In his part, Trump invited Merz to Washington. The Chancellor has already publicly explained that he would like to travel to the USA in front of the G7 and NATO summit, i.e. within the next six weeks. The G7 summit takes place in Canada in mid-June, the NATO summit shortly afterwards in the Hague.
dpa
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
