The ongoing crisis involving Ukraine and the United States has accelerated coalition negotiations in Germany between the center-right CDU/CSU alliance and the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), according to reports from Berlin.
Merz Pushes for Swift Action
Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader and likely future German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized the urgency of forming a government ahead of the extraordinary EU summit on Ukraine scheduled for Thursday.
“In my opinion, it is now necessary to act quickly,” Merz stated following a leadership meeting of the CDU/CSU alliance. The talks aim to finalize agreements on funding key initiatives, particularly aid for Ukraine.
Merz also addressed the White House controversy involving a heated exchange between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump. He suggested the confrontation was staged rather than a spontaneous reaction.
“I have reviewed the footage multiple times. In my opinion, this was not an unplanned reaction to Zelensky’s statements but rather a calculated escalation,” Merz claimed.
Focus on U.S. Relations and Defense Spending
Merz reaffirmed the importance of keeping U.S. troops stationed in Europe and announced plans to schedule a visit to Washington once he officially assumes office.
SPD Vice Chairman Lars Klingbeil echoed the urgency of coalition talks, stating, “We are ready to reach an agreement this week. The next steps depend on further negotiations.”
To fund major projects such as Bundeswehr modernization and infrastructure improvements, discussions are intensifying around amending Germany’s constitutional debt brake policy. However, CDU/CSU and SPD lack the two-thirds majority needed in the new Bundestag to enact constitutional changes.
Consequently, lawmakers are exploring options to pass the amendments before the current Bundestag is dissolved on March 25.
