Germany's Merz in Washington asks Trump to pressure Russia – DW – 06/05/2025
Skip next section Merz asks Trump to put 'more pressure' on Russia
06/05/2025
June 5, 2025 Merz asks Trump to put 'more pressure' on Russia
As the press conference turned to Ukraine, Trump said that the war in Ukraine "would have never happened" if he had been president.
Merz said he hoped the US and Germany could work together to bring the war to an end.
"I am here to talk about how we could contribute to that goal … we are looking for measures and instruments to bring this war to an end," Merz said.
"May I remind you tomorrow is June 6, the D-day anniversary when the Americans once ended a war in Europe," Merz said to Trump.
"In the long run, this was the liberation of my country from Nazi dictatorship … We know what we owe you," Merz said.
"America is again in a very strong position to do something on ending this war, so let's talk about doing what we can," he added.
"We are looking for more pressure on Russia, we should talk about that," Merz said.
"It's a bloodbath going on over there," Trump said.
Maybe there will be "more fighting before they are able to be pulled apart," Trump said, comparing the war in Ukraine to children fighting on a schoolyard.
If I see Russia's out of line, you'll see how tough...
They like to say I am friends with Russia, I am not friends with anybody, I am friends with you," gesturing to Merz.
"I want the right thing to happen for everybody," Trump said.
Merz said he agreed with Trump on ending the war quickly.
"I am for stopping killing ... I think we both agree on how terrible this war is, we are both looking for ways to stop it very soon," he said.
"I told the president that he is the key person in the world who can do that by putting pressure on Russia," Merz added.
"I think we have the duty to do something on that now to stop it."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
DW
an hour ago
- DW
Friedrich Merz brings new political style to Germany – DW – 06/07/2025
Chancellor Friedrich Merz's visit to Washington was met with favorable coverage back home, with many hailing a new political style that contrasts with that of his predecessors, Olaf Scholz and Angela Merkel. The consensus was that he handled it quite well: The new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz got through his first visit to US President Donald Trump without any heated exchanges or diplomatic faux pas. Although he hardly had a chance to speak during the nearly 50-minute press conference in the Oval Office, he was able to say that Germany will continue to support Ukraine in its defense against Russia. For his part, Trump treated the conservative politician with more respect than he did former Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who was not invited to the White House, or Angela Merkel, whom Trump once famously refused to shake hands with in the Oval Office. Things have been pretty busy in German politics since May 6, when Merz, of the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), took office. Since then, Germany's new head of government has made surprising statements and bold announcements nearly every week. 'A very close cooperation' says Merz after meeting Trump To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video This is in contrast to his predecessor Scholz, of the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), who became known for his tendency to keep the public in the dark about his plans. Scholz had consistently urged his staff to adhere to the motto: "We will not be upset, we will not become hysterical." In other words, he was at pains to convey a sense of calm. Merz: A politician full of impatience Merz, on the other hand, never hid his impatience at having to wait so long in the wings before finally securing the office he so coveted: In 2002, he lost a power struggle with Merkel for the leadership of the CDU. Frustrated, Merz moved into the private sector and only returned to politics when it became clear that Merkel intended to step down in 2021. Four years later, at the age of 69, he finally reached the pinnacle of power in Germany. The chancellorship is the first public office Merz has held in his life. Scholz and Merz couldn't have more different personalities. The former is a sober, soft-spoken northern German who had plenty of government experience before he became chancellor. Scholz was the mayor of Hamburg and then the federal finance minister under Merkel. By contrast, Merz, by nature very conservative and easily irritated, rose quickly through his party ranks even without administrative political experience. Nor are the two politicians particularly fond of each other. 'What can we do?' versus 'We must do this!' DW Chief Political Editor Michaela Küfner knows both men well, having accompanied the two leaders on several foreign trips. Reflecting on the different styles of the two politicians and their predecessor, she noted: "While Merkel always thought with the outcome in mind and Scholz was reluctant to even describe a political goal before he had paved the way for it, Merz clearly defines his goals." According to Küfner's analysis, this represents a significant political shift in itself. Germany promises Ukraine around €5 billion more in support To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Policy on Ukraine It took Scholz until the summer of 2022 to visit Ukraine, which had been invaded by Russia in the spring of that year. For a long time, Scholz remained secretive about whether he would supply weapons to the embattled country — though in the end he did. Merz, on the other hand, visited Ukraine within days of taking office, together with French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, when they announced that there would soon be a ceasefire and peace talks. But this still hasn't come to pass, while President Donald Trump appears to have backed out of his earlier commitment to forge a lasting peace. Given the US president's unpredictability, this was not really a surprise, something Scholz would certainly have taken into account. "Following the strong performance with Macron, Tusk, and Starmer came this diplomatic embarrassment," says Berlin-based correspondent Küfner. "Merz still has to prove that this defeat can translate into strong leadership." Why is Germany toughening its tone on Israel now? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Germany and Israel The change in style in Germany's policy toward Israel is even more noticeable. After the Islamist militia Hamas attacked Israelin October 2023, Scholz's response was essentially to insist on Israel's right to defend itself. This remained his stance even as the Israeli army took increasingly brutal action against the civilian population in the Gaza Strip. The European Union, as well as the United States, Germany and several other countries classify Hamas as a terrorist organization. As an opposition politician at the time, Merz also showed strong support for Israel and even announced that, unlike Scholz, he would demonstrate that support by inviting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the chancellery. That stance did not waver even after the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu last November for crimes against humanity. But soon after taking office, he made something of a U-turn: A few days ago, Merz said he no longer understood Israel's actions in the Gaza war, before adding that they could no longer be justified as a legitimate fight against Hamas terrorism. Never before has a chancellor spoken so bluntly about the actions of the Israeli government. Küfner says: "Merz's criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza is a historic step. He is not afraid to directly criticize the Israeli prime minister about alleged violations of international law. This is a new tone from Germany." With this, Merz begged a question that Scholz had successfully avoided: How far does the German reason of state, the commitment to Israel's security, actually extend? What this will mean in practical terms for German-Israeli relations remains to be seen. Even under Scholz, arms deliveries to Israel had been relatively limited, and Merz has not announced an end to these deliveries. Nor has he repeated his earlier invitation to Netanyahu. In practical terms, not much has really changed, but the tone is definitely different. This is likely to continue over the coming weeks. Germany will have to get used to the chancellor's new political style. Meanwhile, Scholz is now observing all this from his position as an ordinary member of the Bundestag. And he has not yet made any comments on his successor's policies. This article was originally written in German. While you're here: Every Tuesday, DW editors round up what is happening in German politics and society. You can sign up here for the weekly email newsletter, Berlin Briefing.
Int'l Business Times
3 hours ago
- Int'l Business Times
Elon Musk Asks If It's Time for New Political Party Amid Feud With Donald Trump
Elon Musk has once again stirred political debate in the United States, this time by hinting at the creation of a new political party. The billionaire's move comes amid an escalating public feud with US President Donald Trump, raising questions about Musk's political ambitions and his influence over the American right. Elon Musk Posts Viral Poll on X On Friday, 6 June 2025, Musk posted a poll on his official X account asking: 'Is it time to create a new political party in America that actually represents the 80% in the middle?' Is it time to create a new political party in America that actually represents the 80% in the middle? — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025 The post quickly went viral, attracting over 89.4 million views and more than 5.6 million votes. At the time of writing, around 80.4% of respondents agreed that the United States needs a new party to represent the political centre, while 19.6% opposed the idea. Though the post did not mention Trump directly, the timing of the poll coincides with rising tensions between the Tesla boss and the US President. From Allies to Rivals: The Musk–Trump Breakdown Musk and Trump once maintained a close relationship, especially during Trump's campaign for a second term. Upon returning to the White House, Trump appointed Musk as a special government employee in a department ironically named the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. But the relationship has since soured. On Wednesday, 4 June, Musk was dismissed from his advisory role following repeated public criticisms of Trump's legislative agenda. In response, Musk took to X, claiming that Trump would not have won the election without his support. 'Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51–49 in the Senate,' Musk wrote. Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025 Trump, speaking to media, appeared to accept that the relationship had collapsed. 'Elon and I had a great relationship,' Trump said via NDTV. 'I don't know if we will anymore. I'm very disappointed in Elon. I've helped Elon a lot,' he added. Is Elon Musk Running for President? Despite the speculation, Musk has made no official statement about running for office. His recent poll and political commentary have reignited public interest, but the billionaire is legally ineligible to run for president. US law requires that presidential candidates be natural-born citizens. Musk, who was born in South Africa and became a US citizen in 2002, does not meet this requirement. However, this hasn't stopped his name from circulating in political circles. In 2024, several Democratic lawmakers labelled Musk the 'de facto' leader of the Republican Party, highlighting his growing influence over American politics and policy. What's Next for Musk in US Politics? Whether or not Musk intends to form a new party, his latest post signals a push to redefine political discourse. His call to represent the 'middle 80 percent' taps into widespread frustration with the polarised state of US politics. While a presidential bid remains off the table, Musk's political influence—fueled by his online reach, business empire, and media presence—continues to grow. With the 2028 election on the horizon, both Republicans and Democrats are likely to keep a close eye on his next move. Originally published on IBTimes UK
DW
7 hours ago
- DW
German minister to ask EU court to rule on migrant turnbacks – DW – 06/07/2025
Skip next section Welcome to our Germany coverage Guten Tag! DW is bringing you updates from across Germany, where Trump's tariffs, migrant turnbacks and a former operetta in Dresden are making headlines. After Chancellor Friedrich Merz met US President Donald Trump at the White House, German businesses are hopeful of a breakthrough in trade talks with the United States. Following a Berlin Administrative Court ruling that the government's policy of turning away migrants at the border was illegal, Germany's interior minister has vowed to go to the European Court of Justice. Also, the roof of the former state operetta building in Dresden, eastern Germany, is at risk of collapse after a major fire. We'll have the latest headlines, analyses, multimedia content, and DW on-the-ground reporting on everything to do with Germany.
